Country Roads of Bavaria, Switzerland and Austria
12 Day Tour to Austria, Germany & Switzerland | Operated by InsightVacations
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12 Days
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3 Countries
Austria, Germany, Switzerland -
14 Cities
Vienna, Melk, Mondsee, Salzburg, Munich, Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site, Neuschwanstein Castle, Oberammergau, Innsbruck, Saint Moritz, Andermatt, Lucerne, Stanserhorn, Zürich -
17 Meals
5 Dinner with Wines, 11 Breakfasts, 1 Dinner -
Pace: Active
Faster paces with mix of 1–2-night stays in each location. Typically features 4+ miles of walking on some days and may involve steep hills and uneven surfaces, such as cobblestones.
Trip Itinerary
Welcome to Vienna! Enjoy your afternoon before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travelers to enjoy a pleasant Welcome Dinner served with wine at a local restaurant.
Join a private tour of Maria Theresa's magnificent Schönbrunn Palace and its formal gardens. Be transported to a time of opulence and extravagance, as you marvel at the intricacies of gilded Rococo frames, frescoed ceilings and crystal chandeliers. See the city's many highlights, including St. Charles' Church, the Hofburg Palace, Parliament and State Opera House.
A short a drive through wonderful Austrian countryside leads us to Salzburg. En route, visit Melk Abbey and Mondsee's Basilica St. Michael, easily recognizable due to its appearance in 'Sound of Music'.
Join your Local Expert, who will show you the formal gardens of Mirabell Palace, Residenzplatz, the city's imposing fortress, the immense cathedral in the Old Town. Visit Mozart's birthplace. Enjoy a pianoforte demonstration and examine letters, memorabilia, and musical instruments of the great composer.
In the evening, relish the authentic experience of Farm-to-Table dining.
This morning, board a boat to explore the sites of picturesque Herrenchiemesee. Visit the palace and Fraueninsel convent. Enjoy time at leisure in the gardens over lunch before continuing by boat to Gstadt. Journey by coach to Munich, home of the world-famous Oktoberfest. This evening, revel in a truly Bavarian experience as you dine at a local beerhall.
Enjoy an orientation of Munich's sites including the university, Victory Arch and the Marienplatz, where crowds gather at the Town Hall to watch the antics of the Glockenspiel. After, explore with Insight Choice. Choose to join a Local Expert for a foodie walking tour in the city center. Alternatively, visit the Munich Residenz, Germany's largest inner-city palace and former seat of Bavarian royalty. Travel to Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site for a moment of commemoration and remembrance. Reflect on the weighty history that marks the site and observe the importance of its preservation.
Embark on an exciting visit to Neuschwanstein Castle, bristling with turrets and pinnacles and built as a retreat for the wildly eccentric King Ludwig II. See the extravagantly decorated apartments, including the Throne Room and Lohengrin courtyard. Continue to Oberammergau, home of the Passion Play since 1634. See the immense theater and admire the colorful painted chalets before driving on to the Tyrolean capital of Innsbruck, set in a valley of snow-capped mountain peaks.
This evening, for your Dine-Around experience, choose from a fantastic selection of restaurants.
Awake to the beautiful Alpine city of Innsbruck. A Local Expert guides you through the city to see the 14th-century houses of the Old Town, the impressive Imperial Palace and the delightful Golden Roof. Visit a nearby ski jump, set against staggering mountain vistas. Meet one of the ski jumpers and observe a demonstration jump.
Take in the stunning views of the beautiful Engadine Valley, as you enter Switzerland headed for the chic Alpine resort of St. Moritz. Enjoy the town's marvelous scenery, fresh air and maybe visit its many museums or shop for souvenirs. Perhaps step aboard the Bernina Express to experience one of Europe's most outstanding train journeys?
Embark on an iconic train journey onboard the Glacier Express, taking in vistas of ice-capped mountains, stone-built villages and lush meadows. Ascend through the spiral tunnels of the Albula Pass and cross the Landwasser Viaduct before heading down through the Oberalp Valley to rejoin the coach at Andermatt. Continue north, following the staggering Schollenen Gorge through William Tell country, to Stans. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience during a seasonal juice tasting. Onwards to Lucerne, join your Travel Director to see the sorrowful sculpture of the dying lion, cut out of a limestone cliff to commemorate the Swiss Guards who died at the Battle of the Tuileries.
Enjoy the morning at your leisure to explore the city's 14th century covered wooden bridge, painted gables, old walls and watchtower of the medieval fortifications. Stroll across the Chapel Bridge to the Jesuit Church, or use your free time to shop. Later, head to the town of Stans where you'll embark on a scenic journey by funicular railway and cable car, to the summit of the stunning Stanserhorn. On a clear day, there are views as far as Alsace in France and the Black Forest in Germany.
Here amid true Alpine majesty, your journey literally peaks with an unforgettable Celebration Dinner, hosted in Drehrestaurant Rondorama, located atop the mountain. Enjoy a glass of sparkling wine and admire the stunning panoramic views as the restaurant slowly rotates throughout the evening, ensuring you don't miss a thing.
Your Alpine adventures end this morning with a transfer to Zurich Airport.
Price Includes
Dining Summary- - 5 Dinner with Wines (DW)
- - 11 Breakfasts (B)
- - 1 Dinner (D)
- Join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a drink, followed by a pleasant Welcome Dinner served with wine at a local restaurant.
- For your dining pleasure, you are offered a selection of Innsbruck's vibrant restaurants. With drinks, a delicious 3-course dinner and Glühwein in abundance, your Dine-Around Evening is a culinary experience not to be missed.
- A spectacular journey by cable car and cogwheel railway takes you to the summit. Enjoy expansive mountain views over Lake Lucerne for your special Celebration Dinner. Fill your glasses with wine and toast to newfound friends.
- During your orientation led by your Travel Director, travel along the Ring Road to see the Hofburg Imperial Residence, Opera House, Parliament Building and Karlskirche.
- A private, guided exploration of Schönbrunn Palace will have all your senses tingling. Stand beneath frescoed ceilings, crystal chandeliers and gilded Rococo frames where Mozart performed as a child prodigy.
- Visit Melk Abbey where the Benedictine monks have been living and working since 1089.
- Join your Local Expert to visit the formal gardens of Mirabell Palace and Residence Square - both locations used in 'The Sound of Music.' You will also see the imposing fortress, the immense cathedral and Mozart's birthplace on the lively Getreidegasse.
- Visit the archetypal fairy-tale castle that allegedly inspired many of Walt Disney's castles. Led by a local historian, walk through the magnificent halls, take in the lavish decoration and enjoy spectacular views.
- Explore the town and see the theater where the Passion Play has been performed since 1634.
- The host for your visit to the Bergisel Ski Jump is a local Ski Jumper who will show you a trick or two (weather permitting).
- Nestled amidst majestic mountains, Innsbruck is a beautiful city offering a unique combination of nature, history, and culture. Stroll the streets of the picturesque Old Town, with your Local Expert, learn about its history and admire the Baroque and Gothic architecture.
- During your orientation of this alpine resort see the spa quarter and glacial lake.
- Travel along the route of the world-famous Glacier Express, through looping tunnels and dizzying viaducts, in the scenic heart of the Swiss Alps, on a regional train fully powered by hydroelectricity.
- During your orientation with your Travel Director, see the emotive Lion Monument, Jesuit Church and Chapel Bridge.
- Journey to the top of Mount Stanserhorn on a panoramic, open-top cable car powered by solar energy, and enjoy spectacular views from the summit.
- Visit the house where Mozart was born in 1756. Enjoy a pianoforte demonstration and examine letters, memorabilia, and musical instruments of the great composer, plus a fascinating collection of portraits.
- Visit Munich Residenz.
- Embark on a foodie walking tour in the heart of Munich.
- Taste a refreshing seasonal juice at a renovated Capuchin monastery producing sustainable crops from the alpine region.
Optional Experiences
Optional Experiences are subject to change. Your Travel Director will supply you with a final list of Optional Experiences available on your trip. Optional Experiences cannot be booked online; they can be purchased during your trip through your Travel Director.
Dinner In A Country Mansion (Available on Day 2)Cross the Danube, passing the famous Prater Park en route to one of Austria's most famous restaurants. Former patrons include Napoleon, the Emperor Franz Joseph, Liz Taylor and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Once through the door of this historic country mansion you're transported to a different world! Old memorabilia, autographed photos and other paraphernalia cover the ceilings, walls and even the restrooms. Choose from traditional Austrian fare, enjoy unlimited drinks and be serenaded by musicians at your table. A fun-filled experience never to be forgotten!
Adult Price: €71 Gala Viennese Concert (Available on Day 2)Enjoy a wonderful concert of Viennese Classical music performed by highly acclaimed soloists and dancers. During this special evening, enjoy a glass of champagne along with some of the most famous works by Johann Strauss and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Adult Price: €64 Vibrant Vienna & UNESCO Coffee House Culture (Available on Day 2)Vibrant Vienna - walk in the historic and vibrant city center. See the house where Mozart lived in Vienna, visit St. Stephen's Cathedral and marvel at the beauty of this former imperial capital. Past the stables of the famous horses we stop for an UNESCO World Cultural Heritage - we sample some local coffee roast and hear about Vienna coffee culture.
Adult Price: €49 Evening In The Austrian Countryside (Available on Day 3)Drive into the pretty Austrian countryside for a special evening. Learn about rural life over a homemade dinner in this cozy corner of Salzburg. In a totally unique experience, sip home-made beverages, feast on home-baked bread, succulent meat and oven baked vegetables.
Adult Price: €68 Eagle's Nest & The Bavarian Alps (Available on Day 4)Drive over the German border, past picturesque farmhouses and villages to Obersalzberg. Nearly 75 years ago, this small mountain paradise was the summer playground for top Nazi brass. Here we will transfer to special coaches for the scenic drive up the mountain to Hitler's notorious "Eagle's Nest". Used as a restaurant since the 50's, there are splendid views through the arches up to the 'Hohen Goll' and across the snow capped peaks.
Adult Price: €75 Tyrolean Evening (Available on Day 7)Enjoy a lively evening of traditional entertainment, featuring dancers in national costume, yodelling and entertainment typical of the life, crafts and traditions of the Tyrolean people. Two drinks are included.
Adult Price: €57 Nordkette Alps & Heritage (Available on Day 8)
A visit to the Nordkette is an unforgettable experience - a unique combination of relaxation, natural wonder and modern architecture. Space-age stations designed by star architect, Zaha Hadid herald your journey up to Hungerburg. From here the panoramic gondola continues up to the 1,905-meter-high Seegrube, where (weather permitting) you can enjoy tremendous views of the entire Central Inn Valley and across to the Italian border. Back down in the Old Town, join your local expert to explore the heritage of the Golden Roof and the "Black Men" of Emperor Maximilian.
Adult Price: €72 Swarovski Crystal World and Dinner in Hall (Available on Day 8)We'll visit Swarovski Crystal World - home to the most-famous crystals in Art and Pop music. With breathtaking installations, you won't have to be a collector to love this place! Then, we'll continue to one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the Tyrol - Hall, where we'll enjoy an excellent dinner in a 700-year-old manor house!
Adult Price: €97 Bernina - Express Excursion (Available on Day 9)Enjoy one of the most exciting train rides in Switzerland as you cross the Bernina Pass to the Alp Grum. Spectacular views of the Alpine peaks, glaciers, waterfalls, green valleys and mountain villages. We then descend to Poschiavo to reboard our touring coach.
Adult Price: ₣58 Lake Lucerne Cruise (Available on Day 10)A chance to take in the wonderful mountain scenery from a different perspective. Enjoy a leisurely lake cruise, for fine views of the town and it's surroundings. The serene beauty of Lake Lucerne on a summer's day is a joy to behold, made even more enjoyable by the encompassing snow-capped mountains, green pastures and dense forests.
Adult Price: ₣47 Swiss Evening (Available on Day 10)There's nothing better than convening with friends around a pot of bubbling fondue with a glass of chilled white wine and having a good yodel! Join us for a tasty Swiss meal in a typical restaurant. While you dine, enjoy a lively folklore show of flag throwing, yodelling, Alpenhorn blowing and other great Swiss entertainment.
Adult Price: ₣111 Carriages & Countryside (Available on Day 11)In a typical rural community, meet local farmers for a delightful horse-drawn ride. Clip-clop your way through bright green pasture, where the angular spire of a traditional white church shoots skyward and rickety old wooden storehouses still dot the landscape. Call in at a local farm where a wonderful spread of homemade drinks and snacks is served.
Adult Price: ₣77