Departure Dates

As these tours are self-guided and for independent travellers you can start this tour at any time of the year.

Prior to your departure we will provide you with your tickets, reservations and other travel documents as well as give you detailed information for each location, itineray, timetables, maps, directions opening times for specific historic sightes etc.

When making your decision regarding the time of year for your European holiday you might like to keep the following in mind:

Things to consider when planning your holiday

Climate

The temperatures are pleasant between end of April and end of June and then again from end of August to the beginning of October. July and most of August can be pretty hot in Italy. If you want to experience snow then your best chances are from mid December to early March in the European Alps.

European school holidays

The summer holidays are mostly in July and August. If possible do not travel during those 2 months as everything – roads, trains, hotels, historic sights and beaches are terribly crowded.

Festivals and other events

You might like to coincide your trip with some of the festivals or other events or make efforts to not be in those places if you want to avoid large crowds. Below is a list of some events that might be of interest to you. It is by no means exhaustive. We do not take any responsibility for the correctness of this information so make sure you double check. Please let us know if you know of or chance upon a local festivity or event so that we can add it here.

London

• Notting Hill Carnival. Held each Bank holiday in August. Miles of vibrant colourful costumes, hundreds of Caribbean food stalls.
• Chelsea Flower Show. 24th to 28th of May 2011. Check out at  www.rhs.org.uk/Shows-Events/RHS-Chelsea-Flower-Show/2010
• The Queen’s birthday parade. Spectacular pageantry. Mid June. For details and dates check  www.trooping-the-colour.co.uk/ .
• Quirky  London markets at Peticoat lane, Portobello Road and Greenwich. Browse the lively stalls to find vintage and designer clothes, asseccories, art and collectables while sampling the offered food, beer, wine or cider.  http://www.visitbritain.com/en/Things-to-do/Leisure-and-Entertainment/Markets.htm

Paris

• Bastille Day. 14^th of July. Military procession, fireworks at the Eiffel Tower, fly-past along the Champs-Elysees.
• New Year Day parade
• Fete de la Musique. 21^st of June. Jazz, reggae etc all over the city to welcome summer.
• Gay Pride March. Colourful parade. Late June. www.gaypride.fr
• Jazz festival. Free jazz concerts every Saturday and Sunday in June/July.
• Tour de France. Finishing on the Champs Elysees. End July
• Jazz a La Villette. 10 day Jazz festival. Early September.
• White Night in Paris. 1^st October 2011.
• Marche Bastille. The best of Paris’ many open air markets. Every Tuesday and Sunday 7am – 2pm. (Metro station Bastille)
• Flea Market Marche aux Puces de Montreuil (Metro station Porte de Montreuil). 500 stalls selling quality second-hand designer clothes and accessories.
• Versailles Palace. Closed on Mondays. Spectacular Fountain displays on Saturdays and Sunday only from early May to late September.

Avignon        

• Festival d’Avignon. World famous music, drama, dance festival. Early July to early August. Performed in the Pope’s palace.
• Provence lavender fields in bloom from mid June to mid August.

Nice

• Carnival de Nice. Mardi Gras (Shrove Tuesday). Colourful floats and music.
• Nearby Monaco: Grand Prix Formula 1 race. 27^th – 30^th May 2011 and Cannes: Film Festival. 11 – 22 May 2011.

Cinque Terre

• Festival of St. Giuseppe. 19^th of March. Big folk fair
• Palio del Golfo- sea festival. First Sunday in August. Canoe race, folk parade, fireworks.

Venice

• Carnevale. Held during the 10 days before Ash Wednesday.
•  Festa del Redentor. 3^rd weekend in July. Fireworks and procession.
•  International Film Festival. End August to Mid September.

Florence

• The Feast of John the Baptist, 24^th of June.
• Calcio Storico – football played in 16^th century costumes ending with firework display. June.

Como:

• Antique market in the centre of the city. Every last Saturday of the month.

Rome

• Papal audience (Wednesdays)
• Festival de la Musica. Early June.
• Festa di San Giovanni. Dancing and eating in the streets. 23/24 June.
• Spring festival. The Spanish Steps are a sea of flowers. April
• Procession of the cross between the Colosseum and the Palatino. Good Friday.
• The Pope’s blessing in the Piazza San Pietro on Easter Sunday.