Best SellerSkip-the-Line
United Kingdom → Italy4.9
Classic Italy — Rome, Florence & Venice in 8 Days
The Colosseum, the Duomo and the Grand Canal on one high-speed rail route
8 days / 7 nightsMar–NovMax 20
From
£1,195
per person
Best SellerRail-BasedHalal-Friendly
Grand European Capitals — Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam & Cologne
Four countries, one seamless rail-and-coach journey from London
United Kingdom → France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany10 days, 9 nights2–24 travellersEasy4.8 (214 reviews)
About this trip
Ten days across four countries on Europe's fastest trains — Paris for the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, Brussels for the Grand Place, Amsterdam for the canals and Anne Frank House, and Cologne for its Gothic cathedral and Rhine promenade.
This is our most popular UK to Europe tour package and the easiest introduction to continental travel for first-time visitors. You leave London on the Eurostar, then move between capitals on Thalys and ICE high-speed services — no airport queues between cities, no long coach days. Every hotel is inside the historic centre so your evenings are yours to walk, eat and explore. A Madina Travellers tour manager travels with the group from London and handles every check-in, ticket and transfer. Ideal for families, first-time European travellers and anyone who wants to see the headline sights of four countries in a single, comfortable trip.
Trip highlights
- Eurostar from London St Pancras direct to Paris Gare du Nord
- Skip-the-line entry to the Eiffel Tower second floor and the Louvre
- Seine river cruise at sunset with commentary in English and Urdu
- Grand Place, Manneken Pis and a Belgian chocolate workshop in Brussels
- Amsterdam canal cruise plus reserved Anne Frank House entry
- Cologne Cathedral, the Old Town and a Rhine riverside evening
- All four cities on high-speed rail — no internal flights
Itinerary
Showing your itinerary for a Wednesday, 9 September 2026 departure, returning Friday, 18 September 2026. Change the date in the planner to see a different set of dates.
Day-by-day itinerary
London → Paris, 2h 16m by Eurostar
- Check-in at London St Pancras International
Meet your tour manager under the Meeting Place statue. Passport and ticket check, then security and French border control.
approx. 1h
- Eurostar departs for Paris
High-speed service through the Channel Tunnel. Reserved seats together for the whole group.
approx. 2h 16m
- Arrival at Paris Gare du Nord
Private coach transfer to your hotel in Le Marais. Bags stored if rooms are not yet ready.
approx. 40m
- Hotel check-in and welcome briefing
Room keys, city maps, metro passes and a run-through of the ten days ahead.
approx. 1h
- Le Marais and Notre-Dame walking tourHighlightIncluded
Guided walk through the medieval Marais quarter, Place des Vosges, the Jewish quarter and along the Seine to Notre-Dame de Paris.
approx. 2h 30m
- Free time on Rue de Rivoli
Coffee, patisserie or shopping before the evening cruise.
approx. 1h
- Seine river dinner cruiseHighlightIncluded
One-hour illuminated cruise past the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay and the Eiffel Tower, followed by dinner at a halal-certified restaurant in the 4th arrondissement.
approx. 2h 30m
Where you stay
Hôtel Le Marais Central
Paris, France
3 nightsSuperior Double / TwinBed & Breakfast8.7
Wed 9 Sep 2026 → Sat 12 Sep 2026
- 8 minutes' walk to the Louvre
- Halal breakfast options
- Family rooms available
Grand Place Boutique Hotel
Brussels, Belgium
2 nightsDeluxe Double / TwinBed & Breakfast8.9
Sat 12 Sep 2026 → Mon 14 Sep 2026
- 120 m from the Grand Place
- Chocolate quarter on the doorstep
Canal House Amsterdam
Amsterdam, Netherlands
3 nightsCanal View Double / TwinBed & Breakfast8.8
Mon 14 Sep 2026 → Thu 17 Sep 2026
- 17th-century canal house
- 10 minutes to Dam Square
- Free bicycle hire
Dom Hotel Cologne
Cologne, Germany
1 nightSuperior Double / TwinBed & Breakfast8.6
Thu 17 Sep 2026 → Fri 18 Sep 2026
- Cathedral views
- Adjacent to Köln Hauptbahnhof
Hotels are guaranteed at the stated star rating. If a named property is full on your dates we substitute a comparable alternative and tell you before you pay.
Flights and long-distance legs
London → Paris
LHR · CDG · Eurostar (rail) or British Airways
07:31→10:472h 16m
2 bags per person on Eurostar, 23 kg checked on BA
Wed 9 Sep 2026
Cologne → London
CGN · LHR · British Airways
16:40→17:151h 35m
23 kg checked + 1 cabin bag
Fri 18 Sep 2026
Flight times shown are the schedule we normally book. Exact carriers and times are confirmed with your quote and depend on availability on your dates.
Request a price
What is and is not included
Included in the price
- Return Eurostar London ↔ Paris and all inter-city high-speed rail
- 9 nights hotel accommodation with daily breakfast
- All airport, station and hotel transfers
- English/Urdu-speaking tour manager throughout
- Skip-the-line entry: Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Anne Frank House, Cologne Cathedral treasury
- Seine and Amsterdam canal cruises
- 3 group dinners including one halal-certified restaurant per city
- Schengen visa documentation support and appointment booking
- 24/7 UK-based emergency helpline
Not included
- Schengen visa fee (£75 approx., payable to the consulate)
- Travel insurance (we can arrange from £29 per person)
- Lunches and dinners not listed in the itinerary
- Personal expenses, optional excursions and gratuities
Visas and practical information
Visa requirements
British citizens do not need a visa for short stays in the Schengen Area, but from 2026 an ETIAS travel authorisation (€20, valid 3 years) is required. UK residents holding Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi or other non-EU passports need a Schengen visa — our London visa desk prepares the full file and books your VFS appointment.
Allow around 21 days for processing — book with that in mind.
What to pack
- Comfortable broken-in walking shoes — you will average 8 km a day
- A light waterproof jacket for Amsterdam and Cologne in any season
- Universal travel adaptor (Type C/E across all four countries)
- Modest layers for cathedral and mosque visits
- A day rucksack that meets museum cloakroom size limits
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a separate visa for each country?
No. France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany are all in the Schengen Area, so a single Schengen visa covers the whole route. You apply through the consulate of the country where you spend the most nights — for this tour that is France.
Is this tour suitable for children?
Yes. It is one of our most popular family tours: rail travel means no long coach days, and every hotel offers family rooms. Children aged 2–11 travel at 75% of the adult price.
Are halal meals available?
Yes. Every included group dinner is at a halal-certified restaurant, hotel breakfasts include halal options, and your tour manager carries a vetted list of halal restaurants in each city.
Can I depart from Manchester or Birmingham?
Yes. We include a domestic rail connection to London St Pancras, or an alternative direct flight to Paris, at no extra cost on the Comfort and Premium tiers.
How much spending money should I bring?
Budget around £45–60 per person per day for lunches, dinners not included, and incidentals. All major sights on the itinerary are already paid for.
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