Tour Details - European Impressions

Day 1: London to Brussels

Meet up with your Contiki Crew before we hit the road and take a ferry past the White Cliffs of Dover. Cut across France and into to Brussels, Belgium’s cool capital. With a mix of French and Flemish, some of Europe’s best brews and fantastic food, this easy-going city is a fantastic intro to Europe. Your Tour Manager will give you the background on Brussels as you check out its signature sights. See the Town Hall tucked away in the old town on a buzzing central square, the hill-top Palace of Justice and the famous statue, Manneken-Pis. In your free time, park yourself in one of the city’s many beer gardens, order some traditional Belgian waffles and taste local specialties, like mussels and French fries (frites) – which are actually a Belgian invention!

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Brussels to Amsterdam

Next stop: the buzzing, freewheeling city of Amsterdam. In an intro into Dutch culture, see how clogs are made and try some of the famous Dutch Edam at a cheese farm. Check out Amsterdam’s eye-opening Red Light District, where the creative and wacky come together on narrow cobbled streets, 24/7. Try out Amsterdam’s multi-ethnic cuisine. This cultural melting pot dishes up loads of affordable food. With an optional evening canal cruise, you’ve got a chance to get to know the group, unwind with a few drinks and uncover Amsterdam at water level. Get some pointers on the city’s hot spots from your Tour Manager and head into town for a fun night out.

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Amsterdam to Rhine Valley

Chill out while the coach follows the Rhine River, weaving through valleys dotted with castles and vineyards. Next stop - the pretty, old-world village of St Goar, complete with fairy-tale castle and even a free standing cuckoo clock! Learn about local know-how and get savvy on the craft of beer steins. Kick back with a glass of local wine and choose to find out more with the optional wine tasting in a candlelit underground cellar.

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4: Rhine Valley to Swiss Alps

Next stop: the jaw-droppingly beautiful alpine town of Lucerne With covered wooden bridges, cobbled lanes and quaint buildings, Lucerne’s centre is perfect to explore on foot. Also to stock up on lots of genuine Swiss chocolate! Your Tour Manager can give you pointers on where to pick up the best-priced watches Switzerland is so famous for. This afternoon, choose an optional cruise on one of Europe’s most striking lakes, where stunning scenes of the Swiss Alps reflect back across the water. Tonight, we head to the alpine heights of Engelberg where we stay in a Swiss mountain lodge.

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5: Swiss Alps

It’s a change of scene up among Switzerland’s massive mountains. Choose to get above it all today with an optional excursion to Mt Titlis and travel up the sheer slopes by rotating gondola. With sweeping views over the surrounding countryside and 360 degree vistas of the alps, don’t forget to bring your camera.

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6: Swiss Alps to Munich

Today, travel past the stony cliffs of Liechtenstein, into the capital of Vaduz, where you can grab some lunch and eat it in the shadow of the royal family’s 12th Century Castle. Afterward, it’s southbound to the home of the world-famous Oktoberfest, Munich - a city that blends traditional Bavarian culture and a modern lifestyle. Explore the heart of Munich’s Old Town with the crew, and head to Marienplatz. It’s a central gathering spot famous for the Glockenspiel - a Gothic clock, complete with 32 dancing figures and 43 chiming bells. Get off the beaten track on 2 wheels with Local Guide in a fun bike tour around the city – it’s a great way to see lots of the sights. Get a taste of tradition at a typical beer hall in and park yourself at a long wooden table. Order yourself some hearty local food, like roast pork, and quench your thirst with a stein of one of Germany’s 5000 brews.

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meals: Breakfast

Day 7: Munich to Venice

Wind through the Bavarian Alps and Brenner Pass to Venice. But first, pull into Innsbruck, a down-to-earth student city. Walk around the medieval streets of the old-town, grab some lunch, and check out Innsbruck’s landmark Golden Roof and Royal Palace. You pace will race when you see the totally impressive Olympic Ski jump. Next up is Venice. Known as the “floating city”, Venice is packed with character, crammed with hidden lanes and linked by a network of canals.

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8: Venice

Jump on our private boat and travel through the waters of the lagoon to visit the city’s historical heart. The limestone Bridge of Sighs, the Gothic arches of Doges’ Palace and the expanse of St Mark’s Square (pigeons and all!) show Venice’s unique beauty and way of life. Learn about local artistry with a traditional glass blowing demonstration – a craft Venice has been famous for since the 13th century. Take some time to explore the floating city and lose yourself in the backstreets. There’s an optional walking tour where you can discover the labyrinth of interweaving lanes, waterways, palaces, piazzi and markets with our Local Guide. You’ll see historic monuments, hidden treasures and the Rialto Market - a local favourite for food shopping. Maybe grab a table on St Mark’s Square and eat some delicious Italian food al fresco. Cap off the day with an optional gondola ride with your friends. Take a bottle of prosecco (Italian champagne) and toast this awesome experience as you are punted through the waterways.

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meals: Breakfast

Day 9: Venice to Florence

Along the pretty shores of Lake Garda, we drop into the quintessential European lake town of Sirmione, complete with vine-covered villas, Roman ruins and a castle. For amazing views of the surrounding Dolomite Mountain range and an interesting lakeside look at the local lifestyle, we’ve organised a chance to go out on Italy’s largest lake in an optional cruise. Then we wind through the Apennine Mountains and Tuscan countryside to the Renaissance city of Florence, via a visit to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The scene-stealing Duomo cathedral rises above Florence, which serves up frescoes, markets and priceless art. Before dinner, walk along the River Arno with your Tour Manager, take in the atmosphere and head into the heart of Florence, where you can sit back and relax Tuscan style with a glass of Chianti wine.

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 10: Florence

Get the inside track on Florence’s cultural beginnings from our local guide as the group explores streets crammed with artworks from masters like Michelangelo. Then take a look into a skilful demonstration of Florentine leather making and understand this region’s traditional art. With bargains and bustle, the city’s markets are a great place to hang out and people watch. Grab a gelato and enjoy this gorgeous city. Tonight, there’s a choice of a group dinner - an authentic Tuscan feast. Try regional dishes in the fantastic Tuscan country setting. Then keep it moving with a night out and get your groove on at Florence’s biggest club.

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meals: Breakfast

Day 11: Florence to French Riviera

Stick to the Italian coastline, slide by the port town of Genoa and cross over into France. Then we hit the rugged coast line of the stunning Cote d’Azur. Next stop on the Riviera and home to the French perfume industry is Fragonard Perfumery. Learn more about how perfume is made and some of its more surprising ingredients. It’s also a chance to pick up a bottle or 2 at great price. Follow the beautiful sapphire waters to the palm trees and sun-soaked shores of Nice. Tonight get a taste of the high life in Monaco, the glamourous principality packed into just 1.92km2 and home of the Formula 1. Indulge in a bit of glitz with the group by opting for a typically French 4-course meal just a few doors down from the Royal Palace. Get the inside story on the royal family and their place of residence from your Tour Manager, then try your luck at a casino later on.

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meals: Breakfast

Day 12: French Riviera

In your free time live a bit of the lifestyle with a visit to the local markets. Try out the region’s produce like lavender honey, aioli (garlic mayonnaise) and mouth-watering rosé wine. Window shop the chic boutiques or choose a beach and catch some sun among all the bronzed bodies!

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 13: French Riviera to Barcelona

Unwind on the coach and take in the rustic beauty of Provence, known for its pretty landscapes of lavender, sunflowers and wild herbs. We keep heading south through the rugged and dramatic scenery of the Pyrénées mountains, over the border into Barcelona. A sizzling, festive capital any night of the week, Barcelona is all about action. In Spain fiesta time starts late, so settle in at one of the city’s many outdoor squares to enjoy a glass of sangria in and nibble on tapas (plate sized snacks) before a fun night out exploring Barcelona’s nightlife with your friends.

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 14: Barcelona

First stop: Mont Juic. The hilltop has full-blown vistas of the city and it’s where we stop to check out the 1992 Olympic Games complex. Afterward get a look into the wild imagination of famous Spanish architect, Gaudi, with his art nouveau masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia cathedral. Your Tour Manager walks you through the cobbled lanes of Barcelona’s oldest district, the Gothic Quarter. Then there’s free time to discover more of Barcelona’s creative core. Pick up some quirky buys in the side streets or hit the big label shops on Plaça de Catalunya. Take in all of Barcelona’s buzzing street life on the tree-lined La Rambla – a boulevard packed with street performers, artists, shops and stalls. Other ideas for your afternoon off include hanging out in the colourful gardens of Parc Guell or kicking back with the locals on the beach and taking a swim in the Mediterranean sea. There’s plenty of delicious local seafood to try like Spain’s signature dish, paella. Tonight’s optional dinner and show is a perfect way to finish off your time in this hot city and a chance to get into the local flavours with a Flamenco dance performance and some sangria. Afterward, get the low down on Barcelona’s hottest spots and maybe hit the pumping clubs of Port Olympico, by the water.

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meals: Breakfast

Day 15: Barcelona to Bordeaux

En route to the world famous wine region of Bordeaux, kick start the day with a visit to medieval Carcassonne, with its breathtaking old walled city and fort. Your Tour Manager will give you the low down on the fairytale hill-top town and show you its hidden nooks and alleyways. Then we continue on to our next stop, beautiful Bordeaux, a happening student hub. You’ll get a look into this former trading centre as your Tour Manager shows you the narrow streets and core spots of this elegant 18th century old-town on a walking tour. Tonight, find a cute little bistro to stop at for dinner and try some of the region’s famous wines and cheeses.

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meals: Breakfast

Day 16: Bordeaux to Paris

Roll through the green Loire Valley and take in the castles, manors and vineyards from the coach window as we head for the French capital. Tonight, the group kick-starts Paris with the “Tour of Illuminations”, which shows off the French capital’s transformation into the “City of Lights”. Lamp-lit bridges and cool little cafés give us a real taste of Paris’ romance. Your Tour Manager will fill you in on the world’s most-recognised monuments, like the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe.

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 17: Paris

This town is loaded with possibilities. Discover its many bistros, museums, tree-lined avenues and diverse quartiers (neighbourhoods). Get a feel for French flair by window shopping, step into the huge Notre Dame cathedral or explore the endless galleries of the Louvre where you can get up close to the famous Mona Lisa. Try indulging in some delicious pastries and relax in one of Paris’ many green spaces. Tonight, treat yourself to a real Parisian cabaret experience, complete with can-can girls, dinner and champagne and get to know your crew. But don’t stop there – hit the clubs and start your trip off with a fun night out.

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meals: Breakfast

Day 18: Paris to London

Cruise past the battle fields of Valley of Somme and catch the ferry from Calais back to England, where the tour ends and it’s time to say farewell to your new friends.

• Meals: Breakfast