European Whirl

The adventure of a lifetime kicks off today. Meet up with your new Contiki family in London town before hitting the road to Amsterdam. Shortly before we find our ferry for France, we'll be taking in the English coastline beauty of the White Cliffs of Dover. They owe their gorgeousness to their composition of chalk - you're learning and we haven't even left the UK! Off the ferry we arrive in the port town of Calais - French soil! We travel north through Belgium before reaching...Amsterdam! Tonight, the famed-for-fun Amsterdam is ours to explore. First fill up on your included group dinner, then you're free to explore or hit the local bars.

Accommodation: Ibis Budget Amsterdam City South (or similar)
Meals: Dinner

Amsterdam is cute as a button & sure to win your heart with its canals, obscure museums & a cafe culture like no other. There's loads for you to choose from. Check out the STRAAT museum for some art inspo. Head out on a canal cruise, or even grab dinner at a local seafront restaurant. Either way, you'll have damn good time.

Accommodation: Ibis Budget Amsterdam City South (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Out of Amsterdam, onto the autobahn and on the fast-track to uber-cool Berlin. That's on today's agenda. On the world map of cool party vibes, Berlin has a gold star. We've got two nights to explore every inch of this amazing city, and we'll kick it off with a bit of history into the city and its troubled and interesting past. Once we arrive your Trip Manager can point you in the right direction to go and see the sights.

Accommodation: ibis Berlin Messe (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Get into the mood of exploration. Berlin has so much to offer the hungry traveller, from the obvious icons like Checkpoint Charlie to all the obscurities tucked away in the side streets. Luckily, we've got two walking tours to offer you. A historical walking tour in the morning to discover spots like Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag Building and an alternative walking tour in the evening to discover edgy Kreuzberg. Either way, it’s a day packed with stories, sights, and a real taste of Berlin.

Accommodation: ibis Berlin Messe (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Before we leave Berlin, we'll have the chance to wander the East Side Gallery and soak up our last dose of history before making tracks for the darling of Europe, Prague.A drive from Berlin to Prague would not be complete without stopping in Dresden. Destroyed by World War II, the rebuilt town is now a symbol of resilience, soaked in the re-birthed beauty of the Opera house, the domed Frauenkirche, & the Royal Residence. On arrival in the compact & lovable city of Prague, we'll get out and go exploring, seeing castles and cathedrals and learning of Bohemian Kings and gothic history. Tonight, you could see yourself spending the evening indulging in traditional Czech cuisine while admiring the local folklore dancers as the sun goes down on the 'City of a Hundred Spires'.

Accommodation: Zleep Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

With a full day to loiter, expect an entire photo album of Gothic architecture, market antiques & you cheers-ing local pivo; not to mention life!

Accommodation: Zleep Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

We warned you about falling head over heels for Prague! Sorry team, you cannot live here forever. Unless....? Journeying out of the Czech Republic, we'll start our time in Germany with a sobering visit to the Dachau concentration camp memorial. You'll be able to spend some time here to learn and reflect, before we head on to the city of Munich. It would seem we were born in need of some delightful Bavarian culture, we just didn't know it until now. Munich may be famed for its Oktoberfest festivities, but the spirit of things kicks on year round. A trip to a traditional beer hall will get you very well acquainted with things, just after you've swooned at a Gothic clock complete with 32 dancing figures and 43 chiming bells.

Accommodation: Wyndham Garden Munich Messe (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Today is your chance to dive deep into Munich's cute culture and urban life. You're free to roam the old town, buy yourself a pair or lederhosen or a traditional dirndl, or visit the busy streets and cafes of the university district.

Accommodation: Holiday Inn Express Munich City West (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

'Auf Wiedersehen' Munich, we're off to tick more countries off our list. This morning we'll climb aboard our coach ready for a scenic roll through the Bavarian Alps, past fairytale castles and rambling vineyards, en route to Austria. Drive through Austria without getting out to say hello? Never! We'll pull into Innsbruck for lunch, a laid-back student city made famous by a medieval old town, an old Olympic Ski Jump & a Royal Palace.  And just like that, we're in a new country and a whole new vibe. Ah, Venice! We've arrived in one of Italy's most famous cities. Tonight we'll relax here, knowing we have all day tomorrow to cruise canals & explore picturesque cobbled streets.

Accommodation: Hotel Riviera dei Dogi (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Buongiorno! Venice is ours for a full and glorious Italian day. We'll start exploring The Floating City by jumping aboard our own private motoscafo and cruising the canals en route to the historical heart of the city. Next, you have the option to discover Venice with a traditional gondola ride.

Accommodation: Hotel Riviera dei Dogi (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Farewell floating city, but Italy, we're not done with you yet, our next destination the Eternal City of Rome is just around the corner. The evening will really take it up to high key as we uncover Italian icons in the country's capital of Rome. With a city tour on arrival, we'll get a glimpse of Rome's glory by night, ready to be fully unveiled tomorrow. Gelato, pizza and ancient monuments, we're here for it all.

Accommodation: The Brand Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

This morning we're up and out early to make the most of our chance to explore this ancient city. You can opt to take a tour of the famous Colosseum and walk in the footsteps of Emperors and Gladiators in a guided tour, or snap epic selfies against a background of pink azaleas by the entrance. Visit the Trevi Fountain and throw coins to make a wish, sip espresso in a cobbled backstreet and soak up Italian life as it dances by. Oh, and Roman food tour? You won't wanna miss out on that.

Accommodation: The Brand Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

With antipasto, good vino and golden countryside ahead, saying goodbye to Rome doesn't feel so bad. Cast your eyes over the city one last time this morning before we hit the road, bound for Tuscany.  We’ll stop off to visit a gorgeous 16th Century villa that’s now a working winery. We’ll check out the old cellar, and even sample some Chianti wine for ourselves – with antipasti too of course. Rude not to, right? Florence, the capital of Tuscany, is more proof that Italy has so many great places packed into one small region. Here we'll wander the cobbled streets like a Medici, take in the magnificent Duomo Cathedral and begin our love affair with the city.

Accommodation: B&B Hotel Firenze Novoli (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Ready for a full day of all things Florence? Today is the perfect balance of guided local wisdom and free time to roam. We'll uncover the beautiful art of traditional leatherwork, explore streets bursting with heritage, and see all the top sights on a walking tour. This afternoon you'll have free time to take to the local markets and taste the local gelato before a special optional evening out tonight.

Accommodation: B&B Hotel Firenze Novoli (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

It's almost time to say a heartfelt 'ciao' to Italy, and hello to the land of creamy chocolate, cheese and watches. But we have one more thing to do in Italy first.... As if we were going to jump from Florence to Switzerland without a sneaky side trip to the Leaning Tower of Pisa! Here's your chance to perfect the holding-up-the-tower shot, so make it a good one. With magical views unfolding outside our windows we'll find ourselves in Switzerland, pulling up in the fairytale town of Lucerne, famous for its wooden bridges, cobbled lanes and beautiful setting against the lake it's named after. Here we'll visit the wooden chapel bridge and lion monument and take the chance to explore. Our recommendation for tonight? Swiss chocolate.

Accommodation: Ibis Budget Luzern City (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Today you're free to stroll the beautiful streets of Lucerne, sit in a coffee shop soaking up mountain life, or try some delish fondue. But if you're looking for something a little more adventurous, you can opt for a visit the top of Mt. Pilatus for breathtaking views over the Swiss Alps, or take an optional cruise across Lake Lucerne for a look at the epic Swiss Alps reflected off the water. Don't say we don't spoil you.

Accommodation: Ibis Budget Luzern City (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

It's been sweet, but our time in Lucerne is up this morning. We're Paris-bound! Out with the altitude, in with the inner-city Parisian bliss. We'll jump back onto our coach to cross the border out of Switzerland and (back) into France. After coasting through the pretty wine producing region of Burgundy, we'll arrive in the City of Lights. Lamp-lit bridges, a sparkling Eiffel Tower, & evening coffee haunts, this evening we'll fall in love with everything Paris on a dreamy night-time tour. Is it just us, or is love in the air?

Accommodation: Ibis Paris 17 Clichy-Batignolles (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Pastries, paintings, perfume - Paris is yours! We'll take you to the glamorous Fragonard perfumery, then the time is yours to roam tree-lined quartiers, wander Le Marais for food, shop up a storm on the Champs Elysee, or get arty in the galleries of the Louvre. It's our last night together - make it count with can-can girls & a Cabaret show with dinner.

Accommodation: Ibis Paris 17 Clichy-Batignolles (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Soak up your last dose of Paris and feel the astonishment of how much you've seen. And how close you've grown to your loved-up Contiki collective. Jump on the coach for your free transfer to CDG this morning, or just kick back and enjoy the ride back to London. Either way, there’s plenty of time to start dreaming up the next epic reunion - because adventures this good deserve a sequel! For those not leaving us until London, we'll travel south to Calais. This afternoon we will once again cross the English channel to make our way back to London town! This concludes our whirl around Europe - what a journey! Say a fond farewell to the group as you wrap up your trip on arrival to London.

Meals: Breakfast