Discovering Europe

Day 1 – Madrid

Pack your suitcase and let’s go! Start this trip through Europe in Group – Discovering Europe – our adventure through Europe where you will meet young people from all over the world and live unforgettable experiences.

After picking you up at the airport we will take a city tour to get a first impression of Madrid.

We will start in Madrid de los Austrias, a large area of the capital of Spain corresponding to the medieval layout of the city where we can find the famous Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Plaza de Oriente together with the Royal Palace, the Sabatini Gardens or the Almudena Cathedral, undoubtedly a set formed by the main attractions of the city.

Do you need reasons to visit Madrid? Here are 14 of them

Did you know that…

• Madrid is home to the oldest restaurant in the world! Casa Botín, founded in 1725, is recognized by the Guinness Book of Records.
• The Royal Palace has truly amazing dimensions. With an extension of 135,000 square meters, it is the largest royal palace in Western Europe and, therefore, one of the largest in the world.
• In the Puerta del Sol is the km O, the point from which one begins to measure the distances to all corners of Spain.
• The statue called Fallen Angel is located in El Retiro Park at 666 meters above sea level which is the number of the devil. It was built by Ricardo Bellver and shows eight monster heads on the pedestal base supporting the Fallen Angel.
• Madrid also has a Walk of Fame located on Martin de los Heros Street. The street, famous for its movie theaters, mimics Hollywood’s “Walk of Fame” and includes the most important stars of Spanish cinema.
• The Egyptian government gave a temple to Madrid as a gift to thank Spain for its help in saving the temples of Nubia. From the Temple of Debod you can see a beautiful sunset.

Day 2 – Madrid

For today in this Europe Group Tour you can choose between having a few more hours to discover Madrid and its charms or take a trip to Toledo.

You choose to stay in Madrid? Great, there are still plenty of things to see! During the day we recommend you to visit the Retiro Park, known by many as “the Central Park of Madrid”. Nearby is the Atocha Station, inside which you can visit the 11M Monument, a cylindrical structure of 11 meters high, dedicated to the victims of the attacks that occurred in Madrid in March 2004.

Within walking distance we also find other very striking monuments such as the Puerta de Alcalá or the Palacio de Comunicaciones, current headquarters of the City Hall and undoubtedly one of the most emblematic buildings of the city.

For this afternoon/evening of this backpacking tour, we recommend you to enjoy Madrid in one of the terraces of the Spanish capital. Yes, we know the choice is going to be difficult, which one to choose? We recommend La Azotea del Círculo de Bellas Artes or the terrace of Ginkgo Sky Bar.

*Optional Activities:

• Excursion to Toledo

Did you know that…

• In the Retiro Park there is a statue of Satan himself, one of the few representations of the devil in the world and the only one in Spain. It is the Monument of the Fallen Angel and is exactly 666 meters above sea level.

Day 3 – Madrid – Zaragoza – Barcelona

Today on this trip through Europe in group we will leave Madrid in the morning passing through the ancient kingdom of Aragon and its Roman capital “Caesar Augusta”, today called Zaragoza. We will continue to the city of Barcelona, passing through the desert area of Monegros. We will arrive in Barcelona in the afternoon/evening for a first ride.

Day 4 – Barcelona – Ferry

We are in Barcelona!

Today, in this group tour of Europe you will enjoy the day walking around this beautiful city. Its streets, its nooks and crannies, its squares, its magnificent historic center and architecture have made it the world’s tourist capital that we know today.

La Sagrada Familia, Passeig de Gracia, La Casa Batlló, the mythical Ramblas and the Gothic Quarter with its impressive cathedral are just a small part of what the city has to offer.

From Unitrips we are at your disposal to give you some tips to get to know Barcelona’s must-sees!

In the afternoon/evening, we will continue this backpacking tour and go to the port to embark on a cruise. We will spend the night on an elegant ship with all the necessary facilities to make the tour very enjoyable: disco, video game room, restaurants, 24h cafes, swimming pool, gym, health center, casino… So have a gin and tonic, and let yourself be caressed by the Mediterranean breeze!

Breakfast on the ferry is NOT included.

Did you know that…

• Gaudi’s well-known Sagrada Familia still does not have a concrete completion date. The project is so large and complex that it is still unknown when it will be finished.
• In Barcelona there is a statue of Liberty, one of the three original ones. You can see it in the Arús Library, near the Arc de Triomphe. The other two are in New York and Paris.
• The avenue that collects the main works of the Master Gaudí are in the Passeig de Gracia, and are of the twentieth century. Let yourself be fascinated by the famous houses of La Pedrera and Battló.
• They say that if you drink the water from the Canaletas Fountain you will return to Barcelona.
• There is a labyrinth called Laberinto de Horta which has been the location of movies like “El Perfume”.

Day 5 – Ferry – Rome

In the afternoon/evening, we will continue this backpacking tour and go to the port to board a ferry that has, depending on the season, all the services of a cruise ship. After 20 hours of adventure in the Mediterranean we will arrive in Civitavecchia and then transfer to Rome to sleep.

Day 6 – Rome

Did you know that…

• That the coins thrown into the Trevi Fountain are given to Caritas.
• The Conditum Paradoxum, which is prepared with wine, honey, and spices, is one of the most famous drinks in Ancient Rome. Today it is replaced by Aperol Spritz.

*Optional Activity:

• Pack Roma: Capilla Sixtina + Musei Vaticani + Colosseum+ Walk through Rome + Transfers

Day 7 – Rome – Florence

Good morning!

After some free time in the eternal city, we will put the GPS on the bus to Florence, to sleep in the beautiful Tuscany. We will have time to visit Florence the next day on one of our trips to Europe for students. Besides, Florence is a city that has a lot of life and art everywhere you look.

Don’t hesitate to stroll through its amazing streets, stores, and enjoy a delicious pasta.

Night in Tuscany.

We will spend the night in the surroundings of Florence. Did you know that it is called the cradle of the renaissance?

Did you know that…

• The Vatican State is a sovereign country with only 0.44 km2. It is the smallest country in the world, which is bordered by a country, Italy, that completely surrounds it. Not only that, but the Vatican is home to St. Peter’s Basilica, which is the largest church in the world.
• The only bank in the world that allows users at ATMs to select Latin as their language is located in the Vatican Bank.

Day 8 – Florence – Pisa* – Venice

This day we depart from Florence to go to Venice, you will have the option to visit the city of the most famous tower in the world: Pisa. You will be amazed by the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Then we will continue visiting Florence passing by the mythical Ponte Vecchio that crosses the Arno River, next to the Uffizi Gallery and the mythical Florence Cathedral and the Brunelleschi’s dome. If you like museums you can visit the Uffizi Gallery, the museum of the Accademia.

We leave Pisa and arrive in Venice in the evening, “the city of canals”.

Did you know that…

• In the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore there is a clock that goes upside down.
• Carlo Collodi wrote the children’s story “Pinocchio” in Florence.

Day 9 – Venice

We continue to fall in love with this city that could be a museum of extraordinary dimensions. Venice is one of the most photographed places in the world, and we can not be less, take out your camera because bridges, Vaporettos and Gondolas are waiting to be immortalized, continue to enjoy this trip through Europe in group!

We will enjoy the Byzantine influenced art that characterizes the Basilica of San Marco, you can admire the Grand Canal from the Rialto Bridge but if you really want to enjoy this city get lost in its narrow streets and be surprised when you turn every corner.

*Optional Activity:

• Venice Pack: Access ticket, 2 train tickets, guided city tour, visit to the Murano Glass Master, gondola ride along the canals of Venice.

Did you know that…

• The last bridge built in Venice was designed by a Spanish architect: Calatrava.
• Every now and then in Venice a phenomenon called “Acqua Alta” occurs. It causes a sharp rise in the water level in the Venice lagoon, usually lasting about 3 – 4 hours. Depending on the intensity with which it occurs, it can flood, with half a meter of water, most of the historic center.
• No cars, not even bicycles, are allowed in Venice because it is forbidden, and you will even be fined. The only way to move around the city is on foot or by water.
• Although walking around Venice, we have the impression that there are many canals, there are only two, the Grand Canal and the Giudecca Canal. The rest of the small canals that flow between the narrow streets are called rivers.
• The gondolas are black because there is a restriction so that rich Venetians would stop competing to show who had the most decorated and expensive gondola.

Day 10 – Venice – Milan

Breakfast and departure to Milan. We will cross all of northern Italy, the Padana plain, to go to another iconic Italian city, Milan. Apart from being the fashion city of Italy, it is one of the largest industrial and commercial enclaves in the world. We will visit the Duomo, its neo-gothic cathedral and then we will continue our way to France!

Did you know that…

• The symbol of the city is the biscione, a dragon holding a young boy in its jaws. It recalls one of the great Milanese families.
• In Piazza Vetra witches and heretics were burned because it was part of the Inquisition.

Day 11 – Milan – Alpes* – Geneva

Day 12 – Geneva – Paris

Included:

• Travel by comfortable private bus to the destinations mentioned in the program.
• 16 days and 15 nights in the best hotels, hostels and bungalow houses in Europe:
• 2 Nights in Madrid
• 1 Night in Barcelona
• 1 Night in Ferry (breakfast on ferry not included)
• 2 Nights in Rome
• 1 Night in Florence (or surroundings)
• 2 Nights in Venice
• 1 Night in Milan (or surroundings)
• 1 Night in Geneva (or surroundings)
• 2 Nights in Paris
• 1 Night in Bordeaux
• 14 breakfasts
• Multiple rooms (double or single on request)
• Arrival transfer from the airport
• Transportation between cities
• Parking fees and tolls
• Group leader during the whole trip
• Assistance throughout the trip
• Walks through the cities accompanied by tour leaders
• Welcome KIT
• SIM card valid throughout Europe
• And more surprises…

Not Included:

• Everything not mentioned in “Included”.
• Flight tickets
• Transportation to the point of departure
• Other public transportation and transfers not mentioned above
• Travel or cancellation insurance
• Optional activities
• Entrance fees to monuments, parks, attractions.
• Visa or administrative fees.
• Public transportation tickets in the cities (for group activities).

Optional Activities, extras:

• Rome Pack: Guided tour of Rome + Sistine Chapel + Vatican Museums + Colosseum
• Excursion to Pisa
• Venice Pack: Access ticket, 2 train tickets, guided tour of the city, visit to the Murano Glass Master, gondola ride along the canals of Venice.
• Paris Pack: Visit to Versalles, tour guide for Montmarte and Boat tour of the senna bauteau mouches.
• Paris by Night
• And many more…

(You will be able to book your extras once you have booked your trip, through an App to which we will give you access).

Each optional activity requires a minimum of 30 participants.