EUROPE
It looks like you are visiting from Australia or New Zealand, would you like to go to the Australian Worldstrides site?
Yes, go to worldstrides.com.au No, stay on worldstrides.com
Relax and enjoy your scheduled flight from North America.
Meet your Tour Director and check into hotel.
Explore the City of Lights and see the Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides, and iconic Notre Dame Cathedral.
Louvre VisitThe world's largest art museum, the Louvre is housed in a Medieval fortress-turned-castle so grand it's worth a tour itself. You walk through the 71-foot glass pyramid designed by I.M. Pei and added in 1989, and step into another world—one with carved ceilings, deep-set windows, and so many architectural details you could spend a week just admiring the rooms. The Mona Lisa is here, as well as the Venus de Milo and Winged Victory (the headless statue, circa 200 BC, discovered at Samothrace). The Louvre has seven different departments of paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures and antiquities. Don't miss the Egyptian collection, complete with creepy sarcophagi, or the collection of Greek ceramics, one of the largest in the world. (Please note the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays.)
Eiffel Tower AscentLine up to climb to the top floor of this iconic landmark for a spectacular birds-eye view of the glittering City of Light.
The ultimate palace, Versailles was built by Louis XIII, and housed the royal family and its groveling court from 1682, when the Sun King moved in, to the French Revolution. Everything in Versailles is worth a look, from the 250-foot-long Hall of Mirrors, with themed salons (war and peace) on either side, to Marie Antoinette's faux country hamlet. When being a queen became too much to bear, she would pretend to be a commoner, tending her sheep and wearing peasant clothes. (Please note Versailles is closed on Mondays.)
LEAP Seize the ChâteauParticipate in a life role-play to understand the French Revolution.
LEAP Cover the CanvasLive the artist's life!
A lively role-play puts you in the shoes of the monarchy, clergy, nobility, bourgeoisie, or peasantry to explore the issues underlying the French Revolution.
Live the artist life. Explore line, color, perspective, negative space and form, then paint a masterpiece inspired by the beauty of Paris.
Hop on one of the world's fastest trains, the TGV, and speed to Nice.
St. Paul de Vence is a beautifully preserved medieval hill town, and its terra cotta roofs and cypress- and palm tree-dotted landscape have attracted prominent artists for over a century. A favorite hotel was the Colombe d’Or, where painters often paid for their room and board in artwork—the dining room still displays works by Picasso, Modigliani, and Matisse.
Stop in Pisa to see the famous leaning bell tower. It was already partly finished when builders realized that—surprise! —the ground beneath was too soft to support it. They tried to correct the tilt by putting a slight bend in the structure, but the extra weight just made it tilt more. Famous as it is, the leaning tower is just one component of Pisa’s Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles). Rising from an immaculate green lawn, the baptistery, duomo, and tower are fine examples of Pisan Romanesque architecture. All three are clad in intricately carved black and white marble, and on bright summer days their brilliance can be blinding.
Baptistery VisitExplore the Florence Baptistery, an octagonal Romanesque building constructed between 1059 and 1128.
Join a local guide for a tour of the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, Ghiberti's Baptistery doors, and the Church of Santa Croce. A visit is included to the Accademia to view Michelangelo's David.
Optional Uffizi Gallery VisitOpt to spend the afternoon exploring the famous Uffizi Gallery, one of the most popular attractions in Florence. With works dating back to the 16th century from artists including da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Botticelli, there are plenty of beautiful artworks to observe and discover.
LEAP Cucina FiorentinaGet a taste of Tuscan life and zesty flavors!
Cook up a three-course traditional meal with a local chef using fresh local produce. Get a taste of Tuscan life and zesty flavors! Mangia!
Travel through the Tuscan countryside to Siena with it's beautiful center and romanesque cathedral. Travelers from all over the world come here to attend the Palio di Siena, a horse race that circles around the Piazza del Campo. Visit the medieval walled town, San Gimignano, famous for its well-preserved towers which have become the town's symbol and can be seen from miles away.
Tuscan Farm LunchEnjoy local flavors on an authentic farm in Tuscany.
LEAP Great Renaissance DebateDebate who made the greatest impact on civilization.
Dinner on OwnEnjoy your last night in Italy.
Greet six renaissance giants including Giotto, Galileo, and Isabella d’Este, and debate who made the greatest impact on civilization.
Board your flight back to the U.S. and reflect on the incredible memories you’ve created!
Class is in session. And, by that, of course we mean the endless lessons that travel brings. So, no matter if you’re out trotting the globe or at home planning your next trip, adventure is never far! These must-read blog posts open a world of learning through inspirational travel stories, destination spotlights, classroom resources, and other buzzworthy news.
Ahhh, Paris, the City of Light and the City of Love. There are so many interesting facts about the bucket-list city, we compiled another list to go along with our original 10 Interesting Facts About P...
After my trip this summer to France, England, and Berlin, here are my three “must-dos” while in France. You must eat a croissant. My friends and I ate TONS of croissants! They were so delicious wh...
Read part one of our three part recap of our employee trip to Italy! Following our adventures in Venice, it was on to Florence! During our private coach ride from Florence to Venice, we took park in o...
