Essential Europe (2025)

Dag 1

Welcome to your tour with Europamundo! We’ll transfer you to the hotel and you’ll have some free time. In the afternoon, you’ll find information about the start of your tour on the boards located at the hotel reception.

Dag 2

In the morning, we´ll embark on a sightseeing tour of Lisbon, exploring the Portuguese capital of the seven hills, with its charming alleys, iconic tiles, the feeling of "saudade," and the beautiful Atlantic light. We’ll also visit the Belem neighborhood, from where the great Portuguese navigators set sail to cross the oceans in the 15th century. Free time in the afternoon to walk and go to the Bairro Alto and its viewpoint; if you’d like to, you could take an optional trip to the towns of Sintra, Cascais and Estoril. In the evening, we’ll return to the hotel from the lively Restauradores Square, filled with vibrant bars and cafes.

Dag 3

We’ll depart from Portugal early, crossing the picturesque region of Alentejo. Our journey will include a coffee stop in Estremoz, a charming town known for its medieval castle, cobblestone streets, beautiful architecture, and calming atmosphere, all of which reflect Portuguese authenticity. We’ll then cross into Spain. In Cáceres, you’ll have the chance to enjoy lunch and explore its historic center, renowned as one of the best-preserved medieval and Renaissance urban complexes in the world. We’ll continue to Madrid, arriving in the evening.

Dag 4

Dag 5

In the morning, we’ll leave for Aragon, travelling through the lands of Castile. Our first stop will be in Zaragoza to admire the stunning Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar. We’ll then journey to the serene Poblet Abbey, one of the best-preserved medieval monasteries in the world (tickets included). Finally, we’ll head to Barcelona, where we’ll arrive in the evening.

Dag 6

In the morning, we´ll embark on a tour of the City of Counts. This vibrant city, nestled along the Mediterranean Sea, is famous for Gaudi’s modernist architecture, the bustling Ramblas, and its rich history, highlighted by the Universal Exposition and the Olympics hosted here. Barcelona is renowned as one of the most beautiful and fascinating European capitals. In the evening, we’ll leave Barcelona and travel north into Catalonia. Before settling into our hotel, we’ll take a walk in Girona, exploring its historic center, known for its colorful houses, the old Jewish quarter, and its impressive cathedral.

Dag 7

We’ll head to France, traveling through the Provence region. Our first stop will be Arles, a small UNESCO World Heritage city known for its connections to Van Gogh. Here, we can visit the Roman theater and quaint Romanesque churches. There will be time to explore and have lunch. Next, we’ll include a visit to Carrières des Lumières, an incredible underground art experience featuring a captivating display of art, images, and sound in an ancient quarry. We’ll arrive in Chambery, the charming capital of Savoy, for the evening, a medieval style city with beautiful historic center and large castle.Note: If tickets for the Carrières des Lumières show are unavailable due to high demand, we will provide an alternative visit to the Pont du Gard, a famous Roman aqueduct

Dag 8

We’ll journey to Switzerland, arriving in Geneva. With our guide, we’ll go to Palais des Nations (headquarters of the United Nations in Europe), and we’ll see the beautiful English Garden with its flower clock, and admire the Jet d’Eau, the tallest fountain in Europe. Our next stop will be the charming, walled village of Gruyères, world-renowned for its cheese. Nearby, there are some of Switzerland´s major chocolate factories, including Nestlé. Our tour includes admission to the Maison Cailler Chocolate Factory, where you’ll enjoy a sweet tasting experience!We’ll continue our journey along scenic roads, passing through bucolic mountain landscapes and picturesque wooden villages, until we reach Chillon Castle, built on the shores of Lake Geneva (admission included). We’ll arrive in Leysin by mid-afternoon, a charming holiday village with spectacular views of the Rhône Valley and Mont Blanc. Leysin is well-known for its winter sports resort and hiking options. Dinner will be includedNote: Depending on availability, accommodation may sometimes be in another charming Swiss town nestled in the Alps, such as Martigny.

Dag 9

We’ll experience stunning mountain scenery today, so be sure to pack your winter clothes. We’ll ascend to Glacier 3000 by cable car ride, one of the most spectacular spots in Switzerland featuring ice and snow year-round, and where you can walk on the suspended bridge between two mountain peaks, explore the Ice Cathedral, or enjoy the Fun Park. We’ll stop in Interlaken for lunch before traveling to Lucerne, one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland. In the evening, we’ll arrive in Zurich, with some time to explore the center before heading to the hotel. Note: Occasionally, due to weather conditions such as rain or strong winds, the cable car to Glacier 3000 may not operate.

Dag 10

We’ll leave Zurich early in the morning, crossing the Alps to reach the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. Our first stop will be Lugano, the cosmopolitan capital of Italian-speaking Switzerland, an elegant city set beside its stunning lake. You´ll have time to explore and enjoy lunch. Next, we´ll enter Italy and arrive in the charming town of Como, considered the jewel of Lombardy, known for its beautiful gardens beside the lake and its spectacular cathedral. We’ll continue to Milan, where our guide will take us to the impressive Piazza del Duomo. You’ll have some time to wander around before we transfer you to the hotel.

Dag 11

We will leave Milan towards the Liguria region, with magnificent landscapes. We will make a stop in GENOA, a historic city whose origin dates back to Roman times and later, during the Medieval era, it was a powerful maritime state. We will have time to walk through its beautiful historic center, where the Romanesque cathedral and Piazza Ferrari stand out. Following beautiful coastal landscapes we continue towards PISA, time to admire its artistic complex, where the famous Leaning Tower is located. FLORENCE, arrival in the evening. We will make a stop to take a photo at the Michelangelo Viewpoint where we can have one of the most beautiful views of the city. Free time afterwards.

Dag 12

In the morning with a local guide we include a city tour of Florence, the capital of Tuscany, one of the most visited cities in the country, considered the cradle of the Renaissance and some of the most influential artists and thinkers in history, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli or Raphael. Highlights include the Gothic cathedral (duomo), the ancient Stone Bridge (Ponte Vecchio) with its goldsmiths´ shops and the Signoria square - the political heart of the city with the town hall in a medieval building. After lunch time we continue among pleasant landscapes to ROME. As an introduction to the city, we include a transfer to Trastevere, a lively neighborhood of known for its typical small restaurants.

Dag 13

We include a city tour of the capital of Italy and one of the oldest and most influential cities in Western civilization. The Colosseum, the Roman forums, the squares and fountains of the center, the great life of the city. We finish at SAINT PETER´s OF THE VATICAN, independent state within the city of Rome and center of the Catholic church. You can visit the basilica and the museums. Free time in the afternoon.

Dag 14

After breakfast we leave for Tuscany and the region of Emilia Romana. Beautiful landscapes crossing the Apennine mountain range. BOLOGNA, capital of Emilia-Romana, is a city with a rich history dating back to Roman times as well as an important cultural and gastronomic center of Italy. We can walk through its covered passages that extend along many streets and buildings, its towers and its main square. Bologna is also known as the "city of food", famous dishes, such as Bolognese pasta, such as tagliatelle al ragù (famous Bolognese sauce) and lasagna originated here. It is also famous for its sausages, cheeses, and of course, Italian ice cream. Time for lunch.In the afternoon we continue our route to FERRARA, it is surrounded by 9 km of walls, its center has been declared a World Heritage Site, highlights the great medieval castle, the Cathedral of Saint George and its Renaissance palaces.We continue to VENICE, arrival at the end of the day and accommodation in the Mestre or nearby area.

Dag 15

In the morning, we’ll provide a boat transfer to Venice, a city built on over 100 islands connected by more than 400 bridges. The boat will drop us off at the St. Mark´s area. We’ll go on a walking tour with a local guide through the city of canals (included). Afterwards, you´ll have free time to explore on your own. In the afternoon, you can enjoy an optional gondola ride along the canals.

Dag 16

After breakfast, our journey will come to an end, leaving you with wonderful lasting memories.