Austria & Germany

Day 1

Fly overnight to Austria.

Day 2 – Vienna

Welcome to a city of legends! A Vienna City Tour introduces you to a place that needs to be explored, for many of its charms lie hidden in narrow side streets and ancient courtyards. See the Prater’s giant ferris wheel, the Staatsoper (State Opera), and the imposing Hofsburg Palace, home of Austria’s rulers since the 13th century. Visit the Old Quarter and tour St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the finest Gothic building in Austria.

Day 3 – Vienna

Visit Schönbrunn Palace, the fabulous baroque summer residence of the Hapsburg Emperors where Marie Antoinette lived as a young girl. The rococo interior is recreated as it was at its zenith. Stroll through the beautiful gardens filled with flowers and statues. Dinner tonight is in the charming old wine village of Grinzing.

Day 4 – Salzburg

Travel to the “Sound of Music” city by way of the celebrated wine-producing region of Wachau and the little town of Melk, dominated by the massive bulk of its Benedictine Abbey, one of the best-known and splendid monastic houses in Austria. Visit the abbey, perched on a hill that slopes steeply down to the Danube. Arrive in Salzburg for a City Tour that includes a visit to Mozart’s Home. Also see Hohensalzburg Fortress, the Domplatz, St. Peter’s Cemetery and other highlights of one of Europe’s most beautiful cities.

Day 5 – Salzburg

Experience the breathtaking beauty of one of Austria’s most beautiful regions – the lake district just beyond the gates of Salzburg. Take a Lake Wolfgang Boat Ride past scenic and historical landmarks including the impressive hunting castle at Fuschl and St. Gilgen, the town where Mozart’s mother was born. Visit the famous winged gothic altar at
St. Wolfgang, and make a stop at the “White Horse Inn” for refreshments. Option: Spend the afternoon in the famous Salt Mines where you’ll dress in miners’ clothes and descend into the mines by sliding down a chute.

Day 6 – Lake Constance

Tour amazing Neuschwanstein, built by “mad” King Ludwig. This towered and battlemented “fairy castle,” was the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty’s castle in Disneyland. Visit the spectacular Rhine Falls in Switzerland, Europe’s largest waterfall. Arrive at Lake Constance (Bodensee), Germany’s largest lake, situated in a region of unsurpassed beauty. Small lakes, orchards, vineyards, forests and the panorama of the Austrian and Swiss Alps create a magnificent natural scene.

Day 7 – Munich

Travel to Dachau, the former concentration camp, to see the memorial and museum that dramatically evoke the horror of the Nazi era. Arrive in Munich, capital of Bavaria, for a guided city tour. See the University district, the elegant Maximillian Street, the Old Town with the Marienplatz, and the new City Hall with its carillon chime. Visit the BMW Museum to learn the history of this famous firm.

Day 8 – Munich

Tour the lovely castle of Herrenchiemsee, also built by King Ludwig II between 1878 and 1885. It is a replica of the famous palace of Versailles and stands amidst the Herrenchiemsee Island woods. Enjoy your last evening with a typical German dinner, Hofbrau-style complete with oom-pah-pah music.

Day 9 – Depart

Fly home, filled with a new appreciation for the natural and historic wonders of Austria and Germany.