27013 Heart of Europe

Day 1

Day 1
Overnight Flight to Europe
Your Heart of Europe® adventure begins as you board your overnight flight across the Atlantic.
There is something wonderfully exciting about the first day of a European journey. Bags are packed, passports are ready, and anticipation is high. As your flight departs, you can relax knowing the details have been arranged and your European adventure is about to unfold.
Tomorrow morning, the coastline of Europe comes into view — and with it, the beginning of 15 days filled with scenery, culture, history, and discovery.

Day 2

Day 2
Arrival in Germany and Welcome to Schriesheim
As morning breaks, arrive at Frankfurt Airport and meet your Tour Manager, who will accompany the group throughout the European portion of the tour.
From the airport, board your deluxe motorcoach and settle in for the pleasant drive to the village of Schriesheim. This first day is designed to ease you into Europe gently. You will have time to get oriented, meet your fellow travelers, and begin adjusting to the pace and charm of life abroad.
This evening, enjoy a “Welcome to Europe” dinner at the hotel. It is the perfect way to begin the journey: a good meal, friendly introductions, and the shared excitement of knowing that Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium, and The Netherlands are all still ahead.

Day 3

Day 3
Rhine River Castles and Romantic Heidelberg
Today brings the Europe many travelers picture in their dreams: castle ruins, vineyards, riverside villages, and storybook landscapes.
Rhine River Boat Ride
A scenic drive brings you to the Rhine River Valley, where you will enjoy a boat ride past charming villages, hillside vineyards, medieval castles, and ancient fortresses. This is one of Germany’s most atmospheric regions, where the river winds through landscapes layered with history and legend.
As you glide along the water, watch for the famous Loreley Rock, tied to folklore about a bewitching siren who distracted boatmen along the river. It is the kind of scenery that feels both real and mythical — steep hills, stone towers, vine-covered slopes, and villages tucked along the banks.
This cruise is a beautiful introduction to Germany’s romance and heritage.
Heidelberg
After an independent lunch, continue to Heidelberg, a renowned university town located along the Neckar River. With its red sandstone castle ruins rising above the town, historic streets, and lively atmosphere, Heidelberg is often said to capture the spirit of Germany.
You will have time to explore, take photos, browse, and enjoy the city’s inviting character. Perhaps sample German specialties during an independent dinner before returning to Schriesheim for the night.

Day 4

Day 4
Rothenburg, Nuremberg, and Bavaria
Today’s route takes you along the Autobahn to the northern section of Germany’s famous Romantic Road, a region known for ancient castles, unspoiled countryside, and villages that look as though they belong in a fairytale.
Rothenburg
The highlight of the day is Rothenburg, one of Europe’s most beautifully preserved medieval villages. Surrounded by its original defensive wall, Rothenburg is a dream for travelers who love cobblestone streets, half-timbered buildings, charming storefronts, historic inns, and old-world atmosphere.
Take time to walk along the city wall for a bird’s-eye view of the rooftops, lanes, towers, and countryside beyond. Wander the narrow streets, browse small shops, and enjoy the feeling of stepping into another century.
A favorite stop is Käthe Wohlfahrt’s Weihnachtsdorf, a sprawling year-round Christmas shop filled with ornaments, decorations, and holiday wonder. Even outside the Christmas season, it is a magical place to browse.

Nuremberg and Bavaria
After a brief visit to Nuremberg, continue into the scenic and festive state of Bavaria. This region is known for its traditions, hospitality, landscapes, and unmistakable character.
Tonight, enjoy an included dinner and settle in for a restful evening in Bavaria.

Day 5

Day 5
Munich and the Austrian Tyrol
Today begins with a visit to Munich, the festive capital of Bavaria.
Munich
As you drive into the city, take in Munich’s landmarks and lively atmosphere. You will have time to explore the Marienplatz, the central square known for its architecture and famous Glockenspiel clock tower.
For travelers who want a taste of Bavarian tradition, the famous Hofbräuhaus beer hall offers a classic glimpse of Munich’s cheerful social spirit. Whether you are drawn to architecture, shopping, food, or people-watching, Munich is a city with plenty of personality.

Into Austria
After lunch, the journey continues south toward the Austrian border. The landscape grows more dramatic as you motor through majestic mountain scenery and enter Tyrol, one of Austria’s friendliest and most scenic regions.





Your destination is a chalet-style hotel in a typical Tyrolean Village, surrounded by Alpine beauty. Flower-adorned buildings, frescoed chalets, mountain air, and warm hospitality make this a wonderfully memorable overnight setting.
Enjoy an included dinner and the peaceful charm of Austria.

Day 6

Day 6
Austrian Alps and Optional Salzburg Excursion
This day is devoted to the beauty of the Austrian Alps.
Wake up in your Tyrolean Village with mountain scenery all around you. The pace today allows you to savor the setting. Take a walk through the village, admire the flower boxes and traditional frescoed homes, breathe in the Alpine air, and enjoy the feeling of being tucked into one of Europe’s most picturesque regions.
You may choose to take a chair lift up the mountain for sweeping Alpine views. It is the kind of experience where the scenery does most of the talking — peaks, valleys, rooftops, and sky stretching in every direction.
Optional Salzburg & Dinner Excursion
Another option is to join the Tour Manager for a full-day optional Salzburg & Dinner excursion. Salzburg is known as the birthplace of Mozart and as a setting connected to *The Sound of Music*. With its elegant architecture, musical heritage, and mountain setting, it is one of Austria’s most beloved cities.
The excursion includes a guided tour of Salzburg and a traditional Austrian meal, making it a wonderful choice for travelers who want to add music, history, and classic Austrian flavor to the day.

Day 7

Day 7
Innsbruck, the Dolomites, Lake Garda, and Verona
Today is a spectacular travel day, moving from Austria into Italy through some of Europe’s most dramatic scenery.
Innsbruck
Begin with a morning stop in Innsbruck, capital of Tyrol. Much of the city’s architectural beauty is tied to the Hapsburg dynasty, especially Maximilian I, ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1493 to 1519. One of the city’s most famous landmarks is the Golden Roof, a balcony that has become a symbol of Innsbruck.
Innsbruck has twice hosted the Winter Olympics, and its mountain setting gives the city an unforgettable Alpine character.

Through the Dolomites into Italy
Next, cross into Italy by way of the Europa Bridge, an impressive feat of highway engineering through the Dolomite Mountains. The scenery shifts as you descend toward Lake Garda, or “Lago di Garda,” Italy’s largest lake.

Lake Garda
Lake Garda is a place of surprising contrasts. Steep mountain shores frame waters of striking blue, while the lake’s subtropical climate supports colorful oleander, olive trees, citrus trees, grapevines, and lush vegetation.
During your stop, stroll along the lakefront, browse the quaint markets, or enjoy a gelato. It is a relaxed and beautiful introduction to Italy — bright, scenic, flavorful, and effortlessly romantic.




Verona
From Lake Garda, continue to Verona, the legendary city made famous by Shakespeare’s *Romeo and Juliet*. With its ancient Roman heritage, elegant streets, and lively Italian atmosphere, Verona is a wonderful place to enjoy an independent dinner before transferring to your hotel.

Day 8

Day 8
Verona at Leisure or Optional Venice Excursion
Today is yours to enjoy the art, architecture, romance, and rhythm of Italy at your own pace.
Verona
Spend the day exploring Verona, a city filled with beauty and history. Its nearly 2,000-year-old Roman arena still hosts performances, including beloved Italian operas. The city’s streets invite relaxed wandering, with fashionable shops, inviting cafés, historic squares, and romantic corners.
This is a day to slow down and enjoy Italy your way. Browse, sip a cappuccino, visit local sights, take photos, and let the city’s atmosphere unfold naturally.
You may also choose to take a local bus back to turquoise-colored Lake Garda, where you can relax along the shore with a Campari or cappuccino.

Optional Venice Excursion
Travelers who want to add another iconic Italian experience may join the optional Venice excursion. Venice is a city like no other, with canals, gondolas, bridges, narrow lanes, delicate glassmaking traditions, and a sense of wonder around every corner.
This optional excursion includes dinner at a classic Venetian restaurant, making it a rich and memorable way to experience one of Italy’s most famous cities.


Whether you remain in Verona or choose Venice, Italy’s captivating ambience is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Day 9

Day 9
Lake Lugano and the Swiss Alps
Today the tour turns north through the splendor of the Italian and Swiss lake districts.

Lake Lugano
Switzerland welcomes you with a breathtaking contrast: snow-capped mountain peaks rising above the palm-lined, subtropical beauty of Lake Lugano. Often described as the “Rio de Janeiro of the Old Continent,” Lugano offers a striking combination of Alpine and Mediterranean atmosphere.
It is the perfect place for a lunch break. Enjoy the lake views, the relaxed pace, and the beauty of a region where cultures and landscapes blend.
Into the Swiss Alps
In the afternoon, travel from the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland into the German-speaking region by way of the 11-mile-long St. Gotthard Tunnel.
Tonight, overnight in a cozy village surrounded by the Swiss Alps. With mountain scenery all around, this is another one of those magical European evenings that feels far from ordinary life.
Enjoy an included dinner at the hotel.

Day 10

Day 10
Stans, Lucerne, and Swiss Alpine Beauty
Today showcases Switzerland at its most classic: lakes, mountains, historic towns, chocolates, bridges, and unforgettable views.
Lake Lucerne and Stans
A morning drive through William Tell country reveals impressive Lake Lucerne, watched over by the soaring mountain peaks of Rigi and Pilatus. The panorama is breathtaking — water, mountains, villages, and sky all arranged with almost postcard-perfect beauty.
In the old mountain village of Stans, you may choose the optional Swiss Mountain excursion, which offers thrilling panoramic views by funicular and cable car. It is a memorable way to rise above the valley and experience the scale and majesty of the Swiss landscape.
Lucerne
In the afternoon, visit Lucerne, one of Switzerland’s most beloved cities. Highlights include the historic covered Chapel Bridge and the famous Lion Monument, which commemorates Swiss soldiers who died defending Louis XVI during the French Revolution.
The rest of the day is yours to explore Lucerne’s Old Town. Browse displays of delicious Swiss chocolates, admire wood-carved music boxes, wander the charming streets, or relax along the lakeshore promenade.
Before returning to the hotel for dinner, travelers may also consider an optional Swiss Lake Boat Ride on beautiful Lake Lucerne.

Day 11

Day 11
France’s Burgundy and Champagne Regions to Troyes
Today begins with the sound of church bells and the promise of another scenic European travel day.
Follow the Swiss Autobahn past Basel, where Switzerland, Germany, and France meet. Here, the Rhine River becomes navigable as it begins its long journey through Germany toward Rotterdam and the Dutch Atlantic coast.

Cross into France, where mountain scenery gives way to hilltop settlements, rustic vineyards, and the rolling landscapes of the Burgundy and Champagne wine regions.
After a mid-day lunch stop, continue to Troyes, a medieval town known for its picturesque half-timbered houses and inviting old square. Your Tour Manager will offer a walk to the town center, where you may enjoy an independent dinner at one of the sidewalk cafés.
This is a wonderful evening to try local champagne, relax under the French sky, and soak up the atmosphere of a town rich with medieval charm.

Day 12

Day 12
Paris: Architecture, Landmarks, and Independent Discovery
After a mid-morning arrival in Paris, the day is yours to explore one of the world’s most celebrated cities.
Your Tour Manager will help orient you to major sights such as Place de la Concorde, the Champs-Élysées, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, and Galeries Lafayette.
Optional Seine River Cruise
Travelers may choose the optional Seine River Cruise, a beautiful way to see some of Paris’s most famous landmarks from the water. The Seine gives the city a graceful rhythm, with bridges, monuments, historic buildings, and riverbanks unfolding as you cruise.
Paris at Your Own Pace
Paris rewards curiosity. You may choose to stroll the Champs-Élysées, admire the Eiffel Tower, browse boutiques, visit a museum, linger over coffee, or simply watch the city move around you.
Tonight, you may join the optional Paris Evening excursion, which includes dinner at a characteristic French bistro in the heart of the city. Or choose your own independent dinner location and enjoy Paris your way.
However you spend the day, Paris has a way of making ordinary moments feel cinematic.

Day 13

Day 13
Antwerp, Belgium, and Holland
Today the tour travels north to Belgium and onward into The Netherlands.

Antwerp
Arrive in Antwerp, a North Sea port city known for its convivial atmosphere, historic buildings, delicate lacework, attractive shops, and inviting cafés.
Spend time exploring the city center and its handsome main square. This is the perfect place to treat yourself to a Belgian waffle at an outdoor café. Crisp, warm, sweet, and unmistakably Belgian, it is one of those simple travel pleasures that somehow becomes a memory.
Into The Netherlands
In the afternoon, continue into Nederland, or The Netherlands, meaning “low lands.” Much of the country lies below sea level, protected by canals, dikes, and pumping stations.
As you drive toward the region of Holland, watch for beautifully preserved windmills that once played an important role in water management. These retired windmills are now cherished symbols of Dutch ingenuity and tradition.
With only one more full day of the tour ahead, gather with fellow travelers this evening for a celebratory Farewell Dinner.

Day 14

Day 14
Holland at Leisure or Optional Grand Holland Excursion
Your final full day in Europe is set aside for Dutch discovery.
With the help of an efficient public transportation network, you may explore a Dutch city of your choosing. Whether you are drawn to canals, museums, cafés, shops, architecture, or quiet neighborhood streets, Holland offers plenty of ways to enjoy the day independently.

Optional Grand Holland Excursion
For a more comprehensive sightseeing experience, join the optional Grand Holland excursion. This full-day outing features neatly groomed countryside, a picturesque Dutch village, and a canal boat ride through historic Amsterdam.
Amsterdam is famous for its elegant bridges, 17th-century architecture, narrow houses, canals, and lively cultural atmosphere. Seeing the city from the water is one of the best ways to appreciate its charm.
For dinner, choose from Dutch specialties such as pancakes, seafood, or other local favorites.
It is a fitting final full day: scenic, cultural, relaxed, and full of Dutch character.

Day 15

Day 15
Flight Home from Amsterdam
Your Heart of Europe® journey comes full circle as you transfer to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport for your daytime flight home.
As you return, you carry far more than souvenirs. You bring back the memory of Rhine castles, German villages, Bavarian squares, Austrian chalets, Italian lakes, Swiss peaks, French cafés, Belgian waffles, Dutch windmills, and the shared joy of seeing Europe unfold one country at a time.
This is the kind of trip that stays with you — not just because of what you saw, but because of how much of Europe you felt in just 15 days.