European Grand Tour Itinerary: July 8 – July 31 2026

Day 1: July 8 – Arrival in Bern

Morning: Fly from Sydney to Zurich (Qantas, 23 h with 1 stop) then take the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) Intercity to Bern (1 h 30 min).
Afternoon: Check‑in at your hotel and stroll through the UNESCO‑listed Bern Old Town, admiring the Zytglogge clock tower.
Evening: Dine beside the Aare River and enjoy a sunset walk along the promenade.

Day 2: July 9 – Reichenbach Falls Day Trip

Morning: Take the SBB train to Meiringen (1 h) and transfer to the local bus for the Reichenbach Falls trail.
Afternoon: Hike to the dramatic waterfall, famous as Sherlock Holmes’ “final” scene, and explore the nearby museum.
Evening: Return to Bern for a relaxed dinner in the historic quarter.

Day 3: July 10 – Bern → Milan

Morning: Board the EuroCity train (SBB/Trenitalia) to Milan via Spiez, Brig and Domodossola (6 h).
Afternoon: Check‑in, then visit the iconic Duomo di Milano and its rooftop for city views.
Evening: Enjoy aperitivo in the lively Navigli canals district.

Day 4: July 11 – Milan → Rome

Morning: High‑speed Frecciarossa train to Rome (3 h 20 min).
Afternoon: Check‑in, then explore the Colosseum and adjacent Roman Forum.
Evening: Wander through Trastevere and sample classic Roman pasta.

Day 5: July 12 – Rome → Salerno

Morning: Frecciarossa to Salerno (2 h 30 min).
Afternoon: Stroll the historic centre, visit the Salerno Cathedral and promenade by the sea.
Evening: Dine on fresh seafood at a waterfront restaurant.

Day 6: July 13 – Salerno → Palermo, Sicily

Morning: Board the Grimaldi Lines ferry (overnight, 10 h) to Palermo.
Afternoon: Arrive, check‑in, and visit the magnificent Palermo Cathedral.
Evening: Explore the bustling Ballarò Market and enjoy street‑food specialties.

Day 7: July 14 – Taormina, Sicily

Morning: Train to Taormina (2 h).
Afternoon: Tour the ancient Greek Theatre with panoramic views of Mount Etna.
Evening: Sunset dinner on the terrace overlooking the Ionian Sea.

Day 8: July 15 – Taormina → Malta

Morning: Fly from Catania Airport to Malta (Air Malta, 1 h 15 min).
Afternoon: Arrive in Valletta, check‑in, and wander the Upper Barrakka Gardens for harbour views.
Evening: Dine on traditional Maltese rabbit stew in the city centre.

Day 9: July 16 – Valletta & Blue Lagoon

Morning: Visit historic Mdina and the subterranean St. Paul’s Catacombs.
Afternoon: Boat tour to the crystal‑clear Blue Lagoon on Comino island.
Evening: Return to Valletta for a waterfront dinner.

Day 10: July 17 – Gozo Island

Morning: Ferry to Gozo, explore the medieval Victoria Citadel.
Afternoon: Visit the dramatic sea‑blow at Dwejra Bay and the iconic Azure Window site.
Evening: Return to Valletta and enjoy a relaxed night.

Day 11: July 18 – Leisure in Malta

Morning: Sunbathe at Golden Bay beach.
Afternoon: Stroll the lively promenade of Sliema and shop for souvenirs.
Evening: Sample fresh fish at a seaside taverna.

Day 12: July 19 – Final Day in Malta

Morning: Visit the whimsical Popeye Village theme park.
Afternoon: Last‑minute shopping in the Valletta Waterfront.
Evening: Pack and enjoy a farewell Maltese dinner.

Day 13: July 20 – Malta → Naples via Rome & Salerno

Morning: Flight Malta → Rome (Alitalia, 1 h 30 min) then high‑speed Frecciarossa to Salerno (1 h 15 min).
Afternoon: Transfer by regional train to Naples (30 min) and check‑in.
Evening: Explore Piazza del Plebiscito and indulge in authentic Neapolitan pizza.

Day 14: July 21 – Naples → Rome → Barcelona

Morning: Quick regional train back to Rome (1 h) to catch your flight.
Afternoon: Flight Rome → Barcelona (Vueling, 2 h 15 min).
Evening: Walk along La Rambla, sip tapas, and enjoy a flamenco show.

Day 15: July 22 – Barcelona → Madrid

Morning: AVE high‑speed train to Madrid (2 h 30 min).
Afternoon: Visit the world‑class Prado Museum.
Evening: Dine in the historic Plaza Mayor and try churros with chocolate.

Day 16: July 23 – Madrid → Lisbon, Portugal

Morning: Flight Madrid → Lisbon (Iberia, 1 h 30 min).
Afternoon: Explore the iconic Belém Tower and sample pastéis de nata.
Evening: Experience a soulful Fado performance in Alfama.

Day 17: July 24 – Lisbon & Sintra

Morning: Tram 28 ride through historic districts, visit Alfama.
Afternoon: Day trip to Sintra – tour the colourful Palácio da Pena and Moorish Castle.
Evening: Return to Lisbon for dinner by the Tagus River.

Day 18: July 25 – Lisbon → Paris

Morning: Flight Lisbon → Paris (Air France, 2 h 30 min).
Afternoon: Check‑in, then admire masterpieces in the Louvre Museum.
Evening: Seine river cruise with views of illuminated landmarks.

Day 19: July 26 – Paris

Morning: Ascend the Eiffel Tower and enjoy a coffee on the second floor.
Afternoon: Wander the artistic Montmartre neighbourhood and visit Sacré‑Cœur.
Evening: Dinner in the chic Le Marais district.

Day 20: July 27 – Versailles & Final Paris Day

Morning: Day trip to Palace of Versailles (RER train, 1 h).
Afternoon: Return to Paris, stroll the Champs‑Élysées and shop for souvenirs.
Evening: Farewell dinner at a classic French bistro.

Day 21: July 28 – Paris → Sydney

Morning: Transfer to Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Afternoon: Board Qantas flight Paris → Sydney (1 stop in Dubai, ~22 h).
Evening: Settle into the long‑haul flight and rest.

Day 22: July 29‑31 – Return to Glen Innes

Morning: Arrive Sydney, connect to domestic flight to Glen Innes via Port Macquarie (Qantas, 2 h total).
Afternoon: Collect luggage and travel to your home.
Evening: Rest after an epic 3‑week adventure.

Time and Cost Estimates

• Zurich → Bern train – 1 h 30 min – $45 AUD
• Reichenbach Falls tour – 5 h – $30 AUD
• Bern → Milan EuroCity – 6 h – $120 AUD
• Milan Duomo entry – 1 h – $15 AUD
• Milan → Rome Frecciarossa – 3 h 20 min – $70 AUD
• Colosseum & Forum combo ticket – 3 h – $35 AUD
• Rome → Salerno Frecciarossa – 2 h 30 min – $55 AUD
• Salerno → Palermo ferry – 10 h – $100 AUD
• Palermo Cathedral entry – 1 h – $10 AUD
• Taormina Greek Theatre – 2 h – $20 AUD
• Catania → Malta flight – 1 h 15 min – $150 AUD
• Valletta Upper Barrakka Gardens – 1 h – free
• Blue Lagoon boat tour – 3 h – $80 AUD
• Gozo ferry round‑trip – 2 h – $25 AUD
• Malta → Rome flight – 1 h 30 min – $180 AUD
• Rome → Salerno Frecciarossa – 1 h 15 min – $55 AUD
• Salerno → Naples regional train – 30 min – $15 AUD
• Naples pizza dinner – 2 h – $30 AUD
• Rome → Barcelona flight – 2 h 15 min – $120 AUD
• Barcelona → Madrid AVE – 2 h 30 min – $90 AUD
• Madrid → Lisbon flight – 1 h 30 min – $130 AUD
• Belém Tower entry – 1 h – $12 AUD
• Lisbon → Paris flight – 2 h 30 min – $180 AUD
• Louvre ticket – 3 h – $25 AUD
• Eiffel Tower summit – 2 h – $35 AUD
• Versailles Palace ticket – 4 h – $45 AUD
• Paris → Sydney Qantas flight – 22 h – $1,800 AUD
• Sydney → Glen Innes flight – 2 h – $200 AUD
• Accommodations (21 nights average $150/night) – 21 nights – $3,150 AUD
• Meals & misc. – 21 days – $1,500 AUD
• Local transport passes & tickets – entire trip – $400 AUD
• Total Estimated Cost – $9,092 AUD

Tips

If you need to shorten the trip, consider dropping the Sicily‑Gozo segment and fly directly from Rome to Malta; this saves about 4 days and $300 AUD. To extend, add a day in Vienna after Bern or a coastal stay in Amalfi after Salerno, each costing roughly $150‑$200 AUD for transport and lodging. Booking high‑speed train tickets early (at least 2 months) secures the lowest fares, and using a Eurail Global Pass for consecutive days could further reduce rail costs if you add more train journeys.