In the spirit of rich young men (and occasionally women) of centuries gone by, why not spend a winter’s afternoon planning a route for a Grand Tour of Europe?
Whether it’s simply an idle but enjoyable dream or the first step to making a European trip a reality, planning a big adventure is always time well spent. These days, it’s surprisingly easy to flit from one European city to the next and see a huge amount in just a week or two. Back in the days of Grand Tours it would have been the trip of a lifetime; something that would finish your education and perhaps inform a career. Or a life’s work if you were Canaletto.
In our February issue, we found out just how easy it is to travel Europe by rail, and, in the spirit of the Grand Tour, we’ve taken it as inspiration for a more modern way to travel, with a contemporary Grand Tour Itinerary. But first, what was the Grand Tour, exactly?
A rite of passage for many aristocratic young things from the 16th to the 19th centuries, a ‘Grand Tour’ was a way of exploring the art and culture of Europe. The idea was to come home well rounded, better educated and with an intriguing sense of culture about you, having picked up a few charming European habits, which you would crowbar into conversation wherever possible… ‘Ah yes, I started drinking espresso while I was in Venice, actually’...
Usually, leaving from Dover, often with a tutor (and servants to carry your luggage if you were fortunate), you would first travel to France, taking in Calais and Paris, before moving on through Switzerland. Having crossed the Alps, much of your ‘tour’ would have been spent in Italian cities such as Turin, Florence, Rome, Pompeii and Venice. Usually one would return home through German cities, then Austria (of course stopping at Vienna) and through Flanders and Holland before crossing the sea back to England.
With the advent of interrailing, the internet and underwear that can be hand washed in a basin and dries within hours, you can spread your wings a little further, of course. Here’s our suggested itinerary for a 2024 Grand Tour via Inter Rail.
A Modern Grand Tour
There are endless itineraries you could use, but if time and money were no object, this would be our contemporary Grand Tour, taking in some traditional stops and many new ones that we don’t think any European Tour should be complete without.
1. London
2. Paris
3. Barcelona
4. Nice
5. Monaco
6. Rome
7. Florence
8. Venice
9. Ljubljana
10. Salzburg
11. Budapest
12. Prague
13. Berlin
14. Hamburg
15. Malmo
16. Aarhus
17. Amsterdam
18. London
You could do just three countries at a time for a slower pace, or you can plan your very own itinerary on the Inter Rail website. Now all you have to do is find a tutor and some staff to follow you about carrying your luggage. Bon voyage!
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