Compare Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam Tour by Discovery Nomads vs Holland & Belgium in Spring - Southbound 2022 by Tauck
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Trip |
4.5 | Great
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4 | Great
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Duration | 6 days | 8 days |
Price From | $ 1,417 | $ 3,990 |
Price Per Day | $ 236 | $ 499 |
Highlights |
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Trip Style | Private guided tour | River cruise |
Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
Physical Level |
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Travel Themes |
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Countries Visited | ||
Cities and Attractions |
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Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | No |
Activities |
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Meals Included |
3 Breakfasts |
N/A |
Description |
Take a short trip to the most beautiful European capital cities, walk around Monmartre in Paris, take a gourmet tour in Brussels, explore Amsterdam by boat and enjoy unique culture and cuisine of European countries. |
Historic windmills and flower gardens, world-famous art museums, inside looks at medieval architecture, and an exclusive dinner with live music and a tour of Dutch Golden Age art at the Mauritshuis in The Hague highlight this memorable springtime river cruise aboard. |
Day 1-2: Paris
Accommodation: Mercury Paris Opera or similar
Arrival at any time. Explore fascinating Paris, visit the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, take a walk through the creative Montmartre, visit Sacre Coeur Cathedral and in the evening you will have free time to explore the nightlife of the city.
Day 3: Brussels
Accommodation: Novotel Brussels Centre or similar
Take your chance and discover the political centre of Europe. ee the world-famous market square, glance at the remarkable city hall and discover the secrets of Belgian chocolates or beer and try its amazing seafood.
Day 4-6: Amsterdam
Accommodation: NH Amsterdam Museum Quarter or similar
You will travel by train to Amsterdam, a city which is called the Venice of the North, to see the cute little houses, ride on the boat, explore the museums and see masterpieces of the Van Gogh Museum, and additionally see Madame Tussauds museum or enjoy Heineken brewery.
Day 1 Arrive Amsterdam
Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Amsterdam. Upon arrival, a transfer is included from Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport or Centraal Train Station directly to your Tauck riverboat. After settling into your cabin, attend a discovery briefing, then enjoy a welcome reception followed by dinner this evening aboard the riverboat.
MEALS : D
LODGING : ms Esprit
PORTOFCALL : Amsterdam, Netherlands
Day 2 Discover Floriade
Awaken on your riverboat today in Amsterdam – a vibrant blend of the historic and the contemporary, from its medieval core to the bustling shops, cafés and rich cosmopolitan life of a 21st-century European metropolis. After breakfast aboard ship – and as a special Dutch treat included on this river cruise – visit Floriade 2022, "the World's Fair of horticultural shows." Explore an international horticultural wonderland that celebrates Green Cities of the Future on 148 acres of land repurposed and reclaimed from the sea for a future rich in sustainability, greenery, food, energy and healthy living. Featuring four themed districts connected by bridges, walkways, gondolas and trains, this once in a decade exposition showcases green-themed, flower-filled exhibitions from more than 40 countries, along with cultural entertainment, art and cuisine that make it fun for everyone. Truly an energizing experience! Join us onboard this evening for a shanty choir performance; your riverboat cruises to Haarlem where you'll have an opportunity to spend time ashore if you wish.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : ms Esprit
PORTOFCALL : Amsterdam, Netherlands
Day 3 Magical Keukenhof Gardens & the Hague
Disembark the riverboat for an excursion to Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, the home of famous show gardens and millions of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths, in various stages of bloom and particularly beautiful at this time of the year. A rolling carpet of color, Keukenhof is one of Europe's most iconic – and fragrant – places to witness springtime in all its glory. After lunch ashore, return to the riverboat for an afternoon of cruising. This evening, travel to The Hague (the royal city of Den Haag to the Dutch), for a sparkling Tauck Exclusive evening featuring dinner, live music and a tour showcasing Dutch Golden Age paintings at the Mauritshuis, a renowned art museum housed in a historic 17th-century building.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : ms Esprit
PORTOFCALL : Bruges, Belgium
Day 4 Kinderdijk's Windmills & Dordrecht
Arrive this morning in the Dutch village of Kinderdijk, where 19 original 18th-century windmills – preserved today as a UNESCO World Heritage Site – create an iconic polderscape that's better than any picture-postcard, which you'll enjoy on a boat cruise. There's no other place in the world besides Kinderdijk where can you see so many historic windmills together in an authentic setting. During your visit, discover how a windmill works both inside and out, and explore the quintessentially Dutch history of windmills. Alternatively, you can choose a bicycling excursion amidst the Kinderdijk windmills. Cruise on to nearby Dordrecht, a historic island city bordering no less than five rivers in the South Holland province of The Netherlands. Reflecting the definition of the Dutch word for harbor – "haven" – the city's charming harbor district preserves many historic warehouses, merchants' mansions and quays, and its role as a major port city from the 15th to 18th centuries. A walking tour reveals Dordrecht's notable architecture and monuments in its medieval inner city, as well as the surrounding ring of 19th-century buildings. Return to the ship for dinner and evening activities as you sail on to Belgium tonight.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : ms Esprit
PORTOFCALL : Willemstad, Netherlands
Day 5 Flemish Treasures in Ghent & Bruges
This morning, your riverboat arrives in the historic port city of Ghent in Flanders, arguably Belgium's most beautiful city. Take a walking tour of Ghent's Old Town; the pedestrian-friendly cobblestoned town center feels like an outdoor museum of early Flemish architecture. Think about climbing to the top of the 14th-century belfry, crowned with a dragon, for the view – Ghent laid out before you is a visual feast of castles, churches, and historic merchants' houses. Be sure to try the local speciality, Ghent noses, a traditional raspberry candy sold at stands on the street – or a warm waffle with sugar or honey. Continue on to Bruges, known to many as "the Venice of the North," for its canals and tiny medieval streets. On your walking tour along Bruges' cobblestoned lanes, you'll feel like you've walked into a painting by Jan Van Eyck, who captured life in the city during its heyday in the 15th century. The hike up the stairs of the medieval belltower is well worth the effort; you'll be rewarded with wonderful panoramic views. Enjoy dinner onboard tonight as you sail on to Antwerp.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : ms Esprit
PORTOFCALL : Ghent, Belgium
Day 6 Antwerp & the Age of Exploration
Your riverboat arrives this morning in the major port city of Antwerp for a day in the capital of the Belgian province of Flanders. Take an orientation tour of the city and a guided walk through the city's historic center. As you stroll and hear stories and insights from your local guide, take in Grote Markt, the old market square; City Hall; the Cathedral of Our Lady; and numerous restored merchants' houses, harkening back to the days of the 16th-century Age of Exploration when Antwerp – at the time a powerful center of international commerce – was the richest city in Europe. Later, you'll have a choice between a visit to the Red Star Line Museum – whose interactive exhibits in the former warehouses of the Red Star Line shipping company tell the story of the more than two million immigrants from all over Europe, whose long journey to a new life in North America began right here in Antwerp. Or join us for a tour and tasting at a local brewery. After lunch aboard ship, you'll have some free time to explore more of Antwerp. Return to the ship and enjoy dinner and a musical performance this evening as the riverboat cruises to Brussels.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : ms Esprit
PORTOFCALL : Antwerp, Belgium
Day 7 Discover Brussels
Morning guided sightseeing today in Brussels, Belgium's capital and a key center of European trade and culture since the 13th century, begins with a city tour that takes in the Atomium, a 338-foot-tall structure resembling atoms, built for the 1958 World's Fair and winds up at Grand-Place, one of Europe's loveliest city squares, boasting a Gothic town hall surrounded by Renaissance-era guildhalls. Return to the riverboat for lunch; this afternoon, you might choose to participate in a demonstration by a local chocolatier. Then join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner marking the end of this fabulous spring river cruise!
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : ms Esprit
PORTOFCALL : Brussels, Belgium
Day 8 Disembark & Journey Home
Tour ends: Brussels. Fly home anytime; all guests must disembark the riverboat by 9:00 AM. A transfer is included from the riverboat to Brussels Airport; allow 3 hours for flight check-in.
MEALS : B
PORTOFCALL : Brussels, Belgium