Trip Itinerary

• Day 1 - FLIGHT TO ENGLAND

  Embark on your overnight flight to London.

  Meals: In-flight
• Day 2 - LAND TOUR START DAY: LONDON

  Take advantage of a leisurely afternoon to kick back before joining fellow travelers and your tour director for a lively welcome orientation, followed by a fun London pub crawl.

  Meals: In-flight

  • Inclusions:
    • Transfer from airport to hotel included with purchased AESU group airfare
    • Welcome orientation
    • Welcome cocktail
    • Pub crawl
• Day 3 - LONDON

  Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and Westminster Abbey: these familiar names become familiar places on our morning tour of London. During an afternoon at leisure, browse the many food, craft, and clothing stalls at popular Camden Market, walk in the footsteps of Harry Potter at Leadenhall Market aka Diagon Alley, or take a ride on the London Eye for a birds-eye view of the city and the opportunity to take great photographs. After dusk, consider taking in some Shakespeare at the Globe Theater by the Thames River or attending a West End show.

  Meals: Breakfast

  • Inclusions:
    • 1-day group tube pass
    • Tour of London guided by a local expert
    • Personal audio headset
    • See Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge and more
• Day 4 - LONDON - PARIS

  Travel through the “Chunnel” below the English Channel to Paris. Our local expert shows us the Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral and Place de la Concorde, where the guillotine once stood. Tonight, dine on French specialties at our bistro dinner. Afterward, we take a romantic cruise down the river Seine.

  Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  • Inclusions:
    • English Channel Eurostar train
    • Tour of Paris guided by a local expert
    • See the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Place de la Concorde, Arc de Triomphe and more
    • Paris-by-night illuminations
    • French bistro dinner
    • Seine River cruise
• Day 5 - PARIS

  Enjoy a free day in Paris today. Join your tour director this morning on an optional visit to a French perfumery and museum. Afterwards, consider visiting the Palace of Versailles, Louis XIV’s residence with the stunning Hall of Mirrors, the world-famous Louvre, housing the Mona Lisa, Musée d’Orsay, or the Musée National Picasso. Your Paris metro tickets will provide access to public transportation throughout the city (zones 1-3.) This evening you may opt to see a can-can cabaret show at the world-famous Moulin Rouge.

  Meals: Breakfast

  • Inclusions:
    • Paris metro card

  • Optional activity:
    • Visit to French perfumery and museum (free)
    • French cabaret show
• Day 6 - PARIS - BRUSSELS - AMSTERDAM

  Motor to Belgium and stop in Brussels to see the Grand Place, a perfect medieval square, and the statue of naughty Manneken Pis. Continue to Amsterdam, known as the ‘Venice of the North’ because of its 165 romantic canals, impressive architecture, and diversity. Tonight, discover the fascinating history of Amsterdam as we cruise under some of the 400 bridges linking the 90 islands that make up the city center. Later, consider eating at one of the many world-class restaurants or a local pannekoeken huis, then explore the lively nightlife or a low-key, sultry jazz club. Take advantage of your included 2-day Amsterdam travel card with unlimited access to local transportation

  Meals: Breakfast

  • Inclusions:
    • See Brussels’ Grand Place, Manneken Pis and more
    • Amsterdam travel card
    • Amsterdam canal cruise
• Day 7 - AMSTERDAM

  Today, we’ll go biking through 13th-century Dutch fishing villages along the Ijssel Lake beaches, watch wooden shoes being carved and sample Edam cheese at a cheese farm. Free time this afternoon in Amsterdam will allow time to tour the Van Gogh or Rijksmuseum or visit Anne Frank’s house. This evening we invite you to a scrumptious dinner of Dutch specialties.

  Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  • Inclusions:
    • Bike riding in the Dutch countryside
    • Visit to wooden shoemaker and Edam cheese farm
    • Amsterdam travel card
    • Dinner of Dutch specialties
• Day 8 - AMSTERDAM - COLOGNE - HEIDELBERG

  Cross the German border into Cologne, famous for Northern Europe’s largest gothic cathedral. Embark on a cruise along the fabled Rhine River, passing steeply sloped vineyards, ancient castles, and the legendary Lorelei Rock. Continue to Heidelberg, the “City of the Student Prince” and climb to the ruins of the Castle of the Palatine Elector for a bird’s-eye view of the city and the Neckar River.

  Meals: Breakfast

  • Inclusions:
    • City of Cologne and its Cathedral, largest Gothic church in Northern Europe
    • Rhine River cruise
    • Heidelberg ‘City of the Student Prince’
    • See Heidelberg Castle
• Day 9 - HEIDELBERG - ROTHENBURG - MUNICH

  Germany’s Romantic Road takes us to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. This medieval city is celebrated not only for its well-preserved gothic and baroque buildings and walls, but also for its unspoiled picturesque setting. Enjoy lunch at a local Gasthaus before continuing our journey to the fun-filled Oktoberfest city of Munich. Tonight, you’ll have a free evening to check out the oompah-pah bands at the famous Hofbräuhaus.

  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  • Inclusions:
    • Drive along Germany’s Romantic Road
    • See Medieval Rothenburg
    • Gasthaus lunch
    • See the Oktoberfest city of Munich
• Day 10 - MUNICH

  This morning we visit Dachau Memorial site, established in 1965, twenty years after it was liberated by American forces. During afternoon free time, consider visiting the BMW museum, seeing the Glockenspiel Chimes at the Marienplatz, visiting the 1972 Olympic Village or shopping for Bavarian beer steins and lederhosen on Maximilianstrasse. Tonight, we’ll dine on authentic Bavarian fare.

  Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  • Inclusions:
    • Visit Dachau Memorial Site
    • See Munich’s Glockenspiel chimes, Marienplatz and more
    • Traditional Bavarian dinner
• Day 11 - MUNICH - SALZBURG - AUSTRIAN ALPS

  On our journey to Austria, we stop at a salt mine and enjoy a ride down slides, dressed in miner’s clothing. Afterwards we continue to the city of Salzburg, Mozart’s birthplace, and the site where the classic movie, “The Sound of Music” was filmed. Explore the narrow streets lined with colorful wrought iron signs and shops before we continue our journey to Europe’s largest Alpine sports region. Be our pampered guest for two nights of fitness and fun while nestled in the snow-capped Austrian mountains.

  Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  • Inclusions:
    • Visit to salt mines
    • See Europe’s largest Alpine sports region
    • See Mozart’s city of Salzburg
    • Hearty Austrian dinner
• Day 12 - AUSTRIAN ALPS

  All day today is at our leisure; go for a hike in the Alps or opt to join the fun and excitement of whitewater rafting. A hearty Austrian dinner awaits after all of today’s activity.

  Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  • Inclusions:
    • Hiking in the Austrian Alps
    • Alpine dinner

  • Optional activity:
    • Whitewater rafting
• Day 13 - AUSTRIAN ALPS - VENICE

  The picturesque landscape of the Austrian Lake District makes way for sunny Italy’s Venice – “The Sinking City in the Sea.” Our private boat takes us to Murano Island, Venice’s glassmaking center since the 13th-century, where we visit a workshop and watch famous Venetian glass being made. Back in Venice, we walk along the narrow maze of back streets and bridges that take us to St. Mark’s Square with the Campanile, Doge’s Palace, and flocks of friendly pigeons. Consider a romantic gondola ride gliding through the intricate maze of canals beneath arched bridges and passing by 12th and 18th-century marble palaces.

  Meals: Breakfast

  • Inclusions:
    • See Venice’s Doge Palace, St. Mark’s Square and more
    • Private boat to Murano Island
    • Glass blowing workshop and demonstration
• Day 14 - VENICE - FLORENCE

  Through the fertile Po Valley, we approach Florence, Golden City of the Renaissance and home of the famed Italian sculptor, painter, architect and poet Michelangelo. Our Florence art tour includes the Gates of Paradise, the marble Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, and Giotto’s bell tower. Afterwards, there’s free time for shopping and museums. Tonight, enjoy our dinner of traditional Florentine fare.

  Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  • Inclusions:
    • See the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, Giotto’s Bell Tower and more
    • Tour of Florence guided by a local expert
    • Personal audio headset
    • Traditional Florentine dinner
• Day 15 - FLORENCE

  Today is a free day to explore the Uffizi Gallery and see the collections of Giotto, Botticelli, Raphael, and da Vinci. The Galleria dell’Accademia houses several sculptures by Michelangelo including his famous David (advance reservation required.) Opt to join us for time under the Tuscan sun starting with a picturesque drive through the vineyards of one of the best-known wine growing areas, Chianti. Our excursion includes a tour of the winery and a tasting of a selection of local wines.

  Meals: Breakfast

  • Inclusions:
    • Florence city sights

  • Optional activity:
    • Chianti Tuscan excursion
• Day 16 - FLORENCE - ROME - VATICAN CITY

  This morning we continue our travels south to the capital of Italy. Get ready to soak up Rome’s dolce vita lifestyle as we explore the city’s picturesque streets and piazzas with our local expert. Ancient icons such as the Colosseum or Caesar’s Roman Forum remind us of the city’s golden age as the capital of the world. Vatican City with St. Peter’s Basilica towering over the square, and colossal cathedrals throughout the city, tell stories of its history as seat of the Catholic Church.

  Meals: Breakfast

  • Inclusions:
    • Tour of Rome and Vatican City guided by a local expert
    • Personal audio headset
    • See the Colosseum, Circus Maximus, Pantheon, Vatican City with St. Peter’s Basilica and more
    • Admission to the Colosseum and Caesar’s Roman Forum
    • Rome travel card providing unlimited access to local transportation
• Day 17 - ROME - VATICAN CITY

  A free day in Rome may find you exploring Piazza Navona, climbing the famous Spanish Steps, and tossing a coin into the Trevi Fountain to ensure your return to Rome. Try numerous flavors of the fabulous gelato ice cream or find yourself window-dreaming on Via dei Condotti, one of Rome’s fashionable shopping streets. This evening, join us for our fun Viva Italia pizza party. Toppings range from a simple drizzle of olive oil, rosemary, and salt, to mushrooms, prosciutto ham and artichokes. Buon appetito!

  Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  • Inclusions:
    • See Piazza Navona, the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and more
    • Unlimited access to local transportation with travel card
    • Pizza Party in Trastevere
• Day 18 - TRAVEL HOME

  Our celebratory tour of Europe ends in Rome this morning. Bid farewell to friends and “arrivederci” to Italy before jetting back home with memories to last a lifetime.

  Meals: Breakfast, In-flight

  • Inclusions:
    • Transfer from hotel to airport included with purchased AESU group airfare