Grand European Odyssey Madrid to Berlin
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Set off from Madrid to Berlin on a 17–day adventure that blends headline cities with Alpine drama. You’ll explore Madrid’s boulevards and tapas – with entry to Santiago Bernabéu – then roll east via Zaragoza and Poblet to Barcelona and Girona. Cross into Provence for Arles and an immersive show at Carrières des Lumières, before Switzerland wows – think Geneva, Gruyères cheese, Chillon Castle and Glacier 3000. Continue through Zurich and Strasbourg to Paris for Montmartre, the Eiffel Tower and a Seine cruise. Sail to England for London’s icons, hop to the Netherlands for canals and windmills, then finish in Berlin.
For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more.
Tour Overview
Duration
17 daysHotel Rating
3 or 4 star hotelsStarts
MadridEnds
BerlinMinimum Age
No minimum ageMaximum Age
Tours have upper age limits for several reasons, such as but not limited to: tour pace, activity level, and accommodation standards. If you fall outside of this age limit, we do have lots of other tours in Spain that are suitable for all ages!
Arrival Transfer
YesDeparture Transfer
NoTour Guide
Yes - English speaking guides (guiding may be in additional languages to English)Countries
Spain, France, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Netherlands, GermanyTour Style
Group Size
Up to 65 travellers
Min 2 / Max 65
Trip Type
Large Coach Tours
Travel Style
Worldwide Touring
This tour is operated by our trusted local partner and has been handpicked by us to deliver you an unforgettable trip.
Guiding Style
Partially Guided
This tour includes scheduled sightseeing with expert guides in key destinations as per the Inclusions, as well as transportation (either with a driver or public transport), plus of course your accommodation. There is no single tour guide or tour leader throughout the trip. You’ll have support where it counts, and more freedom in between. Our cruise tours also fall into this category where you will be looked after by a crew. For more information, check the Inclusions of this tour.
Tour pace
A balanced pace, with a mix of free time and visits to multiple locations, allowing for both relaxation and exploration. Generally doesn't visit more than one or two destinations per day.
Physical rating
A moderate amount of walking is required during sightseeing, with some free time, offering a balance between activity and relaxation. As a general rule, you should be able to walk 2-kilometres without stopping.
These ratings are a general guide and may vary from tour to tour.
Tour Guide
Yes - English speaking guides (guiding may be in additional languages to English)Group Size
Min 2 / Max 65Range
This tour is operated by our trusted local partner and has been handpicked by us to deliver you an unforgettable trip.
Guiding Style
This tour includes scheduled sightseeing with expert guides in key destinations as per the Inclusions, as well as transportation (either with a driver or public transport), plus of course your accommodation. There is no single tour guide or tour leader throughout the trip. You’ll have support where it counts, and more freedom in between. Our cruise tours also fall into this category where you will be looked after by a crew. For more information, check the Inclusions of this tour.
Tour Pace
A balanced pace, with a mix of free time and visits to multiple locations, allowing for both relaxation and exploration. Generally doesn't visit more than one or two destinations per day.
Physical Rating
A moderate amount of walking is required during sightseeing, with some free time, offering a balance between activity and relaxation. As a general rule, you should be able to walk 2-kilometres without stopping.
Trip Type
Large Coach ToursPassengers
$6,285.00
$500.00
Free eSIM included
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Places You'll See
Madrid
Zaragoza
Poblet
Barcelona
Girona
Careers of Lights
Chambéry
Geneva
Gruyeres
Leysin
Interlaken
Lucerne
Zurich
Strasbourg
Paris
Rouen
English Channel
Canterbury
London
Colchester
Colchester - Volendam Ferry
Volendam
Amsterdam
Hamelin
Berlin
Included
Not Included
Itinerary
Day 1 - Madrid
Welcome to Madrid. On arrival we transfer you to your hotel and you have free time until the tour begins – please check the noticeboard in reception for details of the welcome meeting with your guide and fellow travellers. In the evening we include a transfer to Plaza Mayor and La Latina, famed for nightlife and tapas; you can choose where to dine, with Spanish, Indian, Chinese and Middle Eastern options.
Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour. Please also be aware that depending on group composition, guiding may be in additional languages as well as English.
Day 2 - Madrid
This morning we tour central Madrid, taking in Paseo del Prado, Cibeles, Neptuno, Puerta de Alcalá, Plaza de Colón and Plaza Mayor, then enjoy a stroll in Retiro Park to see the lake and the Palacio de Cristal. We include admission to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium – home of Real Madrid. You have the afternoon at leisure, and in the evening we provide a return transfer to the hotel.
Day 3 - Madrid - Zaragoza - Poblet - Barcelona
We travel east across Castile into Aragón, pausing in Zaragoza for a brief visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar. After lunch we continue to the Monastery of Poblet – an exceptionally well–preserved medieval complex within ancient walls – with admission included. We then continue to Barcelona, arriving late in the afternoon.
Day 4 - Barcelona - Girona
In the morning we tour Barcelona, the City of Counts on the Mediterranean, celebrated for Gaudí’s modernist landmarks, the lively Ramblas and a rich history shaped by the Universal Exposition and the Olympics. In the evening we drive north into Catalonia and, before checking in, take a walk through Girona’s historic centre with its colourful houses, old Jewish quarter and impressive cathedral.
Day 5 - Girona - Careers of Lights - Chambery
We cross into France through Provence, first stopping in Arles – a UNESCO World Heritage city linked to Van Gogh – where you can see the Roman theatre and Romanesque churches, explore and have lunch. We then include a visit to Carrières des Lumières, an extraordinary immersive art show in a former quarry. We arrive in Chambéry, the charming Savoy capital with a medieval–style historic centre and a large castle. Note: if Carrières des Lumières is closed or tickets are unavailable due to high demand, we visit the Pont du Gard Roman aqueduct instead.
Day 6 - Chambery - Geneva - Gruyeres - Leysin
We continue into Switzerland to Geneva, where with our guide we visit the Palais des Nations and the English Garden with its flower clock, and admire the Jet d’Eau, Europe’s tallest fountain. We then reach the walled village of Gruyères, famed for its cheese, and include admission to the Maison Cailler Chocolate Factory for a sweet tasting. Following scenic roads past bucolic mountain landscapes and wooden villages, we visit lakeside Chillon Castle with admission included, before arriving in Leysin mid–afternoon, a welcoming resort with superb views of the Rhône Valley and Mont Blanc – dinner is included. Note: depending on availability, accommodation may be in another charming Swiss Alpine town such as Martigny.
Day 7 - Leysin - Interlaken - Lucerne - Zurich
Prepare for magnificent alpine scenery – bring warm layers. We ascend to Glacier 3000 by cable car, where ice and snow lie year–round and you can walk the suspended bridge between two peaks, explore the Ice Cathedral or enjoy the Fun Park. We pause in Interlaken for lunch, continue to Lucerne, and reach Zurich in the evening with time to explore the centre before we head to the hotel. Note: if adverse weather or other factors close the Glacier 3000 cable car, we will offer an equally spectacular alternative to enjoy the alpine landscapes.
Day 8 - Zurich - Strasbourg - Paris
We depart Zurich for Alsace to visit Strasbourg, a delightful city blending French and German influences – you have time to explore – before continuing to Paris, arriving in the evening.
Day 9 - Paris
We delve into French history at the Palace of Versailles – admission not included – renowned for its glorious gardens. Returning to Paris, we visit Montmartre, the bohemian hilltop quarter of artists and cabarets, then take a panoramic city tour with a local guide to admire grand avenues and iconic monuments before returning to the hotel.
Day 10 - Paris - Rouen
We begin in central Paris with a visit to the Eiffel Tower, including tickets to the second floor, followed by a relaxing Seine cruise. You have a free afternoon to explore at your own pace. Around 4:00 p.m. we leave for Normandy and arrive in Rouen, where you have free time to discover the historic centre with medieval architecture and a striking Gothic cathedral. Note: if queues at the Eiffel Tower are too long, we may reschedule the visit to a different time – or on Sunday – for your convenience.
Day 11 - Rouen - English Channel - Canterbury - London
This morning we take a stroll through Rouen’s centre before travelling to northern France. We cross the English Channel by ferry to reach Canterbury, the religious capital of England with a charming historic core, then continue to London, where you have free time around Tower Bridge before we head to the hotel.
Day 12 - London
Discover London on a panoramic tour with a local guide, seeing landmarks such as Parliament, the River Thames and Buckingham Palace – you may witness the Changing of the Guard depending on the date. In the evening we set a meeting point in Piccadilly to stroll through Leicester Square, Chinatown and Soho, vibrant areas of theatres and entertainment; you can choose from many restaurants for dinner before we return to the hotel.
Day 13 - London - Colchester - Colchester - Volendam Ferry
In the morning we visit the British Museum, one of the world’s oldest, then at lunchtime – after some free time – we head to Camden, famed for its eclectic street market where you can browse for unique items and enjoy lunch at food stalls or small restaurants. Around 4:00 p.m. we depart for Colchester, the oldest recorded town in England, for a leisurely stroll, before continuing to Harwich to board the overnight ferry to the Netherlands in en suite cabins. Important note: due to limited cabin availability, the itinerary may be adjusted – we might travel from London to Amsterdam by daytime ferry with an overnight in Antwerp, or alternatively take a train or flight to Amsterdam.
Day 14 - Colchester - Volendam Ferry - Volendam - Amsterdam
At around 8:00 a.m. we arrive in the Netherlands at Hoek van Holland and visit Volendam, a pretty fishing village. We then continue to Amsterdam for a guided tour that brings together several highlights: the classic windmill view and Rembrandt statue, the elegant South District, and the centuries–old craft of diamond cutting around Museum Square. The tour ends at Central Station, where your guide shares information to help you enjoy the canals and street markets.
Day 15 - Amsterdam - Hamelin - Berlin
We leave Amsterdam for Germany, stopping in Hamelin, a picturesque town whose streets recall the Pied Piper tale by the Brothers Grimm, then continue via Marienborn – the former border between East and West Germany until 1990 – to arrive in Berlin in the evening.
Day 16 - Berlin
Today we tour Berlin with a local guide, seeing Museum Island, the Television Tower, the main shopping streets, the old cathedral damaged in the Second World War, the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag and the city’s broad parks. We stop to visit the Holocaust Memorial and the Berlin Wall Memorial Museum, powerful reminders of Germany’s recent history. You have the afternoon free to explore, and in the early evening we provide a transfer to lively Kantstrasse.
Day 17 - Berlin
After breakfast the journey comes to an end – we hope you leave with wonderful memories.
Tour Reviews
Extras and add-ons
If you'd like to add extras or add-ons to your booking, you can do this easily during checkout. Just review the available options and select any additional services or upgrades you'd like before completing your purchase.
Pre and Post Tour Accommodation
Extend your tour with us by booking pre and post-accommodation, available at a per-person, per-night rate.
Post-Tour Accommodation - Berlin
Pre-Tour Accommodation - Madrid
Hotels
The hotels listed below are examples which we frequently use on this tour. Alternative hotels of a similar standard may be used instead.
Confirmation of the hotels used may not be available until 48 hours before the tour departs.
If you are interested in booking pre or post-tour accommodation, here are some of the hotels we typically use.
Prices & Dates
Departure dates are guaranteed with 2 travellers. 'Double/Twin' prices are per person when there are 2 people on the same booking sharing a room. 'Single' prices are applicable to anyone wanting the privacy of their own room. 'Triple' prices are per person when there are 3 people on the same booking sharing a room. 'Shared' prices are for solo travellers who are happy to share with another solo traveller of the same sex in a twin room - a single room will be provided at no additional cost if there are no suitable travellers to share with.
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