European Discovery: Self-Launched London to Amsterdam, the Rhine, Munich, Venice, Rome, Florence, Lucerne & Paris
12 days · Western Europe (England, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, France)
Contiki charges £1,439
No-markup version: ~£1,180 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Contiki's 12-day "European Discovery" coach tour — same six countries, eight bases and headline experiences, but with hostel and budget-hotel beds, trains and buses instead of a group coach, and free walking tours plus self-booked Colosseum and gondola tickets instead of a Trip Manager. The route is fast (12 days, 8 bases) — book trains early, travel light, and accept some long transfer days. All costs are rough per-person estimates for a budget-to-midrange solo traveller booking 1–2 months ahead; hostel dorms where noted, otherwise budget double rooms split between two.
Day-by-day
London to Amsterdam via Dover & Calais
London → Amsterdam
Take the train or National Express coach from London to Dover (from ~£15, ~1h20 by train from St Pancras), hop on the P&O or DFDS ferry across to Calais (foot passenger ~£20–25, ~1h30), then a direct FlixBus or BlaBlaCar Bus from Calais to Amsterdam (~£25–35, ~4h30) — or swap the whole thing for a single London–Amsterdam FlixBus (~£30, ~10h overnight) or a Eurostar if you want speed (~£50–90 booked early). Check into a hostel in Amsterdam-Noord or near Sloterdijk (cheaper than the centre), then walk the canals at dusk and grab a cheap Indonesian rijsttafel or a broodje at a takeaway for dinner.
🚌Train London–Dover ~£15, ferry Dover–Calais ~£22, FlixBus Calais–Amsterdam ~£30
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Amsterdam-Noord (e.g. ClinkNOORD or similar)
- →Dover White Cliffs viewpoint (free walk from the ferry terminal)
- →Dover–Calais ferry crossing
- →Evening canal-side stroll in Amsterdam
Amsterdam: street art, Volendam & night canals
Amsterdam
Start with a free Sandeman/New Amsterdam tip-based walking tour of the canal ring (tip ~£5–10). In the afternoon take the free ferry from Central Station to NDSM wharf and visit the STRAAT museum (street art & graffiti, ~£15 online). For the evening, catch bus 316 or the EBS Volendam express (~£6 each way, 30 min) to the fishing village for a cheap fish dinner, or stay in town and book a Blue Boat Company or Stromma evening canal cruise (~£18–20 on GetYourGuide, vs €35 on the tour).
🚌GVB day ticket ~£7 plus bus to Volendam ~£12 return
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Amsterdam-Noord
- →Free walking tour (tip-based)
- →STRAAT Museum street art
- →NDSM free ferry
- →Evening canal cruise (self-booked ~£19)
Amsterdam to the Rhine Valley (Sankt Goar)
Amsterdam → Sankt Goar, Rhine Valley
Train from Amsterdam Centraal to Koblenz (~3h45, from £20 if booked on NS International/Bahn early), then the slow regional RB line along the river to Sankt Goar (~1h, covered by a cheap Länder-Ticket ~£22 for the Rheinland-Pfalz region). You're riding the same fairytale-castle stretch the coach drives, just from the train window. Check into a small Gasthaus in Sankt Goar or Bacharach. In the evening do a wine tasting at a family Weingut in Bacharach or Sankt Goar (~£10–14) instead of the coach group's add-on.
🚌Train Amsterdam–Koblenz ~£22, regional train Koblenz–Sankt Goar ~£8
🛏Budget Gasthaus/pension, Sankt Goar or Bacharach
- →Rhine Valley riverside walk
- →Castle viewpoints (Rheinfels ruins entry ~£4)
- →Village wine tasting ~£12
Rhine Valley to Munich via Dinkelsbühl
Sankt Goar → Dinkelsbühl → Munich
The Romantische Straße isn't easily done by train, so take the pragmatic route: regional train Sankt Goar–Koblenz, then a direct ICE/IC to Munich (~4h, from £25 booked ahead). If you want the medieval-town stop, break the journey at Rothenburg ob der Tauber (train via Steinach, ~1h from Ansbach) and bus/train on to Dinkelsbühl for a couple of hours — the walled old town, the world's largest hanging cuckoo clock at the Deutsches Haus, and the Bavarian beer hall vibe are all free to wander. Arrive Munich late afternoon, check into a hostel near Hauptbahnhof, and hit a beer hall (Augustiner or Hofbräuhaus) for a Maß and pork knuckle (~£18).
🚌Regional trains ~£6, IC/ICE to Munich ~£28, stop-off local trains ~£10
🛏Hostel dorm, Munich near Hauptbahnhof (e.g. Wombats City Hostel)
- →Dinkelsbühl medieval old town walk (free)
- →Cuckoo clock at Deutsches Haus (free)
- →Munich beer hall evening
Munich to Venice
Munich → Venice
Book the ÖBB Nightjet sleeper Munich–Venice (from ~£45 in a 6-berth couchette, ~9h, arriving early morning) — it saves a night's accommodation and replaces the coach day over the Alps. If you'd rather see the Bavarian Alps by day, take the EC train via the Brenner Pass (~6h30, from £35). On arrival, buy a 48h ACTV vaporetto pass (~£22) and ride the No. 1 line down the Grand Canal — far cheaper than the tour's private motoscafo. Aim for a hostel on Cannaregio's edge or Mestre (cheaper), and have a €6 tramezzino-and-spritz dinner by the Cannaregio canal.
🚌Nightjet couchette Munich–Venice ~£50, ACTV 48h vaporetto pass ~£22
🛏Hostel dorm, Cannaregio or Mestre, Venice
- →Brenner Pass alpine views
- →Grand Canal ride on vaporetto No. 1
- →Cannaregio evening wander
Venice to Rome via Baschi wine country
Venice → Baschi → Rome
Take the Frecciarossa/Italo high-speed train Venice–Bologna (~1h40, from £12), then a regional train down to Orvieto (~2h, ~£12). A local bus or short taxi from Orvieto drops you in Baschi (~£3); several small family estates (look up Locanda/Podere farm-stays around Baschi) offer vineyard-and-olive-grove tours with lunch for €25–35 — self-book directly by email. Then continue Orvieto–Rome on the regional line (~1h15, ~£8) and check into a hostel or budget hotel around Termini. Evening: walk the Pantheon–Piazza Navona–Trevi loop, which is all free.
🚌High-speed to Bologna ~£12, regional to Orvieto ~£12, bus to Baschi ~£3, Orvieto–Rome ~£8
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel near Termini, Rome
- →Baschi vineyard & olive grove visit with lunch (~£28)
- →Orvieto cathedral exterior (free)
- →Evening sightseeing walk: Pantheon, Trevi, Piazza Navona
Rome: Colosseum, Forum & food
Rome
Book the Colosseum + Roman Forum + Palatine Hill combined ticket direct on the official CoopCulture site (~£16–18, plus €2 booking fee) — the tour's optional guided version is €52. Go early (first slot) to dodge crowds and heat. Afternoon: free tip-based walking tour of the centro storico, or wander Trastevere. For dinner, self-book a Testaccio or Trastevere food tour on GetYourGuide/Airbnb Experiences (~£35–45) or simply graze: supplì (£2), pizza al taglio (£4), gelato (£3).
🚌Metro/ATAC 24h ticket ~£6
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel near Termini, Rome
- →Colosseum + Forum + Palatine ticket (~£17 official)
- →Free walking tour (tip-based)
- →Testaccio/Trastevere food crawl (~£20 self-guided)
Rome to Florence
Rome → Florence
Frecciarossa Rome–Florence in 1h30 (from £15 booked early), or the slower regionale via Orte for ~£12. Drop bags at a hostel near Santa Maria Novella, then join a free Florence walking tour (Duomo exterior, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio — all free to admire from outside). If you want the Duomo dome or Giotto's Bell Tower, buy the Brunelleschi Pass directly (~£25) and climb it yourself. For the leather-craft angle, small workshops around Santa Croce run short demonstrations or better still, browse the San Lorenzo leather market. Sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo is free and better than any optional dinner add-on.
🚌High-speed train Rome–Florence ~£15
🛏Hostel dorm, Florence near Santa Maria Novella (e.g. Ostello Bello)
- →Free Florence walking tour (tip-based)
- →Santa Croce leather market browse (free)
- →Piazzale Michelangelo sunset (free)
- →Optional Brunelleschi Pass climb ~£25
Florence to Lucerne
Florence → Lucerne
This is the long one: Frecciarossa Florence–Milan (~1h45, ~£20), then the EC/EuroCity Milan–Luzern via the Gotthard Base Tunnel (~3h15, ~£35 booked ahead on SBB). Shave costs with a Supersaver ticket. Arrive late afternoon and check into a budget guesthouse or hostel in Luzern (hostels are pricey here — book early). Wander the Chapel Bridge and Lion Monument (both free), and buy dinner at a Migros or Coop supermarket deli to keep Swiss prices sane (~£10).
🚌Frecciarossa to Milan ~£20, EC Milan–Luzern ~£35
🛏Budget hostel/guesthouse, Lucerne (e.g. Backpackers Lucerne)
- →Chapel Bridge & Lion Monument (free)
- →Old Town wander
Lucerne to Paris
Lucerne → Paris
Take the SBB/SNCF TGV Lyria from Basel or Zürich to Paris Gare de Lyon (~4h from Basel, from £30–45 booked early) — or a FlixBus Basel–Paris for ~£20 if budget rules. If you want the Alpine lake views, do a cheap early-morning Lake Lucerne boat ride (short round trip ~£12 on the SGV public boats) before you leave. On arrival in Paris, check into a hostel in the 10th/11th or a budget hotel near Porte d'Orléans, and do a free evening walk to the Eiffel Tower (free to look at from the Champ de Mars).
🚌TGV Lyria Lucerne–Paris ~£38
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, Paris 10th/11th arrondissement
- →Optional short Lake Lucerne boat trip ~£12
- →Evening Eiffel Tower walk (free)
Paris: sights & perfume
Paris
Free tip-based walking tour of central Paris (Notre-Dame exterior, Latin Quarter, Louvre courtyard, Pont Neuf) in the morning. In the afternoon, book a small perfume atelier directly — Molinard or Fragonard run 45–60 min scent-creation workshops from ~£30–40 — or visit the Fragonard Musée du Parfum near Opéra free of charge. Evening: a €40–60 cabaret ticket at Paradis Latin or a cheaper piano bar instead of the tour's dinner show, or just picnic on the Seine.
🚌Métro carnet/Navigo Easy ~£8
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, Paris 10th/11th arrondissement
- →Free walking tour (tip-based)
- →Perfume workshop ~£35 or free Musée du Parfum
- →Optional cabaret ~£45
Paris to London
Paris → London
Book a Eurostar Paris Nord–London St Pancras well in advance (from £39 one-way, ~2h15) — cheaper and faster than flying once you add baggage and transfers. If you're flying out of CDG instead, the RER B gets you there for ~£9. A final croissant-and-coffee breakfast on the way to the station, and you're done.
🚌Eurostar Paris–London ~£45
🛏None (departure day)
- →Final Paris morning stroll
Self-launched vs. Contiki
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Contiki | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,180 | £1,439 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £259 per person (18%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Contiki-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,180
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does European Discovery: Self-Launched London to Amsterdam, the Rhine, Munich, Venice, Rome, Florence, Lucerne & Paris cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,180 per person for 12 days in Western Europe (England, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, France). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Contiki?+
Yes — Contiki charges around £1,439 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,180 — a saving of roughly £259 (18%) per person.
How long is the Western Europe (England, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, France) trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through Western Europe (England, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, France).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, city-breaks, budget trip through Western Europe (England, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, France), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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