Discover Europe’s best cities on a 15-day adventure from Barcelona to Berlin. Full of fun, flexibility and plenty of free time to explore each destination at your own pace, this adventure is perfect for independent travellers who want someone else to cover the nitty gritty details like transport and accommodation. Your passionate European leader will take you on regular orientation walks and give you plenty of insider knowledge, but how you spend your days is largely up to you.
Barcelona, Spain – Berlin, Germany
Explore the walled city of Avignon, crossing the 12th-century Pont St-Benezet bridge and munching on classic French fare like baguettes with cheese.
Visit a mixture of well-known and lesser-touristed cities for a real snapshot of Western Europe, from Eiffel Tower to alleyway bars.
Spend two days or more in most destinations for a chance to go deeper than the highlights – with some help from Lonely Planet and your Intrepid leader of course.
Three days in Amsterdam gives you time to see the varied sides of the city, from the sidewalk cafe culture to the leafy parks and master-filled museums.
Admire the panoramic landscapes and weaving coastline from Barcelona to France’s Provence region. With all transport arrangements taken care of, you can focus on soaking it all up.
This trip is made for travellers who value their independence but also want the benefit of a local leader and a group of like-minded travellers. The itinerary has a mix of included activities and free time when your leader will offer suggestions. Please budget spending money for optional activities you want to partake in.
As accommodation on this trip is twin-share, solo travellers will share a room with other travellers of the same gender. This trip is a great opportunity to get to know other like-minded people, so embrace it! A single supplement is not available on this trip. Space is at a premium in Europe and your hotel is no exception. Rooms are often small, but usually the central location makes up for that. For those travelling as a duo, hotels in Europe often don’t have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together. In some cases, bathroom facilities will be shared rather than ensuite.
Don’t let the heat keep you from exploring the world! Summer temperatures can be very high in the regions visited (over 40°C). Please keep in mind that many European hotel rooms are not equipped with air conditioning. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.
The primary means of transportation on this trip is by train. Trains are a fast way to cross long distances, allowing you to avoid traffic jams and arrive right into the city centre. They are comfortable and all have toilets, however they can get busy. Please note that you’ll have to carry your own luggage on and off the train, so make sure it doesn’t exceed our weight and size recommendations. You can find specifics under ‘Packing’ in the Essential Trip Information.
The best way to experience a city is by doing as the locals do – and in this case that means using public transport such as trams, buses or metro at some locations. It’s better for the environment and you’ll get an authentic look at daily life; just be aware you may find yourself sharing a busy bus ride with local commuters or running up the stairs at a metro station.
If you have more time to explore the region you may want to check out our other trips in Europe, such as our ‘Europe Explorer’ (trip code ZMRFC), a 36-day trip taking in the highlights of Europe. It starts in Barcelona and ends in Rome, taking in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia and Italy. This trip can also be booked in individual segments to suit the amount time you have available for your trip in Europe.
There are no meals included on this day.
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place. If you can’t arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you’re able to attend the meeting. We’ll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability)
There are no meals included on this day.
If you wish to tour La Sagrada Familia during your Lonely Planet Experience, the best time to visit is today. It’s best to pre-book your tickets before the tour. Check tickets.sagradafamilia.org for updated information on availability.
There are no meals included on this day.
To avoid queuing at the ticket windows of the Louvre you can buy your ticket in advance. For more information go to louvre.fr.
Learn more about Urban Adventures in Amsterdam at urbanadventures.com/destination/Amsterdam-tours or through an Intrepid booking agent.