Continental Introduction 2012

Tours | Globus family of brands | Rome | Florence | Venice | Amsterdam | Paris | Europe | Munich | Austria | Germany | Switzerland | Italy | France

Itinerary:

Day	Description	View All +
Day 1	Arrive in Paris, France. The day is free to rest or to start exploring the splendid French capital. At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a special welcome dinner with wine at a local restaurant. (D)	View Details +
Day 2	Paris . Sightseeing with a Local Guide features the Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Champs-Elysées. For a panoramic view, take the elevator to the second floor of the EIFFEL TOWER. Afternoon at leisure. An optional excursion to the Palace of Versailles is available. Tonight, a lively cabaret show might just be the ticket. (B)	View Details +
Day 3	Paris–Lucerne, Switzerland. A comfortable ride skirting Fontainebleau Forest and through the vineyards of Burgundy to the Swiss border. Enjoy vistas of the Alps as you arrive in picture-book Lucerne. (B,D)	View Details +
Day 4	Lucerne–Lugano. Admire Thorwaldsen’s LION MONUMENT and walk through the Old Town, then cross the famous covered CHAPEL BRIDGE to the Jesuit Church. Why not join an optional excursion to the top of the mountain? Next, admire the towering majesty of the Swiss Alps and St. Gotthard on the way to Lake Lugano. You may wish to join an optional boatride followed by dinner on spectacular Lake Lugano. (B)	View Details +
Day 5	Lugano–Pisa, Italy–Florence. Past Italy’s commercial capital of Milan, reach Pisa, where you stop for pictures of its amazing Leaning Tower. Arrive in Florence, the “Cradle of the Renaissance.” Time to explore the many gold and leather shops, then, enjoy dinner with Tuscan specialties at a local restaurant. (B,D)	View Details +
Day 6	Florence–Rome. During your walking tour with a Local Guide, visit Michelangelo’s celebrated David in the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS. Admire the magnificent cathedral, Giotto’s Bell Tower, and the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise.” Also visit sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE. Next, a fast and easy ride on the Highway of the Sun to the “Eternal City.” (B)	View Details +
Day 7	Rome . Sightseeing with your Local Guide starts with a visit to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL, world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings. Continue to monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA. Cross the Tiber and visit the COLOSSEUM and the ROMAN FORUM, where Roman legions marched in triumph. Then, time for independent activities and exciting optional excursion possibilities. (B)	View Details +
Day 8	Rome–Ferrara–Venice. Afternoon break in Ferrara. Walk along the impressive Este Castle to the marble cathedral. Browse through the attractive little shops before continuing to Venice on the Adriatic coast. Exciting optional activities are available. (B)	View Details +
Day 9	Venice . Enter Venice in style by PRIVATE BOAT. Highlights of your walking tour with a Local Guide are ST. MARK’S SQUARE and its basilica, lavish DOGES’ PALACE and the BRIDGE OF SIGHS. Also watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects. (B,D)	View Details +
Day 10	Venice–Innsbruck, Austria–Munich, Germany . Leave Italy on spectacular Brenner Pass, which leads through the barrier of the Tyrolean Alps to Austria. In Innsbruck, enjoy a pleasant stroll through quaint medieval lanes to Emperor Maximilian’s GOLDEN ROOF before continuing through the Bavarian Alps to Munich, Germany’s “Secret Capital.” How about a stein of beer at the famous Hofbräuhaus tonight? (B)	View Details +
Day 11	Munich–Rothenburg–Rhineland. Your orientation drive features Munich’s most famous landmarks: Olympic Stadium, 1,000-foot-high Television Tower, and the 17th-century Nymphenburg Palace. Then, continue through the Swabian Jura to Rothenburg for a walking tour of this walled town. Enjoy free time before continuing to the Rhineland. (B,D)	View Details +
Day 12	Rhineland–Cologne–Amsterdam, Holland. This morning’s highlight is a romantic RHINE CRUISE past castle-crested hills, terraced vineyards, and the Lorelei rock. Then, continue to Cologne and visit the awesome twin-spired gothic CATHEDRAL before traveling through the Dutch region best known as the locale of A Bridge Too Far on the way to Amsterdam, capital of Holland. (B,D)	View Details +
Day 13	Amsterdam . A Local Guide shows you the 700-year-old city, including Dam Square with the Royal Palace, and the Rijksmuseum. The highlight is a CANAL CRUISE past patrician mansions, gabled façades, and humpback bridges. Next, visit a major DIAMOND CENTER. The afternoon is at leisure, and an optional excursion to Volendam can be arranged. (B)	View Details +
Day 14	Amsterdam . Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)	View Details +

Highlights: Paris Welcome dinner at a local restaurant; guided sightseeing, ascend the Eiffel TowerLucerne Walking tour including the Lion Monument and the Chapel BridgePisa Marvel at the legendary Leaning TowerFlorence Dinner at a local restaurant; guided sightseeing, visit Michelangelo’s David, and Signoria SquareRome Guided sightseeing, visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Colosseum and Roman ForumFerrara Walk along Este Castle to the cathedralVenice Private boat ride; guided walking tour, visit St. Mark’s Square, Doges’ Palace and the Bridge of Sighs; glassblowers’ demonstrationInnsbruck Walk through the Old Town to the Golden RoofMunich Orientation driveRothenburg Walking tour of the walled townRhine CruiseCologne Visit the cathedralAmsterdam Guided sightseeing including Dam Square, canal cruise; visit a major diamond centerHeadsets throughout the tourNotes: PRICE DETAILS: Dates and prices do not include international air travel. When planning your trip, allow one extra day before tour date for travel between the USA and Europe.Prices based on double room occupancy.Single room supplement: $628, $729 (April 6-October 12 and April 5, 2013)No triple room reudction per person except: $13 (April 6-October 12)Extra nights per person in Paris:in single room $345, in twin room $180, in triple room $180Extra nights per person in Amsterdam:in single room $225, in twin room $175, in triple room $1602013 departures are subject to itinerary and price modification. Details will be available in October 2012.What's Included: MEALS: Full buffet breakfast (B); 6 three-course dinners (D), including a special welcome dinner with wine in Paris and a special Tuscan dinner with wine in FlorenceHOTELS: Full buffet breakfast (B); 6 three-course dinners (D), including a special welcome dinner with wine in Paris and a special Tuscan dinner with wine in Florence