The Best of Europe

  TOUR DETAILS

Overview

A European tour should include the most popular and exciting cities, the must-see sights, picturesque scenery, and a mix of culture, history, and just plain fun. On this Best of Europe tour, you’ll experience all of this and more.

You will start with visiting London, the British capital, where you could join one of our optional excursions or just spend time at leisure discovering the city on your own. From there, you’ll take the Eurostar train to Brussels and then carry on your journey by coach to discover many interesting continental destinations.

Guided sightseeing includes the must-see sights, including those that will delight history fans. See Amsterdam’s canals; Rome’s St Peter Square; Florence’s renaissance old city center with a replica of the “David” by Michelangelo; Pompeii, where you’ll see what life was like during the Roman Empire before Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD; Paris’s most famous landmarks, and much more.

On this comprehensive European tour, you’ll also enjoy spectacular scenery. You’ll drive through the picturesque Rhineland with its scenic countryside, historic castles, and charming villages, and you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the Italian and French Rivieras. Sit back and relax as you drive past the Burgundy vineyards in France and through gorgeous alpine scenery from Switzerland to Italy. Marvel at the beauty of Tuscany with its rural villages, rolling hills, vineyards, rows of cypress trees, and olive groves. You’ll stand in awe as you witness the blue sea and amazing views on the Sorrento coast and on the legendary island of Capri, and you’ll love the green hills and valleys as you travel through Umbria to visit Assisi.

All of this and more await you on this dream European vacation designed for value-minded travelers!

Tour size: Small Group Discovery

Select Cosmos Europe tours are limited to an average of just 24 guests per tour. There’s always room to roam with extra space between you and other travelers—while still getting up close and personal to the experiences you’ve been dreaming of. Small-Group Discoveries include all the features of a traditional Cosmos European tour, complete with expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides who ensure that your health and safety is our top priority. A Small-Group Discovery Europe vacation is the perfectly sized tour—without the crowds.

Headsets throughout the tour.

Host service in London

ITINERARY

DAY 1 ARRIVE IN LONDON, ENGLAND

Check into your hotel. In the afternoon, you may want to start exploring the lively British capital. Uniformed hosts and the CosmosGO app are available to help you make the most of your stay.

DAY 2 LONDON

A full day to savor a variety of optional activities: take a panoramic tour of London’s landmarks, visit the Tower of London, or choose an excursion to Windsor Castle. Tonight, we recommend our optional Taste of London excursion with dinner, followed by a guided illumination cruise on the Thames River.

 Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 3 LONDON–BRUSSELS–AMSTERDAM AREA, HOLLAND

Transfer to the railway station and board the Eurostar train to Brussels with your Tour Director. Take a seat on your luxury motorcoach for the drive to the Amsterdam area.
Today’s Distance: 323 mi/ 520 km

 Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 4 AMSTERDAM AREA–WIESBADEN, GERMANY

Today, enjoy sightseeing in Amsterdam with a Local Guide pointing out the city highlights, followed by an included canal cruise to see the city from water level, then stop to watch the cutting and polishing of precious stones at a diamond center. This afternoon, continue your journey to Wiesbaden.
Today’s Distance: 258 mi/ 415 km

 Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 5 WIESBADEN–HEIDELBERG–LUCERNE AREA, SWITZERLAND

Drive through the picturesque Rhineland and enjoy splendid scenery as you skirt the Rhine river. Next, drive into Germany’s oldest university town, Heidelberg, nicely located at the confluence of the Neckar and Rhine Rivers, for a short visit. Continue to the Lucerne area.
Today’s Distance: 270 mi/ 435 km

 Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 6 LUCERNE AREA

Lucerne is nestled amid its snowcapped Alps, surrounded by its lake, and graced by the clear mountain waters of the Reuss River. Your orientation includes the Lion monument, erected in memory of the 800 Swiss Guards who defended Louis XVI and his wife; and the wooden Chapel bridge. A grand selection of optional activities completes the day: a cable-car ride to the 10,000-foot summit of Mount Titlis; a cruise on the fjord-like lake; and, of course, time to shop for an authentic Swiss watch.

 Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 7 LUCERNE AREA–VERONA, ITALY–VENICE AREA

More wonderful alpine scenery as you drive into the mountain ranges that surround the massive St. Gotthard Pass. Continue to the warmer and sunnier ambiance of Canton Ticino, then cross into Italy and drive across the Po Valley to Verona, medieval setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Stroll around the picturesque market square (Piazza delle Erbe) and the cobblestone streets. Tonight, overnight in the Venice area.
Today’s Distance: 367 mi/ 590 km

 Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 8 VENICE AREA

Venice is more like a marvelous film set than a real-life city, with its crisscrossing canals, gondolas and water buses, arched bridges, palaces, and busy little piazzas (plazas). Your included orientation starts with a boat ride to St. Mark’s Square and is followed by free time to soak up the city’s unique atmosphere and a chance to visit a glassblowing workshop. Don’t miss out on the optional gondola trip, gliding along the picturesque canals with a local troubadour to serenade you.

 Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

DAY 9 VENICE AREA–ASSISI–ROME

An interesting drive southward, crossing the rolling Apennines. Stop in medieval Assisi, where St. Francis was born in 1182, and visit the world-famous St. Francis Basilica with its beautiful frescoes by Giotto. Then, head for Rome.
Today’s Distance: 345 mi/ 555 km

 Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 10 ROME

The “Eternal City” is steeped in history, vibrantly alive and exciting, and absolutely unique! Start the included introduction to Rome’s landmarks from St. Peter’s Square with a Local Guide. Enjoy a drive along the iconic landmarks of the city: the Tiber River, the Caius Cestius Pyramid, the Aurelian Walls and the Caracalla Baths. Complete the experience with a walk back in time from the Circus Maximus to the Arch of Constantine and to the fascinating Colosseum, symbol of the Roman Empire.

 Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 11 ROME–POMPEII–SORRENTO AREA

This morning you have an opportunity to visit the treasures of the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel on our optional excursion. Later, travel south all the way today, with the Vesuvius volcano in the distance. Visit Pompeii, where time stopped in 79 AD when the Vesuvius eruption totally buried it. On your included visit to the archaeological site, see the luxurious villas, temples, theater, and forum. Just a few more miles to reach the lively Sorrento area.
Today’s Distance: 205 mi/ 330 km

 Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 12 SORRENTO AREA. EXCURSION TO CAPRI

Cross the blue sea for a full-day excursion to the legendary island of Capri. Surrounded by rose-tinted rocks, Capri has incredibly beautiful coves of translucent blues and greens. The town, with its pretty piazzetta, maze of streets, fashionable boutiques, and cozy restaurants, is a mecca for the jet set. An optional tour takes you around the island with its steep roads and panoramic views.

 Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

DAY 13 SORRENTO AREA–FLORENCE

An early journey north to Florence. Vistas of rolling hills, austere rows of cypress trees, terraced vineyards, olive groves, and rural villages form the backdrop of your journey through beautiful Tuscany. Arrive in Florence in the afternoon in time to enjoy its magnificent architectural and artistic treasures; the included walking tour with a Local Guide shows the highlights.
Today’s Distance: 320 mi/ 515 km

 Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 14 FLORENCE–PISA–ÈZE, FRANCE–FRENCH RIVIERA

Stop in Pisa, where you hop on a mini train to reach the Square of Miracles to see the famous Leaning Tower. Bypassing the great port of Genoa, drive northwest for glimpses of the Italian and French Rivieras. Visit a typical Provence perfume workshop in Èze and later reach the shores of the charming Côte d’Azur.
Today’s Distance: 273 mi/ 440 km

 Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 15 FRENCH RIVIERA–SAINT-ANDRÉ-LES-ALPES–ROUTE NAPOLEON–GRENOBLE

Taking the Route Napoleon, follow in the footsteps of the French leader as he escaped from exile in Elba. Stop for some crispy fresh air in Saint André Les Alpes before reaching Grenoble—an alpine sports mecca and site of the 1968 Winter Olympic Games.
Today’s Distance: 277 mi/ 445 km

 Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

DAY 16 GRENOBLE–BEAUNE–PARIS

Enjoy the very heart of the Burgundy wine-growing region, making a stop in lovely Beaune, surrounded by some of the world’s finest vineyards. Continue northward to the exciting city of Paris, capital of France.
Today’s Distance: 385 mi/ 620 km

 Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 17 PARIS

Paris is a world-class city with more familiar landmarks than almost any other city in the world. This morning, see the main sights during the included city tour with a Local Guide. In the afternoon, a chance to feel like a French aristocrat as you join the optional walking tour through the immense Palace of Versailles. This evening, why not join an optional dinner?

 Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 18 PARIS

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

 Meals included: Breakfast

 Transportation:

Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi; Eurostar train London-Brussels; canal boat in Venice; Capri boat ride; Pisa mini-train ride