14D13N Europe’s Highlights (4810)

Check into your hotel, and start exploring this exciting city with your CosmosGo app. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow travellers. 

Enjoy sightseeing in Amsterdam with a Local Guide pointing out the city highlights, as well as an included canal cruise to see the town from water level. Then, watch the cutting and polishing of precious stones at a diamond centre. Time in the afternoon to explore on your own or join an optional excursion.

Travelling through Germany, choose an included scenic drive along the shores of the Rhine or, even more thrilling, the optional Rhine cruise with vistas of the Lorelei rock, hilltop castles, half-timbered wine villages, and terraced vineyards. Spend the night in Karlsruhe.

Drive through Baden- Wuttenberg to the foot of the Alps to visit King Ludwig's magnificent Neuschwanstein castle, Germany's fairytale castle. Carry on into the verdant Austrian Tyrol.

Cross the border into Italy to the unique floating city of Venice. This afternoon's orientation includes a boat ride to St. Mark's Square, followed by a visit to a traditional glassblowing workshop. Don't miss out on the romantic optional gondola trip, gliding along the picturesque canals with a local troubadour to serenade you

An interesting drive southward, cutting across the Po Delta, then through the gentle Umbrian hills to medieval Assisi, where St. Francis was born in 1182. Visit the world-famous St. Francis Basilica with its beautiful frescoes by Giotto, then head for Rome.

The "Eternal City" is steeped in history, vibrantly alive and exciting, and absolutely unique! Start the included introduction to Rome's landmarks from St. Peter's Square with a Local Guide. Enjoy a drive along the iconic landmarks of the city: the Tiber River, the Caius Cestius Pyramid, the Aurelian Walls and the Caracalla Baths. Complete the experience with a walk back in time from the Circus Maximus to the Arch of Constantine and to the fascinating Colosseum, symbol of the Roman Empire. Don't miss out on the opportunity to visit the treasures of the Vatican museum and the Sistine Chapel on our optional excursion.

Drive on the "Aurelia" road to Pisa, skirting the Thyrrenian Sea coast. Hop on a mini train to the Square of Miracles and admire the curious Leaning Tower, a world-favourite photographic subject. Overnight in the spa town of Montecatini.

Arrive in Florence. This Renaissance gem and city of the Medicis will keep you enthralled for a whole day. Don't miss out on the included walking tour with a Local Guide that features most of the city highlights. You will see Piazza Santa Croce; beautiful Piazza Signoria; Palazzo Vecchio and Loggia dei Lanzi. To top it all, see Piazza del Duomo and its cathedral with the Giotto Campanile (belltower), and the magnificently carved East Door of the Baptistry, known as the "Gate of Paradise." Journey northward through the Tuscan hills and across the Apennines to the shores of romantic Lake Como.

Leave beautiful Lake Como and cross the border into Switzerland for a stop in the Italian-speaking town of Lugano. Continue north and, once through Gotthard Tunnel, see more magnificent alpine scenery as you descend to the shores of Lake Lucerne.

Spend some time in beautiful Lucerne. Later, stop in idyllic Interlaken and follow the shoreline of Lake Thun. A few more miles to Lausanne, overlooking Lake Geneva.

Enjoy vistas of famous vineyards on the way to Beaune. Visit the medieval Burgundian town, known all over the world for its wine production. Take the autoroute to Paris

Get to know the city of romance with a local expert and see many of the Parisian sites, such as the Eiffel Tower and Champs Elysees. An optional excursion is available to the palace and gardens of Versailles.

Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning.

NOTES: Option available end your trip in London with additional fees apply.