WESTERN EUROPE & MEDITERRANEAN DISCOVERY

We have provided the following sample itinerary to give you a better sense of this experience. The actual program may vary, and an itinerary will be distributed no later than two weeks before the program begins. Even after the itinerary is sent, adjustments may still be made in coordination with tour guides and the tour operator—both leading up to and during the program—based on local conditions.

DAY 1 | DEPARTURE FLIGHT
Meet your staff and teens at the airport before traveling together to Europe on an overnight flight. The program starts with our Western Europe Discovery program. Once we land, your trip officially begins! We’ll break the ice with some fun and engaging activities so that you get to know everyone in the group. To learn more about how we organize travel to and from the program,  click here.

DAY 2–5 | LONDON, ENGLAND
Our adventure begins with a tour of Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. Watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace and explore the bustling Borough Market. Spend your first Shabbat abroad in the city, walking to Marble Arch and attending Kabbalat Shabbat services at Central Synagogue.

Relax at Hyde Park with sports activities and free time, then visit the British Museum to view treasures from Ancient Egypt, Greece, Persia, and Rome. Take the London Underground to Greenwich, climb to the hilltop of Greenwich Park for a panoramic view of London, and explore Greenwich Market. Experience the city from above with a ride on the London Eye and take a walking tour to see iconic landmarks like Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and 10 Downing Street. End your time in England with a visit to Brighton and a train ride under the English Channel to France.

DAY 6–8 | PARIS, FRANCE
We arrive in France, starting with a visit to Mémorial De Caen—Caen’s Peace Museum—and a solemn exploration of Normandy's U.S. military cemetery and Omaha Beach, the site of the D-Day landing. In Paris, we’ll marvel at the opulence of the Palace of Versailles and stroll through the Parisian Jewish Quarter, Le Marais. Learn about the history of French Jews at the Shoah Memorial, then see famous landmarks like Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Champs-Élysées. Spend a morning at the Louvre to view Da Vinci's Mona Lisa and other masterpieces, and enjoy breathtaking views from the top of the Eiffel Tower. Cap off your time in Paris with a magical day at Disneyland Paris.

DAY 9–11 | BRUGGE & BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
Travel to Brugge to explore the Frietmuseum and Choco-Story Bruges—the Chocolate Museum—where you’ll sample some delicious Belgian treats. In Brussels, we’ll tour Fort Breendonk, a former Nazi prison camp, and pass by the NATO and EU Headquarters. Enjoy your second Shabbat exploring the Grand Place, the central square of Brussels, and see the famous Manneken Pis fountain sculpture.

DAY 12–15 | AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
Our final stop is Amsterdam! We’ll take a walking tour of the city, stopping at the iconic “I Am Sterdam” sign in front of the Rijskmuseum. Visit the Jewish Historical Museum and the Portuguese Synagogue, followed by a poignant visit to the Anne Frank House. Admire the works of Vincent Van Gogh at the Van Gogh Museum. Spend a day cycling through the picturesque Dutch countryside, visiting windmills and learning about traditional cheese-making at Henri Willig Farm. End your adventure with a ride on the Pancake Boat, enjoying an all-you-can-eat pancake meal as you cruise through Amsterdam’s scenic canals.

DAY 16–18 | VENICE, ITALY
Teens will continue to build on this awe-inspiring adventure by connecting into one of our  Mediterranean Discovery trips. We’ll head to the airport for a transfer flight to Italy. Our next adventure kicks off once we arrive in Milan with an orientation tour of the city. We’ll then take a water taxi ride into Venice, checking into our accommodations before an evening walk through Venice’s enchanting streets. Over the next few days, we’ll visit Murano and Lido Island, tour a traditional Venetian glass-making factory, and enjoy some relaxing beach time on Lido. Explore the Jewish Quarter and join Shabbat services at a Venetian Synagogue. Discover the highlights of Venice with a walking tour that includes St. Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace, and a scenic gondola ride through the canals.

DAY 19–20 | KRANJSKA GORA, SLOVENIA
We’ll depart Venice and head to Kranjska Gora in Slovenia, with a stop in Kobarid for lunch and an exciting rafting adventure down the Soča River. After checking into our accommodations, we’ll explore Lake Bled with a boat ride to the tiny island in the center, visiting St. Mary’s Church and ringing the island’s legendary wishing bell. Enjoy time at Adventure Park in Bled, known for summer tobogganing and other thrilling activities.

DAY 21–22 | LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA
From Kranjska Gora, we travel to Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital. Take in stunning views from Ljubljana Castle via a funicular ride on a glass cable car. Test your racing skills at Grand Prix go-karting and later, enjoy a day of outdoor fun with activities like sheep games, hiking, or an e-bike tour in Bela Krajina. Wrap up with an exhilarating rafting trip on the Kolpa River.

DAY 23 | VERONA & POSTOJNA, ITALY
On our way to Italy, we’ll explore the Postojna Cave, one of Slovenia’s most famous natural attractions, followed by a visit to Gardaland Amusement Park for an afternoon of rides and fun. Afterward, we’ll travel to Verona, where we’ll check into our accommodations and enjoy a group dinner.

DAY 24–25 | FLORENCE & BOLOGNA, ITALY
Journey to Florence, where we’ll explore the city’s iconic landmarks, including the Duomo, Piazza San Lorenzo, and the Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge). Climb Giotto’s Campanile Tower for panoramic views and visit the Galleria dell’Accademia to see Michelangelo’s David. After touring the Grand Synagogue, we’ll continue to Bologna for Shabbat services and a relaxing day with free time to explore.

DAY 26–27 | FLORENCE & ROME, ITALY
We’ll revisit Florence briefly before traveling to the Vatican City in Rome to explore St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museum, and the Sistine Chapel. Walk in the footsteps of the Roman Empire with stops at the Arch of Titus, Colosseum, and Forum Romanum. Get into character with a fun Gladiator-for-a-day training session.

DAY 28 | ROME & POMPEII, ITALY
A day trip to Pompeii awaits, where we’ll explore the ancient ruins preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. After lunch, we’ll relax at a beach in Minturno before returning to Rome for a farewell dinner and some final free time with the group.

DAY 29 | RETURN FLIGHT
We’ll make our way to the airport for our flight back to the U.S. It’s never goodbye, just see you later. Give your friends one last hug and part ways once your flight arrives at the airport. While your summer trip with us is over, the memories you’ve made will last a lifetime!

Our most frequently asked questions about this program are answered below. Additional program-wide FAQs are also available. Still need something? We’re here to help! Contact us.

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How will my teen travel to the program?
BBYO requires all North American participants to fly on the group supervised flight for this program. Flight costs are not included in the program’s land cost. BBYO will purchase a ticket for each traveler and charge the family directly. The flight cost for programs with supervised flight options will be announced, along with the flight details for all programs, in the spring. The supervised flight for this program will depart from the New York City area, typically Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) or John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Learn more about flying to the program.

Where will my teen be sleeping?
The group stays in a variety of 3-star hotels. When booking accommodations, we request for each teen to have their own sleeping accommodations in a shared living space. On a rare occasion, your teen may share a large bed with another teen of the same gender. We try to avoid this as best as possible, but sometimes have limitations due to hotel space.

How is the program staffed?
Each group is accompanied by a team of madrichim (counselors), a local European tour leader, and a bus driver. Senior field staff also circulate between our groups for extra support. Staff names are sent out approximately 2–3 weeks prior to your departure as part of the pre-trip preparation emails. Staff are asked to make welcome calls to teens before departure. Feel free to ask them any remaining questions you may have. Learn more about our staff team.

What’s the summer weather like?
The weather in Western Europe is usually mild-to-warm and mostly sunny. Daytime temperatures range from the 60s to the low 80s. Evening temperatures in the summer can be as low as the 50s. Rain is common in the summer, especially in London, so plan accordingly.

The weather throughout Italy, and Slovenia is a typical Mediterranean climate—dry heat, cool evenings, and little to no rain. Temperatures will typically be in the 80s and 90s. Due to the dry nature of the heat in the Mediterranean, the sun is deceptively strong and you should plan to bring plenty of sunscreen and a good hat for outdoor touring.

How do you approach security?
The safety of the teens under our care is our guiding consideration. Learn more about our organization’s approach to safety & security.

What’s the typical group size?
Although it varies from year to year, our average group size for Western Europe & Mediterranean Discovery is 35-42 teens. Some teens choose to sign up together with a friend or two and most teens choose to come on their own. Either way, our participants will have the opportunity to meet a diverse group of peers from various locations across North America which makes exploring a new place together even more exciting. On some programs, we might have multiple parties from the same area register together. In this case, we are unable to inform families when this occurs and though we are always willing to share the group dynamics of the current registrations, we typically have a good idea of the general group make up after our cancellation deadline.

What’s the food like?
You’ll try delicacies like fish and chips, frites, crêpes, and stroopwafels in Western Europe, and pizza, pasta, and gelato in Italy and Slovenia. When traveling, your teen may encounter new foods that will not be to their liking, so we ask teens to be flexible and have snacks and other alternatives on hand just in case.

As a travel-based program, our meals take a variety of forms and may include hotel buffets, restaurants, catered meals, and allowance funds for participants to purchase a meal on their own. When a meal is served in a public buffet format (e.g. hotel breakfast), we will always ensure that there are vegetarian, pescatarian, or dairy options available and we will not restrict teens from eating the food of their choice.

Some meals may be provided via a cash allowance where teens will be given money to purchase the food of their choice, called a pizur meal. Such meals are typically arranged in an area where there are multiple restaurant options and teens can choose the food of their liking. When time is limited for meal choice, staff may choose to facilitate meal orders on behalf of teens using their allowance funds.

Participants with special dietary needs (i.e. lactose intolerance, gluten-free, kosher, etc.) should review our dietary restrictions commitment document and contact us in advance to be sure we can accommodate your needs during the program.

Will I need a visa?
Starting in 2025, the European Commission will roll out a U.S. style electronic travel authorization system for visitors from countries that are currently not part of the EU. Additional information about this system can be found here: https://etias.com/.

ETIAS, or the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, must be applied for online prior to arrival to the EU. Each eligible traveller, regardless of age, will require an ETIAS to visit EU member countries. Citizens of countries that have visa-free access to European Union countries will require an ETIAS. Dual citizens that hold passports to an EU and ETIAS-eligible country will not require an ETIAS if they enter and exit Europe using their EU passport.

The following data will be required for each ETIAS application: personal biometric data (e.g. name, gender, data of birth, etc), passport or travel document information, EU member state of entry, background questions on an applicant's health, criminal record as well as previous EU immigration history.

Fee: The cost of an ETIAS is €7, however, individuals under the age of 18, or over the age of 70, will not need to pay the fee.

What are the payment and cancellation terms?
All of these details are available here: Registration Terms.

For more information, check out our general FAQs or the pre-trip preparation manual.

Looking to combine two experiences for an extended summer of adventure, learning, and self-discovery? BBYO makes it easy! This trip connects our Western Europe Discovery program with our Mediterranean Discovery program. Check out these other trips that connect into one of these two European experiences:

• Ultimate Mediterranean Israel
• Ultimate Western Europe Israel
• Mediterranean & Greece Discovery

Learn more about our trip connections.