ESPRESSO – 11 DAYS, 10 NIGHTS – JUNE 20 TO 30

Good morning, adventurers! Today begins our journey together. We meet in Madrid to set off together towards the city of modernist dreams:Barcelona! Upon arrival, we will enjoy a panoramic ride to the Tibidabo Viewpoint, where you will be able to contemplate a film-like landscape. During the tour, we will also pass by the iconic Passeig de Gràcia and the majestic Sagrada Familia. At the end of the tour, we suggest you take advantage of your free time to explore or enjoy a meal in the magical Gothic Quarter. But don’t take too long… it’s an early start tomorrow!

Did you know that…

• Gaudí’s eternal “work in progress” is about to be completed? After more than 140 years of work, the Sagrada Familia has a completion date of 2026. Begun in 1882, this masterpiece has fascinated the world with its unfinished nature… until now! Don’t miss the opportunity to be one of the last to admire it in its “incomplete” state before it reaches its final form.
• There is a Statue of Liberty in Barcelona, you don’t have to cross the Atlantic to see it. One of the three originals is hidden in the Arús Library, near the city’s Arc de Triomphe. The others are in New York and Paris… but this one is more exclusive.
• Passeig de Gràcia is Gaudí’s catwalk? This iconic avenue is home to two of Gaudí’s most impressive architectural jewels of the 20th century. Let yourself be amazed by the emblematic Pedrera and Battló, authentic works of art that will take your breath away.
• According to tradition, if you drink water from the Canaletas Fountain you fall in love with Barcelona and always come back to it… So be careful if you don’t want to get too attached!
• Barcelona is home to the Labyrinth of Horta? A place so fascinating that it was the scene of scenes from the movie “Perfume“. Get into explorer mode and enter this magical labyrinth, do you dare to find the exit?

After breakfast, we leave early for Nice, known as “the jewel of the French Riviera“. Along the way, the scenery will take your breath away: green hills, picturesque villages and the endless blue of the sea. Upon arrival, we will check in at the hotel and then head out to explore the city. We will stroll along the famous Promenade des Anglais, enjoying the spectacular sea views, explore the Old Town with its narrow streets full of local stores and cafes, and end the day at the Place Masséna.

In the evening, you can choose to have a few more hours to discover Barcelona and its charms or join us on our optional excursion to Monaco, one of the most glamorous and fascinating principalities in the world.

Optional Activity*:

• Night tour in Monaco: We will make a panoramic visit to this destination of pure luxury and glamour. We will admire iconic landmarks such as the Prince’s Palace, the legendary Monte Carlo Casino and the famous Formula 1 circuit, which winds through the elegant streets of the city.

We will start the day early, departing from Nice for Rome. On the way, we will make a mandatory stop in Pisa, ready for a competition of who can take the funniest picture with the Leaning Tower? In Piazza dei Miracoli you will also find the Cathedral and the Baptistery of Pisa, two jewels that will leave you speechless. Then we continue to Rome, where we will arrive in the evening. Check-in at the hotel and rest for the next day’s exciting adventures.

Did you know that…

• Toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain can guarantee your return to Rome? Yes, but only if you throw it with your right hand over your left shoulder – watch the angle! Oh, and the coins that land in the fountain have a noble purpose: to support Caritas.
• The St. Peter’s Basilica is built over the burial place of St. Peter, one of Jesus’ closest apostles and the first Pope of the Catholic Church? And its dome is one of the largest in the world. In addition, the Obelisk in St. Peter’s Square is more than 4,000 years old and was transported to Rome in 37 A.D. Imagine what it has seen over the centuries!
• Did you know that the Roman pizza is not like other pizzas from other Italian regions? It is served “al taglio“, that is, in slices, which makes it perfect to enjoy while walking around the city, combining taste and convenience, so try it while you walk through the ruins and alleys of the Eternal City!

With all that Rome had to offer, it was unthinkable not to give you more free time to explore its wonders. Rome awaits you with its most iconic jewels: the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon… And if you have the energy, take a look at the impressive Church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane or relax in Piazza Navona. Undecided what to do? Don’t worry, we will give you tips and recommendations according to your desires and tastes for an unforgettable day in the Italian capital.

In the afternoon, we say “arrivederci” to the Eternal City and head for Tuscany, land of vineyards and dreamy landscapes. Tonight is for you: relax, explore or simply recharge your batteries at the hotel.

Get ready because today an exciting optional adventure awaits you in Cinque Terre. These charming little villages, declared a World Heritage Site, will conquer you with their colorful houses, sea views and spectacular landscapes that will leave you speechless. Also, don’t forget to bring your bathing suit and, if the weather is nice, we invite you to dive and enjoy a swim in this authentic living painting.

Afterwards, return to Tuscany and free time for whatever you want.

Optional Activity*:

• Excursion to Cinque Terre

Did you know that…

• Cinque Terre was one of the main inspirations for creating the magical world of Disney-Pixar’s Luca Disney-Pixar movie Luca ? Its landscapes, small fishing villages and coastal atmosphere capture the essence of this unique place. The film’s director, Enrico Casarosa, wrote this film as a love letter to the idyllic summers he spent with his family in Cinque Terre during his childhood.

We start the day with a panoramic tour of Florence, cradle of the Renaissance and World Heritage Site. Get ready to fall in love with the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria.

In the afternoon, we continue on to Venice, where you will arrive just in time for a check-in and a well-deserved rest.

Did you know that…

• In the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore there is a clock that goes upside down?
• And that Pinocchio was born here? Well, not him literally, but his story was set here by Carlo Collodi.

Do you want to know more?

More information about Florence that you can’t miss: Art in Florence – The Geniuses of This City

Today you have two options: enjoy a free day to get lost in the narrow streets of Venice or join our optional Venice Pack , which includes the best of the city: gondola ride through the canals of Venice, visit to the Murano glass master and an epic guided tour of the city.

At the end, we depart for Milan, where a panoramic drive awaits you to admire the Duomo, one of the most impressive Gothic cathedrals in the world, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, an elegant shopping mall covered by an impressive glass structure housing luxury boutiques, the majestic La Scala Theater and more.

Optional Activity*:

• Venice Pack: Access ticket to move comfortably, 2 train tickets to facilitate your travels, guided tour of the city, visit to the Master of Murano Glass, gondola ride through the canals of Venice.

Do you want to unveil the hidden enigmas of Venice? We encourage you to dive into our article The Hidden Mysteries of Venice

Did you know that…

• Due to high tide and other factors, a curious phenomenon called “Acqua Alta” occurs in Venice which causes a sharp rise in the water level in the lagoon. It is as if the city plays at transforming itself into a giant swimming pool for 3 or 4 hours. Sometimes, the water rises so high that it floods, with half a meter of water, most of the historic center. So if you see walkways around the city, they are not for modeling! They are to avoid getting your feet wet.
• Cars or bikes? Neither! Not a single car or bicycle is allowed in Venice. It is completely forbidden, and you can be fined. Here you can only walk or sail, so strolling through the streets of the city seems like a trip back in time.
• Although it may seem that Venice is full of canals, technically there are only two major ones: the Grand Canal and the Giudecca Canal. The others are like “rivers” that meander through the narrow streets.
• The gondolas are black because it turns out that centuries ago the rich Venetians were competing madly for who had the most luxurious, colorful and decorated gondola. The solution to avoid this ostentation among the rich was to put them in a black uniform. Thus, the gondolas ceased to be floating catwalks and became the elegant symbol we know today.
• Although the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is so elegant, the story of its inauguration is… tragically epic! It is said that just a few days before it officially opened, a storm broke some glass in the dome. Architect Giuseppe Mengoni, desperate to fix it in time for the inauguration, went up to supervise the repairs. But he had a fatal accident: two days before the inauguration, he fell from the structure and was never able to admire his work open to the public. Today, however, the Galleria remains an emblem of Milan, attracting thousands of tourists from all over the world every year who enjoy its majesty, thus fulfilling the dream of its creator and keeping his legacy alive.

Today we leave Milan to head to Geneva, but not before offering you the possibility of an optional epic stop in the Alps for a fabulous afternoon in the mountains – movie scenery guaranteed!

In the afternoon, we continue our tour to Geneva, where we will take a walk to discover its most popular spots. We will see the Floral Clock, ideal for your selfies, relax on the Banc de la Treille, the longest bench in the world (120 meters of bench!), pass by the Fontaine de l’Escalade and the imposing International Monument of the Reformation, a place as impressive as it is photogenic. Get ready for a walk full of surprises and good vibes! You can’t leave Switzerland without tasting its famous chocolate. Take the opportunity to take some as a souvenir or just enjoy a sweet moment before leaving.

Optional Activity*:

• Alps Pack.

Bathing suit at the ready because, weather permitting, the morning begins with a refreshing dip in Lake Geneva’ s Lake Geneva . Then, we continue on to Bordeaux, where we will take an evening stroll that will reveal why this city is pure charm, with its emblematic Place de la Bourse and the famous Water Mirror.

And so we arrive at the last day of this incredible, but no less exciting, adventure! After breakfast and check-out, San Sebastian awaits us, home to one of the best urban beaches in Europe. During your free time for lunch we suggest you try the delicious local pintxos– you can’t leave without tasting these little gastronomic gems!

Afterwards, we continued on to Madrid for our last night together, the perfect time to celebrate everything we’ve experienced and say goodbye to your new friends!

Although saying goodbye will be difficult, we will take comfort in knowing that you will enjoy every moment and that you will take with you memories and new friendships that you will cherish forever.

Shall we put aside our studies for a while and go on a Christmas trip to Europe together?

We will take you to see a great part of Europe in the most complete Europe Christmas Tour – Christmas Wonderland .

Today in the afternoon you can visit the main attractions of the city of Madrid. If you have already been to the wonderful Spanish capital or simply prefer to arrive rested for the rest of the trip, we will meet directly in the evening at Atocha, Madrid’s main train station.

After spending the night on the bus crossing Spain from Madrid to Catalonia, we will arrive early in Barcelona to soak up its beauty on the most complete Christmas trip to Europe.

During our visit you will learn why Barcelona has become today’s tourist capital of the world. From La Sagrada Familia to Passeig de Gracia, passing through the mythical Ramblas and the Gothic Quarter with its impressive cathedral, this city has a lot to offer.

In the evening, we will continue our backpacking trip to Europe and go to the port to board a ferry. We’ll spend the night on an elegant ferry with all the necessary facilities to make the journey enjoyable: discotheque, video game room, restaurants, 24-hour cafes, pool, gym, health center, casino… So, have a gin and tonic and let yourself be caressed by the Mediterranean breeze!

After a full day enjoying the Mediterranean breezes we will arrive in Civitavecchia and from there our Eurobus will take us to the ancient Caput Mundi, Rome, to continue our journey through Europe.

Rome is an extensive cosmopolitan city filled with culture, history, art, and architecture, offering a Mediterranean cuisine based on seasonal products, along with shops for everyone

Rome is known as the “Eternal City” and everything has its explanation. In this city time seems to have stopped centuries ago due to the multitude of monuments and remains of imposing buildings. All of this turns strolling through its streets into a journey through time, back to the era of the city’s greatest splendor

*Optional Activity: Rome Pack: Sistine Chapel + Musei Vaticani + Colosseum + Rome Walk + Transfers

Did you know that…

• In St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome, you can find stars in the marble pavement, right in the middle of an aisle that runs along the central nave. What they represent are the length of various Catholic temples in the world.
• The Bocca Della Verità is located in Sta. Maria in Cosmedin, the most famous manhole on the planet. According to legend, whoever puts his hand in his mouth and tells a lie, it will bite him.

We will bid farewell to Rome by going early to the Vatican, especially today which is the day of the Urbi et Orbi blessing. We will receive a blessing from Pope Francis from the largest church in the world, St. Peter’s Church.

Then we will get on our mythical bus and continue our trip through Europe, we will set the GPS towards Florence.

“Buongiorno Principessa” said Benigni, actor from Florence, in the movie “Life is Beautiful”.

Today this super trip for young people is about visiting the cradle of the Renaissance, the city that was the cultural and artistic center of Europe from the fifteenth century. In this city the stars aligned, and thanks to art-sensitive families and generations of incredible artists, works that amaze today began to be created.

Does Giotto, Brunelleschi, Botticelli and the 4 Ninja Turtles (Michelangelo, Raffaello, Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello) ring a bell?

This is where he began his career, and then spread his arts in the rest of Italy, especially in Rome to the court of the Popes.

After admiring this small city with more works of art per square meter than anywhere else in the world, we will continue our Christmas journey through Europe and set course for another Italian architectural gem: Venice. But before that, we will make a mandatory stop in Pisa and take the iconic photo Prepare your camera.

*Optional Activity

• Venice Pack

Did you know that…

• The last bridge built in Venice was by a Spanish architect, Calatrava.
• In Venice there is the “Acqua Alta”, a phenomenon that causes the water level to rise sharply. It takes place in the Venice lagoon and usually lasts 3 to 4 hours. It all depends on the intensity with which it occurs, it can even flood Venice with only a rise of half a meter of water, that is, most of the historic center.

We will have the whole day to get to know Venice, the first European city to become an open-air museum and to attract so many tourists that it almost doesn’t fit. So don’t miss the opportunity to visit it on this Christmas Wonderland trip for young people in Europe.

Take out your camera and look for the best angle to take the best pictures of its bridges, Vaporettos and Gondolas.

We will enjoy the Byzantine influenced art that characterizes the Basilica of San Marco, we will also discover how Murano glass is made.

Day 9

Today in this incredible opportunity to travel in Christmas in Europe, is the day when we will enjoy the mountains and the snow (if the weather is good). In winter, this area dresses in white and dazzles with its beauty. We will pass through the Italian mountain range known as the Dolomite Mountains and cross a new country: Austria. Here you are sure to be amazed by the pure water lakes, snow-capped mountains and Heidi’s green valleys.

After a full day taking pictures in the mountains, we will continue our Christmas Wonderland trip and continue through Austria until we reach Bavaria, the southernmost region of Germany, famous for its automobile manufacturers (BMW, Mercedes), its beer, and its capital: Munich.

Munich is not only a rich and modern city, it has a lot of history. “That’s why, if time permits, we will stop to visit its cathedral and the Marienplatz with its famous Gothic clock-carrillon, which features 43 bells and 32 animated figures that dance every morning at 12 o’clock.”

*Optional Activity

• Snow activities

Guten Morgen!

Today, on this amazing journey across Europe for young people, you can choose to stay at the accommodation or venture with us to discover another hidden corner of Europe: Neuschwanstein Castle, also known as the ‘Castle of the Mad King.‘” In addition, we will have the opportunity to visit a ski resort where you can enjoy some snow.

Prefer to stay at the hostel and venture into the city on your own? Would you like to see how they surf in an almost frozen artificial river in the center of the city? Ask us and we will tell you all the little secrets that the city of Munich has to offer!

*Optional Activity

• Visit to the Mad King’s Castle

Did you know that…

• The literal English translation of Neuschwanstein Castle is “The New Stone Swan”.
• The Mad King’s castle was built at a time when castles and fortresses were no longer necessary from a strategic point of view. It was born in the imagination of Louis II as a pure romantic fantasy of an idealized medieval castle.
• Its design is not functional, but aesthetic, being largely the product of the mind of a theatrical set designer.

This morning in the most complete trip to Europe for Christmas you will have the option to visit the Dachau concentration camp, one of the few camps that remind us of the atrocity of World War II and the German Nazi era. However, if you prefer, you will have some free time in the historic center of Munich to enjoy those places you have missed.

After that, we will get back on the bus and continue our Christmas trip through Europe. This time in the direction of:Prague!

Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic and the largest city in the Bohemian region. It is known for being one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, and rightfully so. Its exceptionally privileged location in the heart of Europe and excellent connectivity with neighboring countries make it one of the most visited destinations in the European continent. Throughout its history, this city has been given many names, such as ‘The Golden City,’ ‘The City of a Hundred Spires,’ and ‘The Heart of Europe.

This city was born from the union of five ancient cities and the waters of the Vltava River flow through it. It has traditionally been the political, economic and cultural center of the Czech Republic.

*Optional Activity:

• Visit to Dachau Concentration Camp (Munich)

Put on your coat, have a hot drink, the golden city awaits us!

Before enjoying the New Year, we will continue our Christmas Wonderland tour and you will be able to visit the Old Town, the New Town also of medieval origin, and the old Jewish Quarter.

You can go from Republic Square, with the Powder Tower and the beautiful Art Nouveau Municipal House, to Wenceslas Square. The square is universally known for being the scene of the “Prague Spring”.

Visit the Theater of the States, where several of Mozart’s operas were premiered, and the Jewish Quarter. Afterwards you can stroll through the Clementinum, the former Jesuit College, and then reach the famous Charles Bridge, with its 30 famous baroque sculptures. If there is time we can stop by the old market square, the “Old Town Square” with its outstanding and attractive Astronomical Clock.

We hope you didn’t get too tired today, because there are still the New Year’s celebrations. Every year, people from all over the world come to Prague to celebrate it, because of the city’s charm and the low price of its beers. Are you going to miss it?

Happy New Year!

Our trip came to an end. But you will make memories in the most beautiful corners of the old continent with your new friends from halfway around the world.