Get Social: Central Europe Highlights (Winter)

There’s more here than over-priced handbags and unoriginal poses under the Eiffel Tower. Trust us. Spend your free day ticking off those bucket-list highlights with the gang AND exploring the backstreets. Hunt down the best patisseries in town (ask your Trip Leader for recommendations). Or inject some feel-good vibes at the I Love You Wall. Not a walker? Beat the winter chill and work the calves on an optional bike tour. Or get an alternate view of the City of Lights with a river cruise. Tonight, test your epic name-remembering skills (or, not) at our welcome meal. Then: go all-out with an optional evening at the cabaret. Think sparkling lights, glittering costumes and death-defying acrobats!

No lies, this is a long drive. BUT you’ve got banging tunes and scenic views to keep you occupied – not to mention your sick AF trip mates. Home to the ‘Top of Europe’, rushing waterfalls and one of the largest nature conservations in Switzerland – tonight we're bunking down in the jaw-dropping Swiss Alps. Sit back in the fresh (read: freezing) alpine air with a steaming cup of glühwein and crack open that new pack of playing cards. Good luck dealing in mittens.

If the Swiss Alps had a Tinder bio it would read: fun-filled outdoor enthusiast – looking for a fellow adrenalin-lovin'-snow-bunny to share adventures with. Swiping right? Snow-hiking. Skiing. Snowboarding. Skydiving. Helicopter-ing. This place has it all. More of a thrill-dodger? Jump aboard the Jungfraubahn railway and get all the white-washed summit views (minus the effort). Then put those elastic waistbands to the test. We’re talking creamy Swiss hot chocolate, gooey cheese fondue, carb-filled potato rösti and älplermagronen (think: mac ‘n’ cheese, but better).

Start practising your Italian coffee order – we’re heading to the land of the long boot. First stop: Pisa. If you’re gonna take THAT photo, think of something unique. Please. Then, make your food baby sing as we roll into the capital of Tuscan cuisine and birthplace of gelato. Fact: you can still sample a scoop or two of the good stuff in winter (judgement-free). Tonight: head to a karaoke bar to ballad-battle your trip mates. Someone picked Frozen before your turn? Let it go...

Florence has more stories than you can poke a stick at, more culture than a Melbourne hipster AND it gave the world David (putting dad bods to shame since 1504). We’ll get the lay of the land on an in-depth walking tour with a local guide. Then: take your new-found knowledge and hit the streets solo. Uffizi Gallery. Ponte Vecchio. Piazza della Signoria. The Duomo. You can’t see it all, but you sure as hell can try! Tonight, rug up and head to Piazzale Michelangelo – even in winter, the sunset is redic. Then, indulge in a centuries-old tradition at Babae restaurant: the only place in Florence with a functioning ‘wine window’. We’re sold.

Onwards! First: a pit stop at the hilltop town of Orvieto – to see the grand cathedral and dig into a wild boar panini (unless you’re vegetarian, soz). Then: bella Roma awaits. Strap in for one EPIC walking tour. We’re talking a solid few hours of non-stop sights, off-the-tourist-trail hidden gems and a run-down of almost 3000 years of history. Pass by the Pantheon, (don’t) sit on the Spanish Steps, check out the mighty Colosseum and throw your two cents in the Trevi Fountain. Then, gather the gang and go show that pizza who’s boss.

You’ve watched (or been made to watch) Eat. Pray. Love. Now, it’s time to make like Julia and put this city to the test. You have 48 hours of freedom to explore. Count your blessings on an optional tour of Vatican City, then play ‘I-spy’ with two-and-a-half millennia worth of history. Get your steps in on a different optional tour. This time it includes three I-CON-IC sights: Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum. Grab a bite at Lost Food Factory (arguably one of the best sandwich spots in town). Or do as the locals do and indulge in a little dolce far niente (delicious idleness) with a piping-hot macchiato at a local cafe. Tonight, shake out those fat pants for round two. Cue: allllll the cream-filled, sauce-topped carbs!

After another group brekkie, we’re making a beeline for Venice. The drive is your chance to share snaps with your new mates, catch up on some zzzzs and text the 'rents (trust us, you'll be too busy later). We'll park up in the birthplace of Vivaldi this afternoon. Throw on your beanie and acquaint yourself with the who's who of Venice's usual suspects on a walking tour – ticking off the likes of St Mark's Square, Doge’s Palace and Accademia Bridge. Then, stop and take in the romantic winter vibes with a Venetian hot chocolate overlooking the canal. Yep, you’re finally here.

You know it as The Floating City, but this place is actually sinking (slowly). So, make like Dora and get exploring! Need some suggestions? Float past the famous Rialto Bridge on a gondola ride. Spend your time seeking out the epic Libreria Acqua Alta bookshop. Get lost amongst the misty alleyways and shimmering piazzas. Then find yourself next to a roaring fire with a mug of hot vin brulé. Later, score a cheap meal at Osteria Al Portego or fill up on alllll the drool-worthy Italian pastries (no judgement here).

Today: we’re setting a course for Salzburg. So much more than strudel and The Sound of Music – this place has got elegance written on every grand baroque building. We’ll tick off the likes of the Mirabell Gardens, Mozart’s birthplace, Fortress Hohensalzburg and the Cathedral on a walking tour with our expert Trip Leader. What you get up to tonight is 100% on you. Getting hangry? Pull up a pew at a local restaurant and dig into a weiner schnitzel, washed down with a pint of Ottakringer for good measure.

Onwards to the spire-filled skyline and mysterious streets of Prague! But first: a sobering visit to former concentration camp Mauthausen. Learn all about the atrocities that occurred here during WWII before we make tracks to the Republic of Czech (say: check). Our Trip Leader will get us acquainted with this picture-perfect city – complete with quirky clock tower – and point out all the must-dos for our free day tomorrow. Tonight? Round up the fam and swing by The Alchemist – the best cocktail bar in the city. Hint: if you want the full experience, we recommend 'choose your fate' off the menu. See you in the morning.

That’s right folks – it’s your day, your way. So get out there and do your own spontaneous this-is-what-I-came-for thing. Check out the John Lennon wall. Soak up some history at the Communist Museum. Take the funicular up Petrin Hill for allll the views. Or grab a delish roast pork roll at one of the street vendors lining Old Town Square. Fancy yourself as a bit of a hops connoisseur? Don’t miss the beer tasting optional this afternoon. Czech beers + tapas = good times guaranteed. Tonight, dinner is up to you – just leave room for a trdelnik (or two). It’s all your sugary dreams rolled into one cone-shaped, cream-filled, carb-laden dessert *wipes drool from chin*.

Next up? A country where beer is officially considered an essential food group (right next to sausage and sauerkraut). Halloooo Germany! We’ll get acquainted with 800 year-old Dresden on the way. Then: Prep yourself for currywurst and more hipsters per capita than anywhere else. We'll drive you around to see the main sights including (what's left of) the Berlin Wall, the Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie and Brandenburg Gate. Tonight: get the group together to see whether this city’s nightlife really lives up to the hype. Prost!

You’ve got 24 hrs of free time here – don’t muck around. Opt in for a local walking tour that’s, you know, not boring. You’ll get a local insight into what the city was like under Nazi rule and tick off all the must-sees. Or put those elastic waistbands to the ultimate test on a locally led food tour. We’re talking kebabs, pastries, more currywurst, pierogi and local Pilsner beer. Rather explore solo? Head to the Mauerpark markets for stalls filled with stuff you didn’t know you needed. Explore Museum Island. Take a ride in a Trabi and see why it’s Germany’s best-loved car. Or turn off Google Maps and simply get lost in the unknown. Tonight, see if Mustafa’s döner kebabs meet expectations.

Ok, nobody panic – we’ve only got two days left. But the adventure sure as hell isn’t over yet! We’ve got our eye on Amsterdam next. Once we arrive, chuck on the layers and hit the cobblestones. Check out the likes of Dam Square, the Royal Palace and the National Monument. This place is a foodie’s wet dream – so you’ll have no trouble finding somewhere to settle in for dinner. Tonight, head to Proeflokaal Arendsnest for a selection of over 100 Dutch beers (and all the cosy winter vibes). Insider tip: end the night with a cone of hot chips and mayo – practical and bloody delicious. Dig in.

This is our last full day. FFS don’t hang about – join the locals and get on your bike! Check out Amsterdam's iconic canals, bridges and parks on an optional bike tour. History buffs should pay a visit to the Anne Frank House (don’t forget to book in advance!). If you do forget, there’s another Anne Frank optional today: a VR experience of the city through her eyes. And for the culture fiends – the Van Gogh Musuem and Rijksmuseum. Hunt down Winkel 43 for the best appeltaart in the city. Or just get lost amongst backstreets of the different districts – each one’s got a unique vibe and plenty to explore. Just make sure you’re back in time to toast the final night of our winter getaway at tonight’s included dinner. We’ll be giving this incredible frosty adventure the send-off it deserves!

Seriously? It’s over? After breakfast, we’ll hit the road. Blast the Trip Song one last time, swap those Insta handles and get planning next year’s reunion trip. We hear Europe in summer is pretty sick...