Play & Pause: Central & Southern Europe Highlights 2022

London’s calling... don’t leave it hanging! We’re kicking things off in iconic style – welcome to the home of Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and baked beans. First up: meet the small bunch of trip mates who’ll be sharing the Euro adventure. Then: settle in for our first group dinner. Hot topic: Marmite or Vegemite? Discuss.

Stock up on snacks and pass ‘round the AUX cord – we’re hitting the road early to cross the Channel. The home of Louis Vuitton, ol’ Mona and world’s BEST desserts – Paris has earnt its rep as the European capital for all things fashion, culture and food. First: tick off all the showstoppers on a driving tour. Then: quiz your Trip Leader on the best place to try escargots without shelling out (sorry not sorry).

Today is your day, your way. Spend your free time ticking off those bucket-list items AND exploring the backstreets. Hunt down the best patisseries in town (your Trip Leader knows where it’s at). Get lost amongst the shelves of history at Shakespeare and Co. Bookshop. Or inject some feel-good vibes at the I Love You Wall. Not a walker? Work the calves on an optional bike tour. Or get an alternate view of the City of Love with a river cruise. Tonight, go all-out with an evening at the cabaret. Think: bright lights, OTT costumes, death-defying acrobatics and the can-can (of course).

Don’t drink your vino out of a cask? You’re gonna love our next stop. Watch rows of centuries-old grapevines rush past as we make our way through the Loire Valley to Château de Chambord. If you’re up for it, you’ll have time to explore this magnificent Renaissance castle – supposedly designed by Leonardo da Vinci himself. Sixty opulently decorated rooms. Gardens as big as inner-city Paris. And a mind-boggling double helix staircase. This place will have you feeling like French royalty (minus the lead-based face paint obvs). Later, we’ll make tracks to Bordeaux – where half the city is UNESCO World Heritage–listed and vineyards reign supreme. Get the run around this 1200-year-old city with our expert Trip Leader. Then, the rest is up to you.

Learn your A-B-Cabernet's of good wine with an optional tasting at a local château before we set our sights on Carcassonne. If you’ve ever played the board game, you’ll know that its walled citadel is as medieval as it gets. Get your bearings on a stroll with your Trip Leader – ticking off the Château Comtal, Basilica of Saints Nazarius and fortifications of the ancient city. Tonight, we’ll rendezvous back at the hotel for an included group dinner. This day in one word? Magnifique.

We’ll roll through the Pyrenees today, with a quick stop in Andorra. Then: onwards to the capital of Catalonia. Bienvenidos to the city of art nouveau, sexy accents and (most importantly) tapas. Get a feel for Barça on a driving tour – swinging by the likes of Olympic Park, Plaça d'Espanya, the National Museum and Montjuïc Hill. And this eve? Track down some bombas – tennis ball-shaped croquettes of dreams. The name’s spot on: they’re the bomb.

Time to do your own spontaneous-this-is-what-I-came-for thing, amigos. But if you need some suggestions, we’ve got your back. Park Güell and Sagrada Familia are straight-up must-sees. BUT don’t think you can just stroll up in there – you’re gonna need to book tix online first. Then: explore the crazy that is Las Ramblas, head into the National Museum for an education in over a thousand years of art, or get lost amongst the maze of winding alleys in the Gothic Quarter. Lose yourself, find yourself, then grab a beer at Els Quatre Gats. Later, there’s an optional show on the cards at the oldest flamenco tablaos in Barcelona.

Start practising your bonjours and s’il vous plaîts as we follow the Mediterranean coast to the glamorous French Riviera. After dumping your stuff and getting the run about town with our Trip Leader, the rest of the afternoon is up to you! Find a local haunt for some seriously good seafood. Indulge in a bit of celeb spotting. Or head to the beach and soak up those chill coastal vibes. Tonight, we’ll regroup for another included dinner. Bon appétit, mes amis!

This morning, you do you. Sleep in. Laze on the beach. Go wild in the designer boutiques in Nice's Old Town. Try all the decorative pastries your elastic waistband can handle – then work them off with a walk up Castle Hill for alll the views. Later: roll with the jet set on a walking tour of Monaco and see how the 1% live (hint: it involves Ferraris and bathing in caviar). Feeling lucky? Hit the tables at the Monte Carlo Casino and make it rain (or not).

From coastal views to sweeping mountain vistas, today we’re off to the Swiss Alps! Warm up those vocal cords, we’ll be busting out some bangers on the ride into the mountains. Or plug in your AirPods and catch some zzzs. Then: cue the fairytale villages of your imagination – the oh-so-quaint Engelberg is where we'll be spending the night. This evening: we’ll get stuck into a group dinner before heading to the hotel bar or relaxing in the fresh alpine air.

Yep, you’re finally here. So, don’t muck about – get exploring! Hiking. Biking. Thrill-seeking. Cheese-eating (unless you’re lactose intolerant). Need some suggestions? You could take the revolving gondola to the top of Mt Titlis for all the epic views (without the effort), then head back down in search of the world's best hot chocolate. Or sit back and enjoy a cold beer back at the hotel. How you spend today is 110% up to you.

Buy that mini-fondue set for mum and wave goodbye to the Alps – we’re heading to that famous sinking city today. After checking in at the hotel, it’s time to see what all the fuss is about. Acquaint yourself with the who's who of Venice's usual suspects on a walking tour – ticking off the likes of St Mark's Square, Doge’s Palace and Accademia Bridge. And then – this beautifully romantic city is yours for the taking. Our suggestion? Enjoy a spritz overlooking one of Venice’s fuchsia-pink sunsets. This is your moment.

Centuries-old architecture. Inventive cuisine. And a bucket-load of culture. Venice is just begging to be explored. After an optional gondola ride along the Grand Canal, you’ve got the whole day to do just that. Need suggestions? Insider tip: spend some time seeking out the epic Libreria Acqua Alta bookshop or head off the tourist trail with a trip to Giudecca Island. Go wandering. Discover the maze of canals and piazzas. Soak up the atmosphere. That’s what makes memories.

Onwards! We’re rolling on to the capital of Tuscan cuisine and birthplace of gelato. But first: Pisa. If you’re gonna take THAT photo, think of something unique. Please. Tonight, we’ve got an al fresco dinner on the cards. Then, did someone say karaoke? If you’re up for it, join the gang in a battle of the classics at the bar later. Or hunt down a gelateria for a scoop (or two) of the good stuff. What’ll it be? Salted caramel? Lavender? White chocolate? Cinnamon? Must. Try. Them. ALL.

Florence has more stories than Shakespeare, more culture than a London hipster AND it gave the world David (putting dad bods to shame since 1504). We’ll get the lay of the land on an in-depth walking tour with a local guide. Then: bella Roma awaits! Dump your stuff at the hotel, strap on your Nikes and pack your anti-chafing cream – this walking tour is one for the books. We’re talking a solid few hours of non-stop sights, off-the-tourist-trail hidden gems and a run-down of almost 3000 years of history. Pass by the Pantheon, throw your two cents in the Trevi Fountain, (don’t) sit on the Spanish Steps and wind things up under the shadow of the mighty Colosseum. Epic doesn’t even cut it. For dinner tonight, ask your Trip Leader where to find the best cacio e pepe – trust us, you won’t be disappointed.

Time to live out your Roman Holiday fantasies – today is all about Vespas, espresso, two-cheeked kisses and pizza (the way it’s supposed to taste). Head up Capitoline Hill for awesome views of the Roman Forum and Colosseum. Battle the lunchtime rush for a slice at Pizzarium Bonci. Hunt down the Mouth of Truth. Or simply do as the locals do and indulge in a little dolce far niente (delicious idleness) at a local cafe. Whatever you do, just be back in time for tonight’s last dinner with the gang. You’re in Disneyland for foodies so you know it’s gonna be good.

Wait! It’s over? Wipe away the tears and say ciao-for-now to your trip mates. Who said the adventure has to end here? Greece is lovely this time of year...