12 days · 11 countries
Essential Europe
From AED 9,751per person, twin share
Experience Europe's most iconic destinations, from Switzerland and Paris to Rome and Amsterdam, in just 12 days!
- Duration
- 12 Days / 11 Nights
- Route
- Starts and ends in London
- Countries
- England, Great Britain, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany and Vatican City
- Activity level
- Moderate (3 of 5)
- A fast-moving coach tour with a hotel change most nights, guided walking tours of up to three hours and some sites with plenty of steps. You carry your own bags, including up hotel stairs where there is no lift
- Accommodation
- 11 nights in 3- and 4-star hotels throughout
- Meals
- 11 breakfasts and 6 dinners
- Group
- Small group, up to 22
- Guide
- English-speaking tour leader throughout
- Transport
- Air-conditioned coach
- Best time to go
- Runs March to November: mild spring and autumn, and warm summer across France and Italy
Tour overview
Explore Europe's greatest destinations on the Essential Europe tour! Cruise Amsterdam's canals, summit the Swiss Alps and see icons like the Eiffel Tower and Leaning Tower of Pisa. Taste Tuscan, German and Dutch cuisine. Enjoy free time in Paris, Rome and Amsterdam. A fast-paced, expertly-planned continental adventure awaits!
Highlights
- See the highlights of Paris on a driving tour
- Visit Beaune, the wine capital of Burgundy
- Marvel at the views on a scenic Swiss mountain drive
- Enjoy a photo stop at the Leaning Tower of Pisa
- Explore Florence with your tour leader
- Explore Venice, Italy’s floating city
- Visit the captivating Austrian city of Innsbruck
- Discover Munich on an orientation tour
Show all 14 highlightsShow fewer highlights
- Say prost in a traditional German beer hall
- Enjoy a Rhine River cruise
- Indulge in a wine tasting in the Rhine Valley
- Visit a local Dutch cheese farm and clog factory
- Enjoy an Amsterdam canal cruise
- Visit Ghent, a medieval Belgian city
Route and hotels
Where the tour goes and where you sleep, night by night.
London
Day 1 · start
Paris
2 nights · Days 1–2
B&B HOTEL Paris Nord 18ème
Burgundy
Day 3 · on the way
Swiss Alps
2 nights · Days 3–4
Alpenrose Hotel and Gardens
Pisa
Day 5 · on the way
Tuscany South
1 night · Day 5
Antica Tabaccaia Resort
Florence
Day 6 · on the way
Rome
2 nights · Days 6–7
Excel Roma Montemario
Show all 14 stopsShow fewer stops
Venice
1 night · Day 8
Hotel Venezia
Innsbruck
Day 9 · on the way
Munich
1 night · Day 9
Mercure Munich Neuperlach Sued
Rhine Valley
1 night · Day 10
Mercure Hotel Frankfurt Eschborn Helfmann Park.
Amsterdam
1 night · Day 11
Hampton by Hilton Amsterdam Schiphol
London
Day 12 · end
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
London – Paris
Meals included: Dinner
The tour begins with a crossing of the English Channel to Paris, where a driving tour passes the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe and the grand boulevards, an introduction to the City of Lights. In the evening, a French dinner, included, is served at a local restaurant.
Included
- Driving tour of Paris past the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe
- Dinner at a local Parisian restaurant
- Travel
- London → Paris by coach
- Overnight
- Paris
- Hotel
- B&B HOTEL Paris Nord 18ème
- Meals
- Dinner
Day 2
Paris: Free Day
Meals included: BreakfastParis belongs to you today, free to explore at your own pace or on the optional Paris+ excursion, which includes a macaron tasting, a stop at a perfume museum and a cruise on the Seine. In the evening, you can join the optional Evening in Montmartre, a walk through its winding streets with a hilltop dinner included in the excursion, and close the night at an optional Parisian cabaret show.
Included
- Free day in Paris to explore at your own pace
Optional extras
- Paris+ · AED 230 per person
- Parisian Cabaret with drinks · AED 400 per person
- An Evening in Montmartre · AED 235 per person
- Overnight
- Paris
- Hotel
- B&B HOTEL Paris Nord 18ème
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 3
Paris – Burgundy – Swiss Alps
Meals included: BreakfastDinner
The buzz of Paris gives way to small-town France, with a stop in Beaune, a Burgundy town whose wine and history are well known. There are cobbled streets to stroll, the Hospices de Beaune to see and the region’s vintages to sample. From there, the landscape shifts on the crossing into Switzerland, where the Alps rise into view around you. This evening’s dinner is included.
Included
- Stop in Beaune, Burgundy’s wine capital, with free time to explore
- Scenic drive through the Swiss mountains
- Travel
- Paris → Burgundy → Swiss Alps by coach
- Overnight
- Swiss Alps
- Hotel
- Alpenrose Hotel and Gardens
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 4
Swiss Alps: Free Day
Meals included: BreakfastJungfraujoch is today’s optional excursion, with snow throughout the year, glaciers and views stretching across the peaks, one of the most popular on the tour. Those who would rather stay lower can wander the local town, taking in the crisp Alpine air and some Swiss chocolate. In the evening, the optional Alpine Dinner Experience closes the day in Swiss style.
Included
- Free day in the Swiss Alps, with time to explore the local town
Optional extras
- Jungfraujoch: Journey to the Top of Europe · AED 960 per person
- Alpine Dinner Experience · AED 215 per person
- Overnight
- Swiss Alps
- Hotel
- Alpenrose Hotel and Gardens
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 5
Swiss Alps – Pisa – Tuscany
Meals included: BreakfastThe Alps are left behind for the south, with a stop at one of the world’s most recognised landmarks, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, for a photograph, before the route continues into Tuscany, where rolling hills, cypress trees and the spa town of Montecatini Terme follow. In the evening, the optional Evening in Montecatini offers a funicular ride and a traditional Tuscan dinner.
Included
- Photo stop at the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Optional extras
- An Evening in Montecatini · AED 230 per person
- Travel
- Swiss Alps → Pisa → Tuscany by coach
- Overnight
- Tuscany South
- Hotel
- Antica Tabaccaia Resort
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 6
Tuscany – Florence – Rome
Meals included: BreakfastDinner
On arrival in Florence, a guided walk takes in Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo and Piazza della Signoria, with free time afterwards to take in more of the Renaissance atmosphere. The optional Taste of Tuscany lunch is worth joining, before the route heads south towards Rome, with a dinner included on arrival in the Eternal City.
Included
- Guided walk past Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo and Piazza della Signoria in Florence
- Dinner with the group in Rome
Optional extras
- Taste of Tuscany · AED 235 per person
- Travel
- Tuscany → Florence → Rome by coach
- Overnight
- Rome
- Hotel
- Excel Roma Montemario
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 7
Rome: Free Day
Meals included: BreakfastToday in Rome is free to spend as you wish. The optional Colosseum and Roman Forum guided tour gives a close look at ancient Rome, best booked in advance, while the optional Conquer the Capital excursion covers Rome’s best known landmarks, from the Pantheon to the Trevi Fountain, with lunch and a gelato tasting included.
Included
- Free day in Rome to explore at your own pace
Optional extras
- Colosseum & Roman Forum Guided Tour · AED 365 per person
- Rome Conquer the Capital · AED 255 per person
- Overnight
- Rome
- Hotel
- Excel Roma Montemario
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 8
Rome – Venice
Meals included: Breakfast
Venice is next, a city known for its canals, gondolas and landmarks such as St. Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge. The optional Evening in Venice excursion is the best way to see this floating city, with water taxi rides, a gondola trip, a demonstration of glass-blowing and an included Venetian dinner.
Included
- Free time to explore Venice on arrival
Optional extras
- An Evening in Venice · AED 535 per person
- Travel
- Rome → Venice by coach
- Overnight
- Venice
- Hotel
- Hotel Venezia
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 9
Venice – Innsbruck – Munich
Meals included: BreakfastDinner
The border crossing into Austria brings a lunch stop in Innsbruck, with time to walk Maria-Theresien-Strasse and see the Golden Roof Museum, along with the mountain scenery, before the route continues to Munich. An orientation walk covers the city centre, in the heart of Bavaria, followed by a traditional German dinner at a historic local restaurant.
Included
- Lunch stop in Innsbruck, with the Golden Roof Museum and Maria-Theresien-Strasse
- Orientation walk through central Munich
- Dinner at a historic Bavarian restaurant
- Travel
- Venice → Innsbruck → Munich by coach
- Overnight
- Munich
- Hotel
- Mercure Munich Neuperlach Sued
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 10
Munich – Rhine Valley
Meals included: BreakfastDinnerA scenic drive from Munich leads to the Rhine Valley, with cliffs studded with castles, old vineyards and some of Germany’s striking landscapes. A Rhine River cruise follows, along this stretch of the Rhine, listed by UNESCO, past Gothic fortresses, ending at Boppard for a tasting of wine with a local merchant. In the evening, an included dinner awaits at the hotel.
Included
- Cruise along the Rhine, past its gothic castles
- Wine tasting with a local merchant in Boppard
- Travel
- Munich → Rhine Valley by coach
- Overnight
- Rhine Valley
- Hotel
- Mercure Hotel Frankfurt Eschborn Helfmann Park.
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 11
Rhine Valley – Amsterdam
Meals included: BreakfastDinner
The route leaves Germany for the Netherlands, through the Dutch countryside, with a tasting of cheese, a demonstration of clog-making and a photo stop at the Riekermolen Windmill. On arrival in Amsterdam, a canal cruise takes in the city from the water, with free time to follow and dinner, included, at a local restaurant.
Included
- Cheese and clog-making demonstration
- Photo stop at the Riekermolen windmill
- Canal cruise in Amsterdam
- Travel
- Rhine Valley → Amsterdam by coach
- Overnight
- Amsterdam
- Hotel
- Hampton by Hilton Amsterdam Schiphol
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 12
End of tour in London
Meals included: BreakfastThe last stop before home is the medieval Belgian city of Ghent, worth the detour for its cobblestone streets, grand guild houses and Belgian chocolate and waffles to try, along with moules et frites and a farewell glass with the group. From there, the route crosses the English Channel back to London, where it is time for final goodbyes.
Included
- Free time in Ghent to see the medieval centre
- Travel
- Amsterdam → Ghent → London by coach
- Meals
- Breakfast
Dates & prices
Prices per person, sharing a double or twin room. A single room costs the supplement shown.
21 dates
FromTue 16 Mar 2027ToSat 27 Mar 2027
Available
AED 10,889
Single room supplement +AED 4,646 single
FromTue 13 Apr 2027ToSat 24 Apr 2027
AvailableBest price
AED 9,751
Single room supplement +AED 4,646 single
FromTue 4 May 2027ToSat 15 May 2027
Available
AED 9,751
Single room supplement +AED 4,646 single
FromTue 18 May 2027ToSat 29 May 2027
Sold out
AED 9,751
Single room supplement +AED 4,646 single
Full
FromTue 25 May 2027ToSat 5 Jun 2027
Available
AED 11,551
Single room supplement +AED 4,646 single
FromTue 8 Jun 2027ToSat 19 Jun 2027
Sold out
AED 9,751
Single room supplement +AED 4,646 single
Full
FromTue 15 Jun 2027ToSat 26 Jun 2027
Available
AED 13,056
Single room supplement +AED 4,646 single
FromTue 29 Jun 2027ToSat 10 Jul 2027
Sold out
AED 9,751
Single room supplement +AED 4,646 single
Full
FromTue 6 Jul 2027ToSat 17 Jul 2027
Available
AED 11,551
Single room supplement +AED 4,646 single
FromTue 20 Jul 2027ToSat 31 Jul 2027
Sold out
AED 9,751
Single room supplement +AED 4,646 single
Full
Show all 21 datesShow fewer dates
FromTue 27 Jul 2027ToSat 7 Aug 2027
Available
AED 10,889
Single room supplement +AED 4,646 single
FromTue 10 Aug 2027ToSat 21 Aug 2027
Sold out
AED 9,751
Single room supplement +AED 4,646 single
Full
FromTue 17 Aug 2027ToSat 28 Aug 2027
Available
AED 9,751
Single room supplement +AED 4,646 single
FromTue 31 Aug 2027ToSat 11 Sept 2027
Available
AED 9,751
Single room supplement +AED 4,646 single
FromTue 7 Sept 2027ToSat 18 Sept 2027
Available
AED 9,751
Single room supplement +AED 4,646 single
FromTue 21 Sept 2027ToSat 2 Oct 2027
Available
AED 9,751
Single room supplement +AED 4,646 single
FromTue 28 Sept 2027ToSat 9 Oct 2027
Available
AED 9,751
Single room supplement +AED 4,646 single
FromTue 12 Oct 2027ToSat 23 Oct 2027
Sold out
AED 9,751
Single room supplement +AED 4,646 single
Full
FromTue 19 Oct 2027ToSat 30 Oct 2027
Available
AED 10,889
Single room supplement +AED 4,646 single
FromTue 2 Nov 2027ToSat 13 Nov 2027
Available
AED 9,751
Single room supplement +AED 4,646 single
FromTue 9 Nov 2027ToSat 20 Nov 2027
Sold out
AED 9,751
Single room supplement +AED 4,646 single
Full
What’s included
Included
- 11 nights hotel accommodation in twin rooms with private bathrooms. The majority of our accommodations are of a 3- and 4-star standard, offering excellent value, comfort and convenience
- Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room (subject to availability)
- 11 Breakfasts, 6 Dinners
- Modern air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and toilet onboard
- Any public transport used as part of the tour (excludes free days)
- Fully-guided tour
Not included
- Flights: Arrange your own flights for the start and end of the tour
- Travel insurance: Purchase a suitable policy that meets your needs
Optional extras
Excursions and upgrades you can add to the tour. Prices are per person.
Paris+
A day out with your tour leader: a macaron tasting at a well-known patisserie, a visit to a perfume museum, lunch, a cruise on the Seine and free time in the Latin Quarter. €53, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 230 per person
Parisian Cabaret with drinks
A cabaret show at one of Paris’s best-known venues, with elaborate costumes, music and dance, and a glass of champagne or a soft drink included. €94, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 400 per person
An Evening in Montmartre
An evening in Montmartre, past the Moulin Rouge and up by funicular to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, followed by a three-course French dinner with vegetarian options available. €55, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 235 per person
Jungfraujoch: Journey to the Top of Europe
A cable car and train journey to Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe, with snow-covered views, the Aletsch Glacier and an ice palace to explore. €225, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 960 per person
Alpine Dinner Experience
A cheese fondue starter, a hearty Swiss main course and a sweet finish, in the traditional style of the Alps. €50, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 215 per person
An Evening in Montecatini
A return trip on the Montecatini funicular with views over the town, followed by a three-course Tuscan dinner with vegetarian options available. €54, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 230 per person
Taste of Tuscany
A family-style Tuscan meal in Florence, with bistecca alla Fiorentina, bruschetta al pomodoro, a glass of Chianti and a traditional dessert. €55, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 235 per person
Colosseum & Roman Forum Guided Tour
A walking tour with a local guide through the Colosseum and the ruins of the Roman Forum, with entrance included. €85. Book it before the tour: add it to your booking notes.
AED 365 per person
Rome Conquer the Capital
A walking tour through central Rome taking in the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain, with lunch and a gelato tasting included. €60, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 255 per person
An Evening in Venice
A water taxi from Piazzale Roma to San Marco and a gondola ride through Venice’s canals, with a glass-blowing demonstration and dinner at a local restaurant. €125, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 535 per person
To add an extra, mention it in your booking notes, and we confirm it with your seats before you pay. Some are booked with your tour leader on the day instead: their description says so.
Traveller reviews
No reviews yet
Travelled on this tour with us? Be the first to tell other travellers how it went.
Good to know
Practical details to read before you travel.
Passport & visas
This tour visits the United Kingdom, then France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, all in the Schengen area, plus Vatican City, which has open borders with Schengen.
UAE passport holders do not need a visa for the Schengen countries for stays of up to 90 days, and will need the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), applied for online before you travel. Most other nationalities living in the UAE need both a UK Standard Visitor visa and a Schengen visa: apply for the Schengen visa in the country where you spend the most nights, which on this tour is Italy.
Apply up to six months before you travel. Appointments in Dubai fill up quickly before the summer, so start early. Your Schengen passport must be valid for at least three months after you leave the area and have been issued within the last ten years, with two blank pages; your UAE residence visa must be valid for at least three months after you return.
Our visa team handles both the UK and Schengen applications: ask us when you book.
Flights and timings
Flights to and from London aren’t included: our team can book your flights from Dubai to match the tour.
Day 1 starts early at the tour hotel in London: your tour leader is there from 06:00, so plan to arrive the night before. The tour ends in London on day 12, after breakfast and a final stop in Ghent.
Meals and dietary needs
The tour includes 11 breakfasts and 6 dinners, with dinners falling in Paris, the Swiss Alps, Rome, Munich, the Rhine Valley and Amsterdam.
Tell us about any dietary needs, halal included, when you book, and we pass them on before the tour.
Money
Pound sterling in the UK. Euro in France, Italy, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. Swiss franc in Switzerland. A card without foreign transaction fees is the easiest way to pay in most of Europe.
Optional experiences booked on tour are paid to your tour leader in cash or by card, in the currency shown.
Weather and packing
This tour runs from March to November, with cool, changeable spring and autumn weather in the UK and northern Europe, warm summers in France and Italy, and cooler conditions in the Swiss Alps at any time of year.
Pack layers, a rain jacket and comfortable, broken-in shoes. Several days include walking tours of up to three hours, and some sites have a fair number of steps.
Plan your trip
Our Dubai team arranges what goes around the tour, so it is booked in one place.
Visas
One Schengen visa covers the Schengen countries on this route. Our visa team in Dubai applies for UAE residents once the tour is booked.
Flights
Flights are not included. We can book them with the tour: Dubai to London and back. Tick “Flights” when you book and we quote them with your confirmation.
Pay in instalments
Split the cost with Tabby or Tamara, or over 3 to 12 months on a UAE bank credit card for bookings from AED 1,000.
Book this tour
Book online in a few minutes. Your seats are held as soon as you book, and you pay once we have confirmed them.
- Choose your date, travellers and roomsPrices are per person, and the total updates as you choose.
- Name each traveller as in their passportYour seats are held and your booking reference is emailed straight away.
- Pay by secure link once confirmedOur Dubai team confirms the seats with the tour operator, then emails your payment link. Nothing is charged when you book.
Questions before you book? Our support team is on WhatsApp +971 58 582 4488.
Questions about this tour
What will my days actually look like?
Full days, zero filler. Most mornings start with breakfast before heading out to the main sights with your Tour Leader or a local guide. Afternoons often include free time to wander, find a coffee or join an Optional Experience. Expect a good amount of walking too. On some days, you could spend two to three hours on your feet. Comfortable shoes are your best friend.
Who will I be travelling with?
People from all over the world. Different ages, different backgrounds, same instinct to see more. Groups have on average between 35-45 travellers. By day three, you’ll already know everyone's name.
What are the hotels like?
Clean, comfortable and well located. Mostly 3 to 4 star, with private en-suite bathrooms. They're chosen so you can sleep well and feel ready for the next day. They're not the centrepiece. The destinations are. But they're never an afterthought.
How active is this tour?
All travellers carry their own bags, including up hotel stairs where needed. Walking tours can last up to three hours, and some sites involve a fair number of steps. Read through the itinerary to decide if the pace is right for you.
How do Optional Experiences work?
Optional Experiences happen during your tour's free-time slots, and your Tour Leader will tell you about what's on offer during the tour. Most can be booked on the day, but some are pre-sold and must be purchased before your tour begins, so it's worth checking the tour page beforehand to see what's available and get in touch with our team to book anything in advance.
Will I have time to explore on my own?
Yes. Free time is built into the itinerary, giving you space to wander and explore at your own pace. Your Tour Leader can point you towards the places worth your time, so you're never left completely to figure it out yourself.
What support do I have while I'm on tour?
Your Tour Leader is there to look after you during your tour. They know the places most people walk straight past, they'll have a restaurant recommendation ready before you've asked, and they'll sort anything that comes up along the way. All transport and accommodation are arranged for you.
You'll also have a 24-hour emergency contact number and the Holidayys team in Dubai.
How do I book Essential Europe?
Press Book now, choose a date and your rooms, and enter each traveller as their passport shows. We hold your seats and email your booking reference straight away. Our Dubai team confirms the seats with the tour operator, then emails you a secure payment link. Nothing is charged when you book.
When do I pay?
Once the tour operator confirms your seats. We email you a secure payment link for the total in AED, and your booking is complete when it is paid. To pay in instalments, say so in your booking notes.
Is the price per person?
Yes. Prices are per person sharing a double or twin room. Travelling alone? A single room costs the supplement shown next to each date.
Are flights included?
Only when the tour lists them under what is included. We can book flights from the UAE to the start city and home from the end city with your tour.
Do I need a visa?
That depends on your passport and the countries on the route. Our visa team arranges Schengen and other visas for UAE residents, and can apply for yours once the tour is booked.
Payment plans
Pay over time, at 0% interest
Every booking qualifies, from holidays and tours to visas. Pay later with a credit card instalment plan or a buy-now-pay-later account; some banks charge a one-time processing fee.
- Credit card plans from AED 1,000
- Tabby and Tamara, no minimum
- Terms from 3 to 12 months
Find your bank’s plan
Credit cards, from AED 1,000
More tours
14 days · 11 countries
Classic Europe
Tick iconic European destinations, including London, Switzerland, Paris, Rome and Amsterdam, off your bucket list in two weeks!
FromAED 11,697 per person
Next: Mon 21 Dec 2026
14 days · 11 countries
Classic Europe Christmas & New Year
Experience a classic European Christmas & New Year. Explore 8 iconic countries in Europe and see snow on Christmas Day!
FromAED 13,570 per person
Next: Mon 21 Dec 2026
12 days · 8 countries
Europe Escape
Experience 7 European countries in 12 days! Explore top sights in Venice, Paris, Amsterdam, the Rhine Valley and beyond.
FromAED 9,971 per person
Next: Tue 22 Dec 2026
From AED 9,751per person, twin share
Book now