Course Highlights

Who hasn’t dreamed of backpacking across Europe, seeing famous and historical landmarks up close and personal? While we know the Great European 2500 is virtual, we want to recreate that same sightseeing journey of a lifetime! If you have any information that you think we should feature about somewhere along the route please email us at [email protected].

Here are just some of the highlights you’ll encounter along the course!

England

Buckingham Palace
London
A focal point for significant national celebrations and commemorations, Buckingham Palace has been the official London residence of British sovereigns since 1837.
Start Line
Mile 0

10 Downing Street
London
Official residence of British prime ministers since 1735
Mile 1

Big Ben
London
Standing at the north end of the Houses of Parliament, the tower was completed in 1859
Mile 1

Canterbury Cathedral
First established in 597, it is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England
Mile 59

Cliffs of Dover
The White Cliffs of Dover stand guard as the ‘Gateway to England’
Mile 76

English Channel
Separates the southern coast of England and the northern coast of France
Mile 76-102

France

Arc de Triomphe
Paris
Located at the top of the Champs-Élysées, this national symbol offers sweeping views of Paris.
Mile 263

Champs-Élysées
Paris
Known as a shoppers paradise, the Champs-Élysées runs from the Arc De Triomphe to Place de la Concorde.
Mile 263

Jardins du Trocadéro
Paris
Created in 1937 for the Universal Exposition, the Trocadéro Gardens boast stunning views of the Eiffel Tower.
Mile 264

Eiffel Tower
Paris
The Tower was finished in record time – 2 years, 2 months, and 5 days – as part of the World’s Fair of 1889.
Mile 264

Place de la Concorde
Paris
Famous during the French Revolution, the square was redesigned in 1836, and is today known for its Luxor Obelisk and monumental fountains.
Mile 266

Louvre Museum
Paris
From chateau to museum, today the Louvre houses historic collections, including the Mona Lisa.
Mile 267

River Seine
Paris
Flows through the heart of Paris
Mile 265-272

Forest de Fontainebleau
60 kilometres south of Paris, Sandstone boulders and rocks have made it a climbing destination.
Mile 305

Dijon
Capital city of the historic Burgundy region. Known for its wine and traditional mustard, Dijon holds an International and Gastronomic Fair each fall.
Mile 450

Chamonix
Renowned skiing destination
Mile 604

Mount Blanc
The highest summit in the Alps and second-highest mountain in Europe
Mile 610

Bourg St. Maurice
A hub for skiing
Mile 628

Val d’Isère
Savoie
Hosts World Cup alpine events including the 1992 Winter Olympics downhill races.
Mile 646

Parc National de la Vanoise (National Park Vanoise)
Chambéry
A paradise for nature lovers
Mile 652

Switzerland

Jet d’Eau (Geneva Water Fountain)
Geneva
One of the tallest fountains in the world
Mile 559

Lac Léman (Lake Geneva)
Geneva
Surrounded by the Alps, this shared lake is the largest body of freshwater in Switzerland and France.
Mile 552-559

St. Moritz
Canton of Grisons
Alpine resort town host of the 1928 and 1948 Winter Olympics
Mile 902.4

Italy

Torino
Piedmont’s capital city and host of the 2006 Winter Olympics
Mile 712

Milan
Global capital of fashion and design. Headquarters of the Borsa Italiana, Italy’s stock exchange.
Mile 796

Duomo di Milano
Milan
One of the world’s largest Gothic cathedrals. Construction began in 1386 and ended in 1965. Yes, you read that right – nearly 600 years!
Mile 796

Como
On the Italian-Swiss border, its waterfront promenade boasts beautiful scenery. Be on the lookout for local resident George Clooney.
Mile 826

Lago di Como
Lombardy Region
Italy’s third largest lake with a unique Y shape forming the Triangolo lariano
Mile 824-856

Austria

Bergisel Ski Jump
Innsbruck
Host of the 1964 Winter Olympics individual large hill event
Mile 1015

Innsbruck
Capital city of Tyrol
Destination for winter sports, known for its Gothic architecture
Mile 1017

Salzburg
Birthplace of Mozart, home of Hohensalzburg Fortress, and known for its medieval and baroque architecture. Most also know it as the setting for “The Sound of Music”.
Mile 1,209

Sound of Music Tour
Visit all the most memorable filming locations from the movie. Admire magnificent views of the Austrian Lake District; visit Mirabell Gardens, Mondsee Cathedral, and Lake Wolfgang; and sing along with the soundtrack on the tour bus.
Salzburg
Mile 1,209

Salzburg Salt Mine
Hallein
The valuable mineral was responsible for the immense wealth of the Salzburg archbishops. With its subterranean salt lake, exciting miners’ slide and a ride on the mine train, this salt mine has been enthralling guests from Austria and around the world for over 400 years.
Mile 1,211

Vienna
Austria’s Imperial capital offers a unique blend of imperial traditions and stunning modern architecture. It is famous for its cultural events, imperial sights, coffee houses, cozy wine taverns, and the very special Viennese charm.
Mile 1,390

Schönbrunn Palace
Vienna
The main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers.
Mile 1,395

Germany

Neuschwanstein Castle
Bavaria
Built by King Ludwig II, its fairytale look inspired Walt Disney when he designed Sleeping Beauty’s castle at Disneyland.
Mile 1,050

Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Bavaria
A German ski resort in Bavaria and site of the 1936 Winter Olympics. The town lies near the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest peak and features picturesque mountain trails, skiing summits, and mountain lakes.
Mile 1,063

Munich
Bavaria’s capital is home to centuries-old buildings and numerous museums. The city is known for its annual Oktoberfest celebration and its beer halls.
Mile 1,117

Olympiapark
Munich
Host of the 1972 Summer Olympics
Mile 1,122

Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall)
Munich
Neo-gothic building located in Munich’s Marienplatz. New Town Hall’s Glockenspiel rings daily, telling stories of Munich’s history.
Mile 1,126

Hofbräuhaus
Munich
World’s most beer hall, founded in 1589.
Mile 1,127

Slovakia

Bratislava
Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is set along the Danube River by the border with Austria and Hungary. It’s surrounded by vineyards and the Little Carpathian mountains, crisscrossed with forested hiking and cycling trails.
Mile 1,437

Bratislava Castle
Bratislava
The massive rectangular building with four corner towers stands on an isolated rocky hill of the Little Carpathians directly above the Danube river in the middle of Bratislava.
Mile 1,437

Bratislava Old Town
Bratislava
Historic neighborhood filled with charming narrow lanes, burgher’s houses and nobles’ palaces in addition to many of the city’s important buildings.
Mile 1,437

Danube River
Europe’s second-largest river. Flows through 10 countries: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine
Mile 1,492-1,522

Hungary

Budapest
Capital of Hungary. The city is split into two parts, Buda and Pest, by the Danube River.
Mile 1,544

Budapest Pinball Museum
Budapest
Hungary’s first and Europe’s largest continuously operating interactive pinball exhibition with unlimited trial of more than 130 pinball machines. Hey, it shouldn’t be all museums and castles, right?
Mile 1,550

Hungarian Parliament Building
Budapest
The domed neo-Gothic structre was inspired by the British House of Parliament and serves as both a vibrant government center and a proud city landmark on the banks of the Danube.
Mile 1,551

Szechenyi Lanchid
Budpest
The Széchenyi Chain Bridge is a chain bridge that spans the River Danube between Buda and Pest, the western and eastern sides of Budapest, the capital of Hungary
Mile 1,551

Buda Castle
Budapest
The finish line for the Great European 2500, Buda Castle is the historical castle and palace complex of the Hungarian kings. It was first completed in 1265, but the massive Baroque palace today occupying most of the site was built between 1749 and 1769.
Mile 1,552