Yep, you're finally here – make the most of it! Get your fill of warm pastries at your Trip Leader's recommended spot. Catch a glimpse of Mona with a visit to the Louvre (top tip: get your tix in advance!) Snap a pic of the Arc de Triomphe. Spend some of your hard-earned along the Champs Elysées. Or head out solo to explore the hidden backstreets and charismatic local cafés.
Feeling the chill? Warm up those legs on an optional bike tour. There's even an optional river cruise down the Seine to jump on. Tonight, dress to impress for the cabaret. You're in Paris after all.
What you do this morning is 100% up to you. But if you need some suggestions, we've got your back. Rise early and count your blessings on an optional tour of Vatican City. Head up Capitoline Hill for awesome views of the Roman Forum and Colosseum. Then, perch in a picture-perfect piazza with your espresso and indulge in a little dolce far niente (delicious idleness).
Later, we'll rendezvous with ancient architecture's biggest players on a walking tour to end all walking tours. Pass by the Pantheon, (don't) sit on the Spanish Steps, check out the mighty Colosseum and throw your two cents in the Trevi Fountain before the day is done. Thought this place couldn't get better looking? Watch two-and-a-half-millennia of ancient history light up like Christmas – and think again. (B)
No lies – we have a long drive today. Now is the chance to share snaps with your new mates, catch up on some zzzzs and text the 'rents (trust us, you'll be too busy later). Later, we'll park up in the Floating City – home to over 400 bridges and birthplace of Vivaldi. Throw on your beanie and acquaint yourself with the who's who of Venice's usual suspects on a walking tour – we're talking: St Mark's Square, Doge's Palace and Accademia Bridge.
Tonight, you're free to get lost amongst the misty alleyways and shimmering piazzas of this romantic city. What delicious carb-laden Italian meal haven't you tried yet? Order two. (B)
Rise and shine – the Austrian Alps await! This place is a snow-fanatic's ultimate fantasy and you'll have a full day to shred to your heart's content. Whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned pro, ask your Trip Leader for the best slopes for you – then hit the powder! Or just sit back and enjoy a day sipping hot chocolate surrounded by gobsmacking alpine scenery. It's 100% up to you.
Rather stay put in Salzburg? Take the funicular up to the Castle. Check out Mozart's birthplace. Visit St Peter's Catacombs. Or organise a Sound of Music tour. Disclaimer: you'll be ‘doe-a-deer-ing' for the rest of the trip. Make sure you try a mozartkugel before the day is done. Trust us.
You wanted freedom to explore – here it is. Check out the Central Market Hall. Explore the Jewish Quarter. Play pinball at the Flippermúzeum. Get a harrowing education at the House of Terrors. Hunt down the Anonymous Statue. Soak in the warm therapeutic waters of the Széchenyi Thermal Baths. Or head to Buda Castle and check out all the views from Fisherman's Bastion.
Tonight, get stuck into some local fare: goulash, chicken paprikash, langos, dobos cake. Hopefully you like paprika, they're kinda obsessed with it here. Or opt for a dinner cruise down the Danube – Buda Castle and House of Parliament look extra spesh lit up like Christmas.
Ready for round two exploring Kraków's frosty, fairytale streets? We've got some suggestions for your free day. Head to Hamsa in the heart of the Jewish Quarter for some 'Hummus and Happiness'. Shop for amber in the UNESCO-listed Cloth Hall. Or do as the locals do and head to Okraglak for some drool-worthy street food – Zapiekanki is a must!
Then: it's vodka time. On an optional tasting tour, wander the cobblestone streets with a local guide – learning the history behind Polish vodka and sampling a few flavoured varieties as you go. This stuff is not for mixing with cranberry juice. Trust us. Feeling buzzed? Przypiecek is a pierogi place with your name on it.
Onwards to the spire-filled skyline and mysterious streets of Prague! Get acquainted with this picture-perfect city as our Trip Leader takes us on a wander through Wenceslas Square, past the largest ancient castle in the world and across medieval Charles Bridge. Then: get stuck into some sma~ený sýr (fried cheese = yes please) and watch the quirky show the 600-year-old Astronomical Clock puts on every hour.
Tonight, rally the troops and head to a traditional pub to sample some of that famous Czech beer. Or – if you're here in December – warm up with some mulled wine under the ginormous Christmas tree in Old Town Square. (B)
From one beer capital to the next. Get acquainted with 800 year-old Dresden – a city virtually destroyed in WWII and then rebuilt – before we make tracks to Berlin. Prep yourself for currywurst and more hipsters per capita than anywhere else. We'll drive you around the main sights including (what's left of) the Berlin Wall, Museum Island, the Holocaust Museum and Alexanderplatz. Then: gather the crew and hunt down a steaming döner kebab. Yes, you'll be finding bits in your scarf for the next four days. But it's worth it. (B)
You've got 24 hrs here. Make the most of it. Our advice? Opt in for a historic walking tour that's, you know, not boring. Get a local insight into what the city was like under Nazi rule and tick off the likes of the Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie and Brandenburg Gate.
Plus, get the in-the-know tips on where to spend your free time later. Or put those taste buds to the ultimate test on an awesome AF food tour. We're talking kebabs, pastries, more currywurst, pierogi and local beers (you're in Germany after all). Tonight, round up the fam and see whether this city's nightlife really lives up to the hype.
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