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European Trail | Hotels | Start Amsterdam | Winter | 2027/28 route map

Meet in London, view the White Cliffs of Dover, ferry to Calais and travel via Belgium to Amsterdam. Evening included dinner and free time to explore.

Meals: Dinner

Free day in Amsterdam; optional STRAAT Museum, dinner in Volendam and a canal cruise under the city lights.

Meals: Breakfast

Drive to Berlin. Begin with an introduction to the city’s history and start exploring.

Meals: Breakfast

Explore Berlin with optional walking tours: a historical tour (Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag) and an alternative tour of Kreuzberg. See icons like Checkpoint Charlie.

Meals: Breakfast

Travel via Dresden (see the Opera House, Frauenkirche and Royal Residence) to Prague. Explore castles and cathedrals; optional traditional Czech dinner with folklore.

Meals: Breakfast

Free day in Prague for Gothic architecture, markets and beer; optional walking food tour.

Meals: Breakfast

Travel to Vienna. Enjoy Austrian cuisine; optional classical concert or a relaxed evening.

Meals: Breakfast

Head to Kraków. Join an orientation tour on arrival; evening free to explore the food and nightlife.

Meals: Breakfast,Dinner

Visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorials. Evening free to sample Polish cuisine (try pierogi).

Meals: Breakfast

Travel via Banská Bystrica (lunch stop) to Budapest. Optional Danube river cruise with dinner.

Meals: Breakfast

Free day in Budapest: soak in thermal baths or explore Margaret Island.

Meals: Breakfast

Travel to Ljubljana. City tour on arrival, then free time to enjoy cafés and the laid-back vibe.

Meals: Breakfast

Journey to Venice. Boat transfer into the historic center; optional gondola ride or guided food tour; free time to wander.

Meals: Breakfast

Travel to Rome. Afternoon to uncover city icons; evening free.

Meals: Breakfast

Full day in Rome to see major sights such as the Colosseum and enjoy street life; optional pasta-making class with dinner.

Meals: Breakfast

Travel to Florence. Take in the city’s beauty; optional Oltrarno food-focused walking tour in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast

Guided insights plus free time to explore Florence’s markets and enjoy gelato.

Meals: Breakfast

Depart Italy for the Swiss Alps. Free evening; optional fondue dinner.

Meals: Breakfast

Free day in the Alps with optional mountain excursion or paragliding.

Meals: Breakfast

Stop in Geneva for lunch and Jet d’Eau views, then continue to Lyon amid vineyards to appreciate food and wine.

Meals: Lunch,Dinner

Drive through Burgundy to Paris. Evening night-time tour of landmarks and an included dinner.

Meals: Breakfast,Dinner

Visit the Fragonard perfumery, then free time for quartiers like Le Marais, shopping the Champs-Élysées or the Louvre. Optional cabaret show with dinner.

Meals: Breakfast

Travel from Paris to Calais, cross to England via Dover, and arrive in London where the trip ends.

Meals: Breakfast

What’s included

21 breakfasts and 3 group dinners included (including a welcome dinner in Amsterdam).
22 nights in twin-share hotel accommodation (or similar) throughout the trip.
Coach transport for intercity travel plus cross-Channel ferry crossings between the UK and France.
Trip Manager guidance and support throughout the journey.
Included experiences: city highlights/orientations in Berlin, Dresden, Prague (Castle District), Kraków, Ljubljana, Rome and Paris; locally guided walking tour in Florence; scenic stop in Banská Bystrica; private boat transfer across the Venice lagoon; visit to the Fragonard perfumery in Paris; visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum (tickets subject to availability for bookings made less than 60 days before visiting; an alternative inclusion of equal value will be provided if unavailable).

What’s not included

International flights to and from the tour’s start and end points are not included.
Visas and travel authorizations are not included (including UK ETA requirements when entering/transiting the United Kingdom).
Travel insurance is not included and should be arranged by the traveller.
Meals not specified in the itinerary (e.g., most lunches and dinners), plus snacks and drinks.
Optional Free Time Add-Ons and activities are at extra cost (e.g., Amsterdam canal cruise or Volendam dinner, Prague and Venice food tours, Budapest river cruise and dinner, thermal baths, Rome pasta-making class, Florence food tour, Swiss mountain excurs
Single room supplement for a private room is not included (standard accommodation is twin-share).
Entrance fees for attractions visited during free time are not included.

Additional information

  • 21 Breakfast (B)
  • 3 Dinner (D)
  • London: You’ll need Essential Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)From?January 8, 2025, UK law means that if you’re entering/transiting through border control in the United Kingdom (UK) and Northern Ireland you’ll need an?Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)?before you travel. Confused? Don’t be – just read on here.
  • London: A modular trip means fellow travellers will join and leave at various locations. There’ll be some goodbyes, sure, but there’ll also be plenty of hellos with new like-minded travellers.
  • London: For this trip, we recommend that you carry the British Pound, Euro, Czech Koruna, Polish Zloty, Hungarian Forint, and the Swiss Franc. (It’s a coin collector’s dream!)
  • London: This trip includes plenty of interesting Free Time Add-Ons in Amsterdam. So if you’re planning to do any other activity, and looking to book in advance – it’s best to book your tickets between 12-3PM. Of course, you can always book any other time (we’re all about freedom to explore!). But make sure you don’t miss the other activities, or a coach transfer to the accommodation!
  • London: You’ll stay in a Twin share room (meaning you’ll be paired with a fellow traveller of the same gender, and will have two separate beds). If you’re booking your trip with a friend/travel companion – just let us know, so we can join your bookings and ensure you share a room. Need a lil’ more privacy? You’re welcome to opt for a single supplement if you like.
  • Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum: Due to new regulations, we cannot guarantee Auschwitz entry tickets for bookings made less than 60 days before your visit. We’ll make every effort to secure your ticket, but if we’re unable to do so, we’ll provide an alternative included experience of equal value.
  • London: Yep. If you’re booking a twin room as a couple, you’ll be roomed together.
  • Amsterdam: Best way to break the ice? By breaking bread of course. You and your new besties can bond over dinner before heading out to explore. 
  • 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.
  • Dresden: See the Baroque architecture that was rebuilt after the WWII bombings. Royal Residence, Zwinger Palace, Opera House and Frauenkirche.
  • Prague: Walk through the winding cobbled streets and head up into the fairytale-like Castle District for panoramic city views.
  • Kraków: Get your bearings in this medieval Polish city. Our orientation will get you familiar with the cathedral, Royal Castle and all the best places to grab a beer.  
  • Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum: Reflect on the tragedies of the past with a solemn visit to the largest concentration camp in World War II. Please note: Due to new regulations we cannot guarantee tickets for Auschwitz for bookings made less than 60 days prior to your visit. We will make every effort to secure your ticket however if we are unable to do so we will provide an alternative inclusion of equal value. 
  • Banská Bystrica: This historic Slovakian city is filled with ornate buildings and framed by snow-capped mountains. It’s the perfect Insta backdrop! 
  • Ljubljana: Join your new gang for an orientation of Slovenia’s fairytale-like capital. Get your fix of rainbow architecture, Insta-friendly bridges and epic mountain backdrops.
  • Venice: Speed across the lagoon to the aqueous island of Venice.
  • Rome: Stroll around the Italian capital, ticking off some sights on your bucket list! 
  • Florence: See the Duomo, Basilica Santa Croce, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery & Piazza della Signoria on a locally guided walking tour of Florence.
  • 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).

Visit Auschwitz I and Birkenau, the largest concentration camp complex of World War II. Walk with care through preserved barracks and rail tracks, a solemn encounter with the sites of wartime atrocity that invites quiet reflection and remembrance.

Context from your host and on-site exhibits deepens understanding of lives lost and lessons carried forward. Entry is subject to the memorial’s regulations; if tickets are unavailable, an alternative meaningful inclusion will be arranged.

Dine in the traditional Dutch village of Volendam, where wooden houses line a harbor of fishing boats. Tuck into North Sea specialties and Dutch comfort dishes in a cozy waterfront setting.

Hear how the Zuiderzee’s history shaped daily life, from nets to folk costume. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Join a walking food tour through arcades and market lanes, sampling open-faced chlebícky, rustic soups, and regional sweets alongside craft Czech beers.

Along the route, learn how imperial courts, café culture, and home kitchens shaped Prague’s palate. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Glide by gondola through narrow back-canals, where stone bridges whisper and palazzi doors kiss the waterline. Your gondolier steers a timeless course between reflection and romance.

Hear snippets of lagoon lore as hidden courtyards and quiet quays appear around each bend. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Roll up your sleeves for a hands-on pasta class, kneading, rolling, and shaping tagliatelle or ravioli under a local chef’s guidance. Sauces simmer as the kitchen fills with promise.

Sit down to enjoy your creations with a glass of Italian wine in a welcoming Roman space. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Step into a velvet-lit hall for a Parisian cabaret, where sequins, can-can, and a lively orchestra deliver classic Belle Époque sparkle. A multi-course dinner completes the indulgence.

Theatrical sets, dancers, and spotlit solos capture a timeless slice of Parisian nightlife. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Climb into the Prague Castle District for sweeping views across spires and bridges, then meander down toward Charles Bridge and the storybook lanes of Old Town. Cobbled alleys and lantern-lit passages set a timeless mood.

In and around Old Town Square, hear tales of Gothic guilds, astronomers, and Bohemian kings. The fairytale skyline, stone towers, and hidden courtyards reveal Prague’s layered past in living detail.

Stroll through Kraków’s medieval heart, circling the grand Rynek Glówny, peeking into St Mary’s Basilica, and following the Royal Route toward Wawel Royal Castle. Street musicians, horse-drawn carriages, and warm cafés add to the atmosphere.

Along the way, uncover legends of kings and dragons, the hourly trumpeter’s call from the basilica tower, and the city’s Renaissance courtyards. This orientation balances architecture, folklore, and lively local color.

Pause in Slovakia’s photogenic center to wander Námestie SNP, framed by pastel facades and a sentinel clock tower. Cafés spill onto cobbles as mountain silhouettes edge the skyline, setting up easy scenic photo moments.

Hear how mining wealth shaped the town’s Renaissance houses and civic pride. It’s a brief, rewarding glimpse of Central Europe beyond the capitals, with time to pause for photos and reflection on the square.

Get acquainted with Slovenia’s capital along the Ljubljanica River, crossing the playful Triple Bridge and pausing by the city’s emblematic Dragon Bridge. Outdoor markets, café terraces, and street musicians create a youthful buzz.

Learn how architect Jože Plecnik reimagined the city’s promenades and squares, weaving classical forms with local flair. Painted facades, elegant arcades, and leafy embankments showcase Ljubljana’s gentle, human-scale charm.

Speed across the lagoon by private motoscafo, skimming past mooring posts and island silhouettes toward St Mark’s Basin. The skyline of domes and campanili rises as palazzi-lined canals open before you.

This spirited arrival channels centuries of maritime trade when Venice ruled the seas. Feel the city unfold from the water, where every splash against stone tells a story of commerce, art, and sea-faring pride.

Trace Rome’s Baroque heart, tossing a coin into the Trevi Fountain, lingering on elegant Piazza Navona, and climbing the Spanish Steps. Street-side espresso and warm travertine facades set a cinematic mood.

Hear how papal patronage and sculptors like Bernini shaped Rome’s theatrical squares and fountains. Illuminated niches, marble saints, and lively piazzas reveal the Eternal City’s flair for drama and la dolce vita.

Join a locally guided walk to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo) with Brunelleschi’s dome, the Baptistery’s bronze doors, and Giotto’s bell tower. Continue to Piazza della Signoria and the artisan quarter near Basilica di Santa Croce.

Stories of Medici patrons, guilds, and workshops bring the Renaissance to life. Marble inlays, sculpted loggias, and lively markets reveal Florence as a living museum of craft and invention.

Glide through the City of Light as icons sparkle into view: the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and Champs-Élysées. Bridges and boulevards shimmer along the Seine, while café terraces buzz under Art Nouveau lamps.

Hear vignettes of artists, revolutionaries, and architects who shaped these vistas. With time to pause for photos and reflection, this after-dark orientation frames Paris at its most luminous and romantic.

Step inside a historic Fragonard perfumery to learn the art of fragrance—from raw botanicals to finely balanced notes and accords. Specialists reveal how ingredients are sourced, distilled, and composed.

Discover Paris’s ties to the perfume craft, long connected with Grasse and French luxury. Elegant flacons and scent stories offer a refined encounter with an everyday ritual elevated to art.

Sit down together in Paris for a relaxed evening meal, toasting your arrival in the City of Light. Classic flavors and convivial company set the tone for adventures among grand boulevards and café culture.

Between courses, your host shares tips for neighborhoods, late-night staples, and lesser-known viewpoints for the perfect city glow. It’s a warm, palate-pleasing welcome to France’s culinary capital.

Take a sweeping orientation through central Paris to spot headline monuments—Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, and Notre-Dame—framed by the city’s elegant Haussmann avenues.

Gain a sense of geography and the stories behind royal squares, riverside quays, and storied museums. This overview primes you for deeper dives, from Right Bank galleries to Left Bank literary cafés.

Explore the monumental STRAAT Museum at NDSM Wharf, where warehouse-scale murals and installations showcase global graffiti and street artists. Vivid color, daring technique, and bold messages fill the industrial halls.

Set in Amsterdam’s creative docklands, this venue highlights how urban art moved from facades to curated space. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Cruise the canals as bridges glow and windows flicker along the UNESCO ring. Drift past Golden Age gabled houses, slender spires, and houseboats while stories of merchants and mapmakers unfold.

Warm interiors and winter light amplify the romance of the water. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Trace milestones along Unter den Linden, Bebelplatz, and Gendarmenmarkt, before confronting Cold War fault lines at Checkpoint Charlie. Hear how ideology, art, and resistance collided on these storied streets.

Context-rich stops connect the Weimar era, the Third Reich, and division to today’s creative capital. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Wander canal-side paths and courtyards in Kreuzberg, discovering independent galleries and street art that reflect decades of counterculture. From squats to studios, creativity thrives on reclaimed ground.

Learn how immigration, music, and nightlife shaped a district famed for its edge and energy. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Celebrate Czech traditions at a folklore dinner with live strings, singing, and rhythmic footwork. Feast on hearty Bohemian dishes and raise a glass to the city’s convivial spirit.

Stories of village life and seasonal customs accompany the entertainment, making for a festive cultural evening. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Dress for an evening of Mozart and Strauss in a historic Viennese hall, where chandeliers glow and strings shimmer with waltz rhythms. Elegant settings elevate the city’s musical heritage.

Hear overtures and arias that defined imperial salons and winter ballrooms. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Cruise the Danube as the Parliament’s neo-Gothic spires and the ramparts of Buda Castle glow above the illuminated riverfront. Toast the skyline while savoring Hungarian flavors on board.

UNESCO-listed vistas glide by—bridges, palaces, and hillside churches in soft evening light. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Slip into mineral-rich thermal pools at celebrated baths such as Szochenyi or Gellért. Steam curls through Neo-Baroque halls as locals gather for ritual soaks in healing waters.

From hot-and-cold plunges to mosaic-clad chambers, bathing culture is Budapest at its most restorative. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Hop between neighborhood bacari to taste Venice’s beloved cicchetti—bite-sized plates paired with local wines or a classic spritz. Countertops brim with seafood, cheeses, and seasonal bites.

In each snug spot, learn how lagoon life shaped Venetian snacking culture and convivial evenings. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Cross the Arno into Oltrarno to sample schiacciata, Tuscan salumi, and regional sweets in family-run trattorie and wine bars. Peek into workshops where chisels, looms, and goldsmiths keep traditions alive.

Between bites, learn how guilds and artisans shaped Florentine life from Renaissance days to now. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Ascend by cable car to high alpine terrain, rotating aboard the Titlis Rotair for 360° views of glacier vistas and craggy peaks. Step onto snowy terraces and breathe the sharp, pine-scented air.

Optional activities may include ice cave strolls or cliff walk viewpoints, weather permitting. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Gather in a chalet-style setting for Swiss fondue, swirling melted Gruyère and Emmental with bread and potatoes while the room fills with firelit warmth.

Regional stories of dairies, mountain pastures, and winter comfort foods season the meal. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Strap in for a tandem launch and float on thermals over snow-capped peaks and valleys, the ultimate bird’s-eye sweep of alpine scenery. A gentle glide turns to thrilling arcs with your pilot’s cues.

In-season, weather-dependent, and run by qualified instructors, this is European mountain drama at its purest. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Explore Dresden’s reborn Baroque core, pausing by the Zwinger Palace, Semperoper (Opera House) and the Royal Residence’s courtyards. Your walk reveals elegant squares and river views that earned the city its nickname, the “Florence on the Elbe.”

Stand before the Frauenkirche, its graceful dome painstakingly rebuilt after WWII bombings. This visit highlights resilience and restoration, with exquisite architecture offering a powerful sense of renewal.

Contiki

Gather with your group in Amsterdam to share a welcome dinner and ease into the rhythm of the city. Step out along canalside streets framed by tall, gabled houses and bicycle bells, soaking up the cozy Dutch notion of gezelligheid as lights ripple on the water.

Hear tips on local neighborhoods and favorite haunts while you orient around the UNESCO-listed canal belt. It’s a relaxed, social introduction that blends comfort food with the charming mood of the Golden Age canal ring.

Join a guided panoramic tour to witness the arc of Berlin’s history, from the Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag to Tiergarten and Alexanderplatz. Your expert host shares stories of division and reunification as the city’s grand avenues and memorials come into focus.

Continue to the East Side Gallery, the longest open-air section of the Berlin Wall, where bold murals speak of hope and dissent. This moving overview balances headline sites with authentic street-level perspectives.

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