European Gems-Including Eurail:

Places Covered:

Lucerne, Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Venice, Rome, Florence, Zurich.

12 Nights / 13 Days

Detailed Itinerary:    

Day 01: Zurich – Lucerne

Upon arrival in Zurich, meet your car and transfer to Lucerne. Check into your hotel and spend the rest of the day exploring this lovely medieval town with its many attractions such as the Lion Monument, Chapel Bridge, the Town Hall and the Jesuite Church. Overnight at hotel

Day 02: Lucerne - Mount Titlis – Lucerne

After breakfast, embark upon a full day excursion to Mt Titlis. From Lucerne take the train to Engelberg, where you will board the Titlis Rotair cable car, which takes you up to the top. From here, you will be able to see stunning views of Alps. Up at the top there is plenty to do, you could go to one of the restaurants for lunch or visit the glacier cave and ride the Ice Flyer chairlift. (*From May – September, you also have the option of wandering along the mountain flower trail. The flower trail, Gerschnialp is a beautiful trail for 2km leading to the Untertruebsee - this is included in the cable car ticket) Early evening return back to Lucerne. If you’re looking for something to do in the evening, why not take a boat trip on the beautiful Lake of Lucerne. Overnight at the hotel

Day 03: Lucerne – Vienna

After breakfast, your car will pick you up from the hotel and take you to the station, from where you will train to Vienna. At Vienna station, your car will be waiting for you to take you to hotel. Check in and overnight at the hotel

Day 04: Vienna

After breakfast, embark upon your city tour will introduce you to the most important sights of the Austrian capital. As we drive around the famous 'Ringstrasse', Vienna's main boulevard, we pass by the State Opera, the Museums of Fine Art and Natural History, the Parliament building, the Burgtheater (National Theatre), the City Hall and the University. We then drive along the Danube Canal and pass by Hundertwasser's 'Kunsthaus' and the Prater Park with its Giant Ferris Wheel. The highlight of this programme is the visit to Schonbrunn Palace where we take a tour of some of the most magnificently decorated rooms. We return to the city centre, passing by Belvedere Palace, where you will have the opportunity to end your tour, or you can choose to continue to the State Opera House, where the tour ends. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight at hotel

Day 05: Vienna – Salzburg

After breakfast, meet your car for a transfer to the station to catch your train to Salzburg. Once you reach Salzburg station, transfer to the hotel and check in. You will be collected from the hotel in the early afternoon, to take you on a Sound of Music tour (seat in coach basis). Overnight at Hotel

Day 06: Salzburg – Innsbruck

After breakfast, your car will pick you up and take you to the station where you will catch your train to Innsbruck. Upon arrival at Innsbruck station, meet your car and transfer to the hotel where you will check in. Early afternoon, take your shuttle bus from Innsbruck station to Wattens to visit Swarovski Crystal Worlds. This is an absolute must for anyone visiting Innsbruck. The Crystal Worlds is built in the shape of a giant with a huge head, coloured in the deepest blue. The main hall is dominated by a vast wall of crystals made up of 12 tons of glittering stones, which almost overshadow a gigantic crystal of 300,000 carats - the largest ever produced! In the early evening take the shuttle bus from Wattens to Innsbruck station. Overnight at the hotel

Day 07: Innsbruck – Venice

After breakfast, enjoy some time at leisure. Early afternoon private transfer from your hotel to the station where you will catch your train to Venice. Arrive in Venice and make your own way to the hotel. Overnight at hotel

Day 08: Venice

After breakfast, the day free to explore yours own this magnificent “floating city” with its beautiful buildings and narrow cobbled streets. Make the most of your time in Venice by visiting St Marks Square, which is located in the heart of the city. From here you can explore many of the city’s main attractions including St. Marks Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Torre dell’Orologio (Clock Tower), and Piazetta San Marco, to name a few. The perfect way to end the day is with a classic gondola ride along the Grand Canal. Overnight at the hotel

Day 09: Venice – Rome

After breakfast, make your own way to the station and take your train to Rome. Meet your car upon arrival in Rome and transfer to the hotel. Check in and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at the hotel

Day 10: Rome

After breakfast, begin your discovery of ‘the eternal city’ of Rome with half day tour focuses on some of the major sights of ancient Rome. Crossing the Quirinal Square, with the Presidential Palace, we arrive at Piazza Venezia at the heart of the city with its Monument to Victor Emanuel II, also called 'Vittoriano'. We walk up to Capitol Square, designed by Michelangelo, and proceed to the Imperial Forum Avenue to enjoy a magnificent view over the Imperial Forum. Afterwards we stop in front of the Colosseum from which point you can see the Arches of Constantine and Tito and the Temple of Venus and Rome. Passing the Pyramid Cestia, we arrive at St. Paul's Outside the Walls which we visit to see the site where the Apostle of the People was buried. In the afternoon, why not indulge in a bit of shopping at any of Rome’s numerous boutiques. The evening provides the perfect opportunity to sample the city’s delicious Italian cuisine in the quaint part of town, known as Trastevere, which is full of small local restaurants. Overnight at the hotel

Day 11: Rome – Florence

After breakfast, your car will pick you up at the hotel and take you to Rome station. Take a train to Florence and meet your car at the other end to transfer you to the hotel. In the afternoon, join tour of an excursion to one of the most evocative areas of Tuscany, known all over the world for its wine and its countryside of unequalled beauty, an area that alternates woods with vines and olive trees, and where Romanesque churches, farmhouses, villas and castles of rare beauty are to be found. This tour includes a visit to a place of particular historic and artistic interest in an old village, and to one of the most renowned castle farms with a snack and tasting of its prestigious wines. Free time will give you the opportunity to visit the elegant boutiques and trendy shops. Overnight at hotel

Day 12: Florence – Zurich

After breakfast, meet your car at the hotel and transfer to the station from where you will take your train to Zurich. Arrival at Zurich Airport. Day at leisure. Overnight at hotel

Day 13: Departure

After breakfast, proceed to the train station for your onward flight.