Overview
Bring your students to experience the rich culture and beautiful scenery of Spain, France, Switzerland, and Germany. You’ll begin in Madrid with visits to the Royal Palace and the Reina Sofia. Your students can also look forward to an authentic Spanish cooking lesson and a lively Spanish Civil War roleplay activity. Once in Paris, your students will wander the seemingly endless collections at the Louvre and ascend the Eiffel Tower. In Lucerne, your students will marvel at picturesque alpine town squares and visit iconic spots including the Chapel Bridge. Your tour will come to an end in Germany, where your students will explore bustling Munich—including stops at Marienplatz and Olympia Park—and take a thrilling tour along the night watchman’s path in Rothenburg.
Itinerary
Day 1
Overnight flight to Spain (Madrid)
Day 2
Arrive in Madrid
Meet your Tour Director
Your 24-hour Tour Director will meet you at the airport and remain with your group until your final airport departure.
Day 3
Madrid guided sightseeing tour
Prado visit with Whisper headsets, Plaza Colon visit, Plaza de España, Royal Palace
Reina Sofia Museum visit
Officially Spain’s National Museum of 20th Century Art, the Reina Sofía houses masterpieces by Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí. Its most famous work is Picasso’s Guernica, a powerful anti-war statement. Beyond the galleries, the museum also offers a vast library, archive, bookstore, and restaurant, making it a hub of art and culture.
LEAP Cocina Española!
Cooking class and dinner
Day 4
Toledo guided excursion
St. Mary’s Synagogue visit, Toledo Cathedral visit, Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes visit, Sword factory visit
LEAP Spanish Civil War
Nationalist? Republican? Argue ideology in a revolutionary role-play that delves into the causes of the Spanish Civil War!
Dinner at Casa Botin (optional)
Dine on delicious Spanish cuisine at the oldest restaurant in the world, and a favorite of Ernest Hemingway.
Day 5
Travel to Burgos
El Escorial guided excursion with Whisper headset
Segovia Alcazar visit
A castle fit for a king! This stone fortification rises up imposingly from a rocky crag in the old city of Segovia. See its towering round turrets, spindly spires, luxurious throne room and fully stocked armory.
Day 6
Guggenheim Museum visit
Embark on a cultural journey with a visit to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. Explore a remarkable collection of modern and contemporary art that offers insight into major artistic movements and creative expression.
Travel to Biarritz via St. Jean de Luz
Day 7
Travel to Paris on the TGV
Ride the TGV, Europe’s famed high-speed train, as you travel to Paris.
Day 8
Paris guided sightseeing tour
What’s that huge white arch at the end of the Champs-Élysées? It’s the Arc de Triomphe, commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 after his victory at Austerlitz. Your licensed local guide will elaborate on this and other Parisian landmarks. See some of the city’s most famous sites, including the ornate 19th-century Opera, the presidential residence, and the Place de la Concorde—where, at the center, you’ll find the Obelisk of Luxor, a gift from Egypt in 1836. Spot chic locals (and plenty of tourists) strolling the Champs-Élysées. Look up at the iron girders of the Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889 World's Fair to commemorate the centenary of the French Revolution. Visit Les Invalides (a refuge for war-wounded soldiers) and the École Militaire (Napoleon’s alma mater).
Louvre Museum visit
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.
Eiffel Tower ascent
Line up to climb to the top floor of this iconic landmark for a spectacular bird’s-eye view of the glittering City of Light.
Day 9
Versailles & Seize the Chateau! (pre-book only) (optional)
State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, Gardens of Versailles, LEAP Seize the Château!
Day 10
Travel to Basel on the TGV
Experience one of Europe's fastest trains, celebrated for its sleek design, smooth ride, and exceptional speed.
Travel to Lucerne
Day 11
Lucerne Tour Director-led sightseeing
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.
Zurich half-day excursion (optional)
Visit Zurich, an optional excursion, known as "Downtown Switzerland." The city acts as headquarters for five world banks and countless underground gold bullions. Later, explore the old town (altdstadt) and get a sense of why this city was named number one for best quality of life; stroll through parks and quays, relax by Lake Zurich or shop for products unique to Switzerland.
Day 12
Travel to Munich
Hohenschwangau excursion
Visit the Bavarian village of Hohenschwangau and learn about Hohenschwangau Castle, the childhood home of King Ludwig II, with views of Lake Alpsee and the surrounding Alps. Then enjoy a scenic hike toward Neuschwanstein Castle and pause at Queen Mary’s Bridge for an unforgettable photo stop of the fairytale fortress and mountain landscape.
Day 13
Munich guided sightseeing tour
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.
Dachau Concentration Camp & Memorial visit
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.
Day 14
Travel to Rothenburg via Nuremberg
Night Watchman's Tour
Follow in the footsteps of Rothenburg's solitary night watchman and learn how he kept his citizens safe as he patrolled the sleeping town.
Day 15
Return home
Already Included
Transportation to & from your destination
Hotel accommodations
Admissions to top attractions (details in itinerary)
Meals (unless otherwise noted on your itinerary)
WorldAssist staff members available 24/7/365 should your group need extra help
Free high school credit for students who choose to complete WorldStrides free online coursework post-program
Professional development credits (CEUs) for educators
Guided sightseeing tours & city walks (details in itinerary)
Tips for local guides and drivers
Scenes from Spain, France, and Germany
Health & Safety
Additional health and safety measures may be available within your respective destination. Refer to your program-specific materials for complete details.
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance
WorldStrides provides over $2.5 million in financial assistance each year to thousands of families. Families with annual adjusted gross incomes of less than $85,000 may qualify. One simple call to Customer Service and you’ll know how much may be available for your trip even before signing up. Please note: financial assistance is given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Payment Plans
Advantage Payment Plan
At program sign-up you can opt to pay in full, or break up the cost of your trip with the Advantage Payment Plan. This plan allows you to pay a small initial deposit, then have your remaining payments spread out into affordable monthly amounts.
EZPay
We offer an EZPay option, which is a simple way to pay for your WorldStrides program by scheduling hassle-free, automatic drafts from your checking account. With EZPay, you'll never be late or miss an installment.
Fundraising Tools
Our easy-to-use tools put students in the driver's seat of their own fundraising efforts. Students can send e-cards, share links on social media, and even send out printed letters through WorldStrides' Gift of Education program. In one click friends and family members can make a direct donation to the trip - with 100% of the money raised going to offset their trip price. Thousands of students pay for their entire trip each year through the Gift of Education.
Also, WorldStrides makes program-specific scholarships available as well as other scholarship resources. Ask your Account Manager for more information about scholarships and fundraising tools.