Romantic European - Start Amsterdam Return Eurostar, Small Group, 2021
Romantic European - Start Amsterdam Return Eurostar, Small Group, 2021
Romantic European - Start Amsterdam Return Eurostar, Small Group, 2021
18 Days Starting in Amsterdam and ending in London
Visiting: Amsterdam, Wurzburg, Prague, Budapest, Vienna, Venice, Rome, Orvieto, Florence, Lucerne, Paris
Tour operator:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour Overview
One of our Travel Director's favourite itineraries, this journey is full of charm and splendour. With two nights spent in most cities, take the time to get to know each destination and uncover its secrets, whether it is mouth-watering Sachertorte over coffee in Vienna or delicious homemade pasta in Orvieto. Along the way you'll be welcomed by passionate locals who love showing you the best Europe has to offer.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Amsterdam
Location: Amsterdam
Accommodation: Grand Hotel Amrâth Amsterdam.
Meals Included: Dinner with Wine
At 07:00, meet your Travel Director and transfer to London’s St. Pancras Station to board the high-speed Eurostar for a rail journey via the revolutionary Channel Tunnel. Once in Amsterdam, join your Travel Director in the evening for a Welcome Reception. Get to know your fellow guests during a cruise, along some of the many quaint, tree-lined canals. Admire the elegant merchant houses from the 16th and 17th centuries, their facades are a reflection of when trade flourished during Amsterdam's Golden Age. Relax as you pass stunning gables, beautiful churches and the iconic Magere Brug, better known as the Skinny Bridge. Disembark and venture to Humphrey's Restaurant for your Welcome Dinner.(Dinner with Wine)
Day 2: Rhine Valley To Würzburg
Location: Amsterdam, Wurzburg
Accommodation: Maritim Hotel Würzburg.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Relax with a scenic drive along the Rhine Valley to Würzburg. See the mighty Marienburg Fortress – the immense baroque palace of the Prince Bishops and one of the most important landmarks in Germany. On arrival, visit the imposing Würzburg Residenz, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a Local Expert. Marvel at intricate decorations and lavish staterooms.(Breakfast / Dinner with Wine)
Day 3: Rothenburg And Golden Prague
Location: Wurzburg, Prague
Accommodation: Hotel Royal Prague.
Meals Included: Breakfast
In the morning, see the mighty Marienburg Fortress - the immense baroque palace of the Prince Bishops and one of the most important landmarks in Germany. 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?(Breakfast)
Day 4: Prague, City Of A Hundred Spires
Location: Prague
Accommodation: Hotel Royal Prague.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Explore Prague with Insight Choice. Choose to walk the courtyards of the Castle and visit the imposing St Vitus Cathedral or alternatively, join your Local Expert through the Jewish Quarter and hear about the history, traditions and legends of the Jewish people and taste Trdeln��k, 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? In the evening, why not enjoy an Optional Experience in the Czech countryside?(Breakfast)
Day 5: Through Bohemia To Budapest
Location: Prague, Budapest
Accommodation: Hilton Garden Inn, Budapest.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Start the day with a journey through the beautiful forested countryside of Bohemia. Journey to Hungary, following the River Danube to Budapest.In the evening, join a local expert to enjoy a scenic dinner cruise gliding past World Heritage Sites. The city’s spectacular night time beauty earns it the nickname 'Pearl of the Danube’.(Breakfast / Dinner with Wine)
Day 6: The Flavours Of Budapest
Location: Budapest, Vienna
Accommodation: Hilton Vienna.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Stroll through the alleys of the Old Town of Buda and admire sweeping views from the Fisherman’s Bastion with a Local Expert.Drive along the beautiful Andrassy Avenue to Heroes' Square.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 newer, elegant Elizabeth Bridge. 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.(Breakfast)
Day 7: Vienna And The Habsburgs
Location: Vienna
Accommodation: Hilton Vienna.
Meals Included: Breakfast
In the morning, there is the option to join a private tour of Maria Theresa's Schönbrunn Palace and formal gardens. Later, join your Local Expert for a walk through Innere Stadt, the first district and historic core of Vienna. 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. Explore Vienna with Insight Choice. Choose between a visit to a traditional Viennese Café to enjoy local specialities of coffee and sachertorte or alternatively, listen to a musical masterpiece of Mozart, as you take to the floor in a Viennese Waltz dance lesson.(Breakfast)
Day 8: Lake Wörthersee To Venice
Location: Vienna, Venice
Accommodation: Eurostars Residenza Cannaregio, Venice.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
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. This evening, stroll past the entrance doors of the famous Opera House to La Fenice restaurant for a magical dinner. Indulge in traditional Venetian dishes that are enriched with inspiration from seasonal produce. Sip a cocktail at Café Florian at twilight whilst you are serenaded by an ensemble of talented musicians. Admire the tranquillity of St. Mark's Square long after the day-trippers have gone to their mainland hotels.(Breakfast / Dinner with Wine)
Day 9: The Magic Of 'La Serenissima'
Location: Venice
Accommodation: Eurostars Residenza Cannaregio, Venice.
Meals Included: Breakfast
In the morning, prepare to embrace this most romantic city. Visit St. Mark's Square, dominated by its magnificent basilica and overlooked by the great Clock Tower. Also in the square stands the immense Campanile and Doge's Palace which is connected to the ancient prisons by the Bridge of Sighs. Witness the skill of glassblowers on a visit to a traditional arts centre. The rest of the day is free, perhaps shop in the small arcades?(Breakfast)
Day 10: Villa Machiavelli And Rome
Location: Venice, Rome
Accommodation: Veneto Palace Hotel, Rome.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch with Wine
Head into the Apennine Mountains and the peaceful landscapes of Tuscany. Meet your Local Host for a guided tour through the house of the Italian Renaissance diplomat and writer, Nicolo Machiavelli, with an included special opening of his private office where he wrote 'The Prince'. Visit the Italian garden with views of the Florence Cathedral and the historic cellar, which has a secret underground tunnel connecting the cellars to the oldest restaurant in Italy. Savour a tasting of wines made from the vineyards surrounding the home, accompanied by delicious samples of local Tuscan fare. Your journey continues as you follow the course of the Tiber to your hotel in the Eternal City of Rome.(Breakfast / Lunch with Wine)
Day 11: Papal And Imperial Rome
Location: Rome
Accommodation: Veneto Palace Hotel, Rome.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Receive red-carpet treatment with a VIP visit and fast-track entry to the superb Vatican Museums and enjoy behind-the-scenes access to the Bramante Staircase, a part of the Vatican normally closed to the public. A Local Expert guides your tour, culminating in a viewing of Michelangelo's famous ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. Continue inside the cavernous St. Peter's Basilica, mother church of the Catholic faith, to see another Michelangelo masterpiece, the Pietà, as well as the splendid dome. Leave Vatican City to cross the Tiber and stand outside the Colosseum, imagining yourself back in the days of the gladiators. The afternoon is at leisure.(Breakfast)
Day 12: Orvieto And On To Florence
Location: Rome, Orvieto, Florence
Accommodation: Hotel Adler Cavalieri, Florence.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch with Wine
Stop in the hilltop village of Orvieto, one of the most striking and memorable villages in Umbria. Here you will savour the flavours of the region and learn about the Italian food culture, over your Highlight Lunch, served with a glass of Orvieto Classico wine - a magical culinary experience! Continue on to your hotel in Florence.(Breakfast / Lunch with Wine)
Day 13: Renaissance Florence
Location: Florence
Accommodation: Hotel Adler Cavalieri, Florence.
Meals Included: Breakfast
With your Local Expert, view the multi-coloured marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery. You also visit Piazza della Signoria and see the area around Santa Croce Basilica.(Breakfast)
Day 14: Across The Alps To Lucerne
Location: Florence, Lucerne
Accommodation: Hotel Astoria, Lucerne.
Meals Included: Breakfast
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.(Breakfast)
Day 15: Lucerne And Mt. Stanserhorn
Location: Lucerne
Accommodation: Hotel Astoria, Lucerne.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
In the morning, embark on a scenic journey by funicular railway and open-top cable car to the summit of the stunning Mount Stanserhorn. Breathe in the pristine mountain air and, on a clear day, witness views as far as Alsace and the Black Forest in Germany. Explore Stanserhorn with Insight Choice. Walk along beautiful scenic pathways for a chance to see marmots and other native animals. Alternatively, join a Swiss ranger and hear a talk to learn about local wildlife and flora in the area. With the day free, there is plenty of time for shopping for delectable chocolate and glamorous Swiss watches 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.(Breakfast / Dinner with Wine)
Day 16: Sights And Delights Of Paris
Location: Lucerne, Paris
Accommodation: Le Méridien Etoile, Paris.
Meals Included: Breakfast
In the morning, journey through storybook scenery of forests and imposing mountain ranges, crowned by famous snowy peaks. Continue through the Alsace region 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?(Breakfast)
Day 17: The Food And Flavours Of Paris
Location: Paris
Accommodation: Le Méridien Etoile, Paris.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Your exploration of Paris today starts with an Insight Choice. Choose between shopping in quaint boutiques like a true Parisian for fashion, perfume or cosmetics with your Local Expert. Alternatively, join a Local Expert, an avid foodie, as you head into areas where Parisians go about their daily lives to explore small shops and sample local treats and delicacies. In the evening, indulge in refined French cuisine during your Celebration Dinner at the iconic restaurant La Coupole, frequently visited by the French entertainer Josephine Baker.(Breakfast / Dinner with Wine)
Day 18: Return To London
Meals Included: Breakfast
In the morning, bid farewell to your travelling companions as your journey comes to an end. Travel by high-speed Eurostar train for your journey back to London. On arrival, you are transferred to the Park Plaza Victoria where your trip ends.(Breakfast)
What's Included
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Our highly-skilled Travel Director will ensure your journey is seamless, serving as your expert guide, consummate organiser, and friend overseas
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Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxury, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom
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Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary
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We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door
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Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency
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We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels
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Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available)
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From time to time, your Travel Director will enchant you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination
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You may purchase arrival transfers from London Heathrow and Gatwick airports on arrival days, or when additional nights accommodation has been booked through Insight Vacations
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If your departure flights are as per the itinerary end dates, departure transfers are available at scheduled times
Check out our Q&As
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
We regret that no refunds can be made for absences from a tour, including experiences such as missed meals or sightseeing.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1978.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Insight Vacations is a founding member of the TreadRight Foundation, a joint initiative created by the brands within The Travel Corporation (TTC) almost 15 years ago to ensure our impact through tourism is positive. Our ethos to #MakeTravelMatter guides our decision-making at every level of our business.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
You have two options as a solo traveller. Either choose to be matched with a same sex partner for a room share - at no extra cost. Or choose a room of your own with a reduced or even free private room upgrade on select tours.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
Reviews of this Operator
Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Insight Vacations requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of insight vacations charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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