HIGHLIGHTS OF EUROPE

Your itinerary

14 Days ~ England ~ Belgium ~ Germany ~ Austria ~ Italy ~ Switzerland ~ France

Tour Pace

This tour is well balanced with the majority of the one-night stays in the first section, followed by two-night stays in the key cities of Venice, Rome, Lucerne and Paris, where there is ample time to relax or to take optional tours. Travelling days feature frequent rest stops.

DAY 1 – MON – LONDON – BRUSSELS

This morning meet your Tour Director at the London departure hotel and transfer to Dover. Bid farewell to the famous white cliffs as you cross the channel bound for the French port of Calais. Now past historic Dunkirk, famous for its Second World War evacuations, and along the coast to Belgium. At medieval Bruges, walk with your Tour Director along peaceful canals and through the cobbled streets lined with high gabled houses from the Golden Age of the 16th century. In the Market Square there is time to admire the exquisite lace work traditional to the town. Continue to the capital of Brussels, where you visit the Grand Place and see the cheeky Mannekin Pis. Tonight, enjoy a Welcome Drink. Hotel: Renaissance/Sofitel Toison d’Or.

DAY 2 – TUE – BRUSSELS – RHINELAND

Travel into Germany to view Cologne Cathedral before continuing along the Rhine, via Bonn, to board a Highlight cruise at Boppard. Relax as you glide past medieval castles and steep vineyards to the village of St Goar, near the legendary Loreley Rock. Continue on to Heidelberg, town of the ‘Student Prince’, to see the clifftop castle before arriving at your Rhineland hotel. Hotel: Renaissance Karlsruhe/Radisson Ettlingen. (BB,D)

DAY 3 – WED – RHINELAND – INNSBRUCK

Visit Bavaria and fun-loving Munich; see the Olympic Stadium, Hofbrauhaus and visit the Marienplatz with its Glockenspiel. Head into the Alps and over the Austrian border to reach the Tyrolean capital of Innsbruck. Perhaps spend the evening enjoying a fabulous Tyrolean folklore evening. Hotel: Hilton. (BB)

DAY 4 – THU – INNSBRUCK – SALZBURG

See the Golden Roof and the Imperial Palace in the old town before visiting the decorative Wilten Basilica and following the Inn Valley to Salzburg. Join a local guide to see the imposing fortress, Mozart’s birthplace and the cathedral. Hotel: Castellani Parkhotel. (BB,D)

DAY 5 – FRI – SALZBURG – VENICE

This morning a spectacular drive takes you through the Tauern Mountains to the Carinthian Lake District, and on to the Italian border. Follow mountain valleys and cascading streams down to the Veneto Plain on your way to the unique magical, water-bound city of Venice. Hotel: Continental/Mabapa. (BB,D)

DAY 6 – SAT – VENICE SIGHTSEEING

Cruise by private launch to St Mark’s Square and alight to see the Bridge of Sighs which connects the Doges’ Palace to the prisons. Cross the square to seethe famous Moors, who have been striking the hour for over 500 years, the belltower and the beautiful mosaics of St Mark’s Basilica. After a demonstration of Venetian glass blowing, join an included romantic Premium Highlight gondola ride along the canals. Perhaps consider taking a boat trip to the island of Burano for a delicious seafood meal. (BB)

DAY 7 – SUN – VENICE – ROME

Head south over the Apennine Mountains and follow the ‘Highway of the Sun’ to Rome. Tonight stroll to the Spanish Steps before your Highlight Dinner of pasta, wine and music. Hotel: Sheraton/Cicerone. (BB,HD)

DAY 8 – MON – ROME SIGHTSEEING

Join a local guide to visit St Peter’s Basilica to see Michelangelo’s moving work the ‘Pieta’. Drive across the Tiber to visit the mighty Colosseum, where gladiators fought to the death against armed warriors and wild beasts. Look out over the Roman Forum, once a bustling centre of commerce, law and religion. The afternoon is at leisure. (BB)

DAY 9 – TUE – ROME – FLORENCE

Drive north into the Chianti Hills and the Renaissance city of Florence. Sightseeing with a local guide takes you to see the original statue of ‘David’ in the Academy Gallery. Afterwards, visit the Cathedral and see Giotto’s belltower, and the Gates of Paradise on the Baptistery. Continue to Signoria Square, lined with many statues. After watching a demonstration of leatherwork, there is time at leisure to shop or perhaps continue sightseeing. Hotel: Sheraton/Villa Gabriele D'Annunzio. (BB,D)

DAY 10 – WED – FLORENCE – LUCERNE

Journey north, past the great commercial centre of Milan and the Italian Lake District, to the Swiss border. Take the St Gotthard route and enjoy its Alpine scenery on the way to Lucerne. Hotel: Astoria. (BB)

DAY 11 – THU – LUCERNE SIGHTSEEING

Sightseeing in Lucerne begins with a visit to the emotive Lion Monument. See the covered Chapel Bridge and the Jesuit Church, then enjoy a superb Premium Highlight as you ascend Mount Pilatus by cog-wheel railway. From the summit, admire some of the best possible views of the snow-covered Alps. (BB,D)

DAY 12 – FRI – LUCERNE – PARIS

Pass the Swiss port city of Basel on your way to France. After crossing the wine region of Burgundy, it’s on to glittering Paris for two fabulous nights. Consider spending the evening sampling wonderful French cuisine. Hotel: Concorde Ambassador/Paris Rive Gauche. (BB)

DAY 13 – SAT – PARIS SIGHTSEEING

A guided sightseeing tour takes you to see the famous Notre Dame Cathedral, the Opera House and on a drive down the Champs Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. Ascend the Eiffel Tower before visiting the Tomb of Napoleon in the Église du Dôme. As evening falls, there is the chance to see a cabaret show. (BB)

DAY 14 – SUN – PARIS – LONDON

Cross the World War One battlefields to Calais. Sail across the channel to Dover and continue to London, where the tour comes to an end. (BB)

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