Hidden Europe: unique experiences in Europe's cities
08/09/2020 · By Katie Shaw
Europe’s cities are treasure troves of culture, teeming with iconic, must-see sights to enthral even the most seasoned of tourists.
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2024 Tour code: SRL24
About the tour
The beautiful fortress town of Sirmione is our base, in an elegant Spa hotel, set on a picturesque peninsula overlooking Lake Garda. On this captivating tour, we glide through Venice's turquoise canals on an unforgettable gondola ride - passing Venetian palazzos, intriguing architecture and by zantine churches - we taste renowned wines and enjoy a delicious homemade dinner at a rural winery in Valpolicella, and explore history and culture in Roman Verona and medieval Malcesine.
Unforgettable experiences
What’s included
Itinerary
Our holiday begins when we meet our fellow travellers and Tour Manager at London St Pancras. We board the Eurostar service to Paris in Standard Premier Class, enjoying a light meal in our seats. From the French capital, we continue by First Class rail to Karlsruhe in Germany, passing through the Champagne and Alsace regions enroute.
In Karlsruhe, we change to the First Class train to Freiburg im Breisgau. Nestled at the edge of the magical Black Forest, Freiburg has a charming Old Town with cobblestone squares lined by gabled buildings and a magnificent Gothic cathedral. Our overnight hotel is near the train station and, after checking in, we head out to a local restaurant to enjoy our first dinner together as a group.
Additional information
Hotel
Trains
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Upgrades
Reviews
4.4 / 5 · 216 reviews
Mrs M Roy
Submitted 13 Nov 2023
Excellent holiday in every way except for the substitution of a coach journey for what should have been a rail journey (due to circumstances beyond your control) but no option to reschedule.
Collected by Trustpilot
Mr Hamish Wilson
Submitted 12 Nov 2023
The walk to the bus was 750m from the hotel. While perfectly manageable it was a drag.
Collected by Trustpilot
Charles Baylis
Submitted 07 Nov 2023
Really enjoyed Sirmione old town,would recommend anyone to go there, it was absolutely magnificent .
Collected by Trustpilot
Ms P Kelly
Submitted 05 Nov 2023
A really enjoyable 10 days, well organised but with plenty of free time to do our own exploring or relax in Sirmione. The hotel was very good - particularly the pools and saunas etc and our guide Carina was excellent.
Collected by Trustpilot
Malcolm Smith
Submitted 02 Nov 2023
Great location, Sirmione is a beautiful town. Our Tour manager Carina Robinson, made our tour. She had numerous problems given to her (landslide on our transfer rom Lyon to Milan, which was solved by using a coach to do the transfer) and strikes by Italian trains while in Italy. All were taken care of by Carina and the tours we were due to go on went ahead by coach instead.
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Gillian GS
Submitted 30 Oct 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed my holiday to Lake Garda. Everything was very well organised and the pace of the holiday was just right, with free days alternating with full day excursions. Although I was the only solo traveller, it was not a problem as the group gelled really well and was very inclusive. The hotel was in an ideal position and, as the weather was unseasonably warm, it was a real treat to enjoy breakfast out on the terrace each morning. Sirmione was an excellent centre with plenty to do in the small town itself and within easy access via the ferry to other places on the lake. Our tour manager was always on hand if needed and ensured everything ran smoothly, leaving guests to enjoy their holiday.
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