From Madrid to Heaven

Day 1 – Madrid – Night Bus

Shall we leave our studies aside for a while and go on a Christmas trip to Europe together?

Unitrips takes you to see a great part of Europe in the most complete Christmas trip to Europe – Christmas Wonderland.

Today in the afternoon you can get to know the main attractions of the city of Madrid. If you have already been in the wonderful Spanish capital or simply prefer to arrive rested for the rest of the trip we will meet directly in the evening, in Atocha, Madrid’s main train station.

Would you like someone to accompany you on this tour? Encourage her with a Unitrips GIFT CARD as a gift this Christmas.

Day 2 – Bus – Barcelona – Ferry

After spending the night on the bus crossing Spain from Madrid to Catalonia, we will arrive early in Barcelona to soak up its beauty on the most complete Christmas tour of Europe.

During our visit you will learn why Barcelona has become the tourist capital of the world today. From La Sagrada Familia, to Passeig de Gracia, to the mythical Ramblas and the Gothic Quarter with its impressive cathedral, this city has a lot to offer.

In the evening, we will continue our backpacking trip to Europe and go to the port to board a ferry. We will spend the night on an elegant ferry with all the necessary facilities to make the trip 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!

Day 3 – Ferry – Rome

After a full day enjoying the Mediterranean breezes we will arrive in Civitavecchia and from there our Eurobus will take us to the ancient Caput Mundi, Rome, to continue our journey through Europe.

Rome is a sprawling cosmopolitan city full of culture, history, art and architecture with Mediterranean cuisine based on seasonal produce, plus shopping for everyone.

Day 4 – Rome

Rome is known as the “Eternal City” and there is a reason for that. In this city time seems to have stopped centuries ago due to the multitude of monuments and remains of imposing buildings. This makes strolling through its streets become a journey back in time to the era of maximum splendor of the capital.

*Optional Activity: Rome Pack: Sistine Chapel + Musei Vaticani + Colosseum + Rome Walking Tour + Transfers

Did you know that…

• In St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome, you can find stars on the marble pavement, right in the middle of an aisle that runs along the central nave. What they represent are the length of various Catholic temples in the world.
• There is the Bocca Della Verità, in Sta. Maria in Cosmedin, the most famous manhole in the world. According to legend, whoever puts his hand in the mouth and tells a lie, it will bite him.

Day 5 – Rome

We continue to discover Rome.

The capital of Italy and ancient “Caput Mundi” awaits us with its thousands of years of history. There are plenty of reasons to visit Rome, be captivated by the city and wish to return to it, as the gastronomy and its lively atmosphere are some of them. Before going to bed, stroll through its streets and savor Italian cuisine in a typical Roman “osteria” or have a gelato.

Today is also Christmas Eve, will you join us for dinner with your new Unitrips family?

Day 6 – Rome – Florence

We will say goodbye to Rome by going early to the Vatican, especially today which is the day of the Urbi et Orbi blessing. Blessing we will receive from the hands of Pope Francis from the largest church in the world, St. Peter’s.

Then we will get on our mythical bus and continue our trip through Europe, we will set the GPS towards Florence.

Day 7 – Florence – Pisa – Venice

“Buongiorno Principessa” said Benigni, actor from Florence, in the movie “Life is Beautiful”.

Today in this super trip for young people we will visit the cradle of the Renaissance, the city that was the cultural and artistic center of Europe from the 15th century onwards. In this city the stars aligned, and thanks to families sensitive to art and generations of incredible artists began to create works that amaze today.

Are you familiar with Giotto, Brunelleschi, Botticelli and the 4 Ninja turtles (Michelangelo, Raffaello, Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello)?

Well, this is where they started their wanderings, to later spread their arts in the rest of Italy, especially in Rome to the court of the Popes.

After admiring this small city with the most works of art per square meter in the whole world, we will continue our Christmas travel in Europe and head to another jewel of Italian architecture: Venice, but first we will make a mandatory stop in Pisa and take the iconic photo. Get your camera ready.

Day 8 – Venice

We will have the whole day to get to know Venice, the first European city to become an open-air museum and to attract so many tourists that there is almost no room for them. So don’t miss the chance to visit it on this trip for young people in Europe – Christmas Wonderland.

Take out your camera and look for the best angle to take the best pictures of its bridges, Vaporettos and Gondolas.

We will enjoy the Byzantine influenced art that characterizes the Basilica of San Marco, we will also discover how Murano glass is made.

*Optional Activity
Venice Pack

Did you know…

• The last bridge built in Venice was by the hands of a Spanish architect, Calatrava.
• In Venice there is the “Acqua Alta”, a phenomenon that causes the water level to rise sharply. It occurs in the lagoon of Venice, usually lasts about 3 – 4 hours. It all depends on the intensity with which it occurs, it can even flood Venice with only a rise of half a meter of water, that is, most of the historic center.

Day 9 – Venice – Alps – Munich

Today in this incredible opportunity to travel in Christmas in Europe, is the day in which we will enjoy the mountains and the snow (if the weather is good). This area in winter dresses in white and dazzles with its beauty. We will pass through the Italian mountain range known as the Dolomite Mountains and cross a new country: Austria. Here you will surely be amazed by the pure water lakes, the snow-capped mountains and the green valleys of Heidi.

After a full day of photo shooting in the mountains, we will continue our Christmas Wonderland trip and drive through Austria until we reach Bavaria, the southernmost region of Germany, famous for its automobile houses (BMW, Mercedes), its beer, and its capital: Munich.

Munich is not only a rich and modern city, it has a lot of history. Therefore, if time permits, we will stop to visit its cathedral and the Marienplatz with its famous gothic clock-chime, which has 43 bells and 32 animated figures that dance every morning at 12h.

*Optional Activity
Snow activities

Day 10 – Munich – Mad King’s Castle* – Munich

Guten Morgen!

Today on this super trip through Europe for young people, you can decide whether to stay in the accommodation or venture with us to discover another hidden corner of Europe: the castle of Neuschwanstein, also called the castle of the Mad King. In addition, we will have the opportunity to visit a ski resort where you can enjoy some snow.

Would you prefer to stay at the hostel and venture into the city on your own, or would you like to see how they surf in an almost frozen artificial river in the center of the city? Ask us and we’ll tell you all the little secrets the city of Munich has to offer!

*Optional Activity
Visit to the Mad King’s Castle

Did you know…

• The literal English translation of Neuschwanstein Castle is “The New Stone Swan”.
• The Mad King’s Castle was built at a time when castles and fortresses were no longer necessary from a strategic point of view. It was born in the imagination of Louis II as a pure romantic fantasy of an idealized medieval castle. Its design is not functional, but aesthetic, being largely the product of the mind of a theatrical set designer.

Do you want to know the legend of the Mad King?

Why is Munich worth a visit?

Day 11 – Munich – Dachau – Prague

This morning in the most complete of the trips to Europe at Christmas you will have the option to visit the Dachau concentration camp, one of the few camps that remind us of the atrocity of World War II and the German Nazi era. Or if you prefer, you will have free time in the historic center of Munich to enjoy those places you have not yet visited.

After that, we will get back on the bus and continue our Christmas tour through Europe. This time heading to: Prague!

Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic and the most important city in the Bohemian region. It is known for being one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and it is not for less, besides its privileged location in the center of Europe and its good communication with neighboring countries, makes it one of the most visited destinations on the European continent. During its history, this city has received many names, such as “The Golden City”, “The City of a Hundred Towers” and “The Heart of Europe”.

This city was born from the union of five ancient cities and the waters of the Vltava River flow through it. Traditionally it has been the political, economic and cultural center of the Czech Republic. Click here to discover places to see in Prague.

*Optional Activity:
Visit to the Dachau Concentration Camp (Munich).

Day 12 – Prague (New Year’s Day)

Put on your coat, have a hot drink, the golden city awaits us!

Before enjoying the New Year, we will continue our Christmas Wonderland tour and you can visit the Old Town, the New Town, also of medieval origin, and the old Jewish Quarter.

You can go from Republic Square, with the Powder Tower, and the beautiful Art Nouveau Municipal House, to Wenceslas Square. Wenceslas Square is universally known for being the scene of the “Prague Spring”.

Visit the Theater of the States, where several operas by Mozart were premiered, and the Jewish Quarter. Then you can stroll through the Clementinum, a former Jesuit College, and then reach the famous Charles Bridge, with its 30 famous baroque sculptures. If there is time we can pass by the old market square, the “Old Town Square” with its outstanding and attractive Astronomical Clock.

We hope you didn’t get too tired today, because there are still the New Year’s celebrations. Every year, people from all over the world come to Prague to celebrate, because of the city’s charm and the low price of its beers. Are you going to miss it?

Day 13 – Prague

Happy New Year Unitrippers!

Our trip has come to an end. But you will have memories in the most beautiful corners of the old continent with your new friends from half the world.

Included:

• Travel by comfortable private bus to the destinations mentioned in the program.
• 13 days and 12 nights
• Accommodation in the best hotels, hostels and bungalow houses all over Europe:
• 1 Night by bus (Madrid-Barcelona)
• 1 Night on Ferry (Barcelona-Rome) (Breakfast not included)
• 3 Nights in Rome
• 1 Night in Florence (or surroundings)
• 2 Nights in Venice
• 2 Nights in Munich
• 2 Nights in Prague
• 10 breakfasts
• Multiple rooms (double or single on request)
• All transportation, parking and tolls expenses
• Group leader during the whole trip
• Assistance throughout the trip
• Guided tours in the mentioned cities with tour leader
• And more surprises…

Not included:

• Everything not mentioned in “What’s included”.
• Transportation to the departure point
• Travel or cancellation insurance
• Air tickets
• Optional activities
• Entrance fees to monuments, parks, attractions
• Visa or administrative fees
• Entrance fees to monuments
• Public transportation tickets in the cities: subway, bus, streetcar, train or cab in the cities

Optional Activities, extras:

• Supplement extra night in Madrid + Train Madrid – Barcelona
• Rome Pack: Guided tour of Rome Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums and Colosseum
• Christmas Dinner
• Italian Alps: Snow Activities
• Tour Alps + Mad King’s Castle
• Excursion to Dachau: Concentration Camp Visit
• Excursion to Kutna Hora
• 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
• And much 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.