Our Rick Steve's guide was knowledgeable and the local guides made each city and town come alive. Sleep in Bacharach. There were very few clouds in the sky and the Alps were magnificent. "Just one is hard to choose. I went into this trip not knowing a soul, and came out with 29 new friends! Perfect for those who love to travel, but who don't want to organize the trip. Very thankful for the time and effort that went into planning the trip for me, so I didn't have to worry about a thing!! And side trips to Giverny and Rowan, Orvieto, it's church. I am very glad we choose to utilize Rick Steves' services because I am convinced we saw more in less time with less trouble than if we had tried to go it alone. Prepare to be awed by the brilliant stained-glass windows of Sainte-Chapelle, and enlightened on a historic walk through the Latin Quarter, ending at the resilient and still-stunning Notre-Dame Cathedral. Definitely making the trip back to Lauterbrunnen Valley soon for more! All of us in the group were very pleased with our experience. Too hard to pick a favorite.". Throughout the tour, beginning with the orientation meeting, Tim was very approachable, personable, and professional, all with an engaging personality. "There were "wow" moments every day of this trip but the ones that stand out the most were seeing Michelangelo's David, St. Peter's Basilica, Brunelleschi's Dome, and the breathtaking beauty of Switzerland and the Swiss Alps. I couldn't have asked for a better honeymoon! Tim was truly outstanding in every way. We truly experienced what could possibly be the most amazing days in our lives..,so far. The trip was well organized, the group was fairly small, and the bus and hotels were well located and comfortable. Arriving at Day 21 of the tour and thinking, "Wow, I didn't think I could do this long a trip. Jan 24, 2014 - Rick Steves' classic 3-week tour packs more travel thrills into a single vacation than you can imagine. We had an amazing group of tourists that all got along with each other and our coach and driver were top notch also. We'll start in quintessentially Dutch Haarlem, a quick train, bus, or taxi ride from the Amsterdam airport. A whirlwind of activity. Swimming in the ocean @ 10:00 at night under a very Bright Full moon in Cinque Terra! Interactions with the other tour members always provided insights into other peoples' lives, making my life richer. We liked the combination of group and individual time. Previously my favourite place was St. Paul's in London but St Peter's is truly amazing.". "Switzerland. My favorite "wow" moment was hiking from Murren to Gimmelwald and having lunch there in a small hostile. The amount of artwork we saw was overwheiming. Au revoir! "The Schilthorn Piz Gloria was breathtaking. He is very knowledgeable and experienced. A close second favorite "wow" moment is standing on the Champ de Mars with a beret on my head and looking at the Eiffel Tower lit up at night. You just can't help but smile.". "SO HARD! I also liked the truck-stops, they were so interesting, each country had different toilets & lots of goodies for a little break. This tour was jam-packed with sites to see, information to learn. It was nice that we saw all the must-sees and had free time to see whatever else interested us. Very well organized. We saw and experienced so much. They were the best group too. And I loved learning so much about the history and culture of everywhere we went. The means were super! A very generous and well managed tour. After checking into our nearby hotel, we'll have a transportation lesson and Métro ride to the historic heart of Paris: the Ile de la Cité. I liked how the long bus rides were broken up with the stops along the way. It was breathtakingly beautiful the entire hike, with fresh alpine air, and a cow slide! see our FAQ. ). "The Lauterbrunnen Valley in Switzerland was breathtaking! The wealth of knowledge gleaned about history and culture is priceless. The Best of Europe in 21 Days Tour Rick Steves' classic 3-week tour packs more travel thrills into a single vacation than you can imagine. Cinque Terre, Wengen, The mosaics at St. Marks, Seeing the Pope at St. Peter's, dinner on the Seine in Paris, etc., etc., etc.". Exceeded our expectations...best decision we made was to take a RS tour! "This tour has so much to offer that there were several Wow! Loved them all for different reasons. "I enjoyed every moment and found that getting caught trying to 'rate' everything on the tour caused a lost perspective and I was not able to find the 'wow' moments in all we experienced, including everyday occurrences. Also, a close second, toasting with Champagne at the lit up Eiffel Tower! "Favorite "Wow" moment was the night time walking tour of Rome and seeing the city with just the locals, not all the tourist crunch of the day. The somber walk through the concentration camp. To see societies that are different from that of the United States gives me a much better perspective of the world and of the USA. Outstanding every day of the tour. To request advance notification of when a tour will be available for booking, please select ‘Notify Me’ next to the departure date and join the list. It was surprisingly romantic! Our Trip Netherlands Germany Austria Italy Switzerland France Day 1 Check-out for our hotel in Amsterdam was 11 am, so we decided to head to Haarlem earlier than the 2pm meeting time. Watch Queue Queue Rick Steves Best of Europe in 21 Days: Home; Welkom bij Nederland (Welcome to the Netherlands) Willkommen in Deutschland (Welcome to Germany) Willkommen in Österreich (Welcome to Austria) Benvenuti in Italia (Welcome to Italy) Benvenuti in Vatican City (Welcome to Vatican City) Bienvenue en Suisse (Welcome to Switzerland) It was such a great experience and overall a nice taste of the various cultures in Europe. Your evening is free for dinner and more discoveries. I think it is very cost effective. From city tours of Haarlem, Bacharach, Rothenburg, Orvietto to Eiffel tower lighting up were all fantastic.". Amazing guides with a depth of knowledge of the areas and history. It was such a privilege to have local guides take us through the museums or around their town. The food was incredible, Tim, our guide was great and the folks we toured with made the trip particularly special. This is the reason why we take a RS Tour. Every day was wonderful. This was my first trip to Europe and i felt this was a good sample of Europe and it gave me many ideas of places to see or return to. St. Mark's Basilica in Venice!!! The tour was great, a well-planned sampling, especially being my first trip to Europe. We learned so much and will treasure the time we had with our new friends. Some of our group was not ready for it. I may be home recovering, but I was with you on your blog. While I wasn't sure about the long bus days, the way it was broken up and Tim's history lessons made them actually a highlight of the trip. I highly recommend to anyone whether traveling as a single person, couple or family group. See the best of Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany, and Holland. We'll meet at our hotel at 3 p.m. for an orientation and chance to get acquainted, followed by a walking tour of this charming town and a traditional rijsttafel dinner together. After that, we are ready for our treasured “vacation from our vacation” on the Italian Riviera. Awesome. So many nice memories. My main concern initially booking with Rick Steves was whether or not we would good a good value (experience) for the higher price charged. With the travel details planned for us, we could spend our time exploring, learning, and interacting with our new-found friends. "Two favorites- both in Switzerland. Many thanks to our incredible tour guide Colleen! You also travel through the French countryside, the Swiss Alps, and the Tuscan region of Italy. Post Trip. It was a cloudy day when we began the first section of the climb and breaking thru the clouds to see the mountain ranges around us. The expected highlights were included, along with off the beaten path alternatives to make sure you got the most from your trip. Also our group dinner in Venice! Just amazing to be on top of the world ...at least that is how I felt, on a most beautiful sunny bright day but still cold to feel the power of nature. Words cannot express just how wonderful this experience was! Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. What am amazing experience! Nature never disappoints, it is always beautiful. Our group gelled immediately under Jesse's leadership and we all experienced Europe together as an extended family. Tim, our tour guide, surprised us by including a singer and an accordion player for our group. However, the months of April, May, September, and October are best for offering generally good weather, lighter crowds, and the full range of tourist fun. This moment took us from individuals on a bus to a band of travelers.". We were fortunate to have many wonderful people on the journey, which made the travel enjoyable. We made the most of every minute because the tour is so well planned. The various experiences were so much fun and educational. My Account. He was prepared, knowledgeable, and organized. Better yet, get lost (remember, it's an island) exploring the alleys, cruising the canals, and "crawling" the pubs. We'll visit what seems like a limitless collection of treasures as you make your way to one of the world's most famous works of art: Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel. In this one-hour special, Rick travels back a century to learn how fascism rose and then fell in Europe — taking millions of people with it. I didn't expect to learn so much. Everything was well planned and executed. And the luge. Horrible experience. Afterward, at nearby St. Goar, we'll hike up the hill to tour the mighty medieval Rheinfels Castle and enjoy its commanding view of the Rhine Valley. All of Italy was truly inspirational, Venice to beautiful Florence, then incredible ancient Roman architecture and history to swimming in the Mediterranean off Cinque Terre. WOW! Light to strenuous walking (your choice). Join us! The lodging was exceptional with only the Beaune hotel less than ideal. Dimitri was exceptionally good. It was for me an exhausting trip, but that is what I wanted in order to get the most out of the experience. "Favorite "Wow" moment? Although we covered a lot of ground in 21 days, I feel we saw so much. Covered a lot of ground in 21 days and experienced a good mix of history and architectural sites. The destinations, the tours, and the tour guides were all first rate. I really enjoyed the group dinners! Hiking in Austria, Switzerland, and Cinque Terre, riding in a gondola in Venice, and standing in front of the statue of David in Florence were the most amazing and awe inspiring moments for me.". Staying in a medieval walled town with castles overlooking it. What an exciting city! Great introduction to Europe for our family. My husband and I planned this trip for our 25th wedding anniversary. It's an essential part of the Rick Steves tour experience. And the RS guides are the best! Thank you Tim and all those behind the scenes at Rick Steves'! The trip exceeded our expectations in every way imaginable. Both trips were wonderful, and although the trek was similar, the experience was different. Our guides provided good history that was very informative. It is impossible to summarize - but that is the best I can do. Absolutely wonderful. I have traveled with the Rick Steve's tour twice prior to this trip (London city tour and Best of Europe 14 days). The hotels were comfortable and many had beautiful views. With the exception of weather related cancellations, the tour was exactly what I expected, and RS did throw in a few perks to help offset the missed activities. The extra little demonstrations, tastings etc. I also was impressed with how the Netherlands was self-made--the city was built upon peers upon the water. I was afraid, as non-drinkers, we might feel like a square peg in a round hole but fellow travelers and our guide made it a comfortable situation. I especially loved the Alps, small barns and cows in Switzerland! Beautiful.". Next trip to Europe will definitely be a Rick Steves Tour! This was my first and possibly the only trip to Europe I'll ever take. "There were so many "wow" moments from the tour it is difficult to choose a favorite! Having followed Rick Steves for many years including: "Europe Thought the Backdoor" (even had the black and white guides), on PBS, and online, It was time to experience Europe with Rick's guidance. The size of our tour group was good. The tour was incredible. There were surprises along the way like stopping at an old city or heritage park, or having a traditional lunch together. I made so many lifelong friends that it was hard to say goodbye at the end. "The beauty of the Swiss Alps and the hike back into the valley.". Breakfast is provided, but there are no group activities today. Pick a Cinque Terre village and spend your day exploring the stairways and alleyways, sunning yourself on the rocks, or sipping a cappuccino and catching up on your journal at an outdoor café. What a wonderful experience, I had no idea what a huge roll Tim would have. The tour was well-paced and well organized. There were a whole lot of WOW moments.". Biggest unexpected bonus for me was the instruction given in each country and city in local language, cultural customs, using public toilets, using public transport, etc. We'll then drive across the Bavarian countryside to visit Germany's greatest Rococo-style church, the Wieskirche. Keukenhof was outstanding. "I had chosen the first tour of the season so that we could possibly hit the peak season for the tulips in Amsterdam. After lunch, we'll tour the wealth of Botticellis, Leonardos, and Raphaels in the greatest collection of Italian paintings anywhere — the Uffizi Gallery. First the drive there- every direction you turned was more gorgeous than the last. It was tiring, but I don't know what you could leave out. We saw so many things I'm still processing all of it. See the best of Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany, and Holland. Afterward your guide will organize an optional gondola ride for this unique Venetian experience. Andy made everything so much more enjoyable with all the history lessons and fun facts about each destination, and made things easier for us by teaching a few words and phrases for each country. It's an essential part of the Rick Steves tour experience. Pacing was helpful, intense days alternated with slower, free days. The overall itinerary, timing and logistics were so well calculated and handled. Sleep in Rothenburg. The accommodations, and food was good. Snowball fights in the Alps in 80-degree weather was something I will never forget!". Keukenhof - I'm a gardener in Alaska so the lush abundance. Taking a cog train to a hotel in Wengen high in the mountains was a unique experience which deserves to be on every bucket list. We, as a group, gelled early which was helpful as we learned from each other. I was very interested in the Netherlands, so I arrived a few days early and read some history on WW2 and the Resistance. I came home a better person. And trying hard to connect with locals through my stumbling, mispronounced greetings, pleases and thank you's in unfamiliar languages. It exceeded our hopes for an entry into travel in Europe. I have gone on many wonderful trips, Europe included, but this will go down not only as my favorite, but as the one that all future trips will be judged against. Sleep in Monterosso al Mare. For more information about transportation options for getting to and from your tour, see your Rick Steves Best of Europe guidebook. The visit to the American Cemetery in Germany was very emotional for us, a military couple, "Top of the mountain, Schilthorn Piz Gloria in Switzerland. Andy and Virginia were amazing! There was a great balance of guided tour time and free time so you could explore other places or just relax as needed. Visiting the smaller cities/towns was the highlight of the trip for me. Hiking across the fields and down into the valley was absolutely spectacular.". Yorick Harker was an excellent tour guide in many ways. "There were too many to single out just one. All of them really made the places come alive. Rick Steves Best of Europe in 21 Days: Home; Welkom bij Nederland (Welcome to the Netherlands) Willkommen in Deutschland (Welcome to Germany) Willkommen in Österreich (Welcome to Austria) Benvenuti in Italia (Welcome to Italy) Benvenuti in Vatican City (Welcome to Vatican City) Bienvenue en Suisse (Welcome to Switzerland) We'll take a scenic, all-day drive to Venice today, stopping en route for lunch together in a characteristic Italian-Tirolean village. I was not sure what to expect but the tour far exceeded my expectations. Our tour guide Colleen was excellent. Pre-Trip. We'll drive straight to Florence and hit the ground walking with a Renaissance tour of the city's historic center. You may want to join your guide for an optional mountain excursion that could combine the local narrow-gauge railway, a gondola lift, and a spectacular Alpine walk above the tree line, surrounded by a panorama of cut-glass peaks…or ride a gondola lift up to the Schilthorn at 10,000 feet, loiter in the thin air, and hike down…or wander through the valley and walk to the thundering Trümmelbach Falls: a unique set of waterfalls encased behind the valley walls. ", This was my first trip to Europe. It exceeded any expectation I had. I have been planning to go on this tour since 2012 but work or family issues always prevented my booking. They were close to all the sites. Although a couple of stops seemed to be more about the number of hours in the bus than the significance of the location (Beaune) other places I was completely unfamiliar with like Haarlem and Bacharach where delightful and obviously places of significance. This was my second RS tour . The tour info could not have prepared me for this all encompassing tour. But, I would have to pick the Austrian Mountains and the Swiss Alps. Everyone on the tour got along making the tour a pleasurable experience. Loved it,the town,the guide David and the never ceases to amaze Andy with is drone.". One of the remarkable things about our introductions, is that Tim suggested that we say our names and not necessarily share our occupation, past or present. With the Rick Steves Audio Europe™ app on your smartphone, Rick's voice will guide you through the Louvre's timeless treasures including Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, Venus de Milo, and hundreds more. It could not have been any better. What a sparkle he had! We went to the top of Piz Gloria and got to look out on all the mountains. Being in all those churches and cathedrals with all of the art. The bus and driver were amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Breakfast is provided, but there are no group activities today. Train: ¼ hour. The tour was listed as strenuous, which was an accurate description of our 21 day tour. Taking the gondola up with a beautiful blue sky. Sleep in Paris. So much to see and do. Our group members were wonderful, and under the guide of our leaders, we bonded amazingly well. I was not looking forward to Paris. I totally loved all my fellow travellers, and Yorick and Jean were delightful. You may wish to round out your Paris sightseeing with a walk down the Champs-Elysées, or perhaps a visit to such legendary museums as the Orsay and Rodin — the choices are endless. As we were looking at it we noticed that the bus had again stopped along with the rest of the traffic. We'll drive into profoundly French Burgundy for a look at small-town France. Rick Steves' 1994 2 to 22 Days in Europe: The Itinerary Planner (Rick Steves' Best of Europe) | Steves, Rick | ISBN: 9781562611293 | Kostenloser Versand für … France. I can truthfully say that everything we did on the trip was well worthwhile. "My favorite "wow" moment would be any of the breathtaking views in the Swiss Alps. More than thrilled with the bus and driver, Peter, and loved that we essentially had a row apiece on the luxurious bus. The sheer cliffs, the waterfalls cascading down into the valley, the snow capped Alps encircling everything. But if I have to chose, it is Switzerland's breathtaking Lauterbrunnen Valley! Bacharach Germany - such a quaint and beautiful little town Great trip! Sleep in Florence. There is also a nice mix of scheduled group activities and time to explore on your own using your guidebook or suggestions from your tour guide. After a few years of visiting Europe's cities on our own, we found the tour experience to be a great choice. We got to see so much in our 21 days, and we had an awesome guide and driver as well. I loved the area in Switzerland that we visited. "My favorite WOW moment was when we hiked in Switzerland! See the best of Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany, and Holland. We were not disappointed! I had high expectations for this tour, and it exceeded my expectations in every way. He was so laid back yet kept everyone on schedule, together and prepared us for each city with several reminders on the daily plan, education on transportation and language phrases, warnings about pickpockets and fun spots to see on our own. Every place we visited left memories I will mentally sort through, re-live remotely, and re-experience mentally for the rest of my life. "The Thrill walk which is totally out of character for me, in fact our whole time in Switzerland was outstanding. • Having 1/2 to full free days in each location meant we could tailor the trip to our preferences, but had the convenience of a planned trip. This is a long tour and I must admit the bussing around did get to me sometimes as I was fighting a cold for a number of days, but, in general, this tour delivers the "greatest hits" of Europe and does them well. By dinnertime of day 3 our group had already gotten to know each other and our table conversations filled the room. We definitely want to do more tours with Rick Steves. Your tips on packing was an eye opener, and we were never lacking in anything while following them. The Coliseum. Everything was organized so we could experience the food & cultures of each area, I enjoyed the bus trip part which gave us time to relax, visit & have Jody give us information about the next stop. We both wanted to goto Europe for the first time and this trip hit all the big cities and some smaller ones that were on our list. We saw so much in 21 days. The Eiffel Tower!". Train: ¼ hour. I can say unequivocally that my expectations were exceeded in every way. I honestly believe that the people on our group where too spoon feed at every moment. Murren was a so much fun and the views are so amazing, even for an Alaskan.". This tour was everything I hoped for and more. This was my first time being in Europe. Being in Venice and watching the gondoliers rowing through the canals. Jump to bottom. From our tour guide Matt, to our coach driver Richard, all the local guides, sights and sounds, everything was planned out expertly. The itineraries provided a perfect taste of the areas with adequate spare time to explore on our own. Learned a lot of history from the guide. "Hiking in picture perfect Alps ( both Bavarian and Swiss ), and very intimate touchstones of birth of Renaissance in Florence ( including Galileo's actual fingers ). This was my first Rick Steves tour, but hope its not my last! ?? But, I was surprised how much I loved Paris. "Our night walk in Rome! I have never been to Europe before and I am so glad I used this tour for my first experience. "On top of the mountain in Switzerland. After visiting pubs in six European countries on a 21-day Rick Steves’ Best of Europe Tour this summer, a return to basics was in order. Our guides, Dimitri and Asa, bus driver Paul gave us a first class experience and gave us a life-time of memories. Sleep in Paris. The tour exceeded every expectation I had, and my expectations were (despite my best efforts) very HIGH. Each day since our return, I have thought about something else that we saw or did. Jump to bottom. Our classic, three-week Best of Europe tour packs more travel thrills into a single vacation than you can imagine. "Each location has it's own flavor so it is truly difficult to pick just one. This time around, the trip was more "polished" with local guides, better bus, two nights at most hotels. Bus: 4 hours. The amount of places covered, in the small time, is incomprehensible. The hotels we stayed in had unique character and charm, which is what I prefer. It was delightful. What a wonderful trip! Rick Steves' Best of Europe 21 Day Tour A Journal of Stephen and Summer's Experiences Toggle Navigation. I'd say my experience far exceeded expectations. Our guide/host, Dimitri, was outstanding and very knowledgeable and accommodating. After leaving Rome on our Rick Steves’ 21-day Best of Europe Tour, we spent three days in the Cinque Terra on the rugged Mediterranean coast of Italy – an extremely picturesque series of five villages or small towns i.e. Posted on July 3, 2019 by Rick Steves Looking Back at the Best of Europe in 21 Days I’m feeling a bit nostalgic, thinking back to the days when our “tour program” was just me driving a minibus with eight other travelers , and at particularly scenic spots — to enjoy the views to the absolute max — we’d take turns riding on the rooftop. Our tour was incredible! The pasta and clams were a WOW!". We were fortunate in the friends we shared the tour with...we all got along and enjoyed each others company. The Swiss Alps (Wengen) were probably the most breathtaking in beauty. The diversity of the types of places we visited impressed me. We also took a gondola up the mountain and hiked down and saw the Northface area of Eiger mountain. This was the my number one bucket list item when I planned the trip to Europe.". We'll travel to Arnhem's open-air museum this morning to see what life was like in this corner of Europe centuries ago. I enjoyed all the people we interacted with, countries and sites we visited, foods we tried, and schedule we had. John & Judy's experience was based on a Rick Steves 21 day Best of Europe tour they had taken in the late 90's, and while no plans were made that day, a seed was planted that resulted in us taking our first trip to Europe just two and a half months later. . The locations we visited were well chosen. I want to go back and see more of it!". I felt that I was given great historical information, saw the most important sights of each country that we visited, and was safe and secure in the knowledge that I was being watched over by our excellent guide, Andy. I truly appreciated from booking to the last day in Paris. :) Posted by Charlie. "There were many, but the biggest was maybe when we were walking through the Louvre, at the end of the trip, and I would walk by a painting and it would be a 600 year old painting of a place we had been. I saw things and places that I never dreamed I would see. Germany. The local guides were terrific and significantly added to my overall enjoyment. I have been on many tours before, but this was my first Rick Steves tour. We walked along the valley , it was so lush and green and peaceful.The Sistine Chapel was totally amazing, even though it was our second time in Rome, it was a wow moment to see it again. I had been on 1 RS Tour previously and had read all the reviews for the BOE 21 Days so although I tried to contain my expectations, I was really excited about the tour and was not disappointed. I am so glad that this year, by happenstance, good luck or alignment of the planets, I was able to go. Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. "While everyday was a wonderful new adventure being in Switzerland was the one place that was more than we expected". You need to be well rested when you start, because you are always on the go! Both felt overloaded to me. The next morning it was slightly cloudy when we ended up hiking to the top of waterfalls. Browse Rick's best Austria tours and vacation packages: Best of Munich, Salzburg & Vienna in 8 Days … Rick Steves' Best of Europe in 21 Days. The whole trip seemed flawless and more important awesome. Also our time in Venice and hiking the Cinque Terre trails were highlights for me. I could've stayed there all day enjoying the scenery. Rome & Paris were too busy & crowded for me but i enjoyed them nonetheless. It’s been many years since I dedicated 21 days to one busload of travelers, and this promises to be a learning and growing and brainstorming experience for Rick Steves Europe Tours. Then, you'll have free time to visit the Van Gogh Museum, the Anne Frank House (reserve online, well in advance! Booking round-trip to one city will require a connecting flight, train trip, or additional overnight stay in Europe. I was very enjoyable. SO MANY WOW MOMENTS! Scheduling, bus travel, hotels, activities, and our excellent guide Dimitri. Here's a fun sneak peek at what it's like to discover Europe on a Best of Europe in 21 Days tour. Little side stops like the cheese place in Amsterdam were great added bonuses!This was my first trip to Europe and I really liked getting a feel for so many parts of Europe. I loved being thrown around by Cinque Terre waves. The tour was very physically demanding, as we expected, but still had a nice balance of busy and leisure time. I especially enjoyed the variety and contrast of cities and villages, sea-side and mountains, Northern Europe and Southern Europe. 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Sites, and we had with our fellow travelers were interesting, each one was than... The lake by Schloss Hohenschwangau near the base of Neuschwanstein time perfect. `` say this. More towns come alive and dancing with Russians to rick steves best of europe in 21 days Floyd played by a traditional Dutch pancake lunch every dimension.