Speed across the Venetian Lagoon by private motorboat, skimming past moored gondolas and island silhouettes toward the heart of the Serenissima. Disembark near St Mark’s Square to take in the lace-like Gothic of the Doge’s Palace and the soaring campanile.

Feel the city reveal itself from the water—an approach Venetians have made for centuries across 118 islands stitched by canals and bridges. This brisk lagoon crossing sets the tone for exploring palazzi-lined lanes and stone quays at your own rhythm.

Roll dough, cut ribbons and fill pillows during a hands-on pasta-making class in Rome. Shape tagliatelle or ravioli, then cook and dine on your creations paired with classic Roman sauces in a convivial setting.

Between flour-dusted counters and a shared table, you’ll taste the simplicity that defines Roman cucina. This optional culinary experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

• 1 Dinner (D)
• 8 Breakfast (B)

• 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.
• Rome: You might have the chance to join a guided Colosseum tour. Heads up: sometimes the only available tour slots are later in the day, after the trip ends. If you’re super keen to see the Colosseum, we recommend booking a flight that departs after 4pm.
• 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: Your Trip Manager will advise you on who you’ll share your room with. On this trip, you’ll stay in a multi-share room with other travellers of the same sex.

• 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.

Contiki

Discover Kraków on a relaxed city orientation, threading from the Main Market Square (Rynek Glówny) to the arcaded Cloth Hall and the bugle-haunted towers of St. Mary’s Basilica. Your Trip Manager points out essential spots and stories so you can navigate confidently and find the city’s best bites and bars.

Walk the Royal Route toward Wawel Royal Castle and the Vistula embankments, learning how medieval merchants, kings and craftsmen shaped this UNESCO-listed Old Town. It’s a compact, walkable introduction that blends headline sights with local tips you’ll use for the rest of your stay.

Visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum on a solemn, educational experience led with sensitivity. Walk the preserved grounds, from Auschwitz I’s exhibits to the haunting expanse of Birkenau, where rail tracks, watchtowers and barracks convey the scale of the tragedy.

Gain historical context about the Nazi occupation and the lives lost in the largest camp complex of World War II. This guided visit encourages quiet reflection and remembrance, engaging thoughtfully with a chapter of history that continues to shape Europe’s conscience.

Explore the pastel facades and mountain-framed calm of Banská Bystrica’s Námestie SNP, pausing by the Renaissance Clock Tower and the Town Castle’s fortifications. The square’s cafes, arcades and statues create an inviting scene for photos and a gentle wander.

Learn how medieval copper wealth and 20th-century resistance shaped this Slovak city, home to the Slovak National Uprising story. Its compact center rewards an unhurried stroll, revealing architectural layers from Gothic and Baroque to tidy 19th-century townhouses.

Get acquainted with Slovenia’s capital on an easygoing orientation that takes in the Triple Bridge and Dragon Bridge, storybook Prešeren Square, and the willow-draped banks of the Ljubljanica River. Learn how to navigate the lanes, markets and café terraces like a local.

Admire the harmonious urban design of Jože Plecnik, whose elegant colonnades and riverside details give the city its signature look. With Ljubljana Castle on the hill and cozy lanes below, you’ll soak in the riverside atmosphere and feel instantly at home.

Experience an evening classical music concert in imperial Vienna, where polished strings and gleaming brass bring Strauss and Mozart to life. Settle into a gilded salon as waltzes and arias float through soaring acoustics.

Vienna’s musical heritage runs from court composers to café culture, and venues like the Kursalon or Musikverein capture that pedigree. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, perfect for a refined night in Europe’s music capital.

Cruise the Danube as Budapest’s landmarks ignite after dusk— the neo-Gothic Hungarian Parliament, hilltop Buda Castle and the Chain Bridge shimmering across the current. Settle in for dinner on board while the city glides by.

Understand Budapest’s dual identity—Buda and Pest—best appreciated from its great river. Warm interiors and illuminated views make this an atmospheric winter treat. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Glide by gondola through Venice’s intimate canals, slipping beneath stone bridges as facades and balconies drift past at water level. Hear the gentle lap of the lagoon while your gondolier navigates hidden rii toward the Rialto area.

This time-honored craft dates back centuries, offering a quiet counterpoint to the bustle of St Mark’s. It’s Venice at its most cinematic. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Join a guided food tour through backstreet bacari—Venice’s traditional snack bars—to sample cicchetti in traditional bacari: seafood bites, creamy baccalà, and market-fresh nibbles. Sip an ombra (local wine) or spritz like a true Venetian.

Learn how these standing-room taverns fuel daily life, from Rialto’s markets to neighborhood alleys. This tasting walk blends culture with flavor and is an excellent window into Venetian conviviality. Optional, at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Step inside on a guided Colosseum visit with a pre-arranged entry time, hearing stories of gladiators, emperors and ingenious Roman engineering within the Flavian Amphitheatre. Gaze across the tiered arches and reconstructed arena floor.

Outside, your guide highlights the nearby Arch of Constantine and the Forum’s ruins, setting the scene for ancient Rome. This Free Time Add-On is optional, at additional cost and bookable on tour; availability is limited and often scheduled for the afternoon.