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Compare Munich Explorer by Great Value Vacations vs European Whirl (Paris, Base) by Trafalgar

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Duration 4 days 14 days
Price From $ 1,615 $ 3,895
Price Per Day $ 404 $ 278
Highlights
  • Want to stay longer? You can extend this trip up to a total of 6 days!
  • Munich Hop-on/Hop-off City Tour (24-hours)
  • Royal Castles of Neuschwanstein & Linderhof Tour
  • Florence: Eight generations of history with plenty of stories to tell. Enjoy a traditional Be My Guest lunch with the Landi family at their home near Florence, set within a garden of oak trees against the backdrop of Tuscan vineyards and olive groves.
  • Amsterdam: Led by your Travel Director, wander the city to see the floating flower market, Dam Square and the Royal Palace.
  • Rhineland: Cruise beneath the semi-ruined castles and terraced vineyards. Sleepy villages slip by as you saunter upstream to the Lorelei Rock where the enchantress lured sailors to their doom.
  • Heidelberg: Explore one of Germany's most enchanting cities during an orientation with your Travel Director.
  • Munich: During your orientation of the city with your Travel Director, see Feldherrnhalle in the Odeonsplatz, the Palace of the Dukes of Wittelsbach, the English Garden, the Hofbräuhaus, St. Peter's Church and the famous Marienplatz.
  • Innsbruck: Nestled amidst majestic mountains, Innsbruck is a beautiful city offering a unique combination of nature, history, and culture. Stroll the streets of the picturesque Old Town and learn about its history with your Travel Director.
  • Vatican: Visit Vatican City and tour St. Peter's Basilica with a Local Specialist. Witness the early genius of Michelangelo as you take in the Pietà.
  • Tuscany: View the stunning landscape of Tuscany on your drive today.
  • Florence: Join a Local Specialist to view the multi-coloured marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, adorned by Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise. Visit the political heart of the city, Signoria Square.
  • Switzerland: Marvel at the Alpine landscape as you drive past breathtakingly beautiful mountains and valleys.
  • Lucerne: During an orientation with your Travel Director, see the Lion Monument, Old Town Hall and Chapel Bridge, the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe.
  • Paris: Join a Local Specialist to discover the hidden squares and secret lanes of Paris.
  • Venice: Learn about the history and ancient skill of Venetian glassblowing, playing your role in ensuring the survival of this traditional craft through your visit.
  • Explore London, Rome, Florence and Paris with a Local Specialist
  • Discover Amsterdam, Heidelberg, Munich, Innsbruck, Venice and Lucerne
  • Visit a glassblowing factory in Venice and St. Peter's Basilica in Rome
  • View the canals in Amsterdam, the Golden Roof in Innsbruck, St. Mark's Square in Venice, the ancient sites in Rome, the Chapel Bridge in Lucerne and the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
  • See the Lorelei Rock and the vineyards of Burgundy
  • Scenic Cruise along the canals of Amsterdam, the Rhine River and by private launch to St. Mark's Square in Venice
Trip Style Self-guided tour Group tour
Lodging Level Standard Premium
Physical Level
  • 1- Very easy
  • 2- Easy
Travel Themes
  • Cultural
  • Nature & Wildlife
  • National Parks
  • Cultural
  • 50 plus
  • Education / Learning
Countries Visited
Cities and Attractions
  • Munich
N/A
Flights & Transport NA No
Activities
  • Culture
  • Historic sightseeing
  • Nature
  • Ruins & Archaeology
  • Culture
  • Historic sightseeing
Meals Included N/A
  • 13 Breakfast (B)
  • 4 Dinner (D)
  • 1 Lunch (L)
Description

Explore the ins and outs of Munich, a bustling and beautiful city in Germany! Tour historic landmarks and iconic sights with your Hop-on/Hop-Off pass, and experience amazing things like Olympia Park, Nymphenburg Palace, the BMW Museum, and more. Then take the next day to experience a true fairy tale setting of two spectacular castles nestled among the mountains.

Walk through shopping areas and pick out the most charming souvenirs, discover the city's quirks and hidden treasures, and of course follow the heavenly scent of German cuisine into a restaurant of your choosing.

The tring-tring of bicycles sounds the start of your European Whirl. Kick back on the canals of Amsterdam and Venice, in the quiet lakeside beauty of Lucerne and among the Tuscan hills near Florence, with flavors of Italian Chianti setting the tone for an unforgettable trip.
Itinerary: Munich Explorer

Day 1 Welcome to Munich!

Touchdown in the beautiful city of Munich, check into your hotel, and spend a little time exploring the city! Search for pubs that offer the best pint or busy streets lined with shops and restaurants, like Hofstatt.

Day 2 Munich

Add a little structure to your exploration today with a Hop-On/Hop-Off bus tour that leads you through the beautiful landmarks and iconic sights of the city! Pick and choose which sights you want to see and cater your day to your preferences.

Day 3 Munich – Neuschwanstein and Linderhof Castles - Munich

Visit the solitude of two magnificent castles built in the mountains by the "Mad King" Ludwig II. Neuschwanstein and Linderhof remain as testaments to the amazing architecture of the time, and Linderhof was actually the king's home for many years. 

Continue the royal treatment by shopping through Oberammergau, known for its charming painted houses, Passion play, and wooden crafts.

Day 4 Depart Germany

Pack away your souvenirs, pick up some hearty German cuisine to snack on, and hop aboard your plane home!

Itinerary: European Whirl (Paris, Base)

Day 1: Welcome to London

The vibrant British capital where you will spend the next two nights, enjoying the pomp and pageantry of a city that effortlessly combines old and new.

The Tower

Day 2: Discover Historic London

Join a Local Specialist this morning for a tour to see the iconic sites of London, including Big Ben, the imposing Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. Spend a leisurely afternoon shopping on Carnaby Street, consider visiting one of London’s museums or wander along the Thames watching ambitious Londoners pound the pavements.

The Tower

Breakfast

Day 3: Eurostar™ to Brussels and on to Amsterdam

This morning we meet our Travel Director before traveling to London's St. Pancras International where we will board the Eurostar™ for a high-speed train journey to Brussels and a luxury coach journey to Amsterdam. Enjoy an orientation of this historic Dutch city before joining your fellow travelers and Travel Director for a dinner cruise on its canals.

Mercure City

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4: Journey to the Rhineland and a Scenic Cruise

Driving through the lush landscapes of the Netherlands and Germany, we arrive in Boppard where we board a cruise along the Rhine to St. Goar, passing vineyard-clad hills and medieval castles perched above riverside towns. Arriving in the Baroque city of Heidelberg, we explore its unexpected highlights before traveling to our Rhineland hotel.

Sinsheim

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5: Off to Innsbruck

Crossing the Swabian Alps on the edge of the Black Forest, we arrive in the Bavarian capital of Munich. Our orientation takes us past the Hofbrauhaus, reputedly the most famous Beerhall in the world, and the neo-Gothic Town Hall which dominates the Marienplatz. We cross the Austrian border next, arriving in Innsbruck, the capital of the Alps. Admire the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture of the Old Town, including Emperor Maximilian's famous Golden Roof with its ornate façade and consider an evening of traditional Tyrolean entertainment.

Tivoli Innsbruck

Breakfast

Day 6: Onwards to the Canals of Venice Make Travel Matter

Journey through the emerald-green landscape along the Brenner Pass into Italy and across the Dolomite Mountains to Venice. We cruise the beautiful Venetian lagoon by private launch to the gateway of Venice, St. Mark's Square. View the ornate Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs, so named for the sound made by condemned prisoners as they took one last longing look at their beautiful city before meeting their fate. Enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience where you’ll witness the centuries-old craft of Venetian glassblowing. You’ll learn how the master craftsmen shape the molten glass to make the exquisite and delicate works of art that adorn homes all over the world and perhaps be inspired to buy your own souvenir as a reminder of this special visit. There’s time later to enjoy the city your way. Get lost in Venice, cross bridges and discover hidden campi where locals share their daily stories over a glass of Venetian Spritz.

Novotel Mestre Castellana

Breakfast

Day 7: All Roads Lead to Rome Connect with Locals

Travel south across the Veneto Plain, passing Bologna and the dramatic Apennine Mountains as well as the green and golden fields of Lazio before reaching Rome, the 'Eternal City'. En route, we Connect With Locals over lunch at a Be My Guest experience and enjoy true Tuscan hospitality with a local family on their private estate in the Chianti countryside.

A. Roma Lifestyle

Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8: Discover Ancient Rome and the Vatican City

Our first stop today sees us discover the divine beauty of the Vatican City. We'll visit St. Peter's Basilica with a Local Specialist to view Michelangelo's Renaissance masterpiece, the Pietà. We continue to Ancient Rome to view Roman Forum, the walls of the iconic Colosseum and Circus Maximus, once the site of exhilarating chariot races centuries ago. The afternoon is yours to explore the city on your terms. Sit on the Spanish Steps savoring a tasty gelato, shop up a storm on the trendy Via Condotti or perhaps join an Optional Experience to see the magnificent frescoed ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

A. Roma Lifestyle

Breakfast

Day 9: Continue to Renaissance Florence

From Rome, we travel north through the rolling countryside of Tuscany and along the Arno valley to the 'Cradle of the Renaissance', Florence. Delve into the rich Medici heritage of this beautiful medieval city with your Local Specialist. Visit the political hub of the city, Piazza della Signoria, with its impressive sculptures and stunning palazzi. View the imposing Duomo, crowned by Brunelleschi’s dome, and the Baptistery, renowned for its sculptured bronze doors.

Hilton Metropole

Breakfast

Day 10: Across the Alps to Lucerne

Drive via the scenic Italian Lakes District, across the Alps into beautiful Switzerland, where we'll spend the next two nights in the medieval lakeside city of Lucerne. View the mournful, mortally wounded lion hewn from rock to commemorate the Swiss Guards who lost their lives defending Louis XVI. Walk along the flower-lined 14th-century covered Chapel Bridge, crossing the river Reuss.

Grand Europe

Breakfast

Day 11: Explore Lucerne

This morning join an exciting Optional Experience to one of the surrounding peaks for breath taking views of the Swiss countryside. We have some time later to discover the best Swiss chocolates in town.

Grand Europe

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 12: On to Captivating Paris

Crossing the border into France this morning, we travel past the picturesque vineyards and country towns of Burgundy en route to the 'City of Lights'. Spend some time this evening strolling along the Seine and grand boulevards in search of a cozy bistro for fine French cuisine or consider an Optional Experience to a colorful Parisian cabaret.

Evergreen Laurel

Breakfast

Day 13: Discover the Sights of Paris

Join a Local Specialist today for a sightseeing tour of this romantic city. View the sophisticated Champs-Élysées, Place de la Concorde, the 19th-century Arc de Triomphe, honoring those who fought for France, and Notre Dame Cathedral, then enjoy a stroll through the Latin Quarter. Our European Whirl is almost at its end, we spend the evening with fellow travelers and our Travel Director, enjoying a Farewell Dinner in a local bistro.

Evergreen Laurel

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 14: Farewell Paris

Today bid adieu to your fellow travelers and Travel Director at the end of your memorable experience.

Breakfast

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