Itinerary
Partying across Europe,
exploring historic cities and museums, discovering medieval towns straight from
a fairytale, embracing a variety of cultures, sampling regional wines and
delicacies.
Day 1 Prague
Arrive at any time.
Day 2-4 Berlin
Spend the morning exploring Prague before
travelling to Berlin. Included bike tour around Berlin. Free time to explore
the city's many attractions such as the Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate and the
Checkpoint Charlie Museum.
Day 5-6 Amsterdam
Sightseeing walk and visit to a local brewery.
Free time to stroll the canals, visit Anne Frank's house or the Van Gogh
Museum, and check out the city's infamous Red Light District.
Day 7 Bruges/London
Orientation walk and free time to explore
Bruges—options include a brewery tour, canal boat trip and cycling around the
historic centre. Transfer to London for a final night out with the group.
Day 8 London
Depart at any time.
Add to your Experience:
·
Get to know more of the
Czech Republic with our 'Czech Republic Local Living' tour.
·
Don't miss Italy! Add some
time to the trip and start in Rome.
Consult these options with us!
Includes:
·
Bike trip round Berlin, sightseeing walk and visit to
local brewery in Amsterdam, orientation walk of Bruges.
·
No meals included. (Allow EUR 210-300 for meals not
included.)
·
Simple hotel/hostel (7 nts, at times multi-share).
·
Train, bus, metro, walking.
·
Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout.
·
Small group experience; Max 16, avg 10.
Not Included:
Flights to and from destination.
DAY 1 PRAGUE
Arrive at any time.
DAY 2-4 BERLIN
We have the morning to explore beautiful Prague
before catching our onward transport to Berlin. After arriving in Berlin in the
early evening, we'll head to our hotel to check-in.
Berlin is an amazing city with tangible historical importance and a melting pot
of different cultures and flavours.
The very name Berlin conjures images of the famous Berlin Wall. Two sections of
the wall still remain on display- the East Side Gallery, where artists have
decorated the remaining section of the wall, and the Berlin Wall Memorial
(Gedenkstatte Berliner Mauer). Down the street from the Berlin Wall is the Haus
am Checkpoint Charlie, a museum that documents the history of the wall, and
interestingly, many of the different ways people tried to escape. Learn about
all of the creative ways used to cross over to the other side. After, you can
head over to the Brandenburg Gate, another spot of great historical
significance. Here, hundreds of thousands of people were finally able to cross
from the East side to the West after the fall of the wall. It has
traditionally, and continues to be, a political rallying point for different
groups and concerns.
If you are still craving museums, Berlin has plenty! Visit the Pergamon Museum,
home to one of the world's greatest collections of ancient architecture and
art. Also give the Egyptian Museum (Agyptisches Museum) a try as it houses many
old Egyptian artifacts and the Judishes Museum tells the story of the
relationship between the Germans and the Jews throughout the last few
centuries. Art lovers will enjoy the Deutsche Guggenheim Berlin Museum with
plenty of modern art that is sure to spark interest and curiosity. The
Berggruen Collection at the Die Sammlung Berggruen is also a must-see. Here,
see an extensive art collection of Picasso, as well as paintings by Klee,
Cezanne and Van Gogh.
For those interested in Berlin's government, past and present, visit the
Reichstag, home to the German parliament. Here, you can go up to the glass dome
for a view of Berlin, or learn about the fascinating history of the building.
For more history from this grim period, visit the Topographie des Terrors, a
row of old cellars where prisoners were tortured. See the hundreds of pictures
from the era and read the newspaper clippings to get a better understanding of
what went on in the cellars and throughout Nazi Germany.
Finally, for an amazing view of Berlin, visit the famous Berlin Television
Tower with a viewing room and cafe located 203 meters above ground, providing
sweeping views of the city.
In Berlin our simple but well-located accommodation may use triple share.
Estimated Travel Time: 6 hours
DAY 5-6 AMSTERDAM
Amsterdam is one of the coolest cities in
Europe. Beautiful, hip, and laid back, with lots to do, lots to see, many pubs,
food from all over the world and friendly people. A visit to this stunning city
can feel like stepping back in time, surrounded by the charming architecture
dating back to the 17th century. But this city is far from old-fashioned and
will be best seen on foot or like the locals, by bicycle.
If you only do one thing in Amsterdam, make it a canal cruise. Amsterdam's
canals are its signature and cruising these criss-crossing waterways puts the
city in perspective while offering unique views of dozens of spectacular
Amsterdam sights in a short period of time. Afterwards, head into a cozy bruin
café o “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.
We use simple hostel accommodation in Amsterdam, with multi-share dormitories.
In summer one of the best places to go for a relaxing afternoon is the
Vondelpark. With a bit of luck you can catch a (free) outdoor concert near the
water or hang out at one of the trendy places in the park where you can sit and
have a beer, such as the Blauwe Theehuis. Head over to the squares of
Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein, a perfect place for people-watching, both
bustling with activity and terraces in summertime.
Amsterdam is also a haven for museum-lovers: two of its best are the
Rijksmuseum, whose most famous resident is Rembrandt's The Night Watch and the
Van Gogh Museum overflowing with teems of works by Vincent van Gogh, including
his famous “Sunflowers”. After seeing the painted variety, treat your eyes
again with a wander through the real thing at the Bloemenmarkt (Flower Market).
One of the most dramatic and powerful sights in Amsterdam is the Anne Frank
house. As you climb the stairs to the little attic the Frank family was hidden
in during WWII, each step becomes heavier and heavier with the realization of
what transpired in the middle of this tranquil city.
And then, of course, there is the world famous (or infamous!) Red Light
District, which consists of several canals and the side streets between them,
south of Central Station and east of Damrak. It is still a residential
district, with many bars and restaurants as well as historic buildings and
museums. This is, after all, the oldest part of the city and home to the gothic
Oude Kerk church on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal, the oldest in Amsterdam.
Estimated Travel Time Berlin to Amsterdam: 10 hours
DAY 7 BRUGES/LONDON
We 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.
Spend your time marvelling at the works of the Flemish masters at the Groeninge
Museum, visiting one or all of the Lace, Frites and Chocolate Museums, cruising
leisurely on the romantically-named Lake of Love or maybe work off all the
beer, waffles and chocolate you've consumed with a bicycle-ride along the
city's canals.
We continue on our travel day with a late afternoon Eurostar ride to London,
where the city's nightlife calls.
DAY 8 LONDON
Depart at any time.
TRAVEL VISAS:
Contact your local embassy or consulate for the
most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent. It is your
responsibility to have the correct travel documentation. While we provide the
following information in good faith, it is vital that you check yourself and
understand that you are fully responsible for your own visa requirements.
All visitors to the EU (European Union) and EEC
(European Economic Community) countries require a valid passport (with a
minimum 6 months validity). USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand passport
holders do not need a visa to visit the Schengen area (see below), however they
may not stay longer than three months in any 6-month period.
For other nationalities, travelling in Europe
has been simplified with the introduction of the Schengen visa. As a visitor to
the Schengen area (Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Norway,
Denmark, Iceland, Portugal, Finland, Italy, Spain, France, Luxembourg, Sweden,
Czech Republic, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia,
Slovenia and Switzerland) you will enjoy the many advantages of this unified
visa system. Generally speaking with a Schengen visa, you may enter one
Schengen country and travel freely throughout the Schengen region during the
validity of your visa. There are limited border controls at Schengen borders,
if any at all.
Please note that the UK and Ireland are NOT part
of the Schengen agreement.
A Schengen visa is applied for at the Embassy or
Consulate of the Schengen country in which you will be spending the most nights
on your trip to the Schengen space. If you are only visiting one country on
your trip then you apply for your visa at the Consulate of this Schengen
country.