Paris
Welcome to Paris! We transfer you to your hotel, where you'll have free time to settle in before receiving full details of your tour.
Paris
We immerse ourselves in the history of France at the magnificent Palace of Versailles, renowned for its gardens, then visit the bohemian Montmartre district before a panoramic city tour with a local guide showcasing Paris's grand avenues and iconic monuments.
Paris
We start the day at the iconic Eiffel Tower, with tickets included to the second floor, followed by a relaxing hour-and-a-quarter boat cruise along the Seine. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore Paris at your own pace.
Burgundy (Beaune) → Lyon
We journey into the heart of France through the vineyard-covered Bourgogne region, stopping in Beaune for free time and lunch, before continuing to Lyon, a UNESCO-listed former Roman capital on the Rhône. A cable car ride to Notre-Dame de Fourvière rewards us with stunning views over the city.
Geneva → Zurich
We cross into Switzerland, passing the Palace of Nations and the pretty English Garden with its famous flower clock and the Jet d'Eau fountain in Geneva. After lunch we continue along the scenic Three Lakes route via Lake Geneva and Lake Neuchâtel, stopping in Neuchâtel before arriving in Zurich by late afternoon.
Zurich
With our guide we explore Zurich, Switzerland's most populous city and its financial and cultural heart. A nearly two-hour cruise on Lake Zurich brings us to the picturesque village of Rapperswil and its medieval castle, before we return to Zurich by train.
Grindelwald → Lucerne → Zurich
Today brings dramatic alpine scenery around Interlaken. In Grindelwald we take a cable car up the mountain to a suspended bridge with spectacular glacier views, enjoying an included lunch on the mountain, before visiting the beautiful city of Lucerne and returning to Zurich.
Bellinzona → Como → Milan
We cross the Alps into Italian-speaking Switzerland, stopping at Bellinzona, famed for its three UNESCO-listed medieval castles. We then cross into Italy for lunch in the lakeside town of Como before continuing to Milan to admire the Piazza del Duomo.
Pisa → Rome
We continue to Pisa, riding a small tourist train to the Piazza dei Miracoli to admire the famous Leaning Tower, before heading south to Rome, arriving later in the day.
Rome
A three-hour guided tour combines a walk through Imperial Rome with a panoramic bus ride past the Arch of Constantine, the Colosseum, the Imperial Forums and Circus Maximus, ending near Vatican City with an optional visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. In the evening we transfer to the lively Trastevere neighbourhood for dinner on your own.
Florence
Leaving Rome, we head to the Piazzale Michelangelo viewpoint for breathtaking views over Florence, then enjoy a guided walking tour of the historic centre taking in the Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo and Piazza della Signoria, this open-air museum of a city.
Venice (Mestre)
Crossing the Apennines, we arrive in Venice and take a boat across the Giudecca Canal to the island, visiting the marvellous St Mark's Square with a local guide and touring the Murano Glass Factory. Accommodation is in the Mestre district.
Innsbruck → Salzburg
We depart for Austria, stopping in Innsbruck's historic centre for time to explore and enjoy lunch, then continue through the scenic Tyrolean landscape via Kitzbühel to Salzburg.
Lake Traunsee → Vienna
In Salzburg, Mozart's beautiful Renaissance and Baroque city, we take a morning stroll before continuing through lakes and mountains to St Wolfgang and Traunkirchen, where an included cruise reveals four lakeside castles before we disembark at Gmunden and continue to Vienna.
Vienna
A panoramic tour with a local guide reveals Vienna's majestic avenues, palaces and parks. In the evening we transfer to the old wine-growing village of Grinzing, known for its traditional taverns, for dinner on your own.
Budapest
After roughly three hours on the road we reach Budapest, starting in the lively Váci utca with free time for lunch. We then take an included boat trip on the Danube between historic Buda and cosmopolitan Pest, followed by a panoramic tour of the 'Queen of the Danube'.
Bratislava → Prague
We head early to Bratislava, Slovakia's charming Danube-side capital, with free time to explore and enjoy lunch, before continuing into the Czech Republic and transferring in the evening to Prague's Old Town Square.
Prague
A local guide leads a panoramic tour of Prague, the Baroque jewel of Europe, including a visit to Prague Castle and a boat ride on the Vltava River, both included. The afternoon is free to explore the city.
Pilsen → Rothenburg → Frankfurt
We stop in Pilsen, famed for its beer, to explore the Old Town Square before crossing into Germany along part of the Romantic Road to the fairy-tale town of Rothenburg, arriving in Frankfurt in the evening.
Rhine Cruise → Cologne → Amsterdam
A scenic cruise on the Rhine between Rüdesheim and St Goar takes in the river's most picturesque stretch, before we visit Cologne's immense Gothic cathedral and continue into the Netherlands, arriving in Amsterdam by evening.
Amsterdam
We visit the postcard villages of Zaanse Schans with its windmills and canals, and Volendam, taking a short boat ride to the island village of Marken. In the afternoon a guided tour of Amsterdam takes in its iconic windmill imagery, the elegant South District and the diamond-cutting tradition of Museum Square.
Brussels → Paris
After breakfast we head to Belgium, stopping at the iconic Atomium before admiring the Grand Place, a jewel of Flemish Baroque, and the symbolic Manneken Pis. We continue into France, arriving in Paris by the end of the day.
Paris
After breakfast, our journey comes to an end, leaving you with wonderful lasting memories.