Best of Western Europe

Welcome to London and the first day of the tour! Meet your tour leader at the starting hotel before setting off on the first excursion for today: a city tour of London! England’s buzzing capital city is full of things to see, do and enjoy! From historic monuments and world-famous landmarks to royal castles and sprawling palaces, London has it all. Tick top sites off your bucket list during a drive through the city, find a spot to enjoy London’s foodie scene with free time for lunch and embark on a tour of Westminster which is home to Big Ben and Westminster Abbey! Tonight, enjoy an included group dinner at a traditional British pub.

Driving tour of London: See London’s top sights and learn more about its history on a driving tour of the city! London is home to rich history, royal relics and buzzing modern areas! See some of the city’s most popular boroughs, keep an eye out for landmarks like Tower Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Cutty Sark, and enjoy free time for lunch. Plus, enjoy an included tour of Westminser - this borough is home to London icons such as Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and the Palaces of Westminster. You’ll also get to tick “See Buckingham Palace” off you bucket list too! 

Dinner in a traditional British pub: Tonight enjoy an included welcome dinner at a historic local pub, where you can try typical British dishes like fish and chips, bangers and mash (sausages and mashed potato) or a seasonal vegetarian dish.

Depart London and cross the English Channel to travel on to 'The City of Lights and Love' - Paris! Arrive and enjoy an introduction to all the key Parisian sites on a relaxing driving tour of the city. Keep an eye out for iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, The Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe - take a mental note of what you wish to explore further on the free day tomorrow. This evening, enjoy an included group dinner at a restaurant in the city. Then, after a fun-filled day of travel, it’s time to head to the hotel. Get some rest tonight to be ready for a full day of Parisian adventures tomorrow!

Enjoy a driving tour of Paris: Spot the Tuileries Gardens, The River Seine, l'Île de la Cité, the Louvre Museum, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Lovers Bridge, Sacre Coeur, Montmartre, Pigalle (the Red Light District) and the Moulin Rouge!

This morning depart Paris and make a stop in the Champagne region. Here, enjoy a tasting of one of France’s most famous and highly prized exports - champagne! Then, the journey continues on to Luxembourg, where there will be free time to explore the capital of one of Europe’s smallest countries. The final destination of the day is Heidelberg, Germany’s oldest university town which is renowned for its Altstadt (old town), ruined Renaissance hilltop castle and romantic riverside cityscape. Enjoy an orientation tour of the city centre and some free time to explore the old town before an included group dinner tonight.

Champagne Tasting in Reims: Savour the taste of one of France’s most important exports - champagne. Admire the bubbles and taste of this highly-prized wine. 

Visit Luxembourg: Enjoy free time in the capital of one of Europe’s smallest countries! Luxembourg City features a charming UNESCO-listed centre with plenty of restaurants and cafés.

Orientation tour of Heidelberg: Your tour leader will take you on an orientation tour of Heidelberg’s Altstadt (old town), a medieval town with cobblestoned roads and infectious charm. See the ruined Renaissance hilltop castle and romantic riverside cityscape.

Overnight in Heidelberg: A university town with a beautiful Baroque old town and vibrant nightlife, Heidelberg is the capital of the Romantic road, a route that travels through the Romantic towns of Germany.

This morning, head into the heart of Germany’s Schwarzwald (Black Forest), home of delicious Black Forest gâteau, cuckoo clocks and Hansel and Gretel! Enjoy a stop at a local family business in the heart of the forest for the chance to purchase an authentic German cuckoo clock. Then, arrive on the shores of Lake Titisee with free time to explore the spa town of Titisee and grab some lunch. Next, travel into Switzerland and stop at the stunning Rhine Falls, the largest plain waterfall in Europe. Enjoy time to explore, with the option to take a boat ride on the falls. Later, arrive in Lucerne and embark on an orientation tour of the city before travelling to tonight’s accommodation.

Explore Germany’s Schwarzwald (Black Forest): Stop off at a family owned cuckoo clock centre in the heart of the Black Forest, the perfect opportunity to pick up a souvenir and shop for Swiss and German brands like Swarovski, Victorinox and Goebel, and have a cup of coffee with a slice of Black Forest gâteau cake.

Visit Titisee: Enjoy some free time to explore the historic centre of the Titisee spa town on the shore of Lake Titisee, and grab some lunch from one of the many cafés and restaurants.

Experience the Rhine Falls: Enjoy some free time to experience the dramatic Rhine Falls in northern Switzerland and take in views of Wörth Castle. An optional boat ride is offered which will take you into the falls and allow you to climb onto Rheinfallfelsen, the large rock at its heart.

Orientation walk of Lucerne city centre: Your tour leader will walk you through the centre of Lucerne and point out some of the highlights you can explore further on your free day tomorrow, such as the Lion Monument, Church of St Leodegar and the famous Chapel Bridge.

Today is a free day to enjoy the Lucerne region. Renowned as one of Switzerland's most beautiful cities, Lucerne is one place photographer’s paradise! All the ingredients for the quintessentially picturesque Swiss experience are here - a cobalt lake and well-preserved old town complete with waterfront promenades, covered bridges and perfect plazas are surrounded by the natural skyscrapers of the Swiss Alps. It's really no wonder that Goethe, Queen Victoria and Wagner savoured the stunning views that Lucerne has to offer! There's charm and grace around every corner, but it's not all about history - there's certainly enough of a pulse here to keep things current, with carnivals, concerts and exhibitions aplenty.

Four countries in one day! Depart Switzerland for the first stop in the Alpine principality of Liechtenstein, the sixth smallest nation in the world. Stopping in the capital Vaduz, take time to stroll around and enjoy the scenery. Next, it’s time for a highlight of the tour - a visit Neuschwanstein Castle! This 19th century German hilltop castle was built by Ludwig II of Bavaria and was the inspiration for the famous Disneyland castle. Entrance to the castle is included in the tour package price. Today’s final destination of the day in Innsbruck, Austria. Tonight, enjoy a taste of Austrian culture with the Tyrol Folk Evening & Dinner optional excursion.

Comfort Stop in Vaduz: Visit Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein. This tiny country may only be the size of Manhattan, but it's skyscrapers of a different kind that dominate the skyline!

Explore the famous Neuschwanstein Castle:  Enter the incredible Neuschwanstein Castle interior and enjoy a tour of this magical structure! This castle looks like it's straight out of a fairy tale - which incidentally isn't far from the truth: Neuschwanstein Castle served as the inspiration for Disney’s famous Sleeping Beauty castle.

Orientation tour of Innsbruck: Enjoy an introduction to this vibrant Austrian city. Innsbruck is home to intricate imperial architecture along with modern buildings. It is also a popular winter sports destination!

This morning, Itay is calling! Board the coach, travel south and cross the border. One of the most visited destinations in the world, Italy serves up centuries of incredible history, rich culture and, of course, fantastic food! On the way to Siena, enjoy a visit to Modena for an included balsamic vinegar tasting for which the region is famous! Arriving in Siena this afternoon, join your tour leader for a short orientation tour of the historic city centre. Afterwards, make the most of free time in Siena to enjoy the sights, sounds and flavours of this historic Italian destination.

Taste traditional balsamic vinegar in Modena: Enjoy a taste of traditional balsamic vinegar in Modena, which has been produced in Modena and Reggio Emilia since the 11th century.

Orientation tour of Siena: Enjoy an orientation tour of Siena with your tour leader. This historic Italian city is home to beautiful architecture, wonderful art and delicious food and wine. Siena is famous for hosting the Palio horse race twice a year!

Visit and explore two of the undoubted highlights of the Tuscan region: Pisa and Florence! The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the first stop. It’s a classic sight in Italy that is more than 800 years old. Take a moment to explore the grounds and get that essential travel selfie with the tower. Afterwards, travel through the countryside to Florence, the capital of this region. Take an orientation walking tour of the city to explore its many iconic sights. These include the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria and the replica of the statue of David. Then head to a genuine Italian leather factory and shop. Italian leather brands have dominated the fashion world for centuries and the quality of handmade leatherware in Tuscany is something to behold. Spend some time over lunch exploring the city at your leisure before returning to Siena.

Leather-making demonstration: Visit a local leather factory and shop to learn more about the historic art of leather-making!

Orientation tour of Florence: Your Expat Explore tour leader will take you on an orientation tour to introduce you to the main sights, including the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza Della Signoria and the replica statue of David. 

See the Leaning Tower of Pisa: Enjoy a stop at this famous Italian icon which is more than 800 years old! Be sure to snap some photos of you “holding up” the tower!

After 10 experience-filled days, the tour ends today in Rome. Make sure that you have swapped contact details with your fellow travellers before you part ways! Please note: This tour includes no Rome hotel accommodation and forms the first half of the full-length Best of Europe 22-day tour, which starts and finishes in London - click here to see the full tour. There is an optional post-tour add-on to extend the Best of Western Europe tour with a 2-night post-tour stay in Rome - please see the 'Optional Excursions' tab in our Help Section for more information.