DAY 1 - FLIGHT
Overnight flight
Board your overnight flight, bound for Europe.
DAY 2 - AMSTERDAM
Arrive in Amsterdam
Welcome to Amsterdam! There’s so much to love about Amsterdam, from the canals to the Van Gogh to the legendary laid-back attitude. After clearing customs, you’ll meet your full-time tour director and the rest of your group.
Walking tour of Amsterdam
Get your bearings on a walk around town with your tour director. Amsterdam draws lots of tourists and backpackers from all over the world, but it’s still quintessentially Dutch. Expect tall skinny houses, tulips in the window boxes, and people on bikes everywhere you look.
Top 5 nightlife suggestions:
1. Leidseplein – This main street and those around it are filled with pubs and bars.
2. Boom Chicago – Have some laughs at this English-language comedy venue known for its live shows and video productions.
3. Escape – This late-night dance club attracts a young crowd. Don't show up before 11.
4. Club Mazzo – Come here for live music; it's a great place to catch up-and-coming bands before they make it big.
5. Melkweg – This unique venue combines a club, gallery, cinema, café and concert hall all in one.
For more ideas and details, see our Lonely Planet city guide for Amsterdam.
DAY 3 - AMSTERDAM
Sightseeing tour of Amsterdam (EFCB Tour Director)
Your tour director will lead a sightseeing tour of Amsterdam. Get a feel for the city’s history and unique culture as you walk through busy Dam Square. Then take in scenic views of the Amstel River before finishing up in Rembrandtplein, a bustling square packed with outdoor cafés, shops and clubs.
Anne Frank House
Walk through the rooms where young Anne lived in hiding and wrote her famous diary. Anne and her family lived here for nearly two years between 1942 and 1944.
Welcome dinner
Get to know the other travelers in your group over tonight's included dinner.
DAY 4 - AMSTERDAM
Optional Biking the Dutch Countryside ($75 pre-booked)
Head outside the city for the afternoon and get a taste of the country life. After a short train ride to Zaanse Schans, get on your bike for a leisurely 1 1/2-hour ride through the classic Dutch landscape—windmills, fields of flowers, rustic farmhouses, all that good stuff. In addition to the ridiculously charming scenery, the trip also includes a picnic lunch, a coffee break, and a visit to a classic Dutch clog maker.
DAY 5 - HEIDELBERG
Travel to Heidelberg
Drive to Heidelberg, Germany’s oldest college town. Heidelberg’s hillside castle, red-roofed townscape, and big nightlife (thanks to all the students who live here) make the city a popular stop for backpackers and others traveling through Europe.
Sightseeing tour of Heidelberg (EFCB Tour Director)
Your tour director will show you the highlights of the town. See Heidelberg's 700-year-old castle, and take in the great views of the Neckar Valley. Walk the cobblestone streets to Marktplatz, where witches were burned at the stake back in the day. You’ll also see the castle’s 58,000-gallon wine cask (the world’s largest), which once kept the locals’ thirst very well-quenched.
DAY 6 - MUNICH
Travel to Munich
Continue on to Munich. This is the capital of Germany’s Bavaria region, and it still has strong ties to its folkloric traditions (you’ll definitely see some lederhosen). There’s also plenty of modernity, including a great music scene, cool art museums, and BMW’s world headquarters.
Walking tour of Munich
Your tour director will show you around Munich. Pass the iconic Frauenkirche, with its onion-domed twin towers, and arrive at the Marienplatz, the central town square that always draws crowds. Then continue past the Hofbräuhaus, Munich's most famous beer hall (among many).
Free time in Munich (night)
Top 5 nightlife suggestions:
1. Hofbräuhaus – This legendary beer hall has Bavarian folk bands, throngs of jovial people, and an endless supply of flowing beer.
2. Nachtcafe – Hear live bands or DJs almost every night; free to enter and open all night.
3. Nationaltheater – See an opera, ballet or classical music concert at the city's most prestigious theater.
4. Leopoldstrasse – This street in the Schwabing district is lined with bars, cafés, restaurants, cinemas and pubs.
5. Atomic Café – Dance to ’70s music all night.
For more ideas and details, see our Lonely Planet city guide for Munich.
DAY 7 - INNSBRUCK • VENICE
Travel via Innsbruck
En route to Italy, stop in Innsbruck, a cool little city located at the intersection of several Alpine passes. Innsbruck has hosted the Winter Olympics twice, and it’s the capital of Austria’s scenic Tyrol province. Have time to explore the town square and grab a bite to eat, maybe an Austrian sausage (a local favorite).
Arrive in Venice
Continue on to Venice, once a huge naval power and now a major tourist spot. Venice is amazing. The one-of-a-kind canals have to be seen to be appreciated. See the gondolas, browse the shops, eat the gelato. At night you'll be hanging out in nearby Lido di Jesolo, a beachside area with lots of fun nightlife, good restaurants, and the hotel you'll be sleeping in.
DAY 8 - VENICE
Sightseeing tour of Venice (local guide)
A local guide will lead you on foot through the narrow streets and open piazzas of Venice. Start at St. Mark's Square, whose basilica allegedly houses the saint's remains. See the famous Grand Canal and the 324-foot Campanile bell tower, and then finish your tour at a cool glass-blowing demonstration (Venetian glass is famous around the world).
Doges’ Palace
Visit the 14th-century pink-and-white palace, and walk over the famous Bridge of Sighs that connects the palace and its prison. According to lore, prisoners would sigh with sadness as they crossed the bridge and saw their city for the last time.
Free time in Venice (day)
Top 5 free time suggestions:
1. Castello district – Take a walk and try to make it all the way to the San Pietro di Castello Island.
2. Rialto Market – Browse the noisiest, most colorful spot in Venice, where vendors sell an assortment of fruits, vegetables and fish.
3. le Zattere – Walk along this picturesque quay, with its great views of the Grand Canal and its popular gelato stop.
4. Glassware shopping – Take home a piece of high-quality Venetian crystal.
5. Gondola ride – You have to do it, the classic Venice experience. If you’re lucky, your gondolier will serenade you as he directs the boat along the canals.
For more ideas and details, see our Lonely Planet city guide for Venice.
DAY 9 - VERONA • LUCERNE
Travel via Verona
On your way to Switzerland, stop in Verona, home of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. You can see the home of Juliet’s family, and even the balcony where she called out for Romeo in Shakespeare’s play.
Arrive in Lucerne region
Welcome to the majestic Swiss Alps. Lucerne is all about the scenery. With Lake Lucerne, the surrounding mountains, and a famous covered bridge, this is classic Switzerland.
DAY 10 - LUCERNE
Sightseeing tour of Lucerne (EFCB Tour Director)
Explore Lucerne with your tour director. Walk the narrow streets and take in the incredible mountain scenery. See the one-of-a-kind Löwendenkmal, a surprisingly impressive rock carving of a dying lion. Walk across the Kapellbrücke—this mural-lined covered bridge was originally built back in medieval times.
Optional trip up Mount Pilatus ($70 until May 15, $80 after May 15; pre-booked)
Take an amazing trip to the top of Mount Pilatus, the majestic mountain dominating the Lucerne skyline. If it’s summer, you’ll travel to the foot of the mountain by boat across Lake Lucerne, and then ride the famous Pilatus cog railway—the steepest in the world—to the top. During other seasons, you’ll drive to the mountain base before going up by cable car. Forty-five minutes and 6,387 feet later, you’ll reach the summit. Take in the incredible panoramic views—see the city of Lucerne, its pristine lake, and the snow-capped Alps.
DAY 11 - PARIS
Train from Zurich
Drive by bus to nearby Zurich, and then board a high speed TGV train bound for Paris.
Arrive in Paris
Welcome to Paris. The French capital is visited by more than 30 million people a year, drawn by the famous monuments, the great food, and some of the world’s best art museums. Drink some wine, have some cheese, and see the newest fashions before anyone else does.
Walking tour of Paris
Take a walk around town with your tour director. Go through the Latin Quarter, an area packed with French college students, and make your way along the Seine. Check out les bouquinistes, the little stalls that sell old books, maps, art prints and postcards. They’re a great place to pick up some souvenirs.
Notre Dame Cathedral
Go inside the famous medieval cathedral, which was built over the course of 200 years. It was incredible then, and it’s incredible now. Look up in awe at the giant stained-glass windows and the seemingly weightless vaulted ceilings.
Evening Seine cruise and Eiffel Tower
Float past Notre Dame Cathedral and under some of Paris’s famous bridges. Then go up to the top of the most famous tower in the world for panoramic views of the city all lit up at night.
DAY 12 - PARIS
Sightseeing tour of Paris (local guide)
Go on a sightseeing bus tour around Paris. A local guide will tell you all about the city as you see its most well-known sights. Drive down the Champs-Elysées and see the Arc de Triomphe. You’ll also stop at the Eiffel Tower to take some photos. The Tower was built in 1889 for the World’s Fair and was supposed to be torn down afterwards—when they realized it could be used for radio communication, they decided to keep it.
Optional trip to Versailles ($80 pre-booked)
Spend the afternoon at the over-the-top palace of Louis XIV. Not far from Paris, this is where French royalty reveled in their extravagant lifestyle in the decades before the Revolution. At one point, a thousand nobles were attended by 4,000 servants inside the palace, while 15,000 soldiers and servants lived in the annexes. Walk through the landscaped gardens, tour the State Apartments of the King and the Queen, and see the Hall of Mirrors.
Free time in Paris (night)
Top 5 nightlife suggestions:
1. Moulin Rouge – See a classic burlesque show at the legendary Parisian cabaret.
2. Buddha Bar – This super-hip lounge is most famous for its DJ's popular compilation CDs.
3. Wine and cheese on the Seine – Sit by the water and relax with a bottle, a baguette and some brie.
4. Caveau de la Huchette – This friendly café has excellent jazz music and is free to get in.
5. St. Michel – Young people and tourists like this area for bar hopping and picking up late-night kebabs.
For more ideas and details, see our Lonely Planet city guide for Paris.
DAY 13 - LONDON
Eurostar train to London
Ride a high-speed train under the English Channel to London. What can you say about London? It’s huge, it’s multi-cultural, and it’s brimming with famous sights, fun pubs, great music venues and endless things to do.
Walking tour of London
Get to know London on an informal walk around town with your tour director. Walk along the banks of the River Thames and head to Trafalgar Square, once famous for its huge pigeon population. Continue to bustling Leicester Square, a popular hangout filled with restaurants and clubs. Then make your way to fashionable Covent Garden, a busy shopping area where street performers entertain the crowds.
Free time in London (night)
Top 5 nightlife suggestions:
1. West End Theatre district – Catch a play in London's version of Broadway.
2. Soho – This lively neighborhood is famous for its nightlife, with pubs, clubs, live music, whatever you’re looking for.
3. Comedy Store – Laugh till you can't anymore at the heart and soul of the UK comedy scene.
4. Fabric – A huge underground dance club with three dance floors, plus some mellower spaces.
5. Shepherd's Bush Empire – This popular medium-sized music venue has hosted the likes of Björk, Cold War Kids and Cee Lo Green.
For more ideas and details, see our Lonely Planet city guide for London.
DAY 14 - LONDON
Hop-on, Hop-off double-decker bus tour
See London at your own pace on a classic double-decker bus ride all over town. For 24 hours you can get off and back on whenever you want. Tour routes take you to all the big sights, including St. Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London. You'll also cruise by Piccadilly Circus, Whitehall and Trafalgar Square, as live commentary tells you all there is to know about this storied city.
Free time in London (day)
Top 5 free time suggestions:
1. Covent Garden – Seek out bargains at this bustling covered market; souvenirs, clothes, crafts and much more.
2. Tower of London – Trace England’s bloody history and see the legendary Crown Jewels.
3. Abbey Road – Probably the world's most famous crosswalk, this storied spot is a must-see for even the most casual Beatles fan.
4. Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum – Be amazed by frighteningly real wax dummies of your favorite celebrities and historical figures.
5. Tate Modern – Visit one of the world's top modern art museums to see Picassos, Warhols, Dalís and more.
For more ideas and details, see our Lonely Planet city guide for London.
Farewell dinner
Share some last laughs (and maybe shed a few tears) at an included farewell dinner with the group.
DAY 15 - FLIGHT
Fly home
It's time to say your goodbyes. Head to the airport for your flight back home.