Drive to Dover and bid farewell to the white cliffs as you cross the channel to France. Continue to medieval Bruges. Follow the picturesque canals and cobbled streets to the Market Square, with its octagonal bell tower. Then it's on to Brussels with its gilded buildings in the Grand Place and Mannekin Pis statue. During your stay your Tour Director will introduce you to the world of Belgian beer! Handy to know when it comes to tonight's Welcome Drink.
Hotel: Royal Windsor Grand Place

Drive to Amsterdam and pass Dam Square and the Mint Tower en route to a demonstration of diamond cutting. Visit the fishing village of Volendam and learn how clogs and cheese are made before returning to Amsterdam.
Hotel: Moevenpick Amsterdam City Centre (BB)

Head into Germany to see Cologne's soaring Gothic cathedral. Continue via Bonn to the scenic Rhine Gorge. Join your Highlight cruise past steep vineyards and medieval castles to the Loreley Rock, where the enchantress lured sailors to their watery graves. Continue on to Würzburg with its Baroque Residenz Palace, Marienberg fortress and statue-lined bridge.
Hotel: Maritim. (BB,D)

Stop in Nuremberg to see the charming blend of stone and timbered dwellings and the massive town ramparts before continuing east to the Czech border. Pass the town of Pilsen, renowned for its beer, to reach the 'golden city' of Prague.
Hotel: Savoy. (BB,D)

Join a local guide who'll take you through the 1,000-year-old Prague Castle to St Vitus' Cathedral. Admire the views over the city then descend to the Old Town Square, with its Astronomical Clock. Later, there is time to shop for fine Bohemian crystal. (BB)

Drive through the wine-producing area of South Moravia into Slovakia and stop in its fortified capital, Bratislava. After free time to explore, cross into Hungary and follow the River Danube to Budapest.
Hotel: Corinthia Grand Royal. (BB)

With a Budapest guide, climb up to the old Castle District. See the murals in Matthias Church beside the Fisherman's Bastion, which affords a grand view over the Danube and the Parliament. See the Royal Palace of Buda, then cross over to Pest to visit Heroes' Square. Spend the afternoon at leisure. (BB,D)

Before heading out of Budapest, stop to survey the bridges over the Danube from the lofty citadel atop Gellert Hill. Continue through peaceful farmland, dotted with orchards and vineyards to the Austrian border and Vienna.
Hotel: Hilton Vienna Plaza. (BB)

A Premium Highlight visit takes you inside the fabulous Schonbrunn Palace. On a guided city tour, see the Parliament, Winter Palace and Opera House along the Ring Road. Finish with an explanation of the history and culture of the Viennese cafe. (BB)

Drive through forested mountains down to the Carinthian Lake District. Cross the border into Italy and continue to the unique city of Venice where your hotel overlooks the Grand Canal.
Hotel: Continental. (BB,D)

Cruise by private launch to St Mark's Square to see the Doges' Palace, Bridge of Sighs and St Mark's Basilica, followed by a Venetian glass-blowing demonstration. Enjoy a fascinating Highlight gondola ride along the canals. The afternoon is at leisure. (BB)

Head south into the Apennine Mountains and the peaceful landscapes of Tuscany. En route, hear an informative tutorial about the famous Chianti wines that make this region so famous. Follow the course of the Tiber to the Eternal City of Rome. As night falls, join your fellow passengers for a Dine-Around evening of local cuisine offered from a selection of restaurants.
Hotel: Grand Hotel Beverly Hills (BB,DA)

Join a local guide to visit the Vatican Museums and see Michelangelo's ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. Continue inside the cavernous St Peter's Basilica. Leave the Vatican City and cross the Tiber to visit the mighty Colosseum and see the Forum. The afternoon is at leisure. (BB)

Follow the Tiber north into Tuscany, driving to Piazzale Michelangelo for panoramic views over Florence. After a leather-work demonstration, spend the rest of the afternoon exploring this beautiful Renaissance city.
Hotel: Grand Hotel Cavour (BB,D)

A local guide takes you to Santa Croce Basilica to see the tombs of Galileo and Michelangelo. Continue to the lofty Cathedral where Giotto's 14C Campanile is said to be the most beautiful bell-tower in the world. See the 'Gates of Paradise' on the Baptistry and visit Signoria Square with its open-air gallery of Renaissance sculpture. (BB)

Head north through the scenic Italian Lake District, glimpsing Lake Como as you cross into Switzerland. Enjoy magnificent mountain scenery as you travel on to lake-side Lucerne.
Hotel: Astoria (BB)

Walk with your Tour Director to the emotive Lion Monument, carved into a cliff to commemorate the Swiss Guards who lost their lives during the French Revolution. Spend time shopping or strolling along the Chapel Bridge to the richly ornate Jesuit Church. Embark on a Premium Highlight excursion to the summit of one of Switzerland's most famous mountains, Mount Pilatus. Admire the views over the snow-capped Jungfrau and Eiger peaks before returning to Lucerne.(BB,D)

Cross the Rhine at Basel then enter France, travelling through the farmlands of Alsace into the wine-growing Burgundy region. Your destination is the glorious city of Paris.
Hotel: Pullman Bercy (BB)

Sightseeing with a local guide shows you the highlights of the city. See the Gothic Notre Dame cathedral, then drive past the immense facades of the Louvre to the Place de la Concorde, its centre occupied by a giant Egyptian obelisk. Continue along the elegant Champs Élysees to Napoleon's Arc de Triomphe. Now ascend the Eiffel Tower for fine views over Paris. The afternoon is at leisure; perhaps some shopping or visit the superb Louvre museum? (BB)

Cross the battlefields of World War One en route to Calais and your voyage back to Dover. The tour ends after a short drive back to London. (BB)