Switzerland and Italy
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Group Leader: Christine Lepkowski
Requested Return Date: 4/7/2024
ABOUT EF
For over 55 years, we’ve dedicated ourselves to one global mission: Opening the World Through Education. Our programs help students expand their knowledge of the world around them, discover more about themselves, grow more confident and independent, and understand new people, places, and cultures.
In Lucerne, the folkloric Swiss culture fits perfectly against the backdrop of spectacular Alpine scenery.
Down through the Italian lakes region, nature’s beauty continues to amaze, all the way to the picturesque canals of Venice. Further south, humankind’s imprint becomes more pronounced, from Florence’s Renaissance piazzas to the remains of the Ancient Empire in Rome.-
Day 1: Fly overnight to Switzerland
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Day 2: Zurich • Lucerne
Meet your Tour Director at the airportTravel to Lucerne
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Day 3: Lucerne
Take a walking tour of Lucerne
With your Tour Director you will see:
- Lion Monument
- Kapellbrücke
- Lake Lucerne
Enjoy a Swiss Alps experience
Explore on your own orAdd this in-depth excursionSwiss Fondue Evening
Savor a taste of Swiss culture as you enjoy a fondue meal—the country’s national dish that consists of (delicious) melted cheese and a lot of bread. Then, experience a bit of Swiss tradition in the form of yodeling, folk dances, and Alpine horns. (Just remember to pack your appetite.)
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Day 4: Lucerne • Italian lakes district • Venice
Travel via Lake Como to Venice
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Day 5: Venice
Take a ferry to Venice
Take a guided tour of Venice
With your expert local guide you will see:
- St. Mark’s Square
- Grand Canal
Travel by water taxi to the island of Burano
See a glass-blowing demonstration
Explore Burano on your own
Enjoy a gondola ride
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Day 6: Venice • Florence
Travel to Florence
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Day 7: Florence
Take a guided tour of Florence
With your expert local guide you will see:
- Piazza della Signoria
- Ponte Vecchio
- Basilica of Santa Croce
- Gates of Paradise
Explore on your own orAdd this in-depth excursionPisa
Journey to Pisa on this half-day excursion. Enjoy a guided tour of the city’s Field of Miracles, where you can snap a picture of the 12th-century Leaning Tower, aslant ever since the third floor was built. This is where Galileo was said to have developed his laws of gravity. Also visit the adjacent cathedral and baptistery, which contain exquisite marble pulpits carved in the Gothic style.
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Day 8: Florence • Assisi • Rome
Travel via Assisi to Rome
Tour Assisi with an expert local guide
Visit the Basilica of St. Francis -
Day 9: Rome
Tour the Roman Forum and the Colosseum with an expert local guide
Take a guided tour of Vatican City
With your expert local guide you will visit:
- Sistine Chapel
- St. Peter’s Basilica
(Vatican subject to closings on Sundays and holidays.)
Take a self-guided walking tour of Rome
You will see:
- Trevi Fountain
- Pantheon
- Piazza Navona
- Spanish Steps
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Day 10: Depart for home
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Day 1: Fly overnight to Switzerland
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Day 2: Zurich • Lucerne
Meet your Tour Director at the airportTravel to Lucerne
-
Day 3: Lucerne
Take a walking tour of Lucerne
With your Tour Director you will see:
- Lion Monument
- Kapellbrücke
- Lake Lucerne
Enjoy a Swiss Alps experience
Explore on your own orAdd this in-depth excursionSwiss Fondue Evening
Savor a taste of Swiss culture as you enjoy a fondue meal—the country’s national dish that consists of (delicious) melted cheese and a lot of bread. Then, experience a bit of Swiss tradition in the form of yodeling, folk dances, and Alpine horns. (Just remember to pack your appetite.)
-
Day 4: Lucerne • Italian lakes district • Venice
Travel via Lake Como to Venice
-
Day 5: Venice
Take a ferry to Venice
Take a guided tour of Venice
With your expert local guide you will see:
- St. Mark’s Square
- Grand Canal
Travel by water taxi to the island of Burano
See a glass-blowing demonstration
Explore Burano on your own
Enjoy a gondola ride
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Day 6: Venice • Florence
Travel to Florence
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Day 7: Florence
Take a guided tour of Florence
With your expert local guide you will see:
- Piazza della Signoria
- Ponte Vecchio
- Basilica of Santa Croce
- Gates of Paradise
Explore on your own orAdd this in-depth excursionPisa
Journey to Pisa on this half-day excursion. Enjoy a guided tour of the city’s Field of Miracles, where you can snap a picture of the 12th-century Leaning Tower, aslant ever since the third floor was built. This is where Galileo was said to have developed his laws of gravity. Also visit the adjacent cathedral and baptistery, which contain exquisite marble pulpits carved in the Gothic style.
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Day 8: Florence • Assisi • Rome
Travel via Assisi to Rome
Tour Assisi with an expert local guide
Visit the Basilica of St. Francis -
Day 9: Rome
Tour the Roman Forum and the Colosseum with an expert local guide
Take a guided tour of Vatican City
With your expert local guide you will visit:
- Sistine Chapel
- St. Peter’s Basilica
(Vatican subject to closings on Sundays and holidays.)
Take a self-guided walking tour of Rome
You will see:
- Trevi Fountain
- Pantheon
- Piazza Navona
- Spanish Steps
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Day 10: Depart for home
Feel confident helping your child see the world
Visit our parents’ page for everything from payment plans, scholarship opportunities, safety protocols, and more.
Are you the “print it, scribble notes on it, stick it to the fridge” type? You can download a printable version of our Parent Guide, too.
¿Quiere leer la Guía para Padres en español?
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See your tour come to life
Your experience includes
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Airfare & transportation
Round-trip airfare on major carriers; comfortable motorcoach
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Hotels
8 overnight stays in hotels with private bathrooms (10 with extension)
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Regional-style meals
European breakfast and dinner daily
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Guided sightseeing
4 sightseeing tours led by expert, licensed local guides (6 with extension); 1 sightseeing tour led by your Tour Director
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Entrances
Swiss Alps Experience; Burano island; glass-blowing demonstration; Basilica of St. Francis; Sistine Chapel; St. Peter’s Basilica; Colosseum; Roman Forum (with extension: Pompeii Roman Ruins; Capri boat cruise)
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Full-time Tour Director
Your culturally connected Tour Director is with your group 24/7, providing deep local insight while handling all on-tour logistics.
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Expert Local Guides
Your expert local guides are natural historians, adding cultural insight and global perspective on your sightseeing tours.
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Continuous Support
Your dedicated EF team helps you every step of the way—from recruiting and enrolling travelers to planning and managing your tour.
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Worldwide Presence
EF has over 500 schools and offices in more than 50 countries worldwide so wherever you go, we're there too.
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24-hour Emergency Service
Travelers and their families can count on EF's dedicated emergency service team.
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Peace of Mind Program
Feel secure knowing your group can change their destination or travel dates due to unforeseen circumstances. Learn more about your flexible options at eftours.com/peaceofmind.