10 days European Dream
Brush up on your photographic skills - you're going to need them on this fast-paced jaunt through Europe's celebrity cities of Rome, Florence, Venice, Paris and lesser-known Lucerne. Get snap-happy sightseeing at such highlights as the Vatican City, Eiffel Tower and the Duomo, people watch in the 'piazze' and marvel at a multitude of picture-perfect landscapes.
| Day | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive Rome ( 2 Nights ) | Welcome to Rome, the Eternal City. once home to gods and goddesses, emporers, senators and slaves. Explore the city's bustling boulevards and labyrinthine lanes before meeting your fellow travellers and Travel Director at a Welcome Reception. This evening we meander through the streets of Rome during an orientation drive revealing some of the city's most celebrated treasures. Hotel Crowne Plaza St. Peter's Meal(s) Welcome Reception |
| 2 | Rome Sightseeing | The Holy See takes centre stage today as we join a Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour that will see us visit the 17th century St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City and witness Michelangelo's sorrowful Pietà, a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture. We cross the Tiber into Ancient Rome to delve into what was once the largest empire in the world and view such ancient sites as the imposing Colosseum where brave gladiators and slaves duelled to their deaths. The afternoon is yours at leisure to explore the picturesque piazze of Rome. Sit on the Spanish Steps and shop up a storm on Via Condotti or perhaps join an Optional Experience to see the exquisite frescoed ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Meal(s) Buffet Breakfast |
| 3 | Rome – Florence Sightseeing | We travel north into the vineyard-clad hills of Tuscany and along the valley of the River Arno. Stopping for an authentic Be My Guest lunch at an unforgettable castle, we enjoy local wine, a delicious meal and olive oil flavours before venturing to Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance. Join a Local Specialist for an enchanting encounter with one of the world's cultural centres, admiring the exquisite architecture and artistry around every turn. View the magnificent marble Duomo and Piazza della Signoria, the political hub of Florence before arriving at your hotel. Hotel Grand Mediterraneo Meal(s) Buffet Breakfast |
| 4 | Florence – Venice | The romantic island city of Venice is our destination today. We take to San Marco's waters, cruising the canals with views of the imposing St. Mark's Basilica and ornate Doge's Palace before experiencing a Cultural Insight into the fine, centuries-old art of Venetian glassblowing. The afternoon is yours to explore narrow calle in search of a cosy bacaro where you can enjoy delicious Venetian cuisine washed down with a Campari spritz or two. Or venture to the enchanting canal-side setting of St. Mark's Square - the sounds of talented buskers, seagulls and lapping water the perfect backdrop for a brilliant sun set over the Grand Canal. Hotel Novotel Venezia Mestre Castellana Meal(s) Buffet Breakfast |
| 5 | Venice – Lucerne | We depart Venice, travelling across the lush green Veneto plains and north into the picturesque Italian and Swiss Lake Districts via Como and Lugano. Meandering through the spectacular alpine landscape along the winding St. Gotthard route, we arrive in Switzerland and the laidback lakeside city of Lucerne, most famous for its solid wooden Chapel Bridge and the poignant Lion Monument, a memorial to Swiss Guards who were massacred in Paris in 1792 while guarding Louis XVI. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure, ambling through the cobblestone streets of Old Town lined with beautifully painted façades or perhaps join an Optional Experience ascending one of the surrounding mountain peaks for panoramic views of the surroundings. Hotel Astoria Meal(s) Buffet Breakfast |
| 6 | Lucerne – Paris (2 Nights) | From Lucerne, we head into France and through the rolling vineyard-clad hills of Burgundy, one of the country's largest wine-producing areas, en route to Paris where we'll spend the next two nights. The City of Light is yours to explore this evening. Wander up grand boulevards and along the scenic Seine, stumble upon a cosy salon to grab a bite to eat and sip wine while watching the beautiful people of Paris, or consider attending one of the city's famous colourful cabaret shows. Hotel Novotel Tour Eiffel Meal(s) Buffet Breakfast |
| 7 | Paris Sightseeing | Join a Local Specialist today and ascend to the second level of the iconic Eiffel Tower to get a bird's-eye view of the golden dome of Les Invalides, the Tuileries gardens and the glinting tip of the Louvre Pyramid in the distance. See the Arc de Triomphe and Place de la Concorde, with its turbulent past spanning centuries before joining your Travel Director and fellow travellers at a memorable Farewell Dinner. Meal(s) Buffet Breakfast Farewell Dinner |
| 8 | Paris – London (2 Nights) | Say ‘au revoir' as you pass the Somme battlefields en route to Calais. Sail across the Channel to Dover, continuing by coach through Kent to London, your final destination. Meal(s) Buffet Breakfast / Hotel Hilton Kensington |
| 9 | London Sightseeing | Join a Local Specialist today to see the sights of London. View Big Ben, the imposing Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace, after which you have an afternoon at leisure to soak up the dynamic atmosphere of this capital city that combines centuries-old heritage with modern verve. Meal(s) Full Breakfast |
| 10 | Depart London | Time to bid farewell to London and your fellow travelers as your memorable European vacation comes to an end. Airport transfers are available. Conditions apply. Meal(s) Full Breakfast |