London, Amsterdam & Paris

(12 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
London & environs, Amsterdam & environs, Paris & Versailles

On this private London, Amsterdam and Paris tour, visit three cities that are geographically close yet culturally and historically quite different. Using each city's top luxury hotel as your base, explore the great variety of art, cuisine, history and architecture that these beautiful cities offer.

Begin in London, one of the world's greatest cities. Discover the best of London—heritage architecture, fascinating museums, important historic attractions, exclusive boutiques, traditional pubs and incredible food markets—during private touring customized to your interests. Tour famous landmarks such as the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, the British Museum, Covent Garden, the London Eye, St. Paul's Cathedral and Buckingham Palace. Perhaps explore other incredible museums around the city such as the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum, Churchill War Rooms, Sir John Soane's Museum, the Tate Modern or the Tate Britain. Also visit hidden squares, renowned British shops, atmospheric tea rooms and other highlights. One day, opt to take an excursion outside London. Among the many destinations are Windsor Castle, Bath, Stonehenge, Oxford, Highclere Castle (the filming location for the Downton Abbey TV series), Greenwich, Kew Gardens and the Harry Potter Studios.

Upon request, Artisans of Leisure will also arrange reservations for dining and afternoon tea, book tickets to performances, and provide recommendations for the best shopping in London. Accommodation is at one of London's best luxury hotels.

Next, board the high-speed Eurostar train to Amsterdam. During private, insider-led touring, enjoy a private cruise through the city's famous canals; tour world-renowned museums such as the Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank House or Van Gogh Museum; and visit the most interesting neighborhoods to see our favorite markets, courtyard gardens, churches, gabled houses, canals and bridges. Also tour historic houses that evoke the Dutch Golden Age, such as the Rembrandt House Museum or Museum Van Loon, the home of a co-founder of the Dutch East India Company. Other options include visiting the Dutch Resistance Museum and other Jewish sites, seeing interesting contemporary architecture, touring a small local brewery, enjoying the Heineken Experience, shopping for antiques, and dining on culinary treats such as rijsttafel ("rice table"), an Indonesian-influenced meal of many small dishes.

One day, visit the bustling Aalsmeer flower auction, where millions of beautiful flowers are sold and shipped around the world. Continue to Haarlem, where several famous Dutch painters once lived, to visit the courtyard gardens, market square and Frans Hals Museum. Also visit Zaanse Schans, an open-air museum of windmills and traditional architecture, to visit a cheese shop, see colorful pigments being ground in a windmill, watch wooden clogs being made and sample typical Dutch baked goods. Depending on your travel dates, we can also arrange a visit to the beautiful gardens of the Keukenhof (mid-March to mid-May) to stroll among thousands of colorful tulips, hyacinths and other flowers.

Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can also arrange a variety of special interest activities in and around Amsterdam, such as attending a performance at the Concertgebouw, biking through the city or countryside, touring museums with an art expert, taking a private excursion to Haarlem or Leiden, a cooking lesson at an organic farm, or seeing a weekly cheese market in a cheese-producing town such as Alkmaar, Edam or Gouda.

Continue to Paris by Eurostar train. Tour the city's most interesting neighborhoods, markets, boutiques, specialty food shops, gardens, museums and other cultural attractions. A few of our favorites: Walk among centuries-old mansions on exclusive Ile Saint-Louis. See the stained glass windows of exquisite Sainte-Chapelle, and see iconic Notre Dame. Visit the backstreets of Montmartre. Climb the steps to the Sacre Coeur Basilica for panoramic views. Explore Le Marais, whose private homes once belonged to kings, noblemen and courtesans. Wander the old Jewish quarter to the Place des Vosges, the city's oldest and one of its most beautiful squares. See the art treasures of museums such as the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, l'Orangerie, Centre Pompidou, Fondation Louis Vuitton and other major museums. Or visit smaller specialty museums off the beaten track. If desired, enjoy reservations at one of the restaurants atop the Eiffel Tower. Stroll the Latin Quarter, and relax in the Luxembourg Gardens. Shop exclusive boutiques along Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore and Rue Royale. Take a break at Left Bank cafes made famous by poets and philosophers, and stop in the church of Saint-Germain-des-Pres. Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can arrange personalized shopping (antiques, flea markets, haute couture, tea, copperware and cooking utensils, chocolate, fashion and more). Perhaps spend hours enjoying a degustation gastronomique at a leading restaurant.

One day, if desired, enjoy a private excursion to Versailles to tour Louis XIV's opulent palace, including the Hall of Mirrors, the gardens, and the Hameau de la Reine, the mock hamlet created for Marie-Antoinette. Alternatively, enjoy a private excursion to Giverny to tour the house, gardens and lily ponds where Claude Monet lived and painted in his final years.

Itinerary Overview

Day 1 Arrive London, England Private transfer to hotel for 4 nights Day 2 London Full-day private city tour Day 3 London & environs Full-day private city touring or excursion Day 4 London Half-day private city tour. Reservation for afternoon tea Day 5 London – Amsterdam, the Netherlands Private transfer to station for high-speed train to Amsterdam. Private arrival transfer to hotel for 3 nights Day 6 Amsterdam Full-day private city tour Day 7 Amsterdam & Haarlem Full-day private excursion Day 8 Amsterdam – Paris Private transfer to station for high-speed train to Paris. Private arrival transfer to hotel for 4 nights Day 9 Paris Full-day private city tour Day 10 Paris & Versailles Half-day private excursion Day 11 Paris Half-day private city tour Day 12 Depart Paris Private airport transfer

Hotels

London: Claridge's, The Ritz London, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, Belmond Cadogan Hotel, The Berkeley Amsterdam: Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam Paris: Ritz Paris or Four Seasons Hotel George V

Cost

Upon request