Europe Travel Guides and Tours

Tauck's top selling Italy tour – highlighted by an after-hours guided visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel – explores Venice, Florence, Rome, Pompeii, Tuscan hill towns, and the Amalfi Coast – total Italian immersion, with world-renowned art, architecture, preserved medieval towns, and dramatic scenery. Select Small Group departure dates available with no more than 26 Tauck guests! Discover Bella Italia on Tauck's most comprehensive Italy tour, in the country, on visits to scenic Tuscan hill towns, in centuries-old cities and countryside villages, and along the Amalfi Coast. Classic Italy is highlighted by a Tauck Exclusive – an after-hours guided visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel for an extraordinary look at some of the world's most magnificent art treasures, without the crowds! Experience the rich history of the Vatican and the Roman Empire. Art is the focus in the beautiful city of Florence, a Tauck Italy tour highlight. A lecture by an art historian precedes a walking tour of the city and a visit to Galleria dell'Accademia. You'll also tour the magnificent Uffizi Gallery, accompanied by a local guide. Cruise by private boat along the shores of Cinque Terre villages clinging to coastal mountains, and stay at a 17th-century country house hotel in Torgiano where you'll share the secrets of great Italian cooking with an Umbrian chef. Historic sights in Pompeii, a two-night stay in magical Venice, and visits to the hill towns of Orvieto, Assisi, and San Gimignano complement a three-night stay in Rome.

Wind your way past medieval landscapes on a Danube River cruise aboard ms Swiss Emerald, ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel to discover castles, cathedrals, frescoes and Habsburg palaces in five European countries. Includes land stays featuring two nights each in Prague and Budapest at centrally located 5-star hotels. New for 2010! Two special departures – Musical Magic Along the Blue Danube Glide past fairy-tale castles and medieval villages aboard Tauck's ms Swiss Emerald, ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel on this popular Danube River cruise. Explore Prague, Vienna, Salzburg, Bratislava and Budapest, plus the castle-studded Wachau Valley – taking in views of the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. Enjoy a private Imperial evening with dinner and music in Vienna... a wine tasting in Dürnstein... a day in Mozart's Salzburg... a private tour of Baroque monastery libraries in Prague... and evenings of cultural entertainment aboard your riverboat. In Vienna, see the Hofburg's silver treasures or tour opulent Schönbrunn Palace. Admire frescoes, stained glass windows, and stunning architecture as you spend two nights each in Budapest and Prague in 5-star hotels, checking out remarkable bridges, cathedrals, museums, and grand Habsburg palaces... it's truly a cruise to remember!

Our two-week Eastern Europe and Poland tour includes a visit to medieval Cracow, the memorial at Auschwitz, a private Chopin recital in Warsaw, a special lunch with Gypsy music and a private dinner cruise on the Danube in Budapest, a private concert in Vienna, and a special evening at a palace in Prague. Select Small Group departure dates available with no more than 26 Tauck guests – and special singles savings departures available! Become immersed in culture among the palaces, castles, art, architecture, and music of Old World Europe on this 2-week Eastern Europe and Poland tour. Enjoy Strauss and Mozart at a private palace concert in Vienna... a piano recital of Chopin's music in Warsaw... a private lunch with Gypsy music and a private dinner cruise on the Danube in Budapest... a strudel-making demonstration in Vienna... a special private farewell evening at Lobkowicz Palace in Prague Castle and much more.

Enjoy art, architecture and ambiance in London and Paris. Ride the underground to an English café then take a stroll through Hyde Park. See Da Vinci's masterpiece, the Mona Lisa, in Paris's Louvre and then see the famed Eiffel Tower sparkle when is lit up at night. Trip costs include: Round-trip transatlantic air transportation with a major airline, airport transfers and escorts The services of a bilingual Go Ahead Tour Director Private deluxe motorcoach 7 nights accommodation in comfortable, well-located hotels with twin beds and private bath or shower All hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling and local taxes Buffet breakfast (B) daily High-speed Eurostar train transfer and train porterage Go Ahead travel bag and membership in our World Traveler Club, which includes credit toward your next tour Walking on tour: Our City Stays are designed to be as flexible as possible for the modern traveler. There are no included walking tours. If you do plan to take our optional excursions, however, be prepared for some light-to-moderate walking.

Experience what makes a France tour with Tauck unforgettable: an adventure walk on the Pont du Gard, an olive-oil tasting at Mas des Barres, exploring magical Monte-Carlo and Provence, a romantic dinner cruise on Paris' River Seine and more. Select Small Group departure dates available with no more than 26 Tauck guests! Tauck's enticing week-long France tour takes you from the turquoise shades of the Côte d'Azur to the pastel palette of Provence to glittering, romantic Paris. Visit charming Monaco; explore historic Avignon, Arles, and Aix-en-Provence, and see firsthand what inspired van Gogh in St-Rémy and Cézanne at Mont Ste-Victoire. Enjoy an olive oil tasting and lunch in Mas des Barres; a guided adventure walk on the Pont du Gard; and a high-speed rail journey to Paris for a three-night stay highlighted by a guided tour of the Louvre and a dinner cruise on the River Seine. There's no better way to experience France's many charms in one week! Please note that April – June departures of A Week In... Paris and Provence will follow a slightly different itinerary for the first two days, staying at the Fairmont Monte Carlo in Monte-Carlo, Monaco on nights 1 and 2, and visiting Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat on day 2. Click here to download the complete April – June itinerary.

Indulge yourself in the unforgettable flavors and vistas of Italy as you travel through the hill-towns and vineyards of Tuscany and Umbria. From the Renaissance treasures of Florence to the grape-laden groves of Siena and all the way to the chocolate hub of Perugia, you will encounter only spectacular scenery and decadent cuisine every step of the way. Trip costs include: Round-trip air transportation with a major airline, airport transfers and escorts The services of a Go Ahead Tour Director A licensed local city guide in Florence, Siena and Perugia 8 nights accommodations in comfortable, well-located hotels with twin beds and private bath or shower All hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling and local taxes Buffet breakfast (B) daily 1 specialty lunch (L) 4 featured, three-course dinners, highlighting local Italian specialties and including wine or beer (D) Private deluxe motorcoach Guided sightseeing and entrance fees to select sights as described Go Ahead travel bag and increased status in our World Traveler Club, including credit toward your next tour Featured Food & Wine Events 3 wine tastings in San Gimignano, Montalcino and Corbara (W) Private Tuscan cooking class