Gotta-See Europe: Germany, Austria, Italy
- Tour code
DEUCZEAUTITAADV01
- Start
Amsterdam
- End
Rome
- Min. age
16 years old
- Group size
Max 6-16 travellers
- Trip style
Signature
- Trip pace
Easy
- Language
English
If you've always wanted to see Europe's heavyweights in one go, this is the trip. Over 17 days you cross five countries, starting on two wheels beside Amsterdam's canals and heading east to Berlin, where the Wall, the Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie tell the story of a divided city.
From there you roll through Dresden to Prague and Vienna, pause in medieval Cesky Krumlov, and turn toward the mountains: the clear waters of the Königssee, Mozart's Salzburg, beer-hall Munich and Innsbruck under its alpine peaks. The final stretch is all Italy, with canals and gondolas in Venice, markets and Renaissance art in Florence, and pizza and gelato in Rome.
Guided walks and food tours give each city a starting point, and there's plenty of free time to follow your own interests, whether that's a gallery, a café or a long lunch. Breakfast is included every morning, and the group comes together for a welcome evening of street food in Amsterdam.
Your Soca Islands Host travels with you from the first evening to the last, handling the trains, the transfers and the check-ins, so the group can move smoothly from one country to the next. Groups are kept to between 6 and 16 travelers.
Why This Journey
Planning ten cities across five countries on your own means a stack of train tickets, hotel bookings and timetables. Here that's all arranged, and every stop starts with a local walk so you know your way around before you set off alone. It's the easiest way to turn a long-held European wish list into one trip.
It suits first-time visitors to Europe, and anyone who wants the big names (Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Venice, Florence, Rome) in a single journey without losing the free time that makes travel feel personal. Expect long days on the move and a lot of walking, balanced by free days in Prague, Munich and Florence.
Where You'll Stay
Amsterdam (1 night): INK Hotel Amsterdam - MGallery Collection. Berlin (2 nights): NH Collection Berlin Mitte Friedrichstrasse. Prague (2 nights): Falkensteiner Hotel Prague. Vienna (2 nights): Hotel Kaiserhof Wien. Salzburg (1 night): Hotel Elefant. Munich (2 nights): Platzl Hotel. Innsbruck (1 night): Hotel Das Innsbruck. Venice (2 nights): Hotel Antiche Figure. Florence (2 nights): Hotel Spadai. Rome (1 night): Hotel Artemide.
All are central hotels chosen for easy walking access to each city's sights. Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation. Rooms are based on two people sharing a double room with two beds.
Getting There
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Fly into Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) and out of Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO); arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
What you will see and do
Walk through centuries of history, from Berlin's Wall to Rome's ancient streets
Take in alpine lakes and mountain views between Salzburg and Innsbruck
Taste your way across Europe on food tours in Venice, Florence and Rome
What's included
All activities mentioned on the itinerary
Accommodations in double rooms
Experienced Soca Islands Host with you throughout the trip
One farewell group activity when possible
Max 16 travellers per group
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Group transportation
What's excluded
- International flights (travelers arrange their own)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Lunches and dinners not listed in the itinerary
- Optional activities, such as bike rental at Tempelhof and gondola rides
- Single room supplement (single rooms on request, subject to availability)
- Extra hotel nights before or after the trip
Group itinerary
Arrive in Amsterdam whenever suits you and transfer to the hotel near Dam Square. Rest up after the flight or head out for a first look at the canals on your own.
In the evening the group meets your Soca Islands Host and takes an easy walk through the Old Town, snacking on the city's famous street food as you go. It's a relaxed way to put names to faces before the journey east.
This morning you join a guided bike tour along Amsterdam's canals, cycling the way the locals do, at an easy pace, with stops for photos along the way.
After lunch, catch the train to Berlin. You arrive in the German capital in the evening, which is free: explore on your own or hang out with the group.
Your Soca Islands Host leads an orientation walk to help you find your feet in the German capital. You'll see sections of the Berlin Wall, the Brandenburg Gate and the Checkpoint Charlie Museum, which tells the stories of people who tried to cross between East and West.
For something different, rent a bike and ride the runways of Tempelhof, the old airport that's now a vast public park. Tonight, sample the city's famous nightlife or take it easy.
On the way to Prague you stop in Dresden to stroll its cobbled lanes, see the rebuilt Frauenkirche and get a feel for its art and culture scene.
You reach Prague in the evening and set out on a guided walk past the Charles Bridge, the Astronomical Clock and the John Lennon Wall, finishing with a tasting of traditional Czech beer.
A free day in Prague. Cross the Charles Bridge again at a quieter hour, climb up to the castle district, or watch the Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square strike the hour.
In the evening, settle into a classic Czech beer hall with new friends, or find a riverside spot to watch the lights come on.
Break the journey to Vienna in medieval Cesky Krumlov. Climb the castle tower for the view over red roofs and the bend of the Vltava, then explore the Old Town and castle gardens.
In Vienna that evening, a guided walk takes you past St. Stephen's Cathedral, the Hofburg, the Rathaus and the National Library.
After a short walking tour, the day is yours. Take in the State Opera, the Belvedere Palace or the Kunsthistorisches Museum, and make time for a café stop with apple strudel or Sachertorte.
Your Soca Islands Host is happy to point you toward lesser-known corners of the city.
Today begins at the Königssee, a clear alpine lake ringed by steep mountainsides near the border between Germany and Austria.
Then it's on to Salzburg for an orientation walk through the Old Town, including Hohensalzburg Fortress and the house where Mozart was born. The evening is free among the Old Town's lanes.
Take the train to Munich and explore its historic center. Stand in Marienplatz as the Glockenspiel performs, see the Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche), or find a seat in a beer hall.
Spend the evening however you like, on your own or with the group.
A free day for museums, galleries, gardens and squares, or simply shopping and eating your way around town. The Viktualienmarkt and the English Garden are both easy to reach from the Old Town.
If you need a rest, take one before the group gets together in the evening.
A guided walk in Munich fills the morning before a train ride to Innsbruck.
An orientation walk introduces the city, with Ambras Castle, the Grassmayr Bell Foundry and Maria-Theresien-Strasse on the list and the mountains rising behind it all.
Visit Innsbruck's Imperial Palace (Hofburg) before crossing the mountains into Italy, with alpine scenery much of the way to Venice.
Meet up for drinks when you arrive, then spend the evening wandering the canals and alleys.
A guided food tour introduces you to Venetian snacks and local legends, ghost stories included.
Then explore at your own pace: take a gondola ride, stand in St. Mark's Square and climb the Campanile for the view across the lagoon.
Travel on to Florence, one of Italy's great food cities, where a guided market and food tour gets you tasting regional specialties right away.
In the evening, relax, eat, or join a short walk past the city highlights.
The whole day is yours. See Michelangelo's David at the Galleria dell'Accademia, the Uffizi, the Duomo or the Palazzo Pitti, or walk along the Arno to the Ponte Vecchio.
Gelato breaks are strongly encouraged.
Take the train to Rome and join the group for a walking and food tour, tasting pizza, gelato and other Italian favorites.
Your last evening is free for exploring the city or enjoying its nightlife together.
Your trip ends after breakfast today. Your departure transfer takes you to Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO), or you can stay a little longer on your own; extra nights can be requested.
Accommodations
Here's a glimpse of the hotels we selected for this adventure.
INK Hotel Amsterdam - MGallery Collection
A design-led hotel on Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal in the old centre of Amsterdam. Dam Square, the Royal Palace and the nearest canals are about 200 metres away, Central Station is around 500 metres, and the Jordaan and the Nine Streets are an easy walk west.
The PRESSROOM restaurant and cocktail bar make an easy base for evenings in the city, breakfast is served on site and there is a 24-hour fitness room.
Rooms are 22 m² (236 ft²), with a king-size bed or two single beds.
Hotel websiteNH Collection Berlin Mitte Friedrichstrasse
A modern hotel on Friedrichstrasse in Berlin-Mitte, beside Friedrichstrasse station. Unter den Linden, the Brandenburg Gate and Museum Island are all within walking distance, and the S-Bahn and U-Bahn connect directly to the rest of the city.
The hotel has a restaurant and bar and a fitness room, and its central position makes it an easy base for an orientation walk and evenings out in Mitte.
Superior rooms are 23 m² (248 ft²), with a king-size bed or two single beds.
Hotel websiteFalkensteiner Hotel Prague
A contemporary hotel on Opletalova in Prague's New Town, a few minutes' walk from Wenceslas Square and the main railway station. The Old Town Square, the Astronomical Clock and the Charles Bridge are reachable on foot.
Its station-side position suits a group arriving by road or rail, and the hotel has a restaurant, a bar and breakfast served on site.
Superior rooms are 18–23 m² (194–248 ft²), with a double bed or two single beds.
Hotel websiteHotel Kaiserhof Wien
A family-run hotel that has welcomed guests since 1896, on a quiet street in Vienna's 4th district. Karlsplatz is about five minutes on foot, the State Opera is close by, the Naschmarkt is around 400 metres away, and St. Stephen's Cathedral is within walking distance.
Rooms are styled in a light, Viennese manner, the imperial-style breakfast buffet is a highlight, and there is a small spa and fitness area. Reception is staffed around the clock.
Classic rooms are 21 m² (226 ft²) and Superior rooms are 25 m² (269 ft²).
Hotel websiteHotel Elefant
A family-run hotel, now in its fifth generation, in the pedestrian heart of Salzburg's Old Town on Sigmund-Haffner-Gasse. Mozart's birthplace, the Getreidegasse, the cathedral and the funicular up to Hohensalzburg Fortress are all a few minutes' walk away.
Since 2019 the hotel has also included a second building at Getreidegasse 1, connected on the first floor, with check-in for both at the main house. Breakfast is a buffet of regional produce, egg dishes and fresh juices.
Hotel websitePlatzl Hotel
A privately owned hotel in Munich's Old Town on Sparkassenstrasse, around the corner from the Hofbräuhaus and a few minutes' walk from Marienplatz and the Glockenspiel. The Viktualienmarkt and the Frauenkirche are close by.
Bavarian character runs through the house, from the Wirtshaus Ayinger am Platzl tavern to the Pfistermühle restaurant in a 16th-century mill, and there is a spa and fitness area for a quieter evening.
Double rooms are 22–28 m² (237–301 ft²), with a queen-size, double or king-size bed.
Hotel websiteHotel Das Innsbruck
A four-star hotel on the Inn river at the edge of Innsbruck's Old Town, a few minutes' walk from the Golden Roof, Maria-Theresien-Strasse and the Imperial Palace. Rooms on the river side look across to the Nordkette mountains.
The hotel has a 400 m² spa over two floors with a pool open around the clock, a welcome way to end a day of walking.
Hotel websiteHotel Antiche Figure
A small hotel in Santa Croce, set right on the Grand Canal opposite Santa Lucia railway station and beside an old gondola station, so arriving by train is a short walk with your luggage. Vaporetto stops for Rialto and St Mark's are close by.
Breakfast is included, and the hotel has around 22 rooms, so a group may be split if fewer rooms are available.
Hotel websiteHotel Spadai
A boutique hotel on Via de' Martelli, about 100 metres from the Duomo, in the heart of Florence's historic centre. San Lorenzo market, the Accademia and the Uffizi are all within walking distance.
It has a lounge bar and serves breakfast daily.
Hotel websiteHotel Artemide
A hotel in a 19th-century building on Via Nazionale, between Termini station and Piazza Venezia. The Trevi Fountain, the Quirinal and Monti are within walking distance, and the Forum and Colosseum are a 20-minute walk.
The Ambrosia rooftop restaurant and bar looks out over the city roofs, and there is an on-site spa and lounge, with breakfast served daily.
Hotel websiteRooms
- Included
Shared double
Shared with the person you book with, or a fellow traveller of the same sex.
- Extra cost
Single room
A room to yourself, subject to availability.
You choose your room when you book.
Tour FAQS
Fly into Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) and out of Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO).
Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation: INK Hotel Amsterdam - MGallery Collection (Amsterdam), NH Collection Berlin Mitte Friedrichstrasse (Berlin), Falkensteiner Hotel Prague (Prague), Hotel Kaiserhof Wien (Vienna), Hotel Elefant (Salzburg), Platzl Hotel (Munich), Hotel Das Innsbruck (Innsbruck), Hotel Antiche Figure (Venice), Hotel Spadai (Florence) and Hotel Artemide (Rome).
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
Yes. Arrival and departure airport transfers are included: from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) at the start and to Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) at the end. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
16 breakfasts (every morning from Day 2 to Day 17) and 1 dinner, the street-food welcome evening in Amsterdam on Day 1. Other meals are at your own cost, and food tours along the way include tastings.
Extra nights can be requested, subject to hotel availability; contact our Customer Experience team for a quote.
There are no scheduled activities on the final day, so feel free to book your departure at your own convenience.
We recommend arriving before 3 pm on Day 1 to make it in time for the welcome event. But don’t worry no matter when you land, we’ll have an airport transfer ready for you.
Please Refer to your government’s travel advice or consult your local consulate. Remember, passport and visa requirements can change, so make sure to stay updated.
Excluding alcohol, we suggest budgeting around USD $40.00 per day for extras.
While we’re not medical professionals, we want to help you prepare for a safe and healthy adventure. Here are some tips:
- Consult with a healthcare professional: Schedule an appointment with your travel nurse or doctor at least eight weeks before your adventure to get any necessary vaccines or medications.
- Up-to-date medical advice:
- US residents: Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- UK residents: Visit the NHS Fit For Travel website.
- Australian residents: Refer to the Smart Traveler Health website.
3. Government travel advice:
- US residents: Consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
- UK residents: Check the FCDO Travel Advice.
- Australian residents: Visit the Smart Traveler website.
4. Medication tips: If you take prescription medication, bring enough to last the entire trip, plus a few extra days in case of delays. Carry a copy of your prescription in case you need to visit a clinic abroad.
We hope this helps you prepare for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
Please keep in mind that our itinerary, activities, and hotels might change. These adjustments could happen with little notice due to factors like availability, weather conditions, seasonal shifts, or other circumstances beyond our control. Rest assured, we always aim to minimise any impact on your experience. Occasionally, we may tweak the itinerary to try out fresh ideas and keep the adventure exciting.
We believe solo travelers shouldn’t have to pay extra to explore the world. That’s why our group trips are designed around shared accommodation and do not include a single supplement. Solo travelers joining our group trips are paired in twin or multi-share rooms with another traveler of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Some of our Independent trips are structured differently. For these itineraries, solo travelers will need to book at the single occupancy rate.
Tips are not included in the cost of this tour. Remember, tipping is entirely at your discretion and based on what you feel comfortable with.
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