Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
From your London starting point, allow 1–2 hours for the transfer, luggage, and check-in before sightseeing. If arriving by air, Heathrow is easiest by the Elizabeth line to central London—roughly 35–45 minutes to the West End—while Gatwick is best served by the Gatwick Express or regular rail to Victoria, usually around 30–40 minutes. A taxi is more comfortable with heavy luggage but can take much longer in traffic. Leave bags at your accommodation or a central left-luggage facility, then head towards Bloomsbury.
Start at the British Museum, allowing about two hours for a focused visit rather than trying to cover everything. A good compact route is the Great Court, Rosetta Stone, Egyptian galleries, and a small selection of the Greek and Roman rooms. General entry is free, but special exhibitions often require advance timed tickets; check the museum’s current hours before setting out, as late openings and occasional gallery closures vary. From the museum, walk south through Bloomsbury towards Covent Garden—about 20 minutes—or take the Piccadilly line from Russell Square to Covent Garden, though the walk is often quicker at busy times.
Spend around 45 minutes at Covent Garden Market, browsing the covered market and watching the street performers around the Piazza. For dinner, Dishoom Covent Garden is a lively choice for Bombay-style Indian food; budget roughly £25–40 per person, and expect a queue at peak dinner time. Booking ahead is useful, though walk-ins are often accepted. After dinner, stroll west along the Strand to Somerset House, about 10 minutes away, for a quieter finish: the courtyard and riverside setting are particularly pleasant as the light fades. Check the day’s closing time and any ticket requirements for exhibitions or seasonal installations before relying on it as your final stop.
After your early arrival in Athens, go straight to the Acropolis of Athens rather than dropping bags at the hotel first if you can—most central hotels will hold luggage. Allow around two hours for the climb and the monuments, with sturdy shoes, water, and a hat; the stone gets hot and slippery. Reserve a timed entry in advance through the official ticketing channel, as security and the uphill approach can add 20–40 minutes. The Acropolis generally opens in the morning, but exact hours and entry arrangements vary by season, so check the official schedule before booking your flight.
Walk downhill to the Acropolis Museum in Makrygianni, roughly 10 minutes away. Give it about 1½ hours, especially for the Parthenon Gallery and the glass floor overlooking the archaeological remains. This is a good place to cool down after the exposed hilltop; the café is pleasant, though you may prefer to save your appetite for lunch.
From the museum, take an easy 15-minute stroll through Plaka, following the lanes around Anafiotika and the quieter streets below the Acropolis. Allow an hour to wander rather than trying to cover every alley. Continue toward Monastiraki for lunch at O Thanasis, a reliable, unfussy spot for souvlaki and grilled meats near the square; expect roughly €15–25 per person, and be prepared for a short wait at peak lunchtime.
Spend the late afternoon browsing the Monastiraki Flea Market, where the atmosphere is best around the side streets off Ifestou Street rather than only in the main square. You will find vintage goods, leather sandals, small antiques, and tourist-oriented stalls; prices are negotiable in the smaller shops, but inspect anything described as antique carefully. Keep the evening deliberately light after the early flight and walking—your hotel area around Syntagma or Koukaki is convenient for dinner, and a taxi is worthwhile if luggage or tired legs make the 20–30-minute walk unappealing.
Allow the flight from Athens to Palermo to consume most of the morning, including the airport transfer, check-in, baggage, and the journey from Palermo Airport into the historic center. Once you have dropped bags—most central hotels will hold them—start at Palermo Cathedral. Set aside about an hour for the interior, and check the rooftop schedule before you go: the rooftop visit may require a separate ticket and can have restricted access or queues. From here, it is an easy walk along Corso Vittorio Emanuele to Palazzo dei Normanni; allow roughly 15 minutes and reserve the palace and Cappella Palatina in advance where possible, since timed entry and security queues can take longer than expected. Plan around 1½ hours, especially for the chapel’s extraordinary mosaics.
Walk a few minutes into Albergheria for Ballarò Market, best experienced as a roaming lunch rather than a formal meal. Give yourself about an hour to browse the produce stalls and try small portions of panelle, arancine, or sfincione; stall hours vary, and the market is liveliest earlier in the day. Continue west toward Quattro Canti, roughly a 15-minute walk through the old streets, then spend 45 minutes taking in the sculpted Baroque façades and crossing to Piazza Pretoria, whose monumental fountain is particularly striking from the surrounding steps. Keep valuables secure in the market and expect uneven paving, heat, and very little shade.
Finish in the Kalsa at Antica Focacceria San Francesco, a historic and dependable choice for a proper Sicilian meal. From Piazza Pretoria, it is around a 10-minute walk via Via Maqueda and the narrow streets toward Via Alessandro Paternostro. Allow an hour and budget approximately €20–35 per person; try a traditional dish such as pasta con le sarde, caponata, or a baked preparation rather than rushing through dinner. If your arrival from Athens is delayed, keep Ballarò Market brief and protect the reserved Palazzo dei Normanni entry—this day is otherwise comfortably walkable, with taxis or a short bus ride useful only for the final return to your accommodation.
Allow the Palermo–Naples journey to take most of the morning, including the airport process, the Alibus connection into Naples, and the onward train to Pompeii. After arriving, leave bags at your accommodation if possible and head straight to Pompeii Archaeological Park; allow roughly four hours, with sturdy shoes, water, sun protection, and a little patience for uneven paving and exposed streets. An advance ticket with a timed or dated entry requirement is the key dependency, so check the official ticketing system before travelling. The main archaeological visit is best kept unhurried rather than trying to cover every house.
Near Porta Marina, spend about 45 minutes at the Antiquarium of Pompeii, which gives useful context through mosaics, casts, household objects, and material recovered from the excavations. From there, walk into Pompeii town centre and pause in Piazza Bartolo Longo for around 45 minutes; the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Holy Rosary is worth seeing from outside, and the square offers a welcome contrast to the vast ruins. Have dinner at La Bettola del Gusto, where allow about an hour for Campanian dishes and a bill of approximately €25–40 per person. Booking ahead is sensible, particularly if your archaeological visit finishes at the usual late-afternoon closing time.
Finish with a relaxed Pompeii evening passeggiata along Via Roma, about 45 minutes at an easy pace. This is a good time to browse small shops, stop for a coffee or gelato, and let the day’s walking settle rather than adding another sight. Check the park’s seasonal closing time before setting out—hours vary—and keep some cash available for smaller cafés and local transport.
Take the Circumvesuviana from Pompei to Ercolano Scavi early; allow roughly 20–30 minutes on the train, plus time to reach Pompei station and wait for the next service. Buy a local ticket or use the UnicoCampania app, and keep valuables secure—trains can be crowded and service may be irregular. From Ercolano Scavi, it is about a 10-minute walk downhill to the Herculaneum Archaeological Park. Reserve a timed entry in advance if possible; allow around 2½ hours for the steep descent through the remarkably preserved streets, houses, mosaics, and waterfront chambers. Wear shoes with good grip, carry water, and avoid rushing the lower levels.
Afterward, walk back toward the station area for the MAV—Virtual Archaeological Museum, allowing about an hour for its projections and reconstructions of the Vesuvian towns. It is a useful change of pace after the archaeological site, particularly if the heat is strong. Check the day’s opening hours before leaving Pompeii, as museum schedules can vary seasonally.
Continue along Corso Resina to Villa Campolieto, one of the elegant eighteenth-century villas lining the historic Golden Mile. Allow roughly an hour for the interiors and grounds; guided access may be limited, so treat the visit as schedule-dependent rather than guaranteed. Have lunch or an early dinner at Ristorante Viva Lo Re in Ercolano, budgeting approximately €25–45 per person for a relaxed Neapolitan meal. Afterwards, only attempt Vesuvius National Park if you have already secured a timed trail reservation and arranged reliable transport—reaching the trailhead, completing the walk, and returning to Ercolano generally takes most of an afternoon. Otherwise, skip it rather than compressing the park, museum, villa, and meal. Return to Ercolano Scavi for the Circumvesuviana back to Pompei, allowing extra time for the evening service and station access.
Allow the Ercolano–Seville transfer to take most of the morning and early afternoon once you include the journey to Naples Airport, check-in, security, the flight connection, and getting into central Seville. On arrival, leave luggage at your accommodation—ideally around Santa Cruz—and go straight to the pre-booked Real Alcázar of Seville. Allow about two hours for the palace and gardens; timed entry is essential, and the gardens are much more enjoyable before the strongest afternoon heat. From the Alcázar, it is only a few minutes on foot to Seville Cathedral and Giralda. Allow roughly 90 minutes, but check whether tower access has its own timed allocation when booking.
After the cathedral, slow the pace in Barrio de Santa Cruz. Wander the narrow lanes around Calle Agua, Plaza de Doña Elvira, and Plaza de los Venerables, stopping for a cold drink rather than trying to fit in another major sight. A short walk or inexpensive taxi takes you to Plaza de España in Parque de María Luisa; allow an hour to admire the tiled alcoves and canal, preferably later in the afternoon when the light softens. The square is free, though nearby museums and horse-carriage rides cost extra. Keep some water with you—Seville can remain hot well into the evening.
Have dinner at El Rinconcillo, Seville’s historic tapas bar in Centro, budgeting about €25–40 per person. It is roughly a 15-minute walk from Santa Cruz, or a quick taxi if your feet are tired; arriving a little before the main dinner rush makes finding a table easier. Finish with the intimate flamenco performance at Casa de la Memoria in Santa Cruz. Reserve the show in advance, as its small venue frequently sells out, and check the performance time against your dinner booking. Walk back through the illuminated lanes afterward, using a licensed taxi if the evening ends late.
Allow the Seville–Paris flight and airport transfer to consume the early part of the day, then leave your bags at the hotel before heading to the Louvre Museum. From Châtelet–Les Halles, it is a short walk; from elsewhere, Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre is the most convenient Metro stop. Reserve a timed ticket in advance—the museum is vast, and three hours is best spent on one focused area, such as the Denon wing for the Mona Lisa and major Italian paintings or the Sully wing for Egyptian antiquities. Allow extra time for security and use the museum map rather than trying to “do” the whole collection.
Exit toward the Jardin des Tuileries and spend about 45 minutes strolling its central paths, ideally stopping at one of the green metal chairs around the ponds. Continue west to the Musée de l’Orangerie at Place de la Concorde; reserve an entry time if available, as the oval rooms containing Monet’s Water Lilies are the highlight and are best enjoyed without rushing. Afterward, take in Place de la Concorde—the obelisk and broad perspective toward the river and Champs-Élysées—then walk partway up the avenue. It is touristy, but the grand scale makes this a worthwhile transition; allow roughly an hour, and use the Metro if your legs are tiring.
Head by Metro or on foot toward Grands Boulevards for dinner at Bouillon Chartier, a famously atmospheric, old-fashioned dining room where traditional dishes generally cost about €20–35 per person. Queues are common and reservations are usually not the point, so arrive before the main dinner rush; expect a lively, shared-room experience rather than a quiet meal. Finish with a one-hour Seine evening cruise, boarding from whichever central quay matches your reserved departure. Book the cruise ahead, especially in the busy season, and arrive 20–30 minutes early; choose an open-air seat if the weather is good, but bring a layer because the river is noticeably cooler after dark.
Allow 3.5–4.5 hours door to door for the Paris–Bayeux transfer, including getting to Gare Saint-Lazare, the train connection—often via Caen—and dropping bags at your Bayeux accommodation. Reserve seats through SNCF Connect and aim to arrive by late morning; Bayeux is compact, so you can walk almost everywhere once you are checked in. Begin at the Bayeux Tapestry Museum, allowing about an hour for the audio-guided viewing of the Norman Conquest embroidery. Check the museum’s current opening hours and ticket availability before travelling, as timed or advance reservations may apply.
From the museum, walk into Bayeux old town and follow the paths beside the Aure River for an easy, atmospheric hour among stone bridges, waterwheels, half-timbered buildings, and quiet lanes. Continue to Bayeux Cathedral, whose Romanesque and Gothic architecture is best appreciated from both the square and the interior; entry is generally free, though access can be restricted during services. For lunch or an early dinner, La Rapier is a good local choice for Norman dishes—allow about €30–45 per person and book ahead if visiting during a busy period.
Dedicate the remaining daylight to a Normandy D-Day beaches tour departing from Bayeux, allowing four to five hours. A guided tour is the most practical option for this schedule, particularly if you want the historical context and efficient transport between Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery; a rental car offers more flexibility but adds pickup, parking, and navigation time. This is a substantial excursion after the morning train, so confirm the departure time before booking—the full route may require carrying your overnight bag or arranging hotel storage. If the tour returns after dinner, keep the evening simple with a short walk through central Bayeux rather than adding another major sight.
Allow 45–90 minutes from Dubrovnik Airport or the port for luggage, traffic, and check-in. From the airport, the official shuttle is usually the simplest option if its schedule suits your arrival; a pre-booked taxi is more convenient for a late landing or heavy bags. Have your accommodation confirm whether it is inside the pedestrian-only Old Town, as vehicles generally cannot reach the hotel door. Once settled, enter through Pile Gate and spend about 45 minutes following Stradun, Dubrovnik’s polished limestone main street. This is the best time to get your bearings, but keep valuables secure in the busy entrance area and wear shoes with good grip on the smooth stone.
Continue toward the harbor to Rector’s Palace, allowing about an hour for the former seat of the republic’s government and its atmospheric courtyards. It is a short walk onward to Dubrovnik Cathedral and Treasury, where the Baroque interior and reliquaries make a worthwhile, compact visit; modest dress is sensible. Opening hours and admission arrangements vary by season and religious services, so check locally before committing to the sequence. Both sites are within a few minutes’ walk of one another, and the narrow lanes around them are ideal for a brief unplanned wander.
Have dinner at Proto, a long-established Old Town restaurant known for seafood and Dalmatian dishes. Budget approximately €35–60 per person before drinks; booking is wise, particularly in the busier months. Afterward, walk back toward the lower cable-car station and take the Mount Srđ cable car for roughly 1½ hours, timing the ride for sunset if operating conditions allow. Check the official schedule on the day—services can be seasonal or wind-affected—and reserve ahead if online bookings are available. At the summit, the view over the orange roofs, harbor, and Adriatic is superb; bring a light layer, as it is noticeably cooler and breezier above the city.
Treat this as a full travel day. Allow roughly 8–12 hours door to door, including the transfer to Dubrovnik Airport, check-in, security, a possible connection, and getting into Glasgow after landing. Take the earliest practical itinerary and check the connection carefully—fares and routing through London, Amsterdam, or Frankfurt vary by date. On arrival, the Glasgow Airport Express 500 is usually the simplest city-centre transfer, taking about 15–25 minutes depending on traffic; a taxi is more convenient with substantial luggage.
After dropping bags, head to Glasgow Cathedral, allowing about an hour if your arrival leaves enough daylight. It is one of Scotland’s finest surviving medieval churches, with striking stonework and a quieter atmosphere than the city centre. Opening hours can vary, particularly around services, so check the official listing before setting out; admission is generally free, with donations welcome. From the cathedral, walk a few minutes through the surrounding Cathedral Precinct to the St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art, where an hour is enough for its thoughtful collection of religious objects and artworks from around the world. Confirm its opening days before travelling, as museums may have seasonal or weekly closures.
If daylight and energy allow, continue uphill to the Glasgow Necropolis for about an hour. The Victorian cemetery has impressive monuments and broad views back toward the city; wear shoes with good grip, as paths can be uneven and the area is best visited before dusk. Finish at The Pot Still in the city centre, a traditional whisky pub with an extensive Scottish selection and a relaxed atmosphere. Allow around an hour and budget approximately £20–35 per person, depending on drinks and food. Keep this evening deliberately flexible after the long journey: from central Glasgow, allow 30–60 minutes to return to your accommodation or continue to onward transport, depending on its location and the time of night.
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