Wondering where to find the best European tours for your next vacation? I’ve done the research for you!

Sometimes a guided tour is just what you need. Sit back and let someone else do all the work! Plus if you’re flying solo, you can be sure of good company.

Is it your first visit to Europe? A tour guide helps smooth way. Let someone else make the plans so you can relax. After all who wants to be messing around with luggage transfers and local transportation if you don’t have to? Plus you can get a taster of a country to see if it’s worth going back on your own.

A  specialist in European tours should save you time and expense. You can save just by taking advantage of their buying power. Don’t want to go on all the excursions? You don’t have to. Make the trip your own.

Pretty Varenna on the shores of Lake Como, Italy

What to Look for: European Tours

I wanted to find the best value for a long desired trip to the Italian lakes and that led me to Rivera Travel – a well known tour group here in the UK. We found it great value for money and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Where do you want to go? What tour company offers the best package, pricing and accommodations for where you want to visit? Don’t try to squeeze in everything. I primarily wanted to see Lake Como on our trip. All the excursions offered on our tour were lovely, but to me the time spent on and near Como was the most memorable. In fact one of the best days was a free day where we took the ferries to explore Bellagio and Varenna!

Half the fun of the group tour is the camaraderie amongst your fellow travelers. I’ve met some wonderful people and made new friends!

Pros of an Escorted European Tour:

• Make new friends and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow travelers
• Solo travelers don’t have to feel “alone”
• Learning from an expert tour guide
• Airport transfers and local transportation are taken care of
• Relaxing and letting someone else do the driving!
• Often better value than booking yourself

Villa Balbionello, Lake Como

Cons of an Escorted European Tour:

• Traveling in a large group may mean waiting for others
• Large tour buses can make you feel like a “tourist” instead of a local
• View from a coach window isn’t the same as driving, cycling or walking
• You can’t stop when and where you want
• Hotels and restaurants are usually the type that cater to large groups
• Included meals may not be on your schedule

Hand picked European cruise lines

Best European Tours

Here’s a selection of some of the best known and respected tour companies based in the USA and UK.

1. GATE 1
Offers tours throughout Europe and all over the world with small group and discovery tours as well as walking holidays, river cruises and more. Sign up for their weekly specials. If you’re looking for a wealth of options, browse their website for your perfect itinerary. Reviews

• 8 Day Affordable Tuscany from $1699. w/out airfare.
• 11 Day Enchanting Italy from $2899. w/out airfare

2. GRAND CIRCLE TRAVEL
Catering to the over 50 crowd and started by the founder of AARP, GCT offers a wide variety of all inclusive tours including cruises.  They specialize in European, North American and South Pacific tours. I like the comprehensive details on each tour page which tells you exactly what you get, plus ratings and single supplement pricing.

• Impressions of Italy: The Amalfi Coast and Tuscany $3795. inc airfare from USA
  
• 11 Days in Portugal Douros River Cruise $5195 inc airfare from USA
  

3. GLOBUS
Globus is the more expensive side of the Globus/Cosmos travel tour conglomerate. Well laid out website, lots of options offering travel to most parts of the world. A huge company that began in Lugano Switzerland in 1928 founded by Antonio Mantegazza, who used a single row boat to offer tours! Offers multi country tours and faith based travel as well as different travel modes like Independence and small groups.

• 10 Days Bonnie Scotland with London from $3219 .
  

• 5 Days WWII D-Day Landing Beaches & Battle of Normandy from $1899.

Shopping on Carnaby St in London

4. COLLETTE TOURS
Although not catering to seniors specifically, Collette offers a travel cancellation waiver which allows you to cancel for any reason up to day of departure for a full refund. This feature alone makes it unique and worth considering. Offers tours to 50 countries with both escorted and independent vacations. Visit their website for trip reviews and sign up for deals.

• 10-11 Days Countryside of the Emerald Isle from $3199.
• 12 Days Italy’s Treasures – Art, Food & Wine of Italy from $4299.

5. TAUCK
3 Generation international travel company started in 1925 based in Westport CT. Highly rated and expensive. Their tours include many unique side trips and excursions so compare for value given.

For example, a trip to Italy offers a unique demonstration of a Murano glassblower; a private behind the scenes tour of the Vatican and Sistine Chapel plus lunch with a Contessa at her private Venetian palazzo! Tauck also offer multi generational Bridge trips so perfect for the family that wants to travel together.

• 14 Day Cruise: French Escapade Paris to the Riviera from $6990.
• 8 Days Castles & Kings: London to Paris from $5590.
  

Consider adding on a 3-4 stay in Europe before OR after your tour. A few days is just the right amount of time to defeat any jet lag and give you the excuse to go shopping and wandering on your own!

Lovely Venezia

6. TRAILFINDERS
Based in the UK, Trailfinders has good reviews and offers a wide variety of tour types from cycling to luxury coach tours to rail journeys and fly/drive options worldwide.

According to reviewers, Trailfinders can also put together bespoke or customized itineraries such as private jets or touring. How about a golf holiday?

• 9 Day Winter Coastal explore with Lofoten Islands and Tromso from $1835.
• 15 Days Grand Tour of Spain by Rail from $1835.

7. RIVIERA TRAVEL
Also based in the UK, I used Riviera for our trip to Lake Como. This first trip was a very positive experience and I considered it an excellent value. The hotel was located right on the lake and we couldn’t fault the location and amenities.

The majority of our tour group was 60+ although this may have been due to our October departure? Our local tour guide was excellent, plus we had enough free time to explore on our own.

Riviera offers European cruises, short city breaks, solo travel holidays as well as escorted European tours.

• 8 Days Lake Como, St. Moritz and Bernina Express  from $2135.
• 4 Day Tour of Bruges, Belgium  from $675.

The pretty streets of Arles, France

8. TRAFALGAR
For 70+ years, Trafalgar has been creating memorable holidays worldwide. They specialize in creating a local experience and offer insider access as well as “hidden gems”.

If you’re looking for a European tour operator who offers an extensive range of destinations and tour options, Trafalgar will be worth researching. Free airport transfers to and from your hotel are included at select times.

• 10 Day Castles & Kilts Family Tour from London to Edinburgh from $3375.
• 13 Days Best of Italy from $3745.
  
  

9. SOLO TRAVELERS
If you’re dreaming of traveling to Europe, but have chosen to travel solo, then these companies offer bespoke tours especially designed with your needs in mind. No single supplements and a room to yourself? Yes please.

How luxurious to travel on your own but share experiences with other solo travelers. Of course you can just go and enjoy your own company and have a fabulous time!

• Solos Holidays – destinations all over the world
• Just You – a room of your own guaranteed
• HF Holidays – walking holidays with single options
• TUI – create your own solo holiday
• Saga Holidays – single options for over 50s

Why not fly into London a few days ahead of your tour? Book your hotel or apartment now and make the most of one of the most iconic cities in the world!

For best pricing and availability on tours, DO book ahead. Occasionally you’ll find some last minute discounts, but more popular tours are getting sold out. Sign up for emails and get first dibs. Don’t miss out, get started planning now 🙂

Book a European river cruise or cruise the Mediterranean with one of these well known cruise lines.

Of course you can also add on experiences to any trip you take. Try these tempting offers off the Amalfi coast in Italy!

Take a peek at my travel resources before you go. Divertiti!

UPDATED: February 2025