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Douro Valley, Portugal

Europe tour ideas

These tour ideas are designed by our specialists, who've traveled the routes themselves and have a guidebook-like knowledge of Europe. Each trip idea highlights a route we've loved traveling, which showcases aspects of Europe we're passionate about, not just the run-of-the-mill tourist circuits.

Use these ideas to give you a starting point, some inspiration, as you decide what you want to do on your trip to Europe. Then speak to us and we'll start to bring your trip to life to suit your tastes.

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who's been there

Audley Travel Country Specialist Kerry-Ann

Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our Europe specialists

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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Europe tour ideas

Europe tour ideas

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Summary  |  Detail
  • 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 $2,820pp

  • 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 $3,500pp

  • Lake Geneva, Switzerland

    Lakes & mountains of Switzerland

    Switzerland

    • Sample Swiss wine on the shores of Lake Geneva.

    • Watch as the setting sun paints the familiar Matterhorn shades of pink and gold.

    • Visit the longest glacier in Europe.

    • Marvel at the power of Geneva’s Jet d’Eau.

    • Spend time in Switzerland’s most indulgent mountain resorts.

    8 days from $3,515pp

  • Canal cruise in Amsterdam, Netherlands

    Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg self-drive tour

    Luxembourg, Netherlands and Belgium

    • Enjoy the freedom of your own car on this self-drive trip. Audley can arrange a rental vehicle for you if you require one.

    • Cross countries and cultures, passing through The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.

    • Create your very own Delftware pottery to take home.

    • Take a step back in time at Bastogne and the site of the Battle of the Bulge.

    • Marvel at the kaleidoscope of hues at Keukenhof Gardens.

    9 days from $3,780pp

  • 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 $3,780pp

  • 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 $3,995pp

  • Neuschwanstein Castle from above

    Highlights of Germany self-drive

    Germany

    • Explore medieval towns and cities with half-timbered houses and cobblestone streets.

    • Discover the Romanesque style Neuschwanstein Castle built in keeping with King Ludwig II’s whimsical tastes.

    • Follow the Romantic Road through tiny Bavarian villages.

    • Uncover the significance of Berlin, Munich, Nuremberg and Rothenburg’s place in World War II history.

    • Enjoy an evening of Opera followed by a revealing behind the scenes tour of Munich's National Theatre.

    13 days from $4,250pp

  • 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 $4,550pp

  • Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris

    Paris in depth

    France

    • Discover the covered passages of Paris and the Opéra Garnier.

    • Taste the best pastries and chocolates of Paris’s Saint-Germain-des-Prés district.

    • Uncover the history of Château de Fontainebleau and Vaux-le-Vicomte.

    • Explore the highlights of the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay.

    • Marvel at the grandeur of Notre Dame Cathedral and Sainte-Chapelle.

    7 days from $4,820pp

  • Islay coastline

    Family Scottish adventure

    Scotland

    • Watch out for Nessie on a Loch Ness boat trip.

    • Visit a traditional working farm to witness trained sheepdogs lead sheep through a variety of obstacles.

    • Explore the Cairngorms National Park on a quad bike trek.

    • Look out for otters, seals and dolphins on a boat trip along the coastline of the Gulf of Corryvreckan.

    10 days from $4,895pp

  • Canal bridges in Amsterdam

    Dutch highlights tour

    Netherlands

    • Glide on the canals of Amsterdam.

    • Contemplate the masterpieces of the Dutch Golden Age.

    • Retrace the steps of royalty through The Hague.

    • Visit some of the original windmills of Holland.

    • Retrace the footsteps of Rembrandt in his childhood town of Leiden.

    7 days from $4,960pp

  • 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 $4,960pp

  • Mountains of Glencoe

    Self-drive wild Scotland & Ireland

    Scotland and Ireland

    • Explore the mountainous Nevis Range and Glencoe.

    • Taste a dram of whisky in a Scottish Castle.

    • Wonder at the beauty of the Isle of Skye’s unique landscape.

    • Hike in Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains.

    • Visit the Cliffs of Moher where you can spot puffins.

    • Explore the rugged landscape of Connemara National Park.

    10 days from $4,995pp

  • 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 $5,110pp

  • 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 $5,150pp

  • Ariel view of Stockholm

    Capital cities of Scandinavia

    Sweden, Denmark and Norway

    • Bike the cobbled lanes of Copenhagen like a local.

    • Learn about the rich Viking history in Roskilde.

    • Cruise through Stockholm canals on a historical tour.

    • Taste Norwegian cuisine in Oslo.

    9 days from $5,175pp

  • 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 $5,260pp

  • 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 $5,345pp

  • St Peters Statue at the Vatican, Rome

    Italy beyond the summer

    Italy

    • 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 $5,360pp

  • 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 $5,390pp

  • 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 $5,445pp

  • Beehive hut on Inis Mor

    Ancient Ireland

    Ireland

    • Spend the night in a 16th-century castle located on its own private island.

    • Drive along the spectacular Dingle Peninsula.

    • Visit the historic Rock of Cashel.

    • Explore Newgrange — an ancient passage tomb that predates the Egyptian pyramids.

    10 days from $5,515pp

  • 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 $5,520pp

  • Oslo City Hall

    Highlights of Norway

    Norway

    • Travel across the country on the Flåm Railway.

    • Admire the wooden architecture and home of Norwegian Santa Claus in Drøbak.

    • Explore UNESCO World Heritage Site Nærøyfjord by open Zodiac boat.

    • Wander through Bryggen, Bergen's historic old town.

    7 days from $5,535pp

  • Avebury stones

    Southern England explorer: London, Bath & Oxford

    England

    • Explore Westminster and the Tower of London by boat.

    • Whizz around London on a Mini Cooper tour.

    • Visit the historic city of Bath and admire the Roman Baths.

    • Marvel at the unspoilt village of Lacock and the mysterious ancient site of Avebury.

    • Wander the streets of the university city of Oxford.

    6 days from $5,560pp

  • Canal of Delft, Netherlands

    Grand tour of the Netherlands

    Netherlands

    • Devour Dutch dishes on a city tour by bicycle.

    • Explore hidden corners of major cities.

    • Gaze at the creations of Dutch Masters.

    • Witness the Netherlands' signature windmills.

    • Soak up the sunset on a canal cruise through Amsterdam.

    • Create your own piece of Delftware pottery.

    10 days from $5,610pp

  • The Matterhorn, Zermatt

    Grand tour of Switzerland

    Switzerland

    • Take in the endless vistas at Glacier 3000.

    • Sample traditional Swiss chocolates and cheese.

    • Explore Zermatt's scenic trails with the backdrop of the Matterhorn.

    • Cruise Lake Geneva's smooth waters in style.

    13 days from $5,625pp

Santorini, Greece