Western Europe Grand Tour: Germany, the Netherlands, France & Switzerland
Twelve days by fast train across four countries: Frankfurt's old town and Hamburg's harbour, Amsterdam's canals and windmills, Paris from the Seine, then Lucerne, Mount Titlis and the lakes and valleys of the Bernese Oberland.
- Best time to go
- May to September for long days and lake cruises; April for the Dutch tulip fields; December for Christmas markets in Germany, Paris and Lucerne.
- Flying from India
- Fly into Frankfurt (about 8½ to 9½ hours non-stop from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad) and home from Zurich (non-stop to Delhi and Mumbai).
- Visa for Indian passports
- Schengen short-stay visa: one visa covers every Schengen country on the route. Apply at the consulate of the country where you spend most nights, up to six months ahead; spring and summer appointments fill early. Fingerprints and a photo are taken at your first border under the EU Entry/Exit System.
- Currency
- Euro in Germany, the Netherlands and France; Swiss franc (CHF) in Switzerland. Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere.
Western Europe at a glance
The tour runs north and then south by rail. It begins in Frankfurt, with the half-timbered Römerberg in the shadow of the banking towers, then takes the fast train to Hamburg for an Elbe harbour cruise, the red-brick Speicherstadt warehouses and Miniatur Wunderland, the world's largest model railway. From there it crosses into the Netherlands: three nights in Amsterdam allow a canal cruise, the museums and a day out to the windmills of Zaanse Schans and the fishing villages beyond.
A three-hour high-speed train brings you to Paris for an evening Seine cruise, the illuminated city and the Eiffel Tower. The last leg goes by TGV to Switzerland: Zurich's old town, Lucerne's covered bridges and lake, the revolving Rotair cable car up Mount Titlis, and a final day cruising Lake Thun or Brienz and riding up to Grindelwald and the Lauterbrunnen valley.
Must-see
- Hamburg's harbour and Miniatur Wunderland
- Amsterdam's canal ring
- The Eiffel Tower and the Seine
- Lucerne's Chapel Bridge
- Mount Titlis and the Jungfrau valleys
Food to try
- Frankfurter grüne Soße and apple wine
- Hamburg fischbrötchen at the harbour
- Dutch stroopwafels and poffertjes
- Croissants and crêpes in Paris
- Swiss fondue and Lucerne's chügelipastete
Where to shop
- Zeil, Frankfurt
- Jungfernstieg, Hamburg
- De Negen Straatjes (Nine Streets), Amsterdam
- Galeries Lafayette, Paris
- Swiss watches and chocolate in Lucerne
Where to Stay
Areas and styles of stay we book most often. We shortlist specific hotels once we know your dates and budget.
Hamburg, HafenCity and the Alster
Harbour and lakeside hotels
Hotels by the harbour near the Elbphilharmonie concert hall, or on the Alster lake, a short walk from the Speicherstadt and Miniatur Wunderland.
Amsterdam, canal ring
Canal-house hotels
Hotels in restored 17th-century merchant houses on the Herengracht and Keizersgracht, ten minutes' walk from the Dam and the Nine Streets.
Paris, Left Bank
Classic Parisian hotels
Hotels around Saint-Germain-des-Prés, with cafés and bookshops on the doorstep and the Seine, the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay within walking distance.
Lucerne lakefront
Belle Époque lake hotels
Grand old hotels along the lake promenade, with views of Mount Pilatus and the steamers, and the old town a few minutes away on foot.
Signature Experiences
Moments we build Western Europe journeys around
Miniatur Wunderland, Hamburg
The world's largest model railway fills a Speicherstadt warehouse with miniature cities, airports and Alpine valleys. Timed tickets let you skip the queue.
Windmills of Zaanse Schans
A day in the Dutch countryside: working windmills, a clog workshop and cheese farm at Zaanse Schans, then the harbour villages of Volendam and Marken.
Paris from the Seine
An evening river cruise past Notre-Dame, the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay to the Eiffel Tower as it sparkles on the hour.
Mount Titlis by Rotair
The world's first revolving cable car turns 360° as it climbs to 3,020 m above Engelberg. At the top: the glacier cave, the Cliff Walk and the Ice Flyer chairlift.
Lake Brienz by steamer
Cruise the turquoise lake from Interlaken to the wooden village of Brienz, included on the Swiss Travel Pass.
Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald
Trains into the valley of 72 waterfalls beneath the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, and on to Grindelwald for lunch with mountain views.
Planning Your Journey
Timing, routing and what our specialists tell every Western Europe traveller
When to visit
April to June
Tulips in the Netherlands, fresh green Alps and fewer crowds than July. Mountain lifts mostly reopen by late May.
July to September
Warm, long days and every lake steamer running. The busiest months, so book early.
Late November to December
Christmas markets in Frankfurt, Hamburg and Lucerne, and festive lights in Paris. Cold, short days.
Getting there and around
Open-jaw flights
Fly into Frankfurt and home from Zurich so you never backtrack. Both airports have rail stations under the terminal.
Trains between cities
Frankfurt to Hamburg is about 3½ hours, Hamburg to Amsterdam about 5 hours, Amsterdam to Paris 3½ hours, and Paris to Zurich 4 hours. Seats are reserved in advance.
Insider notes
Pack light for the trains
You change hotels four times. One medium suitcase per person makes the stations far easier; we can arrange luggage transfers if you prefer.
Book Paris timed entries early
Eiffel Tower summit, Louvre and Versailles slots sell out weeks ahead in summer. We reserve them with your trip.
Keukenhof is seasonal
The tulip gardens open only from late March to mid-May. Outside those weeks, the countryside day focuses on windmills and villages.
Titlis in the morning
Go up early for the clearest views; cloud often builds by early afternoon. Take warm layers even in summer.
Western Europe: Common Questions
Germany (Frankfurt and Hamburg), the Netherlands (Amsterdam and the countryside), France (Paris) and Switzerland (Zurich, Lucerne, Mount Titlis and the Interlaken region).
Plan your Western Europe journey
Speak to a specialist.
Share a few details and one of our Western Europe specialists will get in touch, usually within a working day.
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