TRAVEL ALERT  Flooding in Central Eastern Spain

Europe Explorer

36 Days | See the best of Europe on an adventure from Barcelona to Rome

3.7 out of 5 based on 3 reviews submitted.
Explorer
Rail
From
EUR €7,360

Travel from Barcelona to Rome on an epic 36-day odyssey covering 11 countries. Along with the iconic sights offered by Berlin, Paris and Amsterdam, you’ll also venture to the serene Old Town of Salzburg, get a bird’s eye view of Bratislava from UFO Tower and comb the markets of Avignon for locally grown produce. This trip will suit both those looking to discover Europe for the first time and veterans of the region just wanting to revisit their favourite haunts. Steeped in history and stuffed with all your favourite regional cuisines, this small group adventure is the ultimate foray into the European heartlands.

Trip overview

Map of Europe Explorer including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain
Start
Barcelona, Spain
Finish
Rome, Italy
Theme
Explorer, Rail
Destinations
Slovakia, France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Slovenia, Netherlands, Hungary, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Basix
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 16
Trip code
ZMRFC
This trip generates 22 kg of CO2-e per person per day.
We offset these emissions on your behalf. But we know that is not enough, so we also have a carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Start your trip in Barcelona, the city of Gaudi, wander the streets and marvel at the architectural feats, from the incredible La Sagrada Familia Basilica to the lush gardens of Park Guell.
  • Walk the picturesque waterways and cobbled streets of Bruges, maybe visit a local brewery and try one of the iconic regional beers.
  • Stroll stunning Salzburg, backdropped by the Eastern Alps, with a free day to wander the Old City and the New City, divided by the Salzach River.
  • Feast on mouth-watering seafood along Italy's coast, drink fine wine in Tuscany and indulge in the endless pasta dishes on offer in Rome.
  • Make cross-country travel a breeze with a European trip including train travel. Enjoy extra time to sit back, relax, play games with your fellow travellers or watch the changing scenery roll by.

Is this trip right for you?
  • This trip is made for travellers who value their independence but also want the benefit of a local leader and a group of like-minded travellers. The itinerary includes lots of free time when your leader will offer suggestions. Please budget spending money for optional activities you want to partake in. We recommend booking tickets one month in advance for any optional activities that require pre-booking.
  • As accommodation on this trip is twin-share, solo travellers will share a room with other travellers of the same gender. Hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together/apart. Rooms can be small and in some cases bathroom facilities will be shared rather than ensuite.
  • Summer temperatures can be very high in many of the regions visited (over 40°C), which can be uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat, and drink plenty of water. Please keep in mind that many European hotel rooms are not equipped with air-conditioning. In Winter, warm waterproof layers will be needed as snow and rain can be expected. Carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.
  • The primary means of transportation on this trip is by train. Trains are a fast way to cross long distances, allowing you to avoid traffic jams and arrive right into the city centre. They are comfortable and all have toilets, however they can get busy. You'll have to carry your own luggage on and off the train, so make sure it doesn’t exceed our weight and size recommendations. You can find specifics under ‘Packing’ in the Essential Trip Information.
  • The best way to experience a city is by doing as the locals do – and in this case that means using public transport such as trams, buses or metro at some locations. It’s better for the environment and you’ll get an authentic look at daily life; just be aware you may find yourself sharing a busy bus ride with local commuters or running up the stairs at a metro station.

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024

Itinerary

Map of Europe Explorer including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain

Inclusions

Meals

20 breakfasts

Transport

Train, Public bus, Metro, Private vehicle, Tram

Accommodation

Hostel (9 nights), Hotel (24 nights), Guesthouse (2 nights)

Activities
  • Barcelona - Vermouth Aperitivo
  • Barcelona - Orientation Walk
  • Barcelona - Churros Snack
  • Girona - Orientation Walk near the Medieval Walls
  • Nimes - Orientation walk
  • Avignon - Market Visit and Snack
  • Beaune - Orientation Walk
  • Paris - Orientation Walk
  • Brussels - Belgium Fries Snack
  • Brussels - Orientation Walk
  • Bruges - Orientation Walk
  • Antwerp - Half Day Visit
  • Antwerp - Orientation Walk
  • Amsterdam - FEBO Snack
  • Amsterdam - Orientation Walk
  • Bastei - Hike
  • Prague - Czech Brewery Visit
  • Vienna - Kaffee and Kuchen Experience
  • Bled - Lake Walk
  • Venice - Leader-led Orientation Walk
  • Venice – San Marco Square
  • Venice - Cicchetti Snack Stop
  • Cinque Terre - Day Trip, including Cinque Terre Pass
  • Florence - Leader-led Orientation Walk
  • Rome – Leader-led Orientation Walk
  • Rome – Trevi Fountain
Optional activities
  • Barcelona - La Sagrada Familia (must be prebooked in advance) - EUR26
  • Barcelona - Cable car to Montjuic (one way) - EUR10
  • Barcelona - Tapas Tour in El Raval Urban Adventure - EUR99
  • Barcelona - Casa Batllo (advance booking required) - EUR29
  • Barcelona - Contemporary Art Museum - EUR12
  • Barcelona - Old Santa Creu Hospital - EUR16
  • Barcelona - Museum of City History - EUR7
  • Barcelona - National Art Museum of Catalonia - EUR12
  • Barcelona - Ethnological and World Cultures - EUR5
  • Barcelona - Museum of Gaudi - EUR6
  • Barcelona - Guell Palace (must be prebooked in advance) - EUR12
  • Barcelona - Barcelona Cathedral - EUR9
  • Barcelona - Picasso Museum - EUR15
  • Girona - Jewish History Museum - EUR4
  • Girona - Arabic Baths - EUR3
  • Girona - Rocambolesc Heladeria (from) - EUR4
  • Girona - Game of Thrones Walking Tour (from) - EUR30
  • Nimes - Amphitheatre de Nimes - EUR10
  • Avignon - Collection Lambert Museum - EUR10
  • Avignon - Museum Calvet - EUR6
  • Avignon - Museum Lapidaire - EUR2
  • Avignon - Pont d'Avignon (Bridge of Avignon) - EUR5
  • Avignon - Palais des Papes - EUR15
  • Avignon - Museum of the Petit Palace - EUR6
  • Avignon - Wine Museum - EUR6
  • Avignon - Bike Hire - EUR15
  • Avignon - Lavender Museum - EUR8
  • Avignon - Roure Palace - EUR5
  • Avignon - Gourmet Tour (min. 4 pax) - EUR55
  • Avignon - Kayak Under The Pont d'Avignon (1 hour - from) - EUR12
  • Beaune - Caves Patriarche Visit and Tasting (from) - EUR20
  • Beaune - Hospices de Beaune - EUR12
  • Paris - Centre Pompidou (must be prebooked in advance) - EUR15
  • Paris - Museum of Comparative Anatomy and Paleontology - EUR7
  • Paris - Fragonard Perfume Museum - Free
  • Paris - Catacombs (must be prebooked in advance) - EUR29
  • Paris - Napoleon's Tomb & Les Invalides Army Museum - EUR15
  • Paris - Da Vinci Code Walking Tour - EUR25
  • Paris - Musee d'Orsay - EUR16
  • Paris - Louvre Museum (must be prebooked in advance) - EUR22
  • Paris - Picasso Museum - EUR16
  • Paris - Rodin Museum - EUR14
  • Paris - Eiffel Tower (from - must be prebooked in advance) - EUR23
  • Paris - Sainte Chapelle & Conciergerie - EUR20
  • Paris - Arc de Triomphe - EUR16
  • Paris - Paradis Latin Cabaret Show (must be prebooked in advance) - EUR90
  • Paris - Gourmet Marais Urban Adventure - EUR78
  • Paris - Hidden Montmartre Urban Adventure - EUR35
  • Paris - Palace of Versailles & Gardens - EUR21
  • Brussels - Cantillon Brewery Visit - EUR8
  • Brussels - Museum of the Musical Instruments - EUR15
  • Brussels - Grand Place - Free
  • Brussels - Manneken Pis - Free
  • Brussels - Magritte Museum - EUR10
  • Brussels - Mini Europe Attraction Park - EUR20
  • Brussels - Jeu de Balle Flea Market - Free
  • Brussels - Local Brewery Visit With Tasting - EUR16
  • Bruges - Cycle trip to Damme - EUR13
  • Bruges - Museum St John's Hospital - EUR15
  • Bruges - Sint-Janshuismolen Mill - Free
  • Bruges - Belfry of Bruges - EUR15
  • Bruges - Canal Boat Tour - EUR15
  • Bruges - Chocolate Workshop - EUR46
  • Antwerp - Het Steen Castle - EUR7
  • Amsterdam - Heineken Museum (must be prebooked in advance) - EUR23
  • Amsterdam - Royal Palace - EUR13
  • Amsterdam - Bike Hire - EUR10
  • Amsterdam - Oude Kerk - EUR14
  • Amsterdam - Bike Tour - EUR30
  • Amsterdam - Rijksmuseum - EUR23
  • Amsterdam - Canal Boat Tour - EUR39
  • Amsterdam - Plastic Fishing (from) - EUR38
  • Amsterdam - Van Gogh Museum (must be prebooked in advance) - EUR22
  • Amsterdam - Anne Frank's House (must be prebooked in advance) - EUR16
  • Berlin - Museum Pass (3 Day Ticket) - EUR32
  • Berlin - Bike Tour - EUR30
  • Berlin - Jewish Museum - EUR8
  • Berlin - National History Museum - EUR10
  • Berlin - Pergamon Museum - EUR18
  • Berlin - Spree River Cruise - EUR27
  • Berlin - Berliner Dom Cathedral - EUR10
  • Berlin - TV Tower - EUR25
  • Berlin - Kulturforum Potsdamer Platz - EUR12
  • Berlin - German History Museum - EUR7
  • Berlin - Checkpoint Charlie Museum - EUR18
  • Berlin - Schloss Charlottenburg - EUR12
  • Berlin - Reichstag (time slot must be booked online in advance) - Free
  • Berlin - Topography of Terror - Free
  • Dresden - Electric Car Manufacturer Tour - EUR9
  • Prague - Castle Visit - CZK350
  • Prague - National Museum - CZK350
  • Prague - Town Hall Clock Tower - CZK250
  • Prague - Museum of Communism - CZK380
  • Prague - Jewish Quarter - CZK500
  • Prague - Bike Tour - CZK650
  • Prague - Kafka Museum - CZK260
  • Prague - Mucha Museum - CZK300
  • Kutna Hora - Day Trip (by public transport) - CZK250
  • Kutna Hora - Church of St Barbara - CZK160
  • Kutna Hora - Sedlec Ossuary & Bone Church - CZK160
  • Bratislava - Blue Church Bratislava - Free
  • Bratislava - Kamzik TV Tower - Free
  • Bratislava - Slavin War Memorial - Free
  • Budapest - Szechenyi Thermal Baths (starting from) - HUF9400
  • Budapest - Pub Crawl (starting from) - HUF9000
  • Budapest - Central Market - Free
  • Budapest - Transport and Entry to Statue Park - HUF5000
  • Budapest - Parliament Tour - HUF10000
  • Budapest - Great Synagogue - HUF9000
  • Budapest - Bike Ride - HUF6000
  • Budapest - Hungarian National Museum - HUF2900
  • Budapest - House of Terror - HUF4000
  • Vienna - Spanish Riding School Practice - EUR28
  • Vienna - Schoenbrunn Palace - EUR22
  • Vienna - Food, Coffee & Market Tour Urban Adventure - EUR115
  • Vienna - St Stephen's Tower - EUR6
  • Vienna - Prater Ferris Wheel - EUR14
  • Vienna - Belvedere Gallery (Lower Gallery) - EUR15
  • Vienna - Albertina Museum - EUR19
  • Vienna - Leopold Museum - EUR15
  • Vienna - Hofburg Palace & Sisi Museum - EUR16
  • Salzburg - Mirabell Palace and Gardens - Free
  • Salzburg - Mozart's Birthplace - EUR12
  • Salzburg - Old Market Place - Free
  • Salzburg - Old City Hall - Free
  • Salzburg - St. Peter's Abbey - Free
  • Salzburg - Hohensalzburg Castle - EUR11
  • Salzburg - Salzburg Cathedral - Free
  • Triglav National Park - River Rafting - EUR55
  • Triglav National Park - Bus and Cable Car Trip to Mt Vogel - EUR32
  • Triglav National Park - Emerald River Adventure (full day) - EUR110
  • Triglav National Park - Canyoning - EUR65
  • Bled - Mountain Bike Hire - EUR25
  • Bled - Pletna Boat Trip - EUR14
  • Bled - Castle - EUR15
  • Ca’ D’Oro - Galería Franchetti - EUR15
  • Venice - Accademia Gallery - EUR16
  • Venice - Chicchetti & Wine Tour of Venice Urban Adventure - EUR99
  • Venice - Gondola Ride - EUR80
  • Peggy Guggenheim Collection - EUR17
  • Venice - Doge's Palace & Bridge of Sighs - EUR30
  • Venice - St Mark's Basilica Treasury - EUR5
  • Venice - St Mark's Campanile - EUR12
  • Venice - Ca' Rezzonico Museum of Eighteenth Century Art - EUR11
  • Venice - Glass Museum Murano - EUR11
  • Venice - Museum of St Mark's Basilica - EUR5
  • Venice - Scuola Grande di San Rocco - EUR14
  • Cinque Terre - 'Il Laboratorio del Pesto' Making & Demonstration - EUR25
  • Cinque Terre - Coastal Cruise - EUR41
  • Cinque Terre - Via dell’Amore trail - EUR10
  • Florence - Foodies Walk Urban Adventure - EUR79
  • Siena - Day Trip to Siena by Public Bus - EUR24
  • Florence - Baptistry, Museo Opera del Duomo, Giotto Bell Tower and Brunelleschi Dome - EUR30
  • Florence - Palazzo Vecchio - EUR12
  • Florence - Accademia - EUR17
  • Florence - Uffizi Gallery - EUR24
  • Florence - Pitti Palace (Boboli Gardens, Museo Argenti, Costume Gallery, Porcellain Museum) - EUR15
  • Florence - Bargello Museum - EUR14
  • Florence - Medici Chapels - EUR17
  • Rome - Castel Sant'Angelo - EUR14
  • Rome - Christian Catacombs - EUR10
  • Rome - Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill - EUR19
  • Rome - Keats-Shelley Memorial House - EUR6
  • Vatican City - Vatican Museum - EUR22
  • Rome - Pantheon - EUR5
  • Vatican City - St Peter's Dome Climb & Elevator - EUR10
  • Rome - Venezia Palace - EUR17
  • Rome - Galleria Borghese - EUR16

Dates and availability

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Important notes

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
A single supplement is not available on this trip.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

3.7 out of 5 based on 3 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Christine · Traveled May 2024
Review submitted 04 Jul 2024

Brendan · Traveled April 2024
Review submitted 05 Jun 2024

Andrew · Traveled August 2022
Review submitted 05 Oct 2022
Europe Explorer
From
EUR €7,360