The Big Four of Europe

Welcome to Madrid. Upon arrival at the airport, we’ll transfer you to your hotel where you’ll have some free time before the tour begins. Please check the hotel reception for details about the welcome meeting with your guide and fellow travellers. In the evening, we’ll provide a transfer to Plaza Mayor and La Latina, renowned districts for Madrid’s vibrant nightlife and tapas bars. You may choose to dine at a restaurant of your preference, with options including Indian, Chinese, Spanish, and Middle Eastern cuisines.
Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour.

We begin the morning with a thorough tour of central Madrid, taking in key sights such as Paseo del Prado, the Cibeles and Neptuno fountains, Puerta de Alcalá, Plaza de Colón, and Plaza Mayor. We then explore Retiro Park, a peaceful green space in the city centre, where we’ll see the ornamental lake and the elegant Palacio de Cristal. Later, we visit Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home to Real Madrid football club, with admission included. The afternoon is free for you to relax or explore independently. In the evening, we provide transfer back to your hotel.

This morning, we depart Madrid and travel through the Castile region towards Aragon. Our first stop is Zaragoza to admire the magnificent Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, a significant Baroque landmark. We then continue to Poblet Abbey, one of the best-preserved medieval monasteries in the world—admission is included. Finally, we make our way to Barcelona, arriving in the evening for the next stage of our journey.

This morning, we’ll take you on a panoramic tour of Barcelona, a city famed for its vibrant culture and striking architecture. Open to the Mediterranean Sea, Barcelona is celebrated for Gaudí’s modernist masterpieces, lively La Rambla, and its heritage from World Expos and the Olympic Games. The tour concludes at Maremagnum, a contemporary leisure and dining complex by the sea beside Columbus Square, where you can enjoy a stroll through this bustling waterfront area. The afternoon is yours to relax or explore at your own pace. We will ensure your return to the hotel at the end of the day.

We’ll transfer you to the station for your included high-speed train journey from Barcelona to Paris. The journey takes just over six hours in comfortable surroundings. Upon arrival in Paris, we’ll provide a transfer to your hotel. Your guide will contact you in the evening, or you can check the hotel reception for information about upcoming activities. Please note that the train journey is without a guide.

Today we explore the grandeur of France with a visit to the magnificent Palace of Versailles, famed for its opulent architecture and extensive gardens (admission not included). Upon returning to Paris, we’ll wander through Montmartre, a historic bohemian quarter known for its vibrant artistic heritage and lively cabarets. To complete the day, we’ll enjoy a panoramic city tour with a local guide, taking in Paris’s broad boulevards and iconic landmarks. We’ll return to the hotel in the evening, with an optional variety show available for those who wish to experience Parisian nightlife further.

We begin the day in central Paris with a visit to the iconic Eiffel Tower, where we include tickets to the second floor of this famous landmark. Following this, we enjoy a relaxing boat cruise along the Seine lasting approximately one hour and fifteen minutes, offering a unique perspective of the city’s most celebrated sights. The afternoon is yours to explore Paris at your own pace; please note that transfers back to the hotel are not included. If wait times at the Eiffel Tower are excessive, we may reschedule the visit for a later time or for Sunday to ensure your convenience.

Today, we travel to the heart of France, passing through the Burgundy region, famous for its vineyards and exceptional wines. Our first stop is Beaune, a delightful town known for its colourful streets, historic hospice, and wine museum. You’ll have some free time to enjoy lunch and explore at your own pace. Afterwards, we continue to Lyon, the former capital of Roman Gaul situated on the banks of the Rhône River. We’ll take a cable car up to Notre-Dame de Fourvière for spectacular views over the city. You’ll then have some free time to discover Lyon’s UNESCO-listed historic centre. Please note, on some departures a portion of the group will stay overnight in Chambéry, a nearby city known for its medieval charm and impressive castle, with free time to explore there the following morning.

We travel into Switzerland, arriving in Geneva where we pass the Palace of Nations, the European headquarters of the United Nations. Here, we explore the English Garden with its famous flower clock and admire the Jet d?Eau, Europe's tallest fountain. After lunch, we continue through the scenic Swiss countryside, following routes along Lake Geneva and Lake Neuch?tel. We drive through the Three Lakes region, enjoying views of vineyards set against the mountains. We pause in Neuch?tel, where you can take a stroll by the lake, explore the historic town centre, or visit the well-preserved 10th-century castle. Our journey concludes in Zurich, arriving in the late afternoon. Note: Depending on group size, the Geneva to Zurich leg may be by train, in which case there will be no stop in Neuch?tel.

We begin the day exploring Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city and its financial and cultural centre. Known for its banking industry, Zurich has been twice named the city with the highest quality of life worldwide. Following the city tour, we’ll take a scenic cruise on Lake Zurich lasting nearly two hours, with stops at charming lakeside villages along the way. We’ll disembark in Rapperswil, a picturesque village famous for its medieval castle. From there, we return to Zurich by train, offering a chance to experience the renowned efficiency of the Swiss rail network. Depending on group size, transfers to and from the city centre may be made using public transport.

Today we travel through some of Switzerland’s most stunning landscapes, characterised by tall mountains and clear lakes. We begin in the Interlaken region with a stop in Grindelwald, where we’ll enjoy a coffee break before taking a cable car up the mountain. From there, we walk along a winding path leading to a suspended bridge that offers impressive views of the surrounding glaciers for those who wish to cross it. Lunch is included on the mountain before we descend and continue to Lucerne. You’ll have time to explore this beautiful city and appreciate its charming streets and lakeside setting. We then return to Zurich for the evening. Your guide will also offer an optional full-day excursion starting in the morning, which includes free time in Lucerne followed by a rotating cable car ride to the summit of Mount Titlis, over 3,000 metres above sea level, for spectacular views of the glacier and Alps.

We depart Zurich early, crossing the Alps into the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland. Our first stop is Bellinzona, known for its three medieval castles that stand as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These hilltop fortifications reflect Bellinzona’s importance as a historic Alpine stronghold. You’ll have free time to explore the town’s charming streets. Continuing into Italy, we arrive in Como for lunch. This picturesque town in Lombardy is famed for its lakeside gardens and impressive cathedral. Later, we travel to Milan where our guide will show us the grand Piazza del Duomo. You’ll have some time to explore the area before transferring to your hotel for the evening.

Today, we continue to Pisa, where we’ll take a small tourist train to the Piazza dei Miracoli, known as the Square of Miracles. Here, you’ll have time to admire the remarkable ensemble of buildings, including the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa. Later, we travel on to Rome, arriving later in the day.

In the morning, we’ll take a three-hour guided tour of Rome, blending a walking exploration of Imperial Rome with a panoramic bus ride through this ancient city. You’ll see landmarks including the Arch of Constantine, the exterior of the Colosseum, the Imperial Forums, Circus Maximus, the Baths of Caracalla, the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, the Pyramid of Cestius, and Castel Sant’Angelo. The tour concludes at Vatican City around 11:00 a.m., where we’ll offer an optional visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Later in the day, we’ll include a transfer to the vibrant Trastevere district, known for its welcoming restaurants and lively atmosphere. We’ll return to the hotel at approximately 8:30 p.m.

We leave Rome this morning, travelling north through the beautiful countryside to Florence. Upon arrival, we head straight to Piazzale Michelangelo for stunning panoramic views of the city. From there, we walk to the historic centre, where after some time for lunch, we enjoy a guided tour with a local expert. The tour includes iconic sites such as the Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo, and Piazza della Signoria—Florence is truly an open-air museum. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore at leisure. In the evening, you’ll find plenty of dining options in the city, with a wide range of international cuisines available.

Today, we’ll travel through the striking mountain scenery of the Apennines as we make our way from Florence to Venice. On arrival, we’ll take a boat across the Giudecca Canal to the heart of Venice’s island city. With a local guide, we’ll explore the magnificent St. Mark’s Square before visiting a Murano glass factory to witness traditional glassblowing techniques. You’ll then have some free time to discover Venice at your own pace. Accommodation for the night will be in the Mestre district.

We leave Venice this morning and travel to Austria. Upon arrival in Innsbruck, you’ll have time to explore the historic city centre and enjoy lunch in the Tyrolean capital. Afterward, we continue along scenic mountain roads to Kitzbühel, a picturesque village famed as a ski resort with snow most of the year. You’ll have some free time here to discover the village before we make our way to Salzburg, where we’ll arrive by the end of the day. If the group is small, travel from Venice to Innsbruck may be by train.

Today we’ll explore Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart. The city centre, with its Renaissance and Baroque architecture, sits beneath the imposing fortress that has guarded Salzburg for centuries. Afterwards, we’ll travel through scenic lakes and mountain landscapes to St Wolfgang, a well-known pilgrimage destination. From there, we continue to Traunkirchen on the edge of Lake Traunsee, where we’ll take an included cruise to admire four castles along the lake’s shore before disembarking at Gmunden. We’ll then journey on to Vienna, arriving in the evening.

Today, we’ll set out on a panoramic tour of Vienna with a local guide. We’ll explore the city’s grand avenues, magnificent palaces, expansive parks, and vibrant central districts, getting a true sense of Vienna’s impressive character. In the afternoon, you’ll have free time to discover the city at your leisure. In the evening, we’ll provide a transfer to the Grinzing district, a historic wine-growing village now part of Vienna, renowned for its traditional taverns. You’ll have time to enjoy dinner there independently.

We’ll travel from Vienna to Budapest, a journey of approximately three hours. Upon arrival, we’ll stop in the vibrant Váci utca district, where you’ll have free time for lunch. Afterwards, we’ll embark on an included boat trip along the Danube River, offering striking views of historic Buda on one side and cosmopolitan Pest on the other. Following the cruise, we’ll begin a panoramic tour of Budapest, the “Queen of the Danube.” You’ll have some free time later to explore at your own pace. In the evening, there is an optional opportunity to attend a traditional Hungarian show, including dinner.

We depart Budapest early and travel to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, situated on the banks of the Danube. Here, you’ll have time to explore the charming historic centre and enjoy lunch at your leisure. Afterward, we continue to the Czech Republic, arriving in Prague in the evening. Upon arrival, we’ll transfer you to the Old Town Square, the perfect introduction to Prague with its lively atmosphere and numerous dining options. You can choose to dine at one of the many restaurants offering a variety of international cuisines, including Czech, Chinese, Indian, and Italian. Following dinner, we’ll return to the hotel for the night.

Today, we explore Prague, often called the Baroque jewel of Europe. A local guide will take us on a panoramic tour, showcasing the city’s most remarkable landmarks. We will visit Prague Castle with admission included, followed by a scenic boat ride on the Vltava River. In the afternoon, you’ll have free time to discover the city at your own pace.

After breakfast, our tour concludes, leaving you with treasured memories of your journey.