Best of Europe

Join a licensed local guide for an in-depth tour of London. See Buckingham Palace, where you may catch the Changing of the Guard, and stroll through Hyde Park, home to the famous Speakers’ Corner. View Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, then step inside Westminster Abbey, the coronation site of English monarchs. Continue to St. Paul’s Cathedral, Christopher Wren’s masterpiece, and admire the iconic Tower Bridge spanning the Thames.

Explore the British Museum, home to one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of art and artifacts. Highlights include the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon Marbles, and the Sutton Hoo Treasure.

The Parthenon Sculptures, taken by the British Earl of Elgin in the early 19th century, are now housed in the British Museum. Their presence continues to spark debate over whether they should remain in London or be returned to Greece.

Sit down in London and stand up in Brussels. Cross the English Channel on the Eurostar, one of Europe’s fastest trains. Faster than you can say anything in Flemish, you will be in the Belgian capital.

Explore Brussels with your Tour Director, from the cobblestone Grand-Place with its gilded façades and 15th-century Town Hall to the playful Manneken Pis. Visit the Cathédrale des Sts-Michel-et-Gudule, then enjoy the city’s mix of Art Nouveau, history, and Belgian treats.

Take interactive learning to the next level with a Tour Director-led scavenger hunt through Amsterdam. Solve clues and complete engaging activities that bring the city’s history and cultural heritage to life, designed to maximize on-tour experiential learning.

Canals and crocuses. Bicycles and bluebells. With more canals than Venice and countless flower merchants, downtown Amsterdam bursts with color and light reflecting off the water. Take a canal boat ride for the best views of gabled houses and nearly 1,200 bridges. Note: Cruises may be guided by a local or pre-recorded audio.

Take a tour of Anne Frank's house, where three Jewish families hid for more than two years during World War II and where Anne’s famous diary was written. Explore the secret annex where her family lived before being betrayed and deported to concentration camps.

Enjoy a traditional Dutch dinner of pannenkoeken, large thin pancakes similar to crepes, topped with savory or sweet ingredients like bacon, apples, or raisins, and finished with a drizzle of stroop, a rich dark syrup.

Towering over the train station is the Kolner Dom cathedral, which took seven centuries to finish, only to be scarred by 14 bombings during World War II. During your stop in Cologne, admire the cathedral’s striking architecture, and even go off on your own to climb the 509 stairs to the South Tower for a great view of the Rhine. Nine bells are housed in the Glockenstube, and in one corner, weighing in at 24 tons, is the Petriglocke, the world’s heaviest working bell.

Join your Tour Director for a sightseeing tour of Heidelberg, a charming city surrounded by mountains, forests, and the Neckar River. Stroll through Market Square for views of Germany’s oldest university, then visit Heidelberg Castle, one of the most important Renaissance landmarks north of the Alps. Learn about its turbulent history from the Thirty Years’ War to a lightning strike in 1764, and explore the castle courtyard to see the world’s largest wine barrel, a symbol of the city’s enduring spirit and charm.

Dachau, the first of Nazi Germany’s concentration camps, became the model for thousands that followed. Now a memorial and museum, it honors the 206,000 prisoners held here from 1933 to 1945 and traces the rise of the Nazi party, pre-1930s anti-Semitism, and the lives of those imprisoned.

Enjoy Bavarian- or Berlin-style sausage with traditional sides. Bavarian sausage is made from veal and pork back bacon, while the Berlin style features fried pork.

Join a licensed guide for a whirlwind look at Munich, from its medieval heart to modern landmarks. Stroll through Marienplatz to see the Neues Rathaus and its famous Glockenspiel, framed by the twin towers of the Frauenkirche. Visit the Residenz, then explore Olympiapark, built for the 1972 Games, and step into BMW Welt to experience innovation and sleek design.

Discover the links between traditional dance and Bavarian history. Listen and learn Bavarian music while participating in ancient folklore storytelling. You'll also learn (and demonstrate) a variety of traditional dance steps taught by local experts.

Walk through Innsbruck’s Old Town beneath Alpine peaks and rustic stuccoed homes. See the Golden Roof, a balcony glittering with 2,657 copper tiles built for Emperor Maximilian I. Pass through the Triumphbogen, honoring Habsburg marriages, and visit Bergisel, the Olympic ski jump site from 1964 and 1976.

Discover Venice, a city built on more than 100 islands in a lagoon off the Adriatic. Begin in St. Mark’s Square and tour St. Mark’s Basilica, completed in 1094 and home to the relics of Venice’s patron saint. Continue with a guided visit of the Gothic Doge’s Palace with its ornate arches before continuing to a glass-blowing demonstration, showcasing the centuries-old tradition of Venice’s most famous craft.

Discover Rome’s iconic landmarks on a guided walk. At the Spanish Steps, see the “sinking ship” fountain, designed that way because of low water pressure that forced the artist to sink it below street level. Marvel at the Trevi Fountain’s Baroque grandeur, the Pantheon’s soaring dome, and Piazza Navona, where Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers anchors the bustling square.

Visit St. Peter’s Basilica, with its vast colonnades that seem to embrace the world. Inside, admire Michelangelo’s soaring dome, rising 452 feet above the ground, and his renowned Pietà. Then step into the Sistine Chapel, where the artist reluctantly painted frescoes that today stand among the world’s greatest masterpieces.

Step inside the Colosseum with a licensed guide, once the stage for gladiators, naval battles, and wild beast hunts, and explore the underground chambers where animals were kept. Continue to the Forum Romanum, the hub of Roman politics, religion, and commerce. Conclude at Piazza Venezia, framed by its grand palaces and the striking Victor Emmanuel Monument.

Discover Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance. Admire the Duomo with Brunelleschi’s dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower, and the Baptistery’s famed Gates of Paradise that inspired generations of artists. Visit Palazzo Vecchio on Piazza della Signoria, once the seat of Florentine power, and step inside Dante’s House to learn about the poet’s legacy. At Santa Croce, see the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. Conclude your day by crossing the Ponte Vecchio and visiting a leather workshop to see one of Florence’s most famous crafts.

Stroll through Lugano’s charming Old Town, where cobblestone lanes, colorful façades, and lively piazzas reflect the city’s blend of Swiss and Italian heritage. Explore the Cattedrale di San Lorenzo, originally founded in the 9th century and later adorned with Baroque details, offering stunning views over Lake Lugano and a glimpse into the city’s rich cultural past.

Explore Lucerne with your Tour Director, set against the Alps and green pastures. Walk the Old Town’s cobblestones to Chapel Bridge, a 14th-century wooden bridge decorated with murals, and see the Lion Monument, a sandstone tribute to Swiss Guards lost in 1792. Visit the ornate Jesuit Church and take in the charm of Weinmarkt and Kornmarkt Squares.

Experience the legends of William Tell, the Lion Monument, and the story of Swiss independence as history comes to life through vivid reenactments.

Step back in time on a walk through Dijon’s historic center. Visit the Palais des Ducs, once home to the Dukes of Burgundy, and stroll along Rue de la Liberté, the city’s grand boulevard lined with shops and cafés. Pause in Place François Rude, a lively square filled with local charm, and explore the Les Halles market, an iron-and-glass masterpiece that continues Dijon’s centuries-old tradition of vibrant commerce.

The world’s largest art museum, the Louvre, is housed in a former medieval fortress and entered through I.M. Pei’s striking glass pyramid. Inside, discover masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory, along with vast collections of Egyptian antiquities, Greek ceramics, and works spanning seven departments. Please note: The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays.

Take in Paris on foot, strolling wide boulevards, manicured parks, and lively streets filled with cafés and flower stalls. Cross to the Île de la Cité to view the storied Notre-Dame Cathedral, centerpiece of French history, then wander the charming Île St. Louis and the vibrant Latin Quarter, rich with student life and culture.

Explore Paris with a licensed local guide on a sightseeing tour of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Admire the Arc de Triomphe at the top of the Champs-Élysées, stroll the grand boulevard lined with shops and cafés, and see the ornate 19th-century Opera House. Look up at the Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889 World’s Fair, and visit Les Invalides, Napoleon’s military refuge, along with other historic sites.

The ultimate palace, Versailles was begun by Louis XIII and transformed by Louis XIV into the seat of royal power until the French Revolution. Inside, admire the 250-foot Hall of Mirrors, flanked by the salons of War and Peace, and the State Apartments where lavish ceremonies unfolded. Step into the magnificent Gardens of Versailles, a masterpiece of fountains, sculptures, and sweeping vistas. Be sure to visit Marie Antoinette’s rustic hamlet, where she escaped court life by tending sheep and playing at village life. Please note: Versailles is closed on Mondays.

See the city from the water on an hour-long cruise along the River Seine. The Seine cuts right through Paris, dividing the city in half. Spot the Eiffel tower rising up on the Left Bank, the walls of the Louvre on the Right Bank. A guide will point out other monuments and architectural marvels as you pass, many of which are illuminated by clear white light at night.

Take interactive learning to another level with a Tour Director-led scavenger hunt on Las Ramblas, Barcelona’s most famous pedestrian street. Complete exciting activities and solve fun clues, each designed to maximize experiential learning on tour.

Discover Barcelona with a licensed guide as you explore its mix of Gothic charm and modernist brilliance. Visit Plaza de España, then marvel at Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia, the soaring church that defines the city’s skyline. Wander through Park Güell with its colorful mosaics and sweeping views, and journey to Montjuïc Hill, home to historic fortresses and the 1992 Olympic grounds.

Immerse yourself in the art that captures the passion of Spain. Compare the techniques and meanings in the works of artists from El Greco to Salvador Dalí and Pablo Picasso. Deepen your understanding of art history as you debate how these and other masters defined and shaped Spanish culture.

Discover Barcelona with a licensed guide as you explore its mix of Gothic charm and modernist brilliance. Visit Plaza de España, then marvel at Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia, the soaring church that defines the city’s skyline. Wander through Park Güell with its colorful mosaics and sweeping views, and journey to Montjuïc Hill, home to historic fortresses and the 1992 Olympic grounds.

Immerse yourself in the art that captures the passion of Spain. Compare the techniques and meanings in the works of artists from El Greco to Salvador Dalí and Pablo Picasso. Deepen your understanding of art history as you debate how these and other masters defined and shaped Spanish culture.

Travel through northern Catalonia to Girona, a medieval town of winding streets, pastel façades, and a charming Old Town filled with history. Visit the Baroque cathedral and Jewish quarter before continuing to Figueres, birthplace of Salvador Dalí. Explore the surreal Salvador Dalí Theater-Museum, home to his imaginative masterpieces.