European Vistas | Start Amsterdam | 2024

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 to Amsterdam!


And here we are at our final stop for this evening: Amsterdam! You can start your exploration of this city with an optional trip up to the A’DAM tower and swing (with drink in hand) for panoramic views over the city. Afterwards, there's plenty of nightlife to keep you going until the early hours.

Amsterdam is cute as a button & sure to win your heart with its canals, obscure museums & a café culture like no other. Today use your time to get local, bar hop, museum crawl, and see what other tastes take your fancy, this place is famous for pancakes, frites and so much more. After exploring, you'll want to join your new Contiki family for an optional dinner at a local fishing village and maybe a few drinks aboard a cruise down the river. Could today get any better?

Out of Amsterdam, onto the autobahn and on the fast-track to Hamburg – that's today's agenda.


Crossing over to Germany, we find ourselves in another charming city dotted with canals and cafes, along with a central city lake and plenty of parks. We’ll acquaint ourselves with Hamburg by starting with an orientation of the city, before free time to find some dinner tonight.

Hamburg, it’s been sweet, but we have our sights set on another famous port city. And first...


On our way to wonderful Copenhagen today, we’ll also pass via Odense, the birthplace of Hans Christian Anderson. With cobbled streets and colorful houses in a historic district full of character, it’s easy to see where his inspiration came from.


Constantly named amongst the most livable cities in the world (along with one of the happiest), Copenhagen greets us with craft beer breweries, a Renaissance-era castle, hip bars and cafes, a walkable city center and - you guessed it - more canals. We’ll start with a walking tour of the top sites, followed by free time to find dinner in one of the local spots.

Copenhagen is an artwork of locals on bicycles, Danish pastries in cute café windows, and Renaissance architecture. Being a bustling university town and home to the hippie hood of Freetown Christiana, nightlife, and unique culture can be found at every turn.

Before you go bursting out of your travel clothes thanks to your new-found Danish pastry dependency, we're saying ‘farvel’ to Denmark. Next stop: the ferry, then Berlin!


On the world map of party vibes, Berlin has a gold star. We've got two nights to explore every inch of this iconic city, and we'll kick it off with a bit of a tour of the city and its troubled but fascinating past. Once we've gotten acquainted with the key sites, we'll enjoy an included dinner together.

Tours, glorious tours! After our taster of Berlin's history yesterday, we’ll have two inspiring walking tours in store for today (totally optional of course). First up, take a historical walking tour, including a visit to the site of Hitler's bunker. Next, we’ll embark on an Alternative Berlin walking tour, taking us to all the city’s hipster haunts and historical hotspots. If you're looking for a night out, tonight is the perfect time to scope out one of those underground raves or cocktail-lounge-in-the-basement scenarios that Berlin is famous for.

This morning we'll motor out of Berlin, ready for our next city. Berlin is one tough act to follow, but we think Poland will deliver. The capital of Poland has a vibrant urban scene and we’re staying right in the centre of it. Tonight you’ll have free time for dinner, so Pierogi (Polish dumplings) and a glass of compote somewhere within Warsaw's lively cafe scene should be on your agenda - just ask your Trip Manager for the best local hangs.

Ready to discover Warsaw? Tragic bombings after the war have seen this city experience a re-birth, and it's packed with museums, a buzzing street art scene, and cool vibes dotted with a dose of random to keep us on our toes. Your local guide will give you the insider track as we take it all in on foot. A renowned musical city, keep your ears open day long and see what sound pleasures you also stumble upon. This evening we’ll be treated to an authentic Polish feast tonight to continue our introduction to this lively European city.

Waving ‘pa!’ to Warsaw, we have our sights set on Krakow this morning.
En route, we’ll stop off at the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp for a sobering reminder of Poland’s dark past.
Once the capital of Poland, Krakow is now known for its rich history, tasty pretzels, excellent vintage markets (you heard it from us) and salt mining heritage. Tonight you’ll have time to explore the local restaurants for a traditional dinner, then you can rest up knowing we have all day tomorrow to get our Krakow on.

Good morning Poland! Today is all about getting up close and personal with Krakow life. We’ll cover the basics on our included sightseeing tour in the morning, and you have a free afternoon to stroll the charming streets of Krakow. Check out Kazimierz, the UNESCO-listed Old Town & historic Jewish Quarter with its jumble of street art, vintage markets, crumbling cafes & 14th century synagogue.  An optional Pierogi making class will keep us entertained into the evening.

We say a fond farewell to Krakow and head for the bright lights of Budapest this morning. Pastel painted and manicured to perfection, Banska Bystrica is a lunch break that will charm you to no end. Being in Slovakia, it's also your chance to brag 3 countries in one day - you crazy globetrotter you. Welcome to Hungary! Coming in at number 3 on our list of countries ticked off through the day. From the moment we arrive in the river split city, you'll understand why we needed a couple of nights here. As the evening draws in, you’ll have the chance to jump on board a Danube River Cruise with dinner included. Gliding across the shimmering night-lit river of Danube, you’ll get to experience the beautiful sights of Budapest while enjoying a delicious Hungarian feast.

Ready to explore, we’ll head out on a journey of old and new this morning with a locally guided walking tour of Budapest including the Royal Palace, the Chain Bridge & the Fisherman’s Bastion. Take your time exploring this evening, stop for a drink in a ruin bar tucked away in the Jewish Quarter and keep our eyes peeled for a delicious Langos.

Bye bye Budapest, your unique charm will remain in our hearts forever. Hitting the road, we’ll journey west and cross-country through Hungary and into Austria.
Here in the Austrian Tyrol, you'll have the chance to stay at Contiki Haus Schöneck, a Special Stay worthy of the name, where you can socialise with fellow skiers and Contiki travelers across multiple hang-out spaces, with authentic Austrian cuisine cooked on site too. There's also local beer available at the bar (which is also on site.) When it comes to hitting the hay tonight, you'll sleep in a same-sex multi-share with up to 5 other travelers.

Wake up, peel open your curtains, and take in the magnificence of your view. If you're feeling lively you can jump onto a bike tour through green mountains and waterfalls. If you're feeling really lively you can go tandem paragliding. Not so lively? Stroll around and take in the incredible setting; drink endless hot chocolate, go up a mountain in a gondola or relax at our Gasthof.

Farewell life in the blissful Austrian Alps, the enchanting allure of Slovenia lies ahead. With its fairytale medieval castle reaching out of an islet, surrounded by the towering peaks of the Julian Alps and its Turquoise waters, Lake Bled really is like something out of a Disney movie. Although you might find nods to neighbouring countries, a distinct identity within Slovenian culture has evolved from the melody of influences surrounding it. We'll have a walking orientation to get acquainted with our surroundings and after that, you're free to explore the bohemian art district of Metelkova Mesto or sit by one of Ljubljana’s atmospheric watercourses. This evening foodies will have the chance to enjoy a cultural evening of dining and entertainment.

Ever the advocates of a balanced holiday, today we're trading in the obscure unknown for the globally adored hot spot of Venice. Whoop!




Yes, it's as cute as you imagine. Yes, you'll feel like you're part of an Italian fairytale. Yes, you are actually hanging out in the gondola clad floating city of Venice! A private boat ride, gothic architecture and a web of lanes to explore will keep your day filled quite nicely.

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 afternoon will really take it up a notch as we uncover Italian icons in the country's capital of Rome as you get a glimpse of it's glory by night. Gelato, pizza and ancient monuments - perfetto!

Rise and shine, Rome awaits us! Today will be a whirlwind of Roman architecture and bucket list sights as we uncover all of Rome’s key features, from the Colosseum to the Vatican City. Not enough? There’s also the option to head back in time and discover Rome of the Emperors and Gladiators.

Full of gelato and memories, we’ll bid ‘ciao’ to Bella Roma and head south for Sorrento, with a special stop on the way.
Driving down the coast today, we have the option to check out the ruins of Pompeii, the fascinating Roman town that was destroyed by Vesuvius and then perfectly preserved in volcanic ash. 
Soak up the sweeping views on route to gorgeous Sorrento, where sun-bleached pastel houses perch along cliffs, tumbling down to the Mediterranean sea. Here you’ll have the chance to treat yourself with a visit to La Sorgente, a nearby locally-owned family mozzarella farm, for an authentic Italian meal complete with fresh homemade mozzarella, rich olive oil and sunshine-colored limoncello.

It simply wouldn't be a trip to Sorrento without a side note to...
We'll head over to the island of Capri for the day. With its gorgeous cragged coastline and opulent cafes, it's easy to see why this is such a playground for the rich and famous. If you'd like to spend some time on the water, opt for a cruise, with swim stops & great views of the coastline.
Back in Sorrento, we'll all tuck into an included dinner.

See you, Sorrento! Thanks for making our Instagram feeds look like shoots for Italian Vogue! 
 



Woah, what’s that big thing in the sky?! It’s not a hot cross bun, is it… Oh wait, it's just the Duomo! You know, the one with the famous red dome that sits above Florence? We’ll learn all about Duomo, plus the Basilica, Giotto’s Bell Tower, and more as locals show us around the city of Florence. Was that thunder?! Oh thank goodness, it was just your stomach… all that walking really gets the old appetite going. Good thing there’s a Tuscan evening ahead - a feast of local food from Central Italy with music. Opt in to this experience as a free time add on (trust us, you won’t regret it!). Eating pasta in Italy is as good as it sounds, but also keep your eye out for sumptuous Florentine steak, boozy tiramisu, and more local specialties.

Woah, what’s that big thing in the sky?! It’s not a hot cross bun, is it… Oh wait, it's just the Duomo! You know, the one with the famous red dome that sits above Florence? We’ll learn all about Duomo, plus the Basilica, Giotto’s Bell Tower, and more as locals show us around the city of Florence. Arriving in super-chic Milan, get ready to feel your diva self. Strut your stuff downtown to see the famous Milan Duomo, Galleria and La Scala.

Leaving Milan this morning we’ll be saying a final ‘Ciao’ to Italy, but the dreamy destinations don’t stop coming as we cross the border over the Swiss Alps.
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 you'll have the chance to ascend Mt Stanserhorn, or take an optional lake cruise (summer only), giving yourself a better look at the epic Swiss Alps reflected off the water. Our other recommendation for tonight? Swiss chocolate.

Though we left France in body, part of our spirit stayed behind. Today we leave Lucerne to go pick it up, venturing to the country's second biggest city for 1-night of play before Paris.




After rolling past the charming French countryside we grew very fond of, we'll pull up at Lyon where a charming Old Town is calling our names. Lyon is the gastronomic capital of France, so head off in search of a quaint 'bouchon' to sample the local delicacies.

Rolling out of Lyon this morning we’re Paris-bound, swapping countryside for inner-city bliss. Ah, we've finally arrived in the city of love! So, of course, we're starting with a gorgeous French dinner. Afterwards, you're free to do what you please. Enjoy a glass of fine wine, explore trendy fashion, or even soak in iconic sights! Finally, we'll end the night with jaw-dropping city views from the Montparnasse Tower. *Heads up, our Paris plans might shift during the Summer Olympics due to city restrictions, impacting our Illuminations Tour of the city along with other possible disruptions. We're on it, crafting alternative experiences for your safety and enjoyment. Your understanding means the world to us! Ibis Paris 17 Clichy-Batignolles (or

Pastries, paintings, perfume - Paris is ours! First we’ll visit the glamorous Fragonard perfumery for a lesson in the olfactory arts, then the time is yours to roam tree-lined quartiers, explore Notre Dame Cathedral, hunt for vintage treasures in Le Marais, or get arty in the galleries of the Louvre.

Soak up your last dose of Paris and feel the astonishment of how much you’ve seen during this awesome trip, not to mention how close you’ve grown to your Contiki pals.


What a journey! On arrival in London say a fond farewell to the group - the adventure has come to an end.