From French Chateaus To Custard Tart Town: Make Memories On European Holidays With Your Loved Ones Without Stress
Trafalgar’s expertly planned tours mean you don’t have to worry about the details, and can simply treasure time together in stunning destinations with your girls or family
By The Singapore Women's Weekly -
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Whether you’re thinking of a trip with your girlfriends or planning a school holiday trip with the family, your next holiday doesn’t have to be a stressful one.
Think guided journeys where the logistics are taken care of, and where all you need to do is focus on making memories with your loved ones. If you’re with your family, you’ll appreciate that all the details have been perfectly planned and if you’re with your girl friends, you’ll enjoy having all the time in the world together to unwind in one another’s company.
Established in 1947, Trafalgar is well-versed in the art of crafting memorable experiences, allowing travellers to enjoy the best of Europe and beyond. With over 240 itineraries and thousands of departure dates, you are very likely to find a trip that fits your schedule.
Whether it’s wandering through charming towns or soaking in sweeping countryside views, Trafalgar’s tours are designed for style, ease and plenty of fun – often leading you to hidden gems well beyond the usual tourist trail.
Discover the French countryside
While you can join the multitudes of tourists taking wefies at the Eiffel Tower, there is much more to France than Paris alone.
Trafalgar’s Villages of France tour takes you through some of the most charming towns, where you can enjoy the sights of colourful streets, meet cheese and winemakers, and dine in a French chateau.
In Orleans, follow the story of how Joan of Arc played a major role in the city’s siege that shaped French history. Over in Bourges, join a guided walking tour and visit two of its most impressive landmarks: the Unesco-listed Cathedrale Saint-Etienne and the 15th-century Palais Jacques Coeur.
The Unesco-listed Cathedrale Saint-Etienne has one of the tallest naves in France at 41m.
Trafalgar’s Be My Guest experience introduces you to local hosts and offers the opportunity to dine with them at home. In this tour, you will have lunch at Chateau de Vieux Chambord, the 14th century family estate of Marie and Stéphane Devaulx de Chambord.
Over in Strasbourg, a local specialist will take you through the city’s historic centre as you discover its blend of French and German heritage. Be charmed by the romantic Petite France district with its timber-framed houses and cobbled canals as you stroll through the quiet lanes.
Strasbourg’s pretty timber-framed houses are picture-perfect and reflect French-German influences.
The tour will also take you to Meaux, a riverside town famed for its Brie and mustard, where you can browse the farmers’ market with seasonal produce, cheese and local specialties
Back in Paris, those who enjoy fragrances can choose an optional tour at the renowned Fragonard Perfumery back in Paris, where you can tour the museum and craft a signature scent for yourself or as a personalised gift for your girl friends.
Jewels on the Balkan Riviera
If multitasking is your thing, you will enjoy the Balkans Coast Explorer tour, which takes you to three countries over the span of nine days.
Start your tour in the Albanian capital of Tirana, where a local resident will show you the famous Skanderbeg Square and take you on a walking tour through the city. Go five floors underground to see Bunk’Art, a former communist bunker turned museum. At 3,000 sqm, it is one of the largest Cold War bunkers in Albania.
South of Tirana is the Unesco World Heritage Site of Berat, famed for its Ottoman-era houses stacked into the hillside. Sample Turkish delights, rose juice and rakija – a strong fruit brandy – in a local guide’s 250-year-old home as she shares the stories and customs of her family.
Berat is known as the “City of a Thousand Windows” for its striking Ottoman-era houses with rows of large windows that look down the hillside.
From the Albanian Riviera, head into Budva, a coastal town in Montenegro, known to be one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic. Visit the Old Town, walk along the seafront or take in the local atmosphere.
As you cross the border into Croatia, be awed by the sights of the majestic ramparts that line the town in Unesco-listed Dubrovnik, where the Game of Thrones series was filmed.
The rugged coastline of Dubrovnik, seen from the Adriatic Sea.
Castles and culture in Transylvania
For history buffs, the Best of Romania, Transylvania and Hungary tour showcases an array of magnificent castles from Bucharest to Budapest.
In Romania’s vibrant capital, Bucharest, visit the colossal Palace of Parliament, one of the world’s largest and heaviest buildings, constructed during the country’s communist era.
Bucharest’s Palace of Parliament is widely considered the world’s second largest administrative building, after the Pentagon in the US.
Over in the resort town of Sinaia, visit Peles Castle, a neo-Renaissance palace built between 1873 and 1914 for Romania’s first king, Carol I. It is also the first castle in Europe to have central heating and electricity.
Further on in the Saxon village of Harman, dine with the locals in a traditional Saxon home, where you will enjoy a homemade meal prepared from Transylvanian recipes.
Of course, no visit to Transylvania is complete without a stop at Bran Castle, often called “Dracula’s Castle” in a nod to Bram Stoker’s legendary vampire. With its towering spires and hidden passageways you will find yourself lost in the dramatic history of the fortress.
Bran Castle is famous for its association with author Bram Stoker’s novel, Dracula, as it fits the description of the titular character’s castle.
Also in Transylvania is Corvin Castle, a spectacular Gothic fortress known for its towers, turrets and tales of Vlad the Impaler. Built on a hill for defense, Corvin Castle is highly photogenic, with an imposing main gate and the Knight’s Hall, which features a grand interior and vaulted ceilings.
For architecture fans, the city of Timisoara will delight with its colourful streets, Art Nouveau buildings and public squares. Often called ‘Little Vienna’, Timișoara is also known for its key role in the 1989 revolution that shaped modern Romania.
Timisoara’s colourful houses give the streets a storybook-like atmosphere.
From Romania, head into Hungary for a bowl of goulash in Bugac Puszta, part of the Great Hungarian Plain. Watch a horsemanship display that showcases the riding skills of local herdsmen, then move on to the city of Budapest and take an optional dinner cruise along the famous Danube river
A bird’s eye view of the city of Budapest from the Fisherman’s Bastion.
From Atlantic shores to Mediterranean sun
For a slightly longer trip, consider the 12-day Spain, Morocco and Portugal Whirl, where the plazas of Madrid, perfumed souks of Tangier and sun-drenched shores of Lisbon will enthrall you.
Visit Toledo, the Unesco World Heritage city known for its sword-making heritage, and watch artisans work at Damasquinados Suarez, a renowned artisan workshop specialising in the traditional craft of damasquinado metalwork.
From Toledo, you will head to Granada, where you get to step into the world of emirs and kings through a guided tour of the Alhambra palace, built in 1238 as a stunning example of Moorish architecture.
Originally built as a small fortress, the Alhambra expanded into a huge palace for the Muslim rulers of Granada.
Enjoy the Spanish sun in Costa del Sol, famous for its golden beaches and year-round sunshine, with a vibrant mix of beachside relaxation, nightlife, and cultural experiences.
As you leave Spain momentarily, take the ferry across the Strait of Gibraltar to Tangier and stroll through the vibrant medina and bustling souks. Venture into the mountains to explore the famous Blue City in Chefchaouen, where you can wander through its maze-like streets and visit the Kasbah Fortress, which has now been converted to a museum with tranquil gardens.
Back in Spain, visit the Giralda Tower in Seville, once the minaret of the Great Mosque but now the belltower of Seville Cathedral, which is also the resting place of Christopher Columbus.
The Giralda Tower is 104m tall, offering visitors panoramic views of the city.
In Lisbon, take part in the city tour with a local guide and enjoy a tasting of Portugal’s famous pastel de nata custard tarts. Explore the city on your own or join an optional trip through the Golden Triangle, visiting Estoril, Cascais and one of Lisbon’s stunning royal palaces to complete your Iberian adventure.
From land to river
For a different experience altogether, hop on a river cruise to explore different cities in Europe. Rather than a huge cruise ship which typically carries thousands of guests, Trafalgar’s river cruises are more intimate, with a maximum capacity of just 128 guests.
Trafalgar’s river cruises give you the opportunity to visit different European towns by travelling across the rivers.
With the comforts of boutique-style ships and guided shore experiences, guests can sail along iconic rivers like the Rhine, Danube, Rhone and Seine, waking up to ever-changing views of vineyards, castles and quaint old towns. Each journey blends leisurely days on the water with land excursions led by expert local guides, from wine tastings in France to music-filled evenings in Vienna.
From unhurried afternoons along the river to shared memories at every destination, each trip lets you tour differently, giving you experiences that you will remember long after the journey is over.
Find out more here, or visit Trafalgar’s Best of Europe & Beyond Travel Fair at the Plaza Singapura atrium from Oct 29 to Nov 2, 11am to 9pm daily.