Germany's Berlin, Nuremberg, Neuschwanstein Castle, Munich and Oberammergau
Austria's Salzburg, the “Salzkammergut” Lake District and Vienna
12 days/11 nights
Check out our suggested itinerary below and let's get a group together! This itinerary can be scheduled for a tour led by Tour Director, Sandy Gregory or customized for independent travel with our Concierge Travel Services.
Please inquire about pricing
Austria's Salzburg, the “Salzkammergut” Lake District and Vienna
12 days/11 nights
Check out our suggested itinerary below and let's get a group together! This itinerary can be scheduled for a tour led by Tour Director, Sandy Gregory or customized for independent travel with our Concierge Travel Services.
Please inquire about pricing
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Please join Tour Director Sandy Gregory for this wonderful adventure through Germany and Austria, or contact us to help you create your own independent travel experience with our Concierge Travel Services.
Suggested time to travel: March to May, October and November. October will be crowded with Octoberfest. December. |
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The Best of Germany and Austria Tour:
2 nights Berlin 2 nights Nuremberg 3 nights Munich 3 nights Salzburg 2 nights in Vienna Think about an optional pre- or post-tour to Budapest and Prague. |
DAY 1: ARRIVE BERLIN. YOUR ADVENTURE BEGINS! |
Arrive Berlin Airport. Your greeter and private driver be waiting for you outside of baggage claim to take you to your hotel.
Willkommen in Berlin!
Check in is usually at 2:00, so after lunch (not included), we will have a walking orientation to the city until your rooms will be ready and you can enjoy the afternoon, relax and freshen up for our Included Dinner.
Included Welcome Dinner
Overnight in Berlin, 2 nights with breakfast
Willkommen in Berlin!
Check in is usually at 2:00, so after lunch (not included), we will have a walking orientation to the city until your rooms will be ready and you can enjoy the afternoon, relax and freshen up for our Included Dinner.
Included Welcome Dinner
Overnight in Berlin, 2 nights with breakfast
DAY 2: A DAY IN BERLIN |
This morning, we'll meet our local guide in the lobby of the hotel and venture out for a private tour of Berlin. Berlin is a big city so it will be both a driving and walking tour. We'll cover the great boulevards Kurfürstendamm and Unter den Linden, the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag building, the seat of the German parliament. You’ll learn about the sites of the Third Reich and visit the Holocaust Memorial, discover how the division of the city was a consequence of WWII and how the Cold War affected the Germans. Of course, you will also visit Checkpoint Charlie and the last remaining pieces of the Berlin Wall. This tour will help you be better able to “see” the invisible layers of this most remarkable city and imagine what may be in store in the 21st century.
You’ll have the rest of the day to enjoy Berlin at your leisure. Your Tour Director, of course, will have suggestions for what you can do today.
Overnight in Berlin
You’ll have the rest of the day to enjoy Berlin at your leisure. Your Tour Director, of course, will have suggestions for what you can do today.
Overnight in Berlin
DAY 3: ON TO NUREMBERG |
The drive to Nuremberg takes us via the Wannsee House Memorial and the Bridge of Spies to Potsdam, where we will stop for a tour of Sanssouci Palace and Gardens, the retreat of King Frederick the Great of Prussia and some time in the Potsdam old town. On the way, we will pass by the Church of Peace, Luisenplatz and the original Brandenburg Gate.
Steeped in history, the formidable walls and castle of Nuremberg, restored after the Second World War, stand as testimony to its glorious past. Nuremberg, having witnessed the infamous war crimes tribunal known as the Nuremberg Trials, has transformed into a vibrant and exciting place to explore. The robust restaurant and bar scene ensures that visitors can enjoy a variety of local and international cuisines, accompanied by some of the finest Bavarian beers. Hansel and Gretel would have loved this place!
Nuremberg Hotel. 2 nights.
Included dinner
Steeped in history, the formidable walls and castle of Nuremberg, restored after the Second World War, stand as testimony to its glorious past. Nuremberg, having witnessed the infamous war crimes tribunal known as the Nuremberg Trials, has transformed into a vibrant and exciting place to explore. The robust restaurant and bar scene ensures that visitors can enjoy a variety of local and international cuisines, accompanied by some of the finest Bavarian beers. Hansel and Gretel would have loved this place!
Nuremberg Hotel. 2 nights.
Included dinner
DAY 4: A DAY IN NUREMBERG |
Morning tour: With half a million people, Nuremberg is Bavaria's second largest city. While its history dates to the 11th century, Nuremberg is most often linked to World War II. It first served as the site of many pre-war Nazi rallies, then was nearly leveled by Allied bombing, then was the site of the famous post-war Nuremberg Trials, where Hitler held his Naz rallies, the courthouse where the Nuremberg trials were held, and the Documentation center, where Hitler planned to build his own stadium to hold 400,000 spectators. This former Nazi rally site hosts a historical exhibition relevant to the context of the Monuments Men's work, providing insight into the scale and manipulation of the Nazi system.
The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure.
The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure.
DAY 5: TO MUNICH |
This morning we head to Bavaria’s most famous landmark, world reknowned Neuschwanstein Castle, built by the eccentric King Ludwig II of Bavaria. This iconic structure, perfectly perched at the base of the Alps, is Ludwig’s late 19th century tribute to the early medieval age of knights and to Richard Wagner’s operas. Perched majestically over the Lech river valley at the edge of the Alps, Neuschwanstein is an eternal testament to the power of imagination.
Included dinner in Munich.
Overnight in Munich, 3 night with breakfast
Included dinner in Munich.
Overnight in Munich, 3 night with breakfast
DAY 6: A DAY IN MUNICH |
This morning you set off to meet your guide for A private tour of Munich’s highlights. The tour will today will be a hefty 5 hours, and we’ll enjoy a late lunchtime (not included) at the famous Vikualienmarkt, the oldest open food market in Munich, where you can enjoy the local delicacies at your leisure, with the rest of the afternoon to enjoy on you own.
Overnight in Munich.
Inquire about one of our Dig a Little Deeper private optional tour excursions below. Pricing will be based on the number of participants. Click on the + below for details.
Overnight in Munich.
Inquire about one of our Dig a Little Deeper private optional tour excursions below. Pricing will be based on the number of participants. Click on the + below for details.
Dig a Little Deeper IN MUNICH
Afternoon cooking class and dinner. A charming Bavarian chef welcomes you with a sparkling aperitif in a modern cooking school in the heart of Munich. You will learn the very best recipes from Bavaria and Together you will cook traditional dishes you find on the menu of every inn and restaurant in Munich.
Dachau Concentration Camp. 2.5 hour tour + transportation. Dachau was Germany’s first concentration camp - opened immediately after Hitler’s rise to power, just outside Dachau, near Munich. Explore the remaining buildings and reconstructions and learn more about the biographies of former prisoners. Maintained as a memorial, this visit at Dachau will provide an insight into this tragic period in history. Your price includes your guide, who will pick you up at your hotel, train tickets and the admissions to Dachau.
Dachau Concentration Camp. 2.5 hour tour + transportation. Dachau was Germany’s first concentration camp - opened immediately after Hitler’s rise to power, just outside Dachau, near Munich. Explore the remaining buildings and reconstructions and learn more about the biographies of former prisoners. Maintained as a memorial, this visit at Dachau will provide an insight into this tragic period in history. Your price includes your guide, who will pick you up at your hotel, train tickets and the admissions to Dachau.
DAY 7: OBERAMMERGAU |
Today we head to Oberammergau, the picturesque little village known for its once-a-decade performance of the Passion Play and local woodworking artisans. You'll have time at your leisure for strolling, shopping, and of course lunch.
On the way to back to Munich we'll stop for a refreshing visit to the beautiful hilltop monastery at Andechs. Known as the Holy Mountain but maybe better known for its beer, Andechs is a pilgrimage destination for spiritual seekers and beer aficionados alike.
Tonight: Dinner on your own.
Overnight in Munich.
DAY 8: EAGLES NEST AND SALZBURG |
Pretty villages with flower boxed windows and balconies; glacial lakes nestled in the border fingers of the Alps; pastureland and forests flowing over the rolling moraines of the alpine foothills: Bavaria is one of those places with an almost mythological reputation, and our tour today explores the Bavarian Way of Life.
This morning you depart Munich heading south through the countryside that was made famous in the film, “The Sound of Music”. The first stop will be Hitlers hideaway, known as Eagles Nest. During our time at the Eagles Nest, will also visit the Documentation Center. “ Dokumentation Obersalzberg” is a museum in the Obersalzberg resort near Berchtesgaden, where we’ll learn how this mountainside retreat was used by Nazi leaders, especially Hitler who regularly vacationed in this area beginning in 1928. Your guide will give you an informative tour of this and the Berchtesgaden area before finishing the drive to Salzburg.
Included dinner. Tonight we dine at the oldest restaurant in Eastern Europe, Salzburg’s number one address for great food served with a generous helping of culture.
Overnight in Salzburg, 2 nights with breakfast
This morning you depart Munich heading south through the countryside that was made famous in the film, “The Sound of Music”. The first stop will be Hitlers hideaway, known as Eagles Nest. During our time at the Eagles Nest, will also visit the Documentation Center. “ Dokumentation Obersalzberg” is a museum in the Obersalzberg resort near Berchtesgaden, where we’ll learn how this mountainside retreat was used by Nazi leaders, especially Hitler who regularly vacationed in this area beginning in 1928. Your guide will give you an informative tour of this and the Berchtesgaden area before finishing the drive to Salzburg.
Included dinner. Tonight we dine at the oldest restaurant in Eastern Europe, Salzburg’s number one address for great food served with a generous helping of culture.
Overnight in Salzburg, 2 nights with breakfast
DAY 9: A DAY IN SALZBURG |
This morning you will meet your city guide and embark on a private city tour. After a nice lunch (not included) you will visit the Hohensalzburg Fortress and to Leopoldskron & Hellbrunn known for the Sound of Music.
You’ll have the rest of the day and evening to explore Salzburg at your leisure.
Overnight in Salzburg.
You’ll have the rest of the day and evening to explore Salzburg at your leisure.
Overnight in Salzburg.
DAY 10. THE LAKES DISTRICT AND ON TO VIENNA |
The real scene-stealers of the area is Austria's Lake District, known as Salzkammergut. We will enjoy the stunning panoramic vistas of Lake Wolfgangsee and Lake Hallstatt and make a stop to stroll the picturesque narrow streets of the Old Town of Melk with a visit to Melk Abbey, a golden-hued monastery perched on a hill overlooking the Danube. Discover this Baroque treasure with its richly decorated church, stunning library, and lovely garden terraces offering views of the surrounding Wachau Valley. Our journey continues to the Mauthausen Memorial. This thoughtfully maintained site honors those who suffered here during World War II and provides important historical context through its exhibitions. Extraordinarily distinctive white wines are produced in this valley, some of which grow on steeply terraced hillsides, so our day will also include a lovely included winetasting.
Vienna: 2 nights
Included dinner
Vienna: 2 nights
Included dinner
DAY 11. A DAY IN VIENNA |
Morning tour of the highlights of Vienna, including a musical training performance at the Spanish Riding School, an Austrian institution dedicated to the preservation of classical dressage and the training of Lipizzaner horses.
Vienna is a sophisticated, historical city and very walkable. Think about:
Visiting the Sisi Museum: Beautiful and celebrated Empress Elisabeth (nicknamed Sisi) has long since become a cult figure. The Sisi Museum in the Imperial Apartments of the Imperial Palace compares the myth and the facts. It offers a detailed look into her life, with exhibits including personal items, clothing, and accounts of her assassination.
Explore the Hapsburg's Palaces: Schönbrunn Palace, the Habsburgs' opulent summer residence or Hofburg Imperial Palace.
Visit the Belvedere Palace, home to Gustav Klimt's masterpiece, "The Kiss," and other impressive art collections.
Linger at one of the many cafes and enjoy a Viennese coffee and Sacher Torte.
Enjoy a music tour: Vienna has been considered Europe’s “City of Music”. Experience its rich musical heritage first-hand with this tour of Vienna’s top music-related landmarks and performance spaces. Kick off with an exclusive peek at the Vienna State Opera before strolling through the city with your guide to discover where composers like Beethoven and Mozart once lived and performed.
Tonight: Farewell Dinner. Tonight we’ll be treated to an evening of delicious Austrian cuisine and music.
Vienna is a sophisticated, historical city and very walkable. Think about:
Visiting the Sisi Museum: Beautiful and celebrated Empress Elisabeth (nicknamed Sisi) has long since become a cult figure. The Sisi Museum in the Imperial Apartments of the Imperial Palace compares the myth and the facts. It offers a detailed look into her life, with exhibits including personal items, clothing, and accounts of her assassination.
Explore the Hapsburg's Palaces: Schönbrunn Palace, the Habsburgs' opulent summer residence or Hofburg Imperial Palace.
Visit the Belvedere Palace, home to Gustav Klimt's masterpiece, "The Kiss," and other impressive art collections.
Linger at one of the many cafes and enjoy a Viennese coffee and Sacher Torte.
Enjoy a music tour: Vienna has been considered Europe’s “City of Music”. Experience its rich musical heritage first-hand with this tour of Vienna’s top music-related landmarks and performance spaces. Kick off with an exclusive peek at the Vienna State Opera before strolling through the city with your guide to discover where composers like Beethoven and Mozart once lived and performed.
Tonight: Farewell Dinner. Tonight we’ll be treated to an evening of delicious Austrian cuisine and music.
Day 12: Transfers to the airport for flights out. |
Included transfers to the airport.