Have you ever imagined boarding a bus and waking up in a new country every morning? Spending the rest of your day exploring the history and culture of the country, feasting on local treats and retiring to bed knowing you’re going to be someplace new the very next day? As much as it may sound like a fantasy, this is a very real experience. Due to the development of the European Union, the borders of most countries across the continent have minimum travel restrictions, so bus trips that allow you to cross the continent in a couple of days are no longer a dream.
These bus trips are one of the best ways for busy people to travel and make the most out of their European visit. And while we can state the many reasons why this trip is absolutely worth it, I think it will be better if you hear about it from Aertrips own virtual tourists. So here we have a virtual recounting of all the fun and merriment this journey holds. So two weeks and six countries later, here’s what went down on this epic adventure!
Table of Contents
Day 1 & 2: Setting sail from London
We arrived in London, luggage in tow and enjoyed an entire day of touring the beautiful city. We got on the London Hop-on Hop-off tour and later carried on to the river cruise. The bus ride was an easy, comfortable and convenient way to make the most of our day in the city. We visited Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, St. Paul’s Cathedral and even got to take a ride on the London Eye. The day ended beautifully on the Thames River Cruise. Our bus trip started early the following day. We met with the bus crew and loaded our luggage on the coach. Our next stop, the city of Love, Paris!
Day 3 & 4: Touring the city of Love
As soon as we entered the city, our eyes lit up under the utter beauty of the city of Paris. We checked out all the notable places – the Arc de Triomphe, Champs Élysées, Place de la Concorde and of course, the Eiffel Tower! The next day was for self-exploration. So with our bucket list in hand, we were prepared to take full advantage of our last 24 hours in Paris. So we started with the bike tour, exploring the streets of Paris firsthand. Then, in the afternoon, we boarded the Seine River Cruise and the eventful day came to an even more delightful end as we thoroughly enjoyed the Parisian Cabaret show. We bid our farewell to the dreamy city with a heavy heart as we headed on to our next destination, the Swiss Alps!
Day 5 & 6: Scaling the Alps and enjoying Swiss Cheese
We traded in the Parisian streets for the snowy peaks of the Swiss Alps. The sunrise was glorious from the Top of Europe. The day was filled with hiking, biking, skydiving, and any other activity you could possibly imagine. We headed down to the city the next day, had our fill of the local cuisines, and explored beautiful Switzerland’s dainty nooks and crannies. Afterwards, it was time to bid adios to the gorgeous country and fall asleep looking forward to our next destination – the revered land of Pasta, Pizza and all things garlicky and delicious – Italy.
Day 7: The great Italian food tour
Our first stop in the country was, of course, the iconic tower of Pisa. We spent hours getting the perfect shot for our Instagram, and it was well worth our time. Then it was finally time to fill both our hearts and belly with the authentic and delectable Italian cuisine in Florence. I had some of the best Risotto, Gnocchi and Lasagna in the city’s heartiest and most welcoming restaurants. We even got to try authentic Gelato, which was worth every calorie. The city of Florence was full of culture. However, nothing prepared us for the absolute historical glory of Rome!
Day 8: When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do
Waking up to see the mighty Coliseum was a scene right from ancient epics. The structure was massive and breathtaking. After taking a couple of snaps on the Spanish Steps, we made our way to the Trevi Fountain to toss in some coins and pray for good luck on the rest of our journey. We opted for the guided tour of Vatican City the next day. We visited as many revered sites in the city as we could – Saint Peter’s square, Saint Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. We even got to enjoy traditional Italian coffee. After the tiresome but fulfilling day, we rested for the night, for the next day was about to be just as entertaining.
Day 9 & 10: The City of Water
Today’s breakfast was in The Floating City of Venice. The city looks like one out of a fairy tale. We went out on a walking tour of the town right after breakfast and ticked off all the major attractions – St Mark’s Square, Doge’s Palace and Accademia Bridge. In the evening, we took a gondola ride down the Grand Canal. The serenity and peace of the slow-moving Gondola in the water with the added beauty of the setting suns and the city’s evening lights was a site that will be forever etched in my memory. There were many more memories to be made on this trip, though, as Munich was just a ride away.
Day 11 & 12: Bread, Beer and Berlin
Munich and Berlin were the first cities in our Germany Itinerary. Germany is known for many things – fine engineering and delicious foods, but more hilariously, Germany is known for its over-consumption of alcohol, especially beer. So a trip to the Hofbräuhaus and the Chinese beer garden to taste their famed beverage was definitely at the top of our list. Berlin was a culinary delight. We had currywurst, bratwurst and sauerkraut. We visited the Berlin Wall, Zoo Gardens, Holocaust Museum, Charlottenburg Palace and Alexanderplatz. After more pints of beer and even more German sausage dishes, it was finally time to head to our next destination, the Netherlands!
Day 13 & 14: Exploring the Dutch Landscape
The final two days of our trip couldn’t have been spent in any better place than the heart and soul of the Netherlands, the city of Amsterdam! For breakfast, we absolutely relished the Dutch pancakes. Unlike any other pancakes, they were perfectly savoury and sweet at the same time, and If the country didn’t have some delicious lunch and dinner dishes, we wouldn’t have minded having them for every meal. After breakfast, it was time to hit the cobblestones and explore. We visited Dam Square, the Royal Palace and the National Monument. The next day, we once again set out with bikes to admire Amsterdam’s iconic canals, bridges and parks. We even had the opportunity to taste their local wine which was an absolute delight. Later we had a museum tour of the big three – Anne Frank House, Van Gogh and Rijksmuseum. Finally, to end it all, we had a big hearty dinner with the entire bus crew with music and dance and a thousand memories to take back home from this trip.
While a fast-paced and thrilling sightseeing vacation may seem ideal to some, many would prefer spending their time relaxing and intricately exploring one destination at a time. Irrespective of which of the categories you fall into, Aertrip always has the perfect customizable vacation plan for your needs! So hurry up and book your dream Europe vacation today!
