ROMANTIC EUROPEAN (START AMSTERDAM END PARIS)

• Welcome to Amsterdam, enjoy a day of leisure.
• Join your Travel Director for a Welcome Reception.
• Mingle and get to know your fellow travellers as you cruise along some of the many quaint, tree-lined canals, to explore the heart of the Old City, before enjoying a pleasant evening of dinner and wine at a local restaurant.

Welcome Meet your Travel Director at 17:00

• Depart the Dutch capital this morning and journey into the heart of Germany’s romantic Rhine Valley.
• In Boppard, board a river cruise and glide past vineyard-covered slopes, turreted castles and the legendary Lorelei rock.
• Among the sights, admire the silhouettes of Burg Rheinfels, Burg Katz and Burg Maus.
• Later, arrive in Würzburg, a city celebrated for its baroque charm and wine-making heritage.

• In the morning, venture to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, the most well-preserved town on the Romantic Road.
• Continue East to the Czech border, passing the town of Pilsen renowned for its beer, to reach the Golden City of Prague.
• In the evening, perhaps take a river cruise through the heart of the city?

• Explore Prague with Insight Choice.
• Choose to walk the courtyards of the Castle and visit the imposing St. Vitus Cathedral.
• Alternatively, join your Local Expert through the Jewish Quarter and hear about the history, traditions and legends of the Jewish people and taste Trdelník, a traditional Czech pastry.
• Then, the city is all yours to explore. Perhaps rummage through the renowned antique stores or shop for the finest Bohemian crystal?

• Travel to Hungary, following the River Danube to Budapest.
• In the evening, enjoy a scenic dinner cruise, gliding past UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
• The city’s spectacular night-time beauty earns it the nickname ‘Pearl of the Danube’.

• Drive along the beautiful Andrassy Avenue to Heroes’ Square.
• Stroll through the alleys of the Old Town of Buda and admire sweeping views from the Fisherman’s Bastion with a Local Expert.
• Stand atop Gellért Hill where the colossal Liberty Statue stands in front of the Citadella watching over the city.
• Marvel at extensive panoramic views as you look out over the famous river dividing Buda and Pest – the two sides linked by the mighty Chain Bridge and the elegant, newer Elizabeth Bridge.

• This morning enjoy a tour of the Liszt Music Academy with a student, followed by an enchanting recital.
• The university was founded by the piano virtuoso and composer Franz Liszt in 1875.
• Continue your travels, past the Turul Monument, a large eagle statue overlooking the town of Tatabanya, to the Austrian border and through pleasant farming country to the imperial capital of Vienna.

• In the morning, there is the option to join a private tour of Maria Theresa’s Schönbrunn Palace and formal gardens.
• Get your camera ready for a drive around the famous Ring Road.
• This grand boulevard, built along the lines of the old city walls, showcases many of the capital’s architectural masterpieces, including the Opera House, magnificent Hofburg Imperial Residence and Parliament building.
• Later, join your Local Expert for a walk through Innere Stadt, the first district and historic core of Vienna.
• Sit down for traditional coffee and cake and mingle with locals at a cosy café.

• This day’s route takes you past quiet villages, through Styria’s forested mountains and into the Carinthian Lake District.
• Continue past Europe’s warmest lake, the Wörthersee, to cross into Italy near Tarvisio.
• Then follow mountain valleys and cascading streams down to the Veneto Plain en route to the unique city of Venice.
• Arrive by private boat to your hotel.
• In the late afternoon and early evening, sip a cocktail on the corner of Piazza San Marco, whilst you are serenaded by an ensemble of talented musicians.
• Afterwards, stroll past the Doges Palace and the famous ‘Bridge of Sighs’ to a local restaurant in the heart of the San Marco ‘sestieri’ for a magical dinner.

• In the morning, prepare to embrace this most romantic city.
• See the immense Campanile and Doge’s Palace on St. Mark’s Square, connected to the ancient prisons by the Bridge of Sighs.
• Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you witness the skill of glassblowers on a visit to a traditional arts centre.
• The rest of the day is at leisure.
• Perhaps shop in the small arcades or why not cruise the Venetian lagoon to the island of Burano for a meal of local specialties and wine?

• Head into the Apennines for an exclusive visit to Fattoria di Bagnolo, a historic Tuscan estate owned by the noble Bartolini Baldelli family for generations.
• After a personal welcome from a family member who shares the estate’s story, trace its journey from Machiavelli’s era to its 1852 revival as the Marquis’ summer residence.
• Explore the villa, atmospheric cellars and vineyards with views across the Chianti hills then savour a tasting of the estate wines paired with the family’s own olive oil.
• Later, follow the Tiber onwards to the Eternal City of Rome.

• With your Local Expert, enjoy fast-track entry to the Vatican Museums to explore centuries of Papal history and art, including works by Raphael and classical sculptures collected by the Popes.
• In the Sistine Chapel, examine Michelangelo’s renowned ceiling fresco, painted between 1508 and 1512.
• Continue to St. Peter’s Basilica, the world’s largest church, to admire Michelangelo’s Pietà and the dome he designed. Cross the Tiber to reach ancient Rome and stand before the Colosseum, the largest amphitheatre ever built.
• This afternoon is at leisure. On some departures, access to St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums may be restricted.
• You’ll still enjoy the atmosphere of St. Peter’s Square during your visit to the Vatican City, and if tickets are unavailable to the Vatican Museums, you’ll instead explore the Capitoline Museums, home to iconic Roman art and archaeology.

• Meet chef Lorenzo at his family farm in Umbria.
• Explore the art of Italian cooking during an entertaining pasta demonstration and delicious Highlight Lunch accompanied by Orvieto Classico wine.
• Continue on to your hotel in Florence.

• Begin the morning by joining a Local Expert in Florence to view the multi-coloured marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery adorned by Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise.
• You also visit the open-air gallery of Renaissance masterpieces in Piazza della Signoria, the political heart of the city.
• See the area around Santa Croce Basilica, famous for the quality of its luxury goods.
• In the afternoon, enjoy free time to explore the Renaissance capital.
• Perhaps take the opportunity to visit Pisa and see the famous Leaning Tower?

• Head north towards the Italian Lake District via Lake Lugano.
• Continue into the heart of the Swiss Alps, passing through the Saint Gotthard Tunnel, one of the longest road tunnels in the world, before travelling alongside towering mountains and past rushing torrents, down to scenic Lake Lucerne.
• Upon return in Lucerne, see the town’s proud Lion Monument, carved into a limestone cliff and dedicated to the heroic Swiss Guards who died defending King Louis XVI during the French Revolution.
• Then, take some time to stroll across the covered Chapel Bridge and see the baroque Jesuit Church.

• Explore Mount Stanserhorn on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, as an open-top cable car powered by solar panels take you up the summit.
• Breathe in the pristine mountain air and, on a clear day, witness views as far as Alsace and the Black Forest in Germany.
• Walk along beautiful scenic pathways, keeping an eye out for marmots and other native animals, with the chance to hear a conservation talk by a Swiss ranger, to learn about local wildlife and flora.
• With the day free, there is plenty of time for shopping for delectable chocolate in the traffic-free Old Town.
• Perhaps venture into the countryside for a delightful horse-drawn carriage ride and meet the local farmers?
• At night, you are offered a fine selection of restaurants to choose from for your Dine-Around Evening.

• Journey through the rural French country side of Alsace and Burgundy regions, famous for its vineyards and wines, to arrive in the vibrant City of Light.
• During your time in Paris, see the impressive Eiffel Tower, the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral and the imposing facades of the Louvre.
• Discover the banks of the Seine with its many romantic bridges, see the obelisk in the centre of the Place de la Concorde and drive along the Champs Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe.
• With the evening free, there are countless opportunities to enjoy the lively atmosphere of this glittering city.
• Why not visit one of the world-famous cabaret shows?

• Discover Paris through the eyes of your Local Expert on a panoramic tour of the City of Light.
• Take in the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and elegant Champs-Élysées before seeing Place de la Concorde, one of the city’s grandest squares and the site of the guillotine during the French Revolution.
• Admire the Louvre Museum, another of Paris’ most recognisable landmarks, before enjoying dinner at a local restaurant where you’ll savour French cuisine.

• Bid farewell to your travelling companions as your journey comes to an end.
• Transfers arrive at Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Departure Transfer: Arrive at Charles de Gaulle Airport at 08:00, 11:00