Compare Great European Journey by Smithsonian Journeys vs Berlin to Paris: Bike Rides & Big Nights by G Adventures
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| Trip |
3 | Average
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 11 days | 6 days |
| Price From | $ 5,495 | $ 1,079 |
| Price Per Day | $ 500 | $ 180 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Luxury | Basic |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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N/A |
| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
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N/A |
| Meals Included |
8 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches and 7 Dinners |
No meals included |
| Description |
Take a grand tour of Europe on this popular journey, featuring rides on legendary trains in Alpine settings and a five-night cruise along the Rhine River, as well as visits to Cologne's magnificent Gothic cathedral and Heidelberg's 13th-century castle. |
Ah, a relaxing week’s vacation in Old Europa. What could be finer? Don’t ask anyone who’s taken this trip! Our six-day odyssey across four countries is a blur of beauty, culture, and adventure from start to finish, with loads of optional activities to pick and choose from. From the varied architectural wonders of Berlin to the nightclubs of Amsterdam and romantic Bruges, this trip contains more European awesomeness per minute than should be permissible by law. (We won't tell if you won't.) |
Days 1-2: U.S., Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Meals: Lunch, Welcome Reception and Dinner
Depart the U.S. for Amsterdam. Following your morning arrival, enjoy a private cruise along Amsterdam’s delightful canals lined with 16th- and 17th-century gabled row houses, which have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Embark the ship and join fellow participants this evening for the Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner.
Day 3: Cologne, Germany
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Enjoy the morning while cruising along the picturesque Rhine River. One of Germany’s most ancient cities, Cologne was founded as a Roman military outpost in 38 B.C. From the time of Charlemagne to present day, it has flourished as the Rhineland’s foremost mercantile and religious center and is the birthplace of the original world-famous Eau De Cologne perfume. Explore the Altstadt (Old Town) and visit the historic Kölner Dom (cathedral), a UNESCO World Heritage site and the finest example of High Gothic architecture in Germany; construction began on the cathedral in 1248 and lasted for six centuries. Among its artistic treasures are the Milan Madonna and the Shrine of the Three Holy Kings.
Day 4: Koblenz, Rüdesheim
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Go ashore this morning in Koblenz, where Germany’s Roman past dates to 9 B.C., during the reign of Augustus Caesar, when it was strategically established at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers. From the famous Deutsches Eck (German Corner), enjoy a view of the impressive 19th-century fortress of Ehrenbreitstein, once the residence of the powerful Archbishop-Electors of Trier. The twin-towered Basilica of St. Castor, built between the 9th and 13th centuries, features the Rhineland’s distinctive Romanesque architecture.
Cruise through the spectacular Rhine River Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site, legendary for its scenery and riverside architectural treasures. Be on deck for a front row view of the steep terraced vineyards rising on the slopes of the riverbanks. With each bend in the river, a medieval castle crowns the crags and a tranquil village nestles along its banks. See the famous Lorelei Rock—legend holds that a beautiful siren lured sailors here with her enchanting song.
Dock in the medieval town of Rüdesheim, the heart of Germany’s wine country. Enjoy a tour aboard the unique Winzerexpress mini-train, traveling through bucolic countryside vineyards and passing historic castles, followed by a private tasting of German wines.
Reboard the ship and cruise through the Rheingau, Germany’s most famous wine-growing region, known particularly for its Riesling.
Day 5: Mannheim for Heidelberg
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
This morning, from Mannheim, transfer to Heidelberg, where luminaries such as Goethe and Schumann came to experience the intellectual atmosphere of Heidelberg University, Germany’s oldest, founded in 1386. To many on the “Grand Tour” of Europe, fashionable in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, Heidelberg epitomized Germany, nestled in the densely wooded valley of the Neckar River and alive with the spirit of German Romanticism. Heidelberg has preserved its authentic Renaissance-Baroque character, including the eight remaining arches of the famous Alte Brücke (Old Bridge) that span the Neckar River. Visit imposing Heidelberg Castle, a magnificent, 13th-century edifice perched above the river. The stately ruins preserve Heidelberg’s links to its medieval past.
Day 6: Strasbourg, France
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
The lively Alsatian city of Strasbourg fuses the Old and New Europe. The Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a treasure trove of medieval houses, and the charming Ponts-Couverts, covered bridges flanked by watchtowers at each end, span the picturesque canals. It was in Strasbourg that John Calvin first established a reformed parish. See remnants of the Reformation in the beautiful Protestant and Catholic Church of St-Pierre-le-Vieux; and see the graceful sandstone Catholic Cathedral of Notre Dame, a Romanesque-Gothic masterpiece that, according to the poet Goethe, rises “like a most sublime, wide-arching tree of God.” In the Petite-France district, the historic millers’, tanners’ and fishermen’s quarter along the Ill River, the fairy-tale look of a past era lives on, while nearby, 28 nations engage in the daily discourse of the European Union Parliament.
Enjoy lunch aboard ship. The afternoon is free for independent pursuits. This evening, attend the Captain’s Farewell Dinner.
Day 7: Basel, Switzerland, Berne, Interlaken, Lucerne
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Disembark in Basel and enjoy a scenic transfer across the rolling Swiss countryside to Berne, Switzerland’s historic capital. Visit the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site and beautifully preserved medieval gem noted for its arcaded sidewalks. Have lunch in a traditional Bernese restaurant.
Continue on through one of the most beautiful areas of Switzerland, the spectacular Bernese Oberland, traveling from subtropical lowlands to the snow-crowned heights of the Alps. Admire its impressive natural treasures, including soaring jagged peaks, rolling green hills, crystal-clear glacial lakes, and densely wooded forests.
Stop in the charming resort town of Interlaken, located between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. Here, you will find the perfect vantage point for admiring the towering Jungfrau, an imposing summit in the Bernese Alps known as the “Top of Europe.”
Then, enjoy a scenic motorcoach transfer to Lucerne, where you will check into the lakeside, deluxe Hotel Schweizerhof Lucerne and enjoy an evening at leisure.
Day 8: Lucerne
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
A long-favored destination of travelers, Lucerne is set against the backdrop of its deep blue lake and the rugged grandeur of Mounts Pilatus and Rigi. Begin your morning walking tour in the Weinmarkt (wine market), surrounded by historic burghers’ houses. See the Hofkirche (Court Church), one of the finest examples of German Renaissance architecture, and the Lion Monument, dedicated to the Swiss Guards who gave their lives defending Louis XVI during the French Revolution. Walk across Lucerne’s most famous landmark, the delightful, 14th-century wooden Chapel Bridge, which spans the Reuss River and is adorned with 17th-century paintings.
Ascend Mount Pilatus by panoramic gondola to its 7000-foot summit for a magnificent 360-degree panorama of central Switzerland’s mountains, peaks, forests and lakes. Enjoy lunch in a summit restaurant followed by free time. Board the Pilatus Railway, the world’s steepest cogwheel railway, then descend more than 5,300 feet in less than three miles on return to the shores of Lake Lucerne, where you will enjoy a scenic lake cruise.
Day 9: Lucerne, Andermatt, Zermatt
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Relax during a scenic transfer from Lucerne to Andermatt. Lunch is included in Andermatt before you board the fabled Glacier Express, “the world’s slowest fast train,” and travel through the heart of the Alps, where the natural beauty of the mountains rivals the skill and ingenuity of the engineers who created this rail route across Europe’s most challenging terrain—requiring the construction of 291 bridges and 91 tunnels.
Arrive in the Alpine resort of Zermatt, dramatically located beneath the pinnacle of the iconic Matterhorn. Check into the chalet-style Hotel Alex and enjoy dinner in the hotel.
Day 10: Zermatt
Meals: Breakfast, Farewell Reception and Dinner
Today, travel aboard the famous Gornergrat Bahn, the highest cog railway in Europe. Ascend through forests of pine and larch and cross meadows ablaze with wildflowers to the 10,000‑foot‑high Gornergrat. From the observatory atop the Gornergrat, look out over sweeping vistas of Europe’s most breathtaking Alpine scenery—the serrated profiles of the Matterhorn, the Liskamm and Dufourspitze mountains and vast Gorner Glacier. Return to Zermatt at your leisure, with the option to stop en route at Riffelberg for the panoramic view of Monte Rosa and the majestic Matterhorn. The Farewell Reception and dinner will be in the hotel tonight.
Day 11: Zermatt, Geneva, U.S.
Meals: Breakfast
Following breakfast, transfer to Geneva for your return flight to the U.S.
Day 1 Berlin
Arrive at any time. Guten Abend, and welcome to Berlin. Before getting too cozy at your hostel, grab some drinks and get to know your CEO and fellow travellers at a trendy local bar.
We highly recommend booking pre-tour accommodations in Berlin to experience all that this amazing city has to offer. There's lots to explore! Please speak to a G Adventures representative about booking accommodations in Berlin before Day 1 of this itinerary.
Day 2 Berlin
Enjoy free time to explore historic monuments, such as the Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate and the Checkpoint Charlie Museum. Experience Berlin's famous nightlife.
Day 3 Berlin/Amsterdam
Hop on a train and cross into the Netherlands.
Day 4 Amsterdam
Take an included bike tour around Amsterdam, then enjoy a free afternoon to explore.
Begin the day with bicycle tour of Amsterdam's city centre. Opt for a tour through the canals, hit up a museum, or wander through the Red Light District. As the day ends, head into a cozy bruin café or “eetcafé” (to the Dutch what pubs are to the British and Irish), local spots where friends gather to catch up over a beer or glass of house wine.
Day 5 Amsterdam/Bruges
Enjoy an orientation walk and free time to explore picturesque Bruges. Opt to visit a local chocolate shop or indulge in a Belgian waffle. Try a local brew on your Big Night Out with the group. Sante!
Jump on a bus from Amsterdam and head into Belgium, for a visit to the small medieval trading town of Bruges. Bruges is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe and has remained practically unchanged since its heyday. Once inside the city walls, the town closes in around you with street after street of historic houses and a canal always nearby.
Day 6 Bruges/Paris
Hop on a bus to Paris. Tour ends on arrival.
This tour is expected to end at 6:30pm upon arrival in Paris. Please note that suggested arrival times might be impacted by traffic and unforeseen delays. Passengers should plan any onward travel after 10pm on this day. Please speak to a G Adventures representative about booking post-tour accommodation in Paris. Please note that you may be booked in a multi-share, same sex-dorm room for this night.
