DAY1 Monday: Frankfurt - Bonn - Cologne - Amsterdam (500 km) (Red)
From Frankfurt, we set out for Bonn, the capital of West Germany from 1949-1990. After reunification of East and West Germany, when the seat of government moved to Berlin, Bonn became a federal city of prominence and history, which we’ll see as we tour through its streets. We’ll see the Old Town Hall on the edge of the city marketplace square, and then visit Beethoven Haus, the birthplace of composer, Ludwig Van Beethoven, now a musical museum dedicated to his legendary contributions to the world of music. Afterwards, the bus will take us to Cologne to see the Cologne Cathedral and its world-famous twin-spires that attract more than 20,000 admirers a day. After lunch and some free time to browse a Cologne shopping area, we’ll finish our day’s travel at Amsterdam, where we’ll spend the night.
| Hotel (Reference only) |
A4 Schiphol Hotel
Rijksweg A4, Nr.3
2132 MA Hoofddorp
www.hotelschiphol.nl |
Inntel Hotels Amsterdam-Zaandam
Provincialeweg 102,
1506 MD Zaandam
www.inntelhotels.nl |
DAY2 Tuesday: Amsterdam - The Hague - Amsterdam (Red)
Today we will enjoy our morning sightseeing tour to The Hague, where we’ll see the Peace Palace, built between the years 1907 and 1913, where the International Court of Justice is now located. The bus will then take us to the popular Dutch seaside resort, Scheveningen, followed by a countryside excursion to the village of Zaanse Schans, where we’ll visit a wooden shoe factory, a cheese farm, and stop for photos at the windmills that have become visual symbols of Netherlands scenery.** Afterwards, the bus will return us to the Amsterdam city center, where we will tour a famous diamond factory, learning the subtleties of diamond cutting technique that has been practiced since the 16th Century. Later, we’ll have some leisure time in the city to walk or spend on a Canal cruise* before heading to dinner.
**Note: from mid-March to mid-May instead of The Hague and Scheveningen, we will go to Keukenhof, for opening date please visit: www.keukenhof.com
| Hotel (Reference only) |
A4 Schiphol Hotel
Rijksweg A4, Nr.3
2132 MA Hoofddorp
www.hotelschiphol.nl |
Inntel Hotels Amsterdam-Zaandam
Provincialeweg 102,
1506 MD Zaandam
www.inntelhotels.nl |
DAY3 Wednesday: Amsterdam - Brussels - Paris (500 km) (Red)
Today’s tour begins with a drive from Amsterdam to Brussels, the Belgian capital. Before we arrive, we’ll stop for a photo at the Atomium, a monument commemorating the first World’s Fair after World War II, which took place in Brussels in 1958. When we arrive at the city, we’ll drive to the center to enjoy the view of the beautiful Grand’ Place, the central square of Brussels, and the famous statuette, the Manneken Pis, nearby. Leaving Brussels, we’ll drive to the splendid city of Paris, France. (For interested travelers, our tour guide can arrange an optional Paris by Night Tour* with a visit to Tour Montparnasse*.)
| Hotel (Reference only) |
Express by Holiday Inn Porte d'Italie
1-3 Rue Elisee Reclus
Kremlin Bicetre, 94270 (Paris)
www.hiexpress.com |
Kyriad Joinville le Pont
16 Rue Edouard Vaillant
94300 Joinville le Pont (Paris)
www.kyriad.fr |
DAY4 Thursday: Paris - Versailles - Paris (Red)
Today, we’ll enjoy the many famous sights of historic Paris. Our bus will take us along the Champs-Elysees, down the prominent avenue to its western end where the Arc de Triomphe sits, honoring those that died during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. At the eastern end, we’ll visit the Place de la Concorde, the large square made famous both by “Cleopatra’s Needle”—an ancient Egyptian obelisk--and as the site where martyrs of the French aristocracy were guillotined at the peak of the Revolution. Then the bus will drive to the Hotel des Invalides, where the tomb of Napoleon is located, before heading to the Eiffel Tower*, where our tour will feature an ascent to its top to view the city. A scenic cruise* along the river Seine will show us many of the city’s most famous sights from the water, including Notre Dame Cathedral and Pont Alexandre III. The rest of the day will be dedicated to exploring the magnificent Palace of Versailles*; once home and refuge to the royal family of Louis XIV, it is now a must-see excursion just outside of Paris. We’ll return to the city area for the night.
| Hotel (Reference only) |
Express by Holiday Inn Porte d'Italie
1-3 Rue Elisee Reclus
Kremlin Bicetre, 94270 (Paris)
www.hiexpress.com |
Kyriad Joinville le Pont
16 Rue Edouard Vaillant
94300 Joinville le Pont (Paris)
www.kyriad.fr |
DAY5 Friday: Paris (Red)
This morning is dedicated the wonders on display at the world’s most famous art museum, the Musee du Louvre*. Here, we will behold some historic masterpieces of past artists, including the Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, (also called Nike of Samothrace), and of course that iconic work by Leonardo da Vinci, the Mona Lisa. After browsing through as many of the Louvre’s 400,000 works of art as we can in a few hours, we’ll transfer to Place d’Italie for lunch. In the afternoon, our tour guide will take us for a ride on the Paris underground metro for a better understanding of how the city runs, and then we’ll have free time to spend in the city center around the Opera House before returning to our hotel for the evening.
| Hotel (Reference only) |
Express by Holiday Inn Porte d'Italie
1-3 Rue Elisee Reclus
Kremlin Bicetre, 94270 (Paris)
www.hiexpress.com |
Kyriad Joinville le Pont
16 Rue Edouard Vaillant
94300 Joinville le Pont (Paris)
www.kyriad.fr |
DAY6 Saturday: Paris - Lucerne (650 km) (Green)
Today, we’ll drive from Paris to Switzerland, past villages and charming landscapes to Basel, and from there on to Lucerne, where we’ll spend the night.
| Hotel (Reference only) |
NH Lucerne
Friedenstrasse, 8,
6004 Luzern
www.nh-hotels.com |
DAY7 Sunday: Lucerne - Milan - Verona - Venice (400 km) (Green)
From Lucerne, we’ll visit the Italian city of Milan, the fashion capital of the world. When we arrive, we’ll view the immense Sforza Castle, once the stronghold housing the Duchy of Milan, now home to a number of the city’s museums and art galleries. Then we’ll head to glass-covered 19th Century shopping plaza, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, followed by a visit to the world-renowned La Scala Opera House, a picturesque example of traditional Italian architecture. Afterwards, we’ll drive to the city of Verona, filled with both historical buildings and romance. We stop first at the Verona Arena, a Roman Amphitheatre considered one of the best preserved ancient structures of its kind. Then we’ll walk the streets that served as a setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, including the short passageway leading to the Balcony of Juliet at Villa Capuleti, a pilgrimage place for lovers and now a popular wedding venue. The evening will take us from Verona to Venice, the city of canals for a night’s stay.
| Hotel (Reference only) |
Hotel Plaza Mestre
Viale Stazione 36
Mestre - Venice
www.hotelplazavenice.com |
Sheraton Padova Hotel
Corso Argentina 5,
35129 Padova
www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton |
DAY8 Monday: Venice - Rome (550 km) (Green)
After breakfast in Venice, we’ll take a waterbus along the canals through the city, past many of the marvelous churches and structures showcasing Venetian architecture, stopping off at San Marco Square. Here we will see the Basilica di San Marco, one of the best known and preserved examples of Byzantine building style. Nearby, we will make our way to view the Bridge of Sighs, the beautiful limestone walkway that connects the old prison to the interrogation rooms in the Doge's Palace, which was often the last view convicts would have of the city before their inprisonment. Then, after witnessing a demonstration of Murano glass-blowing, we’ll take gondola ride* through the Grand Canal that you will not want to miss. In the afternoon, we transfer to Rome or a nearby city for the night.
| Hotel (Reference only) |
Idea Hotel Roma Z3
Via Amos Zanibelli 13/15
00155 Roma
http://www.ideahotel.it/ |
Domina hotel conference capannelle-roma
Via Siderno 37, Localita Statuario,
00178 Roma
www.dominahotels.com/ |
DAY9 Tuesday: Rome - Vatican - Florence (280 km) (Green)
Our first stop in the region will be the Vatican, the world’s smallest sovereign state, where we’ll head to its grandest and most celebrated church, St. Peter's Basilica. The basilica, which houses the burial place of St. Peter, is considered one of the holiest sites in the Christian world and is a showcase of the artistic and architectural styles of several Renaissance era greats, including Michelangelo. After lunch, we head out to Rome to enjoy a tour that will take us to the Colosseum*, the Arch of Constantine, and the Pantheon. Afterwards we’ll stop by the Trevi Fountain where you can throw a coin and make the traditional wish to return to Rome, and then enjoy a relaxing stroll through the Piazza di Spagna and the nearby Spanish Steps. Later, we’ll transfer to nearby Florence to stay overnight.
| Hotel (Reference only) |
Hotel I ciliegi
Piazza Giorgio Amendola, 4
Reggello
www.hoteliciliegi.com/ |
Hotel Moderno
Via Londra 5,
50065 Pontassieve-Florence
www.hotelmodernofirenze.it |
DAY10 Wednesday: Florence - Pisa - Genoa (550 km) (Green)
Breakfast in Florence will be followed by a tour of this stunning city, which is often called the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. We’ll first enjoy a panoramic view of the Piazzale Michelangelo, followed by a sightseeing tour on foot that features the Ponte Vecchio and Arno River, the Piazza del Duomo with its free-standing Campanile Tower designed by Giotto, and finally the Uffizi Gallery, one of the finest and oldest art galleries in the world. You will have ample time to shop through Florence for some of the world’s premier leather goods before we leave to drive to Pisa to see its famous Leaning Tower. After a stop at the beautiful Duomo (Cathedral) and Baptistry in Pisa, we'll continue on to Genoa or a city nearby for overnight.
| Hotel (Reference only) |
Loano 2 Village
Riviera delle Palme - Via degli Alpini, 6
Loano
www.loano2village.it/ |
Miramare Continental
Corso Matuzia 9,
18038 San Remo
http://www.miramaresanremo.it/ |
DAY11 Thursday: Genoa - Monaco - Nice - Cannes - Avignon (450 km) (Green)
This day features a journey along the Mediterranean Sea to the picturesque city-state of Monaco on the French Riviera. We’ll enjoy the breathtaking scenery as we visit this small country’s major attraction, the grand palace and celebrated casino in Monte Carlo. We’ll make a brief stop at Nice for a view of the beautiful city, before making our way to the world famous Fragonard Perfume Factory to sample and learn more about their wares. After this fragrant tour, we will reach Cannes, host to one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals, where we’ll have the opportunity to take photos at the Palais des Festival and then relax on the beach. Tonight we’ll stay in the Provençal town of Avignon.
| Hotel (Reference only) |
Novotel Avignon Sud
2968 Ave de l'amandier, Route de Marseille
84000 Avignon
www.accorhotels.com/ |
Express by Holiday Inn Avignon
2 Rue Mere Teresa
8400 Avignon
www.hiexpress.com |
DAY12 Friday: Avignon - Paris (700 km) (Green)
Our day is spent en route from Avignon to Paris, driving through scenic French countryside, reaching Paris in the evening where we’ll stay overnight.
| Hotel (Reference only) |
Express by Holiday Inn Porte d'Italie
1-3 Rue Elisee Reclus
Kremlin Bicetre, 94270 (Paris)
www.hiexpress.com |
Kyriad Joinville le Pont
16 Rue Edouard Vaillant
94300 Joinville le Pont (Paris)
www.kyriad.fr |
DAY13 Saturday: Paris - Reims - Luxembourg (420 km) (Red)
Today we’ll pass by vineyards and lovely French vistas on our way to Reims, the capital of Champagne, an old province of France made word famous by its sparkling wine. The city of Reims has played an important role in French history--as the ceremonial home to the coronation of all the kings of France, it was a symbolic center of power from 11th Century until the 19th Century, when Charles X was crowned. Here, we’ll visit the Reims Cathedral, site of the coronations and an architectural wonder in its own right. Later, we’ll drive ahead to Luxembourg, the only remaining Grand Duchy in the modern world. After arriving, we’ll enjoy the view of the Place de Constitution, the canyon in the city and Pont Adophe. We’ll stay for the night in Luxembourg or a nearby city.
| Hotel (Reference only) |
Melia Luxembourg
1 Park Drai Eechelen
1499 Luxembourg
www.melia-luxembourg.com/ |
Legere Premium Hotel Luxembourg
11, Parc d'Activite Syrdall,
5365 Luxembourg Airport
www.legerehotels.com/ |
DAY14 Sunday: Luxembourg - Trier - Koblenz - Frankfurt (400 km) (Red)
Our first visit of the day is to Trier, Germany's oldest city, sometimes nicknamed “the Second Rome” due to its association with Constantine the Great, who served as administrator there for 10 years. We’ll stop to view Porta Nigra, the best-preserved Roman city gate north of Alps, and then visit the Karl Marx Haus, the birthplace—and now museum--dedicated to influential philosopher and socialist thinker Karl Marx. Afterwards, we will drive to Koblenz, the city where the two rivers, the Rhine and the Mosel meet. We will have lunch in this famous scenic place, and have the option to take a cruise along the Rhine*. After lunch, the bus will take us to Frankfurt with a stop in Rudesheim. After we arrive in Frankfurt, we’ll enjoy a tour of the scenic square, Romerplatz, before our trip comes to an end.
*Optional activity; fee not included in tour price. See “Exclusions” for cost details.
IMPORTANT! Itinerary and End City Variations:
We constantly strives to improve tour itineraries and features. If such improvements can be made, or unforeseen circumstances beyond our control make changes necessary - we reserve the right to vary the end cities and to substitute hotels. At certain peak periods duplicate departures may operate, and sometimes in reverse order in which case hotels may vary from those stated on the itinerary pages.