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Day 1 in Paris

Welcome to Paris! Upon arrival, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Arrive at your hotel, check in and do not give in to jet lag! There is so much for you to see and do!

Begin the afternoon with a pleasant lunch in any of the charming streetside cafes to be found throughout Paris. Afterwards, we recommend that you get acquainted with the city by choosing an optional tour such as 'Big Bus Paris Hop-on Hop-off Tour', showcasing the main sights of the French capital or 'Seine River Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Cruise in Paris'.

As night falls, enjoy the Trocadéro scene and a twilight ride up the Eiffel Tower as it glitters with lights to mark the change from one hour to the next; or dine on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, one of the most famous avenues in the world, followed by a romantic cruise on the Seine River. Either way you're sure to fall in love with the 'City of Light.'

Day 2 in Paris

Wake up early today and head for the Ile de la Cité to visit Sainte-Chapelle and the famous Notre-Dame Cathedral, a gothic masterpiece with dramatic towers, spires, stained glass and statuary that are guaranteed to take your breath away. Time permitting; climb the North tower to see Paris from the hunchback Quasimodo's vantage point. Then, head across the river to the Latin Quarter, home of the historic Sorbonne University, founded in 1257, and the Panthéon.

A midday visit to the Luxembourg Gardens and lunch at 'Cafe de Flore' on Boulevard Saint-Germain will revive you for an afternoon tour of the Louvre Museum. You may want to purchase our optional tour 'Skip the Line: Paris Louvre Museum Guided Tour'. You will avoid the lengthy queues and visit the main works including the 'Venus de Milo', the 'Winged Victory of Samothrace' and the 'Mona Lisa'. You will then be free to explore other sections of the museum at your leisure.

After a busy day of sightseeing, board a relaxing river cruise from Pont Neuf (if you have not already done so). Then grab a bite to eat before heading back to the Latin Quarter for drinks and dancing at the famous 'Le Caveau de la Huchette' jazz club. The dance floor is located in an underground cave and the atmosphere is intoxicating. It's sure to be a night you won't forget!

Day 3 in Paris

Begin your day at the Arc de Triomphe, commissioned by Emperor Napoléon I to commemorate the victories of his Grande Armée. Continue with a stroll down the grandiose Avenue des Champs-Elysées - don't forget to stop for coffee and macarons at Ladurée - before visiting the Jardin des Tuileries, a classic example of intricate and typical Parisian landscaping.

Cross the pedestrian bridge from the Tuileries Garden and tour the Orsay Museum, housing the world's most important collection of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings, including works by Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, Degas, Gaugin and Delacroix. This afternoon, tour the Rodin Museum and the Hôtel des Invalides or take the train from Orsay directly to Versailles.

On your final night in Paris, make your way to Odéon metro station, which will lead you straight to the Montmartre hill (or take the funicular up with a metro ticket) where you can enjoy an exceptional panorama over the city and its monuments illuminated at night. Stop at Sacre Coeur before exploring the winding, village-like streets of Montmartre then enjoy dinner at one of the charming cafes in Place du Tertre or consider a traditional Parisian cabaret at the legendary Moulin Rouge.

Additional Days in Paris

Should you be able to spend additional days in Paris be sure to visit the Marais district, including the Centre Georges Pompidou, a modern art museum, considered by Parisians to be the cultural pulse of the city. While in the area it is also worth visiting the Musée Picasso, Musée Carnavalet and Place des Voges, Paris's oldest public square and a charming place to stop for lunch. Strangely obscure for such a renowned building, the remnats of the Bastille, the famous prison, lie almost forgotten at the edge of a tiny park. Marked only by a small plaque and usually missed by visitors to Paris, this is one gem worth seeing!

For sights from the modern to the macabre, we suggest Montparnasse Tower, an office skyscraper constructed from 1969 to 1973. The top floor terrace is open to the public and offers panoramic views of the city. In contrast, on the 'Skip the Line: Catacombs of Paris Small-Group Walking Tour' you will descend deep into the tunnels of Paris's underground to explore over one kilometer of Catacombs, dating back to 2 BC, that are decorated with human skulls and bones. You will discover the extraordinary history of the Catacombs and listen to the haunting stories and legends that embody these galleries of skeletons. If the catacombs are too creepy then you may want to visit the peaceful and park-like Père Lachaise cemetery - famous as the final resting place of The Doors lead singer, Jim Morrison, and French playwright Molière as well as composer Frédéric Chopin, author Oscar Wilde, Gertrude Stein, Edith Piaf and many more.

Day trips from Paris are also popular and we offer a wide selection from 'Skip the Line: Versailles Palace and Gardens Walking Tour' and 'Mont-Saint-Michel Day Trip' to 'Normandy D-Day Battlefields and Beaches Day Trip'. Fontainebleau, Vaux-le-Vicomte and Giverny are also great choices so be sure to check our optional sightseeing tours for availability and prices.

From Paris to Venice

Today you continue on your trip to Venice. We recommend that you make your flight reservation between 10:00am and Noon. This will give you time to enjoy your final breakfast in Paris and head to the airport for your flight to Venice. Should you desire, we offer private transfers where a representative will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the airport. (Click on Hotel Transportation in the Booking Process.)

Day 1 in Venice

Welcome to Venice! Upon arrival, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel (click on Hotel transportation within the booking process); a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. If you would rather do this on your own, please read the FAQ for information on getting to your hotel.

After you are checked in, enjoy lunch, purchase a map and take time to meander - losing yourself in the maze of canals and lanes is one of Venice's principal pleasures its hushed backstreets are just entrancing.

This evening go on a Gondola ride. A Gondola Serenade on the Canals of Venice is the ultimate romantic experience. Complete with music and sweet melodies, you will glide along the Grand Canal and the minor canals of Venice. We recommend our optional 'Private Tour: Venice Gondola Ride with Serenade.'

Day 2 in Venice

Depart your hotel early this morning and head straight for St Mark's Square, before the worst of the crowds have gathered in the piazza and the basilica. Try to make it to the Basilica for early morning mass: you'll have the best part of an hour to reflect on the acres of glimmering mosaics. Don`t miss The Doge's Palace, the most representative symbol of Venice's culture, which, together with the Basilica of San Marco at the back and the Piazzetta in the forefront, forms one of the most famous sceneries in the world. Stop for a cappuccino on the terrace of Caffè Florian for the most atmospheric surroundings on Piazza San Marco.

After lunch, head for a visit to the Accademia gallery which contains an impressive percentage of the world's Old Masters or if the Tintorettos and Bellinis don't do for you completely, the modern art works of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and the Frari basilica with its spectacular Assumption of the Virgin by Titian, are short walks away.

In the evening, Hop on a vaporetto to Rialto Bridge, timing your arrival beneath this wonderful bridge to coincide with a hopelessly romantic first sighting at sunset. From Rialto, enjoy a leisurely stroll to Caffe del Doge to mingle with the locals while enjoying ice cream and the best coffee in Venice.

Day 3 in Venice

Explore the outlying islands, visit Murano, a Venice in miniature, home to the lagoon's famed glass-blowing workshops; Burano, a quiet fishing village famous for its hand-tatted lace and wonderfully clashing colors of its houses and Torcello, for a glimpse of what Venice must have looked like. We recommend our optional 'Private Tour: Murano, Burano and Torcello Half Day Tour.'

In the evening we suggest you get to know the darker side of Venice with our optional 'Venice Ghost Walking Tour' where you will follow an enchanting route through the silent alleyways and sleeping campi of the Hidden Venice. Abandoned and dimly lit at night, this different side of Venice provides the perfect backdrop for the guides to present ghost stories both past and present. The tours itinerary also features many architectural gems lost in the back streets of Venice waiting to be discovered by the intrepid traveler. The ghost walk will finish close to the Rialto bridge.

Afterwards, saunter through to La Bottega ai Promessi Sposi where you can perch at the counter and snack, or eat an excellent, simple meal of seafood and meat at one of the tables beyond.

Additional Days in Venice

Visit the Rialto Mercato, where you'll be plunged into the chaos of Venetian housewives getting in supplies. Don't miss the wonderful fish market.

Visit San Salvador, the handsome white interior provides refuge from the busy Mercerie, one of Venice's main shopping streets, as well as the chance to view some excellent paintings: Two Titians, a Transfiguration and an Annunciation, and Carpaccio's Disciples at Emmaus.

Visit Campo di Ghetto Nuovo, this large square and surrounding neighborhood occupy an island that was closed off at dusk and still feels remote.

From Venice to Florence

Today you continue on your trip to Florence. We recommend that you make your train reservation between 10:00am and Noon. This will give you time to enjoy your final breakfast in Venice and head to the train station for your train to Florence. In two hours you will be in Florence.

Day 1 in Florence

Arrive at the train station in Florence and proceed to your hotel. After check-in, enjoy lunch at a nearby trattoria.

This afternoon we recommend that you purchase our optional tour 'Florence Half Day Sightseeing Tour' (afternoon), which will take you for a brief excursion to Fiesole, a delightful town of Etruscan origin and then return to the historic center for a visit to the Church of Santa Croce (outside view). Following a short walk through the historical streets in the heart of Florence to the famous Piazza della Signoria, where you can admire the imposing Palazzo Vecchio (exterior) and the beautiful Loggia dei Lanzi. The tour will then take you to the famous Uffizi Gallery where it is possible to admire the superb paintings of Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raffaello, Giotto, Cimabue and Masaccio. After the tour, walk to the Ponte Vecchio which is connected to the Uffizi Gallery by the famous Vasari Corridor that links Palazzo Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti, it is Florence's most celebrated landmark! The bridge has connected the river banks exactly at this point since the 12th century!

This evening, head to the Oltrarno, (Across the Arno), it is the artisans' neighborhood, filled with quaint streets and wonderful shops and restaurants. The Oltrarno's lively tree-filled center, Piazza Santo Spirito, is unique unto itself. Lined with bars and a more bohemian style crowd, this is where you will find the locals.

Day 2 in Florence

This morning we recommend that you purchase our optional tour 'Florence Half Day Sightseeing Tour' (morning). On this tour you will be taken along the romantic Viale dei Colli up to the Piazzale Michelangelo to admire the wonderful panorama. The tour will proceed by coach through the old city center. Continue with an outdoor guided tour of the Duomo Complex: Giotto`s bell tower, the Baptistery with its bronze doors including the famous Porta del Paradiso, the Cathedral with its magnificent Cupola of Brunelleschi. A short walk through the historic streets in the heart of Florence will then bring you to the renowned Galleria dell`Accademia. Here you can admire the famous David by Michelangerlo and other works by the great artist.

This evening, head to Piazzale Michelangelo, a square overlooking the city from the first hill in the Oltrarno, if you want to enjoy a marvelous view over the city at sunset. Afterwards, visit the museum in Palazzo Vecchio at night and you will get a treat like you never imagined! No lines, no crowds, and a beautifully quiet view of some of the greatest masterpieces in the world! Plus, there is nothing like seeing all of the buildings and statues lit up in the night sky! Stop into Dolce Vita for a cocktail and a little aperitivo and enjoy a lovely tour of the city under the stars!

Day 3 in Florence

Today is a great day to experience Tuscany! Take a day trip to Cinque Terre or the Tuscan hilltowns to get a real feel for the region. We offer a number of day tours including 'Siena, San Gimignano and Chianti Wine Region Small Group Day Trip from Florence.' You will spend a wonderful day in the Tuscan countryside where woods alternate with vineyards and olive groves. You'll explore medieval streets and have free time for lunch (excluded) and shopping. Finally, you'll taste some of the best Tuscan wines with a little snack of sliced cold meats, bruschettas, salami and cheese.

We also recommend the optional tour 'Pisa and Lucca Day Trip from Florence' to see the famous Leaning Tower (exterior), the Baptistery (exterior) and other beautiful monuments with free time for photos and for lunch (not included) before departing for Lucca to admire its enchanting historical center. Before coming back to Florence there is time for tasting wine and extra virgin olive oil of local production.

More adventurous types may enjoy a change of pace with a Tuscanbike tour and foodies will delight in the many culinary tours on offer.Please check our optional tours for availability and pricing.

Additional Days in Florence

Visit the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens home today to several splendid museums such as the Palatine Gallery and the Modern Art Gallery, with the impressive Boboli Gardens as its backyard. Church of Santo Spirito built by Brunelleschi, the church stands tall over the square with its simple and yellow facade but hides many artistic treasures inside.

Piazza Santa Maria Novella where you can admire the recently renovated square with its beautiful Santa Maria Novella Church. The church`s facade in white and green marble was designed by Leon Battista Alberti while the stunning Tornabuoni Chapel inside has frescoes by Ghirlandaio - a must see!

In Piazza San Lorenzo, visit the San Lorenzo Church, the church with its unfinished facade where the Medici family worshipped, and visit the majestic Medici Chapels, final resting place for the Medici dynasty where you`ll find beautiful marble statues by Michelangelo in the New Sacristy.

Take a day trip to Cinque Terre or the Tuscan Hilltowns (Look through our activities for a number of full day tours to Siena, Pisa, San Gimignano, etc).

From Florence to Rome

Today you continue on your trip to Rome. We recommend that you make your train reservation between 10:00am and Noon. This will give you time to enjoy your final breakfast in Florence and head to the train station for your train to Rome. In under an hour and a half you will be in Rome.

Day 1 in Rome

Arrive at the train station in Rome and proceed to your hotel. After check-in, we recommend that you focus your visit on the main sites between Palatine Hill and the Spanish Steps. Start off with a visit to the Roman Colosseum and marvel at Rome's greatest architectural wonder. You may want to purchase our optional tour 'Ancient Rome Half-Day Walking Tour' during which you will visit all the best-known sites of ancient Rome, including the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Capitoline Hill, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and Piazza Navona.

As the night approaches, make your way down to Trastevere by bus or the help of the metro. The former ghetto is chalk full of various restaurants and bars sure to please every budget and taste, with plenty of entertainment afterwards.

Day 2 in Rome

Wake up early today and head for the Vatican. You may want to purchase our optional tour 'Skip the Lines: Vatican Museums Walking Tour including Sistine Chapel, Raphael's Rooms and St. Peter's Basilica'. You will avoid the lengthy queues and explore one of the world's most extensive art collections with an expert local guide who will share the stories and secrets contained within the Museums' walls, pleasures originally meant for the exclusive enjoyment of the Pope. Experience Michelangelo's famous 'Creation of Adam' with you own eyes as you explore the Sistine Chapel and wander Raphael's Rooms. After taking in the Museums, be humbled by the imposing beauty of Saint Peter's Basilica, where you will encounter another of Michelangelo's masterpieces, 'La Pieta'. For a fascinating finish, you will stop to admire the magnificent Saint Peter's Square, as your guide points out Bernini's ingenious use of optical illusion.

After you've been to church, grab lunch and then head over to the old Post Office to mail a letter from the world's smallest country. Once you've had lunch and your spirit is revitalized, take a nice shady stroll down the Tiber River. Along the river you can visit the Castel 'Sant Angelo' or the frescoed Villa Farnesina near the Botanical Gardens for a taste of Roman Renaissance. Cross the river then and explore the local neighborhoods and backstreets in and around Piazza Navona and the Campo de Fiori (flower market). There are lots of restaurants in this area for when you get hungry and the bars and nightclubs stay crowded until long after midnight. If you want to really get dressed up and go clubbing with the locals, make your way out to Testaccio south of town.

Day 3 in Rome

Spend the morning of the third day exploring the Capitoline Museums - three of the oldest in the world containing artifacts and artworks from the ancient Roman world. The three museums are connected by an underground gallery and run the gambit from a giant bronzed head of Constantine to the serpent-headed locks of Bernini's Medusa. Have lunch along the river near the Isola Tiberina.

This afternoon, check out some of Rome's other hidden gems such as the Baths of Diocletian at Piazza Repubblica which was the largest bathhouse of its kind dating back to 300 A.D. and contains Octagonal Hall, a former Roman gymnasium.

Additional Days in Rome

Should you be able to spend additional days in Rome be sure to visit the Ancient Appian Way, the primary road that led into Ancient Rome. All along the road are ruins, cafes, nature trails, and various catacombs of crucified Christians who were not allowed to be buried inside the city walls. Art aficionados will want to head back up to Borghese Park to visit the Borghese Gallery. A visit to the private gallery requires a reservation but is well worth the effort to see masterpieces by Caravaggio, Raphael, Titian and Rubens.

In the evening, stroll along the Imperial Roman Forum and revisit the Colosseum at night for a final awe inspiring view. Ostia Antica is an ancient seaport within an hour of the city and is Rome's excavated answer to Pompeii. The Tivoli Gardens and the Villa d'Este was the summer residence of Emperor Hadrian and is a living Eden, filled with fountains, statues and breathtaking Baroque gardens. North of the city, Lago Bracciano is a relaxing lake area with plenty of nature and three interesting medieval villages along the shore, complete with castles, churches and villas - a great getaway from the hustle and bustle of Rome. The beaches in and around Civitavecchia on the Mediterranean town is another option.

Your Last Day in Rome

Depart your hotel for the airport for your return home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer, if so a representative will meet you at the hotel, in time to take you to the airport for your flight out.

Day 1: Welcome to Paris

Welcome to Paris, enjoy time at leisure to settle into your hotel. During your time here you will see the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Place de la Concorde, the Champs Elysées and Arc de Triomphe. At 17:00 join your Travel Director at a local brasserie in the heart of Paris for a fabulous Welcome Dinner.

Day 2: Paris, the 'City of Light'

Start your day with an Insight Choice. Choose to shop in quaint boutiques like a true Parisian for fashion, perfume or cosmetics with your Local Expert. Alternatively, join an avid foodie, as you head into areas where Parisians go about their daily lives to explore small shops and sample local treats and delicacies. With the afternoon free, there are countless opportunities to enjoy the lively atmosphere of this glittering city, perhaps join an Optional Experience to see the Paris cabaret?

Day 3: Burgundy and Lucerne

Journey through the Burgundy wine region and pass the Jura Mountains and crossing into Switzerland. Arrive in glorious lakeside Lucerne. A range of enticing options are available for your Dine-Around Evening. Choose from a selection of hand-picked local restaurants.

Day 4: Lucerne & Mount Stanserhorn

In the morning, embark on a scenic journey by funicular railway and open-top cable car to the summit of the stunning Mount Stanserhorn. Take in the pristine mountain air and, on a clear day, witness views as far as Alsace and the Black Forest in Germany. Explore Mount Stanserhorn with Insight Choice. Choose to walk along beautiful scenic pathways for a chance to see marmots and other native animals. Alternatively, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and hear a conservation talk by a Swiss ranger, to learn about local wildlife and flora. Upon return to Lucerne, see the town's proud Lion Monument, carved into a limestone cliff and dedicated to the heroic Swiss Guards who died defending King Louis XVI during the French Revolution. Then, take some time to stroll across the covered Chapel Bridge to the baroque Jesuit Church. The rest of the day is at leisure to shop for delectable chocolate and glamorous Swiss watches in the traffic-free Old Town.

Day 5: Lucerne to Innsbruck Relaxed Start

Start the day with a journey to the heart of the Alps passing through the Principality of Liechtenstein. See its tiny capital, Vaduz, with its castle located on a hillside overlooking the city. Drive into Austria and continue through the Arlberg Tunnel to mountain-ringed Innsbruck. Your Travel Director will show you the 14th century houses of the old town, the impressive Imperial Palace and the delightful Golden Roof.

Day 6: The Dolomites to Venice

Leave Innsbruck to travel across the impressive Europa Bridge and through the Dolomites. Cross into Italy and stop at a local family winery in Veneto to discover the art of prosecco production. Savour a tasting of these luxurious sparkling wines and discover how to make the perfect Bellini. Continue to the romantic city of Venice, Queen of the Adriatic.Long after the day-trippers have returned to their mainland hotels, enjoy the quiet atmosphere of the islands with dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 7: The Magic of 'La Serenissima' Relaxed Start

In the morning, prepare to embrace this most romantic city. See the immense Campanile and Doge's Palace on St. Mark's Square, connected to the ancient prisons by the Bridge of Sighs. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you witness the skill of glassblowers on a visit to a traditional arts centre. The rest of the day is at leisure. Perhaps shop in the small arcades or why not cruise the Venetian lagoon to the island of Burano for a meal of local specialties and wine?

Day 8: Tuscany, Pisa and Florence

Visit Il Poggio organic farm for a guided walk and learn about organic food and wine production. On the veranda, take in beautiful views of the rolling Tuscan hills, as you taste the farm's wines and freshly produced olive oil. Enjoy an authentic Italian meal prepared with locally sourced ingredients. Explore the nearby town of Pisa with a Local Expert and see the baptistery with its intricate marble facade, the colonnaded bell tower lurching behind the cathedral and of course the famous Leaning Tower. Afterwards, travel to Florence.

Day 9: Florence Sightseeing Relaxed Start

Walk with your Local Expert to the marble-clad cathedral and baptistery, where Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise have been recreated in all their glory. The next stop is Piazza della Signoria, still the political heart of Florence and an open-air gallery of Renaissance masterpieces. Spend time gazing at statues such as Neptune and David along the front of the Palazzo Vecchio. The area around Santa Croce Basilica is famous for the quality of its luxury goods of gold and leather and there's free time to shop or continue exploring.

Day 10: Chianti Country to Assisi and onto Rome

Journey through the vineyards of the Chianti region passing Lake Trasimeno, one of the Italian Peninsula’s largest lakes and site of a great battle in ancient times against Hannibal and his war elephants. Continue up the foothills of the Apennine Mountains to reach delightful Assisi, a stone-built town spilling over the steep hillside. With a Local Expert, visit the tomb of St. Francis and see the beautiful frescoes by Giotto in the great basilica, before continuing along the valley of the River Tiber towards the Eternal City of Rome. In the evening, why not throw your coin into the Trevi Fountain to ensure your return to the city?

Day 11: Papal and Imperial Rome

Join a Local Expert for an in-depth visit to the Vatican Museums, full of priceless art collected over the ages by the Popes. To avoid the crowds and maximise your time, Insight has arranged special priority access to the Vatican Museums. Your Local Expert will guide you through the halls of artwork and take you behind the scenes to view the Bramante Staircase, a marvel of Renaissance architecture normally not open to the public. Next, visit the Sistine Chapel to admire Michelangelo’s famous ceiling. Next door in St. Peter’s Basilica, view another masterpiece by Michelangelo, the Pietà, as well as the splendid dome, completed after his death. Cross the River Tiber to see the Colosseum, still echoing with the ghostly cries of gladiatorial combat and see Circus Maximus, the ancient chariot-racing stadium. Later, there is time for last-minute shopping or exploring at your leisure. In the evening, enjoy an elegant four-course Celebration Dinner with local wine at a Roman restaurant. As you dine, you'll be serenaded with a private performance of popular songs and arias from some of Italy's best-loved operas.

Day 12: Arrivederci Roma

Bid farewell to the glories of Italy. Departure transfers arrive at Rome’s Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport at 07:00 and 09:30.