Top Europe Unique Experiences

Crowds at the Vatican Museums peak at midday, making it a chore to visit this vast collection. Beat the rush with early access to the galleries and the Sistine Chapel, starting with a buffet breakfast in the Vatican Courtyard. Take in highlights such as the Gallery of the Maps and Michelangelo’s frescoes in a peaceful setting, then finish with a visit to St. Peter’s Basilica.

Take a course on mask-making from a local instructor in Venice, and learn about the history of this ancient tradition. See the traditional art of decorating a mask and see what goes into the preparation for the Venetian Carnival. Then create your own masterpiece to create a special memory from your time in Venice.

Delve into London’s rich musical history, without getting lost, on a bus tour of the capital’s rock ‘n’ roll sites. Tour the vibrant city in a comfortable vehicle, starting from South Kensington, and see the exteriors of renowned clubs, famous hotels, and record labels associated with music legends, including The Beatles, Jimmy Page, and Bill Wyman. Make a few stops for photo ops, including the Abbey Road street crossing made famous by The Beatles.

Learn to cook traditional Italian dishes during this Tuscan cooking class in Siena. From homemade pastas to juicy cuts of meat, a professional chef leads you through a combination of family-favorite recipes and time-tested dishes, culminating with a shared meal and excellent wine. This class is held in a professional kitchen and limited to a small group of 15 people or fewer for a more intimate experience.

Skip the crowds and enjoy a personalized private tour of Madrid focused on its hidden gems. Enjoy an itinerary focused on you and your interests, with the option to visit off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods, local tapas bars, and artisan shopping districts that are still under the radar. What's more, hotel pickup is included for central accommodations, making your visit seamless and flexible.

For chocolate lovers visiting Vienna, this hands-on workshop offers a fun-filled, interactive way to learn about, make, and taste chocolate. Don’t worry about bringing anything with you, as all ingredients and cooking utensils are provided. This activity takes you through the history of chocolate, and gives you the freedom to create your own bars. Finally, top off your experience with a visit to Vienna’s BO-YO Chocolate Museum.

This Porto cooking class combines eating a 3-course meal with an activity where you can actually learn to make a Portuguese meal from a traditional chef from the area. Once you make your meal, enjoy it with wine, tea, or coffee. You can also upgrade to add a market visit beforehand where you learn how to pick out local ingredients.

Spend a day in the beautiful Tuscan countryside sipping wine without needing to rent a car. Visit wineries for tours and generous tastings of world-famous varietals such as Chianti Classico and Super Tuscan. Learn about wine production and flavor profiles, and round out your palate with samplings of high-quality balsamic vinegar and olive and truffle oils. Also, visit the charming medieval village of San Gimignano for free time to explore.

Challenge your romantic illusions of Paris on this evening tour of the city’s sinister spots. Delve into the mysteries of the City of Light, going off the beaten path as you hear ghost stories and local legends from your guide. Learn the history behind places such as the Place de la Vert Gallant and the Palais du Justice, as well as lesser-known spots you might otherwise pass by.

Snorkel between continents on this thrilling small-group tour from Reykjavík, exploring the waters below Þingvellir National Park without needing a scuba diving qualification. Glide through the Silfra fissure, a rift in the Earth’s crust, as you float between North America and Europe. No need to organize anything; the booking includes underwater photos, a PADI-certified divemaster, snorkeling gear, specialized cold-water safety gear, and a dry suit.

This private half-day food tour of Lisbon ensures you feast on the best food that Portugal’s capital has to offer. Your gastronome local host handpicks eateries to sample Portuguese specialties and drinks: pleasure your palate with *pastel de bacalhau* (cod croquettes), *pastel de nata* (custard tart) and much more. You can tailor your private tour to suit dietary requirements or tweak the schedule according to what you feel like eating on the day. Choose from options with six or 10 tastings.

Spend two to four days exploring the best of Lisbon with flexible Hop-On Hop-Off sightseeing passes. Choose between a Bus Tour, Bus & Tram, Bus & Boat or the All-in-One Pass to experience Lisbon by panoramic bus, historic tram and scenic Yellow Boat Cruise along the Tagus River. In addition to these experiences, enjoy free access to selected public tram rides and exclusive discounts at monuments, museums and leisure activities. This flexible sightseeing experience lets you explore Portugal's capital at your own pace.

Touring Florence's endless cultural treasures can get tiring for young visitors, so break up your time in the city with a kid-friendly, hands-on cooking class. Roll up your sleeves and get busy preparing two crowdpleasers: authentic Tuscan pizza and creamy Italian gelato. Your chef instructor will lead your family through the process step-by-step, keeping your kids engaged and busy. End by sampling your handiwork over lunch, ideal as a substitute for a restaurant meal.

Have exclusive access to one of London’s most popular and in-demand landmarks, and bypass the crowds, on this VIP tour of the Tower of London. Enjoy first entrance access, and explore the UNESCO-listed landmark’s highlights before the crowds arrive. Be among the first visitors to enter the Tower of London’s world-famous Jewel House, where the glittering Crown Jewels await. Then enjoy a Thames River cruise at your leisure.

Catch your first wave, brush up your skills or get an insider’s guide to the best surf spots along the Lisbon coast with a local guide and small group of surfers. Find the perfect spot for swell, sea conditions and your skills, and try riding a variety of different boards. Practice paddling in, popping up and riding the wave with help from your guide. Discover hidden gems along the scenic coast, where white sand beaches and uncrowded waves are the perfect first taste of Portugal's surf culture.

Soak up the flavors of Italy on an olive oil- and wine-tasting tour in Tuscany, all without the hassle of driving. Leave the planning and organization to your guide, as you depart from Florence to the heart of the Chianti Classico region. Enjoy an itinerary that includes visiting two to three wineries, an olive oil mill, and a Tuscan lunch.

Get your fashion fix in Paris with a private, 2-hour tour of the city’s most prestigious retail and design districts. Learn about the history of Parisian fashion and the hottest current brands and collections from a private guide with professional industry experience. Stroll along fashionable Rue Saint-Honoré, admire handcrafted jewelry, and see where local trendsetters shop, from vintage boutiques to design flagships.

Vienna is renowned for its UNESCO-listed monuments and magnificent palaces, but many travelers only get to see the highlights. On this tour, discover the city through the eyes of a Vienna local and enjoy a personalized itinerary custom-made for you. Your ‘Lokafyer’ guide is no typical tour guide—instead, they will show you around the city like a friend, take you to the neighborhoods that they know and love, and give you tips on where to eat, drink, and shop in the city.

Spend three delicious hours learning how to cook Italian cuisine in Sorrento. Led by an experienced chef, this cooking class provides instruction on making dishes such as handmade gnocchi, meatballs, eggplant parmesan and tiramisu. When you're finished, enjoy your creations. Wine is included. Select from three menu categories when booking: fish, meat or vegetarian.

Explore Paris on your own terms with a customized city visit with a local host. You'll get to spend two to eight hours with an expert Parisian, who can show you all sorts of off-the-beaten-path gems, from restaurants to shops to lesser-known museums. Your guide can also help you plan the rest of your trip, setting you up with itineraries suited to your own needs and interests.

Tomar is sure to be at the top of history buffs' bucket lists, but getting there from Lisbon is tough without your own wheels. Delve into the rich history of the Knights Templar during this small-group tour of Tomar from Lisbon, which takes care of planning logistics so you don't have to. Spend the day learning about the Christian military force that contributed to the famous crusades during Europe’s Middle Ages. Discover Almourol Castle, erected by the Knights Templar, and visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site Convent of Christ, once a fortification where the knights resided.

No one should visit the Eternal City without taking in the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill—the heart of Ancient Rome. But without a guide, it can be tricky to decode the millennia-old ruins and understand what you’re looking at. Get crucial context that goes beyond the sites’ limited signage during this guided tour, which revisits Rome’s ancient imperial heyday and includes exclusive access to the Colosseum arena floor.

Cruise through snow and ice on Langjökull, one of Iceland’s largest glaciers, on this guided tour. Take a ride in a 4x4 monster ice truck and enjoy the Icelandic scenery on the ride to the glacier. Then, suit up in the provided gear, learn how to drive the snowmobile, and follow your guide as you speed through ice and snowfields.

During this experience you can discover all the secrets of truffle hunting, from dog training to the recognition of plants and where this precious fruit of the earth can grow. You will experience the thrill of an authentic truffle hunt and after that you will be able to taste numerous dishes filled with fresh truffles. All accompanied by an excellent wine.