European Getaway

Close your books, leave behind the stress. Start our adventure in Europe where you will meet young people from all over the world. We start in Madrid, the capital of Spain, so gather your strength and enjoy the trip!

We will start our visit of the city in the afternoon where we will see the most famous sites of the city such as the Retiro Park, La Puerta de Alcalá, Cibeles, Sol, Plaza Mayor, etc.

After an intense day enjoying the city, we will have free time for dinner and in the evening we will head to Barcelona.

Did you know that…

• The oldest restaurant in the world is located in Madrid! Casa Botín, founded in 1725, is recognized by the Guinness Book of Records.
• The Royal Palace has an area of 135,000 square meters, it becomes the largest royal palace in Western Europe and therefore one of the largest in the world.
• In Puerta del Sol is km O, a point from which you can measure the distance to all corners of Spain.
• In the Retiro Park is a statue of Satan himself, one of the few depictions of the devil in the world and the only one in Spain. It is the Monument of the Fallen Angel and is exactly 666 meters above sea level.

We’ll arrive in Barcelona in the morning. Today, on this route through Europe, you will have the day in Barcelona, enjoying the areas that have made it one of the most popular destinations: from La Sagrada Familia, to Passeig de Gracia, through the mythical Ramblas and the Gothic Quarter with its impressive cathedral.

In the evening, we will follow our route through Europe and go to the port to embark on a cruise. We will spend the night on the boat with all the necessary facilities to make the tour very enjoyable: disco, games room, restaurants, 24h cafés, swimming pool, gym, health center, casino… So have a gin and tonic, and enjoy the Mediterranean breeze!

Did you know that…

• Gaudí’s great well-known Sagrada Familia does not yet have a specific completion date. The project is so vast and complex that it is still unknown when it will be completed.
• In Barcelona there is a Statue of Liberty, specifically one of the three originals. You can see it in the Arús Library, near the Arc de Triomphe. The remaining two are in New York and Paris.
• The avenues that include the main works of Maestro Gaudí are on the Passeig de Gracia, and they are from the 20th century. Let yourself be fascinated by the famous houses of La Pedrera and Battló.

*Optional Activity:

Rome Pack: Chapel Sistine Musei Vaticani Colosseum Walk through Rome Transfers

Did you know that…

• In Rome’s St. Peter’s Cathedral, you can find stars on the marble pavement, right in the middle of a corridor that runs through the central nave. They represent the length of various Catholic temples in the world.
• Bocca Della Veritá (Mouth of Truth) is located in St. Maria in Cosmedin, the most famous mouth on the planet. According to legend, the mouth bites the hand of liars.

Today on our great route through Europe we say goodbye to the eternal city to go straight to the Vatican.

Then we will head towards Florence, which we will visit the next day on this route through Europe. Florence is a city that is full of life, especially at night. Here you can enjoy its university parties in the area of Santa Croce.

“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 of the 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 fanciful 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 almost hasn’t made a dent. 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 that…

• 5 terre is composed of five small towns along 10km of the rocky the Italian coast, enclosed by two headlands; Punta di Mesco y Punta di Montenero.
• It was declared World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1997.
• It is a natural park, and its blue sea waters will leave you astonished.
• The most famous attraction of the city of Pisa is the leaning tower, that brings thousands of tourists every year that want to take the iconic picture “holding” the leaning tower.
• The leaning tower of Pisa 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 tiny city that has almost 3000 years of history, we will continue with our tour around Europe, this time heading to another 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 St. Marks Basillica. You should also 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 Venetian lagoon)

Did you know that…

• The last bridge built in Venice was designed by a Spanish architect: Calatrava.
• Sometimes in Venice there occurs a phenomenon called “Acqua Alta”. This causes a huge rise in water level in the Venice lagoon, which usually lasts about 3–4 hours. Depending on the intensity with which it occurs, most of the old town can flood, with half a meter of water.
• Cars are forbidden in Venice, as well as bicycles. If used, you are fined. The only way to get around the city is on foot or by water.
• Although when strolling through Venice you get the impression that there are many canals, there are only two- the Canal Grande and the Giudecca Canal. The rest of the small canals that flow between the narrow streets are called rivers.

Guten morgen!

Today, on our tour around Europe, we will have to wake up early to take an advantage 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 XIX 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:

• Bus Tour of Vienna: Ringstrasse and Schonbrunn (with local professional guide)

And what about lunch? Well, you should try Schnitzel and Sachertorte… the most famous chocolate cake in the world (Austrians say so!).

Did you know that…

• Vienna was the cultural capital of Europe in the 19th century. Habsburgs financed all kind of artists, that’s why Vienna is one of the places you must visit before you die.
• Vienna was lucky to leave the Russian hegemony in the 1955 and turn into a neutral country. Therefore, Austria is nowadays much more developed and rich country than it’s neighbours.
• Watch the traffic lights of the city and you will find out something very curious 😉

More information:

The most famous Austrians

Today on our tour of Europe we will wake up in Vienna, and we will get on the bus to make a stop in the neighbouring country of Slovakia, specifically in its modern capital, Bratislava. There we will discover its charming bronze statues that make this city very endearing in the eyes of travelers.

But we won’t stop, and after traveling just 50 km we’ll be in another country, Hungary and its dazzling capital, Budapest. You can show off by saying you had breakfast in Vienna, lunch in Bratislava and dinner in Budapest!

Visit Bratislavia in a few hours
Slovakia, the secret of Europe

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 it’s capital have been known for 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. 

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 that…

• 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.
• The first of the Ruin Bars to be opened in Budapest is called Szimpla Kert
• Until the start of the twentieth century, Hungary belonged to the Austro-Hungarian empire, hence the resemblance to Vienna and Bratislava.
• Every Saturday, amazing parties called SPARTIES are held in the Szechenyi baths.

Vitejte v Cesku!

Today on our route through Europe we leave the Hungarian capital behind, to go to the heart of the Czech Republic and its capital, Prague.

Did you know that…

• Prague Castle is rated as the largest ancient castle on Earth. And this is where the Bohemian monarchy and the presidents of the Czech Republic stayed. Its visitable infrastructure highlights the Golden Alley, the Black Tower and the White Tower.
• Czech Republic is the country where the most beer is drunk per year per capita. Beer is part of its daily culture and there are so many brands of beer, it would be impossible to try them all, even drinking 10 a day throughout the tour. Impressive!

Today on our route through Europe we leave Prague behind to go to another brewing country: Germany. Here we will go to Berlin, where we will spend the night.

BUT first of all, we’ll make a stop in Dresden, the German city known as “The Florence of the River Elbe.” There on this route through Europe we can taste a rich German “wurst” and also appreciate the Baroque architecture of this city.

Did you know that…

• The origin and meaning of Berlin is “marshland” because the land on which the city is built was of marshy nature.
• Berlin’s TV Tower, 368 meters high, is the second tallest tower in Europe. And not only that, but you can also climb 200 meters from the tower, where it has a restaurant that does a complete turn on its own axis every 30 minutes.
• Although the only emblematic gate that remains in the city today is the Brandenburg Gate, at one point it had 18 entrance doors.

“Ich bin ein Berliner”, which means “I am a Berliner” is what JFK said in 1963 to show support with people who were separated from their families due to construction of 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 good portion of the formerly wall of Berlin, destroyed in 1989, surely the most important political event of Germany in the past 50 years. If there is time, we will get to famous Alexanderplatz, where you will have an opportunity to lift up to symbol of the Berlin skyline, the TV tower, and watch the impressive views.

*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, among all Reichstag, the Parliament of Germany, next to it the iconic Brandenburg Gate, and famous monument to Holocaust, masterpiece of Heisman.

Did you know that…

• The Berlin Wall, which divided the city between 13 August 1961 and 9 November 1989, had a total length of 45 km. This wall divided the city into two parts and separated the Western part of Germany and the communist part. It was known by the name “wall of shame”, and had an altitude of 3.6 meters.
• One-tenth of the population of Berlin is made up of foreigners, mainly Turkish, Italian, Polish and Russian. In addition, the German capital has the largest Turkish community outside Turkey, consisting of more than 150,000 people. The Kreuzberg district, the most mixed in the city, is 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!

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

Put your comfortable shoes on, because in Amsterdam we will walk a lot.

Open your eyes wide, and watch where you step.

If you’re on a bike path, get out of the way quickly! Bikes are the most widespread means of transport, and in their lanes they take absolute priority.

If you don’t feel like walking we offer you an alternative means to visit Amsterdam, a short boat that passes under the bridges.

Amsterdam is a city that never ceases to amaze, so enjoy its streets, bridges, bars and the atmosphere of this modern and cosmopolitan city that attracts tourists from all over the world.

You can choose to visit one of its thousands of museums: from the most classic museum of the village (Rjyksmuseum), to the Rembrandt museum, without forgetting the museum dedicated to the craziest painter in Europe – Van Gogh.

There is also a museum of contemporary art (MOCO)… and if you’re into beer, you have to visit the modern Heineken Museum. If you prefer diamonds, there is also a museum dedicated to the stone.

We offer you admission to another museum relating to the experience of a young Jewish girl throughout the Second World War, whose diary has been read by millions of people: Anne Frank.

Throughout these days you will be able to do the following optional activities.

*Optional Activities:

• Amsterdam Canal Boat Ride
• Visit Anne Frank
• Heineken Experience’s house
• Visit the Dutch Mills, Zaanse Schans

Did you know that…

• The facades of the multitude of houses that populate Amsterdam tilt forward. It is said that their architects created them thinking that, due to their narrowness, the only way to get furniture into the house could be from the windows. For this reason they have a hook on their roof and are slightly tilted forward from top to bottom, to prevent the furniture from colliding with the facade when the furniture is brought upwards. It seems strange, but 300 years ago there was no IKEA with its furniture that you can build at home!
• There are more bikes than cars in Amsterdam, and combustion cars are scheduled to be banned by 2025.
• The people are very tall. Men average 184 cm and women measure 170 cm. So wear heels!
• Water Mills in the Netherlands have been used to gain land to the sea, and pump water out of the ground. Along with the levees, they are the fundamental elements that allow this country to be underwater.

Learn more about coffee shops:

The best coffee shops in Amsterdam

Today we will continue our journey through Central Europe and hopefully you still have enough strength, as we have a lot to see. This afternoon we are going to Belgium and specifically to its capital: Brussels. You will get to know the heart of the European Union, in all its dynamism and splendor!

Did you know that…

• 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: frites, 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

We will start the day visiting the beautiful university city of Ghent and end the day in the city of Bruges, which is the most visited city in Belgium ahead of the capital. Join the tour and you’ll find out why.

*Optional Activity:

• Excursion to Bruges and Ghent: 35€

Did you know that…

• In the Middle Ages, Bruges lived its maximum economic splendor, which was reflected in its Gothic architecture.
• On the contrary to the popular belief that links the name of the city with fairytale witches this comes from “Brugge”, which means in Flemish “bridge”. Bruges means “bridges.”
• It belongs to the Flanders region, considered culturally much richer than Wallonia, in southern Belgium.

Today we will continue our journey through Central Europe. We will get back on our Unitrips bus after having a good breakfast in Brussels, and we will set course for one of the most anticipated destinations, Paris, “The City of Love”. We will pass through the north of France, where the Ch’tis will welcome us (“Benvenue chez le Ch’tis” was a very popular film throughout France) and then we will rest again in Paris, also known as “The City of Light”.

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 around the most important spots of Paris, all of which are incredibly illuminated.

*Optional Activity

• Paris by night: 12€.
• Visit of Montmartre and Pigalle

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 willpass 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 that…

• The Eiffel Tower is 18 cm higher in summer, given the expansion of iron from the heat.
• Why is Paris called the 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.

We will finish the tour with one last croissant in Paris. It’s time to go home… but don’t worry! We still have all morning to enjoy the city. We will also take the opportunity to try the famous chocolate crepes or stroll through the Latin Quarter, where we will find thousands of souvenir shops and typical Parisian cafes.

We’re sorry to leave, but soon we’ll start planning our next trip. What will be our next destination?

In the afternoon we will end our route through Europe and we will head back to Madrid where we will finish our tour.