Essence of Europe
The spires and cobblestones of the Marienplatz in Munich are straight out of the Middle Ages.
In Venice, the din of cars and trucks is replaced by the gentle hum of motorboats and water taxis. In Rome, Paris, and London, equally rich histories blend with the buzz of a modern metropolis—the ancient Colosseum and symbolic Arc de Triomphe are a stone’s throw from trendy restaurants and cafés.Due to national and/or religious holidays, some sites may be closed and your itinerary may be modified on the following dates in 2026: March 19, April 3-8, May 1, June 29, and August 14-15. These dates fluctuate each year—please contact us for more information.
-
Day 1: Fly overnight to Germany
-
Day 2: Munich
Meet your Tour Director at the airportTake a walking tour of Munich
With your Tour Director you will see:
- Munich Cathedral
- New Town Hall
- Hofbräuhaus
-
Day 3: Munich
Take a guided tour of Munich
With your expert local guide you will see:
- Olympic Stadium
- Residenz
- Marienplatz
Take an excursion to Dachau
Visit the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site
-
Day 4: Munich • Innsbruck • Venice
Travel via Innsbruck to the Venice region
-
Day 5: Venice
Take a ferry to Venice
See a glass-blowing demonstration
Take a guided tour of Venice
With your expert local guide you will see:
- St. Mark’s Square
- Grand Canal
Enjoy a gondola ride
Travel by water taxi to the island of Burano
Explore Burano on your own
-
Day 6: Venice • Rome
Travel to Rome by bus
-
Day 7: Rome
Take a guided tour of Vatican City
With your expert local guide you will visit:
- Sistine Chapel
- St. Peter’s Basilica
Explore on your own orAdd this in-depth excursion:Rome cooking class
Discover why food plays such an integral role in Italy’s culture as you dive into this hands-on cooking class. With a local Italian chef as your guide, participate in making several classic Italian recipes. Upon completion, sit down at the table and enjoy the tasty fruits of your labor.
-
Day 8: Rome
Take a guided tour of Rome
With your expert local guide you will visit:
- Roman Forum
- Colosseum
Take a guided tour of Castel Gandolfo, the Pope’s summer residence on the shores of Lake Albano. Learn about its rich history as you explore:
- The Papal Palace
- The Barberini Gardens
Take a guided tour of Castel Gandolfo, the Pope’s summer residence on the shores of Lake Albano. Learn about its rich history as you explore:
- The Papal Palace
- The Barberini Gardens
Take a self-guided walking tour of Rome
You will see:
- Trevi Fountain
- Pantheon
- Piazza Navona
- Spanish Steps
-
Day 9: Rome • Florence
Travel to 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
-
Day 10: Florence • Lucerne
Travel to the Lucerne region -
Day 11: Lucerne
Take a walking tour of Lucerne
With your Tour Director you will see:
- Lion Monument
- Kapellbrücke
- Lake Lucerne
Ride to the top of a Swiss mountain
Take a cruise on Lake Lucerne
-
Day 12: Lucerne • Burgundy region
Travel to the Burgundy region
Take a walking tour of Dijon with your Tour Director
-
Day 13: Burgundy region • Paris
Travel to Paris
Take a walking tour of Paris
With your Tour Director you will see:
- Île de la Cité
- Conciergerie
- Sainte-Chapelle
Catch a glimpse of Notre-Dame Cathedral
-
Day 14: Paris
Take a guided tour of Paris
With your expert local guide you will see:
- Place de la Concorde
- Champs-Élysées
- Arc de Triomphe
- Les Invalides
- Eiffel Tower
Explore on your own orAdd this in-depth excursion:Versailles
Enjoy an excursion to the grand palace of Versailles, where Louis XIV held court in the most lavish style imaginable. On a tour, stroll through the elegantly landscaped gardens, the historic Hall of Mirrors, and the ornately decorated State Apartments. Note: Versailles is closed on Mondays.
-
Day 15: Paris • London
Take the Eurostar to London
Take a walking tour of London
-
Day 16: London
Take a guided tour of London
With your expert local guide you will see:
- Big Ben and Houses of Parliament
- Piccadilly Circus
- St. Paul’s Cathedral
- Westminster Abbey
- Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace (if scheduled)
Explore on your own orAdd this in-depth excursion:Windsor
This is your invitation to the Royal Family’s retreat, Windsor Castle! Join a local guide on your half-day excursion to Windsor, built by William the Conqueror in 1070. Priceless objects are found in the State Apartments, from paintings by Rubens to Henry VIII’s sword and suit of armor. You will also see Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House and St. George’s Chapel, the final resting place of many monarchs.
-
Day 17: Depart for home
Add 2 more days
-
Day 17: Edinburgh
Travel by train to Edinburgh
Take a walking tour of Edinburgh
Visit the National Museum of Scotland
Explore on your own orAdd this in-depth excursion:Specters of Scotland
A city that can inspire Robert Louis Stephenson—an Edinburgh native—to create the monstrous Mr. Hyde has to have a deep and dark past. On your ghost tour, experience the twisted, demented, and downright terrifying side of Edinburgh. See bricked over passages and caged crypts, then try to sleep wondering: who are they keeping out… or what are they keeping in?
-
Day 18: Edinburgh
Take a guided tour of Edinburgh
Visit Edinburgh Castle
Explore Edinburgh on your own
-
Day 19: Depart for home
-
Day 1: Fly overnight to Germany
-
Day 2: Munich
Meet your Tour Director at the airportTake a walking tour of Munich
With your Tour Director you will see:
- Munich Cathedral
- New Town Hall
- Hofbräuhaus
-
Day 3: Munich
Take a guided tour of Munich
With your expert local guide you will see:
- Olympic Stadium
- Residenz
- Marienplatz
Take an excursion to Dachau
Visit the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site
-
Day 4: Munich • Innsbruck • Venice
Travel via Innsbruck to the Venice region
-
Day 5: Venice
Take a ferry to Venice
See a glass-blowing demonstration
Take a guided tour of Venice
With your expert local guide you will see:
- St. Mark’s Square
- Grand Canal
Enjoy a gondola ride
Travel by water taxi to the island of Burano
Explore Burano on your own
-
Day 6: Venice • Rome
Travel to Rome by bus
-
Day 7: Rome
Take a guided tour of Vatican City
With your expert local guide you will visit:
- Sistine Chapel
- St. Peter’s Basilica
Explore on your own orAdd this in-depth excursion:Rome cooking class
Discover why food plays such an integral role in Italy’s culture as you dive into this hands-on cooking class. With a local Italian chef as your guide, participate in making several classic Italian recipes. Upon completion, sit down at the table and enjoy the tasty fruits of your labor.
-
Day 8: Rome
Take a guided tour of Rome
With your expert local guide you will visit:
- Roman Forum
- Colosseum
Take a guided tour of Castel Gandolfo, the Pope’s summer residence on the shores of Lake Albano. Learn about its rich history as you explore:
- The Papal Palace
- The Barberini Gardens
Take a guided tour of Castel Gandolfo, the Pope’s summer residence on the shores of Lake Albano. Learn about its rich history as you explore:
- The Papal Palace
- The Barberini Gardens
Take a self-guided walking tour of Rome
You will see:
- Trevi Fountain
- Pantheon
- Piazza Navona
- Spanish Steps
-
Day 9: Rome • Florence
Travel to 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
-
Day 10: Florence • Lucerne
Travel to the Lucerne region -
Day 11: Lucerne
Take a walking tour of Lucerne
With your Tour Director you will see:
- Lion Monument
- Kapellbrücke
- Lake Lucerne
Ride to the top of a Swiss mountain
Take a cruise on Lake Lucerne
-
Day 12: Lucerne • Burgundy region
Travel to the Burgundy region
Take a walking tour of Dijon with your Tour Director
-
Day 13: Burgundy region • Paris
Travel to Paris
Take a walking tour of Paris
With your Tour Director you will see:
- Île de la Cité
- Conciergerie
- Sainte-Chapelle
Catch a glimpse of Notre-Dame Cathedral
-
Day 14: Paris
Take a guided tour of Paris
With your expert local guide you will see:
- Place de la Concorde
- Champs-Élysées
- Arc de Triomphe
- Les Invalides
- Eiffel Tower
Explore on your own orAdd this in-depth excursion:Versailles
Enjoy an excursion to the grand palace of Versailles, where Louis XIV held court in the most lavish style imaginable. On a tour, stroll through the elegantly landscaped gardens, the historic Hall of Mirrors, and the ornately decorated State Apartments. Note: Versailles is closed on Mondays.
-
Day 15: Paris • London
Take the Eurostar to London
Take a walking tour of London
-
Day 16: London
Take a guided tour of London
With your expert local guide you will see:
- Big Ben and Houses of Parliament
- Piccadilly Circus
- St. Paul’s Cathedral
- Westminster Abbey
- Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace (if scheduled)
Explore on your own orAdd this in-depth excursion:Windsor
This is your invitation to the Royal Family’s retreat, Windsor Castle! Join a local guide on your half-day excursion to Windsor, built by William the Conqueror in 1070. Priceless objects are found in the State Apartments, from paintings by Rubens to Henry VIII’s sword and suit of armor. You will also see Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House and St. George’s Chapel, the final resting place of many monarchs.
-
Day 17: Depart for home
Add 2 more days
-
Day 17: Edinburgh
Travel by train to Edinburgh
Take a walking tour of Edinburgh
Visit the National Museum of Scotland
Explore on your own orAdd this in-depth excursion:Specters of Scotland
A city that can inspire Robert Louis Stephenson—an Edinburgh native—to create the monstrous Mr. Hyde has to have a deep and dark past. On your ghost tour, experience the twisted, demented, and downright terrifying side of Edinburgh. See bricked over passages and caged crypts, then try to sleep wondering: who are they keeping out… or what are they keeping in?
-
Day 18: Edinburgh
Take a guided tour of Edinburgh
Visit Edinburgh Castle
Explore Edinburgh on your own
-
Day 19: Depart for home
Reviews
Refer a friend or colleague to EF and we’ll thank you with $1,000. Learn more
Your experience includes
-
Airfare & transportation
Round-trip flights on major carriers; comfortable motorcoach; Eurostar high-speed train
-
Hotels
15 overnight stays in hotels with private bathrooms (17 with extension)
-
Regional-style meals
European breakfast and dinner daily
-
Guided sightseeing
7 sightseeing tours led by expert, licensed local guides (8 with extension); 2 sightseeing tours led by your Tour Director; 3 walking tours (4 with extension)
-
Entrances
Dachau; Burano island; glass-blowing demonstration; gondola ride; Sistine Chapel; St. Peter’s Basilica; Colosseum; Roman Forum; Castel Gandolfo; Swiss Alps experience (with extension: National Museum of Scotland; Edinburgh Castle)
-
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.
-
Expert Local Guides
Your expert local guides are natural historians, adding cultural insight and global perspective on your sightseeing tours.
-
Continuous Support
Your dedicated EF team helps you every step of the way—from recruiting and enrolling travelers to planning and managing your tour.
-
Worldwide Presence
EF has over 500 schools and offices in more than 50 countries worldwide so wherever you go, we're there too.
-
24-hour Emergency Service
Travelers and their families can count on EF's dedicated emergency service team.
-
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.
Lowest price
Price is valid for students under the age of 20 at the time of travel that room in triples and quads. Minimum participation is required. Change and cancellation fees of up to the total price will apply. Applicable airline baggage fees are not included and can be found at www.eftours.com/baggage. Program price is valid today only.
Price displayed includes an Early Enrollment Discount; restrictions apply. To determine if you qualify, please contact your Tour Consultant. Tours departing between 10/1/2023 and 9/30/2024 may be eligible for a $100 discount. Tours departing 10/1/2024 and beyond may be eligible for a $200 discount; restrictions apply.