go tours europe

Get the Hottest Deals First!

Say Yes to Greece

Explore all the places we go in Europe

THIS IS WHAT AWAITS IN EUROPE

Towering castles. Untamed natural beauty. Captivating history. Can’t-miss cuisine. This is your time, your moment, your chance to discover Europe.

Destination Must-Sees

One of the most well-known tourist destinations in Greece, Olympia is located in the western Peloponnese, known as the “Valley of the Gods.” Surrounded by beautiful scenery from the Arcadian Mountains, it is home of the first Olympic Games that were held in 776 B. Step into history when you walk through the ruins of the ancient Olympic stadium or witness amazing sculptures at the museum.

France’s romantic capital is a must-see destination, and a gorgeous gateway to the wonders the rest of this country has to offer. Whether your ideal Parisian getaway has you spending some free time sipping coffee at a café and watching the bustling city life, roaming the halls of art at the Louvre, or exploring the bohemian artist’s haven — the Montmartre neighborhood, there’s rich history and culture abound in every corner of the City of Light.

Irish countryside:

Take in the atmosphere of quaint seaside villages, see awe inspiring views of the Lakes of Killarney and explore the picturesque town of Kinsale. Wherever you travel in the countryside, you’ll find that the rolling hills and friendly people you encounter will become a part of your fabric.

Ancient cities of Italy:

Italy is positively brimming with the world’s most famous Roman ruins like the Colosseum, Pompeii and many other relics from the ancient past. In fact, many cities in Italy still hold evidence of what once was. You can find an aqueduct, city gate, Roman theater or the ruins of an entire city there.

Destination Must-Dos

Meteora Monastery:

Over 600 years ago Byzantine monks chose to build their monastic community atop limestone rock “towers” that extend nearly 900 feet into the air, making them virtually inaccessible. It is one of the greatest monuments in the world, and is the most important monastic center in Greece. You can climb these rocks and travel the paths hidden behind the massive rocks.

The Palace of Versailles

The iconic Palace of Versailles (UNESCO) and its gardens reflect the extravagant tastes of King Louis XIV, the "Sun King." Alongside a local guide, learn the history and admire the various rooms of the State Apartments, including the Queen's bedchamber and the famous Hall of Mirrors. Be sure to explore the incredible gardens, some of the most famous in the world, which took over 40 years to complete and include intricate architecture, elaborate fountains, and gorgeous statues.

Drift down a canal:

While canals are found across Europe, nothing beats a romantic gondola ride in Venice. Locals like to say the best way to explore the city is to ‘get lost.’ So take a ride along these waterways, step off and then wind your way through the intricate blend of bridges, narrow streets and grand squares.

This was the first capital of Spain located about 43 miles south of Madrid. The history of Toledo dates back to the Roman occupation circa 192 B.C. The old city of Toledo sits atop of a small mountain surrounded on three sides by the Tagus River, and medieval walls on the fourth. From the top of the mountain you can get a 180 degree view of the surrounding landscape.

Expert Advice

Featured Tours to Europe

See our travelers on tour, brochures that feature our europe tours, destinations in europe.

Magnificent landscapes combined with the country’s charming traditions and customs offer new experiences unlike anywhere else in the world. Famous for bullfighting, Spain allows you to grab life by the horns and dive into adventure. Whether it’s the eye-catching architecture of Madrid, the bold Spanish wines, or the shimmering Costa del Sol, this country remains a delight to the senses. Once you experience Spain, you’ll never want to leave and when you do, you’ll always be craving more.

A gem of the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal is a paradise. On the coasts, sun-soaked beaches meet breathtaking hillside towns all down the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. In the cities, ancient structures rise up shoulder-to-shoulder with modern living. Everywhere you turn, you can find mouth-watering food paired with delicious local wines, medieval architecture paired with Moorish artistic influence, and friendly locals paired with charming attitudes. No matter what you seek, when you go, where you look, or how long you stay, Portugal offers something for every traveler.

Whether it’s old-world traditions and wonderful culture, cuisine, history, fashion or natural beauty, Italy is special to many people for different reasons. Few other countries boast so many legendary cities. There are also many charming hill towns and coastal villages that showcase Italy’s amazing natural beauty. From the big cities to the small towns, there is always something exciting to see in Italy. With so many reasons to visit, the rest is up to you!

A rendezvous with a magnifique experience awaits! As cliché as it sounds, France truly has something for everyone. With over two dozen cities, each with their own nuances of the French culture and contributions to its history, architecture, art and last but not least, the gastronomical delights that the French are famous for throughout the world are yours to explore, experience and fall in love with during your stay. Coast to coast, border to border, there are seemingly endless variations on your French experience to be had. Rolling hills and scenic valleys lined with the fruit of the gods; seaside towns, along sandy beaches with views you just might be sharing with royalty; or maybe snowcapped mountain ranges providing some of the best skiing in the world and an adrenaline rush to match is what you seek. Whatever you decide, France easily makes you feel as if you have stepped out of reality and into the art you learned about and loved since you were a child.

At the heart of Europe, monumental contemporary and historic events shape today’s Germany. From the fall of the Berlin Wall to the rise of the Beatles in Hamburg, the culture of the country is marked by its influential past and present. Imagine yourself exploring postcard-worthy castles such as Neuschwanstein or wandering through medieval cities such as Regensburg. From the Bavarian Alps to the Rhine Gorge to the plains of the north, the range of Germany’s landscapes will capture your heart. Perhaps you’ll also indulge your taste buds as you sample the delicious Marzipan sweet treats of the Hanseatic port of Lubeck, which have been produced there for over 200 years. Whether on a journey on the ‘Romantic Road’ or cruising along the Rhine, know that a stein of German beer or a glass of wine from the Rhine vineyards are both a worthy compliment to a destination that offers far more than the average traveler anticipates.

Switzerland

Incredible skiing on the Swiss Alps and delectable Swiss chocolate are only two reasons for visiting Switzerland. Located between Austria, France, Germany and Italy, you can get quite a diverse European cultural experience depending on which region of Switzerland you choose. And though the food, music, art and people themselves are very much influenced by their European neighbors, they are all still uniquely Swiss. You will leave with plenty of memories to savor for a lifetime.

Find a Travel Agency

Once you've found the perfect Collette tour, your local travel agent can assist you in making reservations. To find a preferred travel agent in your area, please enter your 5-digit zip code, then click Search.

Enter a Whole or Partial Zip Code

Please tell us everything, we want it all.

We really value your feedback, please be open an honest. Tell us where we can improve, how we can get better. This feedback is anonymous, but if you would like us to get in touch with you regarding an issue provide your email address as part of your feedback and we will get right back to you.

Talk to an Expert

Please fill out the form below, and a Collette Expert will contact you shortly.

• Yes, I'm a Travel Professional
• Yes, I am working with a Travel Professional
• I am traveling with 8 or more travelers

View or Download

TTC family of brands

My Trafalgar

Destinations

Get Inspired

866 513 1995

See All Tours

See More Trips

5 million happy guests and counting

Largest Country

Smallest Country

Vatican City

“I love introducing guests to the diversity of Europe and all its countries have to offer.”

Maria, Travel Director

Enjoy afternoon tea in London

Sample over 300-years of history in the simplicity of homemade scones with whipped cream and jam. This deliciously British treat is best enjoyed in the afternoon, complete with a hot cup of Earl Grey, cucumber sandwiches and a tower of sugary delights.

Explore ancient Athens

You don't need to be a historian to appreciate the significance of Athens. Your love affair with the city might begin with goddess Athena’s Parthenon temple and the ruins of Acropolis, but it’s likely to end in a quaint alleyway getting a glimpse at daily life in this ancient capital. The story of Athens continues to unfold.

Catch a flamenco show in Spain

Discover the soul-stirring emotion of a Flamenco show in Spain. This expressive art-form has an intangible cultural heritage recognised by UNESCO, merging song, dance and musical instruments into a performance that has to be experienced at least once. Finish with dinner of paella or tapas to round off your perfect evening.

View the Northern Lights in Iceland

Mother Nature’s wonders come to life with the Aurora Borealis or ‘Northern Lights’. In the frosty landscapes of Iceland, this light display offers viewers a genuine pinch-me moment as vivid colours dance across the night sky.

Spend a night at the opera in Vienna

Hear the talents of traditional opera with the ghosts of Mozart and Strauss in your presence. Though there are more than few places to catch the opera in Vienna, none can compare to the State Opera House (Staatsoper).

Our top 5 things to do in Europe & Britain

There are endless pinch-me moments to be found across the many countries that make up our Europe travel packages. But where to even begin? Perhaps a Flamenco show in Spain, afternoon tea in London or a Northern Lights viewing in frosty Iceland? Here are some of the highlights of our Europe and Britain trips that you're sure to love. 

Paris, France

The world’s largest gallery and the home of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the Louvre is without rival in the art world and is a must see when in Paris. Allow an entire day to explore its eight departments, not missing the Egyptian antiquities, Islamic art and various halls of sculptures. End your day with sunset by the Louvre Pyramid.

London, England

The British Museum

With some eight million works within its permanent collection, The British Museum is an illustrious European landmark. Admire objects brought back from the voyages of Captain James Cook and walk in the controversial presence of the Parthenon Marbles.

Florence, Italy

Uffizi Gallery

The Tuscan capital is home to Uffizi Gallery, where the brushworks of art’s true masters can be found. Names like Raffaello, Leonardo, and Michelangelo fill Uffizi’s grand pink walls, whilst internal courtyards leading to the Arno River reveal the building’s architectural brilliance.

Best museums in Europe & Britain

When traveling Europe with Trafalgar, museum hopping is one of the best ways to understand the culture and history of the places you visit. You’ll find yourself critiquing ancient art and staring in awe at some of the world’s most prominent works. Here are some of our favorites.

Paella Valenciana

Saffron, snails, butterbeans and bomba rice are just some of the ingredients you might find in traditional Spanish paella. Despite originating from the coastal town of Valencia, Paella Valenciana is a variety without seafood. You'll love sitting back to enjoy a steaming plate over the sounds of Spanish jazz in a lively alfresco restaurant.

Beef Stroganoff

Now a staple dish in many parts of the world, beef stroganoff is best enjoyed in its birthplace in Russia with a vodka in hand. This simple dish of beef strips sauteed in a sour cream sauce offers a heart-warming taste of this country’s culinary heritage.

Bouillabaisse

The Mediterranean city of Marseille is where a French culinary icon can be found and devoured. The fragrant stew of bouillabaisse, commonly served with crusty white bread, boils up the finest local seafood and seasonal vegetables with the flavors of fennel, saffron and cayenne pepper.

Best food in Europe & Britain

Our trips to Europe gravitate around indulgent local mealtimes. With new cuisines and cooking methodologies found at every turn, this continent is simply delicious. 

What to pack for a tour in Europe

With such a large expanse of space to explore on a European travel tour, on some days, long journeys are unavoidable. The scenery will provide plenty of visual entertainment, while headphones can be used to listen to some local music or enjoy podcasts about European history, culture and politics when you're not enjoying the storytelling from your Travel Director.

A good book

Exploring Europe is best done at a relaxed pace with ample opportunity to absorb your surroundings. Dedicate a few days to sitting in a park or a cafe, alternating between reading and watching the world go by.

Versatile shoes

Within the space of one outing you may experience all kinds of terrain when in Europe. Pack shoes that can see you walking from an elegant restaurant to a cobbled footpath, with a stroll along the soft grass of a park in between.

A blank journal

With the wealth of inspiration tucked into every corner of Europe, you may find yourself compelled to write down notes or memories. At the very least to share recommendations with friends when you return home.

All climate clothing

No matter the time of year you travel, Europe can deliver a myriad of temperatures. From frosty cities of Scandinavia to the temperate hills of Portugal, layered clothing best suits the varying micro-climates across this continent.

Pack for sustainable travel

Consider your environmental impact when you next take a trip and go single-use-plastic-free by packing a reusable water bottle, a steel straw, your own shopping bags and refillable toiletry bottles.

Our Europe & Britain destinations

Bosnia Herzegovina

Czech Republic

Liechtenstein

North Macedonia

Netherlands

Northern Ireland

Switzerland

Other worldwide regions we visit

Africa the Middle East

Australia and New Zealand

North and Central America

South America

Get your free brochure

Find your next escape with the world's leading travel brand

Request A Brochure

Award winning tours

Every year, we're proud to win some of the most prestigious travel accolades around the world - from the Travel Globes to the Agent's Choice Awards

Search Our Tours

Help & Info

WE MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

Unedited Reviews

Our Destination Management Companies

Frequently Asked Questions

Travel Updates

Media & Press Room

Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

Travel Planning

Get Your Free Brochure

Travel Insurance

Booking Conditions

Trip Deposit Level

Recommendations

Trafalgar Tours Limited is a proud member of  The Travel Corporation  family of companies.

#SimplyTrafalgar

Travel House, Rue du Manoir St Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 2JH

Selected Region

United States

United Kingdom

New Zealand

South Africa

Copyright 2024 Trafalgar. All rights reserved.

Terms and Conditions

Privacy Policy

Cookie Policy

• 143 View All Tours
• 8 Africa Tours
• 8 Asia Tours
• 6 Australia Tours
• 86 Europe Tours
• 38 North America Tours
• 3 South America Tours

Our Destinations

• Middle East
• North America
• South America

Tour Styles

Enjoy a refined take on the art of group travel.

Experience true adventures on these Collette small group tours.

Set out on inspiring journey on these faith-based travel experiences.

Explore the world's most beautiful waterways.

Come to know your destination during a single-hotel stay.

Why Guided Travel

Sit back, relax, and let us handle all the details. You won't miss a thing.

Enhance your tour with this easy to use mobile companion.

Combine two tours into one grand adventure.

Making the travel experience a force for good.

No worries, we're with you every step of the way.

Going guided gets you more for your money.

Find travel tips, travel advice, and answers to some of the most commonly asked travel questions here.

Meet the Tour Managers that enhance your travel experience at every turn.

Travel Planning

Current tour and destination information based on world events.

Current travel requirements by country including entry and exit information.

Your questions regarding travel requirements, trip interruptions, payments and refunds.

Get Your Money Back. Any Reason, Every Tour. No Blackout Dates or Restrictions.

• To book, call Interval Travel at 877.273.7737

Experience the Grandeur

Visit the places you’ve always dreamed of, experience grand cities, historic wonders and embark on unforgettable and timeless rail journeys and river cruises. Europe is one of the top “must see” places on everyone’s bucket list. Whether your interests are historical, culinary, scenic or a little bit of everything, our tours of Europe promise to deliver all that you seek and more.

Explore all the places we go in Europe

Destination must-see's.

Irish countryside:

Take in the atmosphere of quaint seaside villages, see awe inspiring views of the Lakes of Killarney and explore the picturesque town of Kinsale. Wherever you travel in the countryside, you’ll find that the rolling hills and friendly people you encounter will become a part of your fabric.

Ancient cities of Italy:

Italy is positively brimming with the world’s most famous Roman ruins like the Colosseum, Pompeii and many other relics from the ancient past. In fact, many cities in Italy still hold evidence of what once was. You can find an aqueduct, city gate, Roman theater or the ruins of an entire city there.

Get to know the city that was once considered the capital of the world! A panoramic tour by a local expert leads you to all the most iconic spots in London. See Trafalgar Square, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and many more places you’ve only read about.

Louvre Museum:

The Louvre Museum holds some of the most priceless treasures in the world. Enjoy touring with a local expert who will take you through an array of works ranging from ancient times to the mid-19th century. Don’t keep the ladies waiting! DaVinci’s famous Mona Lisa and the renowned Venus de Milo await your visit!

Destination Must-Do's

Explore Chateau de Chillon:

Europe has a wide variety of castles to choose from. The exquisite Chateau de Chillon in Switzerland presides over Lake Geneva. Beginning life as a Roman outpost, today it is the nation’s most visited historic site.

Drift down a canal:

While canals are found across Europe, nothing beats a romantic gondola ride in Venice. Locals like to say the best way to explore the city is to ‘get lost.’ So take a ride along these waterways, step off and then wind your way through the intricate blend of bridges, narrow streets and grand squares.

Drink Bordeaux wine:

Just about anywhere you travel in Europe, you’re bound to come across some fantastic wine, especially in Bordeaux in France. Resting on the Garonne River, this charming area is one of the largest wine growing regions on the continent.

Culinary Surprises:

The best way to experience a culture is to eat like the locals. The straightforward food of Great Britain always seems to delight travelers. While Italian food still reigns, you just might have the best meal of your life enjoying a steak and kidney pie or bangers and mash.

Expert Advice

Featured Tours to Europe

Venice and Croatian Islands Cruise

A Taste of the Balkans featuring Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina & Slovenia

Flavors of Portugal & Spain: featuring the Douro and Rioja Wine Regions

Exploring Greece and Its Islands featuring Classical Greece, Mykonos & Santorini

Exploring Britain & Ireland featuring England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales

Exploring Britain & Ireland featuring the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

The Best of Ireland featuring the Wild Atlantic Way

Portugal & Its Islands featuring Sintra, Azores & Madeira Islands

Brochures that Feature Our Europe Tours

Destinations in europe.

Magnificent landscapes combined with the country’s charming traditions and customs offer new experiences unlike anywhere else in the world. Whether it’s the eye-catching architecture of Madrid, the bold Spanish wines, or the shimmering Costa del Sol, this country remains a delight to the senses. Once you experience Spain, you’ll never want to leave and when you do, you’ll always be craving more.

Located on the west coast of Europe adjacent to Spain, Portugal offers breathtaking scenery from seemingly never-ending beaches to breathtaking views from hilltops high above the sea; rich and vibrant cultural experiences from inside museums to its city nightlife or village sidewalks; wildlife and challenging landscapes for the adventure seeker; and romantic sunsets and sand dunes and moonlit sails for the lover in all of us. Wait, we forgot amazing gastronomical pleasures created by Portugal’s food and wines, or perhaps those are also found under lover?! No matter what you seek, when you go, where you look or how long you stay, Portugal offers something every traveller wants and makes it all too easy to get.

Whether it’s old-world traditions and wonderful culture, cuisine, history, fashion or natural beauty, Italy is special to many people for different reasons. Few other countries boast so many legendary cities. There are also many charming hill towns and coastal villages that showcase Italy’s amazing natural beauty. From the big cities to the small towns, there is always something exciting to see in Italy. With so many reasons to visit, the rest is up to you!

A rendezvous with a magnifique experience awaits! As cliché as it sounds, France truly has something for everyone. With over two dozen cities, each with their own nuances of the French culture and contributions to its history, architecture, art and last but not least, the gastronomical delights that the French are famous for throughout the world are yours to explore, experience and fall in love with during your stay. Coast to coast, border to border, there are seemingly endless variations on your French experience to be had. Rolling hills and scenic valleys lined with the fruit of the gods; seaside towns, along sandy beaches with views you just might be sharing with royalty; or maybe snowcapped mountain ranges providing some of the best skiing in the world and an adrenaline rush to match is what you seek. Whatever you decide, France easily makes you feel as if you have stepped out of reality and into the art you learned about and loved since you were a child.

At the heart of Europe, fascinating events of contemporary and more historic times shape today’s Germany - from the fall of the Berlin Wall, to the rise of the Beatles in 1960s Hamburg plus wartime history, picture postcard castles such as Neuschwanstein and medieval cities such as Regensburg. Landscapes range from the Bavarian Alps to the Rhine Gorge and plains of the north. The Hanseatic port of Lubeck provides delicious Marzipan sweet treats, produced there for over 200 years. Whether on a journey on the ‘Romantic Road’ or cruising along the Rhine, a stein of German beer or glass of wine from the Rhine vineyards are a worthy accompaniment to a destination that offers far more than the average traveller anticipates.

Switzerland

Incredible skiing on the Swiss Alps and delectable Swiss chocolate are only two reasons for visiting Switzerland. Located between Austria, France, Germany and Italy, you can get quite a diverse European cultural experience depending on which region of Switzerland you choose. And though the food, music, art and people themselves are very much influenced by their European neighbors, they are all still uniquely Swiss. You will leave with plenty of memories to savor for a lifetime.

Get the Hottest Deals First!

Europe Tours & Vacations

Enduring, eclectic, endlessly appealing – Europe is easy to explore and impossible to forget. 

Hike through rugged wilderness, tour 13th-century churches, and sip wine in the sun. In  Europe  you can do it all and do it well. It might be compact, but it is packed with diverse cultures, breathtaking landscapes, and delicious cuisines. They are all only a short flight or train ride away from each other. The walkable ruins of  Italy  will transport you back to when the Romans ruled an empire.  Sweden’s  indulgent national dishes will have your tastebuds begging for more. The natural beauty found in  Scotland  is guaranteed to ignite the mythical side of your imagination. And that’s only the beginning. From the breezy Mediterranean to the chilly Baltics, our European tours have something for every traveler.

Our Europe trips

Let's create an exclusive trip for your group.

Europe highlights

Europe tour reviews.

Filter by rating

Highlights of Scotland

Premium Greece

Northern Lights Escape

Rome to Amalfi

We run at dawn: Why I lace up in cities while travelling 

21 new Europe trips for 2024  

France or Italy? Which European country should you travel to?

Iceland’s Folklore: 4 mythical creatures that make the scenery come alive

Don’t miss these top destinations in Turkey

Top 12 things to do in Iceland

6 of the best hikes in Iceland

This couple is exploring the world one podcast episode at a time 

Browse by holiday destination

Europe travel faqs, do i need a covid-19 vaccine to join an intrepid trip.

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travelers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Do you need a visa to travel to Europe?

Whether or not you need a visa to travel to European countries largely depends on the nationality on your passport and whether the country you're traveling to is part of the Schengen Agreement.

This agreement sees 26 European countries offer visa-free travel to nationals from 60 other countries including Australia, the United States, Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom. 

To determine whether the country you're traveling to requires a visa, head to the   Schengen Visa's information website.  

What is the internet access like in Europe?

You can easily access the internet in most countries in Europe, generally in capital cities and other major towns. Internet access may be limited in regional locations such as national parks or remote villages in some countries. 

Can I use my cell phone in Europe?

You shouldn't have a problem using your cell phone while traveling throughout Europe, however, your international data roaming will need to be activated in order to connect to the internet or send messages (unless you connect to the local wi-fi). 

What are the toilets like in Europe?

Modern, flushable toilets are the standard in the majority of European countries. 

Can I drink the water in Europe?

Tap water in most European countries is considered safe to drink unless it is otherwise marked. 

When should I book a tour in Europe?

There is no 'best time' to travel around Europe as most countries offer plenty to do in every season of the year.

T he most popular time to travel to countries like Greece, Italy, and Croatia is during the summer months (June, July, and August) so you can make the most of each country's respective beaches and warm weather.

C ountries such as Iceland, Norway, and Sweden are known for their snowy landscapes and northern lights sightings during Winter (December, January, and February).

How much does a Europe tour cost?

A tour in Europe can vary depending on the countries you want to visit, the style of tour, and how long you want to go for but you can expect to pay anywhere between USD$1,000 to USD$5,000, with most tours around USD$2,500. 

Is tipping common in Europe?

Tipping isn't as prevalent in Europe as it is in some other countries and definitely isn't expected, but if you like the quality of service you've been given at hotels, restaurants etc then a tip is always appreciated. 

Are credit cards widely accepted in Europe?

While credit cards are accepted in all European countries (especially in capital cities and other larger cities), smaller cafes or local run businesses may not have EFTPOS machines so it's always best to carry around a little cash to cover these expenses. 

What is ATM access like in Europe?

You should have no problem finding ATMs in most European cities. 

What currency will I need on a Europe tour?

The official currency of Europe is the Euro (€), however, only 19 of the 28 countries in the European Union use this. Countries that still use their own currency include Norway, Switzerland, Belarus, Croatia, Denmark, and Sweden. 

Is Europe safe for LGBTQIA+ travelers?

Europe is considered a reasonably safe continent for LGBTQIA+ travelers with plenty of countries openly accepting, welcoming, and embracing the community.

This is evident in large capital cities such as Paris, Berlin, Madrid, and Vienna.

Some countries still hold traditional religious beliefs such as Belarus and Poland so a degree of caution should be taken when travelling around cities and remote regions in those countries.

Will I need a socket adapter for Europe?

If you plan on traveling to multiple countries throughout Europe then purchasing an all-in-one, worldwide adapter is the safest way to go.

I f you don't want to do that, your safest bet is to buy an adapter that uses C or E/F-type plugs as most European countries recognize this. 

Do I need to purchase travel insurance before traveling?

Absolutely. All passengers traveling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance

Are Intrepid trips accessible for travelers with disabilities?

We are committed to making travel widely  accessible , regardless of ability or disability. We do our best to help you see the world, regardless of physical or mental limitations. 

We are always happy to talk to travelers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

• Escorted Tours
• Obtaining a Passport Book
• Tour Contract
• Travel Protection Plan
• Physical Condition Guide
• Included Features
• Currency and CC Information
• Privacy Policy
• Dates & Prices
• The Image Tours Team
• Superior Value
• Membership & Alliances
• Travel Agents
• Find a Travel Agent

2024 & 2025 Europe Tours

Best prices when you book by 5/22/24, 11 premier europe tours, request a free brochure, expert travel advice.

THE IMAGE TOURS ADVANTAGE

• Professional, Native European Tour Manager
• Touroclopedia® Trip Preparation Booklet 
• Optional Excursions detailed in our brochure 
• Detailed Trip Documents 
• Available Travel Protection Plan 
• 80 Years Specializing in Tours of Europe 

Image Tours Traveler Reviews

Heart of europe® circle tour - sep-2023.

Scandinavia & Baltic Highlights Tour - May-2019

Spain & Portugal Tour - Apr-2017

HEART OF EUROPE® Circle Tour - Apr-2019

Treasures of italy tour - sep 2018 - feb-2019, heart of europe grand - sep 2019 - feb-2020, repeat traveler - sep-2019, memberships & alliances.

• Europe Tours

Europe Tours and Trip Packages 2024/2025

Whether you’re an adventure seeker, a history buff, or you just enjoy the finer things in life, a Europe tour package has something to offer every type of traveler. These Europe package tours and trips explore any of the continent’s 50 countries that are diverse in size, climate, traditions - and cost! With fine cuisine, world-renowned art and music, and 23 officially recognized languages, a tour in Europe can be a cultural labyrinth that fuels wanderlust. 

• Europe Travel Guide

+300 Trips in Europe with 6,169 Reviews

• Starts Amsterdam, Holland
• Ends Paris, France

Glimpse of Europe

• Best price guaranteed
• No booking fees
• Tour Type Group Tour
• Activities Sightseeing Tours & Art and architecture Sightseeing Tours , Art and architecture & Cultural, religious and historic sites 'data-more-tripid='21253'>+1 more
• Accommodation Hotel
• Transport Private Vehicle, Coach & Boat
• Age Range 5-99 yrs
• Operated in English
• Brochure Price: US$ 1,695
• Special Deal (19%): - US$ 320
• Total Price from: US$ 1,375
• May 13 10+ seats left
• May 27 Only 9 seats left
• View More Jan 1, 2019 Jan 2, 2019 Jan 3, 2019

• Starts Vienna, Austria
• Ends Budapest, Hungary

Best of Central Europe

• Tour Type Small Group Tour
• Activities Sightseeing Tours & Art and architecture Sightseeing Tours , Art and architecture , Cultural, religious and historic sites & Mountains 'data-more-tripid='3044'>+2 more
• Accommodation Hotel & Resort
• Transport Train, Bus, Private Vehicle, Boat, Minibus & Taxi
• Age Range 15-99 yrs
• Brochure Price: US$ 3,775
• Special Deal (15%): - US$ 566
• Total Price from: US$ 3,209
• May 04 Only 5 seats left
• May 08 10+ seats left

• Ends Amsterdam, Holland

Europe Jewel

• Activities Cultural, sightseeing, food tours & Art and architecture Cultural, sightseeing, food tours , Art and architecture & City sightseeing 'data-more-tripid='37689'>+1 more
• Transport Coach, Boat, Taxi & Train
• Age Range 10-99 yrs
• Brochure Price: US$ 3,120
• Special Deal (24%): - US$ 742
• Total Price from: US$ 2,378
• May 24 Only 1 seat left
• Jun 07 Only 4 seats left

• Starts London, England
• Ends London, England

Europe Taster

• Activities City sightseeing & Art & architecture tour City sightseeing , Art & architecture tour , Art and architecture , & heritage & Cultural, religious and historic sites 'data-more-tripid='37695'>+3 more
• Transport Coach, Boat & Train
• Brochure Price: US$ 2,070
• Special Deal (33%): - US$ 674
• Total Price from: US$ 1,396
• May 26 Only 3 seats left
• Jun 02 Only 1 seat left

Get Social: Central & Eastern Europe

• Activities Explorer
• Accommodation Bungalow & Hostel
• Transport Coach, Bus & Helicopter
• Age Range 18-39 yrs
• Brochure Price: US$ 3,739
• Special Deal (10%): - US$ 374
• Total Price from: US$ 3,365
• Jun 05 10+ seats left

• Starts Barcelona, Spain
• Ends Madrid, Spain

Spain & Portugal: Flamenco & Tapas

• Activities City sightseeing & Art and architecture City sightseeing , Art and architecture , Party and nightlife & Food tours 'data-more-tripid='4978'>+2 more
• Accommodation Hostel
• Transport Train, Bus & Coach
• Brochure Price: US$ 1,799
• Special Deal (20%): - US$ 360
• Total Price from: US$ 1,439
• May 03 Only 1 seat left
• Jun 14 Only 1 seat left

• Starts Sofia, Bulgaria
• Ends Athens, Greece

All About Balkans (4 Star Hotels)

• Activities Sightseeing Tours & Art and architecture Sightseeing Tours , Art and architecture & Cultural, religious and historic sites 'data-more-tripid='17753'>+1 more
• Transport Bus, Coach & Boat
• Brochure Price: US$ 2,497
• Special Deal (45%): - US$ 1,124
• Total Price from: US$ 1,373
• May 04 10+ seats left
• May 11 10+ seats left

• Starts Catania, Italy
• Ends Palermo, Italy

Small Group Food & Wine Tour of Sicily

• Free cancellation
• Trip customizable
• Activities Food tours & Wine tasting tours Food tours , Wine tasting tours , Cultural, religious and historic sites , Countryside and village visits & Local culture 'data-more-tripid='22521'>+3 more
• Transport Minibus
• Age Range 1-89 yrs

• Starts Vilnius, Lithuania
• Ends Tallinn, Estonia

Baltic Capital Cities

• Activities Active and outdoor & Cultural, religious and historic sites
• Transport Bus
• Age Range 16-95 yrs
• Brochure Price: US$ 1,470
• Special Deal (11%): - US$ 160
• Total Price from: US$ 1,310
• May 25 Only 7 seats left
• Jun 01 Only 4 seats left

• Starts Baku, Azerbaijan
• Ends Tbilisi, Georgia

Caucasus Countries (12 days)

• Activities Sightseeing Tours & Cultural, religious and historic sites Sightseeing Tours , Cultural, religious and historic sites , Art and architecture & National parks 'data-more-tripid='18354'>+2 more
• Transport Coach & Minibus
• Age Range 12-75 yrs
• May 04 Only 6 seats left
• May 18 10+ seats left

• Starts Dublin, Ireland
• Ends Dublin, Ireland

Irish Explorer

• Activities Art and architecture & Cultural, religious and historic sites
• Transport Coach
• Brochure Price: US$ 1,685
• Special Deal (32%): - US$ 545
• Total Price from: US$ 1,140
• May 12 Only 4 seats left
• May 26 Only 6 seats left

European Vistas

• Activities Natural landmarks sightseeing & City sightseeing
• Transport Coach, Boat, Private Vehicle & Taxi
• Brochure Price: US$ 1,890
• Special Deal (26%): - US$ 494
• Jun 01 Only 10 seats left
• Jun 13 Only 8 seats left

• Starts Lisbon, Portugal
• Ends Porto, Portugal

Highlights of Portugal

• Activities Local culture & Art and architecture Local culture , Art and architecture , Cultural, religious and historic sites & Shopping and Markets 'data-more-tripid='10596'>+2 more
• Transport Train, Private Vehicle & Boat
• Age Range 12-95 yrs
• Brochure Price: US$ 1,649
• Special Deal (20%): - US$ 330
• Total Price from: US$ 1,319
• May 05 Only 2 seats left
• May 17 Only 1 seat left

• Starts Split, Croatia
• Ends Split, Croatia

Croatia Sailing Adventure

• Activities Sailing, yachting and motor boating & National parks Sailing, yachting and motor boating , National parks & Chill out 'data-more-tripid='37268'>+1 more
• Accommodation Yacht Cabin
• Transport Private Vehicle, Yacht & Boat
• Age Range 18-40 yrs
• Brochure Price: US$ 1,895
• Special Deal (40%): - US$ 758
• Total Price from: US$ 1,137
• May 29 10+ seats left

Europe Tour Reviews

• George Willing
• SAMUEL RAVIKUMAR SAMUEL JESUDAS

Europe - Tour Package Highlights and Trip Insights

With so much to see, do, eat and buy, planning a Europe tour is no easy feat. There are, of course, the typical sightseeing musts: Paris’ Louvre, London’s Tower Bridge, and Rome’s Colosseum. Even Europe’s most frequent visitors will always find something new to discover. Read on for our top Europe tour highlights and Europe trip insights.

Europe Tour Package Highlights

• Go back in time and explore the ruins of ancient civilizations in Italy and Greece
• Snack on cheese and wine (or escargot, if you’re feeling adventurous) in the Champ de Mars, beneath the Eiffel Tower
• Ride a bicycle through the townhouse-lined streets of Amsterdam before touring the canals by boat
• Listen to the romantic songs of the gondoliers as you cruise through the canals of Venice
• Indulge in an authentic Belgian waffle, drowned in chocolate
• Enjoy an ice-cold beer from a beer stein at Oktoberfest in Germany
• Hike from village to village in Italy’s Cinque Terre
• Get lost between the shelves of some of the world’s most beautiful libraries, like those at Trinity College (Dublin, Ireland), Mafra Palace (Mafra, Portugal), and the Clementinum Baroque Library Hall (Prague, Czech Republic)
• Join a Europe tour that goes through many of Europe's travel highlights in countries such as Spain , France , Italy , Netherlands and Scandinavia .

Europe Trip Insights

• Traveling by rail is one of the easiest (and sometimes cheapest) ways to get around Europe, especially if you plan to travel for a couple of weeks (or longer). Investigate rail passes before you visit, particularly ones that can be used between countries. Interrail and Eurail are very popular among travelers.
• Don’t skip the “touristy” destinations. Everyone travels differently, but the most popular European highlights are popular for a reason. Brave the crowds and be sure to stop by those more cliché sites - you’ll be glad you did.
• Try not to over prepare! One of the great benefits of visiting Europe is that it’s incredibly easy to travel between towns and countries. Allow yourself some flexibility to open yourself up to new adventures (and avoid travel burnout). If you've booked a Europe tour package with accommodation, activities, guides etc. get ready to indulge and relax - you are up for a Europe trip of a lifetime. 
• Chances are you don’t speak 23 different languages, so be prepared before you travel. Avoid carrying around heavy guide books by downloading a translation app on your phone.
• Note that not all European countries use the Euro, including the United Kingdom , Denmark and Hungary (among others). Do your research beforehand and be ready to juggle different currencies if you’re planning an extensive trip.
• Travelling on a budget? Check our last minute holiday and travel deals to Europe . Also, consider looking for accommodation outside the city centre. Most large European cities are very well connected by public transportation, meaning all your bucket list sites are just a quick (and often inexpensive) bus, train, or metro ride away.

Tours in Europe - Questions and Answers

You can spend a couple of months exploring Europe and still feel like you have not seen everything. Generally speaking, a two-week Europe trip should be just enough if you are looking to cover its major highlights. However, if you want a comprehensive travel experience within this duration, it is better that you focus on a region or a few countries rather than traveling all over the continent. 

Choose a single country or schedule your trip around a handful of cities in different countries. While larger European cities may require three to four days to explore, you can get around smaller destinations in a day or two. Planning your trip around a particular region will cut down your travel time and save your time in transit.

If you are planning to visit multiple countries, you should prepare a tentative list of destinations you are interested in. If it is your first trip, stick to major cities and cultural centers for the sake of simplicity and convenience. Also, be flexible and optimize your travel time and budget. Be open to changing your itinerary depending on schedules and ticket prices.

There are dozens of insurance companies offering travel insurance, which can make it difficult for you to choose the right one.

There are a number of things that you should be aware of while purchasing travel insurance. If it is comprehensive medical insurance plans that you are interested in, make sure to find out what all the plan covers. If you are concerned about certain scenarios, then check out customizable travel insurance policies and find out if the provider can cover you for those situations. You also need to determine if there are reasonable coverage limits. Check deductibles and compensation limits in the insurance policy for this.

While insurance is important, it is mostly a safeguard against emergencies. If you are on a budget, you can go with the second- or even third-best option and prioritize getting your money’s worth instead of purchasing the most comprehensive coverage.

Europe has swathes of spectacular landscapes, a rich history, and vibrant cultures. Therefore, deciding on the best travel destinations on the continent can be difficult. However, you can narrow down on highlights by choosing one overarching theme for your trip. 

If you are looking forward to immersing yourself in art and history, then Italy, Spain , and France should be on the top of your list. Head for Switzerland , Norway , or Croatia if nature is what you love the most. For beaches and water sports, you will be hard-pressed to find better destinations than Greece , Portugal , and Montenegro.

Having said that, you can also diversify your itinerary by mixing and matching different elements of the same country. Italy  tops the charts not just for its medieval monuments and Renaissance art but also for coastal scenery and sun-soaked beaches. Similarly, Spain is a foodie paradise as much as it is an architectural hotspot.

Bus services like FlixBus and BusAbout offer a convenient means of transport if you wish to move from one city to another within the same country. Although these services do travel between countries, they might not be the best choice due to a longer travel time.

Budget airlines are another great way to get around Europe’s major cities, especially when you want to cut down on travel time between two countries. Keep an eye out and you might be able to snag tickets at unbelievable rates. Services like Skyscanner can be of help. Some of the largest budget airlines in the continent are Ryanair , WizzAir , Eurowings , and EasyJet .

Ridesharing services are a godsend for those wishing to immerse themselves in local culture as they offer you the chance to catch a ride with locals along the way. BlaBlaCar is the largest one. The only downside is that it is not always as easy to book a rideshare service as it is to catch a bus or hop on a budget flight.

The USA is one of the 63 countries whose citizens enjoy visa-free entry into the EU Schengen zone along with the UK and associated states like Iceland , Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. 

This means that if you are an American citizen with a valid US passport and want to travel to Europe for a limited amount of time for tourism or business purpose, you can do so anytime you want to. However, if you have more long-term plans (say, you intend to get employed, study, or simply live in Europe for an extended period of time), you will need to apply for a visa. The type of your visa and required documentation depend on your goals. 

Update for 2022: EU is set to launch ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) by the end of this year. It is similar to ESTA and is supposed to help simplify travel procedures and decrease security risks. All travelers allowed to travel to the EU and associated states visa-free will require an ETIAS authorization. This also includes US citizens.

If your country has a visa-free agreement with the EU, you are allowed to spend up to 90 days within a period of 180 days. Keep in mind that the countdown starts on the date of your entry and ends on the date of your exit. So, for example, if you fly into an EU country on the first of the month and exit on the 15th, it will count as a 15-day stay.

There are 63 countries in the world that have a visa-waiver agreement with the EU . If your country is part of this agreement, you can travel to Europe visa-free. You do, however, need to show the following to be allowed into the Schengen Zone and associated states.

• A valid passport: Your passport should have a validity of at least 3 months at the time of your entry into Schengen and be less than ten years old.
• Purpose of entry: In addition to your passport, you also require documents that prove that you are there for tourism purposes. These documents can include invoices for hotel reservations and booked tours. 
• Proof of financial means: You also need to carry documents proving that you can support yourself during your stay in the region.

As long as you have got all three, all you need is a plane ticket to your chosen destination. 

• Europe budget tours
• Eco tours in Europe
• Europe guided tours
• Europe family tour packages
• Europe honeymoon packages
• Europe luxury tours
• Europe private tours
• Europe romantic holidays
• Europe self-guided tours
• Europe small group tours
• Europe solo trips
• Europe tours for senior citizens
• Europe tours for young adults
• Europe group tours
• Europe last minute deals
• Europe travel deals

Popular Destinations

• Albania Tours
• Andorra Tours
• Armenia Tours
• Austria Tours
• Azerbaijan Tours
• Belgium Tours
• Bosnia herzegovina Tours
• Bulgaria Tours
• Croatia Tours
• Cyprus Tours
• Czech republic Tours
• Denmark Tours
• England Tours
• Estonia Tours
• Finland Tours
• France Tours
• Georgia Tours
• Germany Tours
• Greece Tours
• Holland Tours
• Hungary Tours
• Iceland Tours
• Ireland Tours
• Italy Tours
• Kosovo Tours
• Latvia Tours
• Lithuania Tours
• Luxembourg Tours
• Macedonia Tours
• Malta Tours
• Montenegro Tours
• Norway Tours
• Poland Tours
• Portugal Tours
• Romania Tours
• Scotland Tours
• Serbia Tours
• Slovakia Tours
• Slovenia Tours
• Spain Tours
• Sweden Tours
• Switzerland Tours
• Turkey Tours
• Wales Tours

Popular Activities

• Active and outdoor tours
• Adventure tours
• Art and architecture tours
• Beach tours
• Bicycle tours
• City sightseeing tours
• Cruise tours
• Cultural, religious and historic sites tours
• Explorer tours
• Local culture tours
• Museum and gallery visits tours
• National parks tours
• Natural landmarks sightseeing tours
• Safari tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Trekking and Hiking tours
• Walking tours
• Wildlife tours

Upcoming Departures

• Spring 2024/2025
• Summer 2024/2025
• Winter 2024/2025
• August 2024
• September 2024
• October 2024
• November 2024
• December 2024
• January 2025
• February 2025
• August 2025
• September 2025

Best price guaranteed - No booking fees

Sign-in to unlock instant trip discounts. Create wish lists and save up to USD 1,500.

Germany tours

Discover the culture, history, and beauty of this incredible country. Raise a stein of beer at Oktoberfest, learn about World War II history, or float down the Rhine River on guided tours of Germany.

4.7 out of 5 stars

4.8 out of 5 stars

4.5 out of 5 stars

4.6 out of 5 stars

4.2 out of 5 stars

Get paired with your perfect tour

Answer six questions and we’ll narrow down our 175+ tours to just a few that are made for you.

Already booked? Add excursions!

Add handpicked experiences to dive deeper into culture, and stay longer on the tour extension.

Combine your Club Go credits

If you have an account, you’re part of Club Go—and you earn rewards after every trip.

Group travel made easy

We offer 200+ immersive, guided tours around the world. Wherever you choose to go, you’ll enjoy lots of advantages that make traveling with us different.

That’s all it takes to secure a spot on one of our group tours when you sign up for AutoPay . Plus, you can pay in interest-free, monthly installments.

While you’re deciding what to take, we’ll be busy arranging your hotels, meals, tickets, and more tour essentials. That’s what going guided is all about .

Take off on your big adventure— but why stop there? Every trip you book with us earns rewards that you can use to keep expanding your horizons.

Talk to a travel expert about our Germany tours

Chat online.

Chat instantly with us during our normal hours, or leave a message and we'll get back to you ASAP.

Schedule a call

Let us know your preferred time to chat and a travel expert will reach out.

Schedule now

We're available every day from our offices in Boston and Denver at 1-800-590-1161

What travelers are saying about our Germany tours

Travel tips for germany trips.

Germany is beautiful any time of year, but the off-season most certainly shines. It's during the fall and winter months that some of the country's most famous festivities kick off. While you may need to contend with some crowds hoping to take in the seasonal ambiance, it's the best time to visit Germany if you're looking for a real peek into German culture.

Of all the places to see in Germany, the Christmas markets are some of the most breathtaking. These stunning events can be found in almost every city during late November and December. Set off on one of our Christmas market tours to pick up authentic souvenirs like cuckoo clocks and ornaments, try traditional food and drinks like Glühwein , and see festive winter displays at these seasonal celebrations.

If you're planning to visit Germany a bit earlier, reserve your spot on any of our Oktoberfest tours in September and early October to take part in Munich's world-renowned Oktoberfest celebrations. Think that Oktoberfest is all about beer? That's a big part of it, but the food, music, games, and dancing are all part of the fun, too!

While a winter trip to Germany may be relatively cold, the spring and summer are mild—there's a good reason why May through October are the most popular times to go on tours of Germany! The warmer months are ideal times to book Germany tour packages if you'd like to drink local beers and eat authentic dishes at the many outdoor biergartens , or beer gardens, throughout the country. Plus, the famous Passion Play hits the stage in Oberammergau once every 10 years during these peak travel months. Check out our Oberammergau tours if you'd like to attend this historic performance in 2020.

Interested in Germany guided tour packages? Good news: There are countless places to visit in Germany that are brimming with amazing history and culture. One of the country's most storied destinations include the fabled Black Forest. Legends come to life as you explore this hilly area, which served as the setting for many of the Grimm brothers’ fairy tales and is where the cuckoo clock and Black Forest cake came into being.

Along with the Black Forest, other historic places in the Bavaria region include the city of Munich (especially during autumn's lively Oktoberfest celebrations!), the Bavarian Alps, and the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Plus, visiting the fairy-tale Neuschwanstein Castle is one of our 5 favorite moments in historic Germany . These spots are the highlight of any Germany vacation package.

Other popular stops include Hamburg, Berlin , and the Rhine River Valley. If you're looking to experience one of the world-renowned Christmas Markets, some of the most famous celebrations pop up in Dresden, Nuremberg, Heidelberg, and Freiburg–although any German Christmas market is sure to impress. These seasonal celebrations could be considered some of the most famous tourist attractions in Germany.

A highlight of all Germany tours is authentic German food, which is typically synonymous with comfort food. Among the country's hearty, substantial specialties you'll find rich dumpling stews, sauerkraut, Wienerschnitzel, a variety of sausages, smoked cheeses, and dark breads.

While most of the country's typical dishes can be found year-round, don't miss out on the classic seasonal treats that fill the stalls of Germany's Christmas markets. Here are some seasonal culinary moments worth seeking out:

• Sip Glühwein, an iconic German tipple of hot mulled wine brewed with spices and citrus.
• In Dresden, snack on the city’s sweet holiday invention, Dresdener Stollen , a traditional cake made with dried fruit and marzipan.
• Look for giant circles of flourless gingerbread called Elisenlebkuchen in Nuremberg.

Visiting Germany during Oktoberfest in Munich? It may come as a surprise, but this annual festival is just as much about the food as it is about the steins of beer. Visit any tent during the Oktoberfest celebrations and you're sure to find:

• Bavarian pretzels, Brezen, dipped in a spicy beer cheese called Obatzda
• Cheese-covered noodles called Käksespätzle
• Potato dumplings called Knödel
• Hendl , which is spit-roasted chicken
• All types of sausage! Bratwurst and white Weisswurst are popular

Of Germany's many traditional products, beer is one of the most important—and for good reason. Germany produces over 5,000 brands of beer in 1,300 breweries. In fact, the highest density of breweries in the world is reportedly found just outside Bamberg in Bavaria. On tours of Germany, it's a must to sip Bavarian-style white and wheat beers, Kölsch from Cologne, Oktoberfest Märzen, and dark, malty lagers called Dunkel. Set off on our Food & Wine: Beers of Belgium & Germany tour to try them all!

The thought of classic German drinks may immediately call strong lagers to mind, but don’t count the country’s wines out. Crisp, citrusy Rieslings full of minerality thrive in Mosel, Pinot Noir can be found in Rheingau, and lightbodied reds and white varietals made from Silvaner grapes from Rheinhessen are worth a try.

While preparing for tours of Germany, remember that temperatures can vary depending on the season and region. Bring rainwear so you're ready in the event of unexpected rain showers, and have a light jacket on hand in case temperatures drop near the Alps. It's best to stick to simple basics–Germans often wear casual yet fashionable clothing.

Winters in Germany are generally cold. Bring a warm coat, hat, and gloves for outdoor sightseeing and Christmas market visits. On the other hand, you can't go wrong with T-shirts and shorts during Germany's warm summers, and a light scarf always comes in handy when you need to dress up an outfit. Keep in mind that it's best to wear sneakers or sturdy boots during a trip to Germany; the cobblestone streets found in many historic cities and towns aren't well-suited for high heels or flimsy footwear.

Once you've reserved one of our Germany tour packages, we'll send you detailed information about what to bring with you. Don't forget to download the Go Ahead Tour Companion app before you take off, so you’ll have all the info you need about your trip right in your pocket. That includes a detailed packing list you can check off so you don’t leave anything behind!

Need help narrowing down our Germany tours?

See the latest from our travelers @goaheadtours.

• An A+ company rated by BBB

• Call US 7 days a week from 8AM to Midnight ET 1-800-430-0484

Destinations

• Europe, Africa & Middle East
• Asia & South Pacific
• The Americas
• Build your Vacation Itinerary
• Gift Certificate
• Subscribe to our Newsletter

All Destinations A - Z

Most Popular Packages

Manage bookings, additional information.

• Travel Insurance

Recently Viewed

• Terms & Conditions

• Destinations ❯
• Build Your Vacation Itinerary
• My Booking ❯
• About Us ❯
• All Destinations A-Z
• See all Recently Viewed
• [tmpagetype=homepage]
• [tmpagetypeinstance=]
• [tmadstatus=]
• [tmregion=europe]
• [tmcountry=]
• [tmdestination=]
• Madrid and Barcelona by Air 6 nights from $1,159*
• Lisbon and Porto by Train 6 nights from $1,329*
• Rome - Florence - Venice by Train 7 nights from $1,389*
• Athens and Istanbul by Air 6 nights from $1,169*

Custom Europe Vacation Packages

Custom itineraries since 1984 combining destination expertise with fast and easy booking.

We can not build an itinerary with:

please try another combination.

  Adults: Children: Child Ages:

Room1: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 Child age 1: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Child age 2: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Room2: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 Child age 1: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Child age 2: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Room3: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 Child age 1: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Child age 2: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

highlights & attractions

European Best Sellers

The Mediterranean

Unesco Sites of Europe

The Adriatic Sea

Southern Europe

Europe for Foodies

The Ring of Kerry

Idyllic Islands of Europe

Iconic European Road Trips

Danube River

European Wine Regions

Central Europe

London-Paris and Beyond

Eastern Europe

Best European Train Trips

Northern Europe

Best Europe Vacation Packages

Madrid and barcelona by air, 6 nights from $1,159*.

866 Customer Reviews

This top seller in Spain is a perfect introduction to Europe . Visit Madrid (its famous museums, nightlife and endless energy) and Barcelona (Gaudi, Gothic Quarter and always in the biting edge of fashion, architecture, food, style, music and good times). A flight connects these destinations. This is a flexible vacation package. Select your number of nights in each city, desired hotel and activities.

• Flight into Madrid and out of Barcelona
• Hotel for 3 nights in Madrid
• Flight from Madrid to Barcelona
• Hotel for 3 nights in Barcelona

Experience beautiful Portugal through two of its most popular destinations!. Begin your vacation in Lisbon (the dazzling capital with an ancient fortress at its heart with charming neighborhoods, local festivals, nightlife, and delectable food) and then, take a train to Porto (the former residence of the Royal Family; visit medieval cathedrals, concert halls, the national library and museums with breathtaking art treasures and porto wines!). This is a flexible vacation package. Select your number of nights in each city, desired hotel and activities.

• Flight into Lisbon and out of Porto
• Train from Lisbon to Porto
• Hotel for 3 nights in Lisbon
• Hotel for 3 nights in Porto

Our #1 Bestseller and the perfect introduction to Italy! . Visit these fascinating cities starting in: Rome (the Eternal City, with its stunning architecture like the Colosseum and the Roman Forum and delicious food) after that, travel north to Florence (capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, is home to many masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture) and finally, to Venice (set on gorgeous canals, intimate Gondola rides will guide you past sumptuous palaces and under sculpted bridges). Travel between these cities by very convenient train rides which allow you an opportunity to observe the lovely country side. This is a flexible vacation package. Select your number of nights in each city, desired hotel and activities.

• Flight into Rome and out of Venice
• Hotel for 3 nights in Rome
• Train from Rome to Florence
• Hotel for 2 nights in Florence
• Train from Florence to Venice
• Hotel for 2 nights in Venice

Take an exciting vacation in Grece and Turkey! . Begin with a visit to Athens (the cradle of civilization and home of democracy, is a heady mix of history and edginess with iconic monuments mingle with first-rate museums) and then, take a flight to Istanbul (which is world-famous for its rich history and culture, stunning scenery, magnificent structures across the sprawling Bosphorus Strait). This is a flexible vacation package. Select your number of nights in each city, desired hotel and activities.

• Flight into Athens and out of Istanbul
• Hotel for 3 nights in Athens
• Flight from Athens to Istanbul
• Hotel for 3 nights in Istanbul

A taste of two of the most fascinating cities in Netherlands and France ! Visit Paris (The City of Lights with impressive monuments, museums, culture and gastronomy) and Amsterdam (easygoing and liberal; a diverse culture full of museums, shops and eclectic neighborhoods set along tranquil canals with a vibrant nightlife). Travel between these two amazing destinations by train. This is a flexible package. Select your number of nights in each city, desired hotel and activities.

• Flight into Paris and out of Amsterdam
• Hotel for 3 nights in Paris
• Train Paris - Amsterdam
• Hotel for 3 nights in Amsterdam

Discover the best of France and Italy ! With our European vacation packages, you can combine Paris and Rome into one unforgettable getaway. Explore the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysses and Roman Coliseum all on one vacation. Be enlightened by Europe's historical background with masterpieces from more than two millennia of artistic achievement, and much more. Customize your independent itinerary with a trip to the Louvre or the Vatican with flights between the cities. With so much to see and do, we want you to make the most of your vacation. This is a flexible vacation package. Select your number of nights in each city, desired hotel and activities.

• Flight into Paris and out of Rome
• Flight Paris - Rome

Two dynamic European cities are combined here into one unforgettable vacation visiting Portugal and Spain . Begin in Lisbon (the capital of Portugal; set on the banks of the Tagus river with an ancient medieval fort) then, catch a flight to Madrid (with an undeniable energy; famous museums, fabulous shopping and nightlife). This is a flexible vacation package. Select your number of nights in each city, desired hotel and activities.

• Flight into Lisbon and out of Madrid
• Flight from Lisbon to Madrid

One of the most popular vacation packages in Europe, combining England and France by train. Visit London (grand museums, stunning architecture, Royalty, glorious parks and diverse cultural scene) and Paris (the 'City of Lights'; home to rich history, museums, architecture, shopping, fine food and wine). This is a flexible vacation package. Select your number of nights in each city, desired hotel and activities.

• Flight into London and out of Paris
• Hotel for 3 nights in London
• Eurostar Train from London to Paris
• The Eurostar does not have guaranteed availability at Christmas, we suggest selecting air between Paris and London during this time

Travel through Europe like never before, visiting Hungary , Austria and Czech Republic . Start in Budapest (two cities in one, Buda and Pest, connected by the Szechenyi Chain Bridge) and then, take a train to Vienna (city of music, cafes, waltzes, parks, pastries, and wine with stately streets and Baroque palaces) and a last train to Prague (it's known for its Old Town Square, the heart of its historic core, with colorful baroque buildings, Gothic churches and the medieval Astronomical Clock). This is a flexible vacation package. Select your number of nights in each city, desired hotels and activities.

• Flight into Budapest and out of Prague
• Hotel for 3 nights in Budapest
• Train from Budapest to Vienna
• Hotel for 3 nights in Vienna
• Train from Vienna to Prague
• Hotel for 3 nights in Prague

A popular vacation through Netherlands and Belgium . Begin in Amsterdam (a charming, eclectic city set on the banks of beautiful canals; full of history and diversity) and continues through Brussels (a city blending modern buildings along traditional cobblestone streets and incredible food) connected by the InterCity Express train. This is a flexible vacation package. Select your number of nights in each city, desired hotel and activities.

• Flight into Amsterdam and out of Brussels
• Train Amsterdam - Brussels
• Hotel for 3 nights in Brussels

The perfect Nordic Trio in Norway, Denmark and Sweeden . Visit Oslo (situated by a fjord and surrounded by hills and forests), Copenhagen (cozy European capital, filled with stunning architecture, historic sites, world-class museums, and some of the best shopping and dining in Europe) and Stockholm (built on 14 islands around one of Europe`s largest and best-preserved medieval city centers, with stunning and extremely varied scenery in every direction.) Travel between them by flights. This is a flexible package. Select your number of nights in each city, desired hotel and activities.

• Flight into Oslo and out of Stockholm
• Hotel for 2 nights in Oslo
• Flight from Oslo to Copenhagen
• Hotel for 2 nights in Copenhagen
• Flight Copenhagen to Stockholm
• Hotel for 2 nights in Stockholm

Experience two fascinating cities in England and Ireland with this customizable vacation package. Visit London (a world center of theatre, art, music, literature and culture) and then, fly to Dublin (a delightful mix of history and culture, with medieval, georgian and modern architecture). This is a flexible vacation package. Select your number of nights in each city, desired hotel and activities.

• Flight into London and out of Dublin
• Flight from London to Dublin
• Hotel for 3 nights in Dublin

Combine France and Italy with an exclusive vacation package to some of the most popular cities in Europe! Paris (the romantic City of Lights, the Eiffel Tower and The Louvre) will steal your breath before flying to Venice (with sumptuous palaces and dreamy waterways). Take the train and observe the charming countryside en route to Florence (Michelangelo`s David, Botticelli`s Birth of Venus, and Raphael`s La Velata) and lastly Rome (Italy`s treasure, ripe with history, quaint alleys and centuries of achievement in the arts). This is a flexible vacation package. Select your number of nights in each city, desired hotel and activities.

• Flight between Paris and Venice
• Train Venice - Florence
• Train Florence - Rome

Experience Italy with this lovely vacation package, leading you through Rome (Italy's treasure with two millennia of artistic achievement) after that, Cinque Terre (five miles of rocky coast with five small villages overlooking the sea, in the midst of two capes with hundreds of miles of beautiful paths), next is Florence (Michelangelo's David, Botticelli's Birth of Venus, and Raphael's La Velata) and finally, Venice (set on gorgeous canals, intimate Gondola rides will guide you past sumptuous palaces and under sculpted bridges). Travel between these cities by very convenient train rides which allow you an opportunity to observe the lovely country side. This is a flexible vacation package. Select your number of nights in each city, desired hotel and activities.

• Train from Rome to La Spezia (Gateway to Cinque Terre)
• Hotel for 2 nights in Cinque Terre Area
• Train from La Spezia to Florence

Our most popular combination in Greece! . Enjoy Athens (the cradle of civilization and home of democracy, is a heady mix of history and edginess with iconic monuments mingle with first-rate museum), up next by ferry/hydrofoils, visit Mykonos (famous for shopping, beach parties, and the very photogenic Mykonos Town and its windmills) and after that, to Santorini (recognizable for its whitewashed, cube-shaped buildings adorned with blue accents, steep cliffs and tangerine sunsets that light up the sky and sea). Finally, fly back to Athens to finish enjoying what the city has to offer. This is a flexible vacation package. Select your number of nights in each city, desired hotel and activities.

• Flight into and out of Athens
• Ferry from Athens to Mykonos Island
• Hotel for 3 nights in Mykonos Island
• Ferry from Mykonos Island to Santorini Island
• Hotel for 3 nights in Santorini Island
• Flight from Santorini Island to Athens
• Hotel for 1 night in Athens

Ferries/hydrofoils for the Islands do not operate in off seasons (autumn and winter) due to weather conditions

An Exotic African Holiday in Reunion and Seychelles Islands! . First enjoy Reunion Island (lying off the east coast of Africa; its famous for have one of the most active volcanoes in the world , hiking routes, beautiful villages and for its highest-quality vanilla plantations). After that, travel to the amazing Seychelles ; where the most famous island in the country; Mahe Island (capital city with beautiful beaches, local markets, big hotels and luxury resorts) and Praslin Island (Seychelles' second-biggest island; famed for having some of the world's most beautiful beaches, like Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette ; abundant wildlife, majestic palm trees, and wild nature trails) await you for unforgettable and relaxing days under the sun!. These destinations are connected by flights. This is a flexible vacation package. Select your number of nights in each city, desired hotel and activities.

• Flight into Reunion Island and out of Praslin Island
• Hotel for 2 nights in Reunion Island
• Flight from Reunion Island to Mahe Island
• Hotel for 2 nights in Mahe Island
• Flight from Mahe Island to Praslin Island
• Hotel for 2 nights in Praslin Island

Combine Bologna (a thriving university town and architectural gem), Rimini  (Adriatic coast, in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region), Ravenna (former capital of the Western Roman Empire, the Visigoth Empire, and the Byzantine Empire, but best known today for the Byzantine mosaic decoration of its churches and tombs), Ferrara (known for the buildings erected by its Renaissance rulers, the Este family) and Venice (built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. It has no roads, just canals, lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces) with train between cities.  This is a flexible vacation package. Select your number of nights in each city, desired hotel and activities.

• Flight into Bologna and out of Venice
• Hotel for 3 nights in Bologna
• Train from Bologna to Rimini
• Hotel for 2 nights in Rimini
• Train from Rimini to Ravenna
• Hotel for 2 nights in Ravenna
• Train from Ravenna to Ferrara
• Hotel for 2 nights in Ferrara
• Train from Ferrara to Venice
• Hotel for 3 nights in Venice

Flawless cities in Switzerland with a Rental Car! . Combine Zurich (a global center for banking and finance, lies at the north end of Lake Zurich in northern Switzerland) and after that, drive to Grindelwald (a village in Switzerland’s Bernese Alps, is a popular gateway for the Jungfrau Region , with skiing in winter and hiking in summer). Drive back to Zurich for one last night stay, before returning home. This is a flexible vacation package. Select your number of nights in each city, desired hotel and activities.

• Flight in and out of Zurich
• Hotel for 1 night in Zurich
• Rental Car for 6 days
• Hotel for 5 nights in Grindelwald

Driving Time Zurich - Grindelwald: 2 hrs. 15 mins. approx. Interlaken - Grindelwald: 2 hrs. 15 mins. approx.

popular vacation packages

In the spotlight.

explore Europe

• Andorra la Vella
• Azerbaijan:
• Bosnia Herzegovina:
• Chobe National Park
• Okavango Delta
• Cape Verde:
• Santa Maria (Sal Island)
• Praia (Santiago Island)
• Mindelo (Sao Vicente Island)
• Czech Republic:
• Cesky Krumlov
• Karlovy Vary
• Addis Ababa
• Faroe Islands:
• Torshavn (Streymoy Island)
• Nice (French Riviera)
• Gibraltar City
• Santorini Island
• Mykonos Island
• Ivory Coast:
• Diani Beach
• Liechtenstein:
• Luxembourg:
• Luxembourg City
• Madagascar:
• Antananarivo
• Valletta (Malta Island)
• Gozo Island
• St Julians (Malta Island)
• Mauritius Island
• Monte Carlo
• Montenegro:
• Montenegro Coast
• Mozambique:
• Etosha National Park
• Netherlands:
• Northern Ireland:
• Giants Causeway Coast
• Derry (Londonderry)
• The Wahiba Sands
• The Pearl (Doha)
• Reunion Island
• San Marino:
• San Marino City
• Sao Tome and Principe:
• Sao Tome Island
• Seychelles:
• Mahe Island
• Praslin Island
• Slovenian Riviera
• South Africa:
• Johannesburg
• Kruger National Park (Game Reserve)
• Switzerland:
• Moshi (Kilimanjaro)
• Cappadocia (Central Anatolia)
• United Arab Emirates:
• Livingstone
• Victoria Falls

• Terms & Conditions
• Special Events
• instagram twitter facebook rss youtube

Destinations

• Cook Islands
• New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea
• USA (Hawaii)

Go Your Way...Tailor-made

• Beach/Islands Escapes
• Classics (Bestsellers)
• Go As You Please
• Private Experiences
• Self-Drives
• Snowbird/Long Stays
• Stays of Distinction
• Stopovers/City Breaks
• Tailor-made Travel Ideas
• Vacation Packages with Air

Other Ways to Go

• Active & Adventurous
• Cruises & Sailing
• Escorted Coach Touring
• Holidays of a Lifetime
• 18 to 30 Somethings
• Rail Travel Ideas
• Small Group Touring
• Speciality Groups & Events
• Family Vacations
• Luxury & Beyond
• Romance & Honeymoons
• Singles Friendly
• South Africa
• More Countries

• China & Tibet
• Indonesia (Bali)
• Chile & Easter Island
• Ecuador & Galapagos
• United States
• Bucket List Travel Ideas
• Multi Country Vacation Ideas
• United Arab Emirates (Dubai)
• Australia & South Pacific
• Africa & Middle East
• Central & South America
• US & Canada
• Idyllic Islands
• UK & Europe
• Arctic & Antarctica
• Presidents Message
• About Goway Travel
• Special Services & Expertise
• Company History
• Goway's Early Days
• The World of Travel in 1970
• Goway Timeline
• Our Website
• Awards & Recognition

Our Services

• Why Travel with Goway
• Destination Knowledge
• Group Service
• Repeat Passenger Privileges
• Make it Extra Special
• Your Holiday Your Way
• Value Added Extras
• 50+ Reasons Why to Go Downunder with Goway

Our Policies

• Booking Conditions
• Commitment to Accessibility
• Consumer Protection Plans
• Our Guarantee
• Privacy Policy
• Travel Insurance

News & Media

• Globetrotting Blog

Globetrotting Magazine

• Press Release Centre

Online Presentations

• Travel Expos
• Different Jobs at Goway
• Train to be an Expert
• Current Openings
• Why Work at Goway
• Employment FAQ's
• Testimonials
• World's Idyllic Islands
• You are here
• › UK & Europe

UK & Europe Tours, Vacations & Travel Packages

Our Europe Tours and Vacations

The UK & Europe offer so much to excite the imagination with their variety of cultures, nations and varied geographical terrain. Although Europe is the world’s smallest continent on the land surface, there is so much to see and do. Goway’s European tours offer in excess of 30 different countries each with its own unique character and attractions.

You can take well-planned escorted itineraries which are offered in many countries from Ireland to Iceland.

You can select a cruise with sailings along the Dalmatian coast in the Adriatic, through the beautiful Aegean Sea and the islands of Greece , along the Romantic Rhine, meander along the Danube, sail through the Waterways of Russia between Moscow and St. Petersburg , marvel at the Nordic cities of the Baltics, take a river cruise in the UK , France and Ireland   and cruise the beautiful Mediterranean.

Or perhaps a luxury train journey is appealing such as on the historic Orient Express from Venice to Istanbul or the iconic Royal Scotsman. Or you might prefer something really different like the Trans-Siberian Railroad from Moscow to Asia.  

Best places to visit on a Europe Trip 

Western europe countries to visit, united kingdom .

A UK vacation may well start in one of the world’s greatest cities, London but also consider other major destinations such as Royal Edinburgh or Georgian Glasgow . The variety of different regions in the UK can be overwhelming – the Lake District, Devon and Cornwall, the Highlands of Scotland, Oxford and Cambridge, Stratford upon Avon, and the Cathedral cities of Canterbury and York are all special yet different.

Across the sea, Ireland , with its green countryside offers very friendly people, romantic castles, awe-inspiring scenery such as the Ring of Kerry, the Cliffs of Mohair and the Dingle, authentic music and traditional pubs and distilleries. A visit to the fair city of Dublin is a must.

France with its Gallic flair offers a long list of reasons to travel there. You can start in the “City of Lights”, Paris with its wonderful art galleries and museums. Then, your visit can extend to one or more of the many wine regions such as Burgundy or Bordeaux, the Loire Valley with its magnificent chateaux, the Normandy Battlefields, and the French Alps for skiing and the attractive beaches on the French Riviera. That just scratches the surface. And let’s not forget the mouthwatering cuisine and the chic fashion.

Italy is a destination that has just about everything. This includes romantic and historical cities with an abundance of cultural attractions such as Rome with the Vatican, Florence, the art centre of the world and Venice with its canals and bridges.

Then there is Tuscany and Umbria with their medieval hill towns such as Siena, Assisi and San Gimignano and their outstanding wines. The Dolomites offer excellent skiing. The scenery is breathtaking along the Amalfi Coast and the Cinque Terre.  Milan has its superb Cathedral and fashion and design; Pisa, its leaning tower and Bologna, its cuisine.   

Germany 

Germany is a country rich in festivals. The Christmas markets are second to none. It has one of the world’s most outstanding capitals, cosmopolitan Berlin , famous for its museums, musical events and culture generally. Nothing beats a river cruise down the romantic Rhine with its beautiful scenery, vineyards and castles. And who would not want to be in Munich during Oktoberfest? A tour along the Romantic Road will reveal attractive old towns as well as scenery. For a glimpse of the past, visit Dresden with its outstanding baroque architecture and see how it has been totally rebuilt to its former self. And for both scenery and skiing, head to the Bavarian Alps.

Switzerland 

When it comes to Alpine scenery at its foremost, then Switzerland (and Austria ) lead the way. It is a skiers’ paradise with resorts such as St. Moritz, Davos and Zermatt. In the summer, Switzerland reveals another side of itself in its gorgeous lake destinations, Interlaken, Lucerne and Lausanne. And then there are the bears in Bern. Don’t overlook Zurich with its culturally-rich attractions.

Vienna in Austria offers an old-world charm and possibly the best coffee and pastries anywhere. Highlights here include the elegant Belvedere and Schonbrunn Palaces, the renowned State Opera House and the famous Spanish Riding School. Austria also has some of the best ski resorts anywhere such as St. Anton and Kitzbuhel. Spend time in charming Innsbruck and Salzburg with its striking castle.

Netherlands 

Belgium 

One of the most attractive squares in Europe is in Brussels , Belgium , the delightful Grande Place. The city is also a centre for incredible Art Nouveau architecture, gourmet cuisine and exceptional art galleries and museums. Bruges has to be a contender to Venice with its attractive canals and waterways. Ghent is the place to purchase lace but also has some of the most interesting buildings in the country. Antwerp may be famous for its diamond industry but is also a city of outstanding architecture. Then there are, of course, the chocolate, beer and fries for which Belgium is famous.  

Spain 

Spain is the home of the bullfight and the flamenco certainly – a good start for a country with much flair and colour. Its capital, Madrid , with its beautiful wide boulevards and grand squares such as the Plaza Mayor, has some outstanding art galleries such as the Prado, the Reina Sofia and the Thyssen-Bornemisza. It is also an excellent centre for visiting nearby, colourful and fascinating cities such as Toledo, Avila, Segovia and Aranjuez.  Barcelona i s a delightful city emphasized in places such as the walking boulevard, Las Ramblas, the medieval Gothic Quarter, the unusual but exciting architecture of Antoni Gaudi including the amazing and unique church, the Sagrada Familia and the whimsical Parc Guell. Not far away is the Costa Brava with its many lovely beach resorts such as Sitges, Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar.  Andalusia has three gems, Granada, Seville and Cordoba, each with its Moorish influences and just south of here is Malaga with its Picasso Museum and the excellent Costa del Sol resorts of Torremolinos and Marbella. Offshore is another major beach area, the Canary Islands which includes Tenerife and Las Palmas.

Portugal offers the second oldest capital in Europe after Athens. In Lisbon , you can visit quaint and colourful neighbourhoods such as Bairro Alto and Alfama or you can head out of the city to the beach resort Cascais or Sintra with its castles and palaces. Oporto, apart from being the centre of the port industry, is an interesting old city. The Algarve is a good place to escape winter with its attractive beach resorts such as Lagos and Portimao. Offshore is the garden-like island of Madeira.  

Eastern Europe countries to visit 

In Hungary , Budapest is a charming and sophisticated city where the Danube River flows right through the centre. It divides Buda with its historical venues such as Buda Castle, St. Stephen’s Basilica and Fisherman’s Bastion and Pest, and the more modern side with its wide boulevards and great shopping and dining opportunities. Budapest is also an excellent place to experience a thermal bath in one of its many spas.

Czech Republic 

One of Europe’s most visited capitals has to be Prague in the Czech Republic and rightly so with its medieval castles, churches, architecture and quaint cobblestone streets. Also, don’t miss out on a visit to Cesky Krumlov with its outstanding baroque buildings and spectacular castle.

Croatia 

Upcoming, soon to be one of Europe’s major destinations, is Croatia , a country blessed with wonderful scenery and a scenic coastline offering outstanding beach resorts such as Dubrovnik, Split and the islands of Hvar, Mljet and Korcula. But that’s not all there is. Croatia has a long history dating back to Roman times which is in evidence almost everywhere. For something different, visit the scenic national park of Plitvice with its beautiful lakes.

Turkey 

It is said that Turkey is at the crossroads of the world. Certainly,  Istanbul straddles both Europe and Asia. This extraordinary and special city offers a wealth of reasons to visit. These include the Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sofia and the Grand Bazaar to name a few highlights. Plus a cruise on the Bosphorus is a delight. Ancient Roman sites abound such as Ephesus and Pergamon and for natural phenomena, head to the unusual rock formations in Cappadocia. You can also enjoy a beach stay on the Mediterranean coast in Antalya or Kusadasi.

Romania 

Bucharest , in Romania , has come a long way from its more austere days. You can enjoy the historic Calea Victoriei area with its old and most charming cobblestone streets, the historic Revolution Square and the Lipiscani District, a jumble of streets, now home to art galleries, and antique shops, and coffee houses. Romania has many medieval attractions and these can be best viewed in towns such as Brasov, Sighisoara and Sibiu. For intrigue, there is Bran Castle of Dracula fame and for scenery, check out the Carpathian Mountains.

Then there is Scandinavia. Norway i s blessed with a wealth of natural beauty. This includes the dramatic and awe-inspiring fjords. The cities of Oslo and Bergen will delight you with their Nordic allure. The capital of Sweden , Stockholm is a city with immense charm. You can walk the narrow streets of Gamla Stan, the old town, enjoy cultural pursuits such as the amazing Vasa Museum and, for fun, the ABBA Museum plus take a cruise around the interesting islands that make up the city. Copenhagen , in Denmark , offers several royal palaces, including the Little Mermaid and the entertainment centre, Tivoli Gardens. Finland is a land of lakes and reindeer certainly. But Helsinki has some outstanding architecture, an attractive harbour and excellent shopping.    

Russia 

Russia ’s two major cities offer the visitor an amazing amount of history, culture and architecture. Moscow with its Kremlin, Red Square and St. Basil’s Cathedral will enthrall you. As for culture, visit the Pushkin Museum and the Tretyakov Gallery. A ride on the Moscow Metro is like riding through a museum with art decorating most station platforms. Excellent ballet and opera performances are regularly available at the Bolshoi Theatre and other venues. St. Petersburg is known for its ornate bridges and scenic canals certainly. But don’t miss a visit to one of the world’s largest and most famous art galleries, the Hermitage. Other beautiful buildings include the Winter Palace, St. Isaac’s Cathedral and the Peter and Paul Fortress.

Baltic Countries 

Goway also offers several other destinations in Europe. These include the Baltic countries, Estonia , Latvia and Lithuania , plus Poland , Slovakia , Slovenia , Bulgaria and Belarus in Eastern Europe. Malta , Monaco , Montenegro and Luxembourg are also featured.

Northern Europe countries to visit 

Iceland .

Looking for awe-inspiring and stunning scenery? Then Iceland is the destination for you. There are glaciers, hot springs, geysers, active volcanoes and ice and lava fields to marvel at. And you wouldn’t want to go there without endeavouring to catch a glimpse of the elusive Northern Lights. You can also consider a dip in the world’s largest outdoor geothermal pool, the Blue Lagoon. The capital Reykjavik , although not large, is charming and friendly, full of different styled and colourful houses and with good facilities for shopping, dining and drinking. Don’t miss out on a visit to the very unusual Hallgrimskirkja Church. Elsewhere, there are also three impressive national parks, Vatnajokull National Park, Snaefellsjokull National Park and Thingvellir National Park in Iceland.

Norway has some of the most spectacular scenery in Europe. The Norwegian fjords are legendary. Surrounded by mountains and towering cliffs with powerful waterfalls cascading down the sides, their natural beauty is breathtaking. The best-known are the Hardangerfjord, Geirangerfjord and the Sognefjord. Oslo is a cosmopolitan city with a Nordic flavour. It has many attractions and offers several pleasant parks, a scenic harbour and diverse architecture. Bergen , a popular gateway for the fjords, has some well-preserved Hanseatic buildings. A cruise along the North West coast can include Trondheim known for its magnificent sunsets in the summer plus Tromso and Kirkenes, both ideal for watching the amazing Northern Lights.  

Sweden 

Sweden has a very attractive capital, Stockholm which is spread over 14 individual islands. Walk around the quaint Old Town (Gamla Stan) dating back to the 13th Century with its cobblestone streets. Check out the Royal Palace and the very interesting museums such as the Nobel Museum, the Abba Museum and the Vasa Museum with its preserved 17th Century sailing ship. Nearby Stockholm is the mediaeval Uppsala, a prosperous university city and Sigtuna, the oldest town in the country with its narrow streets and wooden houses. Southern Sweden is home to two major cities, Gothenburg and Malmo. The former is known for its annual cultural festival and the latter for its proximity and accessibility to Denmark or precisely, Copenhagen .

Finland 

In Finland , start with Helsinki the city by the sea with its beautiful harbour where a lively fruit and vegetable market takes place every morning. Esplanadi is the heart of the city, a wide boulevard with many cafes and a lovely park. See the amazing and contemporary Temppeliaukio Church built into a rock and the Sibelius Monument, a fascinating homage to Finland’s famous composer, Jean Sibelius. Suomenlinna, a nearby island, contains several museums and was a large former fortress built to keep out invaders. The Seurasaari Open-Air Museum is filled with authentic old Finnish houses. Outside Helsinki is Porvoo, Finland’s second-oldest town with much history and with many wooden houses, gardens, boutiques and cobbled streets. In the north of Finland close to the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland, the home of the Northern Lights, Santa Claus and Ice Hotels. In Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland, you can visit Santa and his reindeer every day of the year at Santa Claus Village. 

Why Goway Travel for Europe?

We have the expertise to customize individual travel arrangements for any country in Europe. Whether your interest is history, culture, cuisine, architecture, the countryside, the beaches or the desire to find out what makes these places over the centuries so inviting, do consider Europe for your next vacation.

London and the Countryside: London, Stonehenge, Bath & More

MODERATE | TAILOR-MADE: Discover London and the countryside on this 7 day tailor-made adventure. After four days in the English capital you'll set out on a small group tour to explore portions of the verdant countryside. Taking you to historical landmarks like Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace to the enigmatic rocks of Stonehenge to the birthplace of the Bard, it's an ideal combination for England first-timers, or return visitors wanting to go beyond its timeless capital.

UK & Europe

343 trips available.

• Most Popular
• Price Range
• Duration Range
• Ideas for 18 to 30 Somethings
• Specialty Groups & Events
• Beach & Island Escapes
• Go as you Please
• Safaris Worldwide
• Snowbird Long Stays
• Vacation Packages with Airfare
• Luxury and Beyond
• Romance & Honeymoon
• Single Friendly

Classic Italian Highlights: Rome, Florence and Venice

Edinburgh Signature

Heart of the Cyclades: Athens, Syros & Paros

Highlights of Dublin and Belfast

Highlights of Reykjavik

Portugal Deluxe: Porto, Lisbon and the Algarve

Romantic Türkiye: Istanbul to Cappadocia

Scenic South Iceland

Greece Deluxe: Athens, Santorini & Crete

Discover Madeira Self-Drive with Airfare

Experience Slovenia: Ljubljana, Goriska Brda, Bled & more

Grand Train Tour of Switzerland: Montreux, Zermatt, St. Moritz & More

Greece Legends and Landscapes

Highlights of Britain

Jewels of Dalmatia & Slovenia

Madeira Long Stay

Nordic Capitals and Fabulous Fjords: Copenhagen, Aarhus, Stavanger & More

Classic Eastern Europe: Budapest, Vienna & Prague

Italy Odyssey: Rome, Alberobello, Amalfi & Ulisse Riviera

Rome & the Splendid Amalfi

Classic Northern Italy: Milan, Venice, Florence

Sicily Deluxe: Taormina to Siracusa

Tuscan Adventure Self-Drive: Florence, Lucca, Siena and Montepulciano

Wonders of Tuscany & Umbria: Perugia, San Gimignano and Florence

Eat + Drink: Rome to Florence

• Trip Finder

What our travelers say

Goway toolkit.

Need help planning your holiday? Our toolkit is a great place to get started.

Airfare Only

Looking for an airfare only? Ask the airfare experts at GowayAir.

Customise Your Trip

Let us customize a dream holiday for you. Your trip your way!

Get a Trip Quote

Need help in planning your perfect holiday? A FREE travel quote!

Need a Visa?

Do you need a Visa to enter? Let us assist with your travel documents.

The magazine for world travellers. Get your FREE subscription today.

eNewsletter Sign Up

Stay up to date with the latest travel info and destination deals!

Order a Brochure

Planning your next trip? Our brochures are loaded with great ideas.

Enjoy our online presentations from the comfort of your home.

• Czech Republic
• Faroe Islands
• Liechtenstein
• Netherlands
• Northern Ireland
• Republic of Macedonia
• Switzerland

Travel Information

• United Kingdom

Request Brochure

Featured Tours

• Highlights of Downunder
• African Safaris
• China Odyssey
• A World in One Country
• Classic Australia
• Classic Thailand
• Essential New Zealand
• Rio, Iguassu Falls, & Buenos Aires
• Essential Peru

BC Reg. #833-0; TICO Reg. #1543989; CST #2016613-20

• Accessibility

Web Design by Atomic Motion Built by Bright Interactive

GOWAY DESTINATIONS

European escorted tours, year-round

Iconic Destinations

Outstanding Value

All-Round Comfort

Experienced Guides

Germany • Netherlands • Belgium • France • Luxembourg A must-choice for first to Europe GUARANTEED DEPARTURES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR (Weekly)

More Info chevron_right

| BLUE LINE

Germany • Switzerland • Czech Republic • Hungary • Austria • Slovakia • Liechtenstein GUARANTEED DEPARTURES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR (Weekly)

| GREEN LINE

Switzerland • Italy • Vatican • Monaco • France - Enriches history, food & cultural customs GUARANTEED DEPARTURES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR (Weekly)

| PURPLE LINE - A

England & Scotland + Loch Ness Line A : Spring & Summer Itinerary GUARANTEED DEPARTURES (Weekly) Operational from Apr - Sep each year

| PURPLE LINE - B

England & Scotland+Bath,Stonehenge Line B : Annual Fall & Winter itinerary GUARANTEED DEPARTURES (Weekly) Operational from Oct - Mar each year

| YELLOW LINE

Spain • Portugal＝Sunny Side Up GUARANTEED DEPARTURES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR (Weekly) Best southern European experience

| PINK LINE

Denmark • Sweden • Norway Fjord Scandinavia Northern Light GUARANTEED DEPARTURES (Weekly) Operational from April to October each year ( Apr 7 - Oct 5 ,2024 )

| BROWN LINE

Croatia • Bosnia & Herzegovina • Hungary GUARANTEED DEPARTURES Operational from March to December each year ( Mar 7-Dec 25, 2024 ) Requires a Schengen multiple visa.

| ORANGE LINE

France • Spain • Andorra GUARANTEED DEPARTURES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR (Weekly) Summer itinerary (March-September) requires a Schengen multiple visa.

| Swiss 4 Day Tour

New : Paris departure June to Sep 2024 GIFT : Golden Pass Train Ticket ! Swiss fun experience：Jungfrau Scenic : Interlaken, Montreux, Geneva Enjoy : Annecy, Chamonix 2024 Guaranteed Departure Dates： (Saturday) June 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th (Saturday) July 6th , 13th , 20th , 27th (Saturday) Aug 3rd,10th,17th, 24th,31st (Saturday) Sep 7th , 14th , 21st , 28th Adult tour fee : € 488 Single room occupancy：€698 Child tour fee： € 318 (2-11Y) 、€308 (0-2Y)

| Egypt 10 days

Enjoy Full Five-Star Accommodation Great value ! 4-day Nile River cruise 2 nights resort in the Red Sea area Includes: Air Ticket: Cairo – Aswan, ★Entrance tickets ,horse carriage GIFT： Airport transfers, Meals 2024 Guaranteed Departure Dates： (Wed )May 29th, July 3rd,July 31st (Wed) Sep 4th, Oct 2nd,Oct 30th (Wed) *Dec 25th Xmas New year Adult tour fee : € 1598 Single room occupancy：€ 2138 Child tour fee： € 1298 (2-11Y) 、€ 1098 (0-2Y) * Dec 25 *Supplement € 400 pp* ◆ Private Mini Tour Choose Your Own Departure Date From 2-6 passengers Please contact [email protected]

Special Experience: Sahara Desert Includes: Meals, ★Entrance tickets Includes: Campfire ,Camel Riding GIFT: Complimentary stay after tour 2024 Guaranteed Departure Dates： (Friday) May 10th, June 7th (Friday) July 12th, Aug 9th , Sep 13th (Friday) Oct 11th , Nov 8th, Dec 20th Adult tour fee : € 1398 Single room occupancy：€ 1938 Child tour fee： € 1188 (2-11Y) 、€1088 (0-2Y) ◆ Private Mini Tour Choose Your Own Departure Date From 2-6 passengers Please contact [email protected]

| Switzerland

GIFT : Smoke-free city tram ticket ! Scenic experiences: Jungfrau, Zermatt Unique cuisine: Cheese & Chocolate Fairy tale world: Heidi's homeland Lake Brienz «Crash Landing on You» 2024 Guaranteed Departure Dates： (Sunday) June (full), July 21st (Sunday) August 18th, Sep22nd Adult tour fee : € 1298 Single room occupancy：€ 1808 Child tour fee： € 1098 (2-11Y) 、€998 (0-2Y)

| Italy South

Each group has no more than 35 pax ! GIFT: Capri Island ferry ticket ! Visit: Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, Naples Capri, Matera, Alberobello, Ostuni 2024 Guaranteed Departure Dates： Monday : May 6th, July 1st Monday : Sep 2(full), Sep 30th, Oct 21st Adult tour fee : € 1298 Single room occupancy：€ 1808 Child tour fee： € 1098 (2-11Y) 、€ 998 (0-2Y)

| Italy North

GIFT: Cinque Terre train tickets ! Visit: Florence, Cinque Terre, Parma, Modena, San Marino, Rimini, Bologna San Gimignano, Siena, Montecatini 2024 Guaranteed Departure Dates： Monday : June (full), Aug (full) Monday : Oct 7th, Nov 11th, Dec 16th Adult tour fee : € 1298 Single room occupancy：€ 1808 Child tour fee： € 1098 (2-11Y) 、€ 998 (0-2Y)

| City of Dreams Mediterranean 5 day

Cyprus 5 star Entertainment Resort Free activities+entertainment options Experience: Entertainment workshops Revealing entertainment secrets, Absolutely satisfying curiosity about casinos Kids' daycare! Enjoy true self-holiday Mediterranean sunshine Enjoy all-around relaxation 2024 Guaranteed Departure Dates： (Mon) July 8th , August 26th , Sep 16th Adult tour fee : € 1298 Single room occupancy：€ 2098 Child tour fee： € 1098 (2-11Y) 、€ 998 (0-2Y) ◆ Private Mini Tour Choose Your Own Departure Date From 2-6 passengers Please contact [email protected]

We use cookies to provide the best experience possible. We do not track any of your personal information using cookies. More Information

• Help Center
• 1-866-921-7925

Start Searching

• Packages  
• Hotels  
• Cruises  
• Rental Cars  

* Indicates required fields

Rental Period:

pickUpDate - dropOffDate

Pick-Up: pickUpTime - Drop-Off: dropOffTime

Pick-Up Location:

pickUpAddress

pickUpAgencyName

pickUpAgencyAddress

Drop-Off Location:

Same as Pick-Up Location

dropOffAddress

dropOffAgencyName

dropOffAgencyAddress

Coupon Override

Please call.

For drivers under the age of 25, additional fees and/or restrictions may apply.

For information and assistance in completing your reservation, please call:

We're unable to find your location.

Alaska Cruise Tours:

A cruise tour is a voyage and land tour combination, with the land tour occurring before or after the voyage. Unless otherwise noted, optional services such as airfare, airport transfers, shore excursions, land tour excursions, etc. are not included and are available for an additional cost.

Vacation Packages

Choose your european adventure, choose your own european adventure; discover secret beaches in greece, explore ancient castles in ireland or hunt down the best wine in france..

Explore the museums of Madrid, sip espresso by the canals of Venice and witness the Changing of the Guard in London. Europe has something to offer everyone.

• Netherlands

Featured Deals

Best of italy: your way.

Daily Breakfast Private Airport Transfers and Rail Tickets

London and Paris: Your Way

Daily Breakfast $400 London Tour Credit Rail Tickets on Eurostar, Executive Member Benefits

Madrid, Seville and Barcelona: Your Way

Daily Breakfast Airport Transfers and Rail Tickets on RENFE Additional Executive Member Benefit at Select Hotels

Athens, Santorini and Mykonos: Your Way

Daily Breakfast Choice of Accommodations

Venice, Florence, Rome and Sorrento: Your Way

Daily Breakfast Executive Member Benefit at Select Hotels

Ireland: Your Way Package

Dublin, Killarney and Galway Daily Breakfast Self-Drive Countryside

Amsterdam, Paris and London: Your Way Package

Daily Breakfast $400 London Tour Credit Rail and Private Airport Transfers

Athens, Santorini and Central Crete: Your Way

Edinburgh and scottish countryside: your way.

Daily Breakfast Self-Drive Countryside

The Costco Traveler Blog

Eating through italy, amazing amsterdam, epicurean paris, more about europe.

Europe blends its rich history and modern innovation seamlessly. From the catwalks of Paris fashion week to the awe-inspiring ruins of Greek temples you'll find it hard to fit everything into one vacation. The vast expanse of Europe is covered in numerous cultures, languages and landscapes that can make you feel like you've been transported onto the set of a movie. Sit down for a cup of tea in London, learn how to make your own pasta in Italy or simply take time to stare in wonder at the amazing Highlands of Scotland. Whether you're traveling with family, friends or your special someone, a trip to Europe will be a vacation to remember.

Content provided by Costco Travel experts. Copyright © Costco Travel. All rights reserved.

Before You Go

• To make it easier to replace your passport if it’s lost or stolen, in addition to your passport, take a photocopy of your passport information page (keeping it separate from your actual passport).
• Carry only a limited amount of cash, just enough for gratuities and incidental purchases. Major credit cards are widely accepted and can be replaced if lost or stolen.
• Always lock your hotel room door (including patio and balcony door on any level of the building) and use the peephole before opening the door.
• Store your valuables (such as cash, credit cards and airline tickets) in the hotel’s in-room safe or front desk safety deposit box.
• If you must carry valuables on your person, do so in a pouch or money belt concealed under your clothing. Purses and backpacks can be easy targets for thieves.
• For complete and current safety and security information, including travelers' tips, public announcements, travel advisories and more, please visit the website of the U.S. Department of State at www.travel.state.gov.
• December through February: 49° to 49° (Winter)
• March through May: 54° to 66° (Spring)
• June through August: 72° to 76° (Summer)
• September through November: 70° to 54°

Explore More Travel

There's still time to book summer travel.

Mexico, Europe, the Caribbean and More

Included Extras or Digital Costco Shop Card

Hidden Gems

Discover What Lies Beyond the Ordinary

Off-the-Beaten Path Vacation Packages and Cruises

Save on Rental Cars

Exclusive Costco Member Pricing

No Cancellation Fees

Member reviews become available after at least 5 are received in order to provide you with an accurate picture of this travel product.

We are processing your payment.

Do not refresh your browser or exit this page.

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Sweepstakes
• Hotels + Resorts

Europe's Most Spectacular New Hotel Is Set in a Former WWII Railway Station

High in the mountains between Spain and France, a long-neglected train station has become an opulent hotel.

Simon Willis is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. For the magazine he has crisscrossed Europe, Asia and Latin America. Particularly drawn to remote places, he has filed features from Patagonia, Laos and the Southern Ocean among other destinations.

Denisse Ariana Pérez

A few years ago , I was flicking through a magazine when I saw a photo essay about abandoned train stations. They were images of sublime squalor. The grand Greco-Roman columns of Michigan Central Station in Detroit were covered with graffiti. The Art Deco posters on the walls of the St.-Martin Métro in Paris were gradually peeling away. But the most haunting place in the collection was Estación Canfranc, high in the Spanish Pyrenees.

From the outside, this 790-foot-long Beaux-Arts palace looked like it had been transplanted from a fashionable Parisian boulevard. When it was completed in 1925, Canfranc was the second-largest rail station in Europe, after the one in Leipzig, Germany. Inside, the structure had cathedral-like proportions, as though it had been erected not merely to facilitate train travel but to worship it. Huge arched windows let in shafts of beneficent light. The ticket counter could almost pass for an altar. But by the time the photo essay was published, the congregation was long gone. The building closed in 1970 and had been empty ever since. Its vaulted ceiling was slowly moldering, and the floor was covered in dust and debris.

Related: This Little-known Wine Region Is a Hidden Gem of Spain — and It Has a Gorgeous New Luxury Hotel

Now the travelers are back. One recent afternoon I arrived in Canfranc to check in to the station, which has been transformed into one of Europe’s most spectacular new hotels. Its scale and grandeur are incongruous, given that Canfranc is a remote mountain hamlet near the border of Spain and France. The town, which sits in a narrow valley enclosed by steep, forested slopes, has a population of only 600. 

After the station closed, Canfranc lured only a trickle of adventure lovers, drawn by glorious summer hiking and two tiny ski resorts farther up the valley. But today, the hotel is a destination in itself. The renovation is the work of the Barceló Hotel Group, who took over the derelict building in 2021. The Spanish firm has given the place a train-centric revamp that balances old-world glamour with contemporary style. As I checked in, I stood gaping at the old ticket hall, which now serves as the hotel lobby. Its polished wooden beams shone with a deep luster, and the ornate plasterwork on the walls was as clean and white as confectioner’s sugar.

When it was completed in 1925, Canfranc was the second-largest rail station in Europe, after the one in Leipzig, Germany. Inside, the structure had cathedral-like proportions, as though it had been erected not merely to facilitate train travel but to worship it.

In the station’s locomotive heyday, its north and south wings were occupied, respectively, by French and Spanish customs officials. Now the southern wing houses a bar and restaurant tricked out in Art Deco shades of green and gold; the bar is illuminated by pendant lamps that resemble train wheels. In the rooms, antique station windows have been refurbished as quirky wall art.

Yet the hotel’s brand of nostalgic luxury is only one reason to visit; the other is its history. The village of Canfranc may be tiny and remote, but its border location has given it an outsize strategic importance for centuries. The evidence is everywhere. After I arrived at the hotel I headed outside and looked north up the valley. Perched on a ridge high above me was a 16th-century fortress that the Spanish rebuilt after Napoleon’s invasion in 1808; they wanted to defend against another possible incursion through this mountain pass. At the other end I could see concrete bunkers, erected for the same reason by the Franco regime in 1944. As well as being a luxurious stop on the route between Paris and Madrid, the station has played a prominent role in the valley’s history of intrigue and espionage. 

Later that afternoon, I met with Ana Badino and Marcelo Boveri, an Argentine couple who moved from Madrid to the Canfranc region in 2020 to enjoy a quieter life in the mountains. Since then, they have immersed themselves in the station’s extraordinary history and now run tours around the valley.

Until the 20th century, this corner of northern Spain was seen as poor and backward. The main economic activity was smuggling: alcohol and cigarettes went from Spain to France, and clothes, clocks, tea, and embroidery went the other way. But the locals wanted more opportunity than contraband provided, and the government wanted to take this roguish part of the country and turn it into a legitimate, modern commercial hub. So in 1912, the government commissioned the station as a statement of ambition and advancement. Fernando Ramírez de Dampierre, a Madrid-born engineer, was hired to design it. Both the president of France and the king of Spain were present at the inauguration ceremony in 1928.

For a few years, life in Canfranc was full of commercial activity. Daily trains from Portugal delivered port wine, cocoa, and coffee imported from Brazil. Industrial goods like coal and aluminum arrived from France. Badino and Boveri pointed out the rusted, obsolete cranes behind the station; they once loaded and unloaded this cargo. 

But when war broke out in 1939, everything changed. As Bodina and Boveri explained, the head of the station’s French customs department was a man named Albert Le Lay. He was more than a mere border official. He was a vital member of the French resistance who used his position at the station to help Jews and allied fighters fleeing persecution and capture in Germany and Vichy France. Now remembered as an Oskar Schindler–like figure, Le Lay provided these fugitives with forged papers to help them cross into Spain and on to Portugal. From there they traveled to safety. The identities of Le Lay’s beneficiaries are hard to trace, but according to some historians, those who passed through Canfranc included Max Ernst and Peggy Guggenheim.

Bodina and Boveri led me a little farther down the valley, which is still crisscrossed by old railway lines. Eventually we came to a row of derelict warehouses, their heavy wooden doors bent and buckled from decades of neglect, their roofs full of holes where high winds had ripped the tiles away. Through the gaps we peered into the dark interiors. In one of the buildings, in 2000, a cache of Nazi paperwork was found that listed items the Germans had moved through Canfranc after the Gestapo occupied the station in 1942. They included looted gold bars and opium.

His job as a customs official gave Le Lay the cover he needed to continue his resistance work. He would receive information from agents masquerading as passengers as they arrived at the station. From there, messages were transported by a network of spies down the train line to Zaragoza, the nearest city. Canfranc, then, was a crucial node in a pan-European network of spies that helped disrupt the German war machine.

Like many travelers to Canfranc today, I arrived via the airport in Zaragoza, the regional capital. Zaragoza is an underrated destination compared with Barcelona, Madrid, and Seville. Following the Umayyad invasion from North Africa in the eighth century, it became a major city in the north of Muslim Spain. At its center is a Moorish fortress, the Aljafería Palace, which is built in a magnificent architectural fusion of European and Islamic styles known as Mudejar. On the bank of the Erbo River, which courses through Zaragoza, stands a monumental Baroque basilica whose central dome is surrounded by four towers. But for me, the biggest lure was the opportunity to admire the art of the area’s most famous son, Francisco Goya.

After spending the night at the NH Collection Gran Hotel de Zaragoza, I walked over to the Goya Museum. It’s a small institution that packs a big punch. The star attractions are Goya’s etchings, displayed in a large, crepuscular room that protects these delicate artworks from light damage.

Goya’s etchings rank among his strangest and most personal pieces. “Los Caprichos,” a series of 80 prints, is a pitch-black satire on religious hypocrisy, corruption, and superstition. These images feature grotesque goblins dressed as clergymen; a donkey in an aristocrat’s silk coat studying his family tree; a woman pulling teeth from the mouth of a hanged man to be used as lucky charms. In another series, “The Disasters of War,” the devilish comedy of “Los Caprichos ” is replaced by documentary horror. The etchings captured the violence of conflicts like the Peninsular War, which ravaged Spain between 1808 and 1814.

From Zaragoza I drove two hours across the tinder-dry plains of northern Spain to Jaca, a compact city with a Romanesque cathedral. It dates from the 11th century, when the king of Aragon decided to turn his territory into a stopping point for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela, 500 miles to the west. Pilgrimage was good business: you had to be wealthy to take several months off work and pay your way across Europe. Jaca did well from the foot traffic. In the Middle Ages, the road outside the cathedral passed 16 shoe shops.

Related: How To Plan the Perfect Trip To Madrid

After a meal of venison carpaccio at a small restaurant, La Cocina, I drove into the mountains to Canfranc. Having been cooped up in the car, I wanted to explore the landscape, so the following morning I met up with Fernando Garrido, a wiry mountain guide with silver hair and a deep tan. Garrido, a partner in a Jaca-based company, Aragon Aventura, is a serious mountaineer. For 30 years he has held the world record for spending the most time at high altitude: he stayed, alone, for two months straight on the summit of Mount Aconcagua, in Argentina, at an altitude of more than 22,000 feet. 

Thankfully, our plan was more down to earth. It was a blue and shimmering Sunday, and we decided to head to Ordesa & Mount Perdido National Park, a 90-minute drive southeast of Canfranc. We hiked into a deep canyon, following the course of a river that had been reduced to a slow trickle by a two-month drought. The canyon’s sheer limestone walls rose almost 3,000 feet, and birds of prey circled on the thermals. 

Yet the hotel’s brand of nostalgic luxury is only one reason to visit; the other is its history. The village of Canfranc may be tiny and remote, but its border location has given it an outsize strategic importance for centuries. The evidence is everywhere.

As we walked, Garrido pointed out the fajas, the narrow paths that run along the cliff edges. Looking at the thin lines they traced across the rock, I couldn’t help thinking about those wartime refugees I had heard about in Canfranc. During the German occupation, the route became more perilous, and despite Le Lay’s help, many were arrested at the station. In hopes of avoiding the authorities, thousands walked across the Pyrenees on foot, clinging to these narrow, cliff-edge paths as they searched for safety.

That night, I sat down to dinner at Canfranc Estación’s Restaurant Internacional, which is run by Eduardo Salanova and Ana Acín. Chef Salanova’s food is a fusion of local ingredients and avant-garde presentation. That evening’s 15-course tasting menu included foie gras with strawberries, local caviar, a terrine poached in mulled wine, and sous-vide eggs. (Another restaurant, Canfranc Express, opened after my visit in a restored train car outside the hotel, and has since been awarded a Michelin star.)

As I ate, a fog descended over the valley and a gentle rain began to fall. Through the window I could see the silhouettes of Canfranc’s old cargo warehouses and, beyond them, the wooded hillsides. Sitting there in the warm glow, I thought back to the stories my Argentine guides had told me — about the secret agents running messages through this building, about the villagers sewing notes into the linings of their clothes to protect them from the Gestapo. The setting was worthy of a wartime spy thriller, and as I sat in the opulent dining room I imagined myself waiting not for my dessert to arrive but for a tap on the shoulder from a clandestine contact bearing important papers and, along with them, a chance of freedom. 

Where to Stay

Canfranc estación, a royal hideaway hotel.

This spectacular mountain hotel is worth a trip in itself. Tours of the property and the surrounding valley can be arranged through the concierge.

NH Collection Gran Hotel De Zaragoza

Previous guests at this imposing hotel in the center of town include Walt Disney and Ernest Hemingway. Stop by the excellent restaurant, La Ontina, for seasonal dishes like braised white asparagus.

Where to Eat

Jaca la cocina.

A small but stylish restaurant in Jaca that serves regional dishes like venison carpaccio and olla jacetana, a stew of beans and pork.

Aragon Aventura

Fernando Garrido, my hiking guide, co-owns this Jaca-based adventure company . He offers walking excursions as well as a range of other mountain activities, including canyoning and snowshoeing.

Goya Museum

This small museum in Zaragoza has the world’s finest collection of Goya’s etchings.

Pirineo Esencial

Knowledgeable guides Ana Badino and Marcelo Boveri offer tours of Canfranc and the surrounding valley .

A version of this story first appeared in the May 2024 issue of  Travel + Leisure  under the headline "Full Speed Ahead."

• Moscow Tourism
• Moscow Hotels
• Moscow Bed and Breakfast
• Moscow Vacation Rentals
• Flights to Moscow
• Moscow Restaurants
• Things to Do in Moscow
• Moscow Travel Forum
• Moscow Photos
• All Moscow Hotels
• Moscow Hotel Deals
• Things to Do
• Restaurants
• Vacation Rentals
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travelers' Choice
• Help Center

tour or driver to vladimir & suzdal - Moscow Forum

• Europe    
• Russia    
• Central Russia    
• Moscow    

tour or driver to vladimir & suzdal

• United States Forums
• Europe Forums
• Canada Forums
• Asia Forums
• Central America Forums
• Africa Forums
• Caribbean Forums
• Mexico Forums
• South Pacific Forums
• South America Forums
• Middle East Forums
• Honeymoons and Romance
• Business Travel
• Train Travel
• Traveling With Disabilities
• Tripadvisor Support
• Solo Travel
• Bargain Travel
• Timeshares / Vacation Rentals
• Central Russia forums
• Moscow forum

My husband and I will be in moscow and wanted to take a side trip..understand Vladimir & Suzdal is quite nice. Do you prefer that to Sergiev Posad? Do you know any agencies that provide group tours or private tours to Vladimir & Suzdal? I understand that Patriarshy Dom is not operating its group tour during this time. Please advise. Any information you have to share would be helpful.

Vladimir & Suzdal are close to each other. you can use vladimir as base and also visit suzdal.

I will give you some links ( sorry i am out on tour and can't do more research).

http://gotorussia.vand.ru/ ( this is a tour operator offering 1 day tour from moscow to Vladimir , Suzdal or both) there are also combo tours with sergiev Possad with any of the above towns.

In order to organize tours from Vladimir, there are 3 major sites where you will get infor about the tours operating from Vladimir, how to reach there etc.

1. http://www.tour.vladimir.ru

2. http://www.vladimir-city.ru ( official site)

3. http://www.museum.vladimir.ru ( my recommended site)

<< go to english version / select option "services" / tours & excursions

My sugestion would be to go to Vladimir by train from moscow in the evening, take rest and then join a full day tour of vladimir - suzdal and return at night or next day morning. The train takes 2-3 hrs. Details available at http://www.poezda.net ( in english) .You can even book online

Trains are clean and safe. Hotel Vladimir at Vladimir is ok. near the train station. you can find the contacts in google. ( book the tickets in advance.)

You can visit sergiev possad ( quite near to moscow) using the moscow based tour agency mentioned above. They offer day trips to Sergivev possad.

If you want to search the net further, go to http://www.yandex.ru ( russian website) and type in "vladimir tour" or "suzdal tour" in ENGLISH. This will give you many sites with english option

have a nice trip

will you consider a DIY trip?

from moscow to vladimir take a long-distance train or a suburban (electrichek) train from kursky station. there are several in the daytime/early evening. certain long-distance trains are faster and can arrive in 2 hours. suburbans take 3 hrs. probably less complicated to buy suburban ticket than one of a long-distance train (where you need passport, specify what type of seat, which train number...) and also cheaper

once in vladimir you can walk around for 1-2 hours or even have your dinner there. then take a bus (avtobus) at the bus station just up a slope from the train station. the bus runs every 30-60mins till late. i took the one around 8-9pm. and the evening buses go directly into city centre of suzdal. the trip is about 40-60mins

the tricky part is if you reserve your accomodation in suzdal with a guesthouse/B&B, it may not be easy to locate. the one i had booked did not have a sign hanging at the door. i walked around for about an hour and at last had to find a local to talk to my host over phone and then she kindly led me to the right wooden house

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

• Train Booking Moscow to St. Peter yesterday
• Planning trip to Russia Apr 09, 2024
• SIM card. Russian SIM cards, do they still work in the UK? Apr 09, 2024
• Union Pay debit card Mar 27, 2024
• Russian trying to book a hotel in Jerusalem Mar 14, 2024
• Dual Citizen Arrested in Russia Mar 12, 2024
• about clothes Feb 27, 2024
• NOTE - border crossing from Finland into Russia closed Feb 09, 2024
• Snow boots in Red Square Feb 04, 2024
• Travelling to Moscow & Murmansk with toddle in winter Feb 02, 2024
• Anyone traveling from London to Moscow this week ? Jan 27, 2024
• Booking accommodation Jan 11, 2024
• Traveling friends (Designers preferred) :) Jan 05, 2024
• Are shops and things closed during Christmas and New Week ? Dec 15, 2023
• Moscow to St Petersburg train or air?? 32 replies
• New Sapsan Express Train from Moscow to St Petersburg 18 replies
• New year's in moscow 8 replies
• Hop on Hop Off Bus Tour 5 replies
• How do you purchase Bolshoi Ballet tickets at a great price? 2 replies
• Select-a-room.com Are they legitimate? 3 replies
• Weather Moscow and St. petersburg in May 8 replies
• Night train to St Petersburg 3 replies
• ATM Access 12 replies
• Visa needed if on layover at Moscow Airport??????? 15 replies
• Where can I get initial answers to ANY question?

APRIL SALE:   Book now and get   up to 60% off!

Europe Tour Companies

Looking for an unforgettable Europe tour? Book a fully-organized trip with the best tour companies in Europe and let the tour operator take care of everything for you. Check out the tour details and read 255392 reviews from our customers to help you choose the perfect tour for you.

List of Europe travel companies & tour operators with 255392 reviews

Expat Explore Travel

• Excellent - 4,255 reviews for Europe tours

Tour leader would not carry something that you could find her and she walked to fast. Expat made to may changes to My tour. I would not take a Expat again ever.

Lee was excellent. He gave us history and details of the sites we explored along with his fun sense of humor. It was obvious his passion to share his stories with us.

G Adventures

• Excellent - 19,093 reviews for Europe tours

We had a great group. Itinerary was just what I was looking for. Everyone could choose what they wanted to do during the day.

Was an amazing tour!

Europamundo

• Good - 2,995 reviews for Europe tours

We saw a lot! Eva is an amazing, very patient guide!! Hotels were comfortable.

Excellent and instructive

Intrepid Travel

• Excellent - 11,703 reviews for Europe tours

Overall, it was 6 days of diving into the rich culture and history of Turkey, scenic views and fun under the sun. Ata our guide, was very accomodating and flexible to our group's needs. A couple of non-attendees have hindered our prompt start and delayed our itinerary for the 1st day. The Istanbul part could have been planned more I believe, although most people stay a day or two after the group tour.

The area covered was perfect. The guide was fantastic. Her knowledge thorough and well delivered with great personality. She had the patience of a saint!

Travel Talk

• Excellent - 6,394 reviews for Europe tours

Intense as expected. The hotels were good and centrally located for the most part. Tour guides Dusan in Northern balkan countries and then Vasso for the last Greece part were young, knowledgeable, energetic, friendly, easy going and took care of every detail for us

It was overall a wonderful experience. Our Tour Guide, Dusan was amazing!

• Excellent - 5,411 reviews for Europe tours

Excellent destinations with the right amount of time

This was a really great tour, when amazing and like-minded people who made great company and memories for life! The tour guide, Rhi, was terrific and had so much knowledge on all the countries we went through. Within the small span of 9 days, you see so much countries in western Europe in this tour, such as Amsterdam, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and Paris. I highly recommend this if you are short on time.

• Excellent - 869 reviews for Europe tours

We had a fantastic experience with our Glimpse of Europe tour. Thanks to our tour director Steve and our driver who made our trip fun and recharge our memory with history. For a short tour, we were able to explore a good amount of places and fulfilled some of our dreams. We had a wonderful group as well who we were really nice even though we came from different countries and backgrounds and gaining friendships is a blessing. Overall we had a fantastic experience.

The driver, Billy, and tour director, Speedy, made the trip very interesting and informative. They were both very helpful. We were disappointed that some of the hotel didn’t really cater for the older tourist with rooms a fair distance from reception, climbing stairs and dragging our luggage.

Avalon Waterways

• Excellent - 225 reviews for Europe tours

Festive Season on the Blue Danube by Avalon Waterways was an amazing. The intinerary, the service and the food was excellent. I highly recommend it.

When compared to other river cruises on which I have travelled, service on Avalon is less caring. Food is ok but not super. Worst of all, notwithstanding the prevalence of seasonal flu, they did nothing about guests talking avidly without mask while at the buffet table selecting food. Nor were coughing and sneezing customers asked to wear mask while in the bus, boat trips or at briefings. As a result, a number of passengers including my husband and I developed very bad flu towards the end of the trip.

• Excellent - 74,885 reviews for Europe tours

Full immersion into the culture and sights of Portugal! Great hotels with superb in town locations. Great restaurants and/or food recommendations. Driver and guide were highly accomplished and informative in a fun, story format. Guide did a great job of mixing us together and ease into making new friends. Good mix of lots of group activities and individual time.

The only thing that will keep me from considering or recomending Tour Radar with Hlobus is the lack or inability to talk to a real person I had to text TourRadar to ask globus for information only to be told many time one or the other is not answering. In the end it all worked out and the staff at the site was good but the early communication may cause me to shop around

Choose Balkans

• Excellent - 290 reviews for Europe tours

The tour was a perfect blend of the historical, the wilderness and the gastronomic! Being able to learn so much knowledge about regional and urban Albania was a complete delight. Throw in having your own personal time to enjoy each day, by yourself, as well was great for me as well. The tour was extremely well structured with my guide, Daniel, being flexible and accommodating is what interested me the most. His encyclopedic knowledge of all subjects was amazing and made the journey so much more interesting. Special call out to all the accommodations along the trip which were so welcoming and first rate. I would certainly recommend this tour to others I meet wanting to travel to Albania. Cheers,

Juli was our tour guide and was fantastic! He knew the local history, architecture, culture, food, and current environment. We could not have found a more knowledgeable guide and competent driver on our own! And the Choose Balkans team that organizes and manages all the logistics are world class! I've traveled to more than 40 countries, and I'd match this tour group with any in the world I've used before. I'm grateful for a memorable experience and for making our time in Tirana worthwhile. It was a trip that we will not forget!

• Excellent - 1,891 reviews for Europe tours

Fine tour with a lot of nice people from almost all over the world. To us it was a disappointment that the optional tour in Edinburgh with Johnnie Walker experts, advertised in the program, wasn’t available.

Everything about this tour was outstanding! I have no comment only praise!

• Excellent - 4,618 reviews for Europe tours

Roxy (tour guide) and Adam (driver) are legends! They are so knowledgeable and professional. Definitely made the trip amazing for all of us. Thank you so much Roxy and Adam!

It was an incredible, well-organized, and fun trip!

Insight Vacations

• Excellent - 631 reviews for Europe tours

What a wonderful way to experience my first tour. This 13 day highlight of the best that Britain an Ireland have to offer was full of amazing opportunities to taste the culture and meet locals that lovel and adore their country and the history that holds. Greg our tour guide was exceptionally in his organisation, knowledge and commitment to ensuring that we enjoyed our trip. His attention to details and the extras to make the group feel welcomed and special. My personal experience on my special day was made even more heart warming by Greg's kindness and effort in make sure that I felt loved and acknowledge with an celebration at the evening meal. Arthur our driver was amazing and his experience in driving showed in the professionalism he demonstrated in through the entire 13 days. Overall i would throughly recommend this trip to anyone especially if they are blessed with Greg and Arthur.

Greg was an enthusiastic snd knowledgeable tour guide. Arthur was an excellent driver. Together they made the tour a pleasure with their dedicated ,good humoured professionalism.

Overland Ireland - Small Gr…

• Excellent - 469 reviews for Europe tours

fiendly , excellent and knowledgeable guide who drove us to see beautiful scenery.

Really good guide, accommodations, and planning. We saw and learned a lot, but did not feel rushed. Everything a holiday should be

• Excellent - 19,644 reviews for Europe tours

We enjoyed the nature and flowers and canals. The accommodation was good and the Fletcher hotels very peaceful in the country.

Not really my type of holiday travel! The stops are short and mainly at freeway truck and rest stops. The hotels were way too far from any real sites and some were small and cramped. I expected this tour to be hectic, given the countries visited and the days involved, . but IMO it could have been organized a lot better. The Tour Director and Driver were excellent but working with hands tied behind her back.The driven tours by coach just went too fast apart from road blocks or traffic jams. I appreciate that the TD kept mentioning that there are other tours by Cosmos, Globes that are lconcentrated on longer stays, however if they are at the hotels that we stayed at, then seeing the good sights are going to be a massive struggle. IMHO, even if the costs are higher for better hotels and safer areas, most would rather pay than skimp. Most of the stops overnight did not even have any decent restaurants where one could experience a decent meal of the region. Yes there were a couple of organized option dinners that involved costs, but these had to be reached via the coach. The three included meals are at the hotels which really did not have kitchens other than ones that could prepare breakfasts and the meals were simple and buffet style with one fixed item being served. As I started it may be OK for some, but definitely not my cup for tea!

List your company on TourRadar

Popular tour operators in:.

• Baltic (41)
• Nordic / Scandinavia (85)
• UK and Great Britain (87)
• Eastern Europe (91)
• Central Europe (168)
• Balkans (206)
• Western Europe (280)
• Mediterranean (289)
• Ukraine (2)
• Northern Ireland (6)
• Slovakia (7)
• Belgium (8)
• Macedonia (8)
• Bosnia (10)
• Hungary (11)
• Bulgaria (14)
• Czech Republic (14)
• Slovenia (15)
• Montenegro (15)
• Sweden (17)
• Poland (24)
• Finland (27)
• Netherlands (27)
• Albania (28)
• Switzerland (28)
• Norway (31)
• England (39)
• Austria (40)
• Romania (41)
• Scotland (48)
• Iceland (50)
• Ireland (50)
• Germany (51)
• Portugal (67)
• France (71)
• Turkey (75)
• Croatia (77)
• Greece (102)
• Italy (120)

You can still find affordable flights to Europe this summer

Airfare prices to amsterdam, brussels, prague and reykjavik are way down from last year.

Christina Saull and her husband have waited five years to take a 10-day cruise through the Norwegian fjords. The first time they planned the trip, it was postponed for a medical emergency. The second time, there was a family wedding. Now, finally, they were getting ready to go in July.

Only they needed plane tickets.

“It’s interesting to see how expensive fares have been and how they’ve fluctuated,” said Saull, a public relations executive who lives in Alexandria, Va.

The couple watched prices go from as little as $900 round trip to as much as $2,500 for flights from Washington to Edinburgh, Scotland, and back from Copenhagen . They finally settled on premium economy seats for $2,000 each on Delta Air Lines and its partner Air France.

“I don’t think it’s unreasonable for summer Europe travel,” Saull said of what they paid.

Not unreasonable is a good way to describe transatlantic air travel this summer. Even with strong travel demand, tickets are cheaper on average than they were last year.

“Airfare to Europe is less expensive than last year by 10 percent,” said Hayley Berg, the lead economist at flight-booking app Hopper . The average round trip ticket before any extra fees costs $882, according to the data.

The highest fares are in June, July and August, Berg added. Traveling in shoulder months — for example, September and October — could save travelers as much as 30 percent.

Schedule data from aviation analytics firm Cirium Diio shows airlines will offer 8 percent more seats on U.S.-Europe routes from May through September than last year.

Philadelphia is gaining new nonstops to Copenhagen, Naples , and Nice, France, on American Airlines. Phoenix gets its first nonstop to Paris on Air France. Washington, a new flight to Zurich on Swiss International Air Lines. And many other routes additional flights or options on larger planes.

“In the transatlantic, we are looking forward to another strong summer,” said Glen Hauenstein, president of Delta Air Lines, referring to bookings earlier in April. He added the airline sees “healthy demand” for seats to Europe.

Paris has flight deals, but hotels are pricey

The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics are a bump in the finely tuned machine that is summer air travel to Europe. The Games run from July 26 through Aug. 11, and the French capital is expected to host some 15 million visitors during the event and the following Paralympic Games. Last summer, the city saw more than 6.2 million visitors in July and August.

“Paris will be like an Olympic village in July and August,” said Christine Ourmières-Widener, CEO of the French airline French Bee . All those visitors still need a way to get to the city. French Bee , which caters to leisure travelers like those going to the Games, has added flights from Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco to meet the demand.

Flight deals to Paris can still be found. Booking website Expedia recommends travelers buy tickets at least 21 days before their trip and, for international travel, look at departing on a Monday to find the best airfares.

Finding an affordable hotel in Paris during the Games is another matter. Expedia said it has seen a “massive surge” in searches for accommodations there this summer and recommends travelers look at nearby cities for more reasonably priced options.

Consider Nice, Prague and Reykjavik

Finn Vigeland, a transit planner who lives in Washington, was “quite surprised” last month when he found a good deal on flights to Nice, France, in July.

Prices on American Airlines’ new nonstop to Nice from Philadelphia were only $700 to $800 round trip, he said. That was affordable enough to make a trip to France with friends possible, and he booked the flight (with points, not cash).

Average fares to Nice from the United States are down a quarter to $907 compared to last summer, Hopper’s data shows. The city also has the distinction of being one of the few European destinations with lower airfares this summer than in 2019, 11 percent lower to be exact. That drop is, in part, thanks to a plethora of new flights on American, Delta, and United.

Amsterdam, Brussels, Prague , and Reykjavik , Iceland, are other European cities where ticket prices from the United States are down more than 20 percent from last year, according to Hopper.

Airfares are not down double-digits in all markets though. Fares to cities like Berlin and Glasgow, Scotland, are on par with last year.

Traveler after traveler said they felt like they could find reasonably priced plane tickets for trips between the United States and Europe this summer. Those who said they could not often lacked flexibility to adjust their trips to when and where fares are the cheapest.

“I felt like this was doable. It made sense,” Alexander Giess said of his plan to take his 10-year-old daughter on a three-week trip to France this summer.

After a lengthy search, in March the marketing executive paid about $1,000 each for two round-trip tickets to Nice from San Francisco on his preferred airline, Delta.

Where to go

Our favorite destinations: These 12 destinations are at the top of our wish list for where to go this year, without crowds. In 2023, we explored an Alaskan bear paradise, Brooklyn’s famous pizzerias and a hidden gem in Italy, among other highlights .

Travel like a local: Residents share their favorite places in our top city guides: New Orleans , Rome , Tokyo and Mexico City .

National parks: This comprehensive guide has details on all 63 U.S. national parks. For a deep dive into five of the most well-known, you can listen to the Field Trip podcast . Then explore tips from locals for visiting Yosemite , Glacier and Everglades .

Tales from the road: Dolly Parton has opened a new resort at her theme park complex in Tennessee, while “Fixer Upper” stars Chip and Joanna Gaines have a new hotel in Waco . Road-trippers may be just as excited to see the cartoon beaver at Buc-ee’s , and bargain-hunters should consider a stop at the Unclaimed Baggage store in Scottsboro, Ala.

We travel a lot, and our son attends local classrooms along the way. We noticed primary schools in Europe let kids be kids.

• My husband and I homeschool our son, which allows us to travel. 
• In addition to his homeschooling curriculum, he has attended schools in different countries. 
• We've noticed differences — and similarities — between the schools he attended in Europe and the US.

My son has been homeschooled, essentially, his whole academic life. Because of this, we're able to travel multiple times each month without worrying about him missing school. I am a writer and my husband is a film and TV composer as well as an investor, which also makes this possible.

Not only can we take my son's work with us, but he has also been able to experience schooling in various countries by joining classrooms and homeschool groups throughout our travels. His curriculum is based in the United States, but integrating local schools helps him learn different languages, culture, and of course, make friends.

Because we have spent extended periods of time in Portugal, the Netherlands, and Italy, we have been able to experience how a few schools in these places approach education more intimately. While we've experienced some similarities across the schools he's attended, like classroom size and curriculum structure, we also noticed distinct differences in approach.

School was low-stress in the Netherlands

Where we lived in the Netherlands, children as young as four years old often happily walked themselves to school. The school my son attended in the Netherlands was run like a well-oiled machine, yet they still maintained a playful and innocent atmosphere.

The school administrators were strict about timeliness — I often witnessed that if students arrived even one minute late, they were considered late, with no exceptions. However, discipline for kids was simply a stern talking-to from teachers. Teachers told us that if children had issues with each other, they were expected to sort it amongst themselves, while the adults observed from a distance.

Friends who had kids at other schools in the Netherlands confirmed that this focus on independent conflict resolution with minimal adult intervention was common. Play was the central focus of the day for children until they were about seven years old. The primary focus during those early years was on children learning to coexist with one another rather than academics.

Learning to swim was also a significant focus in the early years in the Netherlands and considered more critical than learning to read by many locals we spoke with. Once compulsory, now only some schools integrate swim classes into the curriculum. Given the numerous canals everywhere, this emphasis is understandable.

Related stories

Children at my son's school spent a large portion of their day outdoors, regardless of the weather, which parents said was typical. The Dutch often say, "There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing." At school, my son assisted in preparing daily vegan meals, and occasionally brought home crafts to do.

Friends who had older kids in the Netherlands told me that the homework increased once they hit middle school, where there was more of an emphasis on academics. I truly appreciated this low-stress setting we encountered during our son's primary school years.

We saw more emphasis on collaboration than individual performance in Portugal

In Portugal, there was an emphasis on projects that children completed together to enhance their collaboration skills, and praise was often based on the collaboration itself rather than individual performance.

We noticed that children rarely had packed schedules filled with extracurricular activities like in the US, and often stayed up very late at night with their families, based on our own observations and talking to Portuguese parents.

While I adored the genuinely "crunchy" vibe of the schools my son attended and the kindness of the teachers, I believed our son would benefit from more structure and consistency in his routine . So, for a time, we supplemented even more than our usual load of schoolwork at home to provide more academic consistency during his short stint at a Portuguese school and eventually transitioned to only homeschooling again and met with a homeschool group for field trips.

We noticed less encouragement of competition in Italy than in the US

At the school my son goes to in Italy , it was immediately evident that food and dining is treated as an important part of the school day. Students are given a proper dining experience with formal table settings. The primary schools get a full two-hour break in the middle of the day including lunch and free time, known as riposo , lending to a much longer school day overall.

Football (soccer) is also taken seriously, so most schools we visited have specialized schedules specifically for children who play and perhaps want to pursue it as a career. Participation in the arts, football, and music is encouraged, but football is by far the most popular activity at our school and in our region.

As for the emphasis on the curriculum, so far, it seems far less rigid than in the US. Cognitive and social skills appear to be the primary objectives, rather than a heavy focus on testing. There is almost no encouragement of competition that we witnessed, as collaboration seems to be the focus until middle school.

My son is not yet in middle school, but from what I've heard both in preliminary conversations with schools, open days, and from Facebook groups with other expat parents , it sounds like middle school takes a more rigorous academic approach across Europe. For example, some countries, like Italy, expect children to know their primary focus of study by the time they enter high school, and then are placed in a specialized school program geared towards that interest area. Middle school seems to help form this decision by focusing on more specific subjects like robotics, engineering and anatomy, as they are already expected to know how to work together.

The unifying theme we observed throughout the schools in Europe that our son has attended, regardless of the country, was to allow children to be children and let the serious learning come later. At almost all the schools my son attended or toured, more importance was placed on children's ability to coexist together, work on projects and tasks collaboratively, than on core subjects like math, science, and history in those early years.

Each country had something we cherished and something we had to learn to adjust to. Overall, compared to our group homeschooling experience in the US, I would say that the primary schools in the European cities we joined were far less stressful. The academics seemed to get prioritized more as the kids got older. This makes me really appreciate how the lower grades focused on collaboration and coexistence.

• Main content

Kygo Announces World Tour Across North America and Europe

SPECIAL GUESTS SOFI TUKKER, GRYFFIN, SAM FELDT, ZARA LARSSON, KLANGKARUSSELL, HAYLA, VICTORIA NADINE AND VANDELUX TO JOIN ON SELECT DATES

New single, “for life” ft. zak abel & nile rodgers out now, listen here, tickets available starting tuesday, april 23 with presales, general onsale begins on friday, april 26 at 10am local at kygothealbum.com.

Today,  global superstar, producer, and DJ Kygo announced part one of his 2024 world tour across North America, Europe and the UK. Produced by Live Nation, the 26-date run kicks off on Saturday, September 7 in Commerce City, CO at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park, with stops in Boston, Toronto, Chicago, Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, London and more before wrapping up on Friday, December 13 in Dublin, Ireland at 3Arena. As the highest-selling ticket artist in dance music, part one of Kygo’s 2024 dates marks his first tour since 2018 and will bring his incredible live show across the globe. The impressive, must-see performance will feature Kygo’s signature piano, as well as strings, singers, and drummers. Special guests SOFI TUKKER, GRYFFIN, Sam Feldt , Zara Larsson, Klangkarussell, Hayla , Victoria Nadine , and Vandelux will join on select dates.

The Kygo World Tour will feature performances at iconic venues around the world, including Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl, Brooklyn’s Barclays Center and a hometown show at Telenor Arena in Oslo, Norway.

The new tour announcement comes on the heels of Kygo’s new single release, “For Life” ft. Zak Abel & Nile Rodgers, from last week.

NORTH AMERICA TICKETS: Tickets for the U.S. dates will be available starting with a Verizon presale (details below) beginning Tuesday, April 23 at 10am local time. An artist presale will begin Wednesday, April 24 at 10am local time. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning Friday, April 26 at 10am local time at kygothealbum.com .

• VERIZON PRESALE: Verizon will offer customers presale access for the The Kygo Tour for applicable U.S dates through Verizon Up. Customers will have access to purchase presale tickets for the shows beginning Tuesday, April 23 at 10am local time to Friday, April 26 at 9am local time. For more details visit Verizon Up .
• AMEX PRESALE: For the Hollywood Bowl show, American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Tuesday, April 23 at 10am PT through Friday, April 26 at 9am PT.

EUROPE + UK TICKETS: Tickets for the Europe/UK dates will be available starting with a Mastercard presale (details below) beginning Tuesday, April 23 at 10am local time. An artist presale will begin Wednesday, April 24 at 10am local time. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning Friday, April 26 at 10am local time at kygothealbum.com .

• MASTERCARD PRESALE: Mastercard cardholders have special access to presale tickets in Norway, France, Netherlands, Italy, Sweden, Denmark and Belgium starting from Tuesday, April 23 at 10am local time until Friday, April 26 at 10am local time. Preferred ticket access is available to Mastercard cardholders in the UK on April 26 at 10am. Visit priceless.com/music to find out more.

VIP: Fans can also purchase VIP Packages, which may include premium tickets, an on stage photo op, access to the VIP Lounge, a VIP-exclusive Kygo gift item and more. VIP package contents vary based on the offer selected. For more information, visit vipnation.com .

KYGO WORLD TOUR 2024 DATES:

Sat Sep 07 – Commerce City, CO – DICK’S Sporting Goods Park *+

Thu Sep 12 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion *+

Fri Sep 13 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center *+

Tue Sep 17 – Boston, MA – TD Garden *+

Fri Sep 20 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre *+

Sat Sep 21 – Toronto, ON – Woodbine Park *+

Wed Sep 25 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island ^~

Sat Sep 28 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater ^~

Fri Oct 04 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center ^~

Wed Oct 09 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena ^~

Thu Oct 10 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena ^~

Thu Oct 17 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl ^~

Wed Nov 06 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena > =

Fri Nov 08 – Oslo, Norway – Telenor Arena > %

Wed Nov 13 – Stockholm, Sweden – Tele2 Arena >=

Fri Nov 15 – Berlin, Germany – Uber Arena >=

Sun Nov 17 – Budapest, Hungary – MVM Dome *=

Thu Nov 21 – Cologne, Germany – Lanxess Arena #=

Sat Nov 23 – Vienna, Austria – Stadthalle #=

Tue Nov 26 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome #=

Fri Nov 29 – Milan, Italy – Forum #=

Tue Dec 03 – Madrid, Spain – Wizink Center #=

Fri Dec 06 – Brussels, Belgium – ING Arena #=

Sat Dec 07 – Paris, France – Accor Arena #=

Wed Dec 11 – London, UK – The O2  #+

Fri Dec 13 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena #+

# With SOFI TUKKER

> With GRYFFIN

* With Sam Feldt

^ With Zara Larsson

= With Klangkarussell

+ With Hayla

% With Victoria Nadine

~ With Vandelux

Whether behind the piano in his studio or headlining a sold-out festival, Kygo quietly reaffirms his status as a prodigious talent, forward-thinking producer, dynamic DJ, and influential global superstar. The Norwegian musician born Kyrre Gørvell-Dahll first introduced himself in 2013 and quietly became one of the most ubiquitous hitmakers in the world. Amassing over 23 billion cumulative global audio and video streams, he has broken numerous streaming records. Kygo earned one of his biggest hits with the multiplatinum “It Ain’t Me” (feat. Selena Gomez), going Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and clocking over 2.9 billion streams worldwide. In 2019, Kygo unleashed “Higher Love” with Whitney Houston and generated another 1.4 billion combined streams/views worldwide and peaked at #1 on Dance Radio, in addition to leaving his imprint on a classic.

He heralded his 2020 critically acclaimed third full-length album Golden Hour [Sony Music International/Ultra Records/RCA Records] with the anthems “Like It Is” (feat. Zara Larsson & Tyga), “Lose Somebody” (with OneRepublic), and “I’ll Wait” (feat. Sasha Alex Sloan). The album has garnered over 2.6 billion streams worldwide. Following Golden Hour , Kygo released his remix of Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got To Do With It” and Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff” to rave reviews. In 2022, after headlining Lollapalooza and Life Is Beautiful, along with sold-out headlining shows at Madison Square Garden and Oslo’s Ullevaal Stadion, Kygo surprised fans with the release of his fourth album Thrill Of The Chase [RCA Records]. The album featured notable singles including “Dancing Feet” (feat. DNCE), “Woke Up In Love” (with Gryffin feat. Calum Scott), and “Never Really Loved Me” (feat. Dean Lewis), amassing over 1 billion streams worldwide and debuting in the Top 5 on the Billboard Top Dance/Electronic Albums Chart. This year, Kygo continues his run of stunning collaborations, teaming up with Ava Max for his latest single “Whatever,” which the pair performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! .

Connect with Kygo:

Instagram // YouTube // Twitter // Facebook // Website

About Live Nation Entertainment

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com .

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Alex John | [email protected]

Cara Hutchinson | [email protected]

Sami Brensilber | [email protected]

Live Nation Concerts

Monique Sowinski | [email protected]

Maya Sarin | [email protected]

Read more about

• AUD Australia Dollars
• CNY China Yuan
• GBP British Pounds
• HKD Hong Kong Dollars
• JPY Japanese Yen
• SGD Singapore Dollars
• THB Thai Baht
• USD US Dollars
• Getting Around Lobnya, Moscow, Russia

Getting Around Lobnya

Lobnya tralvel guide.

• Privacy Policy
• Terms and Conditions

Your TraveliGo

• Business Travel
• 24/7 Help - FAQs
• How to Book

Accredited Member

• IATA BSP No. 35308932
• TG E-Ticket Direct No. 35202473
• Company Registration/TAX ID: 0105552065599

Follow us on

Download Applications

Ratings and Reviews Powered by

Copyright © 2024 TraveliGo.com All Rights Reserved.

TraveliGo.com is the global online travel & related services.

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

French strike forces Ryanair to cancel more than 300 flights across Europe

Ryanair urges European Commission to protect overflights and keep EU skies open

Ryanair has demanded that the EU reform its skies after the airline was forced to cancel more than 300 flights across Europe scheduled for Thursday because of a strike by French air traffic controllers.

The cancellations come in spite of the withdrawal of strike action by one of the biggest unions, the SNCTA, which came too late to avoid disruption after France’s civil aviation authority asked airlines to cut flights.

Ryanair said 50,000 of its passengers would be affected because of France’s failure to protect overflights – where planes fly over the country without landing there – during industrial action.

It said most of the disrupted passengers would be simply flying over French airspace en route to the likes of Greece or Spain.

The airline called on the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen , to take action to protect overflights by law during air traffic control strikes, to allow Europe’s other controllers to manage flights over France during the strikes, and limit the power of unions to call strikes immediately.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said: “French air traffic controllers are free to go on strike, that’s their right, but we should be cancelling French flights, not flights leaving Ireland, going to Italy, or flights from Germany to Spain or Scandinavia to Portugal.

“The European Commission under Ursula von der Leyen has failed for five years to take any action to protect overflights and the single market for air travel. We’re again calling on her to take action to protect overflights which will eliminate over 90% of these flight cancellations.”

after newsletter promotion

Despite the French strike this week, O’Leary said he believed air travellers would see significantly less disruption over summer 2024 than during the past two years, when labour shortages and strikes limited capacity.

• Airline industry
• Michael O'Leary
• European Commission
• Ursula von der Leyen
• European Union

More on this story

Ryanair cuts profits forecast after flights removed from online travel agents

Ryanair ticket sales hit after travel agent websites delist airline

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary heads for €100m bonus

Ryanair to reward shareholders as it heads for record profits after fares rise

Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary hit with cream pies by climate protesters

Ryanair was forced to cancel over 350 flights due to air traffic control chaos

Ryanair charges elderly couple £110 after they download wrong boarding cards

Tui cancels flights to Rhodes as Ryanair continues despite wildfires

Balearic authorities call meeting with Ryanair in pastry carry-on

Ryanair rebounds to near-record profit as summer bookings soar

Most viewed.