18D17N The Best Of Europe (5160)

Check into your hotel. In the afternoon, you may want to start exploring the lively British capital. Uniformed hosts and the CosmosGO app are available to help you make the most of your stay. 

A full day to savour a variety of optional activities: take a panoramic tour of London's landmarks, visit the Tower of London, or choose an excursion to Windsor Castle. Tonight, we recommend our optional Taste of London excursion with dinner, followed by a guided illumination cruise on the River Thames

Transfer to the railway station and board the Eurostar train to Brussels with your Tour Director. Take a seat on your luxury motorcoach for the drive to the Amsterdam area. Today's Distance by coach: 127 mi/ 203 km

Today, enjoy an included canal cruise to see the city from water level with a Local Guide, then stop at a diamond centre to watch the cutting and polishing of precious stones. This afternoon, continue your journey to Wiesbaden. Today's Distance: 258 mi/ 415 km

Drive through the picturesque Rhineland and enjoy splendid scenery as you skirt the Rhine river. Visit Heidelberg, Germany's oldest university town, located at the confluence of the Neckar and Rhine Rivers, then continue to Switzerland. Today's Distance: 270 mi/ 435 km

Lucerne is nestled amid snowcapped Alps, surrounded by a lake, and graced by the clear mountain waters of the Reuss River. Your orientation includes the wooden Chapel bridge and the Lion monument, erected in memory of the 800 Swiss Guards who defended Louis XVI and his wife. A grand selection of optional activities completes the day: a ride on the "cabrio" cable-car to the summit of Mount Stanserhorn; a cruise on the fjord-like lake; and, of course, time to shop for an authentic Swiss watch.

More wonderful alpine scenery as you drive into the mountain ranges that surround the massive St. Gotthard Pass. Continue to the warmer and sunnier ambiance of Canton Ticino, then cross into Italy and drive across the Po Valley to Verona, medieval setting of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Stroll around the picturesque market square (Piazza delle Erbe) and the cobblestone streets. Today's Distance: 317 mi/ 510 km

Venice is more like a marvellous film set than a real-life city, with its crisscrossing canals, gondolas and water buses, arched bridges, palaces, and busy little piazzas (squares). Your included orientation starts with a boat ride to St. Mark's Square and is followed by free time to soak up the city's unique atmosphere and a chance to visit a glassblowing workshop. Don't miss out on the optional gondola trip, gliding along the picturesque canals with a local troubadour to serenade you.

An interesting drive southward, crossing the rolling Apennines. Stop in medieval Assisi, where St. Francis was born in 1182, and visit the world-famous St. Francis Basilicas with the beautiful frescoes by Giotto. Then, head for Rome. Today's Distance: 317 mi/ 510 km

An interesting drive southward, crossing the rolling Apennines. Stop in medieval Assisi, where St. Francis was born in 1182, and visit the world-famous St. Francis Basilicas with the beautiful frescoes by Giotto. Then, head for Rome. Today's Distance: 317 mi/ 510 km

This morning you have an opportunity to visit the treasures of the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel on our optional excursion. Later, travel south all the way, with the Vesuvius volcano in the distance. Visit Pompeii, where time stopped in 79 AD when the Vesuvius eruption buried the city. On your guided visit to the archaeological site, see the remains of luxurious villas, temples, theatre, and forum. From here, it's just a few more miles to reach the lively Sorrento area. Today's Distance: 168 mi/ 270 km

Cross the blue sea for a full-day excursion to the legendary island of Capri. Surrounded by rose-tinted rocks, Capri has incredibly beautiful coves of translucent blues and greens. The town, with its pretty piazzetta, maze of streets, fashionable boutiques, and cozy restaurants, is a mecca for the jet set. An optional tour takes you around the island with its steep roads and panoramic views

An early journey north to Florence. Vistas of rolling hills, austere rows of cypress trees, terraced vineyards, olive groves, and rural villages form the backdrop of your journey through beautiful Tuscany. Arrive in Florence in the afternoon in time to enjoy its magnificent architectural and artistic treasures; the included walking tour with a Local Guide shows the highlights. Today's Distance: 320 mi/ 515 km

Stop in Pisa, where you hop on a mini train to reach the Square of Miracles to see the famous Leaning Tower. Bypassing the great port of Genoa, drive northwest for glimpses of the Italian and French Rivieras. Visit a typical perfume workshop in Eze and later reach the shores of the charming Cote d'Azur. Today's Distance: 273 mi/ 440 km

Taking the Route Napoleon, follow in the footsteps of the French leader as he escaped from exile in Elba. Stop for some crispy fresh air in Saint Andre Les Alpes before reaching Grenoble-an alpine sports mecca and site of the 1968 Winter Olympic Games. Today's Distance: 199 mi/ 320 km

Enjoy the very heart of the Burgundy wine- growing region, making a stop in lovely Beaune, surrounded by some of the world's finest vineyards. Continue northward to the exciting city of Paris, capital of France. Today's Distance: 358 mi/ 577 km

Paris is a world-class romantic city with many familiar landmarks. This morning, see the main sights during the included city tour with a Local Guide. In the afternoon, a chance to feel like a French aristocrat as you join the optional walking tour through the immense Palace of Versailles. This evening, why not join an optional dinner?

Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning.