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Douro Valley, Portugal

Europe tour ideas

Douro Valley, Portugal

You might be planning a whirlwind tour of ancient capitals, a food-and-wine-themed route across the Mediterranean or looking to explore the art and architecture of the Renaissance. Whatever your interests, our Europe specialists will put together a tailor-made itinerary to help you make the most of your time.

These suggested tours aim to give you a basic starting point and show you what’s possible. But, when it comes to planning your trip, we’ll create a personal itinerary based on your interests and time frame. From Roman ruins to Russian palaces and Spanish vineyards to Icelandic hot springs, our Europe specialists can help introduce you to landmark places to visit in Europe as well as little-known attractions along the way.

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Ideas for your trip to Europe

These itineraries are designed to give you some suggestions for what is possible when you travel in Europe, and they showcase some of the routes that we've found work particularly well. Treat them simply as inspiration, because your trip will be created uniquely for you by one of our specialists based on your particular tastes and interests.

Europe tour ideas

Europe tour ideas

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Summary  |  Detail
  • Twin lakes, Sete Cidades, São Miguel

    Lisbon & the Azores

    Portugal
    • Explore the largest city in the Azores, Ponta Delgada, on a private walking tour.

    • Visit the twin lakes of Sete Cidades by bicycle and 4x4.

    • Embark on a whale- and dolphin-watching tour outside Ponta Delgada.

    • Hear traditional Portuguese fado music at a special dinner in Lisbon.

    • Discover the history of Lisbon on a private walking tour.

    • Tour the vibrant and eclectic palaces of Sintra.

    7 days from £2,380pp

  • Local houses, Nafplio

    Athens & Nafplio

    Greece
    • Soak up the history of ancient Athens and the modern Acropolis Museum on a private tour.

    • Kayak to a deserted beach for a swim and snorkel.

    • Visit the pretty, traffic-free island of Hydra.

    • Explore the ancient ruins and beehive tombs at Mycenae archaeological site.

    • Enjoy the freedom of a rental car to explore the Peloponnese.

    7 days from £2,400pp

  • Hagia Sophia

    Istanbul & Cappadocia

    Turkey
    • Explore Istanbul's highlights, such as the Blue Mosque and Spice Market.

    • Take a leisurely cruise along the Bosphorus admiring Europe on one side and Asia on the other.

    • Fly high above Cappadocia on a sunrise hot air balloon ride.

    • Try your hand at mastering Turkish cuisine on a cooking class with a local family.

    8 days from £2,730pp

  • Castle Aragonese, Ischia

    Naples & the island of Ischia

    Italy
    • Discover the original relics from Pompeii on a privately guided tour of Naples Archaeological Museum.

    • Hike the panoramic trails of Ischia and enjoy lunch at a traditional agriturismo.

    • Explore the cosmopolitan city of Naples on a guided walking tour.

    • Relax at Ischia’s thermal baths and beaches.

    7 days from £2,810pp

  • Pena Palace, Sintra

    Lisbon & the Algarve: Portugal self-drive tour

    Portugal
    • Tour Lisbon’s historical heart and sample some local delicacies.

    • Explore the eccentric palaces and gardens of Sintra.

    • Visit Roman ruins in the historic city of Évora in the heart of the Alentejo countryside.

    • Learn how to cook traditional Algarvian Cataplana.

    • Hike the Algarve coastline near Lagos.

    10 days from £2,875pp

  • Snæfellsnes Peninsula

    The Golden Circle & west Iceland

    Iceland
    • Witness the mighty Geysir erupt as you explore the Golden Circle.

    • Learn about traditional Icelandic cuisine on a private food tour of Reykjavík.

    • Soak in the astounding scenery of the islands and mountains north of Snæfellsnes Peninsula on a boat trip with a fresh sushi feast served on board.

    • Explore Langjökull Glacier from tunnels which take you into the glacier itself.

    7 days from £2,890pp

  • Monastery, Troodos Mountains

    Cyprus mountains & beach break

    Cyprus
    • Explore a UNESCO-protected monastery in the Troodos Mountains.

    • Visit a local basket weaver and create your own basket on an artisan tour.

    • Sip some Cypriot wine at a family-run winery.

    • Visit the archaeological site of Ancient Kourion and its well-preserved Roman villas.

    8 days from £3,230pp

  • Vineyards, Pico

    Highlights of the Azores

    Portugal
    • Enjoy a historic walking tour of Ponta Delgada with tastings in the local market.

    • Explore the twin lakes of Sete Cidades by bicycle and 4x4.

    • Try local cozido, food cooked in the hot springs of Furnas.

    • Hike through the lava stone vineyards of Pico.

    • Discover the island of Faial and its Capelinhos Volcano.

    • Learn about the history of Terceira on a walk through its capital city, Angra do Heroísmo.

    11 days from £3,470pp

  • Driving in south east Iceland

    Iceland's hidden highlights self-drive

    Iceland
    • Take a privately guided Superjeep tour to Þjórsárdalur in Iceland’s southern highlands, exploring its verdant valleys and dramatic waterfalls.

    • Climb a volcano and catch views of the south coast’s glaciers from the Westman Islands.

    • Explore the verdant, craggy landscape of Eldhraun: the world’s largest lava field.

    • See one of Iceland’s largest puffin colonies and learn more about Icelandic folklore in the Eastfjords.

    10 days from £3,545pp

  • St Peters Statue at the Vatican, Rome

    Italy beyond the summer

    Italy
    • Learn to cook like a Tuscan at a private Florentine cooking class with a local chef.

    • Tour Naples Archaeological Museum with a private guide and see original objects from Pompeii.

    • Visit the Vatican Museums with your private guide and see the Sistine Chapel at its least crowded.

    9 days from £3,670pp

  • Wine tasting

    Highlights of Lisbon & Porto

    Portugal
    • Listen to melancholy fado music over a traditional dinner in Lisbon.

    • Learn about Lisbon’s history on a walking tour with stops to sample local delicacies.

    • Witness the whimsical architecture in Sintra.

    • Take a panoramic tour of Porto ending with a port wine tasting.

    • Discover the wines and landscapes of the Douro Valley on a full-day excursion.

    7 days from £3,695pp

  • Plaka, Athens

    Athens & the Peloponnese

    Greece
    • Soak up the history of ancient Athens and the winding lanes of Plaka on a private tour.

    • Visit a local olive oil producer and learn about the importance of olive oil to the Greeks.

    • Sail along the coast of the Peloponnese on a private boat.

    • Stay on the island of Hydra where all transportation is carried out by mule.

    9 days from £3,720pp

  • Gothic Quarter, Barcelona

    Barcelona & the Costa Brava

    Spain
    • Take in the virtuoso modernist architecture of Antoni Gaudí.

    • Explore Barcelona’s tangled medieval streets and glittering modern waterfront by bicycle.

    • Shop for ingredients and prepare your own paella with a professional chef.

    • Visit Dalí’s birthplace and tour the medieval heart of Girona.

    • Relax on the Costa Brava.

    7 days from £3,780pp

  • Duomo Santa Maria Del Fiore, Florence

    Florence & Rome explored

    Italy
    • Uncover the secrets of the Colosseum and Roman Forum on a private tour.

    • Marvel at the majesty of the Sistine Chapel ceiling and St Peter's Basilica.

    • Visit Siena and San Gimignano and have lunch in a local Tuscan farmhouse.

    • Visit Michelangelo's iconic 'David' and explore the opulent Pitti Palace in Florence.

    8 days from £3,855pp

  • Hagia Sophia

    Istanbul to Kalkan

    Turkey
    • Marvel at the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

    • Experience the delights of Turkish cuisine.

    • See the limestone terraces of Pamukkale.

    • Take a boat trip out to the sunken city of Kekova.

    8 days from £4,170pp

  • Ribera Market, Bilbao

    Basque Country explorer: Bilbao, La Rioja & San Sebastián

    Spain
    • Visit the world-renowned Guggenheim Museum.

    • Experience traditional Basque culture with lunch at a secretive gastronomic society.

    • Drive and hike through the verdant vineyards of La Rioja.

    • Taste a variety of Rioja wines and indulge in delicious Basque pintxos.

    • Cross the border into France and explore more of the Basque coastline.

    7 days from £4,190pp

  • St Mark's Square, Venice

    Italy's art cities: Venice, Florence & Rome

    Italy
    • Uncover Venice's hidden past by visiting secret chambers within the Doge's Palace.

    • Discover the secrets of Ancient Rome on a private tour of the Colosseum.

    • Marvel at Michelangelo's masterpiece on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel with a private guide.

    • Experience Baroque art through Caravaggio's most famous works in the Borghese Gallery and Santa Maria del Popolo Church.

    • Travel Venice's Grand Canal in style by arriving at your hotel via a private boat.

    10 days from £4,280pp

  • Ponte Vecchio, Florence

    Highlights of Florence

    Tuscany
    • Experience artisan shops and markets to sample and peruse locally crafted items.

    • Visit some of the most iconic art and sculptures in the world.

    • Embark on a truffle hunt, paired with a multi course traditional meal.

    • Learn Florentine cooking techniques alongside a local chef.

    5 days from £4,300pp

  • Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon

    Classic Iceland self-drive tour

    Iceland
    • Eat your way around Reykjavík on a private food-focused walking tour.

    • Snorkel between the tectonic plates in Þingvellir National Park.

    • Wander through icy tunnels carved in the depths of Langjökull glacier.

    • Watch icebergs calve from glaciers and float across Jökulsárlón lagoon.

    9 days from £4,325pp

  • Tram and cityscape, Lisbon

    Highlights of Lisbon & Marrakesh

    Portugal and Morocco
    • Experience the best of Lisbon on a guided tour through the city's historic districts.

    • Witness the whimsical architecture of Sintra's palaces.

    • Hike Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains and visit a local family for a cup of mint tea.

    • Immerse yourself in the spice-scented souqs of Marrakesh.

    • Tour the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca.

    8 days from £4,395pp

  • View of Cinque Torri from path, Dolomites

    Lakes & mountains of Italy

    Italy
    • Take in the historical sights of Verona with your walking guide.

    • Sample delicious Italian wine at a family-run winery.

    • Relax on the shores of Lake Garda.

    • Visit the impressive Vittoriale degli Italiani.

    • Hike among the Dolomites in Val di Genova, known as the ‘waterfalls valley’.

    10 days from £4,420pp

  • Roman aqueduct, Segovia

    Best of Barcelona & Madrid

    Spain
    • See Gaudí’s unique architecture on an expert-led tour through Barcelona before taking in the sights of the city from the air by helicopter.

    • Visit the home of cava in the Penedès wine region, followed by a tour of the Montserrat mountain monastery.

    • Marvel at the wonders held within Spain’s premier art gallery, the Prado, in Madrid.

    • See well-preserved medieval and Roman architecture in Ávila and Segovia.

    • View artistic masterpieces at El Escorial and the controversial memorial, the Valley of the Fallen.

    7 days from £4,500pp

  • Villa Carlotta, Lake Como

    North Italy & the Lakes

    Italy
    • Cruise Lake Como in style by private boat past dramatic scenery.

    • Explore the magnificent gardens of the Borromean Islands on Lake Maggiore.

    • Lose yourself in the winding medieval streets of Verona.

    • Marvel at Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic Last Supper in Milan.

    8 days from £4,560pp

  • Varlaam Monastery, Meteora

    Family outdoor Greece

    Greece
    • Explore the Acropolis and Plaka district of Athens on a private walking tour.

    • Zip around the Meteora monasteries on an e-bike tour at sunset.

    • Bump around the Pindus Mountains on a 4x4 adventure visiting some of the mountain villages.

    • Sail and swim in the clear Aegean Sea on a private boat trip at Milos island.

    11 days from £4,600pp

  • Behind Seljalandsfoss

    Active Iceland self-drive tour: waterfalls, volcanoes & lagoons

    Iceland
    • Explore the Golden Circle from the Hvítá river on a guided rafting tour, close to Gullfoss Falls.

    • Take a privately guided Superjeep tour to Landmannalaugar, hiking through its striped rhyolite mountains and soaking in geothermally heated hot springs.

    • Mountain bike through Eldhraun, the world’s largest lava field, with a local Icelandic guide.

    • Paddle through floating icebergs on Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon on a small-group kayaking tour.

    • Don crampons and take a guided hike through Sólheimajökull glacier’s curious icy formations.

    8 days from £4,635pp

  • Panagia Thalassitra, Milos

    Cycladic Islands: Milos, Paros & Naxos

    Greece
    • Spend the day aboard a private catamaran cruising the coastlines of the Small Cyclades off Naxos.

    • Tour the Acropolis with a private guide.

    • Take a 4x4 tour of Milos’s rugged interior, learning about the volcanic island’s geology.

    • Stay in the whitewashed village of Naousa on Paros and visit its Venetian castle.

    9 days from £4,680pp

  • Views over Assisi, Umbria

    Self-drive tour Tuscany & Umbria

    Italy
    • Cycle through the vineyards and hill towns of Chianti on a guided E-bike tour.

    • Learn how to make cheese on a visit to a local pecorino producer’s farm.

    • Sample Tuscan wines and cuisine at a Michelin starred restaurant in a 12th century abbey complex.

    • Stay in a medieval borgo located close to the Umbrian capital of Perugia.

    • Visit the city of Assisi, where St Francis and the Franciscan order were born.

    12 days from £4,705pp

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