7-Day Western Europe Tour from Frankfurt

The morning starts with a leisurely drive north-west from Frankfurt to Bonn, before reunification, the capital of the former West Germany. Berlin is now managed by the national government, but Bonn maintains a rich past worth exploring. Discover the mysteries of the city on a stroll around its streets, walking past highlights such as the town hall facing the Rococo and Ludwig Van Beethoven Haus, a museum celebrating the life of the much-loved composer.

Then it's on to Cologne, where you'll head to the magnificent Gothic Cathedral within the city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is yours to explore Cologne further the rest of the day, to do a spot of local shopping, or just relax with a suitably refreshing German beer.

The evening accommodation is near Amsterdam.

A day of delights starts with a leisurely ride through the Dutch countryside, where some of the items that the Netherlands is traditionally popular for are sampled in close quarters: clogs, cheese and windmills. In the extremely famous model town of Zaanse Schans, call in. Next, you'll head to the cosmopolitan city from the peaceful countryside as your journey takes you back to Amsterdam.

You can take an optional hour-long pre-dinner canal cruise after visiting a well-known diamond factory, where you'll see the unique cutting techniques practiced here since the 16th century, which is a perfect way to learn more about this unique European area.

You will walk to one of the biggest areas of the city after you disembark, Dam Square, where the Royal Palace is located and the Queen's birthday celebrations take place. Here, you will have photo opportunities, free time for shopping or more sightseeing, and then you will have dinner all day long.

The tour will also visit Keukenhof Garden, a 32-hectare seasonal exhibition of beautifully colored and fragrant displays of spring flowers-most notably millions of tulips-from mid-March to mid-May.

After breakfast, we will travel to Brussels, the European Union's Belgian capital and political hub. The Atomium monument, a cell-shaped structure of stainless steel spheres and tubes designed for the World's Fair in 1958, will be our first stop. Then it's on to Grand Place and Town Hall, Gothic civil architecture's crowning achievement. After a look at the popular tinkling cherub, Manneken Pis.

We'll cross the French border after some free time and make a beeline for Paris.

For the next two days, Paris is your oyster as you enjoy guided tours of one of the most celebrated cities in the world. A drive along the famed Champs Elysees to the Place de la Concorde, which played a key role in the French Revolution, will take your Parisian adventures to a spectacular start.

Next, as you head to L'Hotel National des Invalides, where Napoleon 's tomb is located, we will take you to another important historic building, followed by a stop at the most famous of all: the Eiffel Tower. You can either take the time to explore and have lunch in the neighborhood, or climb the Eiffel Tower (admission ticket not included). The range is yours.

Finally, you can ride through the Parisian suburbs by coach to the magnificent Palace of Versailles, the enormous royal chateau that was the royal family's residence until the beginning of the revolution in 1789 (admission not included).

In the evening, at your own cost, you will enjoy one of our optional Paris evening shows.

The second day of your Parisian experience begins with a visit to the Louvre, one of the world's greatest art museums. Here you'll set your eyes upon some of history's most famous masterpieces, including the Venus de Milo, Winged Victory of Samothrace (also called Nike of Samothrace), and Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. Opt for a guided gallery tour, which will enhance your experience and allow you to browse through hundreds of works in just a few hours. You can then take a leisurely cruise along the river Seine, a great sightseeing option that offers splendid views of iconic Parisian landmarks, including Notre-Dame Cathedral and Pont Alexandre III.

After an exhilarating morning of walking the gallery corridors, replenish your energy levels with lunch in the museum before heading to the area surrounding the Palais Garnier. Afterwards, you have an option of having a French 4 course Dinner and Show (own expense) or spend some free time shopping at the legendary department store Galleries Lafayette.
Visiting Attractions

The tour departs from Paris for a delightful scenic journey through the Champagne region's rolling countryside, world-famous for the sparkling white wine made here. Enjoy the historical attractions of the provincial capital of Reims, including the cathedral of the city, a major national heritage site where the coronations of French kings took place from the 11th century onwards.

In your next place, history and tradition are equally evident: Luxembourg, the last remaining Grand Duchy of the world. You will be introduced on foot to the key points of interest, including the Place de Constitution and Pont Adolphe, after arriving in the refined city of Luxembourg, before having time for further discovery on your own.

We leave Luxembourg behind and head into Germany via another European border. Historic Trier, Germany 's oldest city and the birthplace of Karl Marx, is the first stop. From the outside, you will have the chance to see the house where the influential philosopher was born, which now serves as the Museum of Karl Marx Haus.

Then your walking tour takes you to the center of Trier; here you can look around the magnificent cathedral of the city, where the celebrated Holy Robe is preserved and sometimes seen, said to be Christ's tunic. The highlight is undoubtedly Porta Nigra, north of the Alps, the best-preserved gate of the Roman city.

After an exciting morning in Trier, we'll move on to Koblenz, popular for the Rhine-Moselle confluence. Here you have the choice of having a nice lunch next to the river, and then you can also choose to add some unforgettable city views to a scenic Rhine boat ride afterwards. You'll drive back to dry land through the wine-making town of Rudesheim. Then it's on to Frankfurt am Main, where you'll discover the delights of Romerberg, a charming square with its centerpiece being a distinctive medieval town hall.

On the last day of the tour, there are three potential drop-off locations:
10:00am at Trier's Porta Nigra
1:15pm in Koblenz at Deutsche Eck
7:15pm at the Central Station in Frankfurt am Main