GOTHIC EUROPE – 10 DAYS, 9 NIGHTS – APRIL 11TH

Close the books, forget the stress. Start your trip to Europe Holy Week in Gothic 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 meet at 17:00 pm at Atocha Station and head to Paris, spending the night in the bus.

Did you know that…

• Madrid is home to the oldest restaurant in the world! Casa Botín, founded in 1725, is recognized by the Guinness Book of Records.
• The Royal Palace has truly astonishing dimensions. With an extension of 135,000 square meters, it is the largest royal palace in Western Europe and, therefore, one of the largest in the world.
• In the Puerta del Sol is the km O, the point from which you start to measure the distances to all corners of Spain.
• In the Retiro Park there is a statue of Satan himself, one of the few representations 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.

Today on our trip to Europe Easter we will wake up in the “City of Light” and after having a croissant for breakfast, we will start our route through Paris. We just have to choose where to start this trip through Central Europe! You don’t have to be in love to enjoy Paris. Imagine strolling from the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe, letting yourself be carried away by the Seine River until you find Notre Dame, the Gothic cathedral with the most famous gargoyles in the world or get lost among the thousands of impressionist paintings in the D’Orsay Museum and of course, winking at the Mona Lisa in the Louvre Museum.

Of course, we will start from the emblem of the “ville lumière”, the Eiffel Tower, an incredible steel structure created during a Universal Exhibition in the nineteenth century, which since then has watched over the inhabitants of Paris and represents them around the world on trillions of key chains.

We will then continue along the Seine River to meet the Lady of Paris, Notre Dame.

Did you know that…

• The Eiffel Tower is 18 cm higher in summer due to iron expansion.
• Do you know why Paris is called the City of Light? Because there were many robberies in it, then its mayor had candles put in the windows until gas lamps were placed, being the first city illuminated in this way.
• There is a so-called “Paris Syndrome” that affects Japanese who arrive in the city and are disappointed when they do not achieve the prospects they expected. There is even a 24-hour hotline for those affected.

We continue one of our trip to Europe Easter, where we will sail in the sea of hills of the Champagne region, the most famous (and expensive) of the sweet sparkling wines. This area was a battlefield between France and Germany, especially in Verdun, where the memorial to the battle of Verdun is located… more than 1 million soldiers remain buried here.

Before saying “Hallo” to Germany, we will continue our trip to Europe Easter and enter the richest city state of Europe: “Luxembourg”. Home of important European institutions such as the court of justice and the secretariat of the European parliament. There will be no time to open a current account or a company, so we will be on the road again…

We will continue one of our Central European Journeys by driving against the current of the Rhine, the most important river in Europe for river trade, we will arrive in Cologne and take a look at its nightlife. Being a student city, it promises 😉

Did you know that…

• The official languages of this country are French, German and Luxembourgish.
• Industrially, it stands out for sectors such as steel and the chemical industry.

Guten Morgen Deutschland!

Today on the trip to Europe Easter, with a curious joy in the body, we will visit the center of Cologne, the city famous for its water and the most gothic cathedral of all cathedrals. 😉 we will visit the center of Cologne, the city famous for its water and for the most gothic cathedral of all cathedrals. Our day will start full of emotions, we will visit the city center of Cologne. We will see the incredible views of the city from the other side of its famous padlock bridge and you can recharge your batteries, have something to eat, because this afternoon the free city of Amsterdam awaits us!

Today on our trip through Central Europe, in the afternoon, we will arrive in Amsterdam, drop our bags and go straight to the city’s famous Red Light District in the evening. The night is young and life is short, so enjoy, my friends!

Did you know that…

• Cologne Cathedral is one of the largest and most spectacular cathedrals in the world, and remains the largest Gothic building in the world.
• The bones of the Magi are still preserved inside.
• In front of the cathedral, there is a statue that would occupy about three human bodies high and that is exactly the same as the two peaks that rule the two towers of the cathedral. It’s great to see them up close.
• Inside the cathedral is a curious stained glass window in the form of colored pixels.
• At Christmas, a Nöel market full of fantasy, lights, stalls, singers, skating rinks and mulled wine bars make the center of Cologne a real fairy tale.

Liberal culture and politics have made Amsterdam a world reference for advocates of liberalism, especially those who defend the legalization of light drugs (marijuana and hashish) and the regularization of prostitution.

But Amsterdam is not only the coffee shops and the red light district, there are many canals to get lost in! Are you already fed up with so many canals? Well, some of the recommendations are to take a walk through the Van Gogh Museum, the Rjyksmuseum or visit Anne Frank’ s house. And if you feel like having a beer, we have the answer, Heineken beer is your star choice!

*Optional Activities:

• Excursion to the Dutch windmills
• Boat trip on the canals of Amsterdam

Did you know that…

• The facades of the multitude of houses that populate Amsterdam are turned forward. What is said to explain this is 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 inclined forward from top to bottom, to prevent the furniture from colliding with the façade.
• Amsterdam is the most liberal city in the world. Or so they think. It was the first city in the world to accept same-sex marriage, marijuana and prostitution are legal.
• The Dutch are very tall. Men measure an average of 184 cm and women 170 cm.

More information about Coffee-Shops:

The best Coffee Shops in Amsterdam

Today we will continue our trip to Europe at Easter and we hope you still have enough strength left, because we have soooo much to see during this tour through central Europe. But don’t get lost in Amsterdam!!! because 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. 🙂

We will continue one of our Central European Tours after a stop at the mythical Atomium, in the afternoon we will visit and tour the city, we will see its most characteristic and touristic places: starting with the Manneken Pis, the symbol of the city for more than 2 centuries that receives more than 2 million visitors a year. Walking a little further we will find one of the most incredible squares in the world: The Grand Place. This square is surrounded by gothic art buildings that will take your breath away especially at night!

Did you know that…

• The famous Brussels Manneken Pis statuette, or peeing boy, is not the original. There has been over the years more than one silent replacement as it has been repeatedly damaged and stolen by vandals.
• The typical gastronomic delights of Brussels are three: frites, waffles and beer.
• There are hundreds of types of beers in Brussels, and the Delirium Bar is one of the most picturesque that collects all of them.
• There is a hot, cold and sparkling water fountain in the middle of the city, located next to the Gare Central.
• Some of its universities follow the Flemish method of education, while others follow the French method.

Today we give you the opportunity to choose!!! During this day trip to Europe at Easter we give you the option to stay in Brussels, enjoy the capital or join us to visit the most amazing Flemish city! (optional excursion). Plus, it’s right next to Brussels, so hop on the Unitrips* bus and we’ll take you on a tour of Bruges, which is the most visited city in Belgium ahead of the capital. Join the tour and you will find out why. After a beautiful visit to Bruges, we will head to the City of Love. We will board our beloved bus and head to Paris.

*Optional Activity:

• Excursion to Bruges

Did you know that…

• In the Middle Ages, Bruges experienced its greatest economic splendor, which was reflected in its Gothic architecture.
• Contrary to popular belief that the name of the city is related to the fairytale witches, it comes from “Brugge”, which means “bridge” in Flemish. Bruges means “bridges”.
• It belongs to the region of Flanders, considered culturally much richer than Wallonia, in the south of Belgium.

Enjoy the whole day in “The City of Love”! You still have time to propose to that person you liked so much ;). We will spend the day discovering on our own the most famous city in Europe.

And if you still have energy after such a busy day, don’t wait and sign up for our optional activity of a boat ride* on the Seine.

*Optional Activity:

• Boat trip on the Seine

You probably missed something in Paris… and as we are in everything, we come back to make sure you don’t miss it! Do you prefer the modern architecture and its futuristic skyscrapers of La Defénse? Do you prefer the exotic or multiethnic theme? There is a very curious neighborhood called Belleville, where Mr. Malaussene used to live. Nearby there is a cemetery full of illustrious characters of French history, and not only, you can even find the tuba of Jim Morrison, the singer of “The Doors”.

Or maybe you prefer an alternative plan, what about shopping or dancing the Can-Can at the Moulin Rouge?

After this intense trip through Gothic Europe there is nothing left to do but to separate us… and you can get on the bus on your way to Madrid or you can continue your travels through Europe, but don’t worry… What happens in the Eurotrip, stays in Unitrips!

Today in the morning we will arrive in Madrid, where our trip to Europe Semana Santa Europa Gótica will end.

We are sad to leave, but we will soon start planning our next trip. What is our next destination?