7-Day Central Europe Capitals: Munich to Zurich, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Paris

We'll take you to the hotel after picking you up.

After breakfast we'll take the mountain roads farther into Switzerland, slowly winding our way up to the snow-capped giants of the Alps. Once in Engelberg, we'll take the gondola 45 minutes up to Mount Titlis, 10,623 feet above sea level.
  
We'll go inside a glacier cave and stroll across Titlis Cliff Walk, Europe's highest suspension bridge. You may opt to have your lunch at one of the several dining establishments at the peak (own expense).
  
Afterwards we'll drive to picturesque Lucerne to see the Lion Monument and venture into the narrow alleyways to find the perfect souvenir. Shops selling Swiss watches are also in abundance here. We'll spend the night in Zurich or a neighboring city. We'll bid each other farewell here.
 

After breakfast we'll go out into beautiful Zurich, the financial capital of Switzerland. Our first stop will be Lake Zurich for some of the best photo opportunities of the day, followed by a trip to Schaffhausen to see Rhine Falls.
  
Then we'll take the mountain roads back across the German border to see the Black Forest and Lake Titisee. The optional lunch by the lake includes pork knuckle and authentic black forest cake. We'll return to Frankfurt in the evening.

The morning begins with a leisurely drive north-west from Frankfurt to Bonn, the capital of the former West Germany until reunification. The national government is now run from Berlin, but Bonn retains a rich history that is well worth exploring. Discover the city's secrets on an orientation stroll through its streets, walking past highlights such as the Rococo-fronted town hall and Ludwig Van Beethoven Haus, a museum celebrating the life of the much-loved composer.

Then it's on to Cologne, where you’ll head inside the city's glorious Gothic Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore Cologne further, to do a spot of local shopping or to simply relax with a suitably refreshing German brew.

After lunch the day is rounded off with a drive to the Netherlands.
 

A day of delights begins with a leisurely trip through the Dutch countryside, where you’ll get to sample at close quarters some of the things that the Netherlands is traditionally famous for: clogs, cheese and windmills. Call in at the hugely popular model town of Zaanse Schans. Next, you'll head from the quiet countryside to the cosmopolitan city as your journey takes you back to Amsterdam.

After visiting a well-known diamond factory, where you'll see the unique cutting techniques that have been practised here since the 16th century, you can take an optional hour-long pre-dinner canal cruise, which is a great way to discover more about this unique European city.

After disembarking you'll walk to one of the city's grandest areas, Dam Square, where the Royal Palace is located and the Queen's birthday celebrations take place. You'll have photo opportunities here, free time for shopping or further sightseeing, and then round the day off with dinner.
 

After breakfast we'll head to Brussels, the Belgian capital and political center of the European Union. Our first stop will be the Atomium monument, a cell-shaped structure of stainless steel spheres and tubes built for the 1958 World's Fair. Onward to Grand Place and Town Hall, the crowning achievement of Gothic civil architecture. After a look at Manneken Pis, the famous tinkling cherub, we'll head to the French border and make a beeline for Paris.
 

We'll begin our Paris adventure with a drive along the famous Champs Elysees to Place de la Concorde, which played a key role in one of darkest chapters of the French Revolution. You'll also get to see the iconic Arc de Triomphe. Next we'll head to Les Invalides, which houses Napoleon's tomb and a number of other monuments relating the military history of France.

We will make a stop at Eiffel Tower directly following the visit to L'Hotel National des Invalides. You can either take time to explore the neighborhood and have some lunch, or visit the Eiffel Tower at your own expense.

Next we'll travel on coach through the Parisian suburbs to the splendid Palace of Versailles, residence of the royal family until the start of the revolution in 1789. We'll return to Paris in the evening. After dinner you may want to avail yourself of the optional cruise along the river Seine.