by Donna Kirkland 225-803-6013 donnakirkland@gmail.com
Germany, Austria, Switzerland (and Budapest extension Itinerary)
14 days (16 with Budapest extension) June 2017
Multi-country: Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Hungary (with extension)
These countries share a language, but their appeals are varied. Discover delightfully distinct style and substance in each destination, from the Gothic spires of Heidelberg to the Art Nouveau elegance of Vienna. Swiss mountains and the Bavarian forest, German beer and Austrian wine—this trio of countries has something for everyone.
Tour price includes: Roundtrip airfare, hotel accommodations, breakfast daily, 6 three-course dinners with beer or wine, multilingual tour director, private motor coach, guided sightseeing and select entrance fees
Tour highlights: Lakeside villages and serene Alpine peaks, towering castles in Heidelberg and Neuschwanstein, the meeting of old and new in Innsbruck, wheat beer and white sausages in Munich, a scenic funicular ride up to Salzburg’s medieval fortress, and Vienna’s Art Nouveau architecture
Day 1: (Sat, June 10) Travel day…Board your overnight flight to Budapest today...Budapest 2 nights (add $399)
Day 2: (Sun, June 11) BUDAPEST (2 nights): Arrival in Budapest
Welcome to Hungary! After arriving, transfer to the hotel to get settled in.
This evening, enjoy a special welcome dinner.
Day 3: (Mon, June 12) Sightseeing tour of Budapest. Discover the major landmarks of both sides of the city,
Buda and Pest, with a local guide.
• Trace this nation’s stormy history at Heroes Square
• Tour the lavishly decorated interior of the Hungarian Parliament building
• Cross the Danube and ascend Castle Hill
• Take in the breathtaking views from Fisherman’s Bastion
• Visit the medieval Matthias Church, once the site of Hapsburg coronations
Spend a free afternoon in Budapest
Or Optional - Budapest: A Walk Behind the Iron Curtain $69pp
Discover the communist period in Budapest on today’s excursion.
Your guided sightseeing tour passes the Parliament building, which was the
starting place of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and still shows signs of damage from the
Soviet invasion. Visit the nearby statue of Imre Nagy, Hungary’s Prime Minister during the
revolution, who is an enduring symbol of freedom. Liberty Square is just a stroll away, home
to the U.S. Embassy, a statue of Ronald Reagan and the only remaining monument to communist
troops. From St. Stephen’s Basilica, take the historic Metro Line 1 up the iconic Andrassy Ave. Stop
for an included coffee and piece of cake amidst the Neo-Renaissance splendor of Book Café, the
regular meeting place of the intelligentsia during the Soviet occupation. End the day at the House
of Terror, where you will take a guided tour through this chilling museum and view the moving
monument to the victims of communism and fascism in Hungary.
Day 4: (Tues, June 13) VIENNA (3 nights) Transfer to Vienna, Austria. Meet with the rest of your group.
This evening, enjoy included dinner with fellow travelers.
Day 5: (Wed, June 14) Sightseeing tour of Vienna: Get transported back to the Age of Empires on a guided
tour of Vienna.
• Visit Schönbrunn Palace, the Rococo Hapsburg home with impressive gardens
• Travel down the Ringstrasse to the Parliament building and the Vienna State Opera
• See the grand Hofburg Palace, the Hapsburg’s preferred winter residence
Enjoy a free evening in Vienna or optional Traditional Viennese Heurigen Evening $99
Day 6: (Thurs, June 15) Free day in Vienna Enjoy a free day in Vienna
Or optional excursion to Bratislava
Cruise down the Danube from Vienna to Bratislava in a high-speed boat, passing through scenic
Donau-Auen National Park along the way. In Bratislava, follow a local guide through the charming
Old Town to see the well-preserved city center and pass by the regal castle. Stop at the neoclassical Primate’s Palace,
the seat f the mayor of Bratislava, to enter the historic Hall of Mirrors. Then, enjoy free time in the city for lunch and
exploration before driving back to Vienna.
Day 7: (Fri, June 16) SALZBURG (2 nights) Travel to Salzburg, Austria via Melk Abbey.
Stop in Melk for a guided tour of the town’s Baroque abbey.
Continue on to Salzburg, a city famed for its churches and musical history.
There, a local guide leads you on a walking tour of the Old Town.
• View the University of Salzburg and the churchyard of St. Peter
• See the Kapitelplatz, Residenzplatz and Alter Markt, in the city’s Old Town
• Enter the 17th-century Salzburg Cathedral, built in the Baroque style
• Pass through scenery from the beloved film The Sound of Music
• Take the funicular to the hilltop Hohensalzburg Fortress, one of Europe’s largest
medieval castles Included Dinner
Day 8: (Sat, June 17) Free day in Salzburg
Or optional excursion Eagle's Nest & Salt Mines $105pp* Drive through the Bavarian Alps
to the mountain village of Berchtesgaden, where you’ll tour the 450-year-old salt mines that brought
wealth to Bavaria and Salzburg. Take an underground boat ride on Mirror Lake before enjoying
free time for lunch. Continue to Obersalzberg, where a scenic bus ride along steep gorges offers
beautiful views of the snow-capped Alps. Enter the Dokumentation Obersalzberg, a museum with an
exhibition on the history of Nazi dictatorship. Then, take a gilded elevator up to the Eagle’s Nest, an
Alpine retreat built for Adolf Hitler’s 50th birthday. On your way back down, stop at a distillery to
sample a liqueur made from Alpine flowers.
Please note: The elevation of the Eagle’s Nest is approximately 5,500 feet, which may not be advisable
for travelers with heart/lung problems or other altitude-related limitations.
and/or optional Excursion - Mozart Concert & Dinner $109pp
Step inside the 1,200-year-old St. Peter Stiftskeller, located within St. Peter’s Abbey.
Enjoy an evening of fine dining and music. Mozart composed over 600 works in his short life, and
tonight, you’ll hear his masterpieces accompanied by opera singing as you sample local delicacies.
Day 9: (Sun, June 18) MUNICH (2 nights) Cross into Germany. Guided tour of Munich, the Bavarian capital
• Travel past the Englischer Garten and fashionable Schwabing district
• Enter the Nymphenburg Palace, the Baroque home to past Bavarian royalty
• Walk from Odeonsplatz through the Hofgarten to view the Residenz,
once home to the Wittelsbach dukes of Bavaria
• Explore Marienplatz, Munich’s medieval heart, and see the famed Glockenspiel
Included Dinner
Day 10: (Mon, June 19) Free day in Munich • Free time suggestion: Visit the Munich Residenz Treasury
Or Optional excursion to Dachau $25pp
Day 11: (Tues, June 20) INNSBRUCK (1 night) Travel to Innsbruck. Austria via Neuschwanstein
Travel through the mountains of Bavaria en route to Innsbruck.
Stop for a guided tour of Neuschwanstein, the fairy-tale retreat of “Mad” King Ludwig II
Step inside Neuschwanstein Castle. Explore its stalactite grotto, artifacts and murals.
Continue to Wattens to visit the Swarovski Crystal Worlds, before reaching Innsbruck.
Included Dinner
Day 12: (Wed, June 21) LUCERNE (2 nights) Guided tour of Innsbruck then travel to Lucerne via Liechtenstein
• Visit the site of two winter Olympic Games
• See the famed Golden Roof and the City Tower in Innsbruck’s historic Old Town
• Pass the Hofburg, a former Hapsburg Imperial Palace, and walk into its cobblestoned
courtyard
• Enter the Baroque Cathedral of St. James
Travel into Liechtenstein, a tiny Alpine principality dating back to the Holy Roman Empire.
Visit Liechtenstein’s capital, Vaduz
Pass the royal family’s hilltop castle, still in use as a royal residence.
Then continue on to Lucerne, for dinner with your fellow travelers.
Included Dinner
Day 13: (Thur, June 22) Sightseeing tour of Lucerne
Get an up-close look at Lucerne, Switzerland’s idyllic Alpine town, on a guided tour.
• Pass hand-painted facades along the cobbled streets of the Old Town
• View the Lion Monument, a tribute to the Swiss Guards who sacrificed their lives
in Paris during the French Revolution
• See the Jesuit Church, the first large Baroque building of its kind
to be built in Switzerland north of the Alps
Enjoy a free afternoon in Lucerne or add an excursion.
Optional - Mount Pilatus $115pp* This scenic excursion begins with a cruise on Lake Lucerne.
After docking, ascend 7,000-foot Mount Pilatus on the world’s steepest cogwheel railway.
Legend holds that the mountain was named for Pontius Pilate, blown here by the devil
after the Crucifixion. From the peak, the views of the Alps are stunning;
on a clear day, you can see for 200 miles. Toward the end of your trip, return to the base
of the mountain via gondola.
Day 14: (Fri, June 23) HEIDELBERG REGION (2 nights) Travel to Heidelberg via Rhine Falls & the Black Forest
Journey through the Black Forest, the setting for many of the Grimm Brothers’ fairytales
en route, and to thundering Rhine Falls as you make your way to the Heidelberg Region.
Day 15: (Sat, June 24) Sightseeing tour of Heidelberg Immerse yourself in the romantic cityscapes and
Baroque architecture of Heidelberg on a guided tour.
• Wander through Heidelberg’s Market Square in the city’s Old Town
• Explore the grounds of Heidelberg University, the oldest university in Germany
• Take a funicular ride to the city’s hilltop castle for panoramic views of the Old Bridge
and the Rhine River below
Enjoy a free afternoon in Heidelberg or add an excursion.
Or optional - Castle & Gardens of Schwetzingen $39pp*
Tonight, gather with your group to toast to your adventures at an included dinner and
wine tasting.
Day 16: (Sun, June 25) DEPARTURE Transfer to the airport for your flight home
*Please note that I automatically signed everyone up for all of the optionals except for Mozart. If you are interested in the Mozart optional please let me know. POr if there is an optional that you do not wish to participate in please let me know that as well.
*Please double check your insurance option on your account. I believe that everyone is signed up for Travel Safe Premium. If you need to make changes you may contact Go Ahead Tours to do so.
*Please check your passport information as it is listed in your account. Make corrections or updates as needed.