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.
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 - BRUSSELS • PARIS
Travel via Brussels
On the way to Paris, stop in Belgium’s capital for a quick visit and time to eat lunch (the Belgian waffles are awesome). Then it’s on to France.
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.
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 5 - 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.
DAY 6 - PARIS
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.
Louvre Museum
The world's most famous museum was actually once a royal palace. The museum is huge—you could spend days wandering the halls looking at the priceless works of art. Today you'll hit all the highlights, including the Venus de Milo and the always popular Mona Lisa.
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 7 - PARIS
Free time in Paris (day)
Top 5 free time suggestions:
1. Musée d’Orsay – This amazing museum is a runaway favorite for many. See masterpieces by Monet, Van Gogh, and many more.
2. Champs-Elysées – The famous boulevard is best known for its high-fashion shopping and unbeatable people-watching.
3. Arc de Triomphe – Built to commemorate Napoleon's Grande Armée, this famous arch has amazing views from the top.
4. Père Lachaise Cemetery – Pay your respects to many famous figures, including Marcel Proust and legendary Doors front man Jim Morrison.
5. Montmartre – This cool artists' haven at the top of a hill has amazing views and the unique Sacré Coeur church.
For more ideas and details, see our Lonely Planet city guide for Paris.
Night train to Florence
Board your overnight train to Florence. Night trains are a classic Europe travel experience, a fun way to get from point A to B (and you don’t use up a day traveling).
DAY 8 - FLORENCE
Arrive in Florence
Pull in this morning to Florence, the capital of the Tuscany region. Florence was king during the Renaissance, and it still holds on to that artsy, fashionable, cultural vibe. Top art museums, amazing food, great nightlife—for many, Florence is Italy at its best.
Sightseeing tour of Florence (local guide)
Cover Florence on foot with a local guide. Get a feel for the city’s Renaissance glory days at spots like the Piazza della Signoria and the Ponte Vecchio (a medieval bridge; very photogenic). Continue past the gothic Basilica di Santa Croce, which houses the final resting places of many legendary Italians, including Michelangelo and Galileo.
Florence Duomo
Visit the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, better known as the Duomo because of its famous dome. The dome was designed in the 14th century by sculptor and architect Brunelleschi, and it’s still quite a sight.
DAY 9 - FLORENCE
Optional excursion to Pisa ($50 pre-booked)
Travel to Pisa, home of the legendary Leaning Tower, and snap some photos of the 12th-century architectural misfit. The tower has been aslant ever since the third floor was built, and legend says Galileo dropped weights from its top to test his theories of gravity. Also visit the Baptistery, known for its interesting acoustics, and Pisa Cathedral.
Free time in Florence (night)
Top 5 nightlife suggestions:
1. Santa Croce area – Hit some of the popular pubs in this central area, especially on Via dei Benci.
2. Moyo – This trendy bar attracts a mixed crowd of students and artsy Florentines; lounge out in the back or sit at the outdoor tables.
3. Meccano – Head here to get moving on the two dance floors, or hang out in the big outdoor garden.
4. All'Antico Vinaio – This has been one of Florence's most popular wine bars for the last hundred years.
5. Tenax – For a concert, check out the leading venue for new, established, and big-name international acts; enormous but easy-going, it becomes a club after hours.
For more ideas and details, see our Lonely Planet city guide for Florence.
DAY 10 - ASSISI • ROME
Travel via Assisi
Travel by bus through the Italian countryside to hilltop Assisi. Visit the impressive St. Francis Basilica. Inside, you can trace St. Francis’s life through the amazing wall frescos.
Arrive in Rome
Continue on to Rome. Though its imperial heyday was a couple thousand years ago, Rome today is as alive and action-packed as any European capital. Discover the busy coffee bars, the amazing food, and the incredible ancient sights.
Free time in Rome (night)
Top 5 nightlife suggestions:
1. Campo de’ Fiori – Lots of young people gather early inside and outside the bars in this area, making it a good starting point.
2. San Lorenzo area – Popular with students, this area is known for its reggae scene and many clubs.
3. Big Mama – Blues lovers head to this music club in Trastavere.
4. Testaccio – There is plenty of action on this circular street lined with bars and nightclubs.
5. Opera – For a real cultural experience, go see an opera in the country where opera was born.
For more ideas and details, see our Lonely Planet city guide for Rome.
DAY 11 - ROME
Sightseeing tour of Rome (local guide)
Go way back into the past with a local guide. Rome was the center of the Western world back in the day, and you can really feel the history as you go through the city and see the ruins of that ancient civilization.
Roman Colosseum
Your tour includes a visit to the massive Colosseum, built back in 70 A.D. The huge amphitheater held up to 50,000 people, who would gather to watch anything from bloody gladiator contests to mock sea battles.
Forum Romanum
The Roman Forum was the commercial, political, and religious center of Ancient Rome. Today it’s a grassy field scattered with ancient columns and other ruins. With a little imagination, you’re walking with the Romans 2,000 years ago.
Optional Italian Cooking Class ($115 pre-booked)
This is your chance to become a real Italian chef. Learn the basics of the regional specialties, as a local professional chef guides you through the process. You’ll start by making two kinds of pasta from scratch (anything from ravioli to cannelloni). Next the focus turns to the sauces. Don't worry if your skills in the kitchen are lacking—when you're done cooking you'll be treated to a three-course dinner prepared by the chef's team.
DAY 12 - ROME
Visit to Vatican City
Visit this country within a city, home to the Pope. Walk through the famed St. Peter’s Basilica, which was built on the site where the saint was martyred. Also walk through the Sistine Chapel and see Michelangelo’s famous ceiling frescos.
Free time in Rome (day)
Top 5 free time suggestions:
1. Shopping on Via del Corso – Walk down the longest pedestrian street in the city for some prime shopping.
2. Capitoline Museum – Up on a hill overlooking the Forum, this museum has some amazing ancient sculptures.
3. Villa Borghese Park – Run, bike, or just relax in the city’s biggest park.
4. Trastavere – Wander the old streets of this newly-popular bohemian area across the Tiber River.
5. The beach – The Mediterranean is just 25 minutes away by metro, good for all the usual seaside activities.
For more ideas and details, see our Lonely Planet city guide for Rome.
DAY 13 - CAPRI • SORRENTO
Sightseeing tour of Capri (local guide)
En route to Sorrento, stop in Capri, a very popular resort area. Board a cruise and enjoy the awesome views of Capri’s coast. You’ll see the Arco Naturale, a huge stone arch on the eastern cliffs, and the famous Faraglioni, three giant limestone colossi that loom out of the sea. (If the weather doesn't cooperate, you'll visit the town of Anacapri instead.)
Arrive in Sorrento
Spend the night in the coastal hotspot of Sorrento. Italy's favorite resort town, Sorrento gives you some unmatched views of the Bay of Naples.
DAY 14 - POMPEII • NIGHT FERRY
Sightseeing tour of Pompeii (local guide)
Take a trip into the preserved past at Pompeii. Doomed by the super-hot ash from Mt. Vesuvius looming above it, Pompeii is a remarkably intact ancient Roman town. Walk the streets and see the villas, temples and bath houses.
Night ferry from Brindisi
Continue on to coastal Brindisi, where you'll board your overnight ferry bound for Greece.
DAY 15 - DELPHI
Arrive in Greece
Pull into port at Patras and drive to Delphi, home of the all-knowing Oracle. Delphi sits up on the slopes of Mount Parnassus. Look up for amazing views of the cliffs of Parnassus, then look down for even more amazing views of a plain of olive trees that stretches as far as you can see.
DAY 16 - DELPHI • ATHENS
Sightseeing tour of Delphi (local guide)
A local guide will introduce you to Delphi, site of Apollo's famed Oracle. Back in the day, Greece's military leaders would leave gifts for the Oracle in hopes of good fortune in battle. Visit the Temple of Apollo, where legend says the god communicated with mortals. Also visit the Delphi Museum, whose treasures date back to 550 B.C.
Travel to Athens
Continue to Athens, capital of Greece. Athens was named after Athena, Ancient Greece’s number one goddess. Today it's a cool mix of ancient sites and modern urban life. Its outdoor café culture and pedestrian-friendly streets make it a great walking city. Your hotel will be in nearby Glyfada, a beachside area with lots of nightlife and restaurants.
DAY 17 - ATHENS
Sightseeing tour of Athens (local guide)
Go back in time on a sightseeing tour with a local guide. See the Temple of Athena Nike, which once housed a gold statue of Athena. Pass the stadium where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896. The highlight of the tour is a walk up to the top of the Acropolis, where you’ll get to see the legendary Parthenon up close.
Walking tour of Athens
Your tour director will take you to some of the other can't-miss sights of Athens. Walk through the always-busy Plaka district at the base of the Acropolis. This is a big hangout for visitors and locals, and a good place to meet up. You’ll also get to see Hadrian’s Arch and the Temple of Olympian Zeus—construction on this temple began in 515 B.C.
Farewell dinner
Share some last laughs (and maybe shed a few tears) at an included farewell dinner with the group.
DAY 18 - FLIGHT
Fly home
It's time to say your goodbyes. Head to the airport for your flight back home.