Highlights of Europe: London to Rome

• Meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at the airport as they arrive.
• Transfer to your hotel to check into your accommodation.
• Get to know the area around your hotel on an intro walk with your Tour Director.

• Dive into thousands of years of London’s secrets with a local guide. The Romans founded Londinium around 50 AD as a trading post on the Thames, building roads, walls, and bridges that shaped the city’s layout.
• Immerse yourself in London’s rich history at landmarks from the Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, and the Houses of Parliament.
• Experience the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace, a tradition that dates back to 1660. Today, it’s a precise ceremony that showcases centuries of royal tradition and military pageantry. Note: do not touch or get close to the horses, you’ll almost definitely get a reprimand from a guard.
• Wave hello to the icon himself, Big Ben. Fun fact: Big Ben is actually the name of the bell inside the tower, not the tower.

Abbey Road: Recreate the cover of the Beatles’ last studio album, Abbey Road, by strolling across the famous crosswalk featured on the cover, right outside Abbey Road Studios.

Tower of London: Feel like a royal in the historic castle (and allegedly one of the most haunted places in the world) and see the legendary Crown Jewels.

Harrods: Shop around the million+ square feet of London’s huge luxury department store, opened in 1834, with seven floors of designer shops, lavish displays, and gourmet food.

Boleyn Alley: Where flowers bloom, vegetables grow, and a young girl finds a key to... woops, wrong garden. Seek out bargains at this bustling covered market full of souvenirs, clothes, crafts, and much more.

The British Museum: With over 8 million objects, this free museum is one of the largest and most comprehensive collections in existence---so don’t expect to see it all.

Westminster Abbey: This masterpiece of Gothic architecture has hosted every royal coronation since 1066 and is the burial place of kings, queens, and famous historical figures.

• Travel by train to Amsterdam, then disembark at the elegant, Renaissance Revival-style Centraal Station, before checking into your centrally located accomodations.
• Chill out in one of the city’s lush green spaces. Rembrandtpark and Vondelpark are two of our favorite parks, perfect for a lazy afternoon.
• Make your way to Dam Square, the central public square of Amsterdam, and enjoy the happy, laid-back local attitude. We’re sure the coffee shops have nothing to do with that...
• See how Amsterdam does nightlife with a visit to Leidseplein Square, an energetic area filled with bars, restaurants, and street performers.

Anne Frank House: Explore the life and times of Anne Frank in this preserved canalside house-turned-museum. See the secret annex where Anne and her brave family hid from Nazi persecution during WWII. Plan ahead---tickets have to be purchased months in advance.

Bloemenmarkt: Head to what was once the only floating flower market in the world. Today, you’ll find it bobbing on the city’s southern canal belt selling fresh flowers, gifts, and an assortment of the famously pretty Dutch tulip bulbs.

*** The Free Ferry:*** Cross the IJ waterway via the scenic (and free) fast ferry to NDSM Wharf, full of converted shipyards, street art, quirky cafes, and a gritty, creative vibe unlike anywhere else in Amsterdam.

Heineken Experience: Take a self-guided interactive tour of this former brewery turned museum to learn the history of Heineken brew before getting to enjoy two of your own.

Poffertjes and herring: You’ve heard of chicken and waffles, but what about pancakes and fish? Not together, but we do recommend trying them both. Nibble small, fluffy pancakes called Poffertjes, or try some fresh herring, served raw with onion.

Van Gogh Museum: Enter the world of Vincent Van Gogh at this museum dedicated to the life and work of arguably the greatest of the Post-Impressionists. If you’re an art lover, this is a must.

• Say goodbye to Amsterdam and board your train bound for Paris.
• Follow your Tour Director on a walking tour of the city and its legendary sights including Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Champs Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Louvre.
• Stand in awe in front of the Eiffel Tower as the lights sparkle against the night. Pro tip: this happens every hour on the hour.

Moulin Rouge: The original version of this famed cabaret in Montmartre burned down in 1915, but the birthplace of the modern can-can dance lives on---just look for the large red windmill.

The Marais: Explore the historic Jewish quarter of Paris, now one of its trendiest areas, filled with boutiques, art galleries, and really good falafel spots like L’As du Fallafel.

• Get the inside scoop on Parisian culture and try to understand why this high-end, fashion forward city likes to snack on snails.
• Stand in awe of the Arc de Triomphe, which stands in honor of those who fought in the French Revolution.
• Work your angles, and snap an obligatory picture with your finger atop the Louvre’s pyramid point.

The Louvre: Paris is home to some of the world’s most incredible art collections. Admire the Venus de Milo at the Louvre or check out modern art and the insides of a clock tower at Musee d’Orsay.

Montmartre: Head to Montmartre, a neighborhood filled with street art, incredible views overlooking the city, and the famous Sacré Cœur Cathedral. Home to, and inspiration for artists like Picasso, van Gogh, Matisse, Dali, and Monet, this is the perfect place to take a stroll and admire a more authentic side of Paris.

Catacombs: Dare to step through the “Gate of Hell” on your way below the city streets and you’ll be greeted by walls of stacked skulls and bones of past Parisians. If you’re claustrophobic or afraid of the macabre, maybe skip this.

• Depart Paris via train in the morning.
• Sit back and relax as you take in some of Europe’s dreamiest countryside landscapes.
• Check in to your accommodations, then walk the streets and take in the mountain scenery with your Tour Director.

Swiss cuisine: Follow your nose in search of famous Swiss cheese like Emmental, Gruyère, or Raclette, smooth and rich chocolate, or rösti, which is essentially a giant hashbrown.

• Trade in the Alps for some canals, but first, make a pit stop to grab lunch along Lake Como, one of the biggest, bluest, best-loved lakes in Italy.
• Snap some scenic pics of Lake Como to kick off Italy’s debut on socials.
• Arrive in the Venice region in the evening, explore the area with your Tour Director, and pick their brain about what to do and where to eat at night in Venice.

Vino e cicchetti: Treat yourself to the local pastime andar per bacari, or hopping from wine bar to wine bar, trying inexpensive local wine and cicchetti, aka Venetian tapas.

Venice After Dark: Don’t expect wild clubs---Venice’s nightlife is all canal-side bars, live jazz, and late-night spritz with locals.

Dorsoduro: Head to this historic district (one of six in Venice) located in the southern part of the city. It’s known for being a bit more laid-back and “local” than the San Marco area, with a strong student vibe thanks to the University of Venice.

• Arrive to St. Mark’s Square from your hotel in style on a private boat. The square is home to treasures like St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, and Caffè Florian, one of the oldest and continuously operating cafes in the world.
• See several historic churches like San Zulian and the Church of the Greeks with its leaning bell tower as you stroll through movie-worthy piazzas. Also en route is the famed spiral staircase, Scala Contarini del Bovolo, from the 15th century.
• Along the way, try some pastries from one of Venice’s top local pasticerrias before ending with a glassblowing demonstration led by one of the cities’ master glass blowers at the Vecchia Murano glass factory.

Caffè Florian: Opened in 1720, Caffè Florian is the oldest cafe in the world. And while the venue may be old, their beliefs have always been ahead of their time. They were the only cafe to serve women during the 18th century. Nicely done, Florian.

Gondola ride on the Grand Canal: What better way to experience a city known for its bridges and canals than with a gondola ride down the grandest of them all? Your Tour Director will point you in the right direction but finding the gondoliers yourself won’t be hard either---just look for their traditional uniform of black pants and striped shirts.

• Wave goodbye to beautiful Venice and head south to Tuscany.
• Throw on some comfortable shoes for a brief orientation walk through Florence, led by your Tour Director.
• Stroll the Piazza della Signoria, home to Florence’s seat of power, the Palazzo Vecchio, and the iconic Ponte Vecchio spanning the Arno River.
• Enjoy a free evening to stroll Florence’s streets for views of the towering Duomo, grab a glass of vino from a medieval wine window, and try Florentine cuisine like ribollita, Bistecca alla Fiorentina, and pappardelle pasta.

• Board your private coach, bound for Rome.
• Stop in Orvieto, a quaint Italian hill town that’s as fun to visit as it is to say in an Italian accent.
• Marvel at the artistry of the facade of Orvieto’s stunning cathedral, built in 1290.
• Arrive in Rome, surrounded by art, ruins, and 2.9 million people.
• Take a tour of the surrounding area with your Tour Director, who will fill you in on the basics of getting around using public transit and point you in the direction of restaurants and bars to grab dinner.

• Experience the heart of ancient Rome with a visit to the Forum, once the center of daily public life, commerce, politics, and social gatherings for over a thousand years. It’s a sprawling ruin now, but you can still feel the weight of history among the foundations, walls, and columns that remain.
• Look out over the Forum from Capitoline Hill, one of Rome’s Seven Hills, which was the heart of the city’s authority and political power in ancient times. Today, it’s home to the Michelangelo-designed Piazza del Campidoglio and the Capitoline Museums, the world’s oldest public museum stuffed with art and archaeological treasures.
• Gawk at the ruins of the Colosseum, Rome’s iconic amphitheater that hosted epic gladiator battles and grand spectacles for up to 50,000 spectators. Once your tour is over, make sure to ask your Tour Director about actually going inside for a deeper dive into history.

Spanish Steps: These 135 steps that link the Piazza di Spagna and the Trinita dei Monti church are a great spot to people watch and chill with some gelato.

Sunset at Piazza del Popolo: Experiences one of Rome’s most famous squares at sunset is magical. For even more magic, climb the Pincio Terrace for panoramic views of the city.

Pantheon at night: Seeing the Pantheon after dark is a whole different experience. The square in front of it becomes much quieter and the building itself is beautifully illuminated.

Trevi Fountain: Rumor has it, if turn your back to the Trevi Fountain and toss a coin over your shoulder, it guarantees you’ll return to the Eternal City. Throw in a second coin, and you’ll not only come back, but also find love. (Significant other not guaranteed by EF Ultimate Break.)

Shopping on Via del Corso: Walk down the longest pedestrian street in the city for some prime shopping. Populated by both locals and tourists, there’s room for everyone on the narrow store-filled street.