Day 1 Home - London
Day 2 London (329 km)
Day 3 London
Day 4 London - Paris (342 km)
Day 5 Paris (17 km)
Day 6 Paris - Lucerne (667 km)
Day 7 Lucerne - Mt. Titlis - Milan (188 km)
Day 8 Milan - Verona - Padua (209 km)
Day 9 Venice - Montecatini Terme (200 km)
Day 10 Montecatini Terme - Pisa - Florence - Rome (347 km)
Day 11 Vatican City - Rome (3 km)
Day 12 Rome - Home
Day 1:
Home - London
Relax on your international flight to London as you start your journey to the Old World.
Day 2:
London (329 km)
Breakfast: Excluded|Lunch: Included|Dinner: Excluded
As guests arrive at the airport in London, they will meet with a tour guide, who will help them transfer to the hotel, stopping along the way to sightsee at Windsor Castle.
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Windsor, UNITED KINGDOM
Windsor is a town in southeast England. It is well known because of the Windsor Castle, which is one of the official residences of the British Royal Family.
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is known both for its impressive architectural feats as well as for being one of the main residence of the British royal family. Its was built in the 11th century AD after the Norman invasion of Britain.
Day 3:
London
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Excluded
Following breakfast, start your sightseeing at Royal Palace and Fortress, the Tower of London. Learn its storied history and legends as you explore, and hear how Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, two of Henry VIII's six wives, were executed here. View the tower's priceless Crown Jewels, whose crowns, orbs and jewels are invested with the monarch's power. Afterward, absorb the main sights on a panoramic tour, passing Trafalgar Square, Big Ben and Parliament, and pause for photos at Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey. Enjoy the rest of the day free to explore as you wish.
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London, UNITED KINGDOM
The capital city of both England and the United Kingdom has been a focal point of Western civilization for centuries. This amazing city in the British Isles is famous for places like Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and Westminster Abbey.
Tower of London
Dating back nearly a millennia, this historic castle on the shores of the Thames in London has served many important functions throughout history. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a museum that is open to the public.
Parliament Square (Passing By)
This large open area outside London's Palace of Westminster is one of London's main tourist spots. In addition to a grassy park with trees, it contains many monuments to famous historical figures such as Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln.
Big Ben (Passing By)
"Big Ben" is actually the name of the bell inside the clocktower located at the northern end of Westminster Palace. The tower itself is officially known as "Elizabeth Tower." It is one of England's most recognizable landmarks.
Trafalgar Square (Passing By)
This large plaza in central London is a popular tourist attraction. The square is home to several monuments, sculptures, and fountains, but the one that features most prominently is Nelson's Column, a 170-foot-tall war memorial.
Buckingham Palace
One of the most famous palaces of the British monarchy, Buckingham Palace dates back to 1705. In addition to serving as a museum and art gallery, it has been the main residence of the royal family since 1837.
Westminster Abbey
This imposing Gothic church from the 10th century AD is one of the most famous buildings in the United Kingdom. It has played host to 16 royal weddings since its building, including that of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Day 4:
London - Paris (342 km)
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Excluded
Today, we will travel from London to Paris aboard the Eurostar train. Upon arrival, we will head to the city center and then have the remainder of the day free to explore at our own pace.
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Paris, FRANCE
Paris has been a thriving city for more than two thousand years. It is known all over the world as a city of art and romance, from its high-end cafes to the famous visage of the Eiffel Tower.
River Seine Cruise
Paris is synonymous with sublime beauty, and you will see firsthand why that is as you leaisurely sail down the Seine, the river that flows through the heart of the city of lights.
Tour Fee (Optional): Adult $34; Child $34|Duration: Approx. 1 Hour 25 Minutes
Day 5:
Paris (17 km)
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Included (Dinner at local restaurant)
In the morning, we will take a drive to the Palace of Versailles. Next, we will visit the Louvre. On a scenic drive, we will visit famous landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower, Palais Carnier, Place de la Concord, the Champs Elysees, and the Arc de Triomphe. In the evening, we will enjoy a dinner of fine French cuisine.
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Versailles, FRANCE
A city renowned worldwide for the Château de Versailles and the gardens of Versailles, designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Located in the western suburbs of the French capital, 17.1 km from the centre of Paris.
Palace of Versailles
Louis IV's opulent mansion is one of the most famous symbols of French political history and power. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was the center of French politics for nearly a century, until the beginning of the French Revolution.
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Paris, FRANCE
Paris has been a thriving city for more than two thousand years. It is known all over the world as a city of art and romance, from its high-end cafes to the famous visage of the Eiffel Tower.
The Louvre
One of the most well-known art museums in the world with one of the largest collections, the Louvre houses such masterpieces as the Mona Lisa and works by artists ranging from Raphael to Monet and everyone in between.
Arc de Triomphe (Passing By)
This breathtaking neoclassical arch is one of Paris' most famous monuments. It commemorates those who fought and died in the French Revolution and Napoleonic wars. It also sits atop the Tomb of the Unknown Solider for World War I.
Champs Elysees (Passing By)
Champs Elysees is the name of both an upscale street and shopping district in Paris. It is on the cafes, boutiques, movie theaters, and more. One of the most famous streets of the world, is also known for its many monuments.
Palais Garnier (Passing By)
The Palais Garnier is famous not only for its exquisite architectural design and opulent interior artwork, but also as the setting for both the novel and musical "The Phantom of the Opera." Within lie a museum, library and restaurant.
Place de la Concorde (Passing By)
The largest square in Paris is the Place de la Concorde. On it sit many major Parisian tourist spots, such as Champs-Elysees, the Luxor Obelisk, the Galerie nationale du Jeu de Paume and the Musee de l'Orangerie.
Eiffel Tower (Passing By)
One of the most famous monuments in the world, the Eiffel Tower has been a symbol of Paris, France, and Europe since 1889. It was erected as the entryway to the 1889 World's Fair, and has been wowing visitors ever since.
Day 6:
Paris - Lucerne (667 km)
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Included (Dinner at hotel)
Today, we will take a leisurely drive to Lucerne through the stunning landscape of the rural French and Swiss countryside. Once we arrive in the afternoon, we will have the rest of the day free to explore at our own leisure.
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Lucerne, SWITZERLAND
This Swiss city on gorgeous Lake Lucerne is popular with tourists due to its amazing views of the lake, Mount Pilatus, and Mount Rigi of the Swiss Alps. Some of the buildings in Lucerne date back hundreds of years.
Day 7:
Lucerne - Mt. Titlis - Milan (188 km)
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Included (Dinner at hotel)
After breakfast, we will visit the Chpell Bridge and the Lion Monument. Then, we will perhaps join our optional excursion to Mt. Titlis before we head south to Milan, the center of fashion and design in Italy.
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Lucerne, SWITZERLAND
This Swiss city on gorgeous Lake Lucerne is popular with tourists due to its amazing views of the lake, Mount Pilatus, and Mount Rigi of the Swiss Alps. Some of the buildings in Lucerne date back hundreds of years.
Chapel Bridge
This covered bridge that crosses the Reuss River in Lucerne is one of Switzerland's main tourist attractions. The interior of the bridge contains several paintings which were completed in the 17th century.
Lion Monument
The Lion of Lucerne is an amazing sculpture carved directly into a cliffside in one of Switzerland's most gorgeous cities. It was done to commemorate the deaths of Swiss soldiers who were brutally massacred during the bloody French Revolution.
Lake Lucerne Sightseeing Cruise
Sit back and relax on the main deck or upper deck while your expert captain takes you along Switzerland's most stunning lake, surrounded by majestic mountain peaks, forests and meadows.
Tour Fee (Optional): Adult $37; Child $37; Includes: Charter boat, Tips|Duration: Approx. 45 Minutes
Mount Titlis
Ride the revolutionary Titlis Rotair revolving cable car for 360° alpine views. Enjoy free time for the Cliff Walk or glacier cave exploration on Mt. Titlis.
Admission (Optional): Adult $119 / €99; Child $119 / €99; Includes: Transportation, Tour guide, Funicular train, Titlis Rotair, Admission, Tips.|Duration: Approx. 3 Hours
Day 8:
Milan - Verona - Padua (209 km)
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Included (Dinner at hotel)
After taking an orientation tour in Milan, see magnificent Milan Cathedral and La Scala Opera House. Then we will proceed to Verona. When we first arrive, we will take a sightseeing tour around the city, including a visit to Juliet's House. Later, we will drive to Venice. Later, leave Verona and stay overnight in the provincial town of Padua.
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Milan, ITALY
This city in the northernmost part of Italy is a global center for fashion and design. Its artistic history dates back hundreds and hundreds of years; places like Santa Maria delle Grazie are decorated with Leonardo da Vinci's work.
Teatro alla Scala (Outside Visit)
Usually known simply as "La Scala," this Milanese theater is a world-renown opera house that was founded in 1778. Premieres at the theater include Giacomo Puccini's "Madame Butterfly," among a litany of others. It underwent major renovations in the early 2000s.
Duomo (Outside Visit)
Milan's cathedral is the largest in all of Italy and the fifth largest in the world. The groundbreaking occurred in 1386; however, construction was not completed until 1965. Visitors can access the rooftops, which provide amazing views of the city.
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Verona, ITALY
It is one of the main tourist destinations in northern Italy, owing to its artistic heritage, several annual fairs, shows, and operas, such as the lyrical season in the Arena, the ancient amphitheatre built by the Romans.
Casa di Giulietta
The "Casa di Giulietta" or "House of Juliet" in Verona, Italy is a house dating back to the 13th century that claims to be the home of the family that inspired the Capulets from Shakespeare's famous play.
Day 9:
Venice - Montecatini Terme (200 km)
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Included (Dinner at hotel)
Today, we will take a boat to Murano, an island famous for its glass-making. Then, we will take a ferry to Venice, where we will enjoy a walking tour, includes the St. Mark's Basilica, the magical Piazza St. Marco, and the jewel-like Bridge of Sighs. If you desire, you may want to take an unforgettable gondola ride and see the Grand Canal from the best vantage point. Later, we will travel to Montecatini Terme, where we will enjoy dinner and spend the night.
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Venice, ITALY
This city off the coast of northeast Italy is famous the world over for its many canals. It is actually a chain of 118 islands linked together by bridges and waterways. Venice is world-renown for its art and beauty.
Murano
This small series of islands within the Venetian Lagoon is connected by canals and footbridges. It is famous for its vibrantly colorful houses and the signature glass manufactured on the islands.
Bridge of Sighs
This gorgeous white-limestone bridge in Venice gets its name from an almost ironically bleak place: In the 1800s, the windows looking out from the enclosed bridge's interior were the last views of sublime Venice convicts would see before their imprisonment.
Saint Mark's Basilica
The Basilica Cattedrale Patriarcale di San Marco is the most famous church in Venice and is known for its unique and ornate Italo-Byzantine architecture that includes five hemispherical domes and fine patterns. It was built in the 11th century AD.
Piazza San Marco
The Piazza San Marco is the largest and primary public area in Venice. The structures surrounding it date back more than one thousand years, although the vast majority are from Renaissance times. It has been called "the drawing room of Europe."
Gondola Ride
Take a serenaded gondola ride along the stunning Grand Canal to appreciate the grand palazzos lining the water.
Tour Fee (Optional): Adult $58; Child $58; Includes: Gondola fee, Musicians and tips. Minimum: 16 people|Duration: Approx. 45 Minutes
Day 10:
Montecatini Terme - Pisa - Florence - Rome (347 km)
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Excluded
Today's destination is Pisa, where you'll marvel at the remarkable Leaning Tower of Pisa. After taking in the tower, continue by coach to Tuscany's graceful capital, Florence. Take a walking tour of its signature sights, including the sumptuous red-tile Duomo, Baptistry, Signoria Square and St. Croce Basilica. Later, leave Florence for Rome.
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Pisa, ITALY
This Tuscan town on the Tyrrhenian Sea in northern Italy is most famous for its Leaning Tower. However, there are many more works of art and architecture to see, and time spent in Pisa will not be easily forgotten!
Leaning Tower of Pisa
The world-famous tower built during the Middle Ages is a testament to both human ingenuity and fallibility. The tower tilted because the soil on one side was softer than on the other, and it could not support the tower's weight.
Duration: 7-11 Hours
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Florence, ITALY
Historic Florence, Italy is considered to be one of the most gorgeous cities in the world. Its long tradition of art and culture can be seen on nearly every doorstep. Millions of people travel here each year.
Piazza del Duomo
The "Cathedral Square" in the heart of Florence is one of the most-visited places on the planet. It is home to an impressive list of breathtaking buildings emblematic of Italian art and culture, including the Florence Cathedral and Baptistery.
Florence Baptistery (Outside Visit)
This Florentine baptistery also carries the distinction of being a minor basilica. It was built between 1059 and 1128 in a Romanesque style. It is where the famous poet Dante was baptized in his youth.
Piazza della Signoria
The Piazza della Signoria features many can't-miss Florentine buildings. The Palazzo Vecchio, Florence's massive fortress of a town hall, towers above. The Loggia dei Lanzi is a beautiful piece of Renaissance architecture, bedecked with bronze and marble sculptures.
Basilica of Santa Croce (Outside Visit)
The Basilica of Santa Croce, known as "the Temple of the Italian Glories," is the burial site of some most famous names in Italian history: Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli, among others. Inside are frescoes by Gaddi and sculptures by Donatello.
Day 11:
Vatican City - Rome (3 km)
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Included (Dinner at local restaurant)
Today, we will go on a tour of Vatican City, beginning with St. Peter's Basilica and Square. Next, we will stop by the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Arch of Constantine. Then, we will continue to the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. After that, we will have some free time to walk around. In the evening, we will have a festive farewell dinner.
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Vatican City, ITALY
This small country, surrounded by the larger city of Rome, is the center of the Catholic Church and home of the Pope. Famous sights are St. Peter's Square and the Basilica, as well as the Vatican Museum.
St. Peter's Square
This major piazza in the Vatican sits directly in front of St. Peter's Basilica, the enter of the Catholic church. An Egyptian obelisk made of red granite sits in its center, surrounded by a columned colonnade.
St. Peter's Basilica
Perhaps the most famous church in the world and the center of Roman Catholicism, this ornate basilica in the small sovereign state of Vatican City has been a place of pilgrimage for nearly two thousand years.
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Rome, ITALY
The history of this amazing city spans more than two and a half thousand years. It is one of the most historic places on the planet Earth, and it's artistic and cultural contributions have colored global development.
Colosseum
This nearly 2000-year-old structure is one of the most famous buildings in all of human history. At its height, it could hold up to 80,000 people, and was usually used for gladiatorial contests, executions, and drama productions.
Arch of Constantine
This triumphal arch in Rome has been standing for nearly 2,000 years. It commemorates the victory of Constantine I at the Battle of Milvian Bridge. It was built with brick and marble, and the detailing is incredibly intricate.
Trevi Fountain
Perhaps the most famous fountain in the world, this baroque masterpiece from the 18th century is best known for the myth that tossing coins in brings good luck. People from all over the world come to throw money into the fountain.
Roman Forum
More commonly known as simply the "Forums," this ancient site was once a public square surrounded by active governmental buildings. The ruins go back at least as far as the eighth century BC and were the heart of ancient Rome.
Admission (Optional): Adult $15 / €12; Admission fee is covered by the single Colosseum ticket that grants access to the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill area
Spanish Steps
The famous Spanish Steps in Rome that connect the Piazza di Spagna and the Piazza Trinita dei Monti, dominated by the Trinita dei Monti church at the top.
Day 12:
Rome - Home
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Excluded
Today, guests will transfer to the airport for their departure flights. Please see "Departure and Return" for more detailed information regarding when to schedule flights.
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