European Memories – 22 Days

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Departure Dates: Saturday all year

Itinerary:

Day 1: Paris Arrival | Saturday

  • Welcome to Paris! On arrival at the airport we shall be waiting to transfer you to the hotel. You can enjoy your free time until the tour starts, information about the meeting place and start time can be found on the information boards in the hotel reception area.

Day 2: Paris | Sunday
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Transfer to Versailles Palace. Funicular ride included to Montmartre district. City tour in Paris.

  • Early in the morning, we will leave for Versailles, the immense palace of the kings of France. After that, we will return to Paris at lunch time where we provide a transfer to the Montmartre district. We will ascend by funicular to the hill and admire the spectacular view of Paris from the top. This neighborhood is known for its painters, artists, and its cabarets… Sit down for lunch and enjoy a magical atmosphere. Then, a scenic guided tour to discover the history, main boulevards and the breathtaking monuments of Paris will take place. Return to hotel.

Day 3: Paris – Rouen | Monday
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Eiffel Tower and boat cruise in the City of Lights. Rouen historic center.

  • We go to the center of Paris, starting by the Eiffel Tower area. You will have the opportunity to climb up to the second floor of this remarkable metal monument (ticket included). Then, we enjoy a boat cruise along the River Seine, which divides the north of Paris from the south. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore as you choose

Note: Sometimes queues to climb the Eiffel Tower are long. For organizational reasons, if deemed appropriate, the climb can be made at a different moment of the day

  • At around 17.00hrs we will leave Paris for ROUEN a city museum with its houses with half-timbered walls, narrow streets and gothic churches. Accommodation in the city.

Day 4: Rouen – Canteburry – London | Tuesday
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS. Ferry crossing to United Kingdom. Stroll alongside Tower Bridge

  • Today we will take a stroll in the center of Rouen to admire its magnificent cathedral and the ancient streets of the historic center. After this we travel to the north of France. Travelling by ferry, we will cross the English Channel to reach CANTERBURY, the religious capital of England with a very attractive historic center. Continuing to LONDON, arriving with time to explore, visit Tower Bridge to see it lit up and admire the modern buildings. Time for dinner in one of the many restaurants offering a variety of cuisines. After dinner, return to the hotel.

Day 5: London | Wednesday
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Visit London. Changing of the Guard. Evening transfer to Soho

  • Get to know LONDON on a locally guided tour featuring style, culture and history. See the Houses of Parliament, the River Thames, the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace, where we will be able to watch the famous “Changing of the Guard” (depending on the season). Afternoon at leisure. In the evening, we will take a walk through Leicester Square, China Town and Soho, with a lively atmosphere, theatres and entertainment. There are several restaurants to chose where you can dine. Return to the hotel.

Day 6: London – Colchester – Ferry | Thursday
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: British Museum. Pleasant hill scenery. Ferry crossing.

  • After breakfast we will go to the British Museum, one of the oldest museums in the world. At lunch time we transfer to Camden, a district famous for having one of the most varied and extravagant street markets in London where we can see relics from cultures all around the world. Enjoy some leisure time. At around 16.00 we will leave for COLCHESTER, known as the most ancient city in England. Time for a stroll. We will then board the ferry in Harwich, taking a night voyage to the Netherlands.

Note: The ferry used has a limited number of cabins. Sometimes we might change the itinerary, leaving London at 15.00 and take the Channel Tunnel, and spend the night in Antwerp.

Day 7: Ferry – Volendam – Amsterdam | Friday
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Picturesque typical village of Volendam. Visit to Amsterdam.

  • At around 08:00 in the morning we will reach the Netherlands (Hoek Van Holland), making a stop in VOLENDAM, a very picturesque fishing village. After this, we travel to AMSTERDAM where we will enjoy a panoramic visit of the city to see its narrow canals, its official buildings and parks. We will also see the technique of diamond cutting. Time for dinner in Rembrandtplein, an area with many restaurants from all corners of the world and near the red-light district with its liberal values.

Day 8: Amsterdam – Hamelin – Marienborn – Berlin | Saturday
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Visit to the village that became famous by the children´s story of The Pied Piper of Hamelin

  • We will leave Amsterdam for Germany. HAMELIN, a picturesque German town whose streets and shops bring us into legend of The Pied Piper of Hamelin, a children´s story written by The Grimm Brothers. We will then continue and stop in MARIENBORN, situated on the former border that separated east and west Germany up until 1990. We will visit a museum to learn more about it. Lastly, we will head to BERLIN. Evening arrival.

Day 9: Berlin | Sunday
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: City tour of Berlin. We visit the Holocaust Memorial and the Berlin Wall Museum

  • Ease your way into the local culture with a guided visit of Germany’s incredible capital, Berlin. We shall visit the historic center, Museum Island, the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gates and the city’s magnificent parks. We continue our visit by stopping at the Holocaust Memorial and the Berlin Wall Museum. This visit helps us to understand the difficult situation the city experienced during the Twentieth Century. Time to explore the city. Enjoy an evening in the lively area of Kantstrasse, a district that offers different types of ethnic restaurants to dine in (Indian, Oriental, Italian, German, and so on).

Day 10: Berlin – Dresden – Prague | Monday
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Dresden. Evening transfer in Prague

  • We journey through forests towards DRESDEN, a city which, due to its exceptional architectural and artistic heritage, has become one of the main tourist destinations in Germany. Time to explore some of the impressive palaces and to have lunch at one of its many restaurants and coffee shops. Later, we depart for the Czech Republic. Prague – Arrival. We will make our way to the Old Town Square. This central location provides a great introduction to Prague, full of energy and touristic activities. You can take your dinner at one of the restaurants offering international cuisines, including Czech, Chinese, Indian and Italian. Return to hotel.

Day 11: Prague | Tuesday
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: City tour of Prague. Visit to Castle. Boat tour along the river.

  • Today we will visit the capital, Prague, the Baroque jewel of Europe. Our local expert will provide an informative city tour, which will include outstanding monuments. During the visit we walk through Prague Castle (admission included). Subsequently, we shall take a boat tour on the Vltava River. In the afternoon enjoy some free time to explore the city. In the evening, we will enjoy more time in the historic city center and there will be an opportunity for you to take dinner. Return to hotel.

Day 12: Prague – Munich – Innsbruck | Wednesday
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: BMW WELT and Old Town Innsbruck

  • We will leave early and travel to Bavaria, arriving in MUNICH at midday where we will visit the futuristic BMW Welt. Situated next to the Olympia park, the BMW Welt has fascinating architecture for multi-use exhibitions of BMW cars. After that, time for lunch and a stroll in the historic center. In the afternoon we will continue to Austria. Arriving to INNSBRUCK in the evening, we will have time for dinner in the Golden Roof area at the Old Town.

Day 13: Innsbruck – Swarovski Crystal Museum – Zurich | Thursday
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Visit to Swarovski Museum. Breathtaking landscapes.

  • Begin your day by discovering the Swarovski Museum, the renowned home of crystals. We shall visit its impressive gardens and learn how the pieces of crystal are produced. Then, time to stroll before leaving for Zurich, an enjoyable journey through wonderful Tyrolean sceneries towards Switzerland. In ZURICH, enjoy an evening in the historic center next to the lake, where you can dine at your favorite restaurant (Indian, Oriental, Italian, International, Swiss, etc.).

Day 14: Zurich – Grindelwald – Lucerne – Zurich | Friday
TODAY´S HIGHLIGHTS: Admire the fantastic landscapes. Cable car included to Grindelwald. Lunch included.

  • Today´s journey has beautiful landscapes with high mountains and lakes. Breathtaking scenery in the region of Interlaken. We will stop in GRINDELWALD where we will have time for a coffee before taking the cable car up to mountain. We will walk along the winding path which will lead us to the ¨footbridge over the empty¨. Dare to walk along the bridge amongst the fantastic scenery enjoying glaciers all around us. We will take lunch up the mountain (included) before heading back down. We continue to LUCERNE, one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland. In the evening we have time to stroll around, enjoying the city and taking dinner before we return to the hotel in Zurich.

Day 15: Zurich – Lugano – Morcote – Milan | Saturday
TODAY´S HIGHLIGHTS: Spectacular alpine landscapes, quaint villages and lakes.

  • We will leave Zurich early in the morning and cut across the Alps in order to reach the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. Alongside the route we will get to see beautiful lakes and snowcapped mountains. LUGANO. Arrival in the cosmopolitan capital of the Italian Switzerland built next to its beautiful lake. Time to have a stroll and grab lunch. Next, we will reach the enchanting little town of MORCOTE famous for its flowery stone houses. We will then travel to Italy. Arrival in MILAN where the guide will take us to the impressive Duomo Square. Here you will find a variety of local and international restaurants to have dinner at. Transfer to the hotel.

Day 16: Milan – Pisa – Rome | Sunday
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Coast of Liguria, Leaning Tower of Pisa

  • Today we continue our journey towards PISA. On a little tourist train, we will travel to the Piazza Dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles), where there will be time to admire one of the most alluring and beautiful art complexes in Italy, including the wellknown Leaning Tower of Pisa. Then, we continue to ROME, arriving at the end of the day.

Day 17: Rome | Monday
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: City tour of Rome. Roman Coliseum (admission price included). Evening transfer to the Trastevere area

  • In the morning, we have a scenic tour, which will be a great introduction to “The Eternal city”. We will visit the tiny state of the Vatican, the epicenter of Christianity in the world. You will be able to visit St. Peter’s Basilica. We have included admission to the Roman Coliseum, the symbol of Rome. This impressive construction dates back 2,000 years and will transport us in time so that we can learn about ancient society in the Roman Empire. At the end of the evening we arrange a transfer to Trastevere area for a stroll in the narrow cobbled streets of the district with hidden treasures, such as some modest medieval churches, small shops with the most peculiar of objects or scenes of daily life. Many trattorias (informal Italian eating establishments) and osterias (inns) imbued with the Italian spirit will be ready to serve you local dishes. Other restaurants serving Indian, Chinese and international food can be found in this area. Return to hotel.

Day 18: Rome – Madrid | Tuesday
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Flight Rome – Madrid. Evening transfer to the Gran Via District

  • After breakfast a transfer takes you to the airport to take your flight at around 11.00 to Madrid. Upon arrival we will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. Towards the end of the day, we provide transfer to the Egyptian Debod temple, Plaza de España and Gran Via; a vibrant district where you can dine at your preferred restaurant, Indian, Chinese, Spanish and Middle Eastern are some of the options.

Day 19: Madrid | Wednesday
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Madrid city tour. Stroll through the Retiro Park. Visit to the Las Ventas bullring. Evening transfer.

  • The morning starts with a comprehensive tour through the center of Madrid including the Paseo del Prado, Cibeles, Neptuno, the Gate of Alcalá, Plaza de Colón and Plaza Mayor. We then will visit Retiro Park, an oasis in the city center, where we will see the lake and the Glass Palace. A visit to Las Ventas Bullring (admission included) is next. This is one of the most famous bullrings in the world where we will learn about the tradition of the “corridas” at the Bullfighting Museum. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your own leisure. At sunset we will provide a transfer to Plaza de Oriente, opposite the Royal Palace, an elegant and bustling area with many restaurants serving different cuisines, such as local Spanish food, international and Chinese. Enjoy a pleasant dinner of your choice. At the end of the evening we will return to the hotel.

Day 20: Madrid – Zaragoza – Poblet – Montserrat – Barcelona | Thursday
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Monastery of Poblet, rack train to Montserrat.

  • In the morning we leave for Aragón over the lands of Castile. In ZARAGOZA we stop briefly to see the Pilar Basilica. We continue to the Monastery of Poblet, surrounded by its walls in a beautiful site that is one of the best-preserved medieval monasteries in the world (entrance included). We then proceed to the Monastery of Montserrat where you will go up the mountain on a rack train to see its fantastic scenery. Following this we will continue to BARCELONA, arriving in the late- afternoon.

Note: In some cases, depending on the timetable of the rack railway, the ascent to Montserrat can be done in our coach.

Note: During the winter, from November to March, due to the shorter days, we will not visit the Monastery of Poblet in order to reach Montserrat during the daylight.

Day 21: Barcelona | Friday
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Barcelona city tour. “Spanish Village” visit and evening transfer to Las Ramblas district.

  • Today we will explore Barcelona, an impressive city right on the Mediterranean Sea. Starting by an informative city tour with a local expert (note: If the group has fewer than fifteen people, explanations can be given by our guide.) We will also visit the city’s historic central area with its Gothic neighborhood dating back to the Middle Ages. We will visit the area where the Olympic Games took place. We will also get the chance to see La Sagrada Familia Basilica, the masterpiece designed by the architect Gaudí. Following this, we include the entry ticket to visit ‘Poble Espanyol’ (meaning ‘Spanish Village’). This open-air architectural museum is situated in one of the most emblematic areas of Barcelona. Enjoy the Spanish craftsmanship and discover the architectural styles, traditions and folklore of the different regions that make up Spain. You will then have some free time to explore the city at your own leisure. In the evening we provide a transfer to Las Ramblas and the Plaza Catalunya area for dinner, where you can choose from a wide variety of restaurants. We will return to the hotel in the late evening.

Day 22: Barcelona | Saturday

  • After breakfast, end of our services.
  • Includes arrival transfer
  • Excursion: Transfer to Versailles.
  • Boat: Boat Trip along River Seine in Paris, Vltava River in Prague.
  • City tour in: Paris, London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Rome.
  • Evening Transfer: Tower Bridge in London, Leicester/ Soho area in London, Rembrandtplein in Amsterdam, Old Town Square in rague, Trastevere in Rome.
  • Transfer: Camden district in London.
  • Ticket admission: 2nd Floor Eiffel Tower in Paris, Diamond Cutting Workshop in Amsterdam, Holocaust Memorial and Berlin Wall Museum in Berlin, Prague Castle, BMW Welt in Munich, Swarovski Crystal Museum in Innsbruck, Coliseum of Rome.
  • Train: Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa.
  • Ferry: Calais Fr to Dover UK, Harwich (UK) to Hoek Van Holland (NL).
  • Funicular: funicular ride to Montmartre district in Paris, Cable Car to Grindelwald First.
  • 1 Lunch or Dinner Included in: Grindelwald.
  • City tour in: Madrid, Barcelona.
  • Evening Transfer: Plaza de Oriente in Madrid, Ramblas and Plaza de Catalunya in Barcelona.
  • Ticket admission: Las Ventas bullring in Madrid, Poblet Monastery, Poble Espanyol in Barcelona.
  • Train: Montserrat.
  • Flights included: Rome – Madrid Economy class and transfers.

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