London, Paris & Barcelona - Student Travel Tour

London, Paris & Barcelona (2012)

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ITINERARY AT A GLANCE

DAY 1 - FLIGHT

Overnight flight

Overnight flight
Board your overnight flight, bound for Europe.

DAY 2 - LONDON

Arrive in London

Arrive in 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. After clearing customs, you’ll meet your full-time tour director and the rest of your group.

Walking tour of London

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.

DAY 3 - LONDON

Hop-on, Hop-off double-decker bus tour

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)

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.

Welcome pub dinner

Welcome pub dinner
Get to know the other travelers in your group over dinner at a traditional English pub. Eat classic English fare and soak in the local atmosphere.

DAY 4 - LONDON

Optional excursion to Stonehenge and Bath (extra cost)

Optional excursion to Stonehenge and Bath ($110 pre-booked)
Head out into the countryside and see the mysterious giant stones in the middle of the field at Stonehenge. The origin and purpose of the ring of stones is unknown, though most think it was a temple and observatory. You’ll also visit Bath, a favorite vacation spot for early Romans and 18th-century English aristocracy. The baths themselves were built by the Romans in the first century, and today they’re the best Roman ruins in Britain.

Free time in London (night)

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 5 - PARIS

Eurostar train to Paris

Eurostar train to Paris
Ride a high-speed train under the English Channel 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. Drink some wine, have some cheese, and see the newest fashions before anyone else does.

Free time in Paris (night)

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 6 - PARIS

Sightseeing tour of Paris (local guide)

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 (extra cost)

Optional trip to Versailles ($70 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 7 - PARIS

Walking tour of 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

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

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

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 8 - PARIS • NIGHT TRAIN

Free time in Paris (day)

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 Barcelona

Night train to Barcelona
Board your overnight train to Barcelona. 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 9 - BARCELONA

Arrive in Barcelona

Arrive in Barcelona
This morning pull into Barcelona, one of Europe’s most talked-about cities. The Catalan capital is known for its food, its fashion, its nightlife, its music, its beaches, its architecture, and on and on. Bottom line, there’s a lot happening in Barcelona.

Walking tour of Barcelona

Walking tour of Barcelona
Your tour director will lead you around town. The highlight will definitely be Las Ramblas, Barcelona’s famous boulevard that always has plenty going on. People from all over the world come to Las Ramblas to shop, eat, drink, watch street performers, and just hang out.

Free time in Barcelona (night)

Free time in Barcelona (night)
Top 5 nightlife suggestions:
1. Barri Gotic – This popular area of bars is a good place to start; have some tapas and drinks to get things going.
2. Luz de Gas – Live music early turns into a dance club scene later in the night.
3. Buda – Come here for good music in a mellow atmosphere.
4. Gran Teatre de Liceu – See a show at this world-renowned theater for opera and dance.
5. The Born – Check out this trendy area of tapas bars, outdoor terraces and great late-night bars.

For more ideas and details, see our Lonely Planet city guide for Barcelona.

DAY 10 - BARCELONA

Sightseeing tour of Barcelona (local guide)

Sightseeing tour of Barcelona (local guide)
A local guide will introduce you to Barcelona. See the Sagrada Familia, an unfinished church designed by Antoni Gaudí. Gaudí’s architecture is all over the city, and people love its surrealist style. You’ll also go to the top of Montjuïc, where many of the 1992 Olympic events took place, for great views of the harbor below.

Parque Guell

Parque Guell
Designed by Gaudí, this is probably the weirdest public park you'll ever walk through. Visit the Room of a Hundred Columns, a covered market with 84 pillars, and see the Casa-Museu, where Gaudí lived from 1906 to 1926. There are also great views up here of the city below.

DAY 11 - BARCELONA

Free time in Barcelona (day)

Free time in Barcelona (day)
Top 5 free time suggestions:
1. Museu d’Historia de la Ciutat – Take an elevator down to see the excavated Roman ruins of Barcelona.
2. Tibidabo – Ride a little cable car to the top of the city and take in the amazing views; in the summer there's an amusement park up here open late into the night.
3. Shopping on Las Ramblas – This is the best place to find souvenirs and the hottest fashions.
4. Sitges – A half-hour train ride away, this fashionable resort town was once just a little fishing village.
5. Parc de la Ciutadella – Relax in the park; it includes a waterfall and a zoo with an albino gorilla.

For more ideas and details, see our Lonely Planet city guide for Barcelona.

Optional Cava and Tapas (extra cost)

Optional Cava and Tapas ($50 pre-booked)
Take a trip outside of Barcelona to try two delicious local specialties: cava and tapas. Cava is a sparkling white or pink wine (like champagne) produced in Spain’s Catalonia region. Learn how it’s made, and then sample a few of the local variations along with some tasty tapas, the traditional Spanish appetizers.

Farewell drink

Farewell drink
Share some last laughs (and maybe shed a few tears) over a farewell drink with the group.

DAY 12 - FLIGHT

Fly home

Fly home
It's time to say your goodbyes. Head to the airport for your flight back home.

12 DAYS STARTING AT $2,320

Restrictions Apply

Price is valid on specific departure date and standard (triple/quad) rooming. Change and cancellation fees of up to the total price may apply. Applicable airline baggage fees are not included and can be found at efcollegebreak.com/baggage.
Prices may be subject to change.

DEPARTURES

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Change and cancellation fees of up to the total price will apply. Applicable airline baggage fees are not included and can be found at efcollegebreak.com/baggage.

To view EF’s Booking Conditions, visit efcollegebreak.com/pdf/2012_booking_conditions.pdf.

Current departure fees include taxes and surcharges levied by governments and airlines and may be subject to change prior to final payment.

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PRICE THIS TRIP

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•Round-trip airfare
•Hotels

•Travel between cities
•Night train
•Welcome dinner
•Breakfast daily
•Farewell drink
•Full-time tour director
•Walking tours
•Sightseeing tours
•Entrances to select attractions

• Stonehenge and BathHead out into the countryside and see the mysterious giant stones in the middle of the field at Stonehenge. The origin and purpose of the ring of stones is unknown, though most think it was a temple and observatory. You’ll also visit Bath, a favorite vacation spot for early Romans and 18th-century English aristocracy. The baths themselves were built by the Romans in the first century, and today they’re the best Roman ruins in Britain.

• Cava and TapasTake a trip outside of Barcelona to try two delicious local specialties: cava and tapas. Cava is a sparkling white or pink wine (like champagne) produced in Spain’s Catalonia region. Learn how it’s made, and then sample a few of the local variations along with some tasty tapas, the traditional Spanish appetizers.

• Versailles (pre-book only)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.