13 Days, 8 Countries, and One Big Adventure: Mandeep’s Europe Trip Review with Thrillophilia
Thrillophilia Verified Booking
PNR: BKDGEZYB8MA
Rating: ★★★★★
Travellers: Mandeep Purohit, Neha & Family of 5
Trip Duration: 13 Days | 12 Nights
Destination: Europe
Trip Date: 24 Jun 2024 – 06 Jul 2024
Package Booked: Wonders of Europe | Group Tour Package
“Had a very amazing, fantastic and super experience. Thanks to the entire Thrillophilia team here. Special thanks to all 4 tour operators, Deepak Bhai, Anjali, Martha and Yasper, who were there with us all the time and gave their best to make this tour a memorable one.”
When Akash Singhania, Thrillophilia’s Europe destination expert, received this family enquiry, he knew it would need careful planning.
The brief was ambitious. Mandeep and Neha wanted to explore Europe with their family of five, including a child. They also wanted to experience as much as possible during their 13-day holiday.
The challenge was squeezing eight countries into 13 days without making the trip feel like one long race between hotels. The route needed famous landmarks, family-friendly experiences, scenic journeys, comfortable stays, and enough variety to keep every traveller interested.
From Parisian streets and Disneyland to Swiss glaciers, Venetian canals, and ancient Roman landmarks, the family eventually experienced an extraordinary slice of Europe.
Here is how their journey unfolded.
Postcards from France: Paris, the Eiffel Tower, and a Day at Disneyland
Paris was the family's first taste of Europe. After arriving, they had time to settle in before stepping outside to explore the city's famous streets and neighbourhoods.
The following day brought the classic Paris experience. Their sightseeing covered Place Vendôme, Opéra Garnier, Musée d'Orsay, Place de la Concorde, and Champs-Élysées. The family also stopped at the Arc de Triomphe and Pont Alexandre III. The Eiffel Tower became one of the biggest highlights, with access to its third level offering sweeping views across Paris.
Their exploration continued towards Montmartre. They took the funicular towards Sacré-Cœur Basilica and explored the neighbourhood's artistic character. Later, a Seine River cruise offered a different view of the city. From the boat, they could spot Notre-Dame, the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, and the Eiffel Tower. It was a relaxed way to see several Paris landmarks without another long walking route.
Then came the experience that gave the youngest traveller an entirely different kind of European adventure. The family spent a full day at Disneyland Paris, moving through Fantasyland, Adventureland, Discoveryland, Frontierland, and Main Street, U.S.A. They explored attractions, watched Disney entertainment, and spent the day surrounded by the colourful world of Disney.
Postcards from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany
Leaving France, the family crossed into Belgium for a stop in Brussels. The Grand Place immediately brought a different architectural character to the journey.
They explored the historic square and saw its ornate medieval buildings, including the famous Town Hall. They also stopped at the Manneken Pis statue before continuing towards The Hague. In the Netherlands, Madurodam offered a playful change from traditional sightseeing. The family explored detailed miniature versions of Dutch landmarks, cities, buildings, and infrastructure.
The journey then continued towards Amsterdam, where they boarded a glass-topped boat for a canal cruise. Historic houses, narrow waterways, colourful buildings, and hundreds of bridges formed the scenery around them. Germany brought another completely different experience. The family visited the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart and explored its extensive collection of vehicles and engineering exhibits.
The route then passed through the Black Forest, with its dense woodland and traditional villages. Their journey eventually brought them to Schaffhausen and the spectacular Rhine Falls. Standing beside one of Europe's largest waterfalls added a dramatic natural highlight to a trip that had already covered several major European cities.
Postcards from Switzerland: Snow, Glaciers, and the Alps
Switzerland transformed the scenery once again.
The family travelled towards Jungfraujoch, one of the most famous high-altitude destinations in the Swiss Alps. Their journey included the Eiger Express from Grindelwald Terminal before continuing towards the mountain railway.
At Jungfraujoch, they explored the Ice Palace and its elaborate ice sculptures. They also visited the Sphinx Observatory, which overlooks the surrounding Alpine landscape. The Aletsch Glacier formed another spectacular part of the views from the summit. After experiencing the mountains from above, the family continued their Swiss adventure at Mount Titlis. The Rotair revolving cable car took them towards the summit at approximately 3,020 metres. From there, they could see snow-covered peaks, rocky slopes, and deep Alpine valleys.
They also had the opportunity to explore the Glacier Cave and walk along the Titlis Cliff Walk. The suspension bridge offered an elevated view across the surrounding mountains. Later, Lucerne brought the family back to the lakeside. They visited the Lion Monument and Chapel Bridge before taking a scenic cruise across Lake Lucerne.
Across Liechtenstein and Austria
The journey towards Italy brought two smaller but memorable stops before the family reached the country's famous cities. Their first stop was Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein, surrounded by the dramatic peaks of the Alps. The family got a glimpse of the tiny Alpine country while travelling through its scenic landscapes.
From Vaduz, the journey continued towards Wattens in Austria. Here, they visited Swarovski Kristallwelten, where crystal became the centrepiece of elaborate artistic installations. The family explored the glittering exhibits and the famous Crystal Dome before continuing towards Innsbruck.
Innsbruck offered another beautiful Alpine setting. They explored the city's historic centre and saw the Golden Roof, one of its most recognisable landmarks. They also walked along Maria-Theresien-Straße, lined with historic buildings, cafés, and shops, with the mountains rising behind the city.
Postcards from Italy: Venice, Florence, Pisa, and Rome
Italy brought the final and perhaps most varied stretch of the family's European adventure. Their first stop was Venice, where the experience began on the water. They travelled by private boat along the Giudecca Canal before reaching the magnificent St. Mark's Square.
The family explored St. Mark's Basilica, admired its Byzantine architecture, and saw the nearby Bell Tower and Clock Tower. They also passed the famous Bridge of Sighs, connecting Venice's historic prison complex. A Murano glass demonstration introduced them to the city's celebrated glassmaking tradition. Then came one of Venice's experiences that simply had to be part of the trip: a gondola ride. The family climbed aboard the traditional Venetian boat and travelled through the city's narrow waterways, passing historic buildings and bridges along the way.
From Venice, the family continued towards Florence, where Renaissance architecture took centre stage. They explored the magnificent Duomo, saw Giotto's Bell Tower, and walked through Piazza della Signoria. Palazzo Vecchio added another historic landmark to their sightseeing. At Piazzale Michelangelo, they stopped for sweeping views across Florence. The city's terracotta rooftops, historic buildings, and cathedral dome stretched across the landscape below.
Their Italian journey then continued towards Pisa. At the Square of Miracles, the family saw the unmistakable Leaning Tower of Pisa standing beside the cathedral and baptistery. After seeing one of Italy's most photographed landmarks, they continued towards their final destination, Rome.
Rome brought the grand finale to their 13-day adventure. The family explored Vatican City, beginning with the Vatican Museums and their extraordinary collection of Renaissance artwork. They also visited the Sistine Chapel, famous for Michelangelo's ceiling and The Last Judgment.
The tour continued to St. Peter's Basilica, one of the world's most important religious landmarks. From there, the family moved into ancient Rome at the Colosseum, where the enormous amphitheatre offered a glimpse into the city's Roman past. Their final sightseeing stop was the Trevi Fountain, where the family could end their Italian adventure beside one of Rome's most recognisable Baroque landmarks. After travelling through eight countries and experiencing everything from Alpine peaks to Venetian canals, Italy gave the family a fitting finale to an enormous European journey.
Why Mandeep Recommends Thrillophilia for Your Next Europe Trip
A European itinerary covering eight countries is not simply about finding attractive destinations.
It involves connecting cities efficiently, planning sightseeing around transfers, selecting suitable hotels, coordinating local operations, and keeping the entire journey manageable for a family travelling with a child. That is where destination planning becomes important. Akash Singhania helped shape the overall European journey, while the on-ground teams of Thrillophilia handled the different stages across the trip.
Mandeep specifically thanked Deepak Bhai, Anjali, Martha, and Yasper for staying with the family throughout their journey. Their support helped connect the different pieces of such a large itinerary. For a trip spanning France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, and Italy, coordination matters as much as sightseeing.
Mandeep's final verdict captured the experience best:
“Had a very amazing, fantastic and super experience.”
And that is exactly what this family holiday became. It was not one destination experienced deeply. It was a sweeping European journey filled with cities, mountains, museums, cruises, theme parks, architecture, and family memories across eight countries.
