European Whirl | Plus | Start Amsterdam | Summer 2027 - From £1,669

Europe United Kingdom
OVERVIEW
Don't know where to start on your dream Euro trip? This one takes you through all the biggest destinations – hitting up the modern vibes and bouncing nightlife of Berlin and Prague, the Italian Holy Trinity of Venice, Rome and Florence, some chill time in the Swiss Alps and much more. It’s a bit of everything. It’s unforgettable. It’s a whirl alright.
EXPERIENCES
Amsterdam: Dive into the vibrant world of STRAAT, Amsterdam's street art and graffiti museum. You'll see artworks (showcasing the epic untold stories and hidden meanings) from over 180 global artists housed in a massive warehouse.

Baschi: We'll head to the rocky (but so picturesque) village of Baschi to visit Casale Polegri. Stroll around the vineyards and olive orchards on a short tour of the azienda agricola. We'll learn about the farming techniques used by the Polegri Family to harvest their fresh plants and fruit. We'll end the afternoon with a crunchy bruschetta topped with homemade extra virgin olive oil, focaccia bread with homegrown rosemary and vegetables. And of course, some risotto or pasta. All of this with a glass of their homemade wine and dessert. Happy tummy, happy life!

Berlin: Get your culture on. It’s time to see Tiergarten, Alexanderplatz, the Russian War Memorial, Brandenburg Gate and the historic Reichstag building.

Berlin: Heads up culture vultures. Here’s your chance to check out the longest open-air gallery in the world.

Berlin: Join us for dinner at Kreuzberger Himmel in Berlin, where Middle Eastern cuisine (think: delicious plant-based eats) is served by a diverse staff of refugees to help foster integration & solidarity.

Cinque Terre National Park: We’ll take care of your rail pass, so you can just zip around the iconic clifftop villages and focus on the Insta stories. Wanna hike around too? You're welcome to explore on foot along the way.

Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site: Take a somber but impactful visit to the site of a World War II concentration camp in Munich.

Dresden: See the Baroque architecture that was rebuilt after the WWII bombings. Royal Residence, Zwinger Palace, Opera House and Frauenkirche.

Florence: See the Duomo, Basilica Santa Croce, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery & Piazza della Signoria on a locally guided walking tour of Florence.

Hopfgarten im Brixental: Join us in the cute lil Austrian Tyrol village of Hopfgarten, where you’ll find Haus Schöneck by Contiki. Next to one of the world’s largest ski regions, this traditional property has had a fresh facelift with all the modcons. We’re talking on-site sauna, Schnapps bar, communal lounge area, a shuttle to the main gondola. Hungry after a day on the slopes? Chow down on some warming locally sourced meals in our dining room.

Lucerne: Check out the Wooden Chapel Bridge and the giant sandstone Lion Monument.

Munich: We'll make a stop at a traditional Bavarian ‘Bier Halle’. Grab your Contiki crew and a beer. Prost!

Paris: Climb to the 56th floor of the Montparnasse Tower for an unbeatable vista of the ‘City of Light’.

Paris: Take a dreamy jaunt around the city of romance. Fall in love with landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre, Champs-Élysées and Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Paris: Your chance to learn the art of fragrance at a Parisian perfume house. You know it makes scents! (soz).

Pisa: Your ultimate chance to ‘hold the tower up’ as you pose for that classic Insta snap.

Prague: Walk through the winding cobbled streets and head up into the fairytale-like Castle District for panoramic city views.

Rome: Stroll around the Italian capital, ticking off some sights on your bucket list!

Venice: Life’s all about the waterways here; there’s not an Uber in sight! Get some classic pics of the famous gondola boats.

Venice: Speed across the lagoon to the aqueous island of Venice.
DEPARTURE DATES AND PRICES
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05/04/2027 21/04/2027 £2,795   Book
03/05/2027 19/05/2027 £2,850   Book
31/05/2027 16/06/2027 £2,925   Book
14/06/2027 30/06/2027 £3,105   Book
24/06/2027 10/07/2027 £2,925   Book
01/07/2027 17/07/2027 £2,945   Book
08/07/2027 24/07/2027 £2,945   Book
19/07/2027 04/08/2027 £3,185   Book
26/07/2027 11/08/2027 £3,050   Book
09/08/2027 25/08/2027 £3,025   Book
23/08/2027 08/09/2027 £3,025   Book
06/09/2027 22/09/2027 £2,965   Book
20/09/2027 06/10/2027 £3,075   Book
04/10/2027 20/10/2027 £2,850   Book
ITINERARY

The adventure of a lifetime kicks off today. Meet up with your new Contiki family in London town before hitting the road to Amsterdam. Shortly before we find our ferry for France, we'll be taking in the English coastline beauty of the White Cliffs of Dover. They owe their gorgeousness to their composition of chalk - you're learning and we haven't even left the UK! Off the ferry we arrive in the port town of Calais - French soil! We travel north through Belgium before reaching...Amsterdam! Tonight, the famed-for-fun Amsterdam is ours to explore. First fill up on your included group dinner, then you're free to explore or hit the local bars.

Amsterdam is cute as a button & sure to win your heart with its canals, obscure museums & a cafe culture like no other. There's loads for you to choose from. Check out the STRAAT museum for some art inspo. Head out on a canal cruise, or even grab dinner at a local seafront restaurant. Either way, you'll have damn good time.

Out of Amsterdam, onto the autobahn and on the fast-track to uber-cool Berlin. That's on today's agenda. On the world map of cool party vibes, Berlin has a gold star. We've got two nights to explore every inch of this amazing city, and we'll kick it off tonight with a delicious dinner that helps support refugees!

Get into the mood of exploration. Berlin has so much to offer the hungry traveller, from the obvious icons like Checkpoint Charlie to all the obscurities tucked away in the side streets. Luckily, we've got two walking tours to offer you. A historical walking tour in the morning to discover spots like Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag Building and an alternative walking tour in the evening to discover edgy Kreuzberg. Either way, it’s a day packed with stories, sights, and a real taste of Berlin.

Before we leave Berlin, we'll have the chance to wander the East Side Gallery and soak up our last dose of history before making tracks for the darling of Europe, Prague.A drive from Berlin to Prague would not be complete without stopping in Dresden. Destroyed by World War II, the rebuilt town is now a symbol of resilience, soaked in the re-birthed beauty of the Opera house, the domed Frauenkirche, & the Royal Residence. On arrival in the compact & lovable city of Prague, we'll get out and go exploring, seeing castles and cathedrals and learning of Bohemian Kings and gothic history. Tonight, you could see yourself spending the evening indulging in traditional Czech cuisine while admiring the local folklore dancers as the sun goes down on the 'City of a Hundred Spires'.

We warned you about falling head over heels for Prague! Sorry team, you cannot live here forever. But there's no need to shed tears just yet, we're heading to somewhere even more exciting! It would seem we were born in need of some delightful Bavarian culture, we just didn't know it until now. Munich may be famed for its Oktoberfest festivities, but the spirit of things kicks on year round. A trip to a traditional beer hall will get you very well acquainted with things. Maybe right after you’ve toured the city on two wheels?

With no time to waste, we'll make our way to Austria this morning. We'll make a stop for a sobering visit to the Dachau concentration camp memorial. You'll be able to spend some time here to learn and reflect, before we head on. Ahhh, cool breeze on sun-kissed skin... we must be in the Austrian Tyrol. Before we reach our final stop for the evening, you'll have the chance to zip through the icy waters while white-water rafting. Afterwards, we'll continue on to Hopfgarten where a delicious welcome dinner awaits. When it comes to hitting the hay tonight, you'll sleep in a same-sex multi-share with up to 3 other travellers.

A free day? In Austria? With epic Alpine views? It must be your lucky day… You have the chance to ride a bike through the valleys and enjoy a BBQ lunch. Or even better, paraglide over them. (Whee!)

Hopfgarten, you’ve been incredible. But a very special place awaits us this afternoon. And just like that, we're in a new country and a whole new vibe. Fresh pasta, lilting accents & romantic architecture - we've arrived in one of Italy's most famous cities. And what better way to explore than a Gondola ride? Plus, you have the chance to visit Venice’s most famous restaurants! This is what La Dolce Vita must be all about...

Farewell floating city, but Italy, we're not done with you yet, our next destination the Eternal City of Rome is just around the corner. But first, we have an epic, included MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experience to enjoy. Casale Polegri is set within the gorgeous town of Baschi, where we'll meet the Polegri family. These guys have run their vineyard and olive orchard for generations, and after giving us the grand tour, will serve us lunch under the Veranda. As we overlook the Tiber Valley, enjoying some of the most authentic Italian food we've ever tasted (topped off with the Polegri's very own wine, naturally), we might reflect that we've never had it so good. It's the kind of local travel experience you don't encounter every day (you're welcome). Then, all roads lead to Rome as we uncover Italian icons in the country's capital and get a glimpse of its glory by night. Gelato, pizza and ancient monuments - perfetto!

This morning we're up and out early to make the most of our chance to explore this ancient city. You can opt to take a tour of the famous Colosseum and walk in the footsteps of Emperors and Gladiators in a guided tour, or snap epic selfies against a background of pink azaleas by the entrance. Visit the Trevi Fountain and throw coins to make a wish, sip espresso in a cobbled backstreet and soak up Italian life as it dances by. Oh, and Roman food tour? You won't wanna miss out on that.

We may be hitting the road again, but we're not done with Italy just yet. We have one more city to lust over… The dome of Duomo Cathedral sits above the city making certain we know we have arrived in Florence. Take a moment to take in the unique beauty of this beautiful city with a guided walking tour. Tonight you can choose to begin your Tuscan love affair with an optional walking tour and finishing with dinner & wine.

Hopefully by now you are head to toe in fresh leather, you've eaten your body weight in antipasto, and you're feeling fresh as a daisy and ready to farewell Florence.  No trip around Europe is complete without seeing the world's most famous #AwkwardLean, the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Once you've got that perfect snap of you holding the thing up like you're Arnold Schwarzenegger, we'll be on the fast-track to the Italian Riviera.  Hello beautiful! The 'Five Lands' or Cinque Terre is completely beautiful and will take your breath away with their stunning colours, washing hanging out windows and picture perfect setting. Perched on a cliff and overlooking the Ligurian Sea this is 100% bucket list worthy destination, use the included day pass to explore this colourful heaven, stopping for an Aperol Spritz on the way too, all in the name of culture of course! Feeling all lovey dovey from our day in the Cinque Terre, we’ll rest our heads in Parma for the night – ready for more magic on the morrow.

Parma, it’s been short and sweet but we must move on. Next stop, the Swiss Alps!  Swans float under wooden bridges, snow-capped mountains stand regally behind us & chocolate tastes like heaven on earth. Oh, and how about an optional lake cruise to take in all the scenery? You're in the Swiss Alps & you cannot wipe the smile off your face.

It's been sweet, but our time in the Swiss Alps is up this morning. We're Paris-bound! Out with the altitude, in with the inner-city Parisian bliss. We'll jump back onto our coach to cross the border out of Switzerland and (back) into France. After coasting through the pretty wine producing region of Burgundy, we'll arrive in the City of Lights. We'll celebrate our first night in the city by heading up the Montparnasse Tower for the best panoramic views of the city.

Pastries, paintings, perfume - Paris is yours! We'll kick off with a tour of the city, then take you to the glamorous Fragonard perfumery. Next, you're free to roam tree-lined quartiers, wander Le Marais for food, shop up a storm on the Champs Elysee, or get arty in the galleries of the Louvre. It's our last night together - make it count with can-can girls & a Cabaret show with dinner.

Soak up your last dose of Paris and feel the astonishment of how much you've seen. And how close you've grown to your loved-up Contiki collective.  For those not leaving us until London, we'll travel south to Calais. This afternoon we cross from France to England... What a journey, on arrival in London say a fond farewell to the group as you wrap up the journey on arrival.
ACCOMMODATION
DAY 1: Ibis Budget Amsterdam City South (or similar) - Meals: Dinner
DAY 2: Holiday Inn Express Amsterdam North Riverside (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 3: ibis Berlin Messe (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 4: ibis Berlin Messe (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 5: Ibis Praha Wenceslas Square Hotel (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 6: Holiday Inn Express Munich City West (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 7: Contiki Haus Schoneck (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 8: Contiki Haus Schoneck (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 9: Hotel Riviera dei Dogi (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 10: Pineta Palace Hotel Roma (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 11: Pineta Palace Hotel Roma (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 12: B&B Hotel Firenze Novoli (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 13: Parma & Congressi (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 14: Ibis Budget Luzern City (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 15: Ibis Paris Porte D'Orleans Hotel (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 16: Ibis Paris Porte D'Orleans Hotel (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
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