Insight - European Rhapsody - Start London, Small Group (05/2023 - 09/2023) (ST912MZN18)

11 Days From London to Venice 
Tour Style: European Discovery
Insight Brochure Price from $3,285.00
Brochures: Europe & Britain Premium 2023 v2, Europe & Britain Premium 2024 v1
Visits: England, Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Italy

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Experience the finest Europe has to offer as you take to the stage with Viennese Waltz dance lessons in Vienna, lose yourself on the Romantic Road in Rothenburg and satisfy your appetite in Hungary with a fine dining dinner cruise in Budapest. Led by local experts, your experience will rival the aristocrats of yesteryear in the famed Carinthian Lake District. After checking in at your exclusive, private boat access hotel, dinner is served at La Fenice before twilight night caps at Café Florian—the premier cocktail bar in Venice. Sample a little pomp and circumstance with the Bavarian grandeur of Germany's Würzburg Residenz and in Vienna, tread in the footsteps of your local Travel Director with a chance to take a private tour of Maria Theresa's awesome Schönbrunn Palace.
Choice Highlights

• Choose between two carefully selected activities
• Prague: Stroll through the Jewish Quarter with your Local Expert to hear how the Jewish community has shaped the history of Prague, and taste Trdelník, a traditional Czech pastry.
• Prague: Visit the imposing St. Vitus Cathedral and explore the atmospheric courtyards of the historic Prague Castle with your Local Expert.

Well-being

• : Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
• : Experience enhanced hygiene protocols to align with the latest guidance following COVID-19.All Travel Directors, Well-Being Directors and Drivers have completed training in enhanced well-being and hygiene protocols.
• : We only work with establishments we are confident will consistently adhere to our high well-being standards, which include hotels, restaurants and sight-seeing venues.
• : Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.

Travel Director

• : "It's magical to see how a group of guests comes together over the course of our trip. I can always tell when that's happening because suddenly the enthusiasm is palpable."
• : "Venice is so unique that anyone seeing it for the first time is never fully prepared for the magic, from seeing their first gondola to the facade of St. Mark’s Cathedral."

Top Rated Highlights

• London: Relax on the smooth, high-speed Eurostar train as you journey from London to Europe via the revolutionary Channel Tunnel.
• Amsterdam: Cruise along the old waterways, discovering the architectural gems of the old city, including mansions dating from the Golden Age of the 17th Century.
• Wurzburg: Stand on the statue-lined Alte Mainbrucke and see the Marienburg fortress.
• Wurzburg: Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Würzburg Residence with a Local Expert.
• Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Picturesque Rothenburg ob der Tauber is the best-preserved medieval town in Germany and a truly enchanting destination. Step back in time and explore the city walls, towers, and gates around the old town as well as the old town itself.
• Prague: Led by your Local Expert, explore the delightful Old Town Square and see the detailed Astronomical Clock that delights onlookers each hour.
• Prague: Stroll through the Jewish Quarter with your Local Expert to hear how the Jewish community has shaped the history of Prague, and taste Trdelník, a traditional Czech pastry.
• Prague: Visit the imposing St. Vitus Cathedral and explore the atmospheric courtyards of the historic Prague Castle with your Local Expert.
• Budapest: Stroll through the alleys of the Old Town of Buda with a Local Expert.
• Vienna: Walk through the first district, Inner Stadt, as your Local Expert reveals why this is the historic core of the city. You will also tour the Ring Road to see the Hofburg Imperial Residence, Opera House, Parliament Building and Karlskirche.
• Venice: With your Travel Director cruise to St. Mark's Square and see the Doge's Palace, Bridge of Sighs and St. Mark's Basilica.

Authentic Dining

• Amsterdam: Toast to the travels ahead during your Welcome Dinner of modern European cuisine at a local restaurant.
• Budapest: Enjoy a scenic dinner cruise and take in the city's night time beauty as you float along the Danube.
• Venice: Sip cocktails alongside the canals at Cafe Florian, while being serenaded by an ensemble of talented musicians and soak up the calming atmosphere long after the day-trippers have returned to their mainland hotels.
• Venice: Enjoy a special Venetian Celebration Dinner with wine at La Principessa.
• Dining Summary: 10 Breakfast (B), and 4 Dinner with Wine (DW)

Insight Experiences

• Vienna: Be pampered by locals with traditional coffee and cake. An experience like no other, this cosy café provides companionship, and promotes well-being and support for the community, in addition to crafting delicious treats.

Make Travel Matter

• Venice: Witness the ancient skill of glassblowing, now practised by precious few masters. Watch artisans create delicate works of art using rare traditional practices. The workshop's master craftsmen teach visitors about the traditional craft of glassblowing and its history which dates back to the 15th century. Every visit helps to support the workshop and the survival of this traditional craft.  The workshop advances UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

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Insight Tour Itinerary

Day 1	Welcome to London
	Welcome to London. After checking into your hotel, the afternoon is free to enjoy a city that is famous for its pomp and pageantry. Perhaps relax with a walk along the Serpentine in Hyde Park or window shop in the elegant boutiques of Knightsbridge? Alternatively, you may want to stroll along the Thames to the iconic Tower Bridge and Tower of London.
	Visits: London
	Accommodation: Park Plaza Victoria, London.
Day 2	London to Amsterdam
	At 07:00, meet your Travel Director and transfer to London’s St. Pancras Station to board the high-speed Eurostar for a rail journey via the revolutionary Channel Tunnel to Brussels. Board the coach and continue to Amsterdam. This evening, join your Travel Director for a Welcome Reception. Get to know your fellow guests during a cruise, along some of the many quaint, tree-lined canals. Admire the elegant merchant houses from the 16th and 17th centuries, their facades are a reflection of when trade flourished during Amsterdam's Golden Age. Relax as you pass stunning gables, beautiful churches and the iconic Magere Brug, better known as the Skinny Bridge. Disembark and venture to a local restaurant for your Welcome Dinner.
	Visits: London, Amsterdam
	Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
	Accommodation: Grand Hotel Amrâth Amsterdam.
Day 3	Rhine Valley to Würzburg
	Relax with a scenic drive along the Rhine Valley to Würzburg. See the mighty Marienburg Fortress – the immense baroque palace of the Prince Bishops and one of the most important landmarks in Germany. On arrival, visit the imposing Würzburg Residenz, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a Local Expert. Marvel at intricate decorations and lavish staterooms boasting with French, Austrian and Venetian influences.
	Visits: Amsterdam, Wurzburg
	Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
	Accommodation: Maritim Hotel Würzburg.
Day 4	Rothenburg and Golden Prague
	In the morning venture to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, the most well-preserved town on the Romantic Road. Continue east to the Czech border, passing the town of Pilsen renowned for its beer, before reaching the Golden City of Prague. In the evening, perhaps take a river cruise through the heart of the city?
	Visits: Wurzburg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Prague
	Meals: Breakfast
	Accommodation: Hotel Royal Prague.
Day 5	Prague, City of a Hundred Spires
	Join a Local Expert in the morning for guided sightseeing of one of the most beautiful and intact historic centres in Europe. Explore Prague with Insight Choice. Choose to explore the Castle District . Alternatively, walk through the Jewish Quarter and taste delicious Trdelník. Then, the city is all yours to explore with the rest of the day at leisure. Perhaps you may choose to rummage through the renowned antique shops?
	Visits: Prague
	Meals: Breakfast
	Accommodation: Hotel Royal Prague.
Day 6	Through Bohemia to Budapest
	Start the day with a journey through the beautiful forested countryside of Bohemia. Travel to Hungary, following the River Danube to Budapest.In the evening, join a Local Expert to enjoy a scenic dinner cruise, gliding past UNESCO World Heritage Sites.The city’s spectacular nighttime beauty earns it the nickname 'Pearl of the Danube’.
	Visits: Prague, Budapest
	Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
	Accommodation: Hilton Garden Inn, Budapest.
Day 7	The flavours of Budapest
	Drive along the beautiful Andrassy Avenue to Heroes' Square. Stand atop Gellért Hill where the colossal Liberty Statue stands in front of the Citadella watching over the city. Stroll through the alleys of the Old Town of Buda and admire sweeping views from the Fisherman’s Bastion with a Local Expert. Marvel at extensive panoramic views as you look out over the famous river dividing Buda and Pest - the two sides linked by the mighty Chain Bridge and the elegant, newer Elizabeth Bridge. Continue your travels, past the Turul Monument, a large eagle statue overlooking the town of Tatabanya, to the Austrian border and through pleasant farming country to the imperial capital of Vienna.
	Visits: Budapest, Vienna
	Meals: Breakfast
	Accommodation: Hilton Vienna Park.
Day 8	Vienna and the Habsburgs
	In the morning, there is the option to join a private tour of Maria Theresa's Schönbrunn Palace and formal gardens. Later, join your Local Expert for a walk through Innere Stadt, the first district and historic core of Vienna. Get your camera ready for a drive around the famous Ring Road. This grand boulevard, built along the lines of the old city walls, showcases many of the capital's architectural masterpieces, including the Opera House, magnificent Hofburg Imperial Residence and Parliament building. Sit down for traditional coffee and delicious treats and mingle with locals at a cosy café.
	Visits: Vienna
	Meals: Breakfast
	Accommodation: Hilton Vienna Park.
Day 9	Along the shores of Lake Wörthersee to Venice
	This day's route takes you past quiet villages, through Styria's forested mountains and into the Carinthian Lake District. Continue past Europe's warmest lake, the Wörthersee, to cross into Italy near Tarvisio. Then follow mountain valleys and cascading streams down to the Veneto Plain en route to the unique city of Venice. Arrive by private boat to your hotel. Sip a cocktail at Caffe Florian, whilst you are serenaded by an ensemble of talented musicians. Afterwards, stroll past the Doges Palace and the famous 'Bridge of Sighs' to Principessa restaurant for a magical dinner. Indulge in traditional Venetian dishes that are enriched with inspiration from seasonal produce. Admire the tranquility of St. Mark's Square long after the day-trippers have gone to their mainland hotels before returning to your hotel.
	Visits: Vienna, Venice
	Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
	Accommodation: Eurostars Residenza Cannaregio, Venice.
Day 10	The Magic of 'La Serenissima' Relaxed Start
	In the morning, prepare to embrace this most romantic city. Your hotel is located on the renowned Grand Canal. Visit St. Mark's Square, dominated by its magnificent basilica and overlooked by the great Clock Tower. Also in the square stands the immense Campanile and Doge's Palace which is connected to the ancient prisons by the Bridge of Sighs. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you witness the skill of glassblowers on a visit to a traditional arts centre. The rest of the day is free. Perhaps shop in the small arcades or why not cruise the Venetian lagoon to the island of Burano for a meal of local specialties and wine?
	Visits: Venice
	Meals: Breakfast
	Accommodation: Eurostars Residenza Cannaregio, Venice.
Day 11	Arrivederci Venice
	Alas, you must bid farewell to this enchanting city. Your departure transfer arrives at Venice Marco Polo Airport at 08:00 and 09:30.
	Visits: Venice
	Meals: Breakfast

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Available Room Types: Single, Triple, Twin, Twinshare
Child: ages 5 to 17