9 Nights / 10 Days
You never forget your first time in Europe. The culture. The atmosphere. That foreign excitement of stepping into a scene straight from your favorite movie. And, of course, the taste of a gastronomic landscape that is as varied as it is delicious.
Home to some of the world’s most accessible and coveted destinations, Europe continues to be a rite of passage for any discerning traveler. And few places offer a better starting point than France and England, the neighboring gateways to some of its most iconic locations.
So, if this is your first time experiencing Europe, you’re off to an amazing start with an unforgettable itinerary across London, Paris, and Normandy. Designed for, you guessed it, travelers experiencing Europe for the first time!
- 3 Nights in London
- 4 Nights in Paris
- 2 Nights in Normandy
3 Nights in London — A Royal Introduction
Where better to receive a warm European welcome than in a country that will always serve you a cup of tea?
Arrive in London and settle into the heart of the British capital before setting off on a private panoramic tour of its grandest landmarks, from historic squares and royal avenues to the Thames and beyond.
The following day, make sure to fuel up with a full-English breakfast, because you will be discovering London in full royal splendor.
Visit Westminster Abbey, walk through Horse Guards Parade, and pass Clarence House and St. James’s Palace before strolling The Mall toward Buckingham Palace. If timing allows, witness the iconic Changing of the Guard, or choose an optional Thames River Cruise or Black Cab Tour for a chance to witness the capital in all its grandeur.
For your final day, venture into London’s wartime history at the Churchill War Rooms and aboard HMS Belfast. From the underground rooms where Britain’s wartime leadership made history to the decks of a historic Royal Navy warship, uncover a fascinating side of London that proves the city has plenty more to offer than postcard-perfect palaces, afternoon tea, and frothy pints. Although Sir Winston probably wouldn’t mind the latter.
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge
Overlooking the Thames and Houses of Parliament, this stylish 4-star hotel places you at the heart of London’s most iconic sights. With contemporary rooms, an array of restaurants and bars, and a spa with a 15-meter pool, it’s a perfectly located and inviting base for discovering Westminster and beyond.
Find Your London Home
Corinthia London
A grand 5-star retreat in the heart of London, Corinthia London pairs an elegant Whitehall setting with refined rooms, celebrated dining, vibrant cocktail bars, and one of the city’s largest hotel spas. With the Thames, Covent Garden, and South Bank just moments away, it’s nothing if not a luxurious introduction to the British capital.
4 Nights in Paris — A Most Impressionable First Visit
If any European city is going to make an unforgettable first impression, it may very well be one that was famously populated by Impressionists. (See what we did there?)
Join the ranks of such celebrated American expats as Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald as you board the Eurostar and make your way to Paris, a European destination that tops any respectable travel bucket list.
Once settled in, take to its streets at a café-lounging pace or in a decidedly French fashion with a private sidecar sightseeing experience, zipping past Parisian landmarks while taking in the city’s unmistakable joie de vivre.
After a night in the City of Light, awaken to the Paris first-time visitors dream of. Ascend the Eiffel Tower for sweeping views across the city, then continue past the Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, and Notre-Dame. In Montmartre, wander artistic streets toward Sacré-Cœur and pause at Place du Tertre, where painters still gather beneath the basilica’s famous white domes.
Then, meet one of Paris’s historical residents as Joséphine Baker or Coco Chanel takes you on a vivid journey through history. Walk through the Opéra district and Place Vendôme while uncovering stories of espionage, courage, and the extraordinary women who shaped Paris, whether on the side of the French Resistance or inside the world of haute couture.
For your final day, discover why French cuisine is revered the world over by following a bona fide French chef to a local market and learning how to select the finest seasonal ingredients that’ll brighten up any dish, or day. Then, head to a nearby park, where a beautifully styled picnic awaits with refined tableware, plush cushions, fresh flowers, and the delicacies you’ve just chosen.
It really doesn’t get more French, or more European, than this.
View Optional Add-On
- Dinner on the Seine
Come evening, why not trade the Parisian streets for the Seine and settle in for a dinner cruise beneath the city lights. Glide past some of the capital’s most iconic landmarks as they illuminate the river, enjoying a leisurely meal while Paris unfolds around you from an entirely different perspective. Because you can never have enough Parisian flavors or views.
Hotel Edouard 7
Once favored by King Edward VII, this 4-star Avenue de l’Opéra retreat blends Parisian refinement with a distinctly theatrical flair. Inspired by couture and just steps from Place Vendôme and the city’s leading department stores, it makes for a truly elegant stay in the heart of Paris.
Settle Into Paris
Hôtel Scribe Paris Opéra – Sofitel
Step into a storied 5-star Paris address where cinema history, artistic heritage, and contemporary design meet. Set near the Opéra district, Hôtel Scribe Paris Opéra blends elegant interiors with a prime location for exploring Place Vendôme, grand department stores, and the city’s atmospheric covered passageways.
2 Nights in Normandy — A Deeper Look
It may be your first time in Europe, but it’s as good as any to explore its history a little deeper.
Leave Paris behind and travel into Normandy, where centuries of French history meet the beautiful landscapes that shaped one of the defining chapters of modern Europe.
Settle into Bayeux before taking a private walking tour through its medieval heart, wandering among half-timbered houses and charming streets toward the magnificent Bayeux Cathedral. Along the way, uncover the town’s connections to both the Norman Conquest and the Second World War, with time to visit the Bayeux War Cemetery and reflect on the sacrifices remembered here.
Then, dedicate a full day to the iconic D-Day Landing Beaches, one of Europe’s most pivotal historic sites, which was recently inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a cultural landscape and site of memory.
Trace the tranquil Normandy coastline as it gives way to some of the most consequential landscapes in European history. Follow the route through Sainte-Mère-Église, Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, and Pointe du Hoc, before paying your respects at the American Cemetery above Omaha. Here, rows of white crosses overlook the Channel, offering a poignant reminder of the human stories behind the events that changed the course of Europe.
For many American travelers, Normandy becomes the most memorable stop of the journey, offering a powerful connection to the sacrifices made during World War II.
View Optional Add-On
- D-Day Decoded: Museums & Mulberry Harbors
Upon arrival in Normandy, step back in time and uncover the strategy behind D-Day on a fascinating private tour from Bayeux.
Visit the museums of Arromanches and Colleville-sur-Mer to deepen your understanding of the Normandy landings, then witness the remnants of the extraordinary Mulberry Harbors, temporary ports engineered to support the Allied invasion. Along the way, delve into the planning and tactics of Operation Overlord and discover the remarkable stories behind one of the defining military operations of modern European history.
"Les Braves" Monument on Omaha Beach
Normandy’s Heritage
Most recently, the D-Day Landing Beaches have added yet another chapter to their already extraordinary history.
In July 2026, UNESCO inscribed the Beaches of the D-Day Landings, Normandy, 1944 on the World Heritage List as a cultural site of memory, recognizing their exceptional historical and commemorative significance.
The designation recognizes not only the sites where the Allied landings took place on June 6, 1944, but also the surviving wartime landscape, memorials, remains of the Atlantic Wall, Mulberry Harbour, and the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer.
This makes a visit to Normandy particularly timely for travelers discovering Europe for the first time, adding another layer of meaning to its breathtaking coastline.
Discover Your Normandy Stay
Château d’Audrieu
Set between Caen and Bayeux, this 5-star Relais & Châteaux retreat combines the elegance of an 18th-century château with the warmth of a family home. Surrounded by 25 hectares of wooded parkland and French gardens, it offers a peaceful Normandy escape steeped in history, privacy, and timeless charm.
Departure — Until Next Time
Not bad for a first time, right?
From London’s royal grandeur and Parisian flair to Normandy’s centuries of history, you’ve experienced quite the introduction to Europe. But if there’s one thing you’ll have learned, it’s that nine nights can only scratch the surface of a continent this rich in culture, cuisine, and character.
So, as your private transfer takes you back to Paris for your onward journey, consider this less a farewell and more of a ‘until next time’. Because something tells us there are plenty more trips to come.
