✨From Bangalore's 20°C to Finland's -35°C: Our Dream Euro Trip Itinerary!✨
We had dreamt of celebrating Christmas in Europe, driving through the fairytale-like Alsace region of France, spending New Year's in a quaint, surreal part of the Netherlands, and witnessing the Northern Lights against the magical backdrop of Finnish skies.
2 years ago, we made all of this possible!
Getting a lot of messages for our day wise breakdown of the trip, so here goes our 17 Day itinerary👇🧵
Day 1⃣
✈️ Bangalore🇮🇳 -> Paris🇫🇷
Air France for 2 pax:
💰50K miles + ₹17K taxes
⏲️ 11 hours
🚗 Car Rental: Self-drive from CDG via Liigu Mobile App
💰₹55K for 7 days
🗼 Eiffel Tower Tour: To the top!
💰₹5.3K
🏨 Checked into an Accor Property with Eiffel Tower views
💰8K points + ₹2.6K
🛥️ Seine River Cruise at night
💰₹3K
Day 2⃣
🚗 Drove to Luxembourg
⏲️ 4.5 hours
🏨 Accor Property stay
💰6K points
🚇 Free Public transport
🎄Explored Luxembourg Christmas Markets
⛪ Visited Metz Cathedral on Christmas Eve - festive vibes!
Day 3⃣
🚗 Drove to Strasbourg
⏲️ 3 hours
🎄 Known as the "Capital of Christmas"
🛍️ Explored Place Kléber Market
🔸 Oldest in France (1570)
🌲 Europe’s tallest decorated Christmas tree (30m)
🚗 Drove to Colmar
⏲️ 1 hour
🏡 Stayed at an Airbnb in a vineyard 🍇
🎄 Cheery Christmas markets, delicious Alsatian wine, and French-German cuisine (Mulled Wine a must-try!)
Day 4⃣
🏰 Explored Colmar region's fairytale medieval architecture
🔸 Fun fact: It inspired Disney's Beauty and the Beast!
🚗 Drove to Eggiwil, Switzerland🇨🇭
⏲️ 2.5 hours
🏡 Checked into a traditional Swiss house on Airbnb.
Day 5⃣
🚗 Drove to Interlaken
⏲️ 1 hour
🥐 Breakfast with stunning lake views 🌊
🗽 Visited the Yash Chopra statue
🏔️ Explored Grindelwald’s winter wonderland 🌨️
💦 Staubbach Falls in Lauterbrunnen (297m drop!)
🚗 Drove back to Eggiwil Airbnb
Day 6⃣
🚗 Drove to Bern
⏲️ 1 hour
🏙️ Explored Bern’s Old Town (UNESCO site)
🍽️ Special lunch @ Restaurant Rosengarten - amazing food, spectacular views!
🚗 Drove to Montreaux
⏲️ 1 hour
🏰 Explored Chillon Castle, a lakeside medieval gem 💎
🚋 Took the Territet–Glion funicular (max incline 51°!)
🚗 Drove to Geneva
⏲️ 1.5 hours
🏞️ Countryside drive around Lake Geneva 🚗
🚗 Drove to Annecy
⏲️ 1 hour
🏡 Checked into a 400-year-old Airbnb with river views 🌊
🎄 Visited Christmas Markets and Farmers Market
Day 7⃣
🏰 Visited Chateau d'Annecy (Restored castle & museum)
🚗 Drove back to Paris
⏲️ 6 hours
🏨 Checked into an Accor Property
💰16K points + ₹2.4K (2 nights, breakfast included)
Day 8⃣
🎨 Explored Parisian landmarks:
🔹 Louvre
🔹 Arc de Triomphe
🔹 Eiffel Tower (again!)
🛍️ Shopped on Champs-Elysees - fashion capital!
🍽️ Ate at iconic Parisian cafes
🚇 Used public transport (metro + bus)
Day 9⃣
✈️ Paris🇫🇷 -> Amsterdam🇳🇱 (KLM Flight)
💰10K miles + ₹6.2K taxes
⏲️ 1.5 hours
🛍️ Got a 12% tax refund at CDG airport 💸
🚗 Rented a car at AMS
💰₹18K
🚗 Drove to Giethoorn
⏲️ 1.5 hours
🏡 Checked into a canal house Airbnb (Dutch style!)
Day 🔟
🚗 Drove back to Amsterdam
⏲️ 1.5 hours
🏨 Checked into @MovenpickHotels with IJ River views
💰6K Accor points + ₹2.5K
🚤 1-hour Canal Cruise
💰₹2.5K
🏙️ Explored Dam Square
🚕 Used Bolt (cheaper than Uber)
@MovenpickHotels Day 1⃣1⃣
✈️ Amsterdam🇳🇱 -> Rovaniemi🇫🇮 (Business Class)
💰40K miles + ₹12K taxes
⏲️ 4 hours
🚗 Rented a car at RVN airport
💰₹44K (4 days)
🧣 Rented overalls & snow boots (-34°C!)
🏡 Checked into an Airbnb
@MovenpickHotels Day 1⃣2⃣
🎅 Visited Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle
🔹 Sent postcards from Santa's Post Office - arriving next Christmas!
🚗 Drove to Ivalo
⏲️ 3 hours
🏡 Airbnb stay (Finnish house w/ sauna)
🌌 Aurora hunting tour: saw the Northern Lights!
Day 1⃣3⃣
🧖♂️ Experienced an outdoor Jacuzzi at -30°C! ❄️
🔥 Indulged in a traditional Finnish sauna first 🔥
❄️ Reindeer & Husky farm visits 🐾
🌌 2nd night of Aurora hunting on our own!
We saw the northern lights dancing and displaying the magnificent show for about 2 hours from the comfort of our AirBnB!
@MovenpickHotels Day 1⃣4⃣
🏡 Checked into a Glass Igloo
@kakslauttanen
❄️ Watched snowfall & stars from the igloo
🔹 Reindeers playing outside! 🦌
🍽️ Restaurant serving delicious food (including Indian cuisine!)
@MovenpickHotels @kakslauttanen Day 1⃣5️⃣
🚗 Drove back to Rovaniemi
⏲️ 3 hours
🍔 Ate at the Northernmost McDonald’s in the world
✈️ Rovaniemi🇫🇮 -> Amsterdam🇳🇱 (Business Class)
💰40K miles + ₹12K taxes
⏲️ 4 hours
🏡 Airbnb stay in Zwanenburg with water views
@MovenpickHotels @kakslauttanen Day 1⃣6⃣
🏡 Checked into a Boathouse Airbnb in Amsterdam
🎨 Explored Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House, & Light Festival
🚇 Used public transport (tram, metro, bus)
@MovenpickHotels @kakslauttanen Day 1⃣7️⃣
✈️ Amsterdam🇳🇱 -> Bangalore🇮🇳 (KLM Direct)
💰50K miles + ₹17K taxes
⏲️ 10 hours
🌍 Thank you, Europe! You have given us a lifetime of memories See you soon! 👋
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