grand tour

American  

noun

1. an extended tour of Europe, formerly regarded as a necessary part of the education of young British gentlemen.

2. an extended tour of any region or country.

3. a comprehensive guided tour or inspection, as of a building, exhibit, or military installation.

---

grand tour British  

noun

1. (formerly) an extended tour through the major cities of Europe, esp one undertaken by a rich or aristocratic Englishman to complete his education

2. informal an extended sightseeing trip, tour of inspection, etc

---

grand tour Idioms  

1. A comprehensive tour, survey, or inspection. For example, They took me on a grand tour of their new house, or The new chairman will want to make a grand tour of all the branches. Starting in the late 1600s this term was used for a tour of the major European cities, considered essential to a well-bred man's education. In the mid-1800s it was extended to more general use.

---

Etymology

Origin of grand tour

First recorded in 1660–70

Example Sentences

For U.S. dividend seekers, it might be time to take a grand tour of Europe.

From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026

Irishman Ben Healy won the eighth stage of the Giro d'Italia in emphatic fashion to seal the first grand tour stage win of his career.

From BBC • May 13, 2023

He was, at that point, on the obligatory European grand tour, a sojourn he had dreaded.

From New York Times • Mar. 23, 2023

My grand tour ended in North Hills, where Roscoe Boulevard meets the 405 Freeway.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2023

Contemplating the grand tour of Lawrence and Alvarez and the resurgent electioneering of Teller for the Super, Oppenheimer aired his doubts to Conant in a letter affectionately addressed to “Uncle Jim.”

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik