Top Europe Holidays - page 9

Experience the best that Tuscany has to offer with this excursion that combines wine tasting and a self-drive Fiat 500 tour. Departing from Florence, hop behind the wheel of a gorgeous 1960s model and journey into the Tuscan hills with your convoy. Then, park your classic ride at a 15th-century wine estate and villa for a wine-tasting session (drivers are recommended to spit samples out), paired with a light lunch.

Spirits, monsters, and ghosts run amok in Munich—or so you’ll discover on this spooky tour. Following your local guide, you’ll hear scary stories and wild tales of the city’s dark side, from shameful secrets to evil pasts to inexplicable terrors, executions, and even miracles. Make a few stops to gain some "liquid courage" as you discover the spooky side of town.

Discover the secrets of making fresh pasta just like Italian grandmothers do during this half-day cooking class in Florence. Meet inside a medieval tower near Brunelleschi's Dome. Guided by a professional chef, master each step of the pasta-making process, including ravioli, tortelli, and pappardelle, while immersing yourself in this historic setting. Everything you need for the course will be provided, culminating in a delightful meal experience paired with Tuscan wines.

Learn the history and stories behind traditional Irish music in a fun and informative way during this Dublin Traditional Irish Musical Pub Crawl, led by two professional musicians. Your guides, who are with you the entire tour, perform songs and instrumental Irish Jigs and Reels. This Dublin experience is more like a moving concert, than a drinking pub crawl. Along with a lot of audience participation, you’ll enjoy an interactive evening of Irish music.

Get a front-row peek at top sights in Amsterdam from the comfort of an electric-powered boat during this luxury canal cruise. Settle into a spacious boat with cushioned seats and blankets, heated on chilly days; an open-air boat is used when the weather is pleasant. Listen to stories and commentary from a live guide as you glide past attractions such as Skinny Bridge and the National Opera House.

Don’t just eat Italian food on your Milan vacation, learn how to create it, too. This small-group cooking class puts the spotlight on two classic plates—fresh pasta and tiramisu—that are favorites of both locals and travelers alike. Take part in a lunchtime class to help your personal chef prepare dishes from scratch, while learning about Italian ingredients and the Milanese culture. Wine and soft drinks are extra perks.

Give your feet a break from walking and embark on a relaxing tour of the Douro River with stunning views of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia on this boat cruise. Catch sights of landmarks such as the old customs house, the port wine cellars, and the iconic Dom Luis I Bridge. Enjoy a complimentary glass of port and feel the sea breeze as you head towards the confluence of the river and the Atlantic Ocean.

Immerse yourself in the sites, smells and tastes of Palermo on this foodie walking tour. Navigate the maze of streets with your local guide, hear stories of its history and heritage, and sample traditional flavours at some of the city's hidden gems. End your trip on a high with a visit to the bustling Ballarò food market to savor some Sicilian delicacies shoulder to shoulder with the locals.

Indulge in Barcelona’s vibrant food scene on this tapas tour, designed to take the guesswork out of where to eat and drink. Enjoy pre-arranged access to four top-rated local tapas spots, sampling authentic dishes such as patatas bravas and paella, paired with regional drinks such as cava and vermouth. Choose from a small-group or private tour for a relaxed and delicious way to experience the city’s culture.

Indulge in the Douro Valley’s luxuriant food and wine culture on this full-day tour of the Douro with lunch. After departing from Porto by minibus, you’ll sweep through the Douro’s winding roads as you enter the valley. With terraced vineyards on either side of you, you’ll visit esteemed wineries and the Douro’s most captivating cities: Amarante, Régua and Pinhão, the heart of the Alto Douro. Along the way you’ll enjoy lunch and learn about the Douro’s wine programs, people and culinary heritage.

The fertile vineyards of UNESCO–listed Saint-Émilion are widely believed to produce some of France’s finest wines, but knowing where to find the best of them requires local knowledge. On this tour, spin through the French countryside from Bordeaux to medieval Saint-Émilion, and sample locally made wines in the cellars and vineyards. With your guide to help you identify the delicate flavors at play, find out what makes Saint-Émilion special.

Delve into London’s dark history on an evening ghost tour of the city’s royal parks, ideal for thrill-seekers and history buffs. Under the cloak of darkness, explore dimly lit parks and historic buildings while listening to spine chilling stories from your ghoulish guide. Plus, enjoy a Thames River cruise which ends at the Tower of London, allegedly London’s most haunted landmark.

Learn how to make waffles in their birthplace and sample local beer while you're at it with this tasting workshop. You'll start with a Belgian beer tasting in which you'll get to sample three types of Belgian beer, one of which you'll use for your waffle batter. You'll then learn how to make waffles yourself, which you'll get to eat...with more beer!

Chianti is home to the scenic wine country and notable cellars, but getting there on unfamiliar rural roads on your own can be challenging. This group wine tour takes you to two different wineries in the Tuscan hills to explore the vineyards and their cellars, as well as relax over guided tastings. Sip local reds and whites, plus sample balsamic vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil, while enjoying views over the Chianti countryside.

Go beyond just sampling pasta in Roman restaurants and learn how to cook it yourself with a local chef guide. Begin with a visit to a gourmet shop before heading to the workshop. Spend time learning how to make two different types of pasta from scratch, with the benefit of hands-on instruction. Then sit down with your group to enjoy your creations, accompanied by local wine.

LONG PASTA and TIRAMISU : Monday - Wednesday - Friday SHORT PASTA and TIRAMISU: Tuesday - Thursday - Saturday Through this course we will introduce you to the world of homemade pasta. With us you will learn the ancient art of dough and the main traditional preparations, from spaghetti to short pasta. You will learn how to make timeless typical recipes. We will teach you how to roll out the dough through the use of the hand sheeter for an exceptional pastry. We’ll also reveal the secrets to a perfect pasta dish with sauce. We will close the course with an Italian classic made together, Tiramisù. Together we will make the creams and assemble the dessert from scratch. What you will make with your own hands during the course, you can taste with the typical wines of the area around us, such as Bardolino Classico and Chiaretto. Enter our house, breathe in the atmosphere of Italian cuisine and take it with you, once you return home, to impress your guests!

Immerse yourself in the art of Italian pizza-making during this cooking class in Sorrento. Learn from your chef/guides, pros at rolling and tossing dough, and picking out the freshest ingredients. Have fun learning the techniques, tasting olive oil and mozzarella, and sit down to feast on the pizzas you make with wine.

Head outside Venice and into the countryside of the Veneto region on this tour that introduces you to prosecco—Italian sparkling wine. Learn about the production process of prosecco at a local winery and enjoy guided tastings. You also indulge in a light lunch made of local products before heading back to Venice.

Indulge your tastebuds on this gourmet walking tour of Madrid’s atmospheric and historic La Latina neighborhood. Follow your guide, a local food and wine expert, to some of the best local eateries, and taste a range of authentic tapas and regional specialties all accompanied by fine Spanish wines. With just a small group for company, you can look forward to eating, drinking, and exploring like a true Madrileño.

Experience the natural beauty of Mallorca on this guided ATV excursion. After a quick tutorial, hop on a quad and cruise through the island's six districts. Ascend the majestic Randa mountain for panoramic vistas and make stops to swim and snorkel for an added sense of adventure. See the stunning Mallorca landscape from a thrilling perspective on your quad bike.

Taste the many flavors of wine in Santorini with a half-day, small-group wine tour. Get picked up at your hotel and set out on an excursion to visit three different wineries and learn about how the island’s volcanic soil impacts the wines. Walk through the vineyards and taste 10 wines during the day, alongside local cheese and snacks.

Get to know the Parisian neighborhood of Le Marais on a food walking tour with a guide who introduces you to local food vendors and artisans. You'll see sights like Hôtel de Ville and visit the oldest covered market in Paris, Marche des Enfants Rouges, as you learn about and taste the fine products found in this historical yet trendy district.

Get to know the Palermo nightlife and meet new people, without getting lost, on this popular pub crawl. Visit several bars in Palermo’s historic center, and enjoy shots at each one alongside other drink deals. It’s a fun night out for travelers, or for new locals who want to meet like-minded people from around the world.

Take a break from sightseeing and let your hair down in a tipsy cooking class in the heart of Rome. Try your hand at rolling, cutting, and cooking fettuccine pasta and making a traditional carbonara or cacio e pepe sauce, all under the watchful eye of a local chef. Mix three classic Italian spritzes to enjoy while you cook and finish by savoring your own handiwork. For an even more personal experience, upgrade to a private class.