Your 21 Day Itinerary

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​DAY 1

​TRAVEL DAY

Have a relaxing and safe flight to London! Please remember you are responsible for your flight and transportation to the hotel. We are available for consultation to help you sort out the details of your airfare and transportation to the hotel if you need it.

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​DAY 2

WELCOME TO LONDON & THE QUEENS GALLERY

From the airport take a train or taxi to the hotel. You are welcome to come a day or two earlier if you wish. You will find hotel contact information in your packet once you are registered to make your own arrangements. We will meet in the lobby at 2:00 PM to get to know each other then hop on a bus to the Queens Gallery at Buckingham Palace. Afterward we take a bus tour of the city. Make our way back to the hotel and dinner as a group in the area.

• Light Walking: 2-3 miles

• Night 1

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DAY 3

​WESTMINSTER ABBEY & NATIONAL GALLERY

After breakfast we will see the incredible Westminster Abbey. Then make our way down the famous Whitehall to enjoy the scene at Trafalgar Square. After lunch stroll up to the National Gallery, enjoying afternoon in the vast collection of art from the 13th to the 19th century. Afterward we hop on the bus and tour the city. Evening Free.

• Lots of Walking: 3-8 miles

• Night 2

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DAY 4

TOWER OF LONDON, SHARD & ST. PAUL'S

Start the day with a River Thames cruise to the Tower of London. After enjoying the tower and seeing the royal jewels we’ll walk over the Tower Bridge to have lunch in the Borough Food Market. Take in the amazing views of London from the top of the Shard building. Spend time in the Tate museum of contemporary art, then stroll across the millennium bridge to St. Paul’s cathedral. Evening Free.

• Lots of Walking: 5-8 miles

• Night 3

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DAY 5

WINDSOR CASTLE, TATE BRITAIN

Take a train to Windsor Castle, the favorite residence of Kings and Queens. After lunch we are back in London to spend the afternoon in the Tate Britain museum of art. Evening free.

• Lots of Walking: 4-7 miles

• Night 4

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DAY 6

FREE DAY!

We are big believers in letting you do some of your own exploring - it makes for wonderful memories! If you wish we can help you set up an itinerary and help you get sorted regarding transportation and ideas on how to spend the day.

Here are some possible things to do: 

• British Museum - one of the finest museums in the world for history, culture and some art (free).

• Churchill War Rooms (included in your London Pass).

• V&A Museum - incredible museum of art and design (free).

• Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey) tour (limited, check schedule, extra cost).

• Hampton Court Palace - King Henry VIII residence (included in your London Pass).

• London Eye ride - great views but pretty pricey.

• Catch a show at a theater - there are lots to choose from. We recommend catching one or two shows during your stay in London. If you book ahead of time you can get affordable tickets and enjoy some great shows.

• Night 5

 

DAY 7

 

TRAVEL DAY: WELCOME TO AMSTERDAM!

Check out and head to St. Pancras train station for the Eurostar Express to Amsterdam Central station (about 4 hours + time difference). Metro to hotel and explore the 9 streets area.

• Moderate Walking: 3-4 miles

• Night 6

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DAY 8

 

RIJKSMUSEUM, TOUR OF AMSTERDAM

Explore the great Rijksmuseum and enjoy Rembrandt and Vermeer among many others. Afterwards hop onto a canal tour to rest and enjoy the views and history of Amsterdam. Then we will join a walking tour of old Amsterdam and see the heart of this diverse and vibrant city. Evening Free.

• Lots of Walking: 3-8 mile

• Night 7

 

 

DAY 9

 

VAN GOUGH & ANNE FRANK

One of the best - see and learn the history of Vincent Van Gough as well as gain insights into his mind and soul at the Van Gough museum. Lunch in the museumplein, then off to the moving and inspirational Anne Frank museum. Evening Free.

• Moderate Walking: 3-6 miles

• Night 8

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DAY 10

 

TRIP TO ZAANSE SCHANS WINDMILLS

Take a short train ride out of Amsterdam to the delightful community of Zaanse Schans, windmills, historical sites and beautiful landscape. Lunch in the area. Back to Amsterdam, afternoon and evening free.

• Moderate Walking: 4-6 miles

• Night 9

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DAY 11

 

TRAVEL DAY: COLOGNE

Check out of the hotel and hop on the train to Cologne Germany (about 3 hours), check into the hotel and explore one of the great cathedrals in Europe. Stroll across the Hohenzollern bridge. Spend the afternoon exploring the amazing Museum Ludwig of Modern Art. Evening Free.

• Moderate Walking: 3-5 miles

• Night 10

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DAY 12

 

RHINE RIVER CRUISE

Hop on the train to Koblenz for a relaxing and enjoyable cruise of the magnificent Rhine river, with its many castles and stops along the way. This is a day to relax, recharge and enjoy a beautiful day on the river. Evening Free.

• Moderate Walking: 3-5 miles

• Night 11

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DAY 13

 

TRAVEL DAY: BRUSSELS & BRUGES

Catch an early train to the Brussels Central Station (about 2 hours), drop off bags in lockers at the train station and then walk across the street to the Royal Museum of Art. Explore and enjoy the famous town square and hop back on the train in the late afternoon to Bruges (about 1 hour). Check in to the hotel and dinner in the area.

• Moderate Walking: 3-5 miles

• Night 12

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DAY 14

 

WELCOME TO BRUGES!

Bruges is a romantic medieval time-tunnel, complete with canals, charming town square, flemish art and of course it’s world famous chocolate. Explore the tall bell tower to overlook all of Bruges, and stand in the presence of a Michelangelo at the Church of our Lady. Most of the day is free time to explore and enjoy. We recommend renting a bike to zoom around the outside of the city.

• Lots of Walking: 3-8 miles

• Night 13

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DAY 15

 

TRAVEL DAY: PARIS

After breakfast we take a high speed train to Paris (about 3 hours). Take the metro, check into the hotel and make our way to the Latin Quarter for a walking tour and spend the afternoon exploring the area. Evening free.

• Moderate Walking 2-5 miles

• Night 14

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DAY 16

 

​THE LOUVRE & RIVER CRUISE

The Louvre. The Louvre can take days to explore, so pace yourself - it can be overwhelming. Your pass will get you in the front of the line, where you can explore art from the the centuries, all while in the massive former palace of kings. Plan on eating lunch in the museum. Then we make our way to enjoy a Seine river cruise. This evening would be a great time to get a reservation for the Eiffel tower (requires a separate reservation, fills fast). Evening free.

• Lots of Walking: 3-8 miles

• Night 15

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DAY 17

 

THE ORSAY, WATER LILIES, MONTPARNASSE TOWER

Just down the road from the Louvre is the Orsay, the best museum in the world dedicated primarily to Impressionist art, filled with Monet, Van Gough,  Cezanne, Corot etc. Eat lunch upstairs in the cafe. Afterward stroll through the Tuileries to the Orangerie, Monet’s Water Lilies museum. Make our way down to the Luxembourg Gardens, dinner in the area then spend a sunset at the top of the Montparnasse Tower and enjoy the best view of Paris. Evening free.

• Lots of Walking: 3-8 miles

• Night 16

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DAY 18

 

VERSAILLES

We catch an early train to the palace built by the Sun King Louis the 14th - Versailles is the palace that makes all other palaces look tiny. We want to get first in line to avoid most of the crowds. After exploring the lavish interior, spend time wandering the massive grounds that redefines landscaping. We recommend renting a bike or take the shuttle to help get around to the smaller residences, including Marie Antoinette’s cottage. Grab a sandwich while exploring. Take the train back to town to the Champs Elysees area and shop til you drop. Free afternoon and evening.

• Strenuous Walking: 3-8 miles

• Night 17

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DAY 19

 

PICASSO MUSEUM & MONTMARTRE

Explore the work of one of the greatest artists of the 20th century at the Picasso museum. We’ll make our way over to the Montmartre area for lunch and take a walking tour and enjoy the ambiance of one of the great artistic areas in Europe. Wander and visit with the artists in the village, people watch and savor the views in front of the Sacré-Cœur. Spectacular. Evening free to explore the area.

• Moderate Walking: 3-6 miles

• Night 18

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DAY 20

 

FREE DAY!

There is so much to see and do in Paris! Here are a just a few suggestions:

• Rodin Museum (included in your Paris Pass)

• The Pompidou Museum of Modern Art (included in your Paris Pass)

• Explore and relax in the Luxembourg Gardens

• Shop some more along the Champs-Elysees

• Day trip to Monet’s Giverny home and studio

• For book lovers Shakespeare and Co. bookstore is iconic

• Explore any of the many palace’s on your Paris Pass

• Night 19

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DAY 21

 

TRAVEL DAY

It's been an amazing trip! For those who are leaving we will take the Metro to the airport. For those staying you will find the contact information of the hotel to make separate arrangements.