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.
- Duration
- 14 Nights / 15 Days
- Destinations
- 7 destinations
- Travel style
- Cultural · Family
- Stays
- Comfort standard
- Meals
- Daily breakfast at the hotel
- Transfers
- Private airport transfer
Journey overview
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.
Photographs: Rome Skyline by Bert Kaufmann, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Why you'll love this journey
- 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.
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.
Sacré-Cœur and Montmartre in the morning, then the Marais, Versailles or Disneyland Paris as chosen when booking. Overnight in 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.
Two hours north to Amsterdam, with the afternoon on a canal cruise and in the lanes of the Jordaan. Overnight in Amsterdam.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A private transfer to Fiumicino for your flight home.
Make this journey yours
Every departure is planned around your dates, your pace and your stays. Tell us what matters and a specialist replies within 24 hours (Mon–Sat) with a tailored proposal.
Inclusions & exclusions
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
Not included
- 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
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
Every journey is quoted individually for your travel dates and party. Read our pricing terms for how a quotation is prepared. Cancellations and amendments follow our Refund & Cancellation Policy and Terms & Conditions.
Frequently asked
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