10 days 9-Nights European Traveler
Trafalgar
European Traveler
Stroll through streets filled with romance, history and adventure as you travel Europe. Feed your imagination as you relax on the stunning shores of Lake Lucerne, watch master craftsmen create treasures in Venice and admire the magic of the snow-capped Swiss Alps.
Dining Summary
- 9 Breakfast (B)
- 1 Welcome Reception (WR)
- 1 Dinner (D)
- 1 Be My Guest (BMG)
Be My Guest
- Rome: 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.
Iconic Experience
- Paris: Join a Local Specialist to discover the hidden squares and secret lanes of Paris.
- Switzerland: Marvel at the Alpine landscape as you drive past breathtakingly beautiful mountains and valleys.
- Florence: Join a Local Specialist to view the multi-coloured marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, adorned by Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise. Visit the political heart of the city, Signoria Square.
- Florence: See the area around Santa Croce Basilica, famous for the quality of its luxury goods, and witness a gold and leatherwork demonstration.
- Vatican: Visit Vatican City and tour St. Peter's Basilica with a Local Specialist. Witness the early genius of Michelangelo as you take in the Piet.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
- Venice: Learn about the history and ancient skill of Venetian glassblowing, playing your role in ensuring the survival of this traditional craft through your visit.
Must-see Highlights
- : Explore London, Paris, Florence and Rome with a Local Specialist
- : Discover Lucerne and Venice
- : Visit a glassblowing factory in Venice and St. Peter's Basilica in Rome
- : View the White Cliffs of Dover, the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, the Lion Monument and the Chapel Bridge in Lucerne, St. Mark's Basilica in Venice and the ancient sites of Rome
- : See the Somme Battlefields and the vineyards of Burgundy in France
- : Scenic Cruise by private launch to St. Mark's Square in Venice
| Day | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Welcome to London | Spend the day exploring the pomp and pageantry of a city that effortlessly combines old and new. Accommodations: Hilton Kensington |
| 2 | Discover Historic London | 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. Accommodations: Hilton Kensington Meals: Breakfast |
| 3 | Cross the English Channel to Paris | 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 bound for Calais. We pass the tragic World War I battlefields of the Somme before arriving in Paris where we will enjoy a Welcome Reception with dinner. This evening the City of Lights provides an enchanting backdrop for an orientation drive that will showcase several of the sights which await us tomorrow. Accommodations: Evergreen Laurel Meals: Breakfast, Welcome Reception |
| 4 | Explore the Sights of Paris | Embark on a scenic sojourn, with your Local Specialist, along the grand Champs-Élysées to view the Arc de Triomphe, honouring 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 cosy French café and enjoy a glass of wine while watching the world go by. Accommodations: Evergreen Laurel Meals: Breakfast |
| 5 | Onwards to Explore Lucerne | We wind our way through the sprawling vineyards of Auxerrois and Burgundy, journeying south past the 15th-century fortress of Chteauneuf 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. Accommodations: Astoria Meals: Breakfast, Dinner |
| 6 | Journey to the Floating City of Venice | 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 later in Venice. Accommodations: Novotel Mestre Castellana Meals: Breakfast |
| 7 | On to Florence Make Travel Matter | 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'. Accommodations: Grand Mediterraneo Meals: Breakfast |
| 8 | Journey to Rome | The magnificent Renaissance dome of Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral and the Baptistery stand imposingly in the centre 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. Accommodations: Villa Pamphili Meals: Breakfast |
| 9 | Uncover Ancient Rome and the Vatican City Connect with Locals | Visit the Vatican for a memorable encounter with the centre of Christianity. A Local Specialist will take you on a tour of St. Peter's Basilica, the home of Michelangelo's Piet, crafted from the most perfect block of Carrara marble. Consider an Optional Experience to see the magnificent frescoes of the Sistine Chapel, before travelling to Ancient Rome to view the Colosseum where brave gladiators and slaves fought to the death to the thunderous applause of thousands of spectators. 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. Accommodations: Villa Pamphili Meals: Breakfast, Be My Guest |
| 10 | Farewell Rome | 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. Find out more about your free airport transfer at trafalgar.com/freetransfers. Meals: Breakfast |