ef tours european mosaic

European Road Trip

Conquer your bucket list on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure through the streets of London and Paris, the canals of Amsterdam and Venice, the mountains of Switzerland, and the ancient ruins of Rome.

Please note that Paris, France is hosting the 2024 Summer Olympics in July and August 2024. All travel through Paris during this timeframe will be subject to possible itinerary and accommodation changes.

Picture yourself

Walking Abbey Road, harnessing your inner Beatle

Biking past windmills in the Dutch countryside

Picnicking by the Eiffel Tower, sipping champagne

Yodeling from atop the majestic Swiss Alps

Riding in a gondola through the canals of Venice

What you'll get

Round-trip flights & airport transfers (or book 'em yourself)

15 nights in handpicked accommodations

16 breakfasts & 2 dinners

Expert Tour Director

24/7 support

6 insider tours with local guides

Board your overnight flight, bound for London. Find streets named Quaggy Walk, Ha Ha Road, and Cyclops Mews. If you see anything really out there, let us know.

Welcome to London! Where pubs rule, tea reigns, and buses are two stories tall. Visit grand palaces, famous parks, and local hotspots of the Royal Family, George Orwell, Dylan Thomas, Jimi Hendrix, Charles Dickens, and many more.

In the evening, enjoy a Welcome Dinner of local cuisine and drinks with fellow travelers at an authentic local spot. Afterwards, you’re free to take the party elsewhere!

Today's highlights:

• Meet an EF representative at the airport.
• Check in at your accommodations.
• Receive the latest schedule from your Tour Director.

Hit the highlights of London with a local guide giving you all the inside info. Get ready to see royal palaces, down a pint of room-temperature beer (it’s how the locals drink it), and walk like a Beatle—from the band. Not a bug.

• Wave hello to Big Ben, the bell inside the clock tower.
• Go to Westminster Abbey, where William and Kate, and decades of royals have been wed.
• Experience a royal ritual during the Changing of the Guards.
• Walk around and explore the city.

Free time suggestions

Be a Beatle: Head to Abbey Road and walk what’s probably the world’s most famous crosswalk. This storied spot is a must-see for even the most casual Beatles fan. Tower of London: Feel like a royal in the historic castle and see the legendary Crown Jewels, just don’t play dress up with them.

Ride Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel for panoramic views before enjoying a traditional English tea. This excursion is  pre-book  only; if your trip is less than fourteen days away, please call 800-766-2645 to purchase.

Take the day to explore. Walk through some of the many royal gardens, shop on Oxford Street, go for high tea, or explore the city by foot. At 607 square miles, the city is an easy place to get your 10,000 steps in.

• Walk the cobblestone streets of London.
• Explore Piccadilly Circus. You won’t find clowns and trapeze artists here. Just shopping and all the entertainment your heart desires.
• Sip on a cup of English Breakfast at high tea—don’t forget, pinky’s up!

Boleyn Alley: Where flowers bloom, vegetables grow, and a young girl finds a key to… woops, wrong garden. Seek out bargains at this bustling covered market full of souvenirs, clothes, crafts, and much more.

Get all the fake British accent out of your system, you’re headed to Amsterdam. There’s so much to love, from the canals to Van Gogh to the legendary, laid-back attitude. Home of the famous Red Light District and a city that consists of more bikes than people, Amsterdam is one-of-a-kind. Seriously, how many cities do you know of with floating houses and hot waffles with caramel served anytime of the day?

• Travel by train to Amsterdam.
• Take a brief walk of the area with your Tour Director.
• Chill out in one of the city’s lush green spaces. Rembrandtpark and Vondelpark are two of our favorite parks, perfect for a lazy afternoon.
• Make your way to Dam Square, the central public square of Amsterdam, and enjoy the happy, laid-back local attitude. We’re sure the coffee shops have nothing to do with that...
• See how Amsterdam does nightlife with a visit to Leidseplein Square, an energetic area filled with bars, restaurants, and street performers.

By now you’ve probably realized Amsterdam is not your average city. It’s a multicultural, coffee-loving place, home to really friendly (and tall) people. Oh, and there’s an entire houseboat filled with stray cats called Poezenboot, because what city doesn’t have one? Answer: the rest of them. Today, you’ll experience the unique character of Amsterdam, guided by a local expert. Then you’re free to spend the day exploring on your own.

• Meet your local guide for an in-depth tour of the city, and walk along a few of Amsterdam’s 165 canals.
• Stroll through the Jordaan Neighborhood. Nestled in central Amsterdam, this upscale area is filled with art galleries, patio restaurants, cafes, and music. Yeah, sounds pretty great.
• Tour Nieuwmarkt, a lively city square, market, and nightlife hotspot. Talk about a triple-threat.
• Stop in the Red Light District, because no trip to Amsterdam would be complete without visiting this iconic area known for sex shops, coffee houses, and everything in between.

Say Cheese: Get a taste for Dutch culture at the Amsterdam Cheese Museum. Yes. A museum entirely dedicated to the history of cheese making, complete with samples of local specialties. And did we mention you get to dress up like a traditional Dutch cheese farmer? We won’t blame you if you spend the entire day here. Beer Me a Beer: Amstel and Heineken are rooted here in Amsterdam. Check out the Heineken Experience for a magical, behind-the-scenes look at one of the world's largest beer companies.

Dutch Countryside Bike Tour (extra cost)

Bike like a local into the stunning Dutch countryside. Ride through rural landscapes past picturesque windmills and 17th century villages, then enjoy pancakes and a drink in the quaint Waterland region by the sea. Why wait? Save money by booking this optional excursion before your trip departs.

Next stop: Paris! Visit grand palaces, royal chateau’s, and famous museums by day, and then stroll through the romantically-lit city by night. After trying to read Mona Lisa’s expression and drooling over jaw-dropping sites, you’ll definitely have all the feels for the City of Love. (Cue romantic French café music).

• Say goodbye to Amsterdam and board the train to Paris.
• Take a quick walk of the area with your Tour Director and your new BFF’s, AKA, your group.
• Stand in awe in front of the Eiffel Tower as the lights sparkle against the night. Pro tip: this happens every hour on the hour.

Explore the city of love, light, and haute couture with a local guide. If you come across a Statue of Liberty, don’t be alarmed—the champagne hasn’t gone to your head, Paris is actually home to multiple replicas, one of which faces her sister from another mister that stands in New York.

• Get the inside scoop on Parisian culture and try to understand why this high-end, fashion forward city likes to snack on snails.
• Make the city your runway as you strut down a couple of the 6,100 streets, and hit up some well-known areas like Bastille, Montmarte, and Parc de Belleville.
• Stand in awe of the Arc de Triomphe, which stands in honor of those who fought in the French Revolution.
• Work your angles, and snap an obligatory picture with your finger atop the Louvre’s pyramid point.

Fall in Louvre: Paris is home to some of the world’s most incredible art collections. Admire the Venus de Milo at the Louvre or check out modern art and the insides of a clock tower at Musee d’Orsay. C'est Magnifique!: Head to Montmartre, a neighborhood filled with street art, incredible views overlooking the city, and the famous Sacré Cœur Cathedral. Home to, and inspiration for artists like Picasso, van Gogh, Matisse, Dali, and Monet, this is the perfect place to take a stroll and admire a more authentic side of Paris.

All aboard for a scenic train ride through the European countryside! Watch as rolling hills give way to majestic, snow-capped Alps. You're headed to Switzerland.

• Depart Paris via train in the morning.
• Sit back and relax as you take in some of Europe's most dreamlike landscapes.
• Check in to your accommodations, then walk the streets and take in the mountain scenery with your Tour Director.

Today you’ll experience why people are flocking to Switzerland (and it’s not just for the chocolate and cheese). For starters, marvel at the snow-capped Swiss Alps whenever you get the chance.

• Follow your nose in search of famous Swiss chocolate.
• Look up—way up—at the massive mountains that surround the city.

Trip up the Swiss Alps (extra cost)

Take an amazing trip to the top of a mountain in the Swiss Alps and soak in the incredible panoramic views. Why wait? Save money by booking this optional excursion before your trip departs.

You’re heading to the Venice Region, the renowned former naval power of Italy. Grab your walking shoes, a good map (like a really good map) and hit the narrow, winding, organized, yet maddeningly confusing streets. The one-of-a-kind canals have to be seen to be appreciated. Watch the gondolas, browse the shops, and eat gelato until you can't eat anymore.

• Trade in the Alps for some canals, but first, make a pit stop along Lake Como, one of the biggest, bluest, best-loved lakes in Italy.
• Snap some scenic pics of Lake Como to kick off Italy’s debut on your Instagram.
• Arrive in the Venice Region and prepare to get your gondola on, because canoes are so last season.
• Explore the area with your Tour Director, and familiarize yourself with the whereabouts of some important spots. And yes, the nearest wine shop counts as an important spot.

Get ready to see Venice through the eyes of a local Italian. Your guide will show you canals, an extraordinary basilica, and a staircase shaped like a snail. It’s only your second day in Italy, so you definitely haven’t had enough pasta yet. Eat more pasta.

• Travel from mainland Venice to the island, catching sight of St. Mark's Basilica, plenty of gondolas, and the spectacular Venetian skyline.
• See several historic churches and lose yourself in the narrow streets of Venice.
• Follow the winding Grand Canal through the heart of Venice.
• Play Marco polo from across the Rialto Bridge, the oldest bridge in the city that connects San Marco and San Polo.

300 Years Young: Opened in 1720, Caffè Florian is the oldest café in the world. And while the venue may be old, their beliefs have always been ahead of their time. They were the only café to serve women during the 18th century. Nicely done, Florian. Book Worm: Check out Acqua Alta Library, a hidden bookstore where the books are piled from floor to ceiling, and kittens run around just waiting for some company.

Board your private coach; you’re heading to Florence, deep in the romantic Tuscan hillside of Italy. Is that love in the air? Or just the smell of artisanal wines and cheeses? Either way, get excited. Practice saying “Che bello!” because beautiful describes this place to a tee.

• Kiss the canals goodbye (but not really…that would be weird and not very hygienic) and head to Tuscany.
• Throw on some comfortable shoes for a brief orientation to Florence, led by your Tour Director.
• Stroll the Piazza della Signoria, home to Florence’s seat of power, the Palazzo Vecchio, as well as several intricate sculptures.
• Begin to fall in love with Florence. Feel free to pinch yourself, but no, you’re not dreaming.

Travel to Rome via Orvieto. Goodbye, Florence. Hello, Rome, Italy’s capital city that is bursting at the seams with energy. Locals fill the streets, day and night, usually doing something that involves eating or drinking. And how can you blame them when pasta, pizza, gelato, coffee, and wine are everywhere you look? Rome is all big city/ancient ruins, served with a side of spaghetti.

• Board your private coach, bound for Rome.
• Stop in Orvieto, a quaint Italian hill town that’s as fun to visit as it is to say in an Italian accent.
• Marvel at the artistry of the facade of Orvieto’s stunning cathedral, built in 1290 (no, that’s not a typo—it’s really that old.)
• Arrive in Rome, surrounded by art, ruins, and 2.9 million people
• Take a tour of the surrounding area with your Tour Director, stopping by some famous attractions, and more than few gelato shops.

They say all roads lead to Rome, but once you’re there you quickly realize that all roads actually lead to restaurants. Take the morning to satisfy your cravings and sip some espresso, then enjoy a walking tour of Rome.

• Tour the city with a local guide who will show you why Rome is one of the most legendary cities in Europe.
• Experience the heart of ancient Rome with a visit to the Forum, once a hub of activity for the city.

Today you get to explore centuries worth of culinary perfection, unbelievable architecture, and local fashion on your own. And let it be said, Rome looks goooood for being 2,000 years old. (It must moisturize.) Shop, eat, drink, and talk like an Italian (with your hands) during your free day. Embrace the culture and indulge in carbs during your last day in the Eternal City.

Farewell Dinner Share some last laughs and revisit the best moments of the trip at this included farewell dinner with the group.

• Explore the bustling streets and famous sights while enjoying a cone of gelato.
• Soak in the history by exploring ancient ruins.
• Act like a fashonista on Via del Corso, the main street in historical center of Rome lined with brand names and local eateries.

Trevi Fountain: Rumor has it, if turn your back to the Trevi Fountain and toss a coin over your shoulder, it guarantees you’ll return to the Eternal City. Throw in a second coin, and you’ll not only come back, but also find love. (Significant other not guaranteed by EF Ultimate Break.) Shopping on Vide del Corso: Walk down the longest pedestrian street in the city for some prime shopping. Populated by both locals and tourists, there’s room for everyone on the narrow store-filled street.

Arrivederci, amici! Translation: Goodbye, friends. Your next destination awaits—home. Before you head to the airport, enjoy your last few moments together. Take one more group photo. Grab that final drink. (Fine, maybe a couple of drinks.) But this isn’t goodbye. It’s “See you later.” The only question is, where?

EXTEND YOUR TRIP 2 WAYS

1. Double the fun A lot of our trips line up back to back! Give us a call—we can help you add another and save big while you're at it.

2. Go ahead or stay behind Extending your trip is easy! During checkout, you'll have the option to fly to (or from) the gateway of your choice for an additional fee. We'll adjust your flights accordingly, but you'll be responsible to take care of your transportation, hotels, and other logistics outside of tour.

Note: Depending on your desired gateways, additional fees may apply.

Unforgettable trip!

First Time International Traveler.

I had never been out of the country before and the European Roadtrip was an excellent way to get glimpses into popular areas I’ve always wanted to go to. London because of the Royal Family. Amsterdam because of the canals. Paris because of the Eiffel Tower. Switzerland because of the views. Italy, well, I mean it’s Italy. I loved it all. It is hard for me to... See more

Ultimate Europe, Ultimate Experience

17 days seemed like a lot when initially booking this trip but I can honestly say I wish we had more time. Everything was organized so well and so timely. You fit so many things in in the few days you're in each location. I also don't know what I did to deserve the awesome tour director I got to travel with, but boy I sure am grateful! He made the trip one t... See more

The experience of a lifetime!

First and foremost, I want to thank EF Ultimate Break for giving people the opportunity to travel the world at half the price than it would normally cost to do it by yourself. Not only was it cheaper but I had the experience of a lifetime traveling with a group of 39 other people from across the country and making lifelong friends along the way! Our tour dir... See more

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The State Tretyakov Gallery

The State Tretyakov Gallery (usually being called Tretyakovka) is an art gallery in Moscow, specialized in Russian visual arts and it’s one of the world’s biggest collections. The Gallery is named after Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov, Moscow merchant and patron of arts, and it’s been bearing his name with proud and gratitude for over a hundred years. In 1856 Tretyakov started his collection by acquiring two works by Russian artists, "Skirmish with Finnish Smugglers" by V.G. Khudyakov and "The Temptation" by N. G. Schilder.

Gallery of European and American Art of the 19th-20th Centuries

Moscow City Center - Tour Duration: 1 hour

The Art Gallery is a section of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts. It's rooms  contain the artworks by masters  of the 19th and 20th centuries:  Art of Romanticism, Realism, Academic and Salon Art, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Symbolism, Avant-garde and artistic trends of the 19th century as well as the paintings of Ingres, Delacroix, Corot, Daumier, Courbet, Millet, Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, Matisse, Picasso, Kandinsky, Chagall, Rodin, Maillol, Bourdelle and other masters of the 19th and 20th centuries.

About Me in Short

My name's Arthur Lookyanov, I'm a private tour guide, personal driver and photographer in Moscow, Russia. I work in my business and run my website Moscow-Driver.com from 2002. Read more about me and my services , check out testimonials of my former business and travel clients from all over the World, hit me up on Twitter or other social websites. I hope that you will like my photos as well.

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THIS TRIP IS NOT CURRENTLY SCHEDULED Over the years, Amy has developed and operated trips to a variety of destinations including this one, but not all trips are offered every year. If you are interested in joining a scheduled departure of this trip in the future, please send us an email and let us know. Click to send us an email or use the form at the bottom of this page.

We can organize and operate this trip as a private group departure with a minimum group size of 8 persons. Start organizing your private Russia art adventure here .

Best time to travel: June for the “White Nights” Best gateway city: Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia Moscow and St. Petersburg Slide Show

Experience the art treasures of Moscow and St. Petersburg with guide, Amy Osaki. Begin in Moscow, continental Europe’s largest city, the seat of the government of Russia, and now home to over twenty billionaires! View iconic sites such as the Kremlin (which began as a fortress in the eleventh century), Red Square, and the sixteenth century St. Basil’s Cathedral. Then explore the art masterpieces at the Tretyakov Gallery, the National Museum of Russian Fine Art encompassing works from the eleventh to the twentieth century. Visit the Armory at the Kremlin filled with Imperial treasures including Faberge eggs once exchanged by the tsar and tsarina at Easter. Conclude your Moscow experience at the quiet seventeenth century Novodevichy Convent, one of many World Heritage sites included in the trip.

After a short flight, continue the trip with five days in St. Petersburg where you’ll be immersed in the opulence of Imperial Russia. Established by Tsar Peter I in 1703, St. Petersburg (known as Petrograd and Leningrad for most of the twentieth century) was the capital of the Russian empire for over two hundred years until the Russian Revolution of 1917. The Hermitage—said to be the largest art museum in the world with a collection of over three million objects housed in four main buildings—rivals the Louvre in Paris for both the quantity and quality of its treasures. Founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great, and open to the pubic for over two hundred years the museum is so vast that we’ll spread our visit out over several days and organize it by different themes. Also on the schedule is a visit to the Peter and Paul Fortress—the original citadel above the river founded in 1703—as well as some of the Imperial palaces in and around St. Petersburg such as Peterhof, a World Heritage Site. Peter I hired French architects to work on his many palaces, including Jean Baptiste Le Blond who worked with Andre Le Notre at Versailles. Consider enhancing your Russian experience by purchasing tickets to a performance—perhaps a ballet at St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre (also known as the Kirov).

Day 1 Overnight in Moscow Arrive in Moscow and transfer to your centrally-located hotel, your base for the next two nights. Enjoy an afternoon and early evening walk through Red Square (Krasnaya Ploshchad) past St. Basil’s Cathedral, and GUM department store all of which are back-dropped by the walls of the Kremlin fortress. Remember that we are here during the fabled “White Nights” when the summer days linger with light-filled evenings.

Day 2 Overnight in Moscow Within the walls of the Kremlin fortress, visit the Armoury Museum, one of Moscow’s oldest museums established at the start of the nineteenth century. The Kremlin Armoury was the royal arsenal; it produced and stored the weapons, jewelry and other regalia of the tsars. The museum’s collection encompasses four thousand items of applied art from Russia and elsewhere dating from the early fourth century to the twentieth century. Later in the day, visit the collection of masterpieces of the renowned Tretyakov Gallery. The Tretyakov collections were begun by the philanthropist Tretyakov brothers in the early nineteenth century. The gallery is recognized by many as a key repository of Russian art spanning the nation’s artistic tradition from early Orthodox icons to art nouveau, impressionist, and avant-garde works.

Day 3 Overnight in St Petersburg Enjoy a morning visit to the sixteenth century Novodevichy Convent named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2004. The convent’s name is sometimes translated as “New Maidens’ Monastery” to differentiate is from the convent within the walls of the Moscow Kremlin. Surrounded by white crenellated walls, this complex of churches has remained essentially intact since the seventeenth century. Here you’ll find the five-domed Cathedral of Our Lady of Smolensk with its spectacular iconostasis and the tall, red and white Gate Church of the Transfiguration which is often cited as a fine example of “Moscow Baroque” architecture. The neighboring Novodevichy Cemetery is the final resting place of the likes of Anton Chekhov, Sergei Prokofiev, Dmitri Shostakovich, and Boris Yeltsin. This afternoon fly to St. Petersburg, Russia’s second largest city situated on the banks of the Neva River where it empties into the Gulf of Finland.

Day 4 Overnight in St Petersburg Start of your exploration of St. Petersburg with a visit to the Peter and Paul Fortress, the original citadel of St. Petersburg. The fortress was built to the designs of the Swiss Italian architect Domenico Trezzini in the early eighteenth century. Trezzini’s Peter and Paul Cathedral dominates the fortress grounds and its iconic golden spire punctuates into the Baltic sky. Later visit the Yusupov Palace on the Moika, acclaimed as an “encyclopedia of St. Petersburg aristocratic interior design.” The palace was the home of the Yusupov family from 1830 and 1917 and was the place where Grigori Rasputin, a spiritual mentor to Tsar Nicholas II and the Royal Family in the early 20th century, was assassinated. A visit to the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood built between 1883 and 1907 rounds out the day. The church was built in “Russian Revivalist” architectural style by Tsar Alexander III in commemoration of his father, Alexander II. The church occupies a conspicuous location on St. Petersburg’s Griboedov Canal and contains 7,500 square meters of mosaics; the interior walls and ceilings are completely covered by mosaics.

Day 5 Overnight in St Petersburg Seeing St. Petersburg’s Hermitage Museum in a day would be like trying to see the Smithsonian in a day! Rather than a forced march through the galleries at a rapid pace, we will slow down and savor the masterpieces. Remember, there are nearly seven miles worth of exhibitions! Today we focus on “Imperial Russia,” touring the rooms decorated for members of the Russian Imperial Family and viewing the art they commissioned and collected. This is the art that influenced the style of the grand palaces of the era. View the Grand Suite of rooms, Peter I’s collection of gold, and the jewelers art owned by the Russian Imperial Family (including Fabergé eggs, gold and diamonds). Here, too, are the rooms of Catherine II and her son Paul I with their fifteenth to eighteenth century French paintings and sculpture (Poussin, Watteau, Fragonard, Chardin, and Houdon).

Day 6 Overnight in St Petersburg Return for a second dose of the Hermitage! Today is dedicated to the famous European masterpieces exhibited at the Hermitage. Feast your eyes on memorable works by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, Tintoretto, Tiepolo, Velazquez, and El Greco. At the Hermitage, you can revel in Rembrandt; there are twenty of his works in the museum’s collection. After lunch, enjoy the eighteenth to twentieth century masterpieces of Monet, van Gogh, Gauguin, Rodin, Picasso, Matisse and Kandinsky. Digest the art and reflect on this unique collection of human creations. Consider an evening performance, possibly at the Mariinsky Theatre.

Day 7 Overnight in St Petersburg Journey by hydrofoil across the Gulf of Finland to experience Peter I’s palace at Peterhof, a series of palaces and gardens that evoke comparisons with Versailles which Peter visited in 1715. Begun in 1714 with the construction of the Monplaisir palace and expanded by later Imperial generations who added Rococo and Neo-classical elements, Peterhof is now a World Heritage Site. The creative mastery of architects, engineers, artists and craftsmen from throughout Europe is on display here and all is choreographed to celebrate water in homage to Peter, the maritime emperor.

Day 8 Overnight in St Petersburg Go behind the scenes with an excursion to the Hermitage Museum’s Staraya Derevnya Restoration and Storage Center on the right back of the Neva River north of Kamenny Island. This vast treasure house is only accessible by private tour. Later, travel to Vasilvesky Island across the river from the Hermitage to visit Menishkov Palace completed in 1721 and now the oldest stone building in St. Petersburg. Enjoy a farewell dinner this evening.

About your guide : Amy Osaki holds a master’s degree from the Winterthur Museum. She studied art at the Louvre Museum in Paris and worked as a museum curator for over a decade including six years at the Portland Art Museum. She is an award-winning art educator who has led art trips around the world for the last fifteen years with Walking Softly Adventures. Many of these trips were offered for graduate credit from Portland State University where she is an Adjunct Professor.

Resources for Further Learning

• Preview part of the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery at its website.
• Learn more about the Moscow Kremlin .
• Prepare yourself to experience the Hermitage . You can even shop on-line at the museum’s on-line museum store!

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