Day 1 Flight
Overnight flight to the Netherlands • Spend the night flying across the Atlantic.
Day 2 Amsterdam
Arrival in Amsterdam • Land in Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands. After clearing customs, you
are greeted by your bilingual EF Tour Director, who will remain with you throughout your stay.
EF orientation tour of Amsterdam • Your tour director introduces you to Amsterdam. The capital of
the Netherlands, Amsterdam is also an important commercial, historic, cultural and artistic center. Amsterdam was once home to Rembrandt, whose residence remains open to visitors today, and boasts friendly cafés and world-class museums, including the van Gogh Museum and the Jewish History Museum. Step into a fairy tale as you marvel at this city of 1,200 bridges and 160 canals.
Day 3 Amsterdam
Guided sightseeing of Amsterdam • A local guide shows you Amsterdam’s most famous sights on
a walk through the city. Pass the Westerkerk (West Church), where the remains of Rembrandt and his son are buried. The church also held the wedding of Queen Beatrix in 1966. Continue to lively Dam Square, a dam around the Amstel River created in the 13th century to prevent the Zuiderzee Sea from flooding the city. Now this bustling tourist area boasts the impressive Koninklijk Paleis (Royal Palace), once the home of the Dutch Royal Family; the National Monument; and the Nieuwekerk (New Church), where members of the Dutch Royal Family are officially inaugurated. See the Begijnhof, a lovely 14th century courtyard, built as a sanctuary for the Begijnhofites a Catholic sisterhood. Walk across the lifting bridge to Waterlooplein. Marvel at the views of the Amstel River as you cross the Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge). Although “magere” means skinny in Dutch and the bridge was quite thin when built, rumor says the bridge was actually named for the Magere sisters, living on opposite sides of the river, who built the bridge to make it easier to visit each other. Finally, you will see Rembrandtplein, a square packed with terrace cafés, diamond shops, nightclubs and hotels.
Visit to the Anne Frank House • Visit the Anne Frank House, where the young girl hid with her family from 1942 to 1944 and where she penned the diary that has been translated into dozens of languages worldwide.
Optional excursion to Volendam and Zaanse Schans • Discover the heart of the Dutch countryside
in the picturesque fishing village of Volendam and the living and working neighborhood of Zaanse Schans, re-created to look like a 17th- or 18th-century Dutch village. Make your way down the cobblestone streets, past charming shops and crooked houses. Stop in cheese- and clog-making shops before returning to Amsterdam. Day 4 Amsterdam • Heidelberg
Transfer to Heidelberg • Arrive in Heidelberg, one of the most lovely towns in Germany.
Tour director-led sightseeing of Heidelberg • Become acquainted with Germany’s oldest university
city—the university dates back to 1386. See Heidelberg’s 700-year-old Schloss (palace) and its famous
Fass (wine barrel), the world’s largest. From the castle’s historic battlements, you’ll enjoy a stunning view of the Neckar Valley, where Homo heidel-bergensis roamed 500,000 years ago. You’ll also see the town’s medieval streets and Marktplatz, where witches were once burned at the stake. Writers as diverse as Mark Twain (who once floated down the Neckar on a raft) and Goethe (who was inspired by the view from the Schloss) have long praised Heidelberg’s enduring beauty.
Day 5 Heidelberg • Munich
Transfer to Munich • Continue on to Munich, the Bavarian capital.
Guided sightseeing of Munich • Your guided tour takes you past the Olympic Stadium, BMW’s
headquarters, and the fashionable Schwabing district. You’ll also pass the Residenz (once home to the
Wittelsbach dukes of Bavaria), the Deutsches Museum, the university, and the Alte Pinakothek. Your
tour concludes at Marienplatz, Munich’s medieval heart, home of the city’s famed Glockenspiel.
Day 6 Munich • Venice
Transfer via Innsbruck • On your way to Italy, stop in Innsbruck, the capital of the Austrian
province of Tyrol and the site of two Winter Olympics (1964 and 1976).
Arrival in Venice • Arrive in magical Venice.
Day 7 Venice
Guided sightseeing of Venice • Begin your tour of La Serenissima (the city’s nickname meaning “the
most serene”) at St. Mark’s Square, “the finest drawing room in Europe,” according to Napoleon. Allegedly
buried under the altar of the basilica are St. Mark’s remains, which, in the 11th century, were smuggled out of Alexandria in a barrel of salt pork to prevent a thorough search by the city’s Muslim guards. Also see the Grand Canal and the 324-foot Campanile (Bell Tower), whose steps were originally built so that a noble could ascend on horseback. Look for the clock where two bronze figures have been striking the hour for more than 500 years. Venice is also famous for its glassware—you’ll see why during a glass-blowing demonstration.
Visit to Doges’ Palace • Visit the grand 14th-century, pink-and-white Doges’ Palace, from which
mighty Venetian dukes once ruled. Here, you’ll stroll over the Bridge of Sighs, connecting the palace and its
prison. As they crossed the bridge, prisoners supposedly sighed with perfect sadness as they regarded their beautiful city for the last time. Casanova made a daring escape from this prison in 1756.
Day 8 Venice • Lucerne Region
Transfer via Verona • Transfer by way of Romeo and Juliet’s Verona, known for its couplets and Capulets.
Here, you can see the town’s Roman Arena, which dates back to the 1st century. You’ll also see a bronze statue of Juliet, standing below the balcony said to be the one where she called to her Romeo.
Transfer to Switzerland • Encounter the majestic Alps as you journey to Switzerland.
Overnight in the Lucerne region • Visit the land of legendary folk hero William Tell as you spend the
night in the Vierwaldstättersee (Lake Lucerne) region.
Day 9 Lucerne Region
Tour director-led sightseeing of Lucerne • The majestic Alps provide a stunning backdrop to your tour of Lucerne, where composer Richard Wagner wrote several of his major works. You’ll view the captivating Löwendenkmal (Lion Monument), a sandstone statue commemorating the Swiss Guards slain in the 1792 Paris storming of the Tuileries. According to Mark Twain, it is “the saddest and most compassionate piece of rock on earth.” Stroll down narrow, winding streets and across the Kapellbrücke, a covered bridge whose history dates back to medieval days—the murals lining its walls are nearly identical to those painted in the 14th century. Be on the lookout for the colorful hand-painted façades along the cobbled streets of the Old Town.
Optional excursion to Mount Pilatus • This exciting half-day adventure takes you to the top of Mount Pilatus, the majestic mountain dominating the Lucerne skyline. Travel to the foot of the mountain by boat across Lake Lucerne, then ride the famous Pilatus cog railway—the steepest in the world—to the top. During the other seasons, you’ll journey to the mountain base by motorcoach before ascending by cable car. After 45 spectacular minutes and 6,387 feet, you’ll reach the summit and be rewarded with a panorama of Lucerne, its lake and the glorious snow-capped Alps. On a clear day, you can see for more than 200 miles!
Day 10 Lucerne Region • Alsace Region
Transfer to the Alsace region • Journey to the Alsace region, known for its fascinating blend of
French and German culture.
Tour director-led sightseeing of Colmar • Colmar is a quaint town in the region of Alsace. Stroll among half-timbered houses, well-kept gardens and winding roads. See Martin Schongauer’s Virgin in the Rosebush painting in the Eglise des Dominicains or the Musée d’Unterlinden’s Isenheim Altarpiece. This altar screen by Grünwald is one of the most talked about German works of art.
Day 11 Alsace Region • Paris
Arrival in Paris • Walking tour of Paris • Your walking tour of Paris centers around the Île de la Cité, considered the birthplace of Paris. This island surrounded entirely by the Seine has been inhabited since the 3rd century B.C. and was the political and religious center of France for centuries. Île de la Cité houses three of Paris’ most important buildings: Notre Dame Cathedral; the Conciergerie, Paris’ first prison; and St. Chapelle, the Gothic Catholic church.
Visit to Notre Dame Cathedral • Built between 1163 and 1361 over the remains of an ancient Roman
temple, it was here that Napoleon crowned himself emperor in 1804. Victor Hugo once described the sculptured façade of Notre Dame as “a vast symphony in stone.” However, had it not been for the creation of his famous hunchback, Quasimodo, the cathedral might never have returned to its former glory. Hugo’s novel The Hunchback of NotreDame helped inspire a 23-year restoration of the cathedral that began in 1841. Step inside to admire the stained-glass rose windows and seemingly weightless vaulted ceilings.
Day 12 Paris
Guided sightseeing of Paris • Discover the city on the Seine, beginning with the imposing Arc de Triomphe, commemorating Napoleon’s Grande Armée. Take a drive down the elegant Champs-Élysées to the
Place de la Concorde. Pass the Conciergerie, where prisoners of the Revolution spent their final days, and see Les Invalides, Louis XIV’s grand retirement home for wounded soldiers. You’ll also see the École Militaire,
where Napoleon graduated to lieutenant and was told he’d go far if circumstances allowed. Next, make a photo stop at the Eiffel Tower to marvel at the 6,000-ton centerpiece for the 1889 World’s Fair. You’ll hear the story of how this impressive—but once highly controversial—symbol of Paris was spared the wrecking ball in 1909. Pass the Opéra Garnier, where the famous Phantom of the Opera haunted his dear Christine, and marvel at Église de la Madeleine, designed as a temple of glory for Napoleon’s army. Continue past the geometric gardens of the Tuileries as you make your way to the Place Vendôme, a vast square surrounded by elegant 17th-century façades.
Optional excursion to Versailles • Join an optional excursion to Versailles, the elaborate palace of Louis XIV. Here, the Sun King held court in the most lavish style imaginable. At one point, 1,000 nobles were attended by 4,000 servants inside the palace, while 15,000 soldiers and servants inhabited the annexes. Stroll through the elegantly landscaped gardens, designed by André Le Nôtre, tour the State Apartments of the King himself, walk through the historic Hall of Mirrors, and admire the ornate décor of the State Apartments of the Queen. (Please note: Because of the extreme popularity of Versailles, guided visits of the interior cannot be guaranteed during peak seasons. In this case, your group will hear a presentation from your guide before entering the palace. Please also note that Versailles is closed on Mondays.)
Day 13 Paris • London
Transfer via Eurostar from Paris to London •
In Paris, board the high-speed Eurostar train that runs through the tunnel connecting Britain to Europe.
EF walking tour of London • Stroll through the heart of London on our EF walking tour, which begins
along the banks of the River Thames. These shadowy waters gave the city its name, which derives from
Llyn-Dyn, Celtic for “city of the lake.” Walk along the Strand and see the spot considered to be London’s geographic center; all measurements of distances to London end here. Enter Trafalgar Square and pause at Nelson’s Column, built to commemorate his 1805 victory in the Battle of Trafalgar. Continue on to Leicester Square, where duelists once fought to the death. Then saunter through London’s tiny Chinatown. Your walk ends at chic Covent Garden, where you’ll enjoy watching street performers (or “buskers”) amuse the lively crowds. (The exact walking route may vary, depending on your hotel location and the day’s other activities.)
Day 14 London
Guided sightseeing of London • A local guide leads you on a tour of London. Begin in Grosvenor Square, which is sometimes called “Little America” because it’s the site of the U.S. embassy and the house where Eisenhower once lived. Continue to Hyde Park Corner, located at the southeast corner of Hyde Park, one of London’s largest parks. At bustling Piccadilly Circus, the intersection of five busy streets, check out the bright lights and big-city displays, before heading to Trafalgar Square. Pass Speaker’s Corner, where anyone with something to say is invited to speak his mind. Snap a photo of the Houses of Parliament and continue along London’s South Bank for views of the famous Tower of London and London Bridge. Stroll across the Millennium Bridge for an orientation of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the magnificent 17thcentury Baroque church designed by Sir Christopher Wren. Witness the Changing of the Guard (subject to scheduling).
Optional excursion to Windsor • Opt to visit Windsor for a guided tour of the Royal Family’s retreat.
Founded by William the Conqueror in 1070, the castle has undergone many renovations over the past 800 years, as each new monarch has added towers and wings. Legend holds that the castle’s Round Tower was built on the site where King Arthur sat with his Knights of the Round Table. Time permitting, visit Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House and St. George’s Chapel, final resting place of many monarchs including Henry VIII and Charles I. (Please note that St. George’s Chapel is closed on Sunday mornings for church services.) On the rare occasion that Windsor Castle is closed, you’ll instead visit Henry VIII’s extravagant retreat at Hampton Court.
Day 15 Home Return home • Your tour director assists with the transfer to the airport, where you’ll check in for your return flight home.