Grand European Circuit — 14 Nights
Seven countries in a single loop — Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, the Rhine, the Swiss Alps, the Tyrol and the Italian cities — the classic Europe tour, run privately and by rail rather than by coach.
Journey overview
The moments that make this journey unforgettable — the signature experiences we have woven through every day, so the best of the destination is never left to chance.
Seven countries in a single loop — Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, the Rhine, the Swiss Alps, the Tyrol and the Italian cities — the classic Europe tour, run privately and by rail rather than by coach.
Journey snapshot
The shape of this journey at a glance — where it starts, where it ends and everything it passes through.
Duration
- 14 Nights / 15 Days
Starts
- Paris
Ends
- Rome
Route
- Paris → Brussels → Amsterdam → Cologne → Lucerne → Innsbruck → Venice → Florence → Rome
Travel style
- Cultural · Family
Journey highlights
The moments that make this journey unforgettable — the signature experiences we have woven through every day, so the best of the destination is never left to chance.
- Seven countries — France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy — with no city visited twice
- Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam by fast train, with the Grand Place, the canals and the windmills
- Cologne's cathedral and a cruise on the castle-lined Rhine gorge
- Lucerne and Mount Titlis, then over the Arlberg into Austria for Innsbruck and the Swarovski Crystal Worlds
- The Brenner Pass into Italy: Venice by water, Florence and the Uffizi, ancient Rome and the Vatican
- Every leg by reserved train, so the coach-tour route is done without the coach
- Timed entry booked for every major site from the Eiffel Tower to the Vatican
- Hand-picked hotels and private transfers throughout
Day-by-day itinerary
Met at the airport and driven into the city. The first evening is the Seine and the Eiffel Tower lit after dark. Overnight in Paris. · Paris · Private airport transfer
The Eiffel Tower with pre-booked tickets and the Trocadéro, a guided route through the Louvre in the afternoon, and the river cruise in the evening. Overnight in Paris. · Paris
Sacré-Cœur and Montmartre in the morning, then the Marais, Versailles or Disneyland Paris as chosen when booking. Overnight in Paris. · Paris
An hour and twenty minutes to Brussels. The Grand Place and its guild houses, the Manneken Pis, the Atomium for the view, and the square floodlit in the evening. Overnight in Brussels. · Brussels · High-speed train
Two hours north to Amsterdam, with the afternoon on a canal cruise and in the lanes of the Jordaan. Overnight in Amsterdam. · Amsterdam · High-speed train
The half-day to Zaanse Schans for the working windmills and the clog and cheese workshops, then the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh Museum with a timed entry. Overnight in Amsterdam. · Amsterdam · Coach
Under three hours to Cologne, where the cathedral stands beside the station. The afternoon is the cathedral and the old town on the river. Overnight in Cologne. · Cologne · High-speed train
South along the Rhine to the gorge, with a cruise between the castles and vineyards from St Goar to Rüdesheim, then the train on through Basel to Lucerne by evening. Overnight in Lucerne. · Lucerne · Train & river boat
To Engelberg and up to Titlis by cable car with the rotating Rotair cabin, for snow, the glacier cave and the Cliff Walk. The Chapel Bridge and the lakefront in the evening. Overnight in Lucerne. · Lucerne · Train & cable car
East through Zurich and over the Arlberg Pass into the Tyrol, about four hours, arriving under the Nordkette. The old town, the Golden Roof and the Maria-Theresien-Strasse for the evening. Overnight in Innsbruck. · Innsbruck · Train
The Nordkette cable car above the city in the morning and the Swarovski Crystal Worlds at Wattens, then the train south over the Brenner and down through the Dolomites to Venice, arriving by water. Overnight in Venice. · Venice · Cable car & train
St Mark's and the Doge's Palace early, the Rialto, and the afternoon train to Florence for the Duomo and the Ponte Vecchio. Overnight in Florence. · Florence · Vaporetto & high-speed train
The Uffizi with a timed entry, the view from Piazzale Michelangelo, and the ninety-minute train to Rome for an evening in the centro storico. Overnight in Rome. · Rome · High-speed train
The Colosseum and Forum in the morning, the Vatican Museums and St Peter's in the afternoon, and a last dinner in Trastevere. Overnight in Rome. · Rome
A private transfer to Fiumicino for your flight home. · Rome · Private transfer
Accommodation, meals & transport
What the journey covers day to day, taken from this package's own inclusions.
🏨 Accommodation
- Comfort standard
- 14 nights in hand-picked hotels chosen to your budget and style — Paris (3), Brussels (1), Amsterdam (2), Cologne (1), Lucerne (2), Innsbruck (1), Venice (1), Florence (1), Rome (2)
🍽 Meals
- Daily breakfast at the hotel
🚆 Transport
- Swarovski Crystal Worlds entry at Wattens and the Nordkette cable car in Innsbruck
- Every inter-city train with seats reserved: Paris–Brussels–Amsterdam–Cologne–Lucerne–Innsbruck–Venice–Florence–Rome
- Private airport transfers on arrival in Paris and on departure from Rome, and private station transfers between
- Private airport transfer
- High-speed train
- Coach
- Train & river boat
- Train & cable car
- Train
- Cable car & train
- Vaporetto & high-speed train
- Private transfer
Flights, visa & practical
Arranged separately from the journey itself — listed here so there are no surprises.
✈ Flights
- International flights to Paris, returning from Rome and back — we can quote and book these for you
🛂 Visa & insurance
- Schengen visa fees and travel insurance — we guide you through the application and documents, but both are arranged and paid separately
What's included & excluded
Exactly what your journey covers — set out clearly, with no surprises, so you know precisely what to expect.
Included
- 14 nights in hand-picked hotels chosen to your budget and style — Paris (3), Brussels (1), Amsterdam (2), Cologne (1), Lucerne (2), Innsbruck (1), Venice (1), Florence (1), Rome (2)
- Daily breakfast at the hotel
- Eiffel Tower summit tickets, timed entry to the Louvre and a one-hour Seine cruise
- Amsterdam canal cruise and a half-day to Zaanse Schans
- Rhine gorge river cruise between Rüdesheim and St Goar
- Swiss Travel Pass (2nd class) for your days in Switzerland and the Mount Titlis excursion
- Swarovski Crystal Worlds entry at Wattens and the Nordkette cable car in Innsbruck
- Timed-entry tickets for the Uffizi Gallery, the Colosseum and Forum, and the Vatican Museums
- Every inter-city train with seats reserved: Paris–Brussels–Amsterdam–Cologne–Lucerne–Innsbruck–Venice–Florence–Rome
- Private airport transfers on arrival in Paris and on departure from Rome, and private station transfers between
- 24/7 on-trip support from Live Traveller, with a named specialist before you travel
Excluded
- International flights to Paris, returning from Rome and back — we can quote and book these for you
- Schengen visa fees and travel insurance — we guide you through the application and documents, but both are arranged and paid separately
- Lunches and dinners unless stated in the itinerary
- Optional excursions, city taxes paid locally at the hotel, tips and personal expenses
- Anything not listed under inclusions
Frequently asked
Related to this journey
Every destination on this journey has its own guide — attractions, where to stay and what to eat — and the journeys that pair with this one are a click away.
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