One of the world’s leading authorities on European travel, Rick Steves offers a huge assortment of tours spanning the entire continent.
(Photo: Trafalgar)
Whether you’re seeking a short Euro city break, a whistlestop tour of several destinations, or a more extended and leisurely adventure, there’ll be a Rick Steves tour to suit your tastes and budget. And if you’re in need of any inspiration, we’ve looked into all of the tours currently available for 2024/25 and picked out 7 of the best – covering varying locations, lengths and price points.
Best of Europe (14 Days)
One of the benefits of travelling around Europe is that, as the continent is so well connected, you can see an awful lot of it in a short space of time. Starting in Rome, this two-week fully guided tour takes in over 10 desirable destinations, including Rome, Florence, Venice, Munich, the Swiss Alps, Burgundy and Paris. Along the way, you’ll soak up the local culture, food scenes and natural scenery as you’re transported from one magical spot to the next, with plenty of time to explore at each one before moving on. The tour price includes 13 nights’ accommodation in centrally located hotels. From €4,495 per person.
Alternative: If you haven’t quite got the time or budget for a full two-week adventure, then this truncated 7-day excursion may suit. Taking in a total of 7 cities across 4 countries, this is a great way to see plenty of Europe in a short space of time. Highlights include exploring Paris and Amsterdam with a local guide, visiting the Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen and a cuckoo clock factory in the Black Forrest, seeing the Lorelei Rock and the vineyards of Burgundy and taking a scenic cruise along the Rhine River. From €1,843 per person.
Family Europe (13 days)
Picking an adventure travel experience suitable for kids can be a challenging task, but this 13-day tour makes all the decisions so you don’t have to, transporting you on a captivating journey through some of Europe’s must-see cities including London, Paris and Florence, as well as a number of rural spots such as Burgundy, the Swiss Alps and the Cinque Terre. Along the way, you and your children will encounter art, history and culture, with plenty of fun activities thrown into the mix, including castles, boat trips, a mountain cogwheel train and plenty of swimming opportunities. The tour is suitable for ages 8 to 17. From €4,995 per person.
Alternative: Another travel experience that will go down a treat with families is this 13-day winter tour that takes in some of Europe’s finest Christmas markets. These magical events are particularly popular in north and eastern Europe, and during this tour you’ll get to visit some of the very best, including the 500-year-old Salzburg Christmas Market. As well as the chance to pick up festive souvenirs and sample local delicacies, you’ll also get to enjoy some non-seasonal attractions including stop-offs at Mozart’s family home and Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, as well as boarding a cave train to explore a stunning underground world. From €6,014 per person.
(Photo: Insight Vacations)
Best of Rome (7 days)
An intoxicating mix of dazzling art and earth-shaking history bring Rome to life on this 7-day tour. Your expert guide will be with you all the way, resurrecting the grandeur of ancient Rome’s Colosseum, Forum, Pantheon, and nearby Ostia Antica. From the Renaissance and Baroque eras, you’ll marvel at St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, the Borghese Gallery and plenty more. You’ll also get to enjoy modern-day Rome, with neighbourhood walking tours, memorable restaurants, a panoramic bus tour, and time to explore alone at your own pace. Six nights’ accommodation in a central hotel is included. From €1,995 per person.
Alternative: If you like the sound of the above tour, but don’t have the budget or time for a full week away, this slightly truncated 4-day tour may well fit the bill. Starting and ending in the Eternal City, this in-depth tour takes you through Rome, Italy and Vatican City, all in the company of an experienced guide. You’ll walk the city’s ancient streets, have a chance to throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain, climb (or simply stop for a photo at) the Spanish steps, step back in time at the Colosseum, and more. And as Rome can be an exhausting city, on day 3 you’ll be free to be as active or relaxed as you please, with a range of activities available. From €414 per person.
Best of Venice, Florence & Rome (10 days)
Visit three of the jewels in Italy’s crown during this 10-day adventure. Starting at Venice’s timeless St. Mark’s Square and Basilica, you’ll continue on to Michelangelo’s stunning David sculpture and the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, before ending with Rome’s ancient Forum, Colosseum, Pantheon, Vatican Museums, and Sistine Chapel. You’ll also enjoy guided neighbourhood walks, memorable meals, and full-bodied Italian wines. Nine nights’ accommodation in a trio of centrally-located hotels are included in the tour price. From €2,795 per person.
Alternative: While the above takes place in groups of up to 28, this tour is restricted to a maximum of 15, providing a more intimate experience for all. Starting in Rome, over the course of 8 days you’ll travel through Florence, Siena, Chianti and three other enticing destinations, each oozing the richness of colours, flavours and history that help make this one of the most popular tourist countries on earth. The tour comes to a close in the floating city of Venice, one of the world’s most romantic cities, where you can traverse its charming narrow streets and enjoy a memorable gondola ride to end your adventure in style. €1,851 per person.
(Photo: Bookmundi)
My Way Alpine Europe (12 days)
The mountains that run the width of Switzerland – from Lake Geneva in the west to the Austrian border in the east – and are also shared by Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Monaco and Slovenia, are among the jewels in Europe’s crown. This 12-day tour takes you on a memorable trip through flower-carpeted Italian meadows, fairy-tale Bavarian castles and cut-glass Swiss peaks. While transportation from stop to stop will be shared with a group of up to 28, it is officially an unguided tour, giving you the freedom and flexibility to manage your daily sightseeing schedule as well as your meals. From €3,195 per person.
Alternative: For a shorter trip centred around Switzerland – with a brief diversion into Italy – this 9-day tour may well suit. You can look forward to sampling some of the most delectable Swiss delicacies, including local wine in Lake Geneva, and cheese and desserts in Lavaux. Other notable stop-offs include a visit to Lord Byron’s folkloric Chillon Castle and the picture-postcard town of Brienz where you’ll have the chance to learn how to carve wood in traditional Swiss style. The Italian leg of the trip will feature visits to the scenic Lake Maggiore and Lake Como, as well as a picturesque train ride from Tirano to Pontresina. From €3,135 per person.
Best of Eastern France (14 days)
It may lack the guarantee of sunshine offered by the Cote d’Azur, but France’s eastern regions are more than a match for its southern counterpart when it comes to bountiful vineyards, classic villages, and hearty cuisine. Over 14 days, you’ll explore some of eastern France’s most alluring sights, landmarks and places of interest, including Colmar’s cobbled lanes, Alsace’s winding Route du Vin, Verdun’s historic battlefields, Burgundy’s storied Côte d’Or, and Chamonix’s mesmerising mountains. From €4,495 per person.
Alternative: Another option for a French odyssey would be this 16-day road trip adventure that takes in some of the country’s finest driving routes. With all transportation included, you’ll be enthralled as your driver presses pedal to the metal along Monaco’s iconic Grand Prix circuit, cruises gently through the majestic Valley of the Dordogne, and rides regally along the Champs Elysées, Paris’s most prestigious boulevard. There’ll also be plenty of opportunities to stretch your legs and explore some of France’s finest attractions on foot, as well as partake in activities such as playing a game of pétanque, a traditional and much-loved French sport. From €5,225 per person.
(Photo: Insight Vacations)
Best of Tuscany (11 days)
From the incredible Renaissance art treasures of the Bargello and Accademia in Florence to its mesmerising countryside, Tuscany is a sight to behold. On this 12-day tour, you’ll roll your way through the Chianti hills sipping wine, strolling through the cobbled streets of Siena, and breathing in the fresh air of the Val d’Orcia, where vineyards and cypress trees go on forever. You’ll also get to meet local family farmers and taste their fresh produce for yourself, and even learn how to make authentic homemade pasta. Eleven nights’ accommodation is included. From €3,895 per person.
Alternative:
Italy’s sun-kissed south takes centre stage on this 10-day tour that also takes in the eternal city of Rome. Among the notable spots you’ll visit are the famous excavations at Pompeii, the ruins of the ancient Greek theatre at Taormina, the Valley of the Temples at Agrigento, the fortress town of Enna, the medieval cobbled streets of Erice, and the ornate beauty of Palermo Cathedral. There’ll also be an opportunity to sample local Sicilian wine on the slopes of snow-capped Mount Etna and to hit the pristine waters around the island of Capri on a scenic boat cruise. From €2,819 per person.