|
ITINERARY
19 DAYS ~ ENGLAND ~ BELGIUM ~ HOLLAND ~ GERMANY ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ AUSTRIA ~ ITALY ~ SWITZERLAND ~ FRANCE
Tour Pace - Insight has planned this itinerary with two-night stays in every major city. This allows you time to settle into your new environment before your sightseeing tour the following day. Leisure time follows each city tour - relax or indulge in an optional excursion if you like!
Fellow Passengers - A fine, well balanced tour of Europe that encompasses the outstanding medieval towns and cities of the Czech Republic. Popular with those who want to experience a taste of each country’s rich culture, language, history and delicious cuisine.
DAY 1 – SUN – LONDON – AMSTERDAM. Meet your Tour Director and transfer to Dover. Bid farewell to the white cliffs as you cross the channel to France. Continue into Belgium and stop in medieval Bruges. After exploring the market square, peaceful canals and cobbled streets, it’s on to Amsterdam. Tonight, enjoy a Welcome Drink followed by dinner at your hotel.
Hotel: Sofitel. (D)
DAY 2 – MON – AMSTERDAM SIGHTSEEING. Enjoy a taste of glamour at one of Amsterdam’s great diamond houses, see the Mint Tower and nearby floating flower market and drive across the Dam Square. Join a local guide who will show you the priceless paintings of the Rijksmuseum, including Rembrandt’s ‘The Night Watch’. The rest of the day is at leisure - why not visit Volendam? (BB)
DAY 3 – TUE – AMSTERDAM – HAMBURG. Head north across the 30km long Afsluitdijk - the barrier dam separating the Ijsselmeer from the North Sea. Pass Groningen before reaching the German frontier. Then on across the Weser River at Bremen and continue to Hamburg, Germany's most important port and part of the Hanseatic League of the Middle Ages.
Hotel: Maritim Reichshof. (BB,D)
DAY 4 – WED – HAMBURG – BERLIN. Sightseeing will reveal the spires of the city and the sparkling waters of the Alster lake. Then the smooth autobahn leads you to historic Berlin - once a divided city, now enjoying renewed economic and cultural dynamism.
Hotel: Berlin. (BB,D)
DAY 5 – THU – BERLIN SIGHTSEEING. A guided city tour takes you along the Unter den Linden past Humboldt University and the Opera. Stop on Museum Island before returning past the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag Building and a drive through the Tiergarten. The afternoon is at leisure. (BB)
DAY 6 – FRI – BERLIN – PRAGUE. Stop in Dresden, which was almost totally destroyed by air raids in 1945. Now faithfully restored, see the Frauenkirche, the huge mosaic on the Castle wall, the Opera House and Zwinger Palace before crossing the Czech border to Prague. Hotel: Diplomat. (BB,D) DAY 7 – SAT – PRAGUE SIGHTSEEING. See the highlights of 'Golden Prague' during a morning sightseeing tour. From the heights of Prague Castle, dominated by the soaring spires of St Vitus' Cathedral, look down on the Old Town before descending to explore the Old Town Square with its Astronomical Clock. The afternoon is at leisure. (BB)
DAY 8 – SUN – PRAGUE – VIENNA. Enjoy a drive through the green Bohemian countryside to medieval Cesky Krumlov.Take time to explore the old town, with it’s cobbled streets, little back lanes and arch covered footpaths. In the afternoon, continue across the Austrian border to Vienna.
Hotel: Hilton. (BB)
DAY 9 – MON – VIENNA SIGHTSEEING. With a local guide, visit Schönbrunn Palace, built as a summer residence for Maria Theresa during the golden age of the Hapsburg empire. Head into the city centre to tour the Ring Street, pass the Opera, the soaring spires of the City Hall and the Parliament. Finish with an explanation of the history and culture of the Viennese café. (BB)
DAY 10 – TUE – VIENNA – VENICE. Journey southwards past quiet villages and forested mountains into the Carinthian Lake District. Cross into Italy, and follow mountain valleys and cascading streams down to the Veneto Plain on your way to the Venice Lido.
Hotel: Grande Albergo Ausonia & Hungaria. (BB,D)
DAY 11 – WED – VENICE SIGHTSEEING. An included canal cruise takes you to St Marks Square to see the Doges' Palace and Basilica. Witness the ancient art of glass-blowing before enjoying a gondola ride through the watery 'streets'. Later, perhaps consider a boat ride to the beautiful island of Burano for a delicious seafood lunch? (BB)
DAY 12 – THU – VENICE – ROME. Take the smooth highway across the fertile valley of the river Po, passing the university city of Bologna. Now follow the river Reno into the wild Appenines, before entering the peaceful landscapes of Tuscany. Continue southwards to reach the valley of the river Tiber and follow its course to the Eternal City, Rome. Tonight you are offered a selection of restaurants of varying cuisine and ambience for your dining pleasure. Enjoy a short group tutorial on the wines that compliment your evening meal.
Hotel: Cicerone. (BB,DA)
DAY 13 – FRI – ROME SIGHTSEEING. Sightseeing with a local guide in this magnificent city includes a visit to the vast St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City. Cross the Tiber now to visit the Colosseum and overlook the Roman Forum. The afternoon is free for shopping, relaxing or more sightseeing. (BB)
DAY 14 – SAT – ROME – FLORENCE. Travel north to Renaissance Florence. Overlook the city from the panoramic terrace of the Piazza Michelangelo before a local guide shows you the Duomo, Ghiberti's ‘Gates of Paradise’, and Signoria Square.
Hotel: Hilton Florence Metropole. (BB,D)
DAY 15 – SUN – FLORENCE – LUCERNE. Journey to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower - one of the wonders of the world. Continue north past the lovely Italian Lake District. Magnificent mountain scenery all the way now, as you climb through the heart of the Swiss Alps via the 16.4 km long St. Gotthard Tunnel to reach the beautiful Swiss lakeside resort of Lucerne.
Hotel: Astoria. (BB)
DAY 16 – MON – LUCERNE SIGHTSEEING. Explore the covered wooden bridges, medieval fortifications, Lion Monument and lake-side walks of this beautiful city. In the afternoon, take a cable car ride to the summit of Mt Pilatus for magnificent snow-capped views and true Alpine majesty.(BB,D)
DAY 17 – TUE – LUCERNE – PARIS. Cross the Rhine at Basel, then enter France. Continue through the wine growing Burgundy region. Your destination is the glorious city of Paris, vibrant heart of French life. Don't miss the chance to tour the sparkling illuminations tonight.
Hotel: Marriott Rive Gauche. (BB)
DAY 18 – WED – PARIS SIGHTSEEING. Your sightseeing tour with a local guide highlights the Champs Élysées and Arc de Triomphe, plus you’ll see the gothic splendour of Notre Dame Cathedral on the Île de la Cité. Ascend the Eiffel Tower for panoramic views over Paris, before spending the afternoon at leisure.Tonight why not experience the glamour of a Parisian cabaret? (BB)
DAY 19 – THU – PARIS – LONDON. Bid 'au revoir' to Paris and cross the agricultural region of Northern France. At Calais, board the ferry to Dover for your return journey to London. (BB)
|
