Highlights of Europe 14 Day tour from $2856 an Insight Vacations luxury tour

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Tour Highlights

Hotels

Excellent selection of modern hotels, including the recently opened Brussels Marriott just a few steps from the Grand Place; plus one traditional property, the Continental in Venice, which was built originally in the 15th century as a palazzo beside the Grand Canal.

 Fellow Passengers

This comprehensive tour attracts both the first time traveller seeking an introduction to the highlights of Europe and the seasoned traveller wishing to revisit the classic  touring route. The opportunity to stay overnight in the enchanting city of Salzburg is always a highlight.

Highlights

Admiring the waterscape of Venice from the gondola, throwing that coin in the  Trevi Fountain, discovering the Renaissance treasures of Florence, the exhilarating  ride to the summit of Mount Pilatus & the first sight of that symbol of Paris - the Eiffel Tower!

 Excursions & Sights

• Walk the cobbled streets of medieval Bruges to admire the canals and Market Square
• Visit the Grand Place and Mannekin Pis statue in Brussels
• View Cologne Cathedral
• Relax on a Rhine Cruise to see the Loreley Rock
• See Heidelberg's ruined Castle
• See Munich's Olympic Stadium, Hofbrauhaus & the  Glockenspiel in the Marienplatz
• See the Golden Roof and Imperial Palace & visit  the Wilten Basilica in Innsbruck
• See Mozart's Birthplace and walk through Salzburg's  Old Town to the Cathedral Square
• Cruise to St Mark's Square to see the Doges' Palace, Bridge of Sighs & Basilica in Venice
• Visit the Colosseum & St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City
• See the Roman Forum
• See the Cathedral, 'Gates of Paradise' & open-air gallery of Signoria Square in Florence
• View the emotive Lion Monument, Jesuit Church & Chapel Bridge in Lucerne
• See Notre Dame & drive along the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris
• Scenic Drives - Inn Valley, Tauern Mountains, St Gotthard Route Watch Venetian glass-blowing
• Florentine Leatherwork Demonstration

Guided City Tours

In depth sightseeing tours in Salzburg, Rome, Florence & Paris

Orientation tours in Bruges, Brussels, Cologne, Munich, Innsbruck, Venice & Lucerne

Insight's First Class Services

• Escorted by a professional Tour Director
• Luxury air-conditioned coach with onboard toilet
• First Class hotels with all service charges, taxes and porterage
• Free Airport transfers when booking our London hotel (ask for details)

Quality Dining

Highlight Dinner of Italian cuisine in Rome

13 enhanced or buffet breakfasts and 6 three course table d'hote dinners, or buffets, plus tea or coffee

Tour Itinerary

Tour Pace

This tour is well-balanced with the majority of the one night stays in the first section and then two night stays in the key cities of Venice, Rome, Lucerne and  Paris, where there is ample time to relax or to take optional tours. Travelling days are interspersed with frequent rest stops.

DAY 1 MON -  LONDON - BRUSSELS

We meet our Tour Director and transfer to Dover where we cross the channel to  Calais. We continue to medieval Bruges in Belgium to admire the peaceful canals  and fine buildings in the Market Square. Now it's on to Brussels to visit the Grand Place and cheeky Mannekin Pis. Tonight, we enjoy a Welcome Drink. Hotel: Marriott.

DAY 2 TUE - BRUSSELS - RHINELAND

We travel into Germany to view Cologne Cathedral. Then we continue along the Rhine, via Bonn, to board our highlight cruise at Boppard. Relax as we glide past medieval castles and steep vineyards to the village of St Goar, near the legendary Loreley Rock. We continue to Heidelberg to see the clifftop castle before reaching our Rhineland hotel. Hotel: Renaissance Karlsruhe. (BB,D)

DAY 3 WED - RHINELAND - INNSBRUCK

Into Bavaria today to visit fun loving Munich. We see the Olympic Stadium, Hofbrauhaus,  and visit the Marienplatz with it's Glockenspiel. Now we head into the Alps and  over the Austrian border to reach the Tyrolean capital of Innsbruck. Tonight perhaps  enjoy a fabulous Tyrolean folklore evening? Hotel: Hilton. (BB)

DAY 4 THU - INNSBRUCK - SALZBURG

This morning we see the Golden Roof and the Imperial Palace in the old town. Then we visit the decorative Wilten Basilica before following the Inn Valley to Salzburg. Here, we walk with our local guide to see the imposing fortress, Mozart's  birthplace and the cathedral. Hotel: Castellani Parkhotel. (BB,D)

DAY 5 FRI - SALZBURG - VENICE

This morning a spectacular drive takes us through the Tauern Mountains to the  Carinthian Lake District, and on to the Italian border. We cross the flat Veneto Plain and soon reach our hotel on the Grand Canal in the magical water-bound city  of Venice. There is no better introduction than to join an included romantic premium  highlight gondola ride along the canals! Hotel: Continental. (BB,D)

DAY 6 SAT - VENICE SIGHTSEEING

Cameras at the ready this morning as we cruise by private launch to St Mark's  Square. We alight to see the Bridge of Sighs which connects the Doges' Palace to  the prisons. Now we cross the square to see the famous Moors, who have been striking  the hour for over 500 years, the belltower, and the beautiful mosaics of St Mark's  Basilica. After a demonstration of Venetian glass blowing, we are at leisure to  relax in this beautiful location. Perhaps take a boat trip to the island of Burano  for a delicious seafood meal? (BB)

DAY 7 SUN - VENICE - ROME

We head south over the Apennine Mountains and follow the 'Highway of the Sun'  to Rome. Tonight, we join our Tour Director for a stroll to the illuminated Trevi  Fountain where we can toss a coin or three! Then we enjoy a highlight dinner including  pasta, wine and music! Hotel: Sheraton Roma. (BB,HD)

DAY 8 MON - ROME SIGHTSEEING

This morning, with our local guide, we visit St Peter's Basilica to see Michelangelo's moving work 'Pieta'. We then drive across the Tiber to visit the mighty Colosseum, where gladiators fought to the death against armed warriors or wild beasts. We also  look out over the Roman Forum, once the bustling centre of commerce, law and religion. This afternoon is at leisure. (BB)

DAY 9 TUE - ROME - FLORENCE

A short drive brings us into the Chianti Hills and the Renaissance city of Florence. Sightseeing with our local guide takes us to see the original statue of 'David' in the the Academy Gallery. We also visit the Cathedral and see the Gates of Paradise  on the Baptistery, followed by the open-air museum of Signoria Square. We then watch  a demonstration of leatherwork. Later, there is time at leisure to shop, or continue sightseeing! Hotel: Sheraton. (BB,D)

DAY 10 WED - FLORENCE - LUCERNE

We journey north, past the great commercial centre of Milan and the Italian Lake District, to the Swiss border. Here, on the St Gotthard route, we enjoy a scenic  Alpine drive to Lucerne. Hotel: Astoria. (BB)

DAY 11 THU - LUCERNE SIGHTSEEING

Our sightseeing in Lucerne begins with a visit to the emotive Lion Monument. We see the covered Chapel Bridge and the Jesuit Church. Then we enjoy a superb Premium Highlight as we ascend Mount Pilatus by cog-wheel railway. From the summit you can  admire some of the best views of the snow-covered Alps. (BB,D)

DAY 12 FRI - LUCERNE - PARIS

Past the Swiss port city of Basel and into France, skirting the Jura Mountains,  into the wine producing area of Burgundy. Then it's on to exciting Paris where we stay for two fabulous nights. This evening, perhaps sample some wonderful cuisine, for which the French are renowned? Hotel: Sofitel Forum Rive Gauche. (BB)

DAY 13 SAT - PARIS SIGHTSEEING

Our guided sightseeing tour takes us to see the famous Notre Dame Cathedral. We also see the Opera House and drive down the Champs Elysees to the Arc  de Triomphe. Later we ascend the Eiffel Tower before visiting the Tomb of Napoleon. Tonight, there's an opportunity to see a cabaret show. (BB)

DAY 14 SUN - PARIS - LONDON

This morning we cross the battlefields of the First World War to Calais. We sail across the channel to Dover and continue to London where our tour comes to an end. (BB)