Our Favorite Things

SCANDINAVIA

GERMANY, AUSTRIA & SWITZERLAND

ENGLAND, IRELAND & SCOTLAND

HOLLAND & BELGIUM

GREECE & TURKEY

EASTERN EUROPE

FRANCE

ITALY

A Few of Our Favorite Things!

SPAIN, PORTUGAL & MOROCCO

LONDON, ENGLAND On a clear day, you can see forever! Especially on the London Eye with a spectacular 360-degree view of London and beyond. Ride comfortably within your panoramic glass Ferris wheel car for views as far as the eye can see.

Wheels in the Sky

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STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, ENGLAND Visit Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall where a young William began a life of literary genius. A rose by any other name might smell as sweet, but there’s only one Shakespeare!

The Bard’s Beginnings

GARINISH ISLAND, IRELAND Board a private boat for the short crossing to Garinish Island in Bantry Bay, where warm waters attract colonies of seals. Follow the winding paths between the fragrant flowering trees and shrubs of this lush tropical island garden.

Irish Gardens on the Bay

CARLINGFORD, IRELAND Irish legend has it that an innkeeper added Irish whiskey to a cup of coffee to warm weary travelers on a stormy winter night in 1943. And so the first cup of Irish Coffee was poured. You’re invited to wet your whistle with a warm cup and a demonstration on how this foamy favorite is made.

Strong Medicine

KILDARE, IRELAND Visit the farm where racing royalty was born 120 years ago. Since the day King Edward VII led his victorious racehorse into the winners circle in 1909, the Irish National Stud has produced winning thoroughbreds across all five English Classics.

The Winner’s Circle

GRETNA GREEN, SCOTLAND Be a romantic at heart with a wedding re-enactment at Gretna Green. Here, softhearted blacksmiths of the 1700s would secretly wed runaway couples whose parents (and Britain’s Marriage Act of 1754) disapproved. Ah, young love!

I Do!

GLENGOYNE, SCOTLAND Long after George Connell first began secretly distilling his grandfather’s recipes 200 years ago, Glengoyne whisky continues to flow. Enjoy a guided tour of the distillery to hear about the ancient art of converting barley, water, and yeast into a heart-warming spirit.

Granddad’s Whisky

BRUGES, BELGIUM Indulge in delicious Belgian chocolate bonbons while taking a canal cruise through Bruges. A sweet way to see the capital of West Flanders!

Chocolate Therapy

AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND Stroll through the kaleidoscope of 7 million flower bulbs planted each year at Keukenhof Gardens

Tiptoe Through the Tulips

HOLLAND & BELGIUM

VENICE, ITALY Venice should be seen from the water, so step aboard for a traditional gondola ride. Be serenaded as a skilled gondolier maneuvers you through small canals and along the landmark-lined Grand Canal.

Striped Shirts & Serenades

CAPRI, ITALY Take in the vistas from your open-taxi along the zigzag road to the charming whitewashed village of Anacapri nestled below the slopes of Monte Solaro. Visit Villa San Michele and embark on a stunning scenic cruise around the island to see its dramatic beauty from the Gulf of Naples (weather permitting).

Gulf Coasting

LAKE COMO, ITALY Enjoy a private boat ride on Lake Como and visit the picturesque village of Bellagio. Located halfway between the two southernmost branches of the lake, this gem is famous worldwide for its beautiful villas overlooking the water. A simple walk along its lovely streets is well worth the visit.

Italian Gems

MODICA, ITALY Taste the heavenly chocolates passed down through six generations of Sicily’s Bonajuto family. More than 150 years after founder Francesco Bonajuto began a modest chocolate shop on the same spot, Antica Doceria Bonajuto is the oldest dolceria in Sicily and one of the oldest in all of Italy.

Chocolate Heaven

SIENA, ITALY Panforte is a magical mix of sugar, nuts, and fruits first used to keep Turkish soldiers fed. Try this and Italy’s traditional almond and honey biscuit called Ricciarelli, a macaroon-style staple first created in 14th-century Siena.

Sweets in Siena

ITALY

GIVERNY, FRANCE Stroll the serene gardens at Giverny and visit the home of master impressionist painter Claude Monet.

Making an Impression

PARIS, FRANCE Try to resist the charms of Paris in the presence of legendary symbols of love, light, and la vie en rose.

An Eyeful in Paris

PARIS, FRANCE Ride the Little Train and lunch at a local restaurant in the art district of Montmartre where artists sketch portraits in the tradition of la bohème.

A Portrait of Paris

BEAUNE, FRANCE Visit the Hotel Dieu, then toast France with a glass of Burgundy during a wine tasting at Marché aux Vins—ancient church turned wine cellar in Beaune. À votre santé!

Best Cellars

FRANCE

ERFOUD, MOROCCO A desert sea of sand dunes is yours to explore in Morocco’s Erg Chebbi with a four-wheel drive adventure. Visit a fascinating fossil site and retreat to a Bedouin tent for dinner. An experience of epic proportion!

Epic Adventure

TANGIER, MOROCCO Sitting 1,000 feet above the Strait of Gibraltar shines Morocco’s Cap Spartel. Take a breathtaking scenic drive with sweeping ocean views from this lofty promontory near Tangier. Enjoy a glass of Bedouin-style hot mint tea served with a traditional biscuit.

High Tea in Tangier

AZEITAO, PORTUGAL Enter a world of authentically handmade Portuguese tile at the São Simão Arte workshop and gallery. It is here that distinguished antique collector Antonio Soares Franco creates these ceramic masterpieces by hand in the style of his ancestors--from clay to drying and baking to exquisitely painted works of art. From his kilns, Antonio creates tiles, panels, earthenware, and signature art pieces that are hard to resist. Watch the artist in action with the chance to paint your own tile to keep!

Feats of Clay

COSTA DEL SOL, SPAIN Spend the day in Spain’s southern port city of Malaga. Here in the sun-soaked Costa del Sol, you’ll stroll the avenues of the Old City and relax over tapas at the famous El Pimpi Bodega. One of the oldest bodega bars in Málaga, El Pimpi gets its name from a friendly character who helped passengers from ships arriving here.

The Soul of Sunny Spain

PAMPLONA, SPAIN Once a year, the Calle Estafeta is lined with Pamplona residents leaning over their tiny balconies to watch the traditional Running of the Bulls on their way to the Plaza de Toros. Risking life and limb, festival goers wear red and white bandanas around their waists to run the gauntlet alongside the bulls. Today, you’ll enjoy a more peaceful walk along the Calle to lunch on traditional tapas and Rioja wine at Pamplona’s Basaburua restaurant. Olé!

Watch the Horns!

SEVILLE, SPAIN Get passionate about local dinner specialties at El Palacio Andaluz restaurant, complete with Flamenco dancers.

Castanets & Clicking Heels

SPAIN, PORTUGAL & MOROCCO

MYKONOS Meaning “messenger of good tiding,” traditional Amygdalota (Greek almond cookies) have been bringing good news to sweet tooths since the 6th-century BC. Sample this irresistible cookie in Mykonos and you’ll feel lucky too!

Sweet Luck

OLYMPIA Tzatziki, the refreshingly delicious herb mixture—typically made with Greek yogurt, cucumber, fresh dill, garlic, and olive oil—is an ancient tradition in Greek cuisine. Join us for a cooking demonstration in Olympia to learn how to make this Greek favorite.

Bring the Dip

GREECE & TURKEY

STON, CROATIA Take a guided walk to explore the Walls of Ston first designed to protect the valuable salt pans dating back to the 13th century and still playing a role in the wealth and economy of nearby Dubrovnik. The largest surviving defensive wall in the world—second only to the Great Wall of China.

Salty Stories

KRKA, CROATIA Do you believe in magic? You will after visiting Krka National Park with a guided walking tour to witness the wonders of its travertine waterfalls, gorges, and emerald lakes. Walk along the elevated wooden pathways to take in the park’s pristine beauty and cascades fed by the Krka River. This magical place casts a spell from the Adriatic Sea to the mountains of Croatia.

Natural Wonders

RILA, BULGARIA A magnificent monastery and cache of treasures in Bulgarian language, culture, holy relics, and revolutionaries, the Rila Monastery is called the “Treasury of Bulgaria.” Its splendor in the southwestern Rila Mountains is yours to explore on a guided tour of Bulgaria’s largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery, founded in the 10th century.

Treasured Things

TELC, CZECH REPUBLIC A lovely afternoon is in store with a stop in Telc, one of the Czech Republic’s most beautiful towns and enjoy lunch with local specialties. An architectural feast for the eyes and a special lunch with local specialties.

Czech Beauty

EASTERN EUROPE

KREMS, AUSTRIA Have your cake and eat it too with an authentic Austrian experience on the Danube River. Enjoy a leisurely scenic cruise complete with truly Austrian specialties, Kaffee und Kuchen (coffee and cake). A cruise, coffee, and cake are a few of our favorite things!

Danube Delights

BLACK FOREST, GERMANY Be enamored by centuries-old craftsmanship at a woodcarving demonstration in Germany’s beautiful Black Forest. Indulge in rich Kaffee und Schwarzwaldkuchen (coffee and Black Forest Cake) to truly experience time-honored traditions of the Black Forest.

Bavarian Beauties

NEUSCHWANSTEIN, GERMANY Visit Neuschwanstein Castle commissioned by the “Fairy Tale King,” Ludwig II. This spectacular royal retreat pays homage to the epic operas of the monarch’s friend and composer Richard Wagner. The storybook-style castle later inspired Walt Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty” castle.

Once Upon a Dream

CHUR, SWITZERLAND All aboard to see the splendor of Switzerland from the “Window of the Alps,” aka the Glacier Express. Glide through spectacular Swiss scenery offering breathtaking views from the comfort of your panorama car. A feast for the eyes and the palate with included lunch on board.

A Swiss Watch

LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND Ascend via cogwheel railway passing exquisite alpine meadows and dramatic rock formations to the top of magnificent Mount Pilatus. Send a yodel across the Swiss peaks in the tradition of mountaineers of old.

Monumental Mountains

GERMANY, AUSTRIA & SWITZERLAND

HARDANGERFJORD, NORWAY Bite into a little slice of heaven on the shores of Norway’s magnificent Hardangerfjord at a fruit farm. Sample the specialties created through generations of fruit and berry farming with lunch and an apple juice and cider tasting beside the fjord’s breathtaking views.

Heavenly Notes

GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN Swedish snacks in Gothenburg’s giant indoor Market Hall—built in 1888. Mingle with locals who browse its wealth of stalls for tempting spices, smoked meats, cheeses, and chocolates.

Swedish Snacks

MOSCOW, RUSSIA Visit the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and the Novodevichy (New Maiden) Convent and Cemetery, founded in 1524. Here, the sisters thwarted Napoleon’s plans to blow up the convent by dousing the fuses with water. Explore this historic and sacred site and walk among the tranquil gardens, chapels and sculpted monuments in the final resting place of Russia’s notable figures in literature, government, theater, and music--including Chekov, Stanislavski, Khrushchev, Yeltsin, and Prokofiev. A site of legendary Russian history.

A Saving Grace

SCANDINAVIA

WARSAW, POLAND Be stirred and inspired by a private performance of Frédéric Chopin’s nocturnes, waltzes, etudes, and more in a historic hall in Warsaw. You’ll hear stories of the composer’s life over a glass of sparkling wine or juice. A musical masterpiece of an evening!

A Feast for the Ears

ISTANBUL Enter a mysterious watery world of Byzantine beauty in the Underground Basilica Cistern in Istanbul.

Mysterious World

ISTANBUL Enter a mysterious watery world of Byzantine beauty in the Underground Basilica Cistern in Istanbul.

Mysterious World