A Unique Experience
Taking a guided tour doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, these days there are plenty of fascinating options, especially if you plan to visit Europe.
Whether you want to visit iconic attractions and enjoy an insider’s point of view, or take a more unique tour that will allow you to experience a destination in a way most tourists miss, these European tours are ideal.
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London, England
When you visit London, you should be sure to visit Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, an open-air playhouse built as a reconstruction of the original 1599 Elizabethan playhouse where the legendary playwright penned many of his plays. The tour, available throughout the year, gives visitors the chance to learn all about the Globe, including the epic struggle to re-create it, and its most famous playwright.
Shakespeare’s world is excitingly brought to life through the exhibition and tour. To maintain the true sense of a Shakespearean play, there are no spotlights, microphones, speakers or amplification devices used.
All the music is performed live on period instruments.
The Glacier Express Alps Tour: St. Moritz to Zermatt, Switzerland
Covering nearly 200 miles through the Swiss Alps, the Glacier Express route is one of the most world’s most famous scenic rail adventures and one of the best tours to take in Europe. The panoramic journey through the heart of the Alps features craggy peaks that are especially jaw-dropping against the almost always brilliant blue skies.
As the train chugs across over 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels on the seven-hour excursion, you’ll pass chalet- and cow-dotted emerald valleys — not to mention deep gorges and the highest geographical point as you roll over Oberalp Pass at more than 6,600 feet above sea level.
The train travels at a slow pace, allowing passengers plenty of time to soak up those awe-inspiring vistas.
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Gravedigger Bus Tour, Dublin, Ireland
Dublin’s Gravedigger Bus Tour provides an interesting look at the city’s history with a spooky twist. The ghoulish haunted tour is taken with an entertaining guide who takes passengers back to the 15th century — a time when Trinity College was the old Augustinian Priory and plague house.
You’ll see the most haunted spots in Ireland’s capital city, including Kilmainham Jail, which was involved in some of the most tragic events in Irish history.
You’ll also be taken to the spot often described as “The Hell,” St. Audeon’s Catholic Church, known for its hauntings by restless lepers. There’s also Bully’s Acre, where you’ll explore a 1,000-year-old graveyard said to contain hundreds of thousands of corpses, including victims of famous body snatchers.
Of course, following with Irish tradition, you’ll also get to enjoy a free pint at The Gravediggers Pub.
Vagabond’s Wild Irish Rover Tour, Ireland
If you’re looking for a small group tour that will allow you to see some of the best Ireland has to offer, Vagabond specializes in these types of tours in this beautifully lush country. Its eight-day Wild Irish Rover Tour offers the chance to take in some of the Emerald Isles’ most impressive scenery.
You’ll see it all, from the spectacularly wild and rugged coastline to the towering mountains of Connemara to the iconic Cliffs of Moher to lake-filled Killarney National Park to the Blarney Stone.
Activity options are available too, like horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking and even the opportunity to paddle in a sea kayak alongside Dingle’s legendary friendly dolphin, Fungi, in the glistening turquoise waters of the Dingle Peninsula.
The Northern Lights Night Tour, Iceland
If you’ve ever wondered where to see the Northern Lights, Iceland is one of the best places on the planet to view them. If you visit in the spring, fall or winter, you’ll have the opportunity to see the colorful dancing lights known as the Aurora Borealis any time you’re away from the city lights, but taking a nighttime cruise will greatly increase your odds of viewing this breathtaking natural display.
You’ll sail out under the dark night’s sky on the North Atlantic with the beautiful mountains and the glow of the night skyline in the background. On the way out, the tour guide will provide information on the Northern Lights, as well as its surrounding superstition and folklore.
While there are outstanding viewing areas on the outside decks, the boat also has a warm seating area inside if it’s too chilly. The length of the tour depends on Mother Nature and how long the lights are visible — if inclement weather should hit, you can get a rain check.
Tours are available every night from mid-September to mid-April.
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Edinburgh Vaults, Scotland
In the 1980s an abandoned series of labyrinthine chambers rotting away under South Bridge were discovered. These are known as the Edinburgh Vaults.
Originally intended for storage, they were briefly used as tenement housing for some of the poorest people in Edinburgh. Some say they also served as brothels and as a serial killer’s hunting ground.
The dark, unhygienic environment soon led to their abandonment in the mid-19th century when they were left clogged with rubble. Now known as the most haunted place in the United Kingdom, they’ve actually become a bizarre tourist attraction.
Some people have reported seeing the seemingly evil ghost of a faceless man during the tour.
Crete Walking Tour, Greece
A number of tour operators offer guided and self-guided walking tours on the island of Crete. It is here that, according to myth, Theseus slew the half-bull, half-human creature known as the Minotaur, saving numerous young Athenians from being sacrificed to the monster.
The island provides the chance to enjoy a variety of stunning coastal walks, while history buffs can look forward to classical ruins that are scattered across the flower-covered plains and along the rugged coast.
Inntravel hosts several tours around Western Crete, passing through Aiolos, the homeland of the god of the winds, as well as the pirate country of Gramvoussa, and Elafonisi, land of the Cyclops according to legend.
The adventure includes some full days of walking across the rugged, picturesque countryside, along with stays in simple, welcoming hotels and guest houses.
Catacombs of Paris
Prepare to get spooked, and get a fascinating look at Parisian history by touring the ancient burial grounds underneath the city. You’ll hear rather disturbing tales in the Catacombs, as you venture through the tunnels.
Originally, these were limestone quarries where stones were mined to build some of Paris’ most well-known bridges and buildings. By the late 18th century, millions of bodies were exhumed from the overcrowded cemeteries and moved here.
Once underground, the bodies were stacked one on top of the other in the various chambers, creating walls that are literally lined with human bones. They can be quite busy, so it’s best to book a ticket to secure your chance to visit the Paris Catacombs.
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Paris Through the Eyes of a Local with Esprit de Paris, France
If you want an insider’s look at Paris, Adeline Marchand, the owner of Esprit de Paris, offers a unique tour guide service that provides visitors the chance to experience Paris from the eyes of a local and to be truly immersed in Parisian culture.
Having grown up in the trendy, creative and historic Paris neighborhood of Upper Marais, she shares her expertise and understanding of Parisian life in a way that cannot be found on the standard tour bus.
Marchand’s goal is to make each and every tour unique, taking visitors far from the traditional tourist route — unless they request it — allowing them to gain entry into the authentic life of real Parisians.