Europe’s Greatest Hits Tour in 2 Weeks

Paris is a city steeped in grandeur. The wide avenues and fashion are as iconic as the monuments decorating the skyline. Baroque buildings rise above lush gardens, adding a touch of the countryside to the heart of the urban space. Bakeries are as ubiquitous as boutique shops. You arrive at Charles de Gaulle International Airport, where your private transfer awaits to greet you. Your hotel is situated in the heart of the city, located near the rushing water of the Seine River. Cobblestones pave the meandering streets of the city. You can find the rich aroma of fresh macaroons around every corner, displayed in a variety of window dressings across the city.

After you settle in to the comforts of your hotel, the remainder of the day is yours to enjoy the city. You have the opportunity to visit the extraordinary Rodin Museum located in an 18th-century palace, which is now the Hotel Biron. The hotel has housed the Rodin Museum since 1919, maintaining a collection of over 6,000 sculptures and 8,000 paintings. One of the artist’s most famous iconic sculptures, The Thinker,  remains deep in thought in the lavish garden. The artistry of the museum and the verdant gardens are a perfect welcome to Paris, introducing you to the splendor of your vacation to come.

In the morning, the city comes to life with the aroma of freshly pressed coffee emanating from countless cafes. Locals linger at tables ornamenting the sidewalks, basking in the shade and the flavors of their morning cappuccino. After breakfast, your guide meets you at your hotel ready to lead you on a remarkable walking tour of the city. Your guide enlightens the wonders of Paris by way of walking, which allows you to experience the city as a local Parisian would. Indulge your senses, as bakeries waft fresh dough from their doors and the aroma of blossoming flowers drifts from the Jardin du Luxembourg.

Your guide listens to how you wish to view the city, whether it’s absorbing the history, architecture, shopping, or romance of the different neighborhoods of Paris. When you reach the top of Montmartre, you stand at the heart of the Belle Epoque, where Van Gogh, Lautrec, and Matisse enjoyed the beauty of the city. The Basilica of Sacre Coeur crowns the hilltop overlooking the rooftops of the city. The church was consecrated in the 20th century and maintains a Roman-Byzantine character in its domes and arched windows. The interior shines with numerous stained-glass windows illuminating biblical tales and legends.

In the morning, you leave behind the enchanting streets of Paris. Your private transfer escorts you through the countryside of rolling hills, vast prairies, and rugged cliffs adorned with historic castles. Cows graze on the open pastures. Dense woods rise out of the landscape. Burgundy is a celebrated region of France, known for its rich past and elegant wines. The antique town of Beaune was once the residence of the region’s dukes. Cobblestone streets and medieval houses provide an undeniably captivating Old World charm. The Hotel-Dieu was erected in the 15th century with a distinct Flemish Gothic design, known for its half-timbered style and geometric patterned tiles that create a colorful roof.

Locals here have a particular joie de vivre, an exuberant enjoyment of life, creating a sweeping energy in the streets. Your guide leads you through the city and into one of the finest wine-tasting rooms. The patriarch of the winery greets you with a friendly and welcoming smile. The shop is cozy, but the true wonders of the wine are in the cellar below. The purveyor leads you into the cool climate and dim lighting of the cellar to better explain the best process of preserving wine, along with the reasons why Burgundy wine is so popular around the world. When he pours you a sample of the red wine Cote de Nuits and explains the characteristics of the vineyards, you carefully exercise your palate to find traces of blackcurrant, mushroom, and cinnamon.

The aroma of rich hot chocolate adds to the comfort of the crackling fire. You realize you have only scratched the surface of the beauty of the Alps, taking in a fraction of the hiking trails, mountain peaks, and waterfalls the valley and its surroundings have to offer. After breakfast, your private transfer escorts you out of the Lauterbrunnen Valley and into the capital of Germany’s Bavarian region, Munich. The River Isar and the Bavarian Alps border the city.

The large public square of Marienplatz fills with locals and visitors daily, decorated with the Old and New Town Halls. The bright red roof of the Cathedral Church of Our Lady decorates the skyline. The 15th-century edifice has a late Gothic style and two 328 feet tall towers adorning the façade. Old Town maintains its connection to the city and region’s culture deep-rooted culture. Traditional beer halls continue to thrive. Men and boys proudly wear lederhosen while women and girls wear dirndls. Munich truly has an allure of its own.

At breakfast, you opt to enjoy a taste of Bavaria, discovering that the main components of a Munich breakfast consist of sausages and pretzels, accompanied by a fruity beer. After breakfast, your guide greets you at the hotel. Munich is friendly to various forms of travel, whether public transit, walking, or bicycle. Today you have the option of using any form of transport you prefer to see as much of the city as you desire, whether exploring the BMW Museum or choosing a more classic view of the city by visiting the Residenz Palace. The palace was erected in the 14th century and previously housed the Bavarian monarchy. The complex contains ten courtyards and 130 rooms on display for visitors to explore.

The inner walls were erected to protect the castle against the city, making the palace more like a fortress. The complex contains elements of Renaissance and neoclassical designs, as well as Gothic due to its continuous expansion. Every inch of the palace has an embellishment that you can’t ignore, almost overwhelming you with lavishness. The Antiquarium is draped in frescoes, paved with checkered marble floors, and lined with detailed busts. The exquisite yet extravagant décor offers you insight into former monarchs’ principles and preferences.

Munich’s magnetism stems much from its historical décor in addition to the eagerness of its locals to celebrate their heritage; residents cherish the jovial nature of the beer gardens, each one filled with laughter and song. After breakfast, your private transfer escorts you away from the embracing nature of Munich to your next exciting destination. You wind through the Alps once again, taking in the fascinating and dramatic mountains, until arriving at the edge of Venice. The city sits on a collection of islands located on the Grand Canal. You follow your guide onto a vaporetto, a motorboat used for public transportation through the city.

The canal is still the quickest and best way to move around the city. The sounds of motorboats rush along the water. You can hear the canal lap at the edges of the islands. The onion-shaped domes of St. Mark’s Basilica rise over the Doge’s Palace. Your vaporetto leads you through the canals on an introductory tour of the city. Cafes set out tables along the cobbled streets. Bridges arch over the water and connect hidden walkways. Locals look out their windows to watch people slowly drift by. Your favorite moment of the day is passing a row of gondolas moored beneath a palatial looking building, with windowsills filled with blossoming flowers.

The morning light dances on the water from the canal. The marble from the Doge’s Palace shines bright. Charming streets lead to hidden passageways in the endless labyrinth of Venice. After breakfast, your guide takes you on a half-day tour of the city that showcases the highlights of Venice. The Campanile is a red brick tower crowned with marble and stands 323 feet tall, adorned with a golden weathervane in the shape of archangel Gabriel. It edges the marble colonnade of the Doge’s Palace, and stands before the bulbous domes of St. Mark’s Basilica.

The church was erected in the 11th century with five archways decorating the façade. Each archway has a fresco in Romanesque fashion depicting saints. The interior maintains a faint scent of frankincense underneath the gilded frescos draping the ceiling and walls. When the sunlight pours through the arched windows, the church looks draped in gold. One of the grandest ways to take in the scenery is to allow yourself a chance to wander through the maze-like walkways, taking in the aroma of polenta cooked with shrimp, and enjoying the colorful display of carnival masks in shop windows.

There are few cities in the world that can be held in as high esteem as Venice. After breakfast, you depart for a different edge of Italian waters, but have found the splendor of Venice appealing in its affluent history and notable artistry. Today your private transfer leads you across Italy, passing pastures and mountains, forests and villages, arriving at the sensational Mediterranean coastline in the town of Monterosso, the northernmost town connected to Cinque Terre. The roots of the town date back to 7th century AD.

Verdant trees protrude from rugged cliffs. Small houses on the mountainside grow large vines of vegetables, and trees hoard overgrown fruit. Basil plants grow to enormous sizes along the footpaths of town. You can hear the ocean brushing against the cream-colored beach. The town separates into Old Town and New Town, divided by a hill topped with a church. The pensive atmosphere has an immediate relaxing effect on you, from the scent of freshly made pesto to the calming sea breeze.

Wake up to a cup of freshly brewed espresso and a grand view of the turquoise Mediterranean. The day is yours to indulge in the majesty of the seaside however you please. You can savor the refreshing touch of the water on your toes when you dip into the sea, or traverse the celebrated walkway that leads over the rugged hills, which has connected the five towns for generations. If you prefer a tranquil moment with a view, you can take a brief train ride to Manarola.

The city was founded in the 14th century. Fishing boats linger off of the coast. You can see fisherman casting out their nets and dragging back their haul for the day. Each building has a colorfully painted façade, which made it easy for sailors to see the town from the distance. The town climbs the hillside and overlooks the natural harbor. The water laps at the rocky outcropping beneath the buildings. Locals pick basil leaves. The church of the Natività di Maria Vergine has a stunning rose window made from Carrara marble, originating from the same quarry that cut the stone for Michelangelo.

The delights of the morning come with the slight coastal breeze, the sounds of crashing waves, and the burst of flavor when taking your first sip of espresso. After breakfast, you say farewell to Monterosso and venture southbound to the city at the heart of Italy, Rome. You have the afternoon to revel in the omnipresent images of the city that illuminate Christian civilization and the Roman world. Antiquity is everywhere in the city, whether in plain sight like the Colosseum, or hidden behind the meandering cobbled lanes and antique buildings, such as the Pantheon.

In the calming sunlight, you make your way to the Trevi Fountain in the Piazza di Trevi. The Roman triumphal arches inspired the fountain’s Baroque design, standing at 83 feet tall and 62 feet wide. You can sit on a marbled bench listening to the captivating sounds of the rushing water. Neptune stands at the center, master of his surroundings. The fountain was originally an aqueduct erected in 19 BC, but today is one of the most famous fountains in the world, providing you with an iconic image of the city.

The morning market fills the Campo dei Fiori with the aroma of fresh flowers. Vespas wind through the streets of the city. Restaurateurs stroll along the market stalls and pick out their fresh ingredients for the day. The city maintains a simultaneously quick pace of vivid life as well as a slowness exhibited by locals who wish to enjoy every moment of their day. After breakfast, your guide greets you in the hotel lobby, eager to hear what you wish to see in the Eternal City, whether it be the Vatican Museum, the Colosseum, or as much as you possibly can see.

The Catacombs of San Callisto cover an area of 90 acres and is layered with passageways and chambers carved into the tufa. The complex was uncovered in the 2nd century, and quickly became the official cemetery of the newly founded Roman Catholic Church. The area of the Popes has been called “Little Vatican,” as it was the official resting place of nine popes in the 3rd-century church. The walls throughout the tunnels are composed of soft limestone. The air is cool, and the passageways are dimly lit. Original Greek inscriptions decorate the walls above five popes. A copy of the Statue of St. Cecilia, which was sculpted at the end of the 16th century, decorates the underground basilica. Unearthing this site feels like discovering a long lost secret nestled underneath the ancient streets of Rome.

In the morning, locals venture to St. Peter’s Square in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the pope. The whispers of legendary gladiators continue to inspire people when looking at the massive rotunda of the Colosseum. Artists set up canvases in Piazza Navona and paint the fountains and villas decorating the square. You can easily settle into a life in Rome, absorbing the beauty of the morning with a cup of espresso and a lasting jovial atmosphere. Your private transfer meets you in the hotel lobby after breakfast. Soon you will make your way to Fiumicino Airport, for your flight home. For now, you can relax and revel in the passing morning. You could always extend your vacation and stay a while longer.