Description
DAY 1
Touch down in London
Welcome to London! This city is filled to the brim with history. With English being spoken everywhere, it’s a great place to start out and ease into your journey to come. As one of the most global cities on the planet, London has excelled and is frequented by millions of visitors every year. You’re now one of them!
What to do:
- Start out your European adventure in the cosmopolitan English capital.
- Take in your first sights of the city as you arrive from the airport.
- Go for a walk and see London’s famous landmarks–from Big Ben to the London Eye.
- Stop for a cup of tea and start to adjust to the English way of life.
- Make your way to our partner hostel and check in. Get some rest if the jet lag is too bad!
- If you’re ready to go have some early fun, head down to the bar downstairs and meet some other travelers over a Guinness.
DAY 2
Explore the heart of London
Time to get the travel vibes going on your first full day. There’s so much to see and do–don’t wait to get into it. Today you’ll get a good feel for London and hit up the heart of the city, from Trafalgar Square to Big Ben.
What to do:
- Begin today with your first breakfast of the trip.
- Get acquainted with the city by taking the walking tour that leaves from our hostel.
- After the tour, head to Trafalgar Square to catch some great views.
- Explore the free National Gallery centered at the square and see world-famous art from artists like Da Vinci and Van Gogh.
- Walk down the road toward Big Ben, stopping to catch a glimpse of 10 Downing Avenue (and maybe the Prime Minister).
- Consider seeing the stunning London skyline by night by going 443 feet up in the London Eye.
DAY 3
Get acquainted with English culture
Today you’ll get a feel for what it’s like to live in London. After seeing some big attractions, it’s time to check out some local spots full of people and energy. Don’t be afraid to try some new food or stop and watch some street performers. Let’s go!
What to do:
- Make your way to Buckingham Palace in the morning to see the famous changing of the guard.
- Take a stroll through peaceful Hyde Park, checking out the free Victoria and Albert decorative museum if you’re interested.
- History buff? Check out the Imperial War Museums and Churchill’s War Rooms to get an idea of what it was like to live during the Battle of Britain in World War II.
- Check out Leicester Square on your way back toward your hostel.
- Spend the evening in the happening neighborhood of Covent Garden, grabbing some dinner in the process.
DAY 4
Dive into the city’s immense history
Your last full day in London…time to make the most of it! See most of the iconic sites of London as you make your way down the river Thames. Go from eating fish and chips in an underground market to seeing the Rosetta Stone!
What to do:
- After a quick breakfast, head toward the river to explore the other side of central London.
- Walk down the Thames, passing the Parliament, Big Ben, London Eye, and London Bridge.
- From London’s famous pedestrian bridge, marvel at the massive St. Paul’s Cathedral–take the time to peek inside if you want.
- Continue down the river, stopping at the castle called London Tower to check out the Crown Jewels and hear the famous stories of past nobility.
- Cross the river at the iconic Tower Bridge, getting a picture in the process.
- Explore the hip Borough Market and try out some street food, all below an elevated train station–we recommend some good fish and chips.
- Finish the day at the British Museum–make sure to not miss the Rosetta Stone and the Elgin Marbles.
DAY 5
Start exploring the canals of Amsterdam
Welcome to Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands! Known for its distinctive gabled facades of its houses and its system of canals, the city is like no other in the world. Start exploring the place that used to be the center of the most powerful international state in the world during the 17th century Golden Age.
What to do:
- Walk from the train station through the center of the city.
- Pass by the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, established 400 years ago by the Dutch East India Company and still trading to this day.
- Make your way to the Dam, the popular public square next to the Royal Palace.
- Get a feel for what life is like in Amsterdam by going to the residential Jordaan neighborhood, where you’ll always be in sight of a bike or a canal.
- Go to nearby Vondelpark to relax in the most popular nature spot in the city.
- Visit the Anne Frank House and get a first-hand idea of her compelling experience.
DAY 6
Take a day to visit some top museums
Holland was the home of some of the greatest artists in history, and Amsterdam offers great museums to see some of their work. After a day at the museums, change up the pace and head into the infamous Red Light District.
What to do:
- Take a picture with the I amsterdam letters in front of the Rijksmuseum, before going in to get a sample of Dutch history.
- Fan of Van Gogh or Rembrandt? Check out the museums focused solely each artist if you have the time.
- Head to the Nemo building and go to the top for a panoramic view of the city.
- Venture into the Red light District and see what Amsterdam is famous for.
DAY 7
Get a taste of Dutch culture
Amsterdam is the home of the distinct culture of Holland. From riding bikes along canals to enjoying some frites with a Heineken, you’ll feel fairly Dutch after today. Enjoy your last day in Amsterdam!
What to do:
- Choose to rent a bike for a day in the city with more bicycles than people.
- Head into a flower market and see the tulips that have formed a large part of the Dutch economy for centuries.
- Consider a visit to the Amsterdam History Museum to learn more about the city’s past.
- Visit a “coffee” shop and indulge in Amsterdam’s legal treats.
- For the true Dutch experience, try some raw herring–or just some frites (fries) with mayonnaise from a street vendor.
- Don’t miss a visit to the Heineken Experience, to learn about the brewing company’s history–and to drink their beer.
DAY 8
Arrive in the City of Lights
Paris, also known as the City of Lights, is one of the most dynamic European capitals. Spend the next few days living like a Parisian–picnicking in front of the Eiffel Tower, sipping on good wine, and breaking delicious baguettes. C’est le temps pour Paris!
What to do:
- Arrive on your Eurostar train in Gare du Nord after speeding underneath the ocean through the Chunnel.
- Begin your time in the city where the city began itself–on Ile de Cite, the island of the city.
- Peak in the magnificent Notre Dame and wonder how it was built 700 years ago.
- For the church-lovers: don’t miss Sainte-Chapelle a block away, which contains some of the most beautiful stained glass in the world.
- Head to the famous Champs-Elysees toward sunset, making your way down the incredible shop-filled boulevard.
- Arrive at the Arc de Triomphe–choose to climb up hundreds of stairs to the top to catch an amazing sunset over Paris’s iconic skyline.
- Make sure to catch the Tour Eiffel in its most dazzling moment–every night, on the hour, the tower sparkles for a minute–don’t miss it.
DAY 9
Get a taste of France
Food, food, food. You’re in Paris and it’s time to make the most of the country’s gastronomical delights. After chowing down, check out the bank gauche and the happening Latin Quarter.
What to do:
- Wake up, grab your things, and go to the nearest bakery–the first thing to do each morning in Paris should be to get a delicious baguette tradition, croissant, and pain au chocolat.
- Grab a crepe from a street vendor or sit down in a crêperie.
- Make your way to the city’s Latin Quarter, whose narrow alleyways are a hotspot for students and young people.
- Find some cheap wine and get some picnic food–time to picnic on the Champs de Mars for dinner.
- If you’re not afraid of heights, make the journey up the tower itself.
DAY 10
Live like royalty at Versailles
Make your way today to Versailles, the location of Louis XIV’s famous palace. Walk around in the enormous gardens or check out the exquisite interior before heading back to the city, where you’ll head to another special neighborhood–Montmartre. Artists like Picasso and Monet found their inspiration here, with Sacre-Coeur looming above them.
What to do:
- Take the train to Versailles nearby in the morning.
- Choose to visit the incredible interior of the palace–make sure to not miss the bedrooms of the royals, along with the Hall of Mirrors.
- Spend a couple hours wandering the massive gardens surrounding the palace.
- Head back to the city for an evening in one Paris’s famous Montmartre district.
- Grab a coffee and people-watch before climbing up to Sacre Coeur for great views of the city.
- See the house where Picasso, Monet, and Hemingway all lived.
DAY 11
Get your museum on and find world-class art
No visit to Paris is complete without venturing into one of its many top-of-the-line museums. From the Louvre to the Musee d’Orsay, Michelangelo to Picasso, Hellenic to modern–you can find some of everything in the French Capital
What to do:
- Beat the line and start off at the Louvre, heading right down its beautiful glass pyramid
- Don’t miss Venus de Milo, Olympia, and the Egyptian mummies.
- See the most famous painting in the world–be prepared for a crowd of a hundred people in front of her, though.
- Take a break at the Luxembourg Gardens, spanning behind the Senate building of the French government.
- Bring in more modern vibes at the Musee d’Orsay, where the greatest collection of impressionist paintings is located.
- See Monet’s water lilies–along with work from Manet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and others.
- Say au revoir to Paris as you leave!