Two weeks is the classic length for a first grand tour of Europe — enough to experience five of the continent's greatest destinations without rushing: the history of London, the romance of Paris, the soaring scenery of the Swiss Alps, the singular canals of Venice, and the ancient grandeur of Rome. This itinerary links them by the Eurostar and Europe's superb train network, with a couple of short flights optional to save time.
It assumes you fly into London and out of Rome (an open-jaw ticket that avoids backtracking the length of the continent). Because each city deserves its own deep dive, this guide cross-links to our dedicated city itineraries — the 4-day London, 3-day Paris, and 3-day Rome plans — and to our where-to-stay guides for London, Paris, and Rome.
May to June and September offer the best balance of warm weather, long days, and manageable crowds across all five destinations. July and August are hottest and busiest, especially in Italy; spring and early autumn bring comfortable sightseeing and beautiful Alpine and Mediterranean light.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Arrival in London
Arrive in London and transfer into the city — see our Heathrow airport guide for the easiest routes. Settle in and ease into the trip with an evening stroll around Westminster or the South Bank as the icons light up along the Thames.
- ✓ Thames-side evening walk
- ✓ Big Ben & Westminster by night
- ✓ First British pub dinner
🛏 Where to stay: Central London — Westminster, the West End, or the South Bank; see our where to stay in London guide.
💡 Tip: Tap in with a contactless card on the Tube — daily fare capping means you never overpay.
London Highlights
Cover London's icons — Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard, the Tower of London, and a Thames cruise. Our 4-day London itinerary and things to do in London guide have the full detail.
- ✓ Westminster Abbey
- ✓ Tower of London & Crown Jewels
- ✓ Buckingham Palace
🛏 Where to stay: London (second night).
💡 Tip: Book the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey online in advance to skip the queues.
London Museums & West End
Spend the morning at the free British Museum, the afternoon in the museum quarter of South Kensington or shopping around Covent Garden, and the evening at a West End theatre show — a London essential.
- ✓ British Museum
- ✓ South Kensington or Covent Garden
- ✓ West End theatre show
🛏 Where to stay: London (third night).
💡 Tip: London's major museums are free — pick a few highlights rather than trying to see everything.
Eurostar to Paris
Take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris in just over two hours, arriving in the heart of the city by early afternoon. Drop your bags and begin with the icon — the Eiffel Tower and a sunset Seine river cruise.
- ✓ Eurostar to Paris
- ✓ Eiffel Tower
- ✓ Sunset Seine river cruise
🛏 Where to stay: Central Paris — Le Marais or Saint-Germain; see our where to stay in Paris guide.
💡 Tip: Book Eurostar tickets well in advance for the cheapest fares, and arrive 60–90 minutes before departure.
Paris Highlights
A full day of Paris icons — the Louvre, the Tuileries, Notre-Dame and the Île de la Cité, and the Latin Quarter. Our 3-day Paris itinerary and things to do in Paris guide map it all out.
- ✓ The Louvre
- ✓ Notre-Dame & Île de la Cité
- ✓ Latin Quarter & Saint-Germain
🛏 Where to stay: Paris (second night).
💡 Tip: Pre-book the Louvre with a timed slot and enter via a quieter entrance to skip the pyramid queue.
Montmartre or Versailles
Climb to bohemian Montmartre for Sacré-Cœur and city views, then visit the Impressionist Musée d'Orsay — or dedicate the day to a Palace of Versailles excursion before the evening train south tomorrow.
- ✓ Sacré-Cœur & Montmartre
- ✓ Musée d'Orsay
- ✓ Optional Versailles day trip
🛏 Where to stay: Paris (third night).
💡 Tip: For Versailles, go early and pre-book — it is one of the busiest attractions in France.
Into the Swiss Alps
Travel by train from Paris to Switzerland (around 4–5 hours to Lucerne via Basel), trading city streets for soaring mountains and turquoise lakes. Arrive in the postcard town of Lucerne, with its wooden Chapel Bridge and lakefront promenade.
- ✓ Scenic train to Switzerland
- ✓ Lucerne's Chapel Bridge
- ✓ Lakefront promenade
🛏 Where to stay: Lucerne — a scenic, central base for the Swiss Alps.
💡 Tip: Swiss trains are punctual and scenic; a seat reservation is not always needed but check for peak routes.
Swiss Mountains & Lakes
Spend the day in the Alps. Ride a cogwheel railway or cable car up Mount Pilatus or Mount Rigi for breathtaking panoramas, cruise on Lake Lucerne, and soak up the mountain air — a tranquil contrast to the big cities at either end of the trip.
- ✓ Mount Pilatus or Rigi by cable car
- ✓ Lake Lucerne cruise
- ✓ Alpine panoramas
🛏 Where to stay: Lucerne (second night).
💡 Tip: Check the mountain weather forecast and go up on the clearest day for the best views.
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South to Venice
Take the scenic train south through the Alps into Italy and on to Venice (around 6–7 hours, or a short flight to save time). Arrive at Santa Lucia station, step straight onto the Grand Canal, and let the city of canals work its magic at dusk.
- ✓ Scenic Alpine train into Italy
- ✓ Grand Canal vaporetto ride
- ✓ St. Mark's Square at dusk
🛏 Where to stay: Venice — Cannaregio or Dorsoduro for atmosphere away from the crowds.
💡 Tip: If short on time, a direct flight from Switzerland to Venice saves several hours over the train.
Venice & the Lagoon
Explore Venice's icons — St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, and the Rialto Bridge — then lose yourself in the back lanes or take a vaporetto to the colourful islands of Burano and Murano.
- ✓ St. Mark's Basilica
- ✓ Doge's Palace
- ✓ Burano & Murano islands
🛏 Where to stay: Venice (second night).
💡 Tip: There are no cars in Venice — pack light, as you will wheel luggage over bridges and along canals.
High-Speed Train to Rome
Take the fast train from Venice to Rome (around 4 hours) for the grand finale. Arrive in the Eternal City and ease in with an evening passeggiata through the floodlit historic centre, tossing a coin into the Trevi Fountain.
- ✓ High-speed train to Rome
- ✓ Trevi Fountain at night
- ✓ Piazza Navona
🛏 Where to stay: Central Rome — the Centro Storico or Monti; see our where to stay in Rome guide.
💡 Tip: Book the Venice–Rome high-speed train in advance for the cheapest fares.
Ancient Rome
Dedicate the day to ancient Rome — the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill, then the Pantheon. Our 3-day Rome itinerary and things to do in Rome guide cover it in full.
- ✓ Colosseum & Roman Forum
- ✓ Palatine Hill
- ✓ The Pantheon
🛏 Where to stay: Rome (second night).
💡 Tip: Buy a combined Colosseum/Forum/Palatine ticket online to skip the long queues.
Vatican City
Spend the morning in Vatican City — St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel (reserve timed entry). Spend a relaxed final afternoon in charming Trastevere, toasting the end of your European grand tour.
- ✓ St. Peter's Basilica
- ✓ Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
- ✓ Farewell dinner in Trastevere
🛏 Where to stay: Rome (third night).
💡 Tip: Book the first morning Vatican Museums slot or a skip-the-line tour — the queues are among Europe's worst.
Departure
Enjoy a final Italian espresso and any last sights before transferring to the airport for your flight home, capping two weeks across five of Europe's most iconic destinations.
- ✓ Final Roman espresso
- ✓ Last-minute souvenirs
- ✓ Airport transfer
💡 Tip: The Leonardo Express links central Rome to Fiumicino airport in about 32 minutes — leave a comfortable buffer.
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Budget & Practicalities
Roughly $180–320 per person per day including hotels, meals, intercity trains, and attractions; Switzerland and Venice are the priciest stretches.
The Eurostar and European high-speed trains are fast and good value booked ahead; a couple of short flights (e.g. Switzerland–Venice) can save time on the longest hops.
Swiss mountain railways and cable cars, the Eurostar, skip-the-line Vatican and London attraction tickets.
Tips for This Trip
- → Fly into London and out of Rome on an open-jaw ticket to avoid backtracking the continent.
- → Book the Eurostar and high-speed trains well in advance for the cheapest fares.
- → Consider a short flight for the longest leg (Switzerland to Venice) if you want to save half a day.
- → Pack light — you will move between five cities and handle luggage on trains, bridges, and stairs.
- → Note that Switzerland uses the Swiss franc, not the euro, while the UK uses pounds — carry the right currency or a travel card.
- → Check entry rules in our Europe visa requirements guide before you travel.
What to Pack for Europe
A Versatile Carry-On & Daypack
Multi-city train travel
Across five cities and many trains, a manageable carry-on plus a packable daypack makes moving between destinations painless and avoids checked-bag waits.
Check Price on AmazonA Universal Travel Adapter
Multiple plug types
This trip spans the UK (Type G), Continental Europe (Type C/E/F), and Switzerland (Type J) — a universal adapter covers every plug you will meet.
Check Price on AmazonComfortable Walking Shoes
Cities and trails
From London's museums to Rome's cobbles and Alpine paths, two weeks across Europe is a walking marathon. Supportive, broken-in shoes are essential.
Check Price on AmazonA Crossbody Anti-Theft Bag
Busy cities and trains
Crowded trains and tourist sights in Paris, Venice, and Rome attract pickpockets. A zippered crossbody keeps your phone, cash, and passport secure.
Check Price on AmazonFrequently Asked Questions
Two weeks is the classic length for a first European grand tour, enough to experience five iconic destinations — London, Paris, the Swiss Alps, Venice, and Rome — without rushing, linked by the Eurostar and fast trains. It balances big cities, mountain scenery, and Italian highlights. Trying to add more than five stops in two weeks usually means too much time in transit.