Imperial Cities - 10 days from £1299

Accommodation

Paris - Hotel Magellan (3-star)
1 night. This charming hotel is close to the Arc de Triomphe, rooms are tastefully furnished equipped with modern amenities overlooking the hotels private garden. On selected dates you will stay at the Hotel Vaugirard, (3-star) located in the heart of the city.

Berlin - Ramada Berlin Alexanderplatz (4-star)
2 nights. Facilities include a restaurant, swimming pool and lounge bar. On selected dates you will stay at the Holiday Inn Berlin City East (3-star), located on the outskirts of the centre, this hotel has a fitness centre & restaurant.

Prague - Hotel Diplomat (4-star)
3 nights. This lovely modern hotel is located within walking distance of the castle district.

Vienna - Hotel Renaissance Vienna or similar (4-star)
2 nights. Swim in the indoor pool, dine in the elegant restaurant and enjoy a nightcap in the cosy bar.

Cologne - Novotel Koeln City (4-star)
1 night. Located on the banks of the Rhine. This modern hotel has a bar, restaurant and fitness room. On selected dates you will stay at the 4-star Hotel Lyskirchen located in the heart of the city.

Please note: Details of your confirmed hotels will be advised in your final documentation, which will arrive approximately two weeks before departure.

Outdoor swimming pools are typically open between May and September, but this is dependent on weather conditions.

Itinerary

Day 1: UK/Paris

Your journey will begin at St. Pancras station, where you’ll get together with your Tour Manager before heading off to Paris on the Eurostar service. In Paris there will be time to enjoy an orientation drive after you check in to your hotel. There will be time this evening to explore this chic city and view iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe.

Day 2: Berlin

Travel by high-speed train across France and into Germany to its vibrant capital, Berlin. You will have two nights in what is one of Europe’s most fascinating cities.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Berlin

During the morning you will discover the authentic face of Berlin, visiting the eastern and western sectors of this formerly divided city. In the company of your Tour Manager you will see key locations from Berlin’s history, including the Brandenberg Gate, the grand Unter den Linden, the Potsdamer Platz and the Kurfürstendamm. The afternoon is free for you to explore on your own. Many visitors to Berlin make a beeline for the original site of Checkpoint Charlie, one of the ultimate symbols of the Cold War - or perhaps you will choose to sit with a coffee and watch the world go by.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 4: Prague

On the rail journey to Prague you’ll have an opportunity to see the German and Czech countryside. You will arrive in the ancient city of Prague in the evening, the first of three nights in what was once the capital of the Holy Roman Empire.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 5: Prague

Known as the ‘City of a Hundred Spires’, Prague is renowned for its elegant architecture. Your morning tour of the city will begin at the Old Town Square, with its lavishly decorated houses, fascinating Astronomical Clock and the beautiful Rococo Goltz-Kinsky Palace. You will also discover the city’s historic castle district and see Prague’s impressive hill-top castle. Spend the afternoon at leisure. Art lovers may choose to visit the DOX Centre of Contemporary Art, or the excellent Prague House of Photography. For those who decide to relax with a famous Czech beer, there is a huge variety to choose from, and many pubs brew their own.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 6: Prague

Take some time to get to know the city better at your own pace. In the evening you’ll have the option of joining us at a local restaurant for a meal with wine and traditional music.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 7: Vienna

Today you head south through the gentle landscapes of the Czech Republic and Austria to Vienna, Austria’s imperial city.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 8: Vienna

Vienna is a city of charm and elegance. With your Tour Manager you’ll see the best of the city, including St Stephen’s Cathedral, the Hofburg Palace, the Ringstrasse and the world-famous Schönbrunn Palace, a former imperial summer residence. To round the day off, why not enjoy a concert of the music of the great composer Mozart.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 9: Cologne

Leaving Vienna today you will travel by train through stunning scenery into the Rhineland and on to Cologne for an overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 10: Cologne

Join your Tour Manager on a tour of Cologne during the morning that will take in the city’s best-known landmarks, including the 700-year-old cathedral. Your adventure draws to a close as you leave Cologne for the return train journey back to London.

Meals: Breakfast