A tapestry takes distinct colors and threads, and weaves them together into a beautiful design. That’s exactly what this European tour—European Tapestry—does. It weaves together the distinct cities, cultures, landscapes, and food of eight countries to make a beautiful vacation to Europe. You’ll start with sightseeing and a canal cruise in Amsterdam and end with sightseeing and leisure time in London. In between, you’ll see some of Europe’s must-see attractions, such as the Lion Monument in Lucerne; St. Mark’s Square in Venice; the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Sistine Chapel, and Vatican Museums in Rome; Signoria Square in Florence, the center of the city's political life since the 14th century; the amazing Leaning Tower in Pisa; and the Eiffel Tower, where you’ll ride an elevator to the second floor for spectacular views of Paris.
But that’s not all. You’ll have a beer at a local café in Heidelberg, take a romantic Rhine cruise past castle-crested cliffs and terraced vineyards, learn about woodcarving from a local woodcarver in Germany’s Black Forest, enjoy a special dinner to try out local specialties in Venice, and a highlight of this European tour is an overnight stay in Monte Carlo. Also included are an overnight stay in Lyon, France’s second-largest city, and a thrilling train ride on the high-speed Eurostar train from Paris to London.
Going Places Travel has worked hard behind the scenes to ensure your time and fun is maximized. That’s why we’ve included VIP access in this tour of Europe. That means that rather than waiting in long lines at places such as the Colosseum in Rome, you’ll be inside the attractions and enjoying this amazing vacation. It’s just one more way this European tour is sure to delight!
Highlights:
- Paris Banks of the Seine
- Upper Middle Rhine Valley
- Historic Centre of Florence
- Venice and its Lagoon
- 17th Century Canal Ring Area of Amsterdam
- Piazza del Duomo Pisa
- Historic Centre of Rome - various properties Vatican City
Day 1: Arrive in Amsterdam, Holland
Welcome to Amsterdam! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner with wine at your hotel.
Meal: Dinner
Day 2: Amsterdam
Meet your Local Guide and hear about the fascinating history of the 700-year-old capital during a leisurely CANAL CRUISE. Admire the patrician mansions and the gabled façades, the “Golden Bend,” the most prestigious part of the Herengracht and a monument to the Golden Age, the Stopera, Amsterdam’s proud concert hall, the Hermitage, a branch museum of the Hermitage Museum of St. Petersburg, and much more. Also visit a major DIAMOND CENTER. For those who wish to experience Dutch life in the countryside, an optional excursion is available to picture-book Volendam, a fishing village at the former Zuiderzee, including visits to a working windmill, a clogmaker, a cheese farm, plus dinner.
Meal: Breakfast
Day 3: Amsterdam–Heidelberg, Germany–Rhineland
On the way to Germany, pass the Dutch region best known as the locale of A Bridge Too Far. Highlight of the day is a romantic RHINE CRUISE past castle-crested cliffs, terraced vineyards, and half-timbered towns. Stop in Heidelberg and take pictures of the famous red-walled castle ruins. Then, enjoy a beer at the famous Kulturbrauerei Heidelberg.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4: Rhineland–Black Forest–Rhine Falls, Switzerland–Lucerne
Enter the lush valleys and pine-clad hills of the BLACK FOREST, famous for cuckoo clocks, where another highlight awaits: be welcomed by a local woodcarver, Adolf Herr, watch a WOODCARVING DEMONSTRATION, see samples of his work, and have Kaffee und Schwarzwaldkuchen (coffee and the traditional homemade Black Forest Cake). On the Swiss border, marvel at the thundering RHINE FALLS before continuing to picture-book Lucerne. Tonight is your chance to join an optional Swiss folklore party.
Meal: Breakfast
Day 5: Lucerne–Vaduz, Liechtenstein–Innsbruck, Austria
Admire Thorwaldsen’s impressive LION MONUMENT, dedicated to the Swiss Guards who protected the Royal House of France during the French Revolution, walk along ornate patrician houses of the walled Old Town, then cross the famous covered CHAPEL BRIDGE to the Jesuit Church, the first large baroque church built in Switzerland on the north side of the Alps. Time to shop for Swiss watches and chocolates or climb lofty Mount Pilatus. On your way to Austria, stop in the Principality of Liechtenstein, then, drive through Austria’s most famous skiing area and enter Tyrol. In Innsbruck, walk through the Old Town and take pictures of Emperor Maximilian’s GOLDEN ROOF.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6: Innsbruck–Venice, Italy
Cross spectacular Brenner Pass to Italy. Enter Venice in style by PRIVATE BOAT to ST. MARK’S SQUARE and admire the byzantine basilica, lavish Doges’ Palace with its Bridge of Sighs, and watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects. You may wish to join an optional gondola ride, and later, a special dinner with wine awaits you at Rossopomodoro restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7: Venice–Rome
A scenic drive across the Apennine Hills and through vine- and olive-clad Tuscany brings you to the “Eternal City.”
Meal: Breakfast
Day 8: Rome
Globus’ unique guided sightseeing includes inside visits to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL with Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings and The Last Judgment, and monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA to admire Michelangelo’s Pietà. Then, drive to the Roman Forum and visit the amazing COLOSSEUM, where gladiators once fought. For those who wish to see it all, an optional walking tour with a Local Guide is available to further explore famous sites, like the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and more.
Meal: Breakfast
Day 9: Rome–Florence
Arrive in Florence, and meet your Local Guide. Visit the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS with Michelangelo’s celebrated David. Continue your walking tour through the historic center and stand in awe in front of the magnificent cathedral, admire Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gates of Paradise,” and sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE. Afterwards, you may wish to shop for Florentine leather goods and gold jewelry, sold by the ounce.
Meal: Breakfast
Day 10: Florence–Pisa–Monte Carlo, Monaco
In Pisa, marvel at the amazing Leaning Tower, 180 feet high and 12 feet out of the perpendicular. Then, follow the Italian Riviera and arrive in Monte Carlo for an orientation drive and your overnight stay. Tonight, you may wish to join an exciting optional excursion to see the palace and the church that houses the tombs of the rulers of Monaco, have dinner, and visit the casino.
Meal: Breakfast
Day 11: Monte Carlo–Nice, France–Lyon
Enjoy the drive of the panoramic Moyenne Corniche with spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea to Nice, then along the famous Promenade des Anglais. Then, turn north along the scenic Route du Soleil on your way to Lyon, the former capital of the Gauls, beautifully located between the Rhône and the Saône Rivers.
Meal: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 12 - Lyon–Paris
A smooth drive through Burgundy with its vineyards and impressive châteaux, and past Fontainebleau Forest, brings you to Paris, “City of Light.” An optional excursion is available to the magnificent Louvre Museum to see the Mona Lisa; tonight, you may wish to join an exciting optional evening at one of Paris’ lively cabarets!
Meal: Breakfast
Day 13 - Paris
Guided sightseeing features Paris’ main highlights, such as the Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Champs-Elysées, and a SEINE CRUISE with spectacular views of Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower. An optional excursion to the lavish baroque Palace and Gardens of Versailles is available. Later, an optional dinner at one of Paris’ lively restaurants is the perfect way to say au revoir, Paris.
Meal: Breakfast
Day 14 - Paris–London, England
Travel by high-speed EUROSTAR TRAIN to London, arriving in the afternoon.
Meal: Breakfast
Day 15 - London
Sightseeing with a Local Guide includes the most famous landmarks and a visit to ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL, Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece built between 1675 and 1708. Optional excursions to Windsor Castle or the Tower of London are available. And tonight, maybe a leisurely cruise on the Thames River?
Meal: Breakfast
Day 16 - London
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Meal: Breakfast
