European Traveler
10 Day Europe Tour from London to Rome | Operated by Trafalgar
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10 Days
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5 Countries
England, France, Switzerland, Italy, Vatican City -
9 Cities
London, Dover, Calais, Paris, Lucerne, Venice, Florence, Rome, Vatican -
12 Meals
9 Breakfasts, 3 Dinners -
Pace: Active
Faster paces with mix of 1–2-night stays in each location. Typically features 4+ miles of walking on some days and may involve steep hills and uneven surfaces, such as cobblestones.
Trip Itinerary
Spend the day exploring the pomp and pageantry of a city that effortlessly combines old and new.
Join a Local Specialist this morning for a tour of the iconic and unexpected highlights of London, including Big Ben, the imposing Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. Spend a leisurely afternoon shopping on Carnaby Street, consider visiting one of London's museums or wander along the Thames watching ambitious Londoners pound the pavements.
Meet your Travel Director before saying cheerio London and hello sparkling White Cliffs of Dover, England's last hurrah before we cross the English Channel by ferry bound for Calais. We pass the tragic World War I battlefields of the Somme before arriving in Paris where we will enjoy dinner. This evening the City of Light provides an enchanting backdrop for an orientation drive that will showcase several of the sights which await us tomorrow.
Embark on a scenic sojourn, with your Local Specialist, along the grand Champs-Élysées to view the Arc de Triomphe, honoring those who fought for France. View Notre Dame Cathedral and enjoy a stroll through the Latin Quarter. This afternoon, you’ll have some leisure time to explore the treasures of Paris. Perhaps enjoy breath-taking views from the highest rooftop terrace in Paris or relax at a cozy French café and enjoy a glass of wine while watching the world go by.
We wind our way through the sprawling vineyards of Auxerrois and Burgundy, journeying south past the 15th-century fortress of Châteauneuf and rolling green farmlands into Switzerland bound for Lucerne. Cross the famous wooden Chapel Bridge with its 17th-century paintings and view the mortally wounded lion hewn from rock, paying tribute to the hundreds of brave Swiss Guards who died defending Louis XVI.
The contrast of scenery today is nothing short of remarkable. Traversing the Alps, we travel through the St. Gotthard tunnel and the border at Chiasso into Italy. Catch a glimpse of northern Italy's beautiful lakes, whose scenic retreats have attracted the aristocracy for centuries, before arriving this afternoon in Venice.
Take to the water and board a private motor launch to the gateway of Venice, St. Mark's Square. View the Bridge of Sighs and ornate Doge's Palace, then embark on your unforgettable MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience where you’ll witness the centuries-old craft of glassblowing at one of the oldest workshops in Venice. Watch how talented master craftsmen shape the molten glass into the delicate works of art you’ve come to admire from afar and perhaps be inspired to buy your own souvenir to remind you of this special experience. Later, there’s time to explore the hidden calle and campi of Venice to fit in some shopping or soak up the sights and sounds of the Queen of the Adriatic before crossing the Apennine Mountains bound for Florence, the 'Cradle of the Renaissance'.
The magnificent Renaissance dome of Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral and the Baptistery stand imposingly in the center of Florence and are among the sights we will view during our guided walking tour with a Local Specialist. Delve into the city’s rich cultural, artistic and architectural heritage, then learn about the quality and workmanship of one of this city's historic industries at a demonstration of Florentine leathercraft. Marvel at the impressive palazzi and art in the Piazza della Signoria, the political hub of the city. Rome is our final stop today.
Visit the Vatican for a memorable encounter with the center of Christianity. A Local Specialist will take you on a tour of St. Peter's Basilica, the home of Michelangelo's Pietà, crafted from the most perfect block of Carrara marble. Consider an Optional Experience to see the magnificent frescoes of the Sistine Chapel, before traveling to Ancient Rome to view the Colosseum and see the Roman Form. This evening, at our Farewell Dinner, we Connect With Locals at a Be My Guest experience and celebrate the Italian zest for life, food and good company.
Our adventure together has come to an end. We say a fond farewell to Rome and our travel companions at the end of our journey.
Price Includes
What's Included- - An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- - Ferry across the Channel from Dover to Calais
- - Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- - All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- - All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- - Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- - Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
- - Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- - Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- - Optional Experiences and free time
- - The services of a Trafalgar Local Host when you stay at Trafalgar's recommended London hotel
- - On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.
- - 9 Breakfasts (B)
- - 3 Dinners (D)
- Join a Local Specialist to discover the hidden squares and secret lanes of Paris.
- Marvel at the Alpine landscape as you drive past breathtakingly beautiful mountains and valleys.
- Join a Local Specialist to view the multi-colored marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, adorned by Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise. Visit the political heart of the city, Signoria Square.
- See the area around Santa Croce Basilica, famous for the quality of its luxury goods, and witness a gold and leatherwork demonstration.
- Visit Vatican City and tour St. Peter's Basilica with a Local Specialist. Witness the early genius of Michelangelo as you take in the Pietà.
- Learn about the history and ancient skill of Venetian glassblowing, playing your role in ensuring the survival of this traditional craft through your visit.
- Travel to Isola Tiberina for an evening with Fabio and his family. Enjoy a drinks reception at their apartment before our Be My Guest dinner in a unique setting amongst Roman excavations.
Optional Experiences
Optional Experiences are subject to change. Your Travel Director will supply you with a final list of Optional Experiences available on your trip. Optional Experiences cannot be booked online; they can be purchased during your trip through your Travel Director.
Montparnasse and Seine Cruise (Available on Day 2)Today we'll take the fastest elevator in Europe to the Panoramic Observation Deck of Montparnasse Tower for unbeatable views of all of the city’s iconic monuments, including the Eiffel Tower. Then, we’ll enjoy a relaxing cruise on the River Seine, discovering the wonders of Paris as we go.
Adult Price: €49 Moulin Rouge Cabaret and Dinner (Available on Day 2)It’s world famous for a reason, and this is your chance to see the real-life inspiration behind the award-winning movie. This Parisian institution features 60 dancers and entertainers with over 1,000 costumes to create a dazzling spectacle. You'll enjoy wine, dinner and Champagne during this unforgettable soirée at the original Parisian Cabaret!
Adult Price: €205 Mount Stanserhorn (Available on Day 4)We experience one of the greatest scenic highlights Europe has to offer! We climb to the top of Mt Stanserhorn by old-timer railway and the world's only Cabrio cable car. At the peak, there's time to enjoy glorious views of the central Alpine chain, explore the hiking trails or just relax at the panoramic terrace before descending.
Adult Price: ₣84 Gondolas & the Grand Canal (Available on Day 4)Join us for a breathtaking cruise by private water taxi along Venice's Grand Canal. You'll admire the magnificent palazzi, catching a glimpse of the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark's Square. Later on, you'll glide gracefully on a gondola along Venice's dreamy, narrow waterways.
Adult Price: €85 Lagoon Cruise to Burano with Food and Drinks (Available on Day 5)This afternoon, discover the Venetian Lagoon by private boat. You'll enjoy a delicious meal, with a selection of drinks, on the fisherman's island of Burano, famous for its multi-colored houses - a photographer's paradise.
Adult Price: €82 Dinner in the Tuscan Hills (Available on Day 5)This evening we'll take a scenic drive to experience a fun and relaxed evening at a friendly, typical restaurant in the countryside. The chef will delight our senses with regional dishes, made with freshly-bought ingredients from the local farmers' markets. Your delicious meal will be accompanied by excellent wines from the vineyards for which this area is so well known. In short, a Tuscan dream come true in an authentic setting.
Adult Price: €74 Tuscan Dinner at Villa Machiavelli (Available on Day 5)Through the Chianti hills, we'll drive past vineyards to a delightful hamlet. Our destination is the ancient stone house of Machiavelli, where the great political theorist wrote his immortal work, ‘The Prince'. After a welcome drink and a visit of the villa and its wine-cellars, we'll enjoy the best of Tuscan cuisine accompanied by great music and drinks, including of course, Chianti from the Villa's own vines.
Adult Price: €74 Michelangelo's 'David' & Accademia (Available on Day 6)Enjoy an insight into the world of Michelangelo and his masterpiece, David. We'll visit the Academy of Fine Arts and its Michelangelo collection, where you'll learn all about the life and works of this immortal Renaissance genius through the expert commentary of our Local Specialist.
Adult Price: €54 Discover Palazzo Vecchio (Available on Day 6)Marvel at the legacy of the Medici as you visit Palazzo Vecchio, the symbol of Florence's political power for over seven centuries. With our Local Specialist we’ll visit the wonderful "Hall of the Five Hundred", dedicated to the Medici popes. We’ll also visit rooms decorated with masterpieces by famous artists of the Renaissance like Michelangelo and Donatello.
Adult Price: €46 Piazzas and Fountains (Available on Day 6)Discover the most charming areas in the city with a Local Specialist. Wander through the labyrinth of narrow streets and beautiful squares of Rome's historic center, leading to highlights such as the Trevi Fountain, as well as hidden corners of the Eternal City.
Adult Price: €46 Roman Evening with Dinner (Available on Day 6)Spend a light-hearted evening with us in Rome. Relax and enjoy typical Italian cuisine with drinks and music. Afterwards, we’ll enjoy a drive and provide a glimpse into how Romans enjoy their city.
Adult Price: €71 Inside The Vatican & Roman Forum (Available on Day 7)We skip the lines at the Vatican Museums for a tour with our Local Specialist that shows not just remarkable works of art collected and commissioned over the history of the Papacy, but also Michelangelo’s extraordinary ceiling frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. Later, we will walk in the footsteps of Julius Caesar and hear fascinating tales of the might of the Roman Empire on a guided visit through the ancient streets of the Roman Forum.
Adult Price: €95