Europe Escape Christmas & New Year

Ciao! Welcome to this Europe Escape Christmas & New Year tour. Meet up with your tour leader and the rest of the group and get ready to hit the road. Relax and enjoy the scenery of vineyards, orchards and countryside on the journey to Venice. Arrive in Venice and prepare to be wowed! This famous floating city is perched across over 100 islands and connected by numerous canals. Explore the city on an orientation tour with your tour leader. See St. Mark’s Square, the Rialto Bridge and the Grand Canal. Tonight is free to spend as you wish. Enjoy the piazzas, art, food and unique Venetian vibe! Embark on a gondola ride optional excursion to see Venice the traditional way.

Orientation tour of Venice: Your tour leader will take the group into the heart of this unique floating city perched across 118 islands for an orientation tour. Start off by tasting some gelato and then set off to see St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica, St. Mark’s Museum, Campanile, Doge’s Palace, Rialto Bridge and Scuola Grande di San Rocco.

Say farewell to Italy for now and continue onto the next exciting destination on the itinerary - Innsbruck in Austria! Take a trip through the spectacular Brenner Pass and admire the gorgeous countryside en route. Make a comfort stop in Innsbruck before arriving in Munich, Germany, this afternoon. Set off on an orientation tour of the city with your tour leader and discover more about Munich which was largely rebuilt after WW2. See the highlights and find out more about Munich’s most famous event - Oktoberfest! This evening, enjoy an authentic taste of Germany during an included dinner at a local beer hall. Prost!

Scenic drive along Brenner Pass: Cross spectacular mountain passes and experience some amazing mountain vistas en route to Innsbruck in Austria.

Visit Innsbruck: Enjoy a comfort stop to experience this beautiful Austrian city that lies in a valley between high mountains, making for an incredible backdrop.

Munich orientation tour: Enjoy an orientation tour of Munich, the capital and largest city in the German state of Bavaria, with your tour leader. See highlights such as Karlsplatz and Marienplatz, New Town Hall, Church of our Lady, and (if you visit in winter) the traditional German Christmas markets.

German beer hall: Tonight, enjoy dinner in a traditional German Beer Hall. Sample German beer, along with traditional German cuisine. Prost!

Today is yours to explore Paris any way you like. Whether you’re after a trip to the Eiffel Tower, a chance to explore the city’s Christmas markets or a few hours in one of its countless museums – Paris awaits! Join the highly recommended “Paris +” optional excursion for a fun-filled day tour complete with a macaron tasting, photo stops at the Arc de Triomphe and Opéra Garnier, a visit to a renowned perfume museum, a River Seine lunch cruise, a visit to the Montparnasse Tower for incredible views of the city and free time in the Latin Quarter. It’s a fabulously French outing! The evening is yours to spend as you wish. Why not finish off with an evening in Montmartre? C'est magnifique!

It’s time to depart the “City of Love”. But our love affair with France is not over! Enjoy a lunch stop in Burgundy which is the heart of French wine country. Here, try the famous wine or visit the beautiful Hospices de Beaune. After lunch, cross the border into Switzerland. Prepare to be amazed by the views of the Swiss Alps! Later, arrive at the home-base in the Swiss Alps for the next two days. Breathe in that fresh Alpine air and take in the magnificent views. Snow-capped peaks, Alpine forests and crystal-clear lakes are all around! Enjoy the surroundings and festive spirit!

Make the most of a free day in the Swiss Alps! Don’t miss the chance to join the ‘Jungfraujoch: Journey to the Top of Europe’ optional excursion! With the snowy landscapes, magnificent scenery and a breathtaking journey to the highest train station in all of Europe, this excursion is what bucket list experiences are made of! At Jungfraujoch, you can play in the snow, visit the Sphinx Observatory and even explore an Ice Palace! Back at lower altitudes, why not wander through a local village and see what winter-time festivities you can find? Sip gluhwein, enjoy the snowy surroundings and absorb Switzerland’s festive atmosphere – it doesn’t get much more Christmassy than this! Warm up tonight with the optional Swiss Dinner.

Wave goodbye to the Swiss Alps this morning. Today, the trip continues to Italy! Make a lunch stop at the famous Lake Como. This beautiful destination is complete with picturesque lakeside villages, sparkling blue waters and impressive mountain backdrops. Next stop today is the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa. Be sure to have your best poses prepared and snap some pics! Afterwards, it’s onwards to Tuscany. This region of Italy is famous for its food, wine, art and architecture. Settle in at the hotel for tonight in Montecatini which is a spa town north-west of Florence. Why not sip on a glass of something local tonight?

It’s New Year's Eve and this morning after breakfast, it’s time to visit the enchanting city of Florence. Join an expert local guide for a walking tour of Florence and learn more about the city that was the birthplace of the Renaissance. See top sights including the Ponte Vecchio and Florence Cathedral! Enjoy free time in Florence before the final leg of the journey back to Rome. Excitement will be in the air as La Festa di Roma begins tonight! Ring in the new year with your new travel friends during an included dinner tonight! Be sure to watch the midnight fireworks which go off from Palatine Hill. Circus Maximus is the best place to take in the show!

Kick off the brand new year with a full free day in Rome. Known as “The Eternal City”, Rome was once at the centre of the Roman Empire. Today, it is a destination filled with ancient history, culture and world-famous cuisine. Experience the city decked out in its finest festive decorations today! View the facades of iconic landmarks like the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Pantheon while exploring the city. Stroll through the famous piazzas, climb the Spanish Steps and find a local trattoria to enjoy a delicious Italian meal. La Festa di Roma continues on until this evening and you could also venture to St. Peter’s Square where thousands gather to celebrate and receive the Pope’s New Year’s Day blessing.

After 12 days filled with festive Christmas and New Year fun, the tour comes to an end after breakfast today in Rome. We hope you have enjoyed this festive trip and that we can welcome you back to Europe again in the future! Be sure to swap details with your fellow travellers before you say farewell for now!