France and Swiss Alps

Welcome to your tour with Europamundo! We’ll transfer you to the hotel and you’ll have some free time. In the afternoon, you’ll find information about the start of your tour on the boards located at the hotel reception.

We’ll immerse ourselves in the rich history of France at the magnificent Palace of Versailles (admission not included), renowned for its stunning gardens. On our return to Paris, we’ll visit Montmartre, a charming bohemian neighborhood famous for its artists, painters, and cabarets. To fully appreciate the grandeur of Paris, we’ll embark on a panoramic city tour with a local guide, showcasing the city’s impressive avenues and iconic monuments. Afterward, we’ll return to the hotel. For those interested, there is an optional variety show in the evening. ​

We’ll start our day in central PARIS, beginning with a visit to the iconic Eiffel Tower. You´ll have the chance to go up to the second floor of this famous iron landmark (tickets included). Afterwards, we’ll enjoy a relaxing boat cruise along the Seine, which will last approximately one hour and fifteen minutes. You’ll have a free afternoon to explore the city at your own pace (transfer back to the hotel not included). Note: If wait times at the Eiffel Tower are too long, we might reschedule the visit to a different time (or on Sunday) for your convenience.

Today, we’ll journey to the heart of France, passing through the Bourgogne region, renowned for its picturesque vineyards and worldclass wines. Our first stop will be Beaune, a charming town in the center of Burgundy known for its flowerfilled streets, hospice, and wine museum. After some free time for lunch and a walk, we’ll continue to Lyon, the former capital of Roman Gaul, located on the banks of the Rhône River. Lyon´s historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage site. We’ll take a cable car up to NotreDame de Fourvière, where we can enjoy a stunning view of the city. You’ll have some free time to explore at your leisure. Note: In some cases, part of the group will stay in Chambéry, a city near Lyon. In these instances, we’ll travel to Chambéry in the evening for an overnight stay. In the morning, you’ll have time to visit this medievalstyle city, the capital de la Saboya, known for its beautiful historic center and impressive castle.

Today, we’ll travel to Switzerland. In Geneva, we’ll pass by the Palace of Nations (the European headquarters of the United Nations) and stop at the beautiful English Garden with its flower clock before admiring the Jet d’Eau, the tallest fountain in Europe. You’ll then have free time to explore and enjoy lunch. We’ll continue along the shores of Lake Geneva, passing vineyardcovered hills and snowcapped mountains, until we reach Lausanne, a city in western Switzerland that is home to the International Olympic Committee. We’ll stop at the Olympic Park, a lakeside landmark dedicated to sports and Olympic culture. Afterward, we’ll head to the walled town of Gruyeres, worldrenowned for its cheese. Nearby, we’ll find some of Switzerland’s top chocolate producers, including Nestlé. We’ll visit the Cailler Chocolate Factory, with a tasting included! We’ll then continue to Fribourg, a bilingual FrenchGerman city with a charming old town. Note: Occasionally, accommodation may be arranged in a nearby city.

We’ll depart along a small, scenic road through the Bern canton, passing hills, forests, and green fields. We’ll make a photo stop along the way, either at Schwarzenburg Castle or, depending on accommodation, at a viewpoint overlooking Lake Thun or Lake Brienz. We’ll then continue to Interlaken, a tourist town nestled between two lakes. Afterwards, we’ll head to the Aare Gorge, where we’ll explore its impressive ravines (tickets included), followed by lunch (included). Next, we’ll journey toward one of Switzerland’s most spectacular mountain passes—the Susten Pass—with its eternal snow and glaciers. We’ll stop en route to take in the majestic glacier scenery. Surrounded by dramatic peaks, we’ll continue toward the Italianspeaking region of Switzerland, passing through the famous Gotthard Tunnel and stopping in Gandria, a charming lakeside village on Lake Lugano, known for its traditional, narrow, and steep streets. From there, we’ll board a boat (tickets included) to Lugano, the main city in Italianspeaking Switzerland, famous for its mild climate and beautiful lakeside promenade. Finally, we’ll head to Chiasso, arriving in the late afternoon. Note: From late May to early October, the Susten Pass may be closed due to snow; in this case, we’ll travel through the equally stunning Brünig Pass. Occasionally, accommodation will be in the Como metropolitan area.

After breakfast, we’ll depart for Bellinzona, the capital of Italianspeaking Switzerland, renowned for its three medieval castles which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You’ll have time to stroll through the picturesque streets of the city center. We’ll then head back toward the Germanspeaking region of Switzerland, crossing the Gotthard Pass, where we’ll stop for a photo at a stunning viewpoint. Our next stop will be Altdorf, the capital of the Uri canton, known as the birthplace of William Tell and one of the founding cantons of independent Switzerland. You’ll have free time to enjoy lunch. Afterward, we’ll head to Lucerne, where you can visit the famous Kapellbrücke, the Lion Monument, the cathedral, the Jesuit Church, and the beautiful old town. Lucerne is considered the tourist capital of Switzerland.

We’ll depart, skirting the shores of the Lake of the Four Cantons as we head toward Einsiedeln, renowned for its immense baroque abbey, the most important pilgrimage center in Switzerland. Continuing east, we’ll visit Heididorf, where we’ll see Heidi’s House (admission not included), a picturesque site with stunning landscapes accessible via a pedestrian path. Next, we’ll enter the small independent country of Liechtenstein, and in its capital, Vaduz, nestled beneath its castle, you’ll have free time to stroll and enjoy lunch. Afterwards, we’ll proceed to the neighboring city of Feldkirch in Austria, a charming walled city near the borders of Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Germany, with a beautiful medieval quarter and castle. Free time.

We’ll depart for St. Gallen, whose historic center has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ll include admission to the library of its magnificent abbey, featuring a baroque hall that houses 170,000 volumes and the Egyptian mummy of Schepenese. The library is also UNESCO World Heritage Site. Afterward, we’ll continue our journey along the shores of Lake Constance, situated between Germany and Switzerland, until we reach Constance, a German city with a beautiful medieval old town known for its cathedral and the Market Square. You’ll have time to stroll and enjoy lunch. We’ll then return to Switzerland to visit Stein am Rhein, a charming village on the banks of the Rhine, famous for its beautifully painted houses. We’ll also visit the Rhine Falls (tickets included), the most powerful waterfalls in Europe. We recommend an optional boat ride that will make you feel like you can almost touch the cascading waters. Arrival in Zurich will be in the evening.

With our guide, we’ll explore Zurich, the most populous city in Switzerland, and its financial and cultural heart. Known for its banks, Zurich has been twice recognized as the city with the best quality of life in the world. Afterwards, we’ll embark on a scenic cruise of nearly two hours on Lake Zurich, with brief stops to enjoy the charming villages along the route. We’ll disembark in Rapperswil, a picturesque village renowned for its medieval castle. We’ll return to Zurich by train, providing an opportunity to experience the efficiency and punctuality of the Swiss railway system. Note: Depending on the number of travelers, transfers to and from the city center may be via public transport.

After breakfast, our journey will come to an end, leaving you with wonderful lasting memories.