All Around Europe

Close your books and leave all of your stress behind! Today you will begin your European adventure with Unitrips. We will begin our trip in Madrid, the capital of Spain.

We will begin our optional visit of this incredible spanish capital in the afternoon. During this visit we will see all of the main sites of the city such as Retiro Park, Alcala Gates, Cibeles, Sol and the Plaza Mayor, etc…

Following an intense day enjoying this city we will have some free time to eat dinner and in the evening we will hop on our bus and head towards Barcelona.

Did you know…

• The oldest restaurant in the world is located in Madrid! Casa Botín, founded in 1725, is recognised in the Guiness World Book of Records.
• The Royal Palace has some striking features. With a length of 135,000 square metres, is has become the biggest Royal Palace in Western Europe, and therefore one of the biggest in the world.
• Km O can be found in Puerta del Sol, the central point to all four corners of Spain.
• In Retiro Park, you can find the statue of Satan, one of the few representations of the devil in the world and the only one in Spain. It´s a Monument of the Fallen Angel and is exactly 666 metres above sea level.

After spending the night on the bus travelling across Spain, we will arrive at our next destination, Barcelona, in the early hours of the morning. The good news is you will have the whole day to discover this incredible city. Make sure you explore all of the main sites of the city which are the reason why this city has the title of the most touristic captial of the world. From the Sagrada Familia to Passeig de Gracia, to strolling down the legendary Ramblas and the gothic quarter with its impressive cathedral, you will not be disappointed.

Towards the end of the day we will hop on the ferry and voyage through the Mediterranean sea in oder to start this magical trip around Western Europe. We will spend the night on a beautiful cruise, with all kinds of services at your disposal, all of which will make the journey very enjoyable: a club, videogames room, restaurants, 24h cafes,  pool, gym, health center, casino… So order that gin tonic, and take in that warm mediterranean breeze, this tour has officially begun!

Did you know…

•  The construction of Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia is endless. The builder stated that “God had all the time on the planet to see it completed”. The cathedral is so big and complex that no one knows when and IF it will ever be finished.
• There is a Statue of Liberty in Barcelona, in fact it’s one of only three originals. The most famous one is in New York, another in Paris and in Barcelona, you can find it close to Arch of Triumph, in the Arus Library.
• Passeig de Gracia is an avenue that hosts the main masterpieces of Gaudí, the idol of architecture of XX. century. Be amazed by his famous houses Pedrera and Battló.

Rome is known as the “Eternal City”, and you will understand why once we arrive. Time appears to have stopped here hundreds of years back due to the large number of remaining monuments and remains of grand buildings, which turns strolling through the narrow streets of Rome into a trip back in time to the capital’s golden age.

Italy´s famous capital, otherwise known as the old “Caput Mundi” (Leader of the world) and all of its history await us. There are so many reasons to visit Rome, things that make you fall in love with it and make you want to come back! A few of these reasons are obviously the incredible food and the lively atmosphere that you will find in every corner of the city.

Rome, without a doubt, is a city that occupies a lot of time from the tourists that come to visit it… considering the large number of monuments and sites it´s home to, this is no surprise! Today you will have the chance to see some of these famous sites, most importantly you will be able to visit the most popular monument in Italy: the Colosseum. The latter, depsite being half demolished, continues to radiate historical charm. Later you will be able to visit the Roman Forums, otherwise known as the commercial, religious, political and judicial centre of the ancient city of Rome.

*Optional Activity

• Rome Pack: Round trip transport + guided tour of Rome + Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums + Colossuem and Roman Forums

Did you know…

• In the Cathedral of St. Pedro, you will see various stars on the marble floor, directly in the middle of the aisle to the alter. These stars represent the diversity of the different catholic temples in the world.
• The Bocca Della Veritá is located in Sta. Maria, the most famous sewer entrance in the world. According to the legend, if you put your hand in the mouth and you tell a lie, you will be bitten.

Today on our tour around Europe we will wake up early and head towards the Vatican.

After putting Florence in the SatNav, which we will visit tomorrow, we will stop off at the Vatican. Take note, Florence is an extremely lively city and has a great night life, so make sure you experience a real university party whilst you are here!

We will spend the night near Florence, the birthplace of the renaissance.

Did you know…

• The Vatican is a sovereign country covering no more than 0,44 km2, and is the smallest country in the world. It only has borders with Italy, which completely surrounds it. It hosts the Basilica of San Pedro, which is the world’s largest church.
• The Vatican Bank is the only bank in the world that allows users to select Latin as a language on an ATM to carry out its operations.

“Buongiorno Principessa” said Benigni, an actor from the city of Florence, in the film “Life is Beautiful”.

Today on our tour around Europe you will have the chance to admire numerous incredible works of art  in the Museum ofthe Uffizi. If walking round an exhibition hall is not for you, you can take a stunning walk up the famous hills where you can get to the fantastic viewpoint of the mythical arch of Brunelleschi which dominates the city.

We will also have an optional activity for those who want to visit 5 Terre and the most famous tower that attracts visitors from all over the world due to its unusual inclination: The Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Are you ready to go to the beach? Grab your swimsuit, towel and sunscreen, it’s time to enjoy the Italian coast! 5 little towns with colorful houses, hanging from the cliffs. A place where pollution barely exists. There are very few cars and the way to travel between towns is either by foot or by a spectacular little train that runs along the seafront.

*Optional Activity:

• 5 Terre & Pisa

Did you know…

• 5 Terre is composed of five small towns allong 10km of the rocky the Italian coast, enclosed by two hills; Punta di Mesco y Punta di Montenero.
• It was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in  1997.
• It is a natural park, and its blue sea waters will take your breath away.
• The most famous attraction of the city is the leaning tower, which attracts thousands of tourists every year that want to take the iconic picture “holding” the leaning tower.
• The tower is considered one of the jewels of Romanesque art, therefore the government has requested help on various occasions to avoid the tower being knocked down.

After admiring this ting city that has almost 3000 years of history, we will continue with our tour around Europe, this time heading to anohter italian gem: Venice.

Venice had the honor of being crowned one of the most powerful, rich and populated cities over a period of many years in the past. It dominated trading routes in both the Mediterranean and the oreint. What´s more, the art that was fostered here is one of a kind which can clearly be exemplified in the works of Marco Polo.

Fall in love with this city! Venice is one of the most photographed places in the world. Don’t waste time, grab your camera and find your inner photographer; bridges, Vaporettos and Gondolas are all waiting to be snapped!

Make sure you take some time to enjoy the Byzantine influenced art which is best exemplifed in the architecture of the Basillica of San Marco. You should also take a stroll down the canal, starting from the Rialto Bridge. You could also just get lost in the narrow streets and see where you end up!

*Optional Activity:

• Venice Pack: Trip to Murano and Burano (the two islands located in the ventiain lagoon)

Did you know…

• The only way to get around the city is on foot or by water. It is illegal to drive a car or ride a bicycle in this district.
• Walking around Venice could give you the feeling that there are numerous canals, however there are in fact just two: the Grand Canal and the Giudecca Canal. The other little waterways that course through the restricted lanes are considered rivers.

Today we will leave Italy behind and continue on our tour across Europe, crossing not 1 but 2 different borders. From Italy we will pass through Slovenia, a country that used to belong to Yugoslavia. We will travel through little villages full of traditional and fascinating architecture. On this route, as we are crossing the mountains between Trieste and Ljubljana, you will be able to admire the incredible views from the windows of the bus. What´s more, you will be able to find the incredible Postjana caves here, caves that have been formed over millions of years thanks to the Karstic phenomenon, stalagmites and stalactites which have been slowly growing throughout history.

Curiously, Ljubljana is the city with the largest density of students… and by spending the night here, you´ll be able to enjoy its young atmosphere.

*Optional Activity:

• Caves of Postojna: Trip to the caves in an old mine train

Ljubjana is a rich and prosperous city, that was able to rise from the ashes of World War II and balcanic conflicts and now can be considered  an elegant european capital, with a very unique style that combines the influences of its geographical neighbours. From mediterranean architecture, through to gothic, germanic  or balcanic style…

You can get lost in the old town, on the Prezeren square, walk across the same bridge three times and visit Saint Nicolas´ cathedral. If you have energy, you can also climb up to the castle which is on a hill that dominates the city.

Did you know…

• People greet each other by shaking hands, even among friends.
• In Slovenia, all plates of food in restaurants are thought to be shared.
• The capital of Slovenia was created thanks to a legend related to a dragon that was terrorising the city, and the mayor of the town battled against the dragon and freed all of its citizens.

More info about Slovenia:

Thins to know before going to Slovenia

After stopping in Ljubljana, we will travel  through Slovenia and the Alps on our way to another country Austria and its stunning capital: Vienna.

Today we will have breakfast in Slovenia and dinner in Austria!

Did you know…

• Vienna was the cultural capital of the 19th century. the Hapsburgs financed all kinds of artists, and this is why today its somewhere you have to visit in your lifetime.
• Vienna managed to gain independence from Russian occupation and become a neutral country in 1955. This is why nowadays it is a much richer and more developed country than its neighbours.
• Make sure you take a look at the traffic lights, you´ll notice something very curious.

Guten morgen!

Today, on our tour around Europe, we will have to wake up early to make the most of the day, because Vienna has a lot to offer.

You will have a chance to choose whether to join the optional bus tour around Vienna or to go walking around the centre.

On the bus tour, you will visit all the main tourist spots in Vienna, from Prater and its oldest ferris wheel in Europe, across the Danube to Ringstrasse, admiring some beautiful monuments from the nineteenth century.

You will also see a Russian soldier or two and the incredible Belvedere palace (which, today, houses the Klimt museum)… and you will have the opportunity to feel like Princess Sissi in the gardens of the Schonbrunn palace.

*Optional Activity

• Tour Viena en bus opcional por Ringstasse y Schonbrunn (con guía local profesional)

Fancy something to eat? Well you have to try the very unoriginal Schnitzel and the Sacher-Torte cake, the most famous chocolate cake in the world (according to Austrians)

3 countries in one day today!

After leaving stunning Vienna, and driving only 50 km, we’ll arrive at our next stop on our tour around Europe, the modern capital: Bratislava. We will walk around the old town discovering the any bronze statues that are located here,  these statues make this city very appealing to travellers. But we aren’t stopping there. You will have a chance to show off to your friends by saying that you had breakfast in Vienna, lunch in Bratislava and dinner in Budapest.

More info!

Bratislava’s top 10 places

It’s time to explore the city which was born by unification of two sections: ‘Buda’ on the west side of the river Danube and ‘Pest’ on the east side.

Since 1989, Hungary and its capital have been known for their impressive development and every year they receive more and more tourists, youngsters in particular are attracted by the festivals that are held here and the nightlife provided by the famous Ruin Bars. 

Feeling chilly? Then don’t forget your swimsuit as you will have the chance to enjoy the best thermal baths in Europe, either at Szechenyi or at Gellert.

Did you know…

• Wizz-Air, the second Low Cost flight company of Europe is Hungarian….that’s why it’s so easy to find cheap flights to Budapest.

After saying bye to Budapest, we will continue our tour around Europe, this time heading to the impressive Tatras mountains, that mark the border between Poland and Slovakia. This drive is especially pleasant for nature lovers.

Once in Slovakia, only a few kilometers after crossing the border, we will visit a tiny town called Oravsky Podzamok, where we will visit one of the oldest castles in Slovakia, the Orava Castle (optional entrance).

After visiting the castle we will continue on our tour around Europe, passing through Slovakia until we arrive in Krakow.  Karkow s a very famous city in a country which was host to many battles and bombings during WW2: Poland.

Almost all the Polish cities have been totaly destroyed and there are very few with such an intact old town. One of them is Wroclaw, where we will make a stop if everything goes as planned, to feel the atmosphere of this young city, where more than 100 bridges cross the river Oder. From there, we will follow to the south of Poland, where the cultural and touristic capital of Poland awaits us: Krakow.

*Optional Activity:

• Trip to Orava Castle

Did you know…

• Every saturday, thrilling parties in thermal baths of Szechenyi take place, called  SPARTIES.
• Hungary used to be part of Austrio-Hungarian empire, thats why it has a lot in common with Vienna and Bratislava.

Krakow is the cultural icon of Poland, given its history: here you will have the chance to enjoy different zones developed in different eras, and that didn’t suffer too much damage during World War II.

The medieval old town is perfectly conserved and it’s possible to walk through it, following the royal path that goes from the north to the south of the city, starting at the Barbican, crossing the market square, the biggest in Europe, which is dominated by the Saint Mary’s cathedral, and finishing at the legendary castle Wawel, which overlooks the river Vistula.

In the  XIX century, the Jewish quarter was developed on the south from the castle, the most active and characteristic quarter of the town. This quarter was converted into a ghetto during the Nazi control and it’s where Schindler lived, a German that saved thousands of Jewish lives, lying to german authorities and whose story was reflected in a Steven Spielberg.

Moreover, Krakow has a district that is characterised by communist architecture, known by urbanists from all around the world as Nowa Huta. This also happens to be a very well developed industrial zone.

Close to Krakow, about a one hour driving distance, the only concentration camp that survived the German selfdestruction in their attempts to erase the proofs of the existence of these camps.

Auschwitz is a place of memory and reflexion, where a local guide will speak to us either in English or in Spanish about all the atrocities of the Nazi regime and about the physical and moral destruction that the Jewish community had to bear.

*Optional Activity

• Trip to Auschwitz.

Did you know…

• Auschwitz and Krakow have been scene to many movies:  Movies set in Poland
• The famous scientist Copernicus, the first one to notice that the sun, not the earth was the centre of the solar system, studied in Krakow.

We will leave behind the cultural and turistic Polish capital, Krakow, and continue our tour around Europe by heading to another magical city…

Another day, another country, another language, another currency.

This time, the golden city of Prague awaits us! You will be amazed by the beautiful historic alleyways and the gorgeous 9th century castle that characterise ths city.

Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic laying on the Vltava River and is the largest city in the region of Bohemia. Throughout its history, it has been given several names, such as “The Golden City”, “City of a Hundred Spires” and “The Heart of Europe”.

Let´s make the most of the morning visiting this incredible city. We’ll go from the gunpowder tower and pass by the beautiful, modernist Municipal House to the Wenceslas square, universally known for the scene in “Prague Spring”.

The state theatre, where various works of Mozart were first shown, and the Jewish District are all close by. After, we can pass by the Clementinum, the old Jesuit college, to finally arrive at the Charles Bridge, with its 30 famous Baroque sculptures. If we have time, we can head to the “Old town Square” with its outstanding and fascinating astronomical clock.

In the afternoon we still have a lot to see of this beautiful city. If you have the energy, you can follow the path up to the Prague Castle, which sits in the bend of the Moldava river, and is the biggest castle in the world.

Get to know its patios, where we will find the Saint Vito Cathedral, with its artistic treasures, gothic palaces and ancient palace of the Bohemian kingswith the magnificent hall of Vladislav, which was the biggest civil hall in Europe in its time. Also, the St George Basilica, made in the year 920 and the Golden Lane, where the castle guards, medieval artisans, goldsmiths, alchemists and even the great Franz Kafka all stayed.

We hope that you didn’t get too tired today, because there is a huge variety of Czech beer to try and it’s very very cheap…

Did you know…

• The Prague Castle is described as the largest ancient castle on Earth. This is where the monarchy of Bohemia and the presidents of the Czech Republic stay. (We will visit this site and highlight the Golden Lane, as well as the Black and White Towers)
• Prague beer is cheaper than water! This is because beer is part of the everyday life and is sweet and drinkable. Awesome!
• Prague is not at the height of its fashion. The city still sees the “socks and sandals” look… Don’t believe us? Keep an eye out when you go

Once we have left Prague, we will head for the famous German capital! But before, we will make a stop in Dresden, the last German city we will visit and which is known as “Florence on the river Elbe”, We will have a chance to try “wurst”, German sausage and to admire the Baroque architecture of Berlin.

*The route from Prague to Berlin will be made on public transport. Unitrips will take charge for factors such as times organisation and the costs that this implies.

Did you know…

• The Berlin wall, which divided the city between 13th of August of 1961 and 9th of November 1989, was 45 km long. This wall separated the occidental part of Berlin from the communist part. Known as “wall of shame” it was 3,6 metres high.
• Although there is only one emblematic gate to the city, the Brandemburg Gate, that remains, at one point in history there were 18 different entry gates.
• The origin and meaning of the word Berlin is “swampy land“, the name come from the fact the land on which this city was built is very swampy.

“Ich bin ein Berliner”, which means “I am a Berliner” is what JFK said in ’63 to show support with people who were separated from their families due to construction of the Berlin wall. Today, it’s time for you to repeat the phrase and spend a day as a Berliner.

We will continue to the Checkpoint Charlie, running across a large portion of the former wall of Berlin, destroyed in ’89, which is certainly the most important political event of Germany to occur in the past 50 years. If there is time, we will get to famous Alexanderplatz, where you will have an opportunity head up to see a token of Berlin, its skyline and impressive views from the TV tower.

*Optional Activity:

• Berlin bus tour (with professional guide)

You will have a chance to choose whether to spend the day with us and a professional local guide who will explain even the finest detail of what lays behind the buildings of Berlin, such as the famous building of Reichstag, the Parliament of Germany, next to it the iconic Brandenburg Gate, and famous monument of the Holocaust, the  Heisman masterpiece.

Did you know…

• One tenth of the population of Berlin is made up of mainly Turks, Italians, Poles and Russians. In addition, the German capital has the largest Turkish community outside Turkey, comprising of more than 150,000 people. The district of Kreuzberg is the most mixed city called “Little Istanbul”

We shall say goodbye to Berlin with tears in our eyes… But don’t worry! The liberal city of Amsterdam is waiting for us!

To get to today’s destination on time, we must wake up early, and get on the bus; where we will cross most of Germany!

Did you know…

• There are more bikes than cars in Amsterdam, and it is thought that by 2025 all combustion cars will be banned.
• Most men and women are tall in Amsterdam. Men measure an average of 184 cm and women 170 cm.

More info regarding the coffee shops:

Best Coffee Shops in Amsterdam

Today we will have the whole day to enjoy Amsterdam and its unique architecture. Houses are so narrow and high that they appear to defy gravity.

Put on some comfortable shoes, because in Amsterdam, we will be walking a lot.

Amsterdam is a city full of surprises, so we will let you stay here another day, so that you can discover its streets, bridges, bars and the atmosphere of this modern and cosmopolitan city that attracts tourists from all around the world.

Do you enjoy  museums? Well, here you have various options; from classical Rijksmuseum, to the Flemish museum of Rembrandt, without forgetting the museum of the craziest european painter, Van Gogh Museum.

Not your cup of tea? In Amsterdam you can also find a contemporary art museum (MOCO) and if you fancy a beer, Heineken is your star choice! You like diamonds? Then go to a museum dedicated to the “forever stone”.

*Optional Activities:

• Boat trip on the Amsterdam Canals
• Visit to Anne Frank’s  Museum* (skip the line)
• Heineken Experience
• Zaanse Schans windmills

Today on our tour of western  Europe we will visit another BENELUX country, after the NE, we will take on the BE of Belgium, otherwise known as the heart of the EU.

Brussels, despite being a modern and relitavely small city, is the capital of Belgium and the whole of Europe. This decision was made due to its central position and the fact it was one of the few countries that belonged to the union of countries that formed the nucleus of todays European Union.

You´ll fall in love with the diplomatic and modern city with its bars of hundres of types of beer, its chocolate shops, the Grand Place, which will make your jaw drop at night. We will visit the city, and we´ll see the most characteristic and touristic places.

Brussels is also home to the head offices of many international organisations such as the CEE and the European Parliament, which is why it is easier to spot a diplomat on the street than it is to see a plane in the sky!

Tonight on our tour of Western Europe, prepare youself to enjoy one of the most beautiful squares in Europe… which is even more beautiful after a few Beligum beers.

Did you know…

• The famous Manneken Pis statue in Brussels, also known as meón child, is not the original. There have been silent replacements of the statue due to it being damaged and stolen by vandals repeatedly.
• The three typical delights of Brussels are: fries, waffles and beer
• There are  many types of beer in Brussels, and the Delirium bar is one of the most picturesque, collecting them all
• There is a wellspring of hot water, cold water and sparkling water in the middle of the city, located at the Gare Central
• Some of its universities follow the Flemish method of education, while others remain French

Unitrippers!

Today we´re giving you 2 excellent options to choose from: you can stay in Brussels to rest and gain the energy you need to face the rest of the route through Europe, and enjoy its parks and avenue full of all kinds of shops. Alternatively, you can hop on the Unitrips bus that will head north of Belgium, in the direction of Ghent and Bruges, the 2 Flemish cities par excellence.

We will start the day visiting the beautiful and university city of Ghent and end up in the city of Bruges, which is the most visited city in Belgium, ahead of the capital. On the way back we will also stop at the Atomium to take some pictures.

Here you will be delighted to see how well these two medieval cities have beem preserved, where the medieval architectural style of Northern Europe is still very much intact!

*Optional Activity:

• Excursion (Bruges- Ghent – Atomium)

Did you know…

• During the Middle Ages, Bruges encountered its most prominent financial height which is reflected in its Gothic design. The city started its decay when its port was blocked by sandbars
• Contrary to the popular belief that relates the name of the city to a story about witches, “Brugge” has its roots in the Old Dutch word for “bridge”.
• It belongs to Flanders, cuturally a much richer region than Wallonia (the southern part of Belgium).

We’ll say our goodbyes to the amazing Brussels!

It’s time to Set our GPS in the direction of where we’ve all been waiting for… Paris!! After  breakfast we will head towards “The City of Lights”. It’s known for being the cosmopolitan capital of France and also it’s one of the most populated and visited cities of Europe. The city of Love.

Do you want to know why it is called the city of lights?

Come with us to the panoramic tour bus around this city, driving aroung the most important spots of Paris, incredibly illuminated.

*Optional Activity

•  París by night

We’ll wake up in Paris and after having eaten a croissant and a hot drink, and begin our tour!

It’s going to be an intense day in the “Ville Lumiere”, so put your comfortable shoes on because it’s time to walk. We will start in Notre Dame, the great Lady of Paris, and going through pont Neuf, we will admire Paris’ river, The Seine and we will pass by the museum that contains the most famous painting of all times, Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.

Of course, we’ll finish our tour at the most famous tower, the Eiffel Tower, a massive structure of steel which was a result of a universal exhibition in the nineteenth century and since then has watched the people of Paris from above, covered in trillions of their little locks. And you don’t have to be in love to enjoy Paris.

Did you know…

• The Eiffel Tower is 18 cm higher in summer, due to the expansion of iron.
• Why Paris is called City of Light? Its because many burglaries used to take place, so the mayor ordered putting candles in all windows, until gas lamps were installed on the streets.
• A problem called “Paris Syndrome“ affects many Japanese who arrive to the city with very high expectations which are not fulfilled during their visit so they suffer great disappointment. There is even a phone line available 24 hours a day for victims of the syndrome.

Today on our trip around Europe you´ll have the day free to do what you like in Paris, giving you all the time you need to to see some of the places left on your list. If you don´t have any, we can give you some tips to know what do!

Now is the time to visit the Louvre to enjoy its long exhibitions and learn how to not wink at the Mona Lisa. If you prefer it, you can enjoy modern architecture and futuristic skyscrapers in the  La Défense neighbourhood.

Would you rather see somehting more exotic and multicultural? There is a very curious neighbourhood called Belleville, where Mr. Mallaussene used to live. If you want to see a bit of Italy in Paris don’t hesitate to visit the gardens of Luxembourg, which were owned by Maria dei Medici, and on the way appreciate the Pantheon, the Sorbonne (the top university in France) and stroll through the Latin Quarter and its thousands of pubs.

We will cross the border n the morning, bright and early, and arrive  in the north of Spain. You’ll get to Spain through the windows as we drive across the country and end up where it all began: Madrid.

We hope you had an amazing time travelling with Unitrips and now you´ll be able to say that you have seen half of Europe and you will go home with memories of the most beautiful corners of this old continent, with your new friends from all over the world.