Day 1
Sun, Jul 19
Wheels up — Omaha to Paris
Travel day. Omaha → Minneapolis → Paris. Sleep on the plane if you can.
The Itinerary
11 days, 4 cities, one big family.
Day 2
Mon, Jul 20
Paris
Bonjour Paris — Notre Dame & the Seine
Land, check into the hotel, shake off the jet lag. Easy first day: Notre Dame and a sunset boat ride on the Seine.
Day 3
Tue, Jul 21
Paris
Versailles & flexible Paris
Day trip to the Palace of Versailles, then a flexible afternoon for everyone to chase what they love most about Paris.
Day 4
Wed, Jul 22
Paris
Louvre & the Eiffel Tower
The two iconic Paris stops. Morning at the Louvre, evening at the Eiffel Tower for sunset.
Day 5
Thu, Jul 23
Lucerne
Train to Lucerne
Morning train Paris → Lucerne (~6 hours via TGV + Swiss connection). Free afternoon to settle in.
Day 6
Fri, Jul 24
Lucerne
Explore Lucerne — the full day
Free day around Lucerne — Mt. Pilatus or Mt. Rigi by cog railway, a Lake Lucerne boat tour, or just a slow walk through the Old Town.
Day 7
Sat, Jul 25
Prague
Fly Lucerne → Prague
Train to Zürich Airport, short flight to Prague, free afternoon in Old Town.
Day 8
Sun, Jul 26
Prague
Prague, full day
Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, the Old Town, Lesser Town. The city that the 20th century left mostly alone.
Day 9
Mon, Jul 27
Kraków
Train Prague → Kraków
Direct daytime train to Kraków, late-afternoon arrival, free evening in Old Town.
Day 10
Tue, Jul 28
Kraków
Auschwitz, then Kraków
Morning: Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial visit. Afternoon: Wawel Castle, Kazimierz, and a last evening in Old Town.
Day 11
Wed, Jul 29
Home — Kraków to Omaha
Long travel day. Kraków → Amsterdam → Minneapolis → Omaha.