- -Paris highlights drive
- -Orientation walk of Bordeaux with Trip Leader
- -Barcelona highlights drive
- -Orientation walk of Nice with Trip Leader
- -Walking tour of Monaco with Trip Leader
- -Orientation walk of Venice with Trip Leader
- -Visit Pisa and see the famous Leaning Tower
- -Walking tour of Florence with local guide
- -Orientation walk of Rome with Trip Leader
Your dream trip starts here
Get Social: Central & Southern Europe Highlights
Trip overview
TRIP VIBE = fast-paced fun with tons of socialising, bucket-list sights and good times all round.
Highlights = the best bits. And this Central and Southern Europe trip is jam-packed with them. You’ll see: iconic cities (think Paris, Barcelona and Rome), incredible coastlines (guest-starring the French Riviera) and out-of-this-world mountains (the Swiss Alps – need we say more?). You’ll get: a bunch of legends to share the ride, and the snacks. Say yes to 16 days of life-changing Euro adventures. You won’t regret it.
Tales from Topdeckers
Trip itinerary
-
London (England) – Paris (France)
1You wanted iconic, so where better to start than in the OG of classic capitals? Meet the crew in London, stock up on supplies and settle in as we make tracks for the City of Lights. The home of Coco Chanel, lil’ Mona and the world’s yummiest macarons – Paris has earned its rep as the European capital for all things culture, fashion and cream-filled, carb-loaded deliciousness. Tick off all the showstoppers on a driving tour before getting OUT there! Keen to make the most of it? There’s even an optional river cruise on offer this eve. Accommodation: Generator Paris or similar
-
Activities
- Paris highlights drive
-
Your Options
- Seine River cruise: from €15
-
Activities
-
Paris
2We’ve given you 24 hrs to make every second count à Paris. Create a solid dent in your bucket list with a visit to the Louvre (book your tickets in advance!) and the Musée d'Orsay. Flash some plastic along the Champs Elysées. Discover the hidden gems down Paris’s backstreets. Walking not your thing? Give those calves a workout on an optional bike tour. Tonight, get to know the fam better over our welcome meal. Then: dress to impress for an optional cabaret show. Think: sparking lights, death-defining acrobatics, the can-can and more feathers than are necessary. Accommodation: Generator Paris or similar
-
Meals
- Dinner
-
Your Options
- Parisian cabaret show: prices available locally
- Bike tour of Paris: from €36
-
Meals
-
Paris – Bordeaux
3Don’t drink your vino out of a cask? You’re gonna love the next stop. Bordeaux: where half the city is UNESCO World Heritage-listed and vineyards reign supreme. Get your bearings around this 1200-year-old city with our expert Trip Leader before enjoying some free time to explore. Dinner tonight is up to you. Just make sure you leave room for desert – you’re going to want to try a canelé (can-eh-lay). Trust us. Accommodation: MEININGER Hotel Bordeaux Gare Saint-Jean or similar
-
Activities
- Orientation walk of Bordeaux with Trip Leader
-
Meals
- Breakfast
-
Activities
-
Bordeaux – Bilbao (Spain)
4Peer out the window as we roll through the vineyard-covered French Basque country into Spain. Smell that sweet coastal air: welcome to Bilbao! This arvo = possibilities. Enjoy a delish cortado in the sun. Stroll around the city’s BEAUT Old Town. Or pop into the world-famous Guggenheim Bilbao Museum for some eye-popping artwork. Later, choose your pants wisely – if you’re embarking on a pintxos-bar-crawl tonight, you’re gonna need a LOT of room. Accommodation: Quartier Bilbao Hostel or similar
-
Meals
- Breakfast
-
Meals
-
Bilbao – Barcelona
5Onwards to the capital of Catalonia. Bienvenidos to the city of art nouveau, sexy accents and (most importantly) tapas. Get a feel for Barça on a driving tour – ticking of the likes of Olympic Park, Plaza Espanya, the National Museum and Montjuïc Hill. Then: round up the crew and track down some paella (it’s rice, it’s nice, don’t think twice). Afterwards, seek out a local flamenco bar for good music and good times. Embracing the new and exotic? Tick. Accommodation: Generator Barcelona or similar
-
Activities
- Barcelona highlights drive
-
Meals
- Breakfast
-
Activities
-
Barcelona
6Time to do your own spontaneous-this-is-what-I-came-for thing, amigos. But if you need some suggestions, we’ve got your back. Park Güell and Sagrada Familia are straight-up must-sees. BUT don’t think you can just stroll up in there – you’re gonna need to book tix online first. Then: explore the crazy that is Las Ramblas, head to the ice bar along the beach, or get lost amongst the maze of winding alleys in the Gothic Quarter. Want to eat your way around Barcelona’s best ‘hoods? Stuff your face with tiny food and local bevvies on an optional tipsy tapas tour. Tonight’s your last chance to hit the dance floor with your trip mates – we’re out of here in the morning. Accommodation: Generator Barcelona or similar
-
Your Options
- Tipsy tapas food tour of Barcelona: from €75
-
Your Options
-
Barcelona – French Riviera (France)
7Start practising your bonjours and s’il vous plaîts as we follow the Mediterranean coast to the glamorous French Riviera. After getting the run about Nice’s Old Town with our Trip Leader, the rest of the afternoon is up to you! Indulge in a bit of celeb spotting. Head to the beach for a dip. Or seek out some seriously good seafood. Tonight, hit up a local bar for happy hour with the gang. This is livin’. Accommodation: Hostel Ozz or similar
-
Activities
- Orientation walk of Nice with Trip Leader
-
Meals
- Breakfast
-
Activities
-
French Riviera, including Monaco
8Today, you do you! Laze on the beach (sunloungers advised). Or go wild in the designer boutiques in the town centre. Try all the decorative pastries your jeans can handle – then work them off with a walk up Castle Hill for alll the views. The choice is yours. Later: we’ll turn it up a notch with a boujee visit to Monaco. See how the 1% live (hint: it involves Ferraris and bathing in caviar), stroll by world-class casinos and let your jaw drop at the superyachts parked up along the waterfront. Accommodation: Hostel Ozz or similar
-
Activities
- Walking tour of Monaco with Trip Leader
-
Activities
-
French Riviera – Swiss Alps (Switzerland)
9Squeeze in one last swim. Down your (French) coffee. And wave au revoir to the coast – we’ll be trading ritz and glitz for snowy peaks as we head to the mountains. Glue your face to the window as we weave our way into one of the largest nature conservations in Switzerland. Tonight we're bunking down in the jaw-dropping Swiss Alps. Sit back in the fresh alpine air, sip on a cold beverage and peel open that new pack of playing cards. Poker, anyone? Accommodation: Schützenbach Backpackers or similar
-
Meals
- Breakfast
-
Meals
-
Swiss Alps
10If the Swiss Alps had a Tinder bio it would read: fun-filled outdoor enthusiast – looking for a fellow adrenaline junkie to share adventures with. Swiping right? Hell yes. Skydiving over BEAUT snowcapped peaks. Helicopter-ing across epic glaciers. This place has it all. Or keep two feet on the ground with a valley walk. You can even hop aboard the Jungfraubahn railway for a visit to the Jungfrau Mountain summit. Trust us, whatever you choose – your SD card is going to be full of amazing AF pics by the day’s end. Accommodation: Schützenbach Backpackers or similar
-
Your Options
- Scenic excursion to Jungfrau ('The Top of Europe'): from 199 CHF
- Helicopter ride in the Swiss Alps with glacier landing: prices available locally
- Skydiving in the Swiss Alps: from 475 CHF
-
Your Options
-
Swiss Alps – Venice (Italy)
11No lies – we have a bit of a drive today. Who’s got the AUX cord? We'll park up in the Floating City later this afternoon. Home to over 400 bridges and birthplace of Vivaldi, it’s time to see what all the fuss is about on an orientation walk with our Trip Leader – ticking off the likes of St Mark's Square, Doge’s Palace and Accademia Bridge. Then, the rest is up to you. Our suggestion? Stop and embrace the moment. Enjoy a spritz or scoop (or two) of the good stuff overlooking one of Venice’s fuchsia-pink sunsets. This is it. Accommodation: Anda Venice Hostel or similar
-
Activities
- Orientation walk of Venice with Trip Leader
-
Meals
- Breakfast
-
Activities
-
Venice
12You know it as the Floating City, but this place is actually sinking (slowly). So get cracking! Do the obvious and take a gondola ride down the Grand Canal. You’re in Venice after all. Need some suggestions on how to make the most of your free time? Insider tip: head off the tourist trail with a trip to Giudecca Island. Seek out the epic Libreria Acqua Alta bookshop. Or get lost hunting down the perfect gelato. Centuries-old architecture. Inventive cuisine. And a bucket-load of culture. You’re not going to be bored. Accommodation: Anda Venice Hostel or similar
-
Meals
- Breakfast
-
Your Options
- Get a personalised trip t-shirt, hoodie or singlet: prices available locally
-
Meals
-
Venice – Pisa – Florence
13We’re hitting the frog and toad after breakfast. First stop: Pisa. Think of a creative pose for THAT photo (please). Then, make your food baby sing as we roll into the capital of Tuscan cuisine. You’ve got free time to stroll along the Arno River and watch the sunset before hunting down some classic Italian grub. Later: did someone say karaoke? If you’re feeling it, join the gang in a battle of the classics at the bar later. Or hunt down a gelateria for a scoop (or two) of the good stuff – we mentioned it was invented here, right? Accommodation: aamp;o Hostel Firenze Campo di Marte or similar
-
Activities
- Visit Pisa and see the famous Leaning Tower
-
Meals
- Breakfast
-
Activities
-
Florence – Rome
14This morning we’re time travelling with a local guide – soaking up heaps of history, artistic charm and all the dazzling architecture only Florence can deliver. Uffizi Gallery? Tick. Ponte Vecchio? Uh-huh. Piazza della Signoria? Yep. And the showstopping Duomo? Of course. Then, bella Roma awaits. Get your bearings on an orientation walk with your Trip Leader. Pass by the Pantheon, (don’t) sit on the Spanish Steps, check out the mighty Colosseum and throw your spare cents in the Trevi Fountain. Legend has it if you throw one coin in the Fountain you’ll return to Rome. Throw in two, and you’ll find love here. Single ladies, assemble! Accommodation: MEININGER Roma Termini or similar
-
Activities
- Walking tour of Florence with local guide
- Orientation walk of Rome with Trip Leader
-
Meals
- Breakfast
-
Activities
-
Rome
15Vespas. Espresso. Two-cheek kisses. And pizza the way it's supposed to taste. Here’s a free day we prepared earlier. Get lost amongst two-and-a-half millennia worth of history on a guided tour (think Vatican City and the Colosseum). Head up Capitoline Hill for awesome views. Or do as the locals do and indulge in a little dolce far niente (delicious idleness) at a local cafe or piazza. Tonight, get the gang together for one last group dinner – we’re gonna give this adventure-of-a-lifetime the send-off it deserves! Accommodation: MEININGER Roma Termini or similar
-
Meals
- Dinner
-
Your Options
- Guided tour of Vatican City: from €80
- Guided tour of the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum: from €70
-
Meals
-
Rome
16This is where we leave you #Topdeckers. But who said the adventure has to end? Swap those Insta handles and get planning – we hear Greece is lovely this time of year!
Your Inclusions
Activities
Accommodation
-13 nights in hostels, 2 nights in bungalows at European campsites
Transport
Air-conditioned coach
Your Options
FYI: these are optional activities available locally. Things might change – prices are here to give you a rough idea.
-Seine River cruise: from €15
-Bike tour of Paris: from €36
-Parisian cabaret show: prices available locally
-Tipsy tapas food tour of Barcelona: from €75
-Scenic excursion to Jungfrau ('The Top of Europe'): from 199 CHF
-Helicopter ride in the Swiss Alps with glacier landing: prices available locally
-Skydiving in the Swiss Alps: from 475 CHF
-Get a personalised trip t-shirt, hoodie or singlet: prices available locally
-Guided tour of Vatican City: from €80
-Guided tour of the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum: from €70
Views & reviews
Latest reviews
Average rating based on 64 reviews-
Kim D October 2024
This trip was great, lots of ground covered in just over 2 weeks. Be prepared for long days on the road in some areas due to traffic and driving time with the mandatory legal driver breaks included (restrictions on how long a driver can go in Europe before having to stop for specific times)
Accommodation was varied but mainly good. Included meals the same. Trip leader Hayley and driver Chris were... -
Anonymous September 2024
-
Anonymous September 2024
Alan, Charlotte and Mihai were incredible. Would definitely recommend this trip. For my first tour trip i was thoroughly impressed with everything. Alan’s history lessons and his knowledge about the countries were great. 10/10
Other trips you'll vibe
Europe | Get Social
Get Social: Southern Europe Highlights
17 days / 5 countries
Start: Barcelona
End: Rome
Europe | Get Social
Get Social: Mega European
49 days / 19 countries
Start: London
End: London
Europe | Get Social
Get Social: Central Europe Highlights
15 days / 7 countries
Start: London
End: London
Crazy-good combinables
Europe | Get Social
Get Social: Central & Eastern Europe Highlights
16 days / 9 countries
Start: Rome
End: London
Already registered as a Topdecker? Log in here.