European Whirl

The vibrant British capital where you will spend the next two nights, enjoying the pomp and pageantry of a city that effortlessly combines old and new.

Join a Local Specialist this morning for a tour to see the iconic sites of London, including Big Ben, the imposing Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. Spend a leisurely afternoon shopping on Carnaby Street, consider visiting one of London’s museums or wander along the Thames watching ambitious Londoners pound the pavements.

This morning, meet your Travel Director before traveling to London’s St. Pancras International to board the Eurostar™ for a high-speed journey to Brussels. Continue by luxury coach to Amsterdam, where you’ll enjoy an orientation tour of this historic Dutch city before joining your fellow travelers and Travel Director for a dinner cruise on the canals.

Drive through the landscapes of the Netherlands and Germany, arriving in Boppard where you'll board a cruise along the Rhine River to St. Goar, passing vineyard-clad hills and medieval castles perched above riverside towns. Arriving in the Baroque city of Heidelberg, explore its unexpected highlights before traveling to your hotel.

Crossing the Swabian Alps on the edge of the Black Forest, you'll arrive in the Bavarian capital of Munich. The orientation takes you past the Hofbrauhaus, reputedly the most famous Beerhall in the world, and the neo-Gothic Town Hall which dominates the Marienplatz. We will cross the Austrian border next, arriving in Innsbruck, the capital of the Alps. Admire the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture of the Old Town, including Emperor Maximilian's famous Golden Roof with its ornate facade and consider an evening of traditional Tyrolean entertainment.

Journey through the emerald-green landscape along the Brenner Pass into Italy and across the Dolomite Mountains to Venice. We cruise the beautiful Venetian lagoon by private launch to the gateway of Venice, St. Mark's Square. View the ornate Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs, so named for the sound made by condemned prisoners as they took one last, longing look at their beautiful city before meeting their fate. You’ll also witness the traditional Venetian craft of glassblowing at a workshop, where you'll watch master craftsmen use centuries-old techniques to shape the delicate glass pieces Venice is famed for. Perhaps you’ll be inspired to buy a souvenir to remember the experience and help preserve this local craft. There’s time later to enjoy the city your way. Get lost in Venice, cross bridges and discover hidden 'campi', where locals share their daily stories over a glass of Venetian Spritz.

Travel south across the Veneto Plain, passing Bologna and the dramatic Apennine Mountains as well as the green and golden fields of Lazio before reaching Rome, the 'Eternal City'. En route, we Connect With Locals over lunch at a Be My Guest experience and enjoy true Tuscan hospitality with a local family on their private estate in the Chianti countryside.