Your Itinerary
Welcome to Switzerland. Today you can make our own way to Geneva from any destination within Switzerland using your Swiss Rail Pass. Set on the shores of Lake Geneva is a city that perfectly blends cosmopolitan flair with serene lakeside beauty.
Upon arrival, check into your hotel and take a moment to settle into the elegant atmosphere of Switzerland's second-largest city. The afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure; perhaps begin with a gentle stroll along the waterfront where the iconic Jet d'Eau shoots skyward against a backdrop of distant mountains.
As the sun sets, wander through the cobblestone streets of the Old Town. This historic heart of the city invites reflection on centuries of European history, offering a quiet contrast to the bustling international districts you will discover tomorrow. Find a lakeside café to relax and soak in your first evening in this diplomatic hub
Special Information
Today use your Swiss Travel Pass to get to Geneva. You can take any connection from within Switzerland. Please check the SBB app timetable before travelling.
In Geneva your stay includes a local transport card offering free public transport and discounts on selected local activities.
Today's guided city tour offers a deep dive into Geneva's multifaceted identity. You will visit the Old Town to see St. Peter's Cathedral and the Place Bourg-de-Four, the oldest square in the city. The tour also highlights Geneva's natural and artistic side with stops at the Flower Clock and the majestic Jet d'Eau, before passing through the UN district to learn about the city's vital role in global diplomacy.
The afternoon provides an opportunity to revisit the landmarks that piqued your interest or to explore the city's many museums. As you navigate the historic quarters, you'll feel the unique pulse of a city that acts as a bridge between nations, all while maintaining a quintessential Swiss charm.
Inspiring Highlights
Geneva - Guided city tour
Day 3 - Geneva [Train] Zermatt
Bid farewell to Geneva as you board a train for a scenic journey through the Rhône Valley. Using your Swiss Travel Pass, watch as the landscape transforms from lakeside elegance to the dramatic, jagged peaks of the Valais Alps. Your destination is Zermatt, a world-renowned, car-free alpine village nestled at the foot of the mighty Matterhorn.
Upon arrival and check-in, the afternoon is free for you to explore this charming village. Breathe in the crisp mountain air as you wander past traditional chalets and boutique shops. The sight of the Matterhorn, perhaps the world's most photographed mountain, provides a constant and awe-inspiring presence as you settle into your alpine home for the next two nights.
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 4.5 hours.
Today is yours to fully immerse yourself in the mountain majesty of Zermatt. You may choose to wander through the village, visiting the traditional chalets or the local boutiques to reflect on the daring history of alpine exploration. The village's car-free streets ensure a peaceful environment, perfect for finding a quiet spot to admire the surrounding 4,000-metre peaks.
For those looking to ascend into the clouds, two spectacular optional excursions are available. You may choose to join the Gornergrat Railway excursion, a historic cogwheel train that offers spectacular views of the Matterhorn and surrounding peaks. Alternatively, you can opt for an excursion to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, where you can experience the high-altitude wonders of Europe's highest mountain station. Both options provide a profound sense of the scale and beauty of the Swiss Alps.
Day 5 - Zermatt [Train] Lucerne
Your journey continues across the heart of Switzerland as you travel by train via Interlaken to Lucerne. This route offers a stunning transition from the high Alps to the rolling hills and turquoise lakes of Central Switzerland. Arriving in Lucerne, you'll find a city that feels like a storybook illustration, with its preserved medieval architecture and stunning lakeside setting.
In the afternoon, board a boat for a relaxing cruise on Lake Lucerne. Floating across the calm waters, you will be treated to views of dramatic cliffsides and historic lakeside towns. It is a moment of pure serenity, allowing you to appreciate the legendary "cradle of Switzerland" from a unique and peaceful perspective
Inspiring Highlights
Luzern-Interlaken Express - Scenic rail journey
Lucerne - Lake Lucerne cruise
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 3.5 hours.
In Lucerne our stay includes a local transport card offering free public transport and discounts on selected local activities.
Today you will have a free day to explore Lucerne and its surroundings. Experience the contrast between historic monuments and contemporary design which combine to create a unique and lively city centre. Stroll along pedestrian cobblestone streets lined with historic homes decorated with frescoes in the old town. Visit Switzerland's first Baroque building, the Jesuit church dating to the 17th century, and visit the Lion monument, a figure of a dying lion which was hewn from the face of rock in remembrance of the heroic death of Swiss guards killed during an attack in 1792.
Day 7 - Lucerne [Train] Zurich
After breakfast, a short and comfortable train ride brings you to Zurich, Switzerland's largest city and a global centre for banking and innovation. After checking into your hotel, take a self-guided visit to the Lindt Home of Chocolate, exploring the exhibits with an included audio guide.
Later join a guided tour of Zurich, taking in the highlights of Switzerland's largest city. The evening is at leisure.
Inspiring Highlights
Zurich - Lindt Home of Chocolate visit
Zurich - Guided city tour
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 1.5 hours.
Day 8 - Zurich [Plane] Amsterdam
Our Swiss chapter closes early this morning. We transfer to Zurich airport for our flight to Amsterdam, a little over an hour and a half.On arrival we transfer to the pier, where our ship is waiting. We settle into our stateroom and gather for dinner on board.Special InformationThe flight and both transfers are included as package components. An early start is required; please refer to final documentation for confirmed timings.
Amsterdam has 165 canals and we spend the morning on some of them, seeing the city from the water with gabled houses leaning over both banks.Later in the day we cast off and begin our journey south.Inspiring HighlightsAmsterdam canal cruise
Cologne is home to one of Germany’s great Gothic cathedrals. We join a guided tour of the Old Town, taking in the Cathedral, the Rathaus (Germany’s oldest town hall), the Old Market and the Heumarkt, and taste the local Kolsch beer.Those after something more active can ride the Rhine by bicycle.Inspiring HighlightsCologne walking tour and Kolsch tasting, or a Cologne bike tour
Day 11 - Rudesheim [Ship]
We spend the morning cruising the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge, castles standing above the vineyards on both banks.At Rudesheim we take a gondola over the vines, visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Instrument Cabinet, or sit with the local Rudesheimer Coffee.Inspiring HighlightsRhine Gorge scenic cruisingRudesheim gondola, or Siegfried’s Mechanical Instrument Cabinet, or Rudesheimer Coffee
Wertheim has one of the loveliest town centres in Germany. We explore it on a walking tour, hike to the ruins of Wertheim Castle, or cycle the Main valley.Inspiring HighlightsWertheim walking tour, or Castle Hill hike, or Main River bike tour
Wurzburg is a city of Baroque architecture. We tour it, visit the UNESCO-listed Residenz Palace with its Tiepolo ceiling fresco (one of the largest in the world), or hike to Marienberg Fortress.Alternatively we spend the day at Rothenburg, Germany’s best-preserved walled town on the Romantic Road.Inspiring HighlightsWurzburg walking tour, or Residenz Palace, or Marienberg Fortress hike, or a full-day Rothenburg excursion
We dock at Eltmann for Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a medieval survivor. We walk it with a guide past the cathedral and the Old Town Hall set in the river, taste smoked beer and pastries, or ride it by bike.Inspiring HighlightsBamberg UNESCO walking tour and smoked beer tasting, or Tastes of Bamberg, or a Bamberg bike tour
Day 15 - Nuremberg [Ship]
We tour Kaiserburg, Nuremberg’s imperial castle and one of the great palaces of the Holy Roman Empire, then visit the home of Albrecht Durer, where the artist lived and worked in the early 16th century.Inspiring HighlightsKaiserburg imperial castleDurer House
Day 16 - Nuremberg [Ship]
A second day in Nuremberg. A guided tour takes in the Imperial Castle, the town wall and the Market Square fountain; a WWII-focused tour includes the Nuremberg Trials Memorial and Courtroom 600; or we taste Franconia, from bratwurst to lebkuchen.Later we enter the Main-Danube Canal, crossing Europe’s continental divide.Inspiring HighlightsMedieval city tour, or WWII city tour, or Tastes of FranconiaMain-Danube Canal transit
Day 17 - Regensburg [Ship]
Regensburg is among the best-preserved medieval cities in Germany. We walk its highlights, the Old Town Hall and the Roman Porta Praetoria, sample Bavaria (beer, sausage, pretzels), or cycle to Walhalla and its neoclassical temple above the Danube.Inspiring HighlightsRegensburg UNESCO walking tour, or Tastes of Bavaria, or a Walhalla bike tour
Passau is the City of Three Rivers. We take a walking tour past Gothic and Italian Baroque facades and St Stephen’s Cathedral, ride along the River Inn, or climb to the Veste Oberhaus fortress.Alternatively we spend a full day in Salzburg, taking in the historic centre, Mirabell Gardens and Residenz Square.Inspiring HighlightsPassau walking tour, or a full-day Salzburg excursion, or River Inn bike tour, or Passau Castle hike
We cruise into the Wachau to Melk, where a Benedictine abbey sits on a rock above the Danube, UNESCO-listed and one of Europe’s grand Baroque monasteries. We visit it, hike to it, or cycle the river below.Inspiring HighlightsMelk Abbey visit, or Melk Abbey hike, or a Danube bike tour
Vienna was the heart of an empire. The city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and our tour takes in the Opera House, the Habsburgs’ former Imperial Palace and St Stephen’s Cathedral. Cyclists can tour the city on two wheels. The afternoon is free.Inspiring HighlightsImperial Vienna tour, or a Vienna bike tour
Budapest comes in two halves. On the Buda side we follow our guide through the Castle District to Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church, the city laid out below; the more active can hike Castle Hill.In the afternoon we cross to Pest for the Parliament building, Heroes’ Square and the Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial.Inspiring HighlightsBuda city tour, or Castle Hill hikePest city tour
A final breakfast on board before we say goodbye to our ship and to Budapest.Thank you for travelling with Inspiring Vacations. We hope you had a memorable journey.Special InformationInternational airfares home from Budapest are not included.
