New Year's Eve in Amsterdam: European Road Trip

Itinerary

• Day 1: Overnight Flight

  Board your overnight flight, bound for London. Find streets named Quaggy Walk, Ha Ha Road, and Cyclops Mews. If you see anything really out there, let us know.

• Day 2: Arrive in London + Welcome Dinner

  Welcome to London! Where pubs rule, tea reigns, and buses are two stories tall. Visit grand palaces, famous parks, and local hotspots of the royal family, George Orwell, Dylan Thomas, Jimi Hendrix, Charles Dickens, and many more.

  In the evening, enjoy a Welcome Dinner of local cuisine and drinks with fellow travelers at an authentic local spot. Afterwards, you’re free to take the party elsewhere!

  Today's highlights:

  • Meet an EF representative at the airport.
  • Check in at your accommodations.
  • Receive the latest schedule from your Tour Director.
• Day 3: Explore London + Optional London Eye & Tea

  Hit the highlights of London with a local guide giving you all the inside info. Get ready to see royal palaces, down a pint of room-temperature beer (it’s how the locals drink it), and walk like a Beatle—from the band. Not a bug.

  Today's highlights:

  • Wave hello to Big Ben, the bell inside the clock tower.
  • Go to Westminster Abbey, where William and Kate, and decades of royals have been wed.
  • Experience a royal ritual during the Changing of the Guards.
  • Walk around and explore the city.

  Free time suggestions

  Be a Beatle: Head to Abbey Road and walk what’s probably the world’s most famous crosswalk. This storied spot is a must-see for even the most casual Beatles fan.
  Tower of London: Feel like a royal in the historic castle and see the legendary Crown Jewels, just don’t play dress up with them.

  London Eye & Tea (extra cost)

  Ride Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel for panoramic views before enjoying a traditional English tea.
  
  This excursion is pre-book only; if your trip is less than fourteen days away, please call 800-766-2645 to purchase.

• Day 4: Free Day in London

  Take the day to explore. Walk through some of the many royal gardens, shop on Oxford Street, go for high tea, or explore the city by foot. At 607 square miles, the city is an easy place to get your 10,000 steps in.

  Today's highlights:

  • Walk the cobblestone streets of London.
  • Explore Piccadilly Circus. You won’t find clowns and trapeze artists here. Just shopping and all the entertainment your heart desires.
  • Sip on a cup of English Breakfast at high tea—don’t forget, pinky’s up!

  Free time suggestions

  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.

• Day 5: Travel to Amsterdam

  Get all the fake British accent out of your system, you’re headed to Amsterdam. There’s so much to love, from the canals to Van Gogh to the legendary, laid-back attitude. Home of the famous Red Light District and a city that consists of more bikes than people, Amsterdam is one-of-a-kind. Seriously, how many cities do you know of with floating houses and hot waffles with caramel served anytime of the day?

  Today's highlights:

  • Travel by train to Amsterdam.
  • Take a brief walk of the area with your Tour Director.
  • 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.
• Day 6: Explore Amsterdam + Optional Countryside Bike Tour

  By now you’ve probably realized Amsterdam is not your average city. It’s a multicultural, coffee-loving place, home to really friendly (and tall) people. Oh, and there’s an entire houseboat filled with stray cats called Poezenboot, because what city doesn’t have one? Answer: the rest of them. Today, you’ll experience the unique character of Amsterdam, guided by a local expert. Then you’re free to spend the day exploring on your own.

  Today's highlights:

  • Meet your local guide for an in-depth tour of the city, and walk along a few of Amsterdam’s 165 canals.
  • Stroll through the Jordaan Neighborhood. Nestled in central Amsterdam, this upscale area is filled with art galleries, patio restaurants, cafes, and music. Yeah, sounds pretty great.
  • Tour Nieuwmarkt, a lively city square, market, and nightlife hotspot. Talk about a triple-threat.
  • Stop in the Red Light District, because no trip to Amsterdam would be complete without visiting this iconic area known for sex shops, coffee houses, and everything in between.

  Free time suggestions

  Say Cheese: Get a taste for Dutch culture at the Amsterdam Cheese Museum. Yes. A museum entirely dedicated to the history of cheese making, complete with samples of local specialties. And did we mention you get to dress up like a traditional Dutch cheese farmer? We won’t blame you if you spend the entire day here.
  Beer Me a Beer: Amstel and Heineken are rooted here in Amsterdam. Check out the Heineken Experience for a magical, behind-the-scenes look at one of the world's largest beer companies.

  Dutch Countryside Bike Tour (extra cost)

  Bike like a local into the stunning Dutch countryside. Ride through rural landscapes past picturesque windmills and 17th century villages, then enjoy pancakes and a drink in the quaint Waterland region by the sea.
  
  Why wait? Save money by booking this optional excursion before your trip departs.

• Day 7: Travel to Paris

  Next stop: Paris! Visit grand palaces, royal chateau’s, and famous museums by day, and then stroll through the romantically-lit city by night. After trying to read Mona Lisa’s expression and drooling over jaw-dropping sites, you’ll definitely have all the feels for the City of Love. (Cue romantic French café music).

  Today's highlights:

  • Say goodbye to Amsterdam and board the train to Paris.
  • Take a quick walk of the area with your Tour Director and your new BFF’s, AKA, your group.
  • Hop on an evening Seine cruise and float past Notre Dame Cathedral. (Keep a lookout for the Hunchback.)
  • 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.
• Day 8: Tour de Paris + Versailles

  Explore the city of love, light, and haute couture with a local guide. If you come across a Statue of Liberty, don’t be alarmed—the champagne hasn’t gone to your head, Paris is actually home to multiple replicas, one of which faces her sister from another mister that stands in New York. Then, get into a royal state of mind on an optional excursion to Versailles, and ask the Hall of Mirrors who is the fairest of them all (it’s you, duh).

  Today's highlights:

  • Get the inside scoop on Parisian culture and try to understand why this high-end, fashion forward city likes to snack on snails.
  • Make the city your runway as you strut down a couple of the 6,100 streets, and hit up some well-known areas like Bastille, Montmarte, and Parc de Belleville.
  • 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.

  Free time suggestions

  Fall in 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.
  C'est Magnifique!: 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.

  Versailles (extra cost)

  Walk through the landscaped gardens, and tour the living quarters of the famous over-the-top palace of Louis XIV. This is where French royalty reveled in their extravagant lifestyle in the decades before the Revolution.
  
  Please note: The Palace of Versailles is closed on Mondays. In the event that the itinerary day containing this optional lands on a Monday for your departure, the optional will take place the following day.
  
  This excursion is pre-book only; if your trip is less than thirty days away, please call 800-766-2645 to purchase.

• Day 9: Travel to Lucerne

  All aboard for a scenic train ride through the European countryside! Watch as rolling hills give way to majestic, snow-capped Alps. You're headed to Switzerland.

  Today's highlights:

  • Depart Paris via train in the morning.
  • Sit back and relax as you take in some of Europe's most dreamlike landscapes.
  • Walk the narrow streets and take in the incredible mountain scenery with your Tour Director.
  • See the one-of-a-kind Löwendenkmal, a surprisingly impressive and massive rock carving of a dying lion, carved to commemorate the Swiss Guards who were killed during the French Revolution.
  • Walk across the Kapellbrücke—this mural-lined covered bridge was originally built back in medieval times.
• Day 10: Experience Switzerland + Take a trip up the Swiss Alps

  Today you’ll experience why people are flocking to Switzerland (and it’s not just for the chocolate and cheese). Walk the streets of historic Lucerne, and marvel at the snow-capped Swiss Alps in the distance.

  Today's highlights:

  • Wander the maze-like, cobblestone streets of Old Town Lucerne.
  • Follow your nose in search of famous Swiss chocolate.
  • Look up—way up—at the massive mountains that surround the city.

  Trip up the Swiss Alps (extra cost)

  Take an amazing trip to the top of a mountain in the Swiss Alps and soak in the incredible panoramic views.
  
  Why wait? Save money by booking this optional excursion before your trip departs.

• Day 11: Travel to the Venice Region via Como

  You’re heading to the Venice Region, the renowned former naval power of Italy. Grab your walking shoes, a good map (like a really good map) and hit the narrow, winding, organized, yet maddeningly confusing streets. The one-of-a-kind canals have to be seen to be appreciated. Watch the gondolas, browse the shops, and eat gelato until you can't eat anymore.

  Today's highlights:

  • Trade in the Alps for some canals, but first, make a pit stop 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 your Instagram.
  • Arrive in the Venice Region and prepare to get your gondola on, because canoes are so last season.
  • Explore the area with your Tour Director, and familiarize yourself with the whereabouts of some important spots. And yes, the nearest wine shop counts as an important spot.
• Day 12: Tour Venice

  Get ready to see Venice through the eyes of a local Italian. Your guide will show you canals, an extraordinary basilica, and a staircase shaped like a snail. It’s only your second day in Italy, so you definitely haven’t had enough pasta yet. Eat more pasta.

  Today's highlights:

  • Travel from mainland Venice to the island, catching sight of St. Mark's Basilica, plenty of gondolas, and the spectacular Venetian skyline.
  • See several historic churches and lose yourself in the narrow streets of Venice.
  • Follow the winding Grand Canal through the heart of Venice.
  • Play Marco polo from across the Rialto Bridge, the oldest bridge in the city that connects San Marco and San Polo.

  Free time suggestions

  300 Years Young: Opened in 1720, Caffè Florian is the oldest café in the world. And while the venue may be old, their beliefs have always been ahead of their time. They were the only café to serve women during the 18th century. Nicely done, Florian.
  Book Worm: Check out Acqua Alta Library, a hidden bookstore where the books are piled from floor to ceiling, and kittens run around just waiting for some company.

• Day 13: Travel to Florence

  Board your private coach; you’re heading to Florence, deep in the romantic Tuscan hillside of Italy. Is that love in the air? Or just the smell of artisanal wines and cheeses? Either way, get excited. Practice saying “Che bello!” because beautiful describes this place to a tee.

  Today's highlights:

  • Kiss the canals goodbye (but not really…that would be weird and not very hygienic) and head to Tuscany.
  • Throw on some comfortable shoes for a walking tour of Florence, led by a local guide.
  • Stroll the Piazza della Signoria, home to the Uffizi Gallery and that famous naked guy (also known as Michelangelo’s David).
  • Visit the Duomo Cathedral. Return during your free time and challenge yourself to climb the 463 steps to the top for stunning views of the city.
  • Begin to fall in love with Florence. Feel free to pinch yourself, but no, you’re not dreaming.
• Day 14: Travel to Rome via Orvieto

  Travel to Rome via Orvieto. Goodbye, Florence. Hello, Rome, Italy’s capital city that is bursting at the seams with energy. Locals fill the streets, day and night, usually doing something that involves eating or drinking. And how can you blame them when pasta, pizza, gelato, coffee, and wine are everywhere you look? Rome is all big city/ancient ruins, served with a side of spaghetti.

  Today's highlights:

  • 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 (no, that’s not a typo—it’s really that old.)
  • Arrive in Rome, surrounded by art, ruins, and 2.9 million people
  • Take a tour of the surrounding area with your Tour Director, stopping by some famous attractions, and more than few gelato shops.
  • Rub your belly in anticipation for the optional pasta-making class.
• Day 15: Tour Rome + Optional Vatican City

  Explore the city on your own or join your Tour Director for an optional trip to Vatican City.

  Today's highlights:

  • Tour the city with a local guide who will show you why Rome is one of the most legendary cities in Europe.
  • Experience the heart of ancient Rome with a visit to the Forum, once a hub of activity for the city.
  • See the ruins of several Roman temples, including the Temple of the Vestal Virgins.

  A Visit to the Vatican (extra cost)

  Visit the Pope’s house: Vatican City. Take a guided tour of the Vatican Museum and St. Peter's Basilica, and get your dose of art history up close and personal—viewing Michelangelo's famed Sistine Chapel frescoes.
  
  This excursion is pre-book only; if your trip is less than twenty days away, please call 800-766-2645 to purchase.

• Day 16: Free Day in Rome

  Today you get to explore centuries worth of culinary perfection, unbelievable architecture, and local fashion on your own. And let it be said, Rome looks goooood for being 2,000 years old. (It must moisturize.) Shop, eat, drink, and talk like an Italian (with your hands) during your free day. Embrace the culture and indulge in carbs during your last day in the Eternal City.

  Farewell Dinner
  Share some last laughs (and maybe shed a few tears) at an included farewell dinner with the group.

  Today's highlights:

  • Explore the bustling streets and famous sights while enjoying a cone of gelato.
  • Soak in the history by exploring ancient ruins.
  • Act like a fashonista on Via del Corso, the main street in historical center of Rome lined with brand names and local eateries.

  Free time suggestions

  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 Vide 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.

• Day 17: Fly Home

  Arrivederci, amici!
  Translation: Goodbye, friends. Your next destination awaits—home. Before you head to the airport, enjoy your last few moments together. Take one more group photo. Grab that final drink. (Fine, maybe a couple of drinks.) But this isn’t goodbye. It’s “See you later.” The only question is, where?

  –OR–

  EXTEND YOUR TRIP 2 WAYS

  1. Double the fun
  A lot of our trips line up back to back! Give us a call—we can help you add another and save big while you're at it.

  2. Go ahead or stay behind
  Extending your trip is easy! During checkout, you'll have the option to fly to (or from) the gateway of your choice for an additional fee. We'll adjust your flights accordingly, but you'll be responsible to take care of your transportation, hotels, and other logistics outside of tour.

  Note: Depending on your desired gateways, additional fees may apply.