11-Day Grand European Adventure: Rome to Paris, Frankfurt, Prague, Budapest, Vienna, Munich

Your day in Rome starts with a visit to the smallest country in the world, The Vatican City, which lies at the heart of the Italian capital. Here you’ll marvel at St Peter’s Basilica, home to Pope Francis and arguably the most significant site in Christianity. The exquisitely beautiful Basilica has been present here for almost 1,700 years and contains a bewildering collection of paintings, frescoes and design crafted by some of humanity’s most famous artists, which you can explore. Alternatively, you can choose to add on the optional Sistine Chapel tour to view Michelangelo’s famous painted ceiling.



Next you will visit famous sights of Rome; the Colosseum, built in AD 72. History comes to life as you imagine yourself witnessing gladiatorial combat inside the spectacular Amphitheatre. After the Colosseum, get up close to the nearby Arch of Constantine, which dates back to the fourth century AD. To complete our visit to Rome we will visit the magnificent Reunification Memorial Hall, the Victor Emmanuel II National Monument, which was built to honour King Victor Emmanuel II who unified Italy. In the afternoon we’ll depart for Florence, known as the cradle of culture.



Overnight stay in Arezzo or city nearby

 

Your voyage of cultural discovery continues as you get to know Florence, the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and home to some fabulous architecture and fine art. Begin the day by taking in a wonderful panoramic overview of the city from Piazzale Michelangelo, which boasts glorious vistas over the red roofs, Arno River and ancient city walls out towards the surrounding countryside.



Next you can see a demonstration of the traditional craft of leather working at close quarters in a local workshop, and you’ll also have the opportunity to purchase some of the high-quality leather items for which the city is famous. From here you’ll enjoy a guided walk around Florence’s many highlights, including the Ponte Vecchio over the Arno, the Piazza del Duomo and Campanile Tower.



You’ll pass the Uffizi Gallery, which contains one of the most notable art collections in Florence. You’ll have free time to see the city further, to shop or to watch the world go by from a street side cafe, before travelling on to your next destination, Pisa.



Here you are free to wander, but be sure to have your camera ready to get a shot of the iconic Leaning Tower, the famous bell tower in the ‘Square of Miracles’, which also contains the centuries-old Cathedral and Baptistery, after that we are transferring towards a city nearby Genoa in the late evening for stay.



Please note we will not visit the city Genoa.



Overnight stay in Genoa or city nearby

 

A breath-taking drive along one of Europe’s most famous stretches of Mediterranean coastline awaits as you say arrivederci to Italy and arrive in Monaco in the afternoon. This small principality, home to the famous Formula 1 Grand Prix. A walking sightseeing tour here takes you to the grand Prince’s Palace, where you’ll have some free time to soak up the refined atmosphere, before continuing on to view the 1920s Courthouse, the Cliffside Oceanographic Museum, and the Cathedral, where Grace Kelly is buried. The southern region of France is renowned for its perfume production. Along the way, pass through a town known for its perfume production and make a stop at a perfume factory for a tour. Tour members can take this opportunity to select their favourite fragrances. Next, it’s Nice, where you'll stop for lunch to sample some excellent local cuisine and warm-hearted hospitality. Your journey continues to Cannes, where many a movie star has enjoyed the sweet smell of success. Be sure to take the opportunity to snap some photos of the Palais des Festival, home to the city’s annual international film festival, before transferring to overnight in a city nearby Avignon.

* Please note we will not visit the city Avignon.



Overnight stay in Avignon or city nearby

 

Take a well-earned rest today as you sit back and enjoy the rustic charm of the French countryside on our journey north to Paris.
 

Our tour leaves from Paris for a delightful scenic journey through the rolling countryside of the Champagne region, famous the world over for the sparkling white wine produced here. Enjoy seeing the historic attractions of provincial capital Reims, including the city’s cathedral – a key national heritage site, where coronations of French kings took place from the 11th century onwards.

History and tradition are equally evident in your next location: Luxembourg, the world’s only remaining Grand Duchy. After arriving in refined Luxembourg City, you’ll be introduced on foot to the main places of interest, including the Place de Constitution and Pont Adolphe, before having time for further exploration on your own.

Today we leave Luxembourg behind and head across another European border into Germany. The first stop is historic Trier, Germany's oldest city and the birthplace of Karl Marx. You'll have the chance to see from the outside the house where the influential philosopher was born, which now functions as the Karl Marx Haus museum.

Your walking tour then takes you into the centre of Trier; here you can look around the city's impressive cathedral, where the celebrated Holy Robe – said to be the tunic of Christ – is preserved and occasionally displayed. Trier is also known as 'The Second Rome' (Constantine served as an administrator here for 10 years), and significant legacies of the once-great empire remain today. The highlight is undoubtedly Porta Nigra, the best-preserved Roman city gate north of the Alps, which you'll get to see and photograph.

After an exciting morning in Trier, you'll drive on to Koblenz, famous as the location of the confluence of the Rhine and Mosel rivers. Here you have the option of indulging in a relaxing lunch alongside the water, and then afterwards you can also choose to add on a scenic Rhine boat cruise for some memorable city vistas. Back on dry land you'll drive through the wine-making town of Rüdesheim. Then it's on to Frankfurt am Main, where you'll discover the delights of Römerberg, a charming plaza with a distinctive medieval town hall as its centrepiece

We'll depart in the morning, reaching the Czech border in the early afternoon and Prague by dusk. Commonly referred to as Golden Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic is a resplendent vision of Old World glory.
  

Your Prague adventure begins with a spectacular walk along the coronation path of the kings and queens of old Bohemia. We'll start at the top of Castle Hill in the Hradcany District and then visit Prague Castle, official residence of the president of the republic, and according to Guinness Book of World Records, the largest ancient castle in the world. Fees for the castle also include admission to Golden Lane, a street of 11 historic houses situated inside the castle complex, and the imposing St. Vitus Cathedral. Crossing the Charles Bridge, we'll enter the old quarter and see the Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square, which has played host to both uprisings and executions, and remains the political and cultural heart of the city to this day.

After lunch in the square, we will make the scenic transfer from Prague to the hotel in or near the Slovakian capital of Bratislava.
  

After breakfast we'll depart for Budapest, the capital of Hungary.

Major attractions on our tour include Heroes' Square, featuring statues of the Seven Chieftains of the Magyars and other important national leaders, as well as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; the Hungarian Parliament Building; Elisabeth Bridge; Fisherman's Bastion; and Matthias Church. You will then have the option of joining the scenic Danube River cruise. We'll spend the night in Budapest.
  

After breakfast, it's off to Vienna, the capital of Austria, to see Schonbrunn Palace, former summer residence of the Imperial family and preferred living quarters of Empress Maria Theresa; Stadtpark (City Park), home of the gilded bronze statue of Johann Strauss; the Austrian Parliament Building; the world-famous Vienna State Opera; and Hofburg Palace.

  
After a stroll along the Kartnerstrasse we'll arrive at St. Stephen's Cathedral. Tickets for a Viennese Waltz concert may also be arranged (at your own expense).

After breakfast, we'll head up into the Alps to fabled Mondsee, a town situated on the shores of Lake Mondsee, home to the medieval Mondsee Abbey. The cloister church was used as the site for the wedding in The Sound of Music. After arriving in Munich, we'll visit Marienplatz, a central square in the city center, and New Town Hall, which has continuously housed the city council, the mayor's office, and part of the the administrative body since 1874.
  
And our tour will end at Munich.