Romantic Getaway Tour to Europe: Majestic Alps, Charming Towns & Captivating Cities

Wake up to the energetic streets, filled with people starting their day. The herbaceous aroma of brewing black tea accompanies a full English breakfast. Your guide meets you at the hotel eager to take you around the highlights of the celebrated international city. St. Paul’s Cathedral broke ground in the 17th century and stands 518 feet tall. The elegant façade dominated the skyline as the city’s tallest building until the 1960s. The dome is based on a stone gallery with encompassing columns. The interior nave stands 91 feet high making every step cacophonous on the polished black and white marble floor underneath the coffered vaults. Stand on an opposite side of the gallery to your partner and whisper to the ceiling. It sounds as if you were standing right next to each other, giving the area of the cathedral the name the Whispering Gallery.

The morning rises over the city and glints off of the stained glass of the 30 St Mary Axe, a building in the financial district that resembles the grace of a Faberge Egg. After breakfast, you make your way St. Pancras Station and pass the embracing couple statue noticing the captured amorousness in the couple’s eyes. You board the luxury train that takes you to southern Holland. The landscape is flat and filled with bright greenery leading to the horizon. Once in Amsterdam, the city’s opulent past comes into view, dating back to 1275.

Pastel facades glow against the quiet current of the meandering canals. Small boats wade in the water. Buildings were constructed over the sifting sediment of the water and hug close to one another like a wall. The Von Gogh Museum opened in the 1970s and contains the largest collection of the painter’s work with more than 200 hundred paintings and 700 letters in total. The main structure houses the permanent collection in an open, modern space. The white walls highlight how each painting can burst with color and texture. The elegance of the museum adds to the stunning effect of each painting, including the famous work, “Sunflowers.” Van Gogh’s character exudes Amsterdam’s colorful charm.

The morning sweeps over the city with the sun illuminating the bright pastels of Amsterdam’s waterside facades. After breakfast you take in the picturesque cityscape on a canal boat, winding through the waterways. Travel underneath the multitude of bridges and watch the locals glide across the streets on bicycles. The Begijnhof is a tranquil inner-city area in a comfortable antique neighborhood of Amsterdam. Tiny lanes and pathways bring you into a garden of well-kept lawns and courtyards near houses dating back to the 14th century.

Leave the expansive city behind for the quaint German town of Koblenz located where the Rhine and Moselle Rivers converge. The city was founded by the Romans as a stronghold but now acts as a gateway to the romance of the Rhine River Valley. You can see the rolling hilltops of the three low mountain ranges. Indulge in the vibrant lushness around the riverbank, and take in the fresh air and trickling water. The nearby Castle Stolzenfels on the Rhine’s left bank maintains a timeless magnificence, displaying crenelated towers and ornate gables.

Morning highlights the intense greenery of the landscape. After breakfast, you can step out onto the water for a romantic river cruise. Dramatic castles decorated the cliffs. Vineyards stretch along hillside terraces. Historic towns constructed with timber speckle the countryside deepening the charm around the Rhine River. The breeze blows gently across the water and carries the scent of evergreens across the water. After your cruise, you venture to Munich, a city brimming with modern luxury inside the historic façade of the Old Town, which was rebuilt after the Second World War.

Men stroll down the streets in lederhosen, and many women dress in dirndls. The center feels like a small town surrounded by a large city. Marienplatz is the heart of Old Town and anchored by Mary’s Column, a memorial celebrating the 17th-century victory over Swedish forces. The neo-Gothic façade of New Town Hall has dramatic gargoyles and dragons scaling the upper turrets. The clock tower chimes twice during the day bringing the song and dance of the decorative puppetry to life.

Today you leave behind the lederhosen and dirndls of Munich, trading them in for the breathtaking mountains and serene river of Salzburg, Austria. The stunning city is admired as much for its architecture as for its wondrous scenery. The River Salzach glides down from the encircling Alps and divides the city. The peak of Untersberg stands 6,114 feet above sea level and dominates the horizon. The aromas of chocolate and marzipan drift over the medieval cobbled streets.

Mirabel Palace was constructed in the 17th century under the patronage of Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich Raitenau. The luxurious landscape around the palace overflows with colorful blossomed flowers, manicured hedges, and meticulous design. You can practically hear Maria from the Sound of Music teaching the Von Trapp children how to sing while dancing in the garden.

Vienna is an opulent city rising from the architectural pearls of its history as the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Pedestrians stroll along the cobbled streets and sidewalks next to designated bike lanes. Trams crisscross the city on electric lines bringing a touch of vintage charm to the antique buildings. Classical music practically emanates from every door, the locals proud of their connection with names such as Beethoven and Schubert.

The State Opera House was constructed in the mid-19th century and remains the premier venue for operatic and classical performances. People dress lavishly for the formal affairs with pristine tuxedoes and flowing gowns. The interior foyer has a gold and crystal inlay sparkling with even a sliver of light. The luxuries of the opera house emanate the brilliance of the city’s imperial past.

The ineffable charm of Innsbruck exudes from the medieval Old Town and exquisite surrounding landscape. After breakfast you venture to the extraordinary city to find narrow, winding streets amongst tall Late Gothic houses. The rugged peaks of the North Chain roll across the skyline. The Saile and Serles Mountains stand to the south as a backdrop to the Bergisel Ridge woods. Scents of rich coffee and hot chocolate spill out of bakeries. For a truly romantic exploration of the city you step onto a horse-drawn carriage and meander through the beauty of Old Town trotting near open cafes and underneath the gazing summits of the Alps.

After your leisurely exploration of the Old Town you will meet your guide for a tour of the remarkable luxuries that remain prominently on display around the city. The Hofburg was built in the 15th century and given a Baroque style in the 16th century. The Giant’s Hall is a 102-foot long gallery adorned with polished marble and filled with family portraits and frescoes. The palace was also once home to Marie Antoinette. The name Giant’s Hall refers to the frescos of Hercules decorating the room.

In the morning, you can see the exceptional summit of Mount Pilatus standing 6,982 feet above sea level. The aroma of luxuriant coffee filters through the hotel around breakfast and you wrap your hands around the warm mug as you enjoy the view. The rugged peaks of the Alps lesson into rolling mountaintops covered with bright green forest. You arrive in the Black Forest of Germany to discover the pine-clad hills and the refreshing aroma around you. Tiny villages speckle the landscape opening up the dark canopy. Many of the Grimm Brother’s fairy tales took place in the Black Forest creating a unique charm in the sparkling trees. The village of Baden-Baden emanates old world luxury with colonnaded buildings. In the hills, you see turreted villas with an art nouveau style. Open-air cafes stand next to chic boutiques and stunning gardens fringe the riverbanks. Once you reach the air of the Black Forest, you will feel enchanted.

Leave the effortless greenery and rolling hills along the Black Forest. You venture into the Alsace region of France home to Strasbourg and board a comfortable train to Paris. The City of Lights is famous for its stunning landmarks, remarkable museums, and romantic sensibilities. Luscious trees line the wide boulevards. The Champs-Elysées sports high-end fashion and links the Arc de Triomphe to the Tuileries Gardens. After settling into your centrally located hotel, you can venture to the Louvre Museum for a tour of the extraordinary collection of antiquity and artistry.

The museum contains over 70,000 pieces of art displayed across 650,000 square feet of space. People say that “The Louvre is for Lovers,” filled with hidden niches to sneak a kiss and filled with masterpieces to decorate the galleries alongside your every step. When you reach the statue of Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss you take a breath and indulge in the classical sense of romance. The statue was commissioned in the 18th century with a neoclassical character. A recently awakened Psyche reaches for her partner as he cradles her body with gentle support.

Paris is a city that exudes appreciation for the little details of everyday life. The sun rises and sparkles over the Seine River. Houseboats wade in the water and the inhabitants sit in the sun basking in their morning coffee. Locals grab a buttery croissant from a café and sit at a sidewalk table as the rest of the city passes them by. You could spend a lifetime in the city and partake in the small indulgences of a game of pétanque or a bite of a fresh baked macaroon. Your guide meets you in the morning to take you a fabulous tour of the city, from the Eiffel Tower to the Opera.

Sacré-Coeur, or the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, crowns the celebrated hillside neighborhood of Montmartre. Construction of the basilica began in 1875. The exposed calcite exterior keeps the pristine pearl color shining against the cityscape. When you enter you find the faint aroma of myrrh drifting underneath the towering stained glass windows. Golden mosaics glint in the light. Eleven arches support a barrel vault topped with a 273-foot tall dome. When you step onto the cobbled square in front of the church steps, you have an unparalleled view of Paris.

The morning light shines over the Eiffel Tower, and you can imagine the opulent shadow cast over the neighboring park. Breakfast fills with the decadent flavors of fresh cappuccino and buttery chocolate croissants. People spill into the streets on their way to work, university, or the endless sites surrounding the Seine River.

After breakfast, your private transfer meets you at the hotel ready to escort you to the airport for your flight home. The splendor of Paris and the majesty of the Seine captivate you, telling you to stay a little longer and indulge in the romance with your partner.