Trafalgar Tours: Best of Germany and Austria
Day 1 - Welcome to Frankfurt
Embrace centuries-old heritage charm and modern style in the vibrant city of Frankfurt, our springboard for a delightful exploration of the best of Germany and Austria. Spend your day exploring the Altstadt and soaking up the atmosphere of a bygone era, before meeting your Travel Director for an orientation of the medieval Römerplatz and dynamic financial district. Later, we join our fellow travelers for a memorable Welcome Reception to launch our journey through the heart of Europe.
Accommodations: Sheraton Offenbach
Meals: Welcome Reception
Day 2 - Cruise in the Rhineland and on to Cologne Connect with Locals
The legend of Loreley kick-starts our morning as we board a leisurely cruise along the mighty Rhine past castles and vineyard-clad hills. We stop to Connect With Locals over a Be My Guest lunch and hear tales of knights and feuding lords and ladies in a 13th century castle perched high above the Rhine valley. Continuing to the cultural capital of the Rhineland, we view the spectacular Gothic spires of Cologne Cathedral. Spend the rest of the evening exploring the city's great artistic treasures and historic town squares.
Accommodations: Mercure Koeln Belfortstrasse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3 - Journey By High-Speed Train to Berlin
This morning, we board a high-speed train to historic Berlin, whose once-turbulent history has shaped its rebirth as the charismatic capital of Germany. Join a Local Specialist for an exploration of 'East meets West' and delve into the story behind their reunification. See the imposing Brandenburg Gate, the Tiergarten, Unter den Linden and the Reichstag building, with its famous glass dome. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Accommodations: Vienna House by Wyndham Andel's
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 - Uncover Berlin’s Secrets
Ascend the Berlin TV Tower for spectacular 360° views of the city from the Berlin TV Tower. Enjoy some free time this afternoon to explore the city on your own. Perhaps see the remnants of the Berlin Wall, visit the infamous Checkpoint Charlie or enjoy an Optional Experience to the District of Potsdam, the former Prussian royal seat.
Accommodations: Vienna House by Wyndham Andel's
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 - Onwards to Rothenburg Stays With Stories
Celebrate beauty through your admiration of art and architecture in beautiful Würzburg, where you will see the Prince-Bishops' residence and Marienberg Fortress, on the banks of the Main. Continue to Rothenburg and dine tonight in your hotel. Your Stays With Stories accommodation this evening is the historic Prinzhotel, built in the traditional half-timbered style lying within the 15th-century fortified town walls.
Accommodations: Prinzhotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - Off to Historic Munich Stays With Stories
This morning, we embark on an orientation walk through the medieval center of Rothenburg, seemingly frozen in time and encircled by a fortified town wall that remains intact after centuries. Traveling south through picture-perfect landscapes of Bavaria, we arrive in Munich. We check into our Stays With Stories accommodation, the Arabella Sheraton Munich which once saw Led Zeppelin, Iggy Pop and Freddie Mercury belt out tunes in the then-hotel basement recording studio. Famous producer Giorgio Moroder founded a recording studio here in the early 1970s until the noise of the nearby subway trains forced the music to continue elsewhere.
Accommodations: Four Points by Sheraton Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 - Discover Munich
Stroll through the heart of Munich this morning, see the distinctive towers of the Cathedral as well as Marienplatz, the central square and the impressive town hall with its charming glockenspiel during your orientation. The 13th-century St. Peter's churchand the Viktualien food market square and a beerhall are only a short walk from here. Spend the rest of the day on your own, exploring the city's Baroque palaces and vibrant markets, or embrace the Bavarian region's rich beer brewing heritage at one of Munich's many beer halls.
Accommodations: Four Points by Sheraton Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 - Admire Neuschwanstein Castle and on to Innsbruck
Indulge in a world of fantasy and fables during your visit to Neuschwanstein Castle (Subject to Availability), built as a retreat for King Ludwig II to retire from public life. Wind your way through the countryside, climbing higher into the Bavarian Alps bound for Innsbruck, where you'll spend the next two nights. This evening, dinner is served at your hotel.
Accommodations: Tivoli Innsbruck
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9 - Explore Alpine Innsbruck
This morning, you'll embark on a short orientation tour that includes views of the Old Town, Hofburg Palace and the ornate Golden Roof, built to commemorate the wedding of Emperor Maximilian I. Spend your free time exploring Innsbruck's iconic sites and delving into Tyrol's complex history and culture, or simply relax and admire this dazzling city with its magnificent Alpine backdrop. Next, admire the fascinating crystal installations and browse for precious gifts and souvenirs at the Swarovski Crystal Worlds Store. You could consider joining a traditional dinner and Tyrolean folklore show this evening.
Accommodations: Tivoli Innsbruck
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10 - Venture to Salzburg
Travel to Salzburg where spires and domes rise in the shadow of Hohensalzburg Castle, one of the largest medieval fortresses in Europe. Join a Local Specialist for a fascinating walking tour of a city that featured in ‘The Sound of Music'. View Mozart's birthplace and family house in Getreidegasse, and the Domplatz dominated by Salzburg Cathedral. This evening, we dine at our hotel.
Accommodations: Holiday Inn Salzburg City
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11 - Through the Wachau Valley to Vienna
Indulge in the Austrian tradition of koffee and kuchen at Wastlbauer eco-farm on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Meet Eva, the owner, for a tour of her self-sufficient farm and wet your appetite over freshly baked pastries. This experience advances UN Global Goal 12: Responsible production and consumption. Scenic landscapes provide a beautiful backdrop for our drive past Lake Mondsee to the UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley. Sloping vineyards line the Danube from Melk Abbey to Dürnstein, where Richard the Lionheart was held prisoner and subsequently found by Blondel, his faithful minstrel. This afternoon, we arrive in the imperial capital of Vienna. We have the evening at leisure to enjoy the sounds of the 'City of Music' or consider an evening of Viennese classical music.
Accommodations: Imperial Riding School
Meals: Breakfast
Day 12 - Hofburg Palace and More in Vienna
Explore the splendor of Vienna at the exquisite Hofburg Palace, the former winter residence of the Habsburg Dynasty - one of the highlights of your guided sightseeing tour of Vienna with a Local Specialist. Enjoy views of the grand State Opera House and Ringstrasse, a beautiful sweeping boulevard built in the 19th century to replace the city walls. Admire the ornate, colorful roof of St. Stephen's Cathedral, one of the city's most beloved icons, before spending the afternoon at leisure. Tonight, join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a Farewell Dinner in a local restaurant to celebrate a beautiful sojourn through Germany and Austria.
Accommodations: Imperial Riding School
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 13 - Farewell Vienna
We bid farewell to our companions at the end of a wonderful holiday.
Meals: Breakfast
Vienna
Vienna is dominated by imperial castles and places: Schonbrunn, the magnificent summer residence, the Imperial Coach Collection, the Palm House, the Butterfly House, Belvedere Palace, magnificent state rooms in Hofburg, and the imperial crown in the Treasury. Stop by Ringstraße - the showplace of the monarchy built where Emperor Franz Joseph ordered the demolition of city walls. Important buildings include the State Opera, the Museums of Fine Arts and Natural History, Parliament, City Hall and Vienna University. The world capital of music. A long line of great composers Johann Strauss, Haydn and Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert, Mahler and Schonberg all worked here. A city with splendid concert halls, such as the Golden Hall, from which the Philharmonic's New Year's Day concert is broadcast annually. International stars love to appear here in the State Opera, Volksoper, Konzerthaus, and at festivals like the Vienna Festival, the Klangbogen concerts during the Musical Summer, the Jazz Festval and the Haydn, Mozart and Schubert festivals.
Excursions
Vienna Shore Excursion: Private City Walk Vienna's Old Town, 2,5 hours
Vienna Shore Excursion: Private City Walk Vienna's Old Town, 2,5 hours
This interesting city walk offers you an initial overview of the history, culture and achitecture of Vienna, taking you through the most beautiful and elegant streets and passing by some of the most famous sights of the city.
At the end of this tour, you can continue exploring the city centre on your own.
Highlights:
- The Imperial Palace, residence of the Habsburgs for nearly 650 years (outside)
- St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna's landmark (outside)
- State Opera House (outside)
- the Ringstrasse ('ring road')
Your private guide is always flexible and adapts the tour to your special interests.
Tour Duration: 2,5-3 hours
Tour can operate: Morning or Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Light to Moderate
Inclusions:
- Pick up at the landing stage of the cruise ship in Vienna
- One way transfer in private car from the pier to the city centre
- Private licensed English speaking guide (other languages available, but on request)
Not included:
- Meals
- Gratuities and personal expenses
- Entrances
- Return transfer to the ship (optional service upon extra charge)
Vienna Shore Excursion: Private City Walk Mozart in Vienna, 2,5 hours
Vienna Shore Excursion: Private City Walk Mozart in Vienna, 2,5 hours
During this city walk "On the Traces of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart", you discover Vienna's historic old town, passing by some of the most important locations of Mozart's life. This tour also includes a visit of the Mozart House. At the end of this tour, you can continue exploring the city centre on your own.
Highlights:
- Vienna's historic old town and former addresses of Mozart (outdoor)
- Visit of the Mozart House Vienna (indoor visit)
- St. Stephen's Cathedral (outdoor)
Your private guide is always flexible and adapts the tour to your special interests.
Tour Duration: 2,5-3 hours
Tour can operate: Morning or Afternoon
Physical Activity Level: Light to Moderate
Inclusions:
- Pick up at the landing stage of the cruise ship in Vienna
- One way transfer in private car from the pier to the city centre
- Private licensed English speaking guide (other languages available, but on request)
- Entrance fee Mozart House (visit with audio-guide)
Not included:
- Meals
- Gratuities and personal expenses
- Entrances other than stated above
- Return transfer to the cruise ship (optional service upon extra charge)
Vienna Shore Excursion: Private City Walk Imperial Palace, 2,5 hours
Vienna Shore Excursion: Private City Walk Imperial Palace, 2,5 hours
This privately guided walking tour through Vienna's historic old town takes you to the Imperial Palace ('Hofburg'), to visit the Imperial Apartments and the fascinating Sisi Museum.
Highlights:
- Visit of the Imperial Palace and the Imperial Apartments (indoor visit)
- Visit of the Sisi Museum (indoor visit)
- Augustinian Church
Your private guide is always flexible and adapts the tour to your special interests.
Tour Duration: 2,5-3 hours
Tour can operate: Morning or Afternoon
Physical Activity Level: Light to Moderate
Inclusions:
- Pick up the landing stage of the cruise ship in Vienna
- One way transfer in private car from the pier to the city centre
- Private licensed English speaking guide (other languages available, but on request)
- Entrance fee for the Imperial Palace (Imperial Apartments and the Sisi Museum)
Not included:
- Meals
- Gratuities and personal expenses
- Entrances other than stated above
- Return transfer to the ship (optional service upon extra charge)
Vienna Shore Excursion: Private City Tour of Vienna & Visit of Schoenbrunn Palace, 4 hours
Vienna Shore Excursion: Private City Tour of Vienna & Visit of Schoenbrunn Palace, 4 hours
This privately guided tour shows you the major historical sights along the Ringstrasse, before taking you to the magnificent Schoenbrunn Palace, former summer residence of the Habsburg family.
Highlights:
- Main sights along the Ringstrasse: e.g. Imperial Palace, National Museums, State Opera, Burgtheater, City Hall, Parliament etc. (outside)
- Visit of the Schoenbrunn Palace, privately guided tour (indoor visit)
Your private guide is always flexible and adapts the tour to your special interests.
Tour Duration: 4 hours
Tour can operate: Morning or Afternoon
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Pick up and drop off at the landing stage of the cruise ship in Vienna
- Transfer in a private car
- Private licensed English speaking guide (other languages available, but on request)
- Entrance fee for Schoenbrunn Palace (Highlight Tour)
Not included:
- Meals
- Gratuities and personal expenses
- Entrances other than stated above
Vienna Shore Excursion: Private City Tour Art Nouveau and Viennese Architecture, 4 hours
Vienna Shore Excursion: Private City Tour Art Nouveau and Viennese Architecture, 4 hours
In addition to the familiar Gothic and Baroque buildings, Art Nouveau has a fixed place in Viennese architecture. Naturally, this tour also covers further architecural epoques, such as modernity.
Highlights:
- Architecturally interesting sights along the Ringstrasse: e.g. Imperial Palace, National Museums, State Opera, City Hall, Parliament etc. (outside)
- Visit of the Vienna Secession (inside visit)
- Visit of the Kunst Haus Wien (insde visit)
- St. Charles's Church (outside)
- Hundertwasserhaus (outside)
Your private guide is always flexible and adapts the tour to your special interests.
Tour Duration: 4 hours
Tour can operate: Tuesday to Sunday; Morning or Afternoon
(Vienna Secession is closed on Monday!)
Physical Activity Level: Light to Moderate
Inclusions:
- Pick up and drop off at the landing stage of the cruise ship in Vienna
- Transfer in a private car
- Private licensed English speaking guide (other languages available, but on request)
- Entrance fee for Vienna Secession
- Entrance fee for Kunst Haus Wien
Not included:
- Meals
- Gratuities and personal expenses
- Entrances other than stated above
Vienna Shore Excursion: Private City Walk & the Lipizzaner Horses, 5 hours
Vienna Shore Excursion: Private City Walk & the Lipizzaner Horses, 5 hours
From Tuesday to Friday (9am-1pm, excl. July), this package covers many interesting aspects of Vienna: Starting with a short Vienna Old Town City Walk, you follow your guide through the old town towards the Spanish Riding School, where you attend the Lippizaner's Morning Exercise, allowing an insight into the training of the Lipizzaner Horses and their riders. At the end of this tour, you can continue exploring the city centre on your own.
Highlights:
- Overview of the history, culture and architecture of Vienna
- Vienna's historic old town (outside)
- Attendance of the Morning Exercise at the Spanish Riding School (inside visit)
- Coffee break at the famous Café Central
Your private guide is always flexible and adapts the tour to your special interests.
Tour Duration: 4 hours
Tour can operate: Tuesday to Friday, 9am - 1pm (excluding July)
Physical Activity Level: Light to Moderate
Inclusions:
- Pick up at the landing stage of the cruise ship in Vienna
- One way transfer in private car from the pier to the city centre
- Private licensed English speaking guide (other languages available, but on request)
- Entrance fee for the Morning Exercise at the Spanish Riding School
- Coffee break at Café Demel (1 hot drink, 1 piece of cake)
Not included:
- Meals
- Gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Entrances other than stated above
- Return transfer to the ship (optional service upon extra charge)
Munich
Home of tworld-famous Oktoberfest, the Hofbrauhaus and beergarden-experience, Munich has become one of the most modern and prosperous cities in post-war Germany. Munich offers museums, art galleries, concert halls and historical buildings, beergarden athmosphere on a warm summer night and the hottest dance hall scene in Germany. The area around Munich has mountains, lakes, fairy-tale-castles, wintersport centers and treasures like the monastery-and-brewery of Andechs. Among "must-sees" in Munich, are a walk on the high-level-shopping mile of Maximilianstrasse, a visit of Monopterus building and the "Chinesischer Turm" beergarden on a warm summer day, a match of two main local soccer clubs in Olympic stadium, a visit to "Deutsche Museum", a beer in the students' pubs, and an afternight breakfast in the cafe "Schmalznudel" at Viktualienmarkt. For history, go to a museum, visit the castle of Nymphenburg or get confronted with the dark side of German history in Dachau concentration camp memorial site.
Frankfurt
Frankfurt is the city of the International Book Fair, the National Library - a city encompassing a variety of publishing houses, libraries and bookshops. In its museums, exhibition halls, and art galleries, Frankfurt displays its distinct style of contemporary and historical art and culture. Frankfurt's highrises form part of the city's identity. The skyline is unique, thanks to its extraordinary architectural blend of tradition and modernity. Europe's largest skyscraper is also situated here, the Commerzbank building. Frankfurt is home to one of the world's finest ballet ensembles. Frankfurt is a metropolis for techno and dance music, which lends the city a reputation of musical magnetism. The city's numerous theaters and theater groups, the opera, and the concert house Alte Oper offer Frankfurt's stage aficionados and lovers of fine arts a comprehensive and diverse program.