Welcome to a 14‑day journey that threads together Paris, Luxembourg City, Lucerne, Milan, and Rome—five cities that shaped European art, politics, cuisine, and style. You’ll wander medieval ramparts and Renaissance cloisters, sip coffees where movements began, and sweep past Alpine peaks on world‑famous railway lines. This itinerary favors morning departures, efficient rail connections, and neighborhoods where evenings feel magical just steps from your door.

Expect headliners—Louvre and Notre‑Dame, the Casemates du Bock, Chapel Bridge, the Duomo di Milano, and the Colosseum—balanced with markets, family‑run trattorie, and waterside strolls. In Switzerland, build in bucket‑list Alps experiences like Mount Pilatus or Jungfraujoch; from Milan, consider the legendary Bernina Express over UNESCO‑listed passes.

Practical notes: You’re in the Schengen Area—carry your passport or ID. Book key tickets (Last Supper in Milan; Colosseum/Vatican in Rome) well in advance. Tipping is modest (round up in France/Luxembourg/Switzerland; 10% in Italy for standout service). Pack layers; mountain weather changes quickly. Power is Type C/F/L (230V). eSIMs work well across the route.

Paris

Days 1–4: The art, boulevards, and bistro life

Start in Paris, where grand boulevards meet cafe corners and the Seine reflects centuries of stories. Spend your days in a rhythm of museums, parks, and neighborhoods—Marais, Saint‑Germain, Montmartre—then dine like locals in lively brasseries.

• Headliners: Louvre (arrive at opening via Passage Richelieu), Musée d’Orsay’s Impressionist halls, and Notre‑Dame—reopened in Dec 2024; timed entry recommended. Stroll Île Saint‑Louis for river views and street musicians at sunset.
• Neighborhood wanders: Le Marais for galleries and boutiques; Canal Saint‑Martin for a picnic; Montmartre for late‑afternoon Sacré‑Cœur panoramas and vineyard lanes near Rue Saint‑Vincent.
• Local flavor: Browse Marché d’Aligre for cheeses and seasonal fruit; grab a bench in Place des Vosges with a falafel from Rue des Rosiers.

• Coffee & breakfast: Du Pain et des Idées (spiraled pistachio escargot), Holybelly (Aussie‑style pancakes/eggs), and KB Coffee Roasters (light, bright espresso).
• Lunch: Breizh Café (buckwheat galettes and cider), L’As du Fallafel takeaway for park picnics, and Le Rubis (stand‑up wine bar with hearty plats du jour).
• Dinner: Bouillon Pigalle (classic onion soup, steak‑frites at friendly prices), Le Servan (market‑led bistro with Asian notes), and Le Comptoir du Relais (book ahead; walk‑in list early).
• Nightcap: Canal Saint‑Martin wine bars along Quai de Jemmapes; people‑watch under the fairy‑lit plane trees.

Where to stay: For easy nights out, base in the Marais or Saint‑Germain near Métro hubs. Browse options on VRBO Paris or compare hotels on Hotels.com Paris.

Getting in: Fly into CDG or ORY. Price out flights on Omio Flights. If you’re arriving from London/Brussels/Amsterdam, the train to Paris is quick—search on Omio Trains.

Travel to Luxembourg City (morning Day 5)

Paris (Gare de l’Est) → Luxembourg City: direct TGV/TER, ~2h10–2h20, ~€29–€85 if booked early. Check times/fares on Omio Trains. Morning departures put you in for a late breakfast on Place d’Armes.

Luxembourg City

Days 5–6: Fortresses, gorges, and a golden hour corniche

Luxembourg City sits high above the Pétrusse and Alzette gorges, its UNESCO‑listed fortifications stitched into cliffs and tunnels. It’s compact, walkable, and photogenic—perfect for a 36‑hour deep dive.

• Don’t miss: Casemates du Bock (defensive tunnels with epic viewpoints), Chemin de la Corniche (the “most beautiful balcony in Europe”), and the glass Pfaffenthal Panoramic Elevator down to the riverfront Grund quarter.
• Modern touch: Cross to Kirchberg for MUDAM (modern art) and the Philharmonie; the tram glides past striking EU buildings.
• Parks & bridges: Amble the Pétrusse valley trails, then watch sunset from the Adolphe Bridge.

• Coffee & sweets: Knopes (local roastery espresso) and Chocolate House by Nathalie Bonn opposite the Grand Ducal Palace for hot‑chocolate “spoons.”
• Lunch: Bosso (Flammekueche and Moselle wines) in Grund; Brasserie Guillaume (seafood platters) on Place Guillaume II.
• Dinner: Mosconi (Michelin‑star pasta tasting in Grund; reserve), Le Sud (pan‑Euro plates with views), or Um Plateau (cocktails and seasonal plates).
• Evening: Konrad Café & Bar for a cozy nightcap in the Old Town.

Where to stay: Ville Haute for easy sightseeing; Grund for riverside calm. See VRBO Luxembourg City or Hotels.com Luxembourg City.

Travel to Lucerne (morning Day 7)

Luxembourg City → Lucerne: train via Basel SBB, ~5h–5h30, ~€60–€120. It’s a scenic run along the Rhine, then lakes. Compare departures on Omio Trains. If you prefer flying, look at Luxembourg → Zurich and onward rail (~1h to Lucerne) via Omio Flights.

Lucerne (with a Zurich taster)

Days 7–9: Lakeside Switzerland and big‑sky Alps

Lucerne is storybook Switzerland: a mirror‑calm lake, wooden Chapel Bridge, and mountain walls on every horizon. Base here for Old Town rambles and easy Alpine day trips that deliver the snow‑and‑sky drama you came for.

• Old Town loop: Chapel Bridge and Water Tower, Lion Monument, and Musegg Wall towers. Take the lakefront promenade to the sleek KKL Concert Hall for twilight reflections.
• Lake time: Ride a vintage steamer to Vitznau or Weggis and walk vineyard paths with lake breezes.

• Coffee & breakfast: Heini Confiserie (Luzerner Lebkuchen, feather‑light cakes), Bachmann (Swiss pastries), and Mill’Feuille (riverside brunch with flaky gipfeli).
• Lunch: Stern (Swiss classics done light), Swiss Stübli at Hotel Wilden Mann (veal ragout, rösti).
• Dinner: Wirtshaus Galliker (old‑world tavern, Luzerner Chügelipastete), Old Swiss House (tableside schnitzel tradition), and Grottino 1313 (set‑menu, flicker‑lit ambiance).

Where to stay: Aim for the Altstadt or lakeside for strollable evenings. Browse VRBO Lucerne or compare hotels on Hotels.com Lucerne.

Signature activities (pick 1–3 based on weather/interest):

• Mt. Pilatus Peak & Lake Lucerne Cruise Small Group | From Lucerne — paddle steamer + cogwheel/gondola combo and serrated summit views.

  

• Jungfraujoch Day Trip from Lucerne with Eiger Express Gondola — ride Europe’s loftiest railway to the “Top of Europe;” ice palace tunnels and Aletsch Glacier panoramas.

  

• Mount Titlis Half-Day Trip from Lucerne — revolving gondola, cliff walk, and near‑guaranteed snow even in summer.

  

• Optional Zurich taster (45–50 min by train, ~CHF 10–25 each way via Omio Trains): Last minute flexible entry for Lindt Home of Chocolate — learn bean‑to‑bar and meet the colossal chocolate fountain.

  

Travel to Milan (morning Day 10)

Lucerne → Milan Centrale: train via Arth‑Goldau and the Gotthard Base Tunnel, ~3h30–4h, ~€35–€75. The tunnel saves nearly an hour compared with the old mountain route. Check departures on Omio Trains.

Milan

Days 10–11: Design capital, aperitivo culture, and a dash of the Alps

In Milan, high fashion rubs shoulders with Roman walls and Leonardo’s brushstrokes. Mornings are for the Duomo’s rooftop spires and the Brera’s cobblestones; evenings belong to aperitivo along Navigli, where canals glint under string lights.

• Essentials: Duomo rooftop (go early), Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (19th‑century iron‑and‑glass glamour), Sforza Castle green lawns, and Brera art district. Book “Cenacolo Vinciano” (Last Supper) well in advance.
• Aperitivo: Bar Basso (home of the Negroni Sbagliato) or the Navigli bars—drinks with substantial snack buffets is the city ritual.

• Coffee & breakfast: Pavé (buttery brioche and specialty brews), Marchesi 1824 (heritage pastry shop jewelled with mignons), and Princi (focaccia from the oven).
• Lunch: Luini (iconic panzerotti to‑go), Piz (fast‑moving line for stellar Neapolitan pies), and De Santis (artisanal panini near San Babila).
• Dinner: Trippa (nose‑to‑tail trattoria; book early), Ratanà (risotto alla milanese in a Liberty‑style villa), and Il Solferino (old‑school northern classics).
• Gelato: Gelateria della Musica or Cioccolati Italiani for post‑Duomo sweetness.

Where to stay: Brera for boutiques and galleries, or Navigli for evening strolls. Explore VRBO Milan or Hotels.com Milan.

Alpine day trip (full day): From fashion to glaciers in a single day on the red rails of the Bernina line:

• From Milan: St. Moritz and Panoramic Bernina Express Tour — cross spirals and viaducts to glacier‑ringed St. Moritz; UNESCO‑listed scenery at every turn.

  

Travel to Rome (morning Day 12)

Milan → Rome Termini: Frecciarossa high‑speed train, ~2h55–3h10, ~€29–€85. Trains are frequent; snag Super Economy fares early on Omio Trains.

Rome

Days 12–14: Empire, marble, and la dolce vita

Rome is a city of layers—Republican paving stones under Baroque cornices, family recipes perfected over generations, and evenings that spool out over fountains and piazzas. Pace yourself and let the neighborhoods lead you.

• Ancient core: Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill (morning light is best). The Pantheon now uses timed paid entry; step inside to watch the oculus carve a beam across the dome.
• Vatican morning: St. Peter’s Basilica and dome climb; for the Museums/Sistine Chapel, consider a first‑entry slot to dodge crowds.
• Strolls: Trastevere’s ivy‑draped lanes, Piazza Navona’s fountains, and the Trevi Fountain at dawn for quiet photos. Rent bikes for a spin on the ancient Appian Way past aqueduct arches.

• Coffee & breakfast: Roscioli Caffè (supreme maritozzi), Sant’Eustachio Il Caffè (wood‑roasted espresso), and Tazza d’Oro near the Pantheon.
• Lunch: Pizzarium Bonci (Roman‑style pizza al taglio), Trapizzino (pocket sandwiches stuffed with classics like pollo alla cacciatora), and Forno Campo de’ Fiori (hot pizza bianca).
• Dinner: Armando al Pantheon (Roman classics; reserve), Da Enzo al 29 in Trastevere (cacio e pepe, carciofi), and Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina (carbonara with pedigreed guanciale).
• Gelato & drinks: Gelateria del Teatro (seasonal fruit), Fatamorgana (creative, clean flavors), and The Jerry Thomas Project (reservations; refined speakeasy experience).

Where to stay: Centro Storico or Monti for walkability; Trastevere for evening buzz. Compare stays on VRBO Rome or Hotels.com Rome.

Departure: For flights home, compare options on Omio Flights. Trains to FCO (Leonardo Express) and other Italian cities are frequent—check Omio Trains.

Suggested pacing at a glance

• Days 1–4: Paris
• Days 5–6: Luxembourg City
• Days 7–9: Lucerne (with optional Zurich taster)
• Days 10–11: Milan
• Days 12–14: Rome

In two weeks you’ll trace a graceful line across Western Europe: art‑soaked Paris boulevards, Luxembourg’s storybook escarpments, high‑alpine Switzerland, and Italy’s design and antiquity. Trains keep the pace relaxed while food, views, and neighborhood rituals deliver the memories you’ll keep.