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Douro Valley, Portugal

Europe tour ideas

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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Audley Travel specialist Carolyn

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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.

  • St Petersburg, Russia

    St Petersburg weekend break

    • See the many treasures of the Hermitage, one of the world's best art galleries.

    • Visit the Peter and Paul Fortress, the city's first permanent building.

    • See the Catherine Palace and marvel at the phenomenal wealth of the Tsars.

    • Explore the beautiful canals and grand buildings of one of the world's prettiest cities.

    4 days from £1,195pp

  • Hagia Sophia

    Istanbul to Kas

    • 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 £1,995pp

  • Castle Aragonese, Ischia

    Naples and the island of Ischia

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

    • Visit Naples Archaeological Museum and see original relics from Pompeii.

    • Relax at Ischia’s thermal baths and beaches.

    • Enjoy panoramic views of Ischia on a private hike followed by a tasty lunch.

    7 days from £2,085pp

  • St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg

    Classic Russia tour

    • See the Kremlin, Red Square and St Basil's Cathedral.

    • Explore one of the world's biggest and best art collections in the Hermitage.

    • Wander along St Petersburg's canals.

    • See one of the Tsars' sumptuous summer palaces.

    8 days from £2,350pp

  • Pena Palace, Sintra

    Lisbon & the Algarve: Portugal Self-Drive

    • 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 £2,500pp

  • Tram and Cityscape, Lisbon

    Highlights of Lisbon & Marrakesh

    • 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 £2,520pp

  • Snæfellsnes Peninsula

    The Golden Circle and west 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 £2,550pp

  • Pergamon Acropolis

    Historic Turkey

    • Experience the delights of Turkish cuisine.

    • Visit the poignant WWI battlefields of Gallipoli.

    • Explore the ancient ruined city of Pergamon.

    • Enjoy time to explore the characterful Alacati.

    • Marvel at the ruins of Ephesus.

    9 days from £2,875pp

  • St Basil's, Moscow

    Moscow, St Petersburg & the Golden Ring

    • Explore the Kremlin and Armoury complex and see Russia's Fabergé Eggs.

    • Explore the art of the Hermitage State Museum.

    • Take a hydrofoil into the Gulf of Finland to visit Peter the Great’s palace.

    • Explore the palace of Catherine the Great at Tsarskoe Selo, home to the Amber Room.

    10 days from £2,995pp

  • Ribera Market, Bilbao

    Basque Country Explorer: Bilbao, La Rioja & San Sebastián

    • 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 £3,070pp

  • St Peters Statue at the Vatican, Rome

    Italy in the Off Season

    • Experience local life in Venice away from the throngs on a food tour of Venetian wine bars called bacari.

    • Learn to cook like a Tuscan at a 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 £3,155pp

  • Duomo Santa Maria Del Fiore, Florence

    Florence and Rome Explored

    • 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 £3,205pp

  • Wine tasting

    Highlights of Lisbon & Porto

    • 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 £3,215pp

  • Driving in West Iceland

    Iceland's Hidden Highlights self-drive

    • 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 £3,225pp

  • Aerial view over Siena, Tuscany

    Tuscan towns and countryside

    • Wander the streets of Lucca on a private walking tour.

    • Relax and soak up the atmosphere of the Tuscan countryside.

    • Admire the Renaissance artwork at the Uffizi gallery in Florence.

    • Enjoy some wine tasting in Chianti wineries.

    7 days from £3,230pp

  • Gothic Quarter, Barcelona

    Barcelona and the Costa Brava

    • 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 £3,315pp

  • Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon

    Classic Iceland self-drive

    • 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 £3,340pp

  • Pamukkale travertines

    Treasures of Turkey: history, culture & beach

    • Explore the classical ruined cities of Pergamon and Ephesus.

    • Relax by the Mediterranean, on Turkey's Turquoise Coast.

    • See the impressive terraces of Pamukkale.

    • Stay in a beautiful boutique property amid orchards and vineyards.

    • Take a cruise along the Bosphorus in Istanbul.

    12 days from £3,460pp

  • Giralda tower, Seville

    Best of Morocco & Southern Spain

    • Hike Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains and have mint tea with a local family.

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

    • Visit the unparalleled majesty of the Alhambra Palace in Spain’s southern city of Granada.

    • Relax in the sun-drenched squares of Seville and experience a traditional flamenco performance.

    10 days from £3,470pp

  • Greek ruins, Agrigento

    Classic Sicily

    • See impressively preserved Roman mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale.

    • Walk among the Temple of Concordia and the Temple of Juno as you explore the UNESCO-protected Valley of the Temples in Agrigento.

    • Tour the island of Ortigia in Syracuse and sample food from its covered market over a leisurely lunch.

    • Summit Mount Etna and follow this with a tasting of wines produced at vineyards on the volcano’s slopes.

    8 days from £3,690pp

  • St Mark's Square, Venice

    Italy's Art Cities: Venice, Florence and Rome

    • 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 and visit the 'David' in Florence.

    • Visit some of 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.

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

    10 days from £3,705pp

  • Behind Seljalandsfoss

    Active Iceland self-drive: waterfalls, volcanoes and lagoons

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

    • 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 £3,765pp

  • Villa Carlotta, Lake Como

    North Italy and the Lakes

    • See Leonardo Da Vinci’s iconic Last Supper in Milan.

    • Tour Lake Como in style by private boat.

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

    • Lose yourself in the winding medieval streets of Verona.

    8 days from £3,790pp

  • Views over Assisi, Umbria

    Self-drive Tuscany and Umbria

    • 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 £3,915pp

  • Roman aqueduct, Segovia

    Best of Barcelona & Madrid

    • 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.

    • 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.

    7 days from £3,945pp

  • Vík

    Around Iceland's Ring Road self-drive

    • Soak in the geothermal waters of the Secret Lagoon, in the heart of the Golden Circle.

    • Marvel at intricate frozen formations on a guided visit to an ice cave.

    • Spot clownish puffins nesting along the coast.

    • Cruise among sculptural icebergs on a boat trip on Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon.

    • See the world’s largest lava field, formed by an eruption hundreds of years ago.

    13 days from £4,215pp

  • Pergamon Acropolis

    Ancient Wonders of Turkey

    • Visit the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.

    • Travel along the Gallipoli Peninsula, past historic battlefields and WWI memorials.

    • Visit the Acropolis and Asclepion of ancient Pergamon.

    • Enjoy local wine from the terrace of your boutique hotel in pretty Sirince.

    • Explore the spectacular ruined city of Ephesus.

    • Spend time exploring the ancient sites around Antalya.

    12 days from £4,250pp

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