European Wonderland End Paris

2N Rome , 2N Florence , 2N Mestre , 2N Engelberg and 2N Paris
11 days

From

$ 3,385

per person

Operated by Trafalgar

About the trip

Bring history to life on your Europe travels as you learn about life as a Roman gladiator and try your hand at pizza-making on an epic Europe family trip filled with carnival masks, medieval castle banquets and tons of fun for the whole family.

Meals
1 Be My Guest, 1 Farewell Dinner, 1 Kickoff Party, 10 Breakfasts, 2 Dinners
Max. Group Size
40
Guide Languages
English

Highlights

  • Explore Rome, Florence, Bologna and Paris with a Local Specialist
  • Discover Siena, Venice and Lucerne
  • Visit St. Peter's Basilica and the Colosseum in Rome, a glassblowing factory and a mask-making studio in Venice
  • View the ancient sites of Rome, St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, scenic Lake Como, the spectacular alpine scenery of Switzerland, the Chapel Bridge in Lucerne and the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
  • See the vineyards of Burgundy and the Somme Battlefields in France
  • Scenic Cruise by private launch to St. Mark's Square in Venice and along the Seine River in Paris
  • Family Fun Discover the great Venetian tradition of Carnival masks and paint and decorate your own.
  • Family Fun A cooking experience with all the trimmings! Learn how to make tasty Italian pizza from an expert and then share your masterpiece with the family.
  • Connect With Locals The Pazzi and de Medici feud is brought to light in this visit to the 12th-century Castle of Trebbio where you will enjoy a traditional Tuscan Be My Guest buffet, explore the cellars, and indulge in olive oil and wine tasting.
  • Dive into Culture Witness the exquisite craft of glassblowing, a delicate tradition that generations of Venetian craftsmen have perfected over the centuries.
  • MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Learn about the history and ancient skill of Venetian glassblowing, playing your role in ensuring the survival of this traditional craft through your visit.
  • MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Dine in a 12th-century castle near Florence and learn all about the plot that was hatched here to depose the Medici family, through your visit helping to preserve the castle.

Meals

1 Be My Guest, 1 Farewell Dinner, 1 Kickoff Party, 10 Breakfasts, 2 Dinners

Accommodation

Crowne Plaza Rome-St. Peter's Hotel & Spa, an IHG Hotel

2 night(s) in Rome

Room Type: Standard/Base Category
Meals Included: Breakfast

FH55 Grand Hotel Mediterraneo

2 night(s) in Florence

Room Type: Standard/Base Category
Meals Included: Breakfast

Novotel Mestre Castellana

2 night(s) in Mestre

Room Type: Standard Room

H+ Hotel & SPA Friedrichroda

2 night(s) in Engelberg

Room Type: Standard/Base Category
Meals Included: Breakfast

Novotel Paris Centre Bercy

2 night(s) in Paris

Room Type: Standard/Base Category
Meals Included: Breakfast

Included in the price

Rome

  • All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
  • All porterage and restaurant gratuities
  • An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
  • Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
  • Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
  • Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
  • Ferry across the Channel from Calais to Dover
  • Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
  • Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
  • Optional Experiences and free time

Day-wise Itinerary

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Day 1: Welcome To Rome

Buckle up Bambini – we're off on a grand adventure through Europe, launching our Family Experience in the 'Eternal City' of Rome. This evening we enjoy a Kickoff Party with our travel companions where we Dive Into Culture with a Family Fun experience and learn how to make a pizza that would make any Italian mamma proud.

Day 2: Explore Ancient Rome And The Vatican City

Delve into the open-air museum that is Rome, joining a Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour that will see you rub shoulders with St. Peter and the thousands of pilgrims that flock to the impressive square that bears his name. See Michelangelo's famous Pietà statue in St. Peter's Basilica before crossing the Tiber into Ancient Rome. Imagine the once thunderous applause of excited spectators as they cheered their gladiators to victory inside the Colosseum, and the roar of chariots circling Circus Maximus.

Day 3: Admire Siena And Florence

Explore the medieval playground of Siena, strolling to the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo where you’ll imagine the fun and fanfare that the festive Palio bareback horse race brings to the city twice a year against the backdrop of colourful flags and emblems. You’ll journey to Florence this afternoon where the Cradle of Renaissance comes alive in ways you could never imagine. You’ll go back in time and learn how Florence drove innovation and imagination all those centuries ago, ending your captivating encounter with an important time in world history with a sweet and rich cioccolata calda, which will leave the whole brood wanting more. This evening we head to a real 12th-century castle in the Tuscan countryside to Connect With Locals for a Be My Guest dinner and unforgettable MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. As you walk through its stony halls, you’ll be thrilled to learn about the plot hatched by the Pazzi family against the Medici rulers of Florence centuries ago. You’ll enjoy a delicious meal featuring homegrown produce in the magnificent grand hall and be inspired by the dedication and passion of your hosts, the Baj Macario family who are committed to running the estate in harmony with nature.

Day 4: Explore Florence

The treasures of the Medici family are on full display as we delve into the centuries of art, architecture and tumultuous history. Join a Local Specialist for a walking tour of the city. Visit the Piazza della Signoria, the hub of the city, and view the magnificent marble Duomo. Learn about the quality and workmanship of two of this city's historic industries at demonstrations of Florentine leathercraft and 18-carat gold. Then, spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Climb a tree or two in Boboli Gardens, tick off great masterpieces in Uffizi Gallery or see Renaissance history brought to life in the Palazzo Vecchio's Children's Museum. You could also join an Optional Experience to snap a selfie next to the Leaning Tower of Pisa before returning to Florence and pounding the pavements in search of the city's tastiest gelato.

Day 5: Journey To Bologna And On To Venice

Cross the Apennine Mountains to the city of Bologna where you will join a Local Specialist to view the city's Kissing Towers and Il Gigante, commonly known as Neptune's Fountain. Ditch your diet and indulge in the delicious flavours of what is widely regarded as the gastronomic capital of Italy – chase tortellini around your plate or twirl Spaghetti Bolognese like a local. This afternoon, we arrive in the island city of Venice. Spend a leisurely afternoon exploring with the family or enjoy an Optional Experience gondola ride through Venice's labyrinthine canals.

Day 6: Discover The Floating City Of Venice

Take to the water and cruise by private launch to the gateway of Venice, St. Mark's Square. Join your Travel Director to see the iconic and unexpected highlights of the city - the ornate Doge's Palace and Bridge of Sighs, St. Mark's Basilica and the Campanile with its five bells. Dive Into Culture on your unforgettable MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you witness first-hand the centuries-old tradition 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. Then, join a Local Specialist for a Family Fun experience to learn about the great Venetian tradition of Carnival masks, with an opportunity to create your own colourful alter egos. This afternoon, consider a lagoon cruise to the colourful island of Burano, on an Optional Experience, for a mouth-watering meal.

Day 7: Onwards To Lake Como And Engelberg

We travel through the Italian Lake District bound for Switzerland this morning and enjoy some free time for lunch in the laid-back lakeside town of Como, which for centuries has served as the crossroads between Central Europe and the Mediterranean. We continue through Alpine landscapes, past Lugano and through St. Gotthard tunnel into central Switzerland, before arriving in Engelberg.

Day 8: Uncover Lucerne’s Treasures

Walk across the flower-lined 14th-century wooden Chapel Bridge and into a land of lakes and lions. See the giant dying lion hewn from sandstone rock to commemorate the heroism of the Swiss Guards during the French Revolution. Ascend one of the magnificent surrounding mountains during an Optional Experience or spend the afternoon sampling the rich flavours of delicious Swiss chocolate.

Day 9: Off To Magical Paris

From Switzerland, we cross the mighty Rhine River and into France, travelling through the Burgundy wine region to the 'City of Lights'. This evening, amble up grand boulevards and through tiny cobblestone lanes in search of the French treasures you'll have an opportunity to sample tomorrow.

Day 10: Explore Paris’s Sights

Join a Local Specialist on a guided sightseeing tour which includes a drive along the Champs-Élysées with views of the magnificent Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower. Now, take to the water for a leisurely cruise on the Seine River with spectacular views of the city's bridges and life on the river. This evening, we close the curtains on an epic family adventure through Europe, celebrating with our travel companions and Travel Director at a special Farewell Dinner.

Day 11: Farewell Paris

For now, it's time to say au revoir to your fellow travellers at the end of an unforgettable experience. Find out more about your free airport transfer at trafalgar.com/freetransfers.

Starting from

$ 3,385

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