Highlights of Europe Vacation Tour Package

Chepel Bridge in Lucerne, Switzerland

What to expect on this itinerary

It is easy to imagine the most charming cities in the world, situated along a serene river with historic buildings overlooking cobblestone streets. Medieval towers stand watch over the prairie, or priceless works of art hang in a modern gallery, which was once a regal bedroom. Indulge in creamy gelato and savor decadent truffle dishes. Listen to traditional yodelers echo against the Swiss Alps. Walk in the footsteps of Michelangelo. On this custom-tailored highlights of Europe vacation tour package, you will find captivating cities wrapped up in their history, surrounded by elegant scenery, and overflowing with natural artistic majesty.

Countries Visited

England, France, Italy, Switzerland

Places Visited

London, Paris, Lucerne, Bergamo, Venice, Florence, Rome

Suggested Duration

16 Days

Customizable Itinerary

Expand All
Day 1 - 3

Chic Arrivals

London is a city that combines modern high-rises overlooking historic towers. Cobblestone streets date back hundreds of years, lined with antiquarian bookshops and famous pubs where Charles Dickens once ate. Barges float down the Thames and underneath the recognizable sight of the London Tower Bridge. When you arrive at the airport, your private transfer is waiting for you. You soon step out into the London streets, filled with the scent of steaming fresh baked pastries, a traditional English pie filled with meat and vegetables. Parliament shimmers alongside the glistening waters of the Thames.

The emblematic Elizabeth Tower fills the panorama. Big Ben, the name given to the 13-ton bell inside the tower, chimes at the quarter of an hour as locals and visitors walk beneath the Gothic architecture. The city has a contagious electric energy coursing through the streets. The London Eye offers a stellar vista of the cityscape, showing both the classic and modern cityscape. In the evening, you can visit Ye Olde Mitre on Ley Court, the first pub in the city established in the mid 16th century. Tudor beams line the ceiling and coal fires make for a cozy night, filled with old world charm and surrounded by new-world luxury.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Day 4

Tunnel to Lights

Day 5 - 6

Opening to the Light

Day 7 - 8

Brave New Heights

Day 9 - 10

Mesmeric North

Day 11 - 12

Across the Canal

Day 13

Surrounding Renaissance

Day 14 - 15

Layers of Rome

Day 16

Road Away from Rome

Trip Highlights

  • Witness the exceptional collection of world heritage practically overflowing out of the Louvre in Paris
  • Experience the treasured architecture of Parisian streets, including the Arc de Triomphe and the Eifel Tower
  • Wander around the enchanting Old Town neighborhood of Lucerne, Switzerland, emblematic of a traditional alpine village
  • Delight in an open panorama of the Swiss Alps on a gondola ride
  • Visit the exceptional halls of the Vatican Museum guiding you towards the incredible gallery of the Sistine Chapel
  • View the dramatic ruins of Rome, wandering around and through the Coliseum
  • Stroll through the mesmeric Renaissance city of Florence, home to Michelangelo and Dante Alighieri
  • Enjoy the serene countryside charm of the hillside town of Bergamo, Italy
  • Stroll along the famous canals of Venice, one of the most romantic cities in the world

Detailed Description

Europe maintains its connection to its history, emblematic in both charm and decadence. Alpine villages continue to charm visitors. Medieval Italian towns tell countless stories by virtue of surviving the centuries. Cathedrals contain innumerable priceless artworks and certain small alleyways contain as many of the city’s artifacts as the nearby museum. This 9-day highlights of Europe vacation tour package takes you to England, France, Switzerland, and Italy: each country offering a unique view of culture, cuisine, and antiquity.

Customized for 2020, your Europe vacation begins with your arrival in London. The city is a whirlwind of energy crossing the River Thames. On the third day you are taken to the Railway station for your sensational ride on the Chunnel train, taking you underneath the Channel to Paris. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy the tremendous City of Light. Follow your guide through the city to see the famous landmarks of the city, including the Champs-Elysees and the Opera house.

You can also venture inside the Louvre to witness the grand collection of the world heritage. You step aboard your transfer on day five and make your way through the French countryside, north towards the Swiss Alps. Lucerne welcomes you with quiet beauty sitting beneath the rugged summits of the surrounding mountains. Visit the tranquil Lion Monument and enjoy a serene picturesque stroll through Old Town. Make your way up to Mount Pilatus by cable car or indulge in a morning search for chocolate.

Pass through the Italian Lake District to the picture perfect town of Bergamo. Relax around the medieval streets of the hillside city connected by a funicular. The following day you venture deeper into Italy, arriving in the magnificent city of Venice. Take a private water-taxi around the Grand Canal and witness the city’s iconic images. Leave the city behind for Florence, a truly enchanting Renaissance city surrounded by the rolling hills of Tuscany.

Continue to Rome, where all the roads eventually lead. A full day in the Eternal City takes you around the treasured ruins, including the Colosseum. Follow your guide through the Vatican Museum to witness the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square, and the Basilica. The following day you will have a private transfer to the airport to make your flight home, but you will carry the variety of wonders from your European exploration home with you.

Starting Price

$8,500 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 2046 reviews

Switzerland, Italy Solo Vacation Review: Zurich, Lucerne, Interlaken, Zermatt, Lake Como, Venice, Florence, Sorrento, Amalfi, Rome, Skydiving, Gondola Ride, Amalfi Coast Cruise, Scenery, Nature, Local Cuisine, 3 Weeks

My first solo trip was something I had dreamed about for years. I wanted it to be more than sightseeing. I wanted adventure, comfort, safety, and freedom without the stress of planning it all alone. Through Zicasso, I was connected to two specialists and Zicasso's travel consultant stood out immediately. She delivered an itinerary that gave me everything I asked for and more: maximum cities, maximum fun, and maximum value, all without compromise.

Before deciding, I researched and compared tours, packages, and individual prices online. The travel consultant’s proposal came out on top for value and content. While the other agent offered fewer cities and activities at a higher price, her plan was ambitious without being overwhelming. She booked my trains, arranged private transfers where needed, and selected boutique-style hotels that exceeded expectations. I was honestly surprised at how good they were. I stayed at hotels in Interlaken, Florence, and Sorrento. Each was clean, comfortable, and perfectly located for exploring. I had prepared myself for budget trade-offs, but instead, I found thoughtfully chosen hotels that balanced affordability with real quality.

Every document, train ticket, and activity confirmation was uploaded into the app. It became my lifeline throughout the trip, with every detail at my fingertips. The structure gave me confidence, while still leaving me free to explore.

Switzerland came first: Zurich, Lucerne, Interlaken, and Zermatt. Each city felt like stepping into a postcard. Interlaken gave me the adrenaline rush of skydiving, while Zermatt charmed me with its close-knit magic and alpine beauty. Italy unfolded with equal ease: Lake Como, Venice, Florence, Sorrento, Amalfi, and Rome. Every destination felt curated, yet natural, from gondola rides in Venice to boat tours on the Amalfi Coast.

What I loved most was the balance between structure and freedom. Pre-booked activities and restaurant reservations gave me a strong framework, but I could just as easily decide to spend an afternoon wandering Florence, eating gelato, or sitting in a piazza. The rhythm of the trip was perfect, structured enough to tick off bucket-list highlights, yet relaxed enough to feel like a real vacation.

Food was freestyle, but memorable. Highlights included a Japanese-Peruvian restaurant in Zurich with its elegant Japanese-Peruvian flavors, a different Japanese restaurant, a restaurant in Como with its modern fusion menu, an Indian restaurant for comforting classics, and international favorites like those in one of the restaurants in Rome. Between those meals and plenty of gelato and crepes, every stop added its own flavor to the journey.

As a solo traveler, safety mattered. I felt comfortable walking around in the evenings and was usually back in my hotel by 1am to stay rested for the next day. What really gave me peace of mind was the travel consultant’s constant support. Communication was fast and responsive. I never had to wait long for answers, whether through the app or email. There was a moment when I made a mistake with the trains and missed an activity. She immediately stepped in and worked to reschedule it or secure a refund that same day.

Earlier in the planning process, I also had a card issue due to an address error. Even though policy would not normally allow it, she and her team patiently waited until I received the refund before finalizing the booking, just weeks before my trip. That flexibility and care spoke volumes.

The difference was clear. She used my budget to its fullest potential, giving me more destinations, more experiences, and better hotels than the alternative option. She managed to combine the efficiency of a fully organized tour with the freedom of independent travel. Everything was planned, yet everything was still mine to shape.

This trip was everything I wanted: good food, beautiful views, safety, and absolute reliability. It was an organized journey with freestyle flexibility, which is exactly what solo travelers dream of. The travel consultant’s planning let me chase adventure while always knowing I had a safety net. Switzerland and Italy gave me memories I will never forget, but it was the behind-the-scenes planning that made it possible. If you want a trip that is your way, your budget, your pace, but without the endless hassle of managing it yourself, the travel consultant at this agency is the person who can make it happen. My first solo trip became my dream trip and that is the highest praise I can give.

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Italy Tour Review: Vatican, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pompeii, Tuscany, Venice, Cheese-Making Experience, Cooking Class, 13 Nights

Zicasso's travel agency far exceeded our expectations. We had our five-year-old and 11-year-old children with us, so the tour guides and walking needed to be kid-friendly.

Our hotel in Rome was wonderful, the location was perfect, and they had good A/C and a breakfast buffet. There were plenty of great restaurants within easy walking distance, as well as the Vatican.

Our tour guide for the Colosseum and Roman Forum was great. Pompeii was amazing. Our tour guide was basically a celebrity down there and knew exactly how to take us around the ruins without ever waiting.

Tuscany was our favorite by far. We did a cheese-making experience and lunch that was super-cool. The kids got to play with the farm animals and the owners were so attentive and interesting. We did a cooking class with a chef that was the kids' favorite thing on the entire trip. I would make a point to book this experience; the kids still talk about it and wear the aprons around the house. The resort in Tuscany was nice. We had our own private pool, plus the resort pool, and could easily walk to a small local town with some great food.

Venice was good, but probably our least favorite on the trip. You have to walk a ton, which was difficult for the kids, but it's still worth experiencing.

We travel a bunch and I would highly recommend using Zicasso's travel partner.

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Italy Tour Review: Venice, Florence, Tuscany, Lake Como, Milan, Truffle Hunting, Wine Tasting, Cooking Class, Boat Ride, 2-Week Trip

Our trip to Venice, Florence, Tuscany, Lake Como, and Milan was exceptionally well planned and executed by Zicasso's tour operator.

The transportation from one location to another was efficient, even when challenged by the high tides in Venice. Overall, the hotels selected were very good. The one in Montalcino was exceptional. Every guide was knowledgeable and professional. We appreciated their willingness to be flexible. Our driver for the ride to Como and back to Milan was personable and exceptional as well.

We really enjoyed the truffle hunting experience, the first wine tasting in Montepulciano, where we met the entire charming family, the cooking class in Bellagio with a chef who treated us like family, and the boat rides on Lake Como and to the islands in the lagoon of Venice. All of the dinner reservations were spot-on and when there was a slight misunderstanding regarding our wine tasting in Bellagio, where the staff at the hotel in Bellagio had no idea what had been arranged by our agency, this was quickly resolved by our guide through texts and emails with the agency.

The only aspect of the trip that could have been improved was day eight, when our activities, travel time, and late dinner reservation resulted in a late-night drive back to the villa. The hotel in Milan was difficult to find at first due to its location not being visible from the street. Once we found it and settled in, it was in an excellent location for our sightseeing. The gifts of sparkling wine at two of our stops was thoughtful and appreciated.

We thank our agent and the staff at the agency for a wonderful trip and would not hesitate to recommend the firm to our friends and family.

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Italy Family Vacation Review: Venice, Verona, Florence, Tuscany, Siena, Rome, Biking, Cooking, Wine Tasting, Olive Oil Experience, 10 Nights

Zicasso's travel company planned the most amazing trip to Venice, Verona, Florence, Tuscany, Siena, and Rome for our family of five. It was the best trip I've ever taken, and having all the details covered by them and plans and tickets sent to us via WhatsApp allowed us to really live in the moment and not have to think about what was next. I loved every second. I cannot wait to plan another trip to Italy to experience the southern half of the country.

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Italy Trip Review: Rome, Venice, Florence, Opera, Walking Tours, 10 Nights

We had a fantastic experience for a first-time trip to Italy. I wasn't sure how this would be, considering I learned about Zicasso while trying to plan the trip myself. Zicasso put me in touch with a travel specialist and the whole team was incredibly responsive to my many, many questions. If they were ever annoyed, it didn’t show.

I really wanted a smooth experience for my family of five, including three teens, one of whom has Celiac. Our agent was great in helping plan out the experience we wanted. As you may know, it is challenging to find rooms for five in Europe, but the travel company found apartments (usually two bedrooms with a pull-out couch) in the heart of town. You can really customize what you do, but we elected to plan our own meals and handle some of our own transport. We did have one issue where the van driver taking us to the train failed to show. I got one with Uber and the travel company quickly (I mean before we got home quickly!) refunded that amount.

Our contact in Italy was amazing and patient. I can’t give her enough credit. Any time I was unsure of something, she was there. The tours were great, especially Florence and Rome. You may be able to find the companies online, but ours seems to have the connections to get the best guides.

As for meals, we didn’t have any issues. We used an app and got a few recommendations from the travel company and local guides. Even our wine-tasting tour out in Tuscany was accommodating.

I would use our travel company and Zicasso again. I think the only downside is we tried to cram a lot in and it was hot. I probably should have asked for one to two fewer or shorter walking tours, especially on days we switched cities. Otherwise, it was excellent.

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Italy Tour Review: Rome, Florence, Venice, Private Tours, 12 Nights

Our recent trip to Rome, Florence, and Venice, planned by Zicasso’s travel specialist and her team, was nothing short of exceptional. Every detail was handled with care, precision, and an obvious commitment to excellence. The hotels were truly top rate, perfectly located, and impeccably chosen to enhance the experience of each city. The tour guides were extremely knowledgeable, engaging, and clearly passionate, adding depth and context that made each destination come alive.

What truly set this trip apart was the level of service. From seamless transfers to on-the-ground assistance, everything felt effortless. The recommendations and tips provided along the way were incredibly useful and allowed us to experience each city with confidence and ease. The assistants who helped guide us through logistics and navigation were attentive, professional, and reassuring, making the entire journey feel like true white-glove service from start to finish.

The travel specialist and her team exceeded every expectation. Their planning, responsiveness, and attention to detail transformed an already incredible itinerary into an unforgettable experience. I would recommend them without hesitation to anyone looking for a flawlessly executed, high-end travel experience.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

28,000+ Verified Traveler Reviews