10 days · 8 countries
Europe Highlights Christmas
From AED 13,475per person, twin share
Ten days and seven countries across Europe, taking in its best-known cities and scenery over the festive season.
- Duration
- 10 Days / 9 Nights
- Route
- Starts and ends in Rome
- 8 countries on this tour
- France
- Switzerland
- Italy
- Vatican City
- Austria
- Germany
- Netherlands
- Belgium
- Activity level
- Moderate (3 of 5)
- A fast-paced coach tour over the festive season, with a new hotel most nights and guided walking tours in Venice, Munich, Paris and Florence, each up to three hours on your feet
- Accommodation
- 3- and 4-star hotels for all nine nights, with a new city most nights across seven countries
- Meals
- 9 breakfasts and 5 dinners
- Group
- Small group, up to 19
- Guide
- English-speaking tour leader throughout, plus a local guide in Florence
- Transport
- Air-conditioned coach
- Best time to go
- This December departure runs over Christmas and New Year: cold, possibly snowy weather in the Swiss Alps and around Innsbruck, and cool, crisp days in Italy
Tour overview
This ten-day Europe Highlights Christmas tour brings Christmas markets, light displays and festive food. From Venice and Munich, you cruise the Rhine River and reach Amsterdam for Christmas Day, then carry on to Paris, the snowy Swiss Alps and Florence.
Highlights
- Venice, Italy’s floating city
- The mountain scenery along Brenner Pass
- Innsbruck, an Austrian city
- Munich, the capital of Bavaria
- A German meal at one of Munich’s historic restaurants
- A Rhine River cruise
- A Rhine Valley wine tasting
- The Riekermolen windmill
Show all 18 highlightsShow fewer highlights
- A traditional cheese and clogs demonstration
- A canal cruise past Amsterdam’s Light Festival displays
- Christmas dinner in Amsterdam
- Ghent, a medieval city in Belgium
- A driving tour of Paris
- Burgundy, a French wine region
- Scenic views on a Swiss mountain drive
- The shores of Lake Como
- Pisa’s Leaning Tower
- Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance
See the journey come to life
Route and hotels
Where the tour goes and where you sleep, night by night.
Rome
Day 1 · start
Venice
1 night · Day 1
Hotel Venezia
Innsbruck
Day 2 · on the way
Munich
1 night · Day 2
Mercure Munich Neuperlach Sued
Rhine Valley
1 night · Day 3
Sunday Hotel Bad Honnef
Amsterdam
1 night · Day 4
Hampton by Hilton Amsterdam Schiphol
Ghent
Day 5 · on the way
Paris
2 nights · Days 5–6
B&B HOTEL Paris Nord 18ème
Show all 15 stopsShow fewer stops
Burgundy
Day 7 · on the way
Swiss Alps
2 nights · Days 7–8
Alpenrose Hotel and Gardens
Lake Como
Day 9 · on the way
Tuscany South
1 night · Day 9
Antica Tabaccaia Resort
Pisa
Day 10 · on the way
Florence
Day 10 · on the way
Rome
Day 10 · end
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Start of tour in Rome – Venice
The festive journey through Europe begins today. In the morning, the group meets its tour leader in Rome and boards the coach for the journey towards Venice. Known as the floating city, Venice is best seen from its canals, so the optional Evening in Venice excursion is available, with a water taxi and a gondola cruise, followed by dinner.
Included
- Explore Venice, including St Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace and the Rialto Market
Optional extras
- An Evening in Venice · AED 535 per person
- Travel
- Rome → Venice by coach
- Overnight
- Venice
- Hotel
- Hotel Venezia
Day 2
Venice – Innsbruck – Bavaria
Breakfast and dinner includedItaly is left behind, and once breakfast is finished, the tour sets off for Austria. The route crosses the Brenner Pass with striking scenery along the way. In Innsbruck, a charming city with alpine views all around, there is an orientation tour. Later, the tour travels on to Munich, the Bavarian capital, for a second orientation tour of this historic city. In the evening, dinner is served at a traditional restaurant.
Included
- Scenic drive through the Brenner Pass
- Orientation tour and free time in Innsbruck
- Orientation tour of Munich
- Dinner at a traditional Munich restaurant
- Travel
- Venice → Munich by coach, via Innsbruck
- Overnight
- Munich
- Hotel
- Mercure Munich Neuperlach Sued
Day 3
Bavaria – Rhine Valley (Christmas Eve)
Breakfast and dinner includedChristmas Eve is celebrated with some style, as the tour travels on to the Rhine Valley. A Rhine River cruise takes in the region’s scenery, with vineyards, medieval towns and Gothic castles coming into view. Boppard is where the cruise finishes, and the group enjoys a local wine tasting there. Tonight, a Christmas Eve dinner rounds off the day.
Included
- Rhine River cruise, past castles, vineyards and cliffs
- Wine tasting at a local merchant in the Rhine Valley
- Christmas Eve dinner in the Rhine Valley
- Travel
- Munich → Rhine Valley by coach
- Overnight
- Rhine Valley
- Hotel
- Sunday Hotel Bad Honnef
Day 4
Rhine Valley – Amsterdam (Christmas Day)
Breakfast and dinner included
It is Christmas Day. The tour says Auf Wiedersehen to Germany and travels into the Netherlands, with a first stop at the Riekermolen Windmill. There is also a chance to watch Dutch cheese and clogs being made. The tour arrives in Amsterdam for a twilight canal cruise, taking in the capital’s landmarks and the displays of the Amsterdam Light Festival. Tonight, a Christmas dinner is waiting at a local restaurant.
Included
- Photo stop at the Riekermolen Windmill
- Cheese and clog making demonstration
- Christmas Day canal cruise through Amsterdam
- Christmas dinner with the group in Amsterdam
- Travel
- Rhine Valley → Amsterdam by coach
- Overnight
- Amsterdam
- Hotel
- Hampton by Hilton Amsterdam Schiphol
Day 5
Amsterdam – Ghent – Paris
Breakfast and dinner includedThis morning, the tour travels to Belgium, visiting the medieval city of Ghent, with an orientation tour included and time free to explore. Later, Paris, the City of Lights, is waiting to be explored, with an evening driving tour taking in icons such as the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. A first taste of French cuisine follows at dinner tonight.
Included
- Orientation tour and free time in Ghent
- Guided driving tour of Paris, past the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe
- Travel
- Amsterdam → Paris by coach, via Ghent
- Overnight
- Paris
- Hotel
- B&B HOTEL Paris Nord 18ème
Day 6
Paris: Free Day
Breakfast included
This day is free for you to experience Paris however you choose. You can join the optional Paris Like Locals excursion, with a macaron tasting, a visit to the Fragonard Musée du Parfum, and time in the Latin Quarter. Tonight, the Evening in Montmartre excursion takes in one of the most loved neighbourhoods in Paris, or you could choose a late-night cabaret show instead.
Included
- Free day in Paris to explore at your own pace
Optional extras
- Paris Like Locals · AED 300 per person
- An Evening in Montmartre · AED 235 per person
- Parisian Cabaret with drinks · AED 400 per person
- Overnight
- Paris
- Hotel
- B&B HOTEL Paris Nord 18ème
Day 7
Paris – Burgundy – Swiss Alps
Breakfast and dinner included
Leaving Paris, the tour visits Beaune, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the wine capital of Burgundy, with local wine to taste and time for lunch, or a visit to the Hospices de Beaune. Afterwards, the tour makes its way across the border to Switzerland through striking scenery. Tonight’s accommodation is in the Swiss Alps, with dinner included at the hotel.
Included
- Free time in Beaune, Burgundy’s wine capital
- Scenic drive through the Swiss Alps
- Travel
- Paris → Swiss Alps by coach, via Burgundy
- Overnight
- Swiss Alps
- Hotel
- Alpenrose Hotel and Gardens
Day 8
Swiss Alps: Free Day
Breakfast includedThis free day in the Swiss Alps is well spent by joining one of the better-rated optional excursions, offering a trip to what is called the Top of Europe. The trip to Jungfraujoch brings mountain views, year-round snow and an ice palace. After a full day of exploring, an optional dinner tonight brings cheesy Swiss fondue.
Included
- Free day in the Swiss Alps
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
Day 9
Lake Como – Tuscany
Breakfast included
This morning, the tour leaves the Swiss Alps and heads back towards Italy. The first stop is Lake Como, in the Italian Lake District, with sights to discover along the banks of this lake of fresh water, during an orientation tour. Montecatini, a Tuscany spa town, is the last stop, with a free evening either to rest at the hotel or wander around the town.
Included
- Visit to Lake Como
- Travel
- Swiss Alps → Tuscany by coach, via Lake Como
- Overnight
- Tuscany South
- Hotel
- Antica Tabaccaia Resort
Day 10
Pisa – Florence – Rome (New Year’s Eve)
Breakfast included
First on the agenda today is a true Italian icon, the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Then the tour travels to Florence for a walking tour with a local guide, through a city known as the Jewel of the Renaissance. You can join the optional Taste of Tuscany excursion for a family-style farewell lunch. Later, the tour heads back to Rome, where it comes to an end.
Included
- Photo stop at the Leaning Tower of Pisa
- Guided walking tour of Florence with a local guide
Optional extras
- Taste of Tuscany · AED 235 per person
- Travel
- Tuscany → Rome by coach, via Pisa and Florence
Dates & prices
Prices per person, sharing a double or twin room. A single room costs the supplement shown.
Tue 22 Dec – Thu 31 Dec 2026
Available
AED 13,475
Single room +AED 3,100
What’s included
Included
- 9 nights in mostly 3-star and 4-star hotels, in twin rooms with a private bathroom
- A room to yourself for a single supplement, subject to availability
- 9 breakfasts and 5 dinners, with a vegetarian option at every meal on request
- A modern coach with air conditioning, reclining seats and a toilet
- Public transport the tour uses, except on free days
- Guided from start to finish
Not included
- Flights to the start of the tour and home from the end: we can book them from Dubai
- Travel insurance: take out a policy that suits your trip
Optional extras
Excursions and upgrades you can add to the tour. Prices are per person.
An Evening in Venice
Day 1AED 535per personAn evening in Venice with your tour leader: a water taxi cruise from Piazzale Roma to San Marco, a traditional gondola ride and a pizza or pasta dinner at a local restaurant. €125. Book it before the tour: add it to your booking notes.
See day 1 in the itineraryParis Like Locals
Day 6AED 300per personA guided walk through Paris with your tour leader: a macaron tasting, a tour of a perfume museum, time at Galeries Lafayette, lunch at a local crêperie and a walk through the Latin Quarter. €70, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 6 in the itineraryAn Evening in Montmartre
Day 6AED 235per personAn evening in Montmartre with your tour leader: see the Moulin Rouge and the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, then sit down to a three-course French dinner, with vegetarian options available. €55, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 6 in the itineraryParisian Cabaret with drinks
Day 6AED 400per personAn evening cabaret show in Paris, with cancan dancing, costumes and a glass of French champagne (a soft drink option is available). €94, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 6 in the itineraryJungfraujoch: Journey to the Top of Europe
Day 8AED 960per personA trip by cable car and train to Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe, for alpine views, snow all year round and the ice palace at the top. €225, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 8 in the itineraryAlpine Dinner Experience
Day 8AED 215per personA Swiss dinner that opens with a cheese fondue, followed by a hearty main course and a sweet dessert to finish. €50, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 8 in the itineraryTaste of Tuscany
Day 10AED 235per personA family-style Tuscan meal in Florence: bistecca alla Fiorentina, bruschetta al pomodoro, a glass of Chianti and a traditional dessert. €55, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 10 in the itinerary
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.
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Good to know
Practical details to read before you travel.
Passport & visas
Every country on this tour, Italy, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Switzerland, is in the Schengen area, and Vatican City has open borders with it, so one Schengen visa covers the whole trip.
UAE passport holders do not need a visa for Schengen stays of up to 90 days in any 180, though you will also need the EU’s ETIAS travel authorisation once it starts: we can tell you where it stands when you book. Most other nationalities living in the UAE need a Schengen visa, applied for in the country where you spend the most nights; nights on this tour are split fairly evenly between Italy, Germany, France and Switzerland, so our visa team can confirm which applies once your dates are set. Apply up to six months before you travel, and book your Dubai appointment early as appointments fill up before Christmas.
Your passport must be valid for at least three months after you leave the Schengen area and have been issued within the last ten years. Our visa team handles Schengen applications: ask us when you book.
Flights and timings
Flights to Rome and home aren’t included.
Day 1 starts at a hotel in Rome at 08:00; the exact hotel is confirmed closer to your departure date. The tour ends back at the hotel in Rome on day 10, New Year’s Eve, at around 19:30.
Our team can book your flights from Dubai to match.
Meals and dietary needs
Nine breakfasts and five dinners are included: breakfast every day except day 1, and dinner in Munich, a Christmas Eve dinner in the Rhine Valley, a Christmas dinner in Amsterdam, and dinner in Paris and the Swiss Alps. Lunches and other meals on free days are not included.
Tell us about any dietary needs, halal included, when you book, and we pass them on before the tour.
Money
The euro is used everywhere on this tour except Switzerland, where it is the Swiss franc. Cards are widely accepted; a card with no foreign transaction fees makes things easiest.
Optional extras booked on tour are paid to your tour leader in cash or by card, in the currency shown.
Weather and packing
This December departure means cold weather throughout, with the best chance of snow in the Swiss Alps and around Innsbruck, and cool, crisp days in Venice, Rome and Florence. Pack warm layers, a waterproof coat, gloves and comfortable, broken-in shoes: walking tours in Venice, Munich and Florence can last up to three hours.
Modest clothing, covering shoulders and knees, is expected when entering churches such as St Mark’s Basilica in Venice and the Duomo in Florence.
Christmas and New Year on tour
This departure runs over the festive season: a Christmas Eve dinner is included in the Rhine Valley on day 3, and Christmas Day brings a canal cruise and Christmas dinner in Amsterdam on day 4. The tour ends in Rome on day 10, New Year’s Eve, so if you are staying on to see in the New Year, we can help arrange extra nights in Rome.
Many shops, restaurants and attractions in Germany and Austria close or keep shorter hours on 25 December.
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 Rome 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 in a minute. Your seats are held as soon as you book; you name the other travellers and pay once we have confirmed them.
Questions before you book? Our support team is on WhatsApp +971 4 589 0001.
Questions about this tour
What will my days look like?
Days are full. Most start with breakfast, then the main sights with a local guide or your tour leader. Afternoons often leave free time to wander, stop for a coffee or join an optional extra. Expect a fair amount of walking: some days mean two or three hours on your feet, so bring comfortable shoes.
Who will I be travelling with?
Travellers from all over the world, of different ages and backgrounds, who share a wish to see more. This tour runs as a small group of up to 19, and most people know each other’s names within a few days.
What are the hotels like?
Mostly 3 and 4 star, all clean, comfortable and well located, with private en-suite bathrooms. They are chosen so you sleep well and are ready for the next day. The destinations come first, but the hotels are never an afterthought.
How active is this tour?
You carry your own luggage, sometimes up hotel stairs. Some walking tours run for up to three hours, and a few sites have plenty of steps. The itinerary and the activity level at the top of this page show whether the pace suits you.
How do optional extras work?
Optional extras run in the tour’s free time, and your tour leader tells you what is on offer as the tour goes. Some are booked with your tour leader on the day. Others sell in advance and must be bought before the tour starts: to add one of those, mention it in your booking notes and we confirm it with your seats. Each extra in the Optional extras section says which way it is booked.
Will I have time to explore on my own?
Yes. The itinerary builds in free time to wander at your own pace, and your tour leader can point you to the places that suit you, so you are never left to work it all out alone.
What support do I have while I’m on tour?
Your tour leader travels with you from start to finish. They know the places most visitors miss, can suggest a restaurant before you ask, and deal with whatever crops up on the way. Transport and hotels are all arranged for you.
There is also an emergency number staffed 24 hours a day, and our team in Dubai is there to help.
How do I book Europe Highlights Christmas?
Press Book now, choose a date, your travellers and rooms, and give your name, email and mobile. We hold your seats and email your booking reference straight away; you then add each traveller as their passport shows on your booking page. 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
Take the trip now. Pay for it in pieces.
Every booking qualifies, from holidays and tours to visas. Spread it over 3 to 12 months at 0% on a credit card plan, or with Tabby or Tamara; some banks add 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
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