Best Single Travel - 18 - 35 Year Young Professionals, singles and College Students travel to tour Paris, Venice, Florence, Rome, Switzerland, Germany and Greece on Road to Athens vacations

Overview

Anyone can fly direct to Athens but why fly over Europe when you can take your time and explore the cities below at leisure? That's exactly what the Road to Athens tour offers. Paris, Venice, Florence and Rome with a little bit of Switzerland and Germany thrown in for good measure. Relax on the Isle of Corfu in Greece before reaching your final destination and the birthplace of democracy, Athens. Seems like a long way to go to end here, why not take a cruise through the Greek Isles while you're in the neighborhood?

Itinerary

Day 1 Depart for Europe
Your exciting European trip begins.

Day 2 Arrive London
Check-in to your hotel after 2pm then enjoy the day exploring London. Tonight, meet your Tour Manager and fellow travellers for a pre-departure meeting.

Day 3 London to Paris
A warm welcome from your 18-35 Crew as we head for the White Cliffs of Dover and the Channel crossing to France. We drive past World War I battlefields to the splendour of Paris. What better way to begin than with an evening tour of the "City of Lights" and a first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower? (D)

Day 4 Paris
Visit a French perfume house and then take the opportunity to visit some of the most celebrated icons of Europe. The Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Nôtre Dame, Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysées all await your arrival! Tonight, why not complete your Parisian experience with a French meal and a famous cabaret? (B)

Day 5 Paris to Lucerne
Our path takes us toward the towering Alps and the vast serene lakes of Switzerland. Be charmed by medieval Lucerne with its Chapel Bridge and plentiful shopping opportunities. Maybe a cruise on Lake Lucerne to enhance your ultimate Swiss encounter? (B,D)

Day 6 Lucerne to Munich
We stop for lunch in the tiny Principality of Liechtenstein before crossing into Germany and Bavaria's lively capital Munich, home to the Oktoberfest. View sights such as the animated Glockenspiel, stroll through the shopping streets and maybe take the opportunity to experience the atmosphere of a local beerhall. (B,D)

Day 7 Munich to Austrian Tyrol

Roll on through the Tyrol’s massive mountains to a cute Austrian village in a region famous for adventure sports. Plunge into some white-water rafting in an adrenalin-pumping optional activity on the river.With a night in an Austrian Gasthof (guest inn), there’s time to do your own thing – laze about or get out for a walk in the surrounding hills. Our resident crew will give you pointers on the best stuff to do in the region and make sure you get everything out of your time here. Hotel. (B,D)

Day 8 Austrian Tyrol

This morning, fill your lungs with clean mountain air, jump on a bike and get into the region’s outdoor lifestyle with a fully guided optional tour through the Tyrol’s picture perfect scenery, complete with waterfalls and mountain fields. Work up an appetite – a BBQ lunch is waiting for you at the end!With time to do your own thing, laze about or get out for a walk in the surrounding hills. Catch up on some emails or postcards at the inn or take a gondola up the mountainside for more spectacular views of the area. For something different, pop into the local trout farm.For adrenaline-junkies, an optional tandem paraglide will give you an awesome angle on the surrounding alpine scenery.
Hotel. (B,D)

Day 9 Austrian Tyrol to Venice

Wind through the Bavarian Alps and Brenner Pass to Venice.Known as the “floating city”, Venice is packed with character, crammed with hidden lanes and linked by a network of canals. Hotel. (B,D)

Day 10 Venice
Jump on our private boat and travel through the waters of the lagoon to visit the city’s historical heart. The limestone Bridge of Sighs, the Gothic arches of Doges’ Palace and the expanse of St Mark’s Square (pigeons and all!) show Venice’s unique beauty and way of life.Learn about local artistry with a traditional glass blowing demonstration – a craft Venice has been famous for since the 13th century.Take some time to explore the floating city and lose yourself in the backstreets. There’s an optional walking tour where you can discover the labyrinth of interweaving lanes, waterways, palaces, piazzi and markets with our Local Guide. You’ll see historic monuments, hidden treasures and the Rialto Market – a local favourite for food shopping.Maybe grab a table on St Mark’s Square and eat some delicious Italian food al fresco.Cap off the day with an optional gondola ride with your friends. Take a bottle of prosecco (Italian champagne) and toast this awesome experience as you are punted through the waterways. Hotel (B)

Day 11 Venice to Florence
Wind through the Apennine Mountains and Tuscan countryside to the Renaissance city of Florence, with a stop at the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.The scene-stealing Duomo cathedral rises above Florence, which serves up frescoes, markets and priceless art. After dinner, walk along the River Arno with your Tour Manager, take in the atmosphere and head into the heart of Florence, where you can sit back and relax Tuscan style with a glass of chianti wine. Hotel (B,D)

Day 12 Florence
Jump start the day uncovering this open-air museum. Our Local Guide gives you the inside track as the group learns about Florence’s cultural beginnings and explores streets crammed with artworks from masters like Michelangelo. Then take a look into a skillful demonstration of Florentine leather making and understand this region’s traditional art.With bargains and bustle, the city’s markets are a great place to hang out. Grab a gelato and enjoy this gorgeous city.Tonight, there’s a choice of a group dinner – an authentic Tuscan feast. Try regional dishes in a fantastic Tuscan country setting. Then keep it moving with a night out and get your groove on at Florence’s biggest club. Hotel (B)

Day 13 Florence to Rome
Travel through Tuscany’s rustic hills, past the recognisable cypress tree landscapes of this olive-oil producing region, to vibrant Rome.Stylish Rome oozes energy and overflows with relics from another age. Our special access coach tour gets you right into the thriving atmosphere of this living timeline as your Tour Manager shows you the Colosseum and Piazza Venzia. Continue on foot to check out the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. Honour tradition at the Trevi Fountain and throw a coin in the fountain’s waters (it’s meant to improve your chances of returning to Rome!) or maybe hang out with your new friends at the Spanish Steps, sit back with a few slices of pizza and people watch. Hotel. (B)

Day 14 Rome
This morning, make the most of our local guide’s inside knowledge and uncover the remains of an ancient empire with a fantastic optional tour of the Roman Forum and Colosseum.Then check-out the smallest country in the world and home to the Pope, the Vatican City. You’ve got plenty of time to take a closer look at St Peter’s Basilica or Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the Sistine Chapel.Take off into the city and absorb the atmosphere, as vespas flash past timeworn monuments that are surrounded by fountains, pizzerias, cafes and bars.Before you hit the shops, let your Tour Manager point you in the right direction with some tips on the best buys.In your free time, live the local lifestyle by indulging in a long lunch on a paved piazza or knock back a shot of espresso at the bar, like the Romans do.Hotel. (B,D)

Day 15 Rome to Corfu

Pass gritty Naples, see Mt Vesuvius and plunge into Pompeii’s well-preserved past in an interesting optional excursion and retrace ancient history with our expert Local Guide.Then there’s time to chill out on the coach, crossing through the rugged landscapes of Southern Italy, before boarding the overnight ferry to Greece in Brindisi. Check out the amazing 360 degree views from the deck! Adriatic Ferry. (B)

Day 16 & 17 Corfu

Corfu is all that’s great about Greek island living. You’ll immediately find yourself on “local time”, browsing the markets of the UNESCO World Heritage listed old town and bargaining with the laid-back locals.Jump on board George’s boat optional with a bunch friends for a fun day out on the water. It will give you another angle on idyllic Corfu. Work up an appetite swimming in the secluded spots and then feast on a lunch of olives, salad, cheeses, fresh bread and dips – prepared with ingredients from George’s back yard.Corfu also gives you the chance to dive into action with a selection of water sports, like parasailing, banana-boating and waterskiing. Otherwise hire a car for a deeper look into Corfu and venture across the island to explore some beautiful, remote beaches. Day 16 - (B,D) Day 17 - (B)

Day 18 Corfu to Athens

From Corfu, head to the mainland and travel to the impressive, man-made Corinth Canal.Athens is next, a city crammed with myth and ancient wonders, and busy with modern, urban soul. Wrap up the day on the shady slopes beneath the Acropolis, with an optional dinner in the rustic district of Plaka, full of traditional tavernas spilling out onto the pavements. Hotel. (B)

Day 19 Depart Athens

Step back in time in Europe’s oldest city to the birthplace of democracy. Get the run down on the Parthenon and the Acropolis from our Local Guide, as you wander around the marble columns perched above the city sprawl. Then we check out the first modern Olympic Stadium from the 1896 games.The tour winds down in the heart of the city at Syntagma Square, home to the Greek parliament. Make the most of a last look at the Parthenon before you farewell friends.(B)

Included

Accommodations