Day 1: Start of tour in Amsterdam
Welcome to the start of this exciting Christmas and New Year tour of Europe! The festive adventure begins in Amsterdam where you will meet up with your group and tour leader. The tour kicks off with Dutch staples - cheese and clogs! See how these classic Dutch items are made the traditional way before visiting Zaanse Schans, a Dutch town famous for its historic windmills and wooden houses. Travel to Volendam for lunch and free time this afternoon. Next, it’s back to Amsterdam for the best introduction to this vibrant city - a canal cruise! Finish off day one with a delicious group welcome dinner.
Day 2: Amsterdam - Rhine Valley
Day two and it's time for a new country! Cross the border into Germany and travel to the beautiful Rhine Valley. Arrive and enjoy a wine tasting at Boppard before embarking on a riverboat cruise from Boppard to St Goar. Enjoy the scenic views along the riverbank during the cruise - this section of Germany is home to the highest concentration of medieval castles in all of Europe! Disembark and pay a visit to a fascinating local stein and cuckoo clock workshop. Travel to tonight’s accommodation and enjoy dinner with the group at the hotel.
Day 3: Nuremburg - Prague
Today, travel to Prague via Nuremberg, enjoying a comfort stop in the Bavarian city. Having served as a residence for German kings over many centuries, Nuremberg was an architectural marvel, and famous for its artists too. The city was painstakingly rebuilt following heavy bombing during WW2 and today it has been restored to some of its former glory – many buildings using the original stone. Later, arrive in Prague. This beautiful city boasts elaborate Baroque, Gothic, Art Nouveau and Cubist architecture, and is home to many quirky bars, cobbled lanes and courtyards. Known for its brilliant beer and abundance of art, any exploration of Prague will be a rewarding one. This evening, round off the day with an included dinner.
Day 4: Prague (Christmas Day)
Merry Christmas! Veselé Vánoce! Start the morning with a guided walking tour of the magical city of Prague. Join a local guide to explore and learn more about top sights including Old Town Square, Charles Bridge and much more while soaking up the festive atmosphere. The rest of Christmas day is free for you to enjoy Prague as you wish. To see the best that this fairytale city has to offer, join the Prague optional excursion! Tour the Prague Castle complex, explore the charming Mala Strana neighbourhood and enjoy a cruise on the Vltava River complete with a buffet lunch. Tonight, take the opportunity to enjoy an optional traditional Czech meal complete with folk music and dancing!
Day 5: Prague - Bratislava - Vienna
Today, head for the grandeur of Vienna, visiting Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, for a quick comfort stop along the way. Surrounded by mountains, vineyards, ski runs and unbridled wilderness, Bratislava is a charming city. Spot the medieval castle overlooking the old town and take in the Socialist-era architecture. Next stop, the beautiful Austrian city of Vienna! Enjoy a guided walking tour of the UNESCO-listed city centre. See sights like the Hofburg Palace and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Dinner tonight will be in a historical Viennese wine cellar! Afterwards, choose to enjoy an orchestra performance. What could be better than experiencing music in one of the city's concert halls?
Day 6: Vienna - Budapest
Wave goodbye to Vienna and travel to the striking Hungarian capital of Budapest. Sitting astride the Danube River, this scenic city is known for its singular mix of Baroque, Neoclassical and Art Nouveau architecture. On arrival in Budapest, get an overview of this historic city on a driving tour, headed up by a local guide. The trip will start on the Buda side of the river and includes glimpses of the Houses of Parliament and much more. This afternoon you have the freedom to explore the city and all of its delights however you wish. Why not enjoy an optional dinner cruise along the Danube this evening?
Day 7: Lake Balaton - Maribor - Ljubljana
Leaving Budapest, travel onwards to an iconic holiday destination in Hungary - the beautiful Lake Balaton. With nearly 200 km of shoreline, it is the largest lake in central Europe! Next, stop in Maribor in Slovenia. Embark on a quick orientation tour and enjoy a local wine tasting before taking some free time to grab lunch. Then it’s on to the final stop of the day, the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana. It's filled to the brim with fairytale castles, beautiful architecture and plenty of natural beauty! An expert local guide will lead a walking tour to point out all the must-see attractions. Afterwards, explore the city on your own or join an optional Slovenia Evening complete with a traditional meal and entertainment!
Day 8: Ljubljana - Venice
Say farewell to Slovenia and ciao to Italy! Today’s destination is Venice. This floating city is famous around the world for its canals, gondolas and artistic masterpieces! It is truly a destination that will capture your imagination and leave its mark on your heart. Learn more about Venice and its top sights on an orientation tour with your tour leader. Look forward to seeing highlights like Piazza San Marco, Basilica di San Marco, Palazzo Ducale and more. Later, enjoy free time to explore. This is your chance to enjoy a classic Venetian experience - a gondola ride or water taxi trip along the canals!
Day 9: Florence - Tuscany
Journey into the hills of Tuscany today! Travel towards Florence and admire the rolling hills, vineyards and charm of the countryside along the way. Arrive and enjoy a panoramic view of the city from Piazzale Michelangelo. Next up is a locally guided walking tour of the city. Enjoy the historical landmarks of the city which will be specially decked out for the festive time of year and learn more about Florence’s Renaissance history. Then, attend an Italian leather-making demonstration and watch talented craftsmen at work. Tonight, enjoy a traditional Italian meal during dinner at a local restaurant. After a day filled with the delights of Florence, it’s time to spend the night in a hotel in the Tuscan countryside.
Day 10: Pisa - Swiss Alps (New Year's Eve)
Depart Tuscany and head for the hills (well, mountains actually!) En route to the Swiss Alps, make a stop at one of the world’s most famous buildings - the Leaning Tower of Pisa! Be sure to have your cameras ready to snap some photos! Afterwards, strap in for a journey through the Alps. Cross the border into Switzerland and enjoy a scenic mountain drive before arriving at the small Swiss Alpine town which will be home for tonight and the perfect spot to say farewell to the old year and ring in the new! Tonight, celebrate New Year’s Eve with the tour group surrounded by the beauty of the Swiss Alps.
Day 11: Swiss Alps: Free Day
Happy New Year! Make the most of the first day of a new year and enjoy the splendour of the Alps on this free day! Take a leisurely stroll through the local villages and alongside crystal-clear lakes or hit the slopes for a spot of skiing if you’re feeling up to it. Today’s optional excursion is one of our most popular. Journey to Jungfraujoch - the highest train station in Europe! Surround yourself with spectacular snow-capped peaks and white winter snow! What could be a better start to the year than that? Tonight, choose to warm up with a delicious Swiss fondue dinner!
Day 12: Swiss Alps - Paris
So long Switzerland, it’s time for Paris! Today calls for an early start. Travel through the French countryside and arrive in Paris this afternoon. Get your cameras ready and head off on a driving tour of the “City of Lights. The city’s most famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe are on the itinerary! Following the driving tour is a group dinner at a restaurant in the city. After a delicious meal of French cuisine, it’s time to travel back to the hotel to get some rest for another free day tomorrow.
Day 13: Paris: Free Day
Discover the magic of Paris at your own pace today! To delve deeper into the city, join the Paris optional excursion. This exciting tour includes visits to a world-famous macaron shop and parfumerie as well as photo stops at the Champs-Élysées and Opéra Garnier. Then, see the city from the water with a lunch cruise along the River Seine. Finally, admire the views from the Montparnasse Tower and explore the Latin quarter! As the sun sets, the city bursts with exciting activities! Why not experience an evening in Montmartre, a charming village home to the Moulin Rouge? C’est la vie!
Day 14: Paris - Ghent - Amsterdam
This festive two-week tour comes to an end today with one last stop and one more new country along the way! Say au revoir to Paris and travel on to Ghent in Belgium. Enjoy a lunch stop and free time to explore the charming medieval city centre. Afterwards, it’s time to journey onwards to Amsterdam where the tour will conclude. Before saying farewell, be sure to swap contact details with your new travel friends! Arrive in Amsterdam where you will continue with your onward journey. We hope you enjoyed this Christmas and New Year tour of Europe - travel is a truly memorable way to celebrate!