Day 1: London
Driving Time: Minimal
Arrival in London
Arrive in London, where your private driver-guide meets you at the airport, and transfers you into central London in a luxurious Mercedes V-class vehicle. During the drive, you receive an overview of the city’s layout and key districts before checking into your hotel and settling in.
Westminster Walk
Head out through Westminster, passing Parliament, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey. The buildings stand close together, forming the core of British political and religious life, and the Gothic architecture immediately sets the tone for central London.
Day 2: London
Driving Time: Minimal
Tower of London
Meet your driver-guide and travel to the Tower of London. Walk through the fortress complex, see the Crown Jewels, and explore the inner courtyards that once held prisoners, guards, and royal ceremonies within the defensive stone walls.
Covent Garden and Soho
Continue to Covent Garden and explore the covered market and surrounding streets before walking into Soho. This district feels busier and more informal, with theatres, cafés, and independent shops defining a different side of London.
Day 3: Windsor & Oxford
Driving Time: Approx. 3 hours total
Windsor Castle
Leave London with your driver-guide and travel to Windsor Castle. Tour the State Apartments and St George’s Chapel, both still used for royal functions, and see how the castle complex dominates the surrounding town.
Oxford Colleges
Continue to Oxford and walk through Radcliffe Square and nearby college courtyards. The compact stone buildings, libraries, and chapel towers create a setting that reflects centuries of academic tradition and scholarship.
Day 4: London → Paris
Eurostar to Paris
Your driver-guide meets you at the hotel and takes you to St Pancras Station for the Eurostar departure. The train runs directly to Gare du Nord in just over two hours. On arrival, a pre-arranged transfer collects you and brings you to your hotel in central Paris.
First Walk in Paris
After checking in, head out toward the Seine and walk across one of the nearby bridges toward Île de la Cité. See Notre-Dame from the exterior and continue along the riverbank before returning through smaller streets near your hotel.
Day 5: Paris
Driving Time: Minimal
Eiffel Tower Area
Meet your driver-guide and begin near the Eiffel Tower. Walk through the Champ de Mars and view the structure from ground level before moving toward Trocadéro for a different perspective across the river.
Louvre and Surroundings
Continue by vehicle toward the Louvre district and walk through the main courtyard beneath the glass pyramid. From there, cross into the Tuileries Garden and follow the central path toward Place de la Concorde before returning to your hotel area.
Day 6: Paris
Driving Time: Minimal
Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur
Travel to Montmartre and walk uphill through narrow streets toward Sacré-Cœur. From the terrace, you can see across the rooftops of Paris and understand how densely built the city center really is.
Le Marais
Spend the afternoon in Le Marais, starting at Place des Vosges and then walking through the surrounding streets. Visit the Carnavalet Museum to learn about the history of Paris, stop at a local café for a break, and explore the small independent shops that give this neighborhood its character.
Day 7: Paris → Burgundy → Annecy
Driving Time: Approx. 5 hours (split)
Burgundy Stop
Leave Paris with your driver-guide and head southeast, breaking the journey in Burgundy for a proper lunch stop. Walk through a small town center before eating, giving you time outside the vehicle and a chance to see regional stone architecture.
Annecy Old Town
Continue to Annecy and check into your hotel before heading into the old town. Walk along the canals and arcaded streets, crossing small bridges and gradually making your way toward the lakeside promenade.
Day 8: Annecy → Lake Geneva → Lucerne
Driving Time: Approx. 4 hours (split)
Montreux & Chillon Castle
On your journey from Annecy into Switzerland, your driver-guide will break up the drive with a stop in Montreux on Lake Geneva. Walk along the lakeside promenade and view Chillon Castle from the shoreline before stopping for coffee nearby. It’s a worthwhile pause and keeps the drive comfortable.
Lucerne Old Town
After continuing to Lucerne and checking into your hotel, head into the old town. Walk across Chapel Bridge, pass through Weinmarkt Square, and explore the streets around the Reuss River. Lucerne is compact, so you’ll quickly get your bearings before dinner.
Day 9: Lucerne
Driving Time: Minimal
Mount Pilatus or Rigi
Travel up one of the surrounding mountains, chosen that morning depending on conditions. Your driver-guide coordinates timing so the ascent runs smoothly. From the summit, Lake Lucerne and the surrounding peaks are clearly visible below.
Lucerne Old Town
Return to the center and walk through the old town streets near Weinmarkt and the river. The distances are short, making it easy to move between the lake, bridge, and main squares without feeling rushed.
Day 10: Lucerne → Alpine Crossing → Lake Como
Driving Time: Approx. 4 hours (split)
Alpine Route South
Drive south with your driver-guide through a high Alpine route, stopping briefly near the summit to step out and take in the change in landscape. The descent shifts toward warmer valleys as you approach the Italian-speaking region.
Arrival at Lake Como
Arrive at Lake Como and check into your hotel before walking along the waterfront. Ferries connect the lakeside towns, and steep hills rise directly behind the shoreline, shaping the region’s narrow geography.
Day 11: Lake Como
Driving Time: Minimal
Bellagio
This morning, take the ferry across to Bellagio, one of the most well-known towns on Lake Como. Walk up from the harbor through the stepped lanes, stopping in small boutiques and cafés along the way. From the higher streets, you’ll get clear views across the lake’s different branches.
Lakeside Villa Visit
In the afternoon, visit one of the historic villas along the lake, such as Villa Carlotta or Villa del Balbianello. Walk through the gardens overlooking the water and explore parts of the interior to understand how this region became a retreat for aristocratic families.
Day 12: Lake Como → Verona → Venice
Driving Time: Approx. 4 hours (split)
Verona
Travel east with your driver-guide and stop in Verona for several hours. Visit the Roman Arena, walk through Piazza delle Erbe, and see Juliet’s courtyard before stopping for lunch in the historic center.
Arrival in Venice
Continue to Venice, where your driver-guide manages parking on the mainland and coordinates the water transfer into the historic center. After check-in, take a short walk near your hotel to cross a few canals and get oriented before dinner.
Day 13: Venice
Driving Time: None
St Mark’s Square & Doge’s Palace
Start the day in St Mark’s Square while it’s still relatively quiet. Visit St Mark’s Basilica, then continue to the Doge’s Palace to see the former political center of the Venetian Republic. Walking through the palace rooms and across the Bridge of Sighs gives proper historical context to the city.
Rialto & Local Districts
From St Mark’s, walk toward the Rialto Bridge, passing through smaller streets rather than following the busiest direct route. Explore the market area near the bridge, then continue into Cannaregio, where you’ll see a more residential side of Venice before returning to your hotel.
Day 14: Venice → Florence
Driving Time: Approx. 3 hours
Florence Arrival
Leave Venice with your driver-guide and travel south to Florence. After arrival and hotel check-in, begin in the cathedral district where tightly packed Renaissance buildings surround the Duomo.
Piazza della Signoria
Walk toward Piazza della Signoria and the Palazzo Vecchio. The square has long served as Florence’s civic center and remains active with visitors and residents moving through.
Day 15: Florence
Driving Time: Minimal
Uffizi or Accademia
Today, visit either the Uffizi Gallery or the Accademia, depending on your preference. At the Accademia, you’ll see Michelangelo’s David up close, while the Uffizi offers works by Botticelli and Leonardo. Your guide will structure the visit so you focus on the key highlights.
Ponte Vecchio & City Streets
After the museum, walk across Ponte Vecchio and continue along the Arno River. Spend time exploring nearby streets filled with leather workshops, small boutiques, and cafés before returning to the hotel to relax before dinner.
Day 16: Florence → Rome
Driving Time: Approx. 3 hours
Colosseum & Roman Forum
This morning, travel south with your driver-guide to Rome. After checking into your hotel, begin in the Colosseum area and walk through the Roman Forum to see the remains of ancient political and public life.
Pantheon & Piazza Navona
Later, continue into the historic center to visit the Pantheon, followed by Piazza Navona. Stop for coffee in the square before your driver-guide returns you to the hotel to freshen up before dinner.
Day 17: Rome
Driving Time: Minimal
Vatican Museums & St Peter’s Basilica
Start your day at the Vatican Museums, where you’ll see the Sistine Chapel before entering St Peter’s Basilica. Your guide will help you navigate efficiently so you avoid unnecessary backtracking inside the complex.
Trastevere
In the afternoon, cross the Tiber into Trastevere. Walk through the neighborhood’s small streets and visit Santa Maria in Trastevere before sitting down for dinner at a local trattoria.
Day 18: Rome → Barcelona
Airport Transfer & Flight
Your driver-guide will collect you from the hotel and transfer you to Rome airport in good time for your flight to Barcelona. Upon arrival, a pre-arranged transfer will bring you into the city and to your hotel.
Barcelona Waterfront
After checking in, head down to Port Vell and walk along the marina toward Barceloneta. It’s a straightforward first outing after travel, and your guide can point out a few reliable spots nearby for dinner depending on what you feel like eating that evening.
Day 19: Barcelona
Driving Time: Minimal
Sagrada Família
Begin at the Sagrada Família, where you’ll spend time inside the basilica to understand Gaudí’s design and the ongoing construction. Your guide will explain the symbolism and structure before moving on.
Gothic Quarter & El Born
Afterward, walk through the Gothic Quarter toward the cathedral and continue into El Born. Visit local shops and stop for lunch in the area before returning to the hotel to rest before your final evening.
Day 20: Barcelona → Madrid
High-Speed Train to Madrid
This morning, your driver-guide will transfer you to the station for the high-speed train to Madrid. The journey is comfortable and avoids the need for a second internal flight.
Madrid
Upon arrival in Madrid, transfer to your hotel, then head to Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol. Spend your final afternoon exploring the surrounding streets and enjoy a farewell dinner in the city center.