In this tour we covered 4 countries (France, Spain, Switzerland & Italy) within 15 days. Main cities covered are,
France - Paris, Loire valley & Provence
Spain - Barcelona
Switzerland - Zurich, Interlaken, Grindelwald, Zermatt & Lauderbrunnen
Italy - Milan & Venice
Since the travel period was February, the weather was pretty cold and we had to take proper winter clothes.
Day 1 - Arrive in Paris
First day was used to check in to the hotel and relax since we arrived in the evening.
Day 2, 3 & 4 - Paris Tour
On the second, third & fourth days, we did Paris city tours with BigBus which took us to all the main highlights of the city including Louvre museum, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triopmhe, Champs Elysees etc. Louvre museum has the most famous painting in the world - The Monalisa. Paris is also home to the Notre Dame Catherdral, which is famous because of the fairy tale - The Hunchback of Notre Dame. This tour lets you get an overall idea about the city and its main attractions. Remember to take the lift to the top of Eiffel Tower which will give you amazing views of Paris.
Day 5 & 6 - Tours
We took a morning train from Paris to Tours which is approximately 200 kilometers away. Tours is famous for its beautiful castles. Castles such as Chenonceau, Versailles, Villandry, Amboise are must visit places if you happen to visit this area. These castles were built hundreds of years ago, survived many world wars and still stand tall. Visiting these castles gives you a vintage feeling as if you are part of the story "Robin Hood".
Day 7 & 8 - Spain
On day 7, we took a train from Tours to Barcelona, Spain crossing country borders. The distance is around 900 kilometers and it took approximately 11 hours to arrive in Spain. The most beautiful city in Spain is Barcelona, hence we planned our accommodation in Barcelona. Barcelona is a colorful city with beautiful architecture and one of the most famous buildings in this city is the La Sagrada Familia. The Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família is a large unfinished Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí in 1882 and still under construction.
Day 9 - Zurich
On day 9, we took a flight from Barcelona to Zurich, Switzerland which is approximately 1100 Kilometers away. Zurich is one of the most expensive cities in the world and home to the world famous Lindt Chocolates.
Day 10 & 11 - Lauderbrunnen
We took a train from Zurich to Lauderbrunnen, which is a municipality in the Swiss Alps. We stationed ourselves in Lauderbrunnen and visited Grindelwald & Interlaken which are beautiful towns. It is heavily snowing in February and the temperature was below zero. A must visit in this area is Jungfroujoch - which is the highest point in Europe at a height of 4,158 meters. Make sure to take the train ride.
Day 12 - Zermatt
Switzerland has one of the most efficient and high tech train networks in the world. Hence, we opted to use trains as much as possible :D On this day, we went to Zermatt from Lauderbrunnen via train which is around 120 kilometers away. Zermatt is famous for the iconic Matterhorn mountain which is used in the logo of Paramount Pictures. The Matterhorn is a mountain of the Alps, straddling the main watershed and border between Switzerland and Italy. It is a large, near-symmetrical pyramidal peak in the extended Monte Rosa area of the Pennine Alps, whose summit is 4,478 metres high, making it one of the highest summits in the Alps and Europe. Take the Gornegrat train ride to get closer to the Matterhorn.
Day 13 - Venice, Italy
We took a flight from Switzerland to Italy which is 500 kilometers away. Landed in Milan and visited Venice which is one of the most romantic cities in the world. Venice, the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, is built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. It has no roads, just canals – including the Grand Canal thoroughfare – lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces. Venice is also famous for its crystals.
Day 14 - Milan
Milan is famous for its luxurious shopping complexes. Make sure to visit Duomo Di Milano Church which is a large beautiful architectural building.
France - Paris, Loire valley & Provence
Spain - Barcelona
Switzerland - Zurich, Interlaken, Grindelwald, Zermatt & Lauderbrunnen
Italy - Milan & Venice
Since the travel period was February, the weather was pretty cold and we had to take proper winter clothes.
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| Posing with the Matterhorn - Switzerland |
Day 1 - Arrive in Paris
First day was used to check in to the hotel and relax since we arrived in the evening.
 |
| Champs Elysees |
Day 2, 3 & 4 - Paris Tour
On the second, third & fourth days, we did Paris city tours with BigBus which took us to all the main highlights of the city including Louvre museum, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triopmhe, Champs Elysees etc. Louvre museum has the most famous painting in the world - The Monalisa. Paris is also home to the Notre Dame Catherdral, which is famous because of the fairy tale - The Hunchback of Notre Dame. This tour lets you get an overall idea about the city and its main attractions. Remember to take the lift to the top of Eiffel Tower which will give you amazing views of Paris.
 |
| Eiffel Tower - Paris |
Day 5 & 6 - Tours
We took a morning train from Paris to Tours which is approximately 200 kilometers away. Tours is famous for its beautiful castles. Castles such as Chenonceau, Versailles, Villandry, Amboise are must visit places if you happen to visit this area. These castles were built hundreds of years ago, survived many world wars and still stand tall. Visiting these castles gives you a vintage feeling as if you are part of the story "Robin Hood".
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| Chateau Du Chenonceau |
Day 7 & 8 - Spain
On day 7, we took a train from Tours to Barcelona, Spain crossing country borders. The distance is around 900 kilometers and it took approximately 11 hours to arrive in Spain. The most beautiful city in Spain is Barcelona, hence we planned our accommodation in Barcelona. Barcelona is a colorful city with beautiful architecture and one of the most famous buildings in this city is the La Sagrada Familia. The Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família is a large unfinished Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí in 1882 and still under construction.
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| La Sagrada Familia - Barcelona |
Day 9 - Zurich
On day 9, we took a flight from Barcelona to Zurich, Switzerland which is approximately 1100 Kilometers away. Zurich is one of the most expensive cities in the world and home to the world famous Lindt Chocolates.
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| Zurich at night |
Day 10 & 11 - Lauderbrunnen
We took a train from Zurich to Lauderbrunnen, which is a municipality in the Swiss Alps. We stationed ourselves in Lauderbrunnen and visited Grindelwald & Interlaken which are beautiful towns. It is heavily snowing in February and the temperature was below zero. A must visit in this area is Jungfroujoch - which is the highest point in Europe at a height of 4,158 meters. Make sure to take the train ride.
 |
| Grindelwald |
Day 12 - Zermatt
Switzerland has one of the most efficient and high tech train networks in the world. Hence, we opted to use trains as much as possible :D On this day, we went to Zermatt from Lauderbrunnen via train which is around 120 kilometers away. Zermatt is famous for the iconic Matterhorn mountain which is used in the logo of Paramount Pictures. The Matterhorn is a mountain of the Alps, straddling the main watershed and border between Switzerland and Italy. It is a large, near-symmetrical pyramidal peak in the extended Monte Rosa area of the Pennine Alps, whose summit is 4,478 metres high, making it one of the highest summits in the Alps and Europe. Take the Gornegrat train ride to get closer to the Matterhorn.
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| Matterhorn standing tall |
Day 13 - Venice, Italy
We took a flight from Switzerland to Italy which is 500 kilometers away. Landed in Milan and visited Venice which is one of the most romantic cities in the world. Venice, the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, is built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. It has no roads, just canals – including the Grand Canal thoroughfare – lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces. Venice is also famous for its crystals.
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| City of Venice |
Milan is famous for its luxurious shopping complexes. Make sure to visit Duomo Di Milano Church which is a large beautiful architectural building.
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| Duomo Di Milano |
Amazing...
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