5 Favorite European Tours

Get to know a country's culture, history and people
on one of these trips

By Emily Coleman

Europe's allures are many, from its stately old castles and soaring cathedrals to its alfresco cafes, quaint squares and lively neighborhood cafes and pubs. But by choosing a single-country itinerary, travelers can immerse themselves in one nation's culture and heritage while visiting a variety of important sites. On these vacations of a week or more, you'll have ample time to gain an understanding of a country's history, traditions, language, folklore, food and drink.

The five escorted tours below -- in Italy, Germany, Ireland, Spain and France -- give you the maximum bang for your buck. This mode of travel combines accommodations, ground transportation, guided sightseeing and activities into a single price that's paid in advance. Tour operators are able to offer these affordable package deals because they negotiate lower group rates from vendors, passing these savings on to customers.

Here are some highlights of the five European trips. For detailed itineraries, visit Vacations To Go or call the company's tour department at (800) 680-2858. We've listed the starting prices for summer departures, but in most cases, you'll find that rates drop in fall and winter.



There are many wonderful things to see -- and eat and drink -- in enchanting Italy. To sample a wide swath of the country's culture and history, venture out on "Best of Italy" with Insight Vacations. The 11-day itinerary visits Pisa, Florence and Venice in the north but doesn't miss the always-popular Rome or towns to the south like Sorrento.

Starting with two nights in Rome, you'll have time to shrug off your jet lag, get settled in your hotel and explore the Eternal City. A local guide will lead you through the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica for looks at Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel and his poignant sculpture known as the Pieta. Across the Tiber River lies the Roman Forum, a treasure trove of ancient history.

You'll also meander through the canals of Venice by gondola, cruise to the sun-soaked island of Capri and walk amid the ruins of Pompeii. Two nights in the Tuscan town of Montecatini allow time for an excursion to Florence, where guided tours highlight the city's Renaissance splendor.

Details: Prices this summer start at $2,800 per person, plus airfare, and include five dinners and daily buffet breakfasts.



A river cruise is a great way to see the sights while only having to unpack your suitcase once. The River Ambassador and River Queen, two long and low ships that each carry around 130 passengers, sail the nine-day "Castles Along the Rhine" itinerary for Uniworld River Cruises. Board the ship, settle into your cabin and spend the week ambling along the river, stopping in a new destination each day.

The Rhine River springs from glaciers in the Swiss Alps and flows north through western Germany, terminating along Holland's coast at the North Sea. So, while you'll sail from Basel to Amsterdam, or the reverse, the bulk of this itinerary is spent in German towns along the Rhine. During the journey you'll see picturesque castles, medieval villages and historic cities.

Rudesheim offers a pedestrian-friendly section called the Drosselgasse, where visitors can roam along the long avenue lined with taverns, wine bars and shops. The stretch between Rudesheim and Koblenz is one of the most beautiful sections of the Rhine River Valley, where grapevines cover the hillsides and 40 castles are nestled on the banks. Your guide will point out Lorelei Rock, said to be the home of the legendary siren who lured sailors to their deaths.

In Cologne, travelers get an intimate look at Germany's largest cathedral; it took more than 600 years to complete the Gothic structure, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Details: Prices this summer start at $2,349 per person, plus airfare, and include all meals aboard the ship.



The Emerald Isle offers endless charm, and "Irish Pub and Folk Tour" from CIE Tours is dedicated to exploring its unique spirit. This nine-day trip covers substantial ground, with plenty of stops to hear the local lore and enjoy food, drink and entertainment.

The journey begins and ends in Dublin. A guided tour of the city center takes visitors through well-kept Georgian squares and to the shops of Nassau Street. Enjoy a frothy pint at the Guinness Storehouse and learn how the famous brewery was established.

After leaving the capital, guests travel through the rolling hills and farmland of the Irish countryside. Stop at Blarney Castle and pucker up at the famous "Stone of Eloquence," said to offer the gift of gab to all who kiss it. Picture-perfect sights await on the Ring of Kerry, a well-known scenic route. As you head north to Galway, you'll stop at the magnificent Cliffs of Moher, walls of rock rising nearly 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean.

Stop outside Kilbeggan to tour Locke's Distillery, established in the 18th century, and learn how whiskey is made. Upon returning to Dublin for the last evening of the tour, guests congregate at the Brazen Head Pub, the city's oldest watering hole, for an evening of live music and storytelling.

Details: Prices this summer start at $1,548 per person, plus airfare, and include daily full Irish breakfasts and six dinners.



Travel from the central city of Madrid to the southern towns of Granada, Seville and Torremolinos on the 10-day "Spectacular Spain" vacation from Globus. During your first two nights in Madrid, you'll take in the sights of the capital city that sits at a vibrant crossroads. Accompanied by a local guide, see the parliament building, Cibeles Fountain and Plaza de Espana, and then tour the expansive Prado Museum, home to works by three of the nation's great masters: Francisco Goya, Diego Velazquez and El Greco.

Next, travel to Toledo, the former Castilian capital that sits atop a granite hill encircled by a loop of the Tagus River. The city's Gothic cathedral contains one of El Greco's most famous works, "The Burial of the Count of Orgaz."

In coastal Torremolinos, guests have a day of leisure at their beachfront hotel. You can lounge in the sand, explore local boutiques and sample the restaurants. Then, travel to Ronda, Jerez and Seville. Historic Ronda is cut in two by a staggering ravine, and Jerez is known for its sherry and horses. The Andalusian city of Seville is the final resting place of Christopher Columbus, entombed in an enormous 15th-century cathedral.

Details: Prices this summer start at $1,629 per person, plus airfare, and include daily buffet breakfasts and three dinners.



The nine-day "Treasures of France" from Trafalgar Tours starts and ends in Paris, where a guided sightseeing excursion takes in the Champs-Elysees, the Arch of Triumph and the white travertine Sacre-Coeur basilica in the artsy Montmartre neighborhood. You'll also ascend to the second level of the Eiffel Tower for panoramic views of the French capital.

In Normandy, get a close look at the 230-foot-long Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the 1066 Battle of Hastings, and visit Omaha Beach, where Allied troops landed on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Next, visit the isolated Benedictine abbey at Mont-Saint-Michel, which rises from a tidal island.

You'll also spend a few days in the chateau country of the Loire Valley. Highlights include Chenonceau, built in the early 1500s. Its dazzling facade is reflected in the River Cher, and the rooms and galleries are adorned with priceless tapestries, Renaissance furniture and masterpieces by artists such as Rubens and Tintoretto. Also on the agenda are Chateau d'Amboise, the childhood home of Francis I, and Chambord, his hunting lodge.

Wrap up your French sojourn with a stop in Chartres to see the large, spectacular stained-glass windows of its cathedral, followed by a stroll through the lovely gardens of the chateau at Fontainebleau.

Details: Prices this summer start at $1,849 per person, plus airfare, and include daily buffet breakfasts and four dinners.

Bookmark this Content

Digg it! Reddit Furl del.icio.us Spurl Yahoo!