BEST OF AUSTRIA – 12 Days – Austria
BEST OF AUSTRIA – 12 Days – Austria
Vienna – Villach – Kitzbühel – Innsbruck – Salzburg – St. Wolfgang – Vienna
DAY 1 – ARRIVE VIENNA
Your private driver awaits you upon arriving at Vienna’s airport or train station. Depending on your arrival time, you may want to take a stroll through the Stadtpark, Vienna’s inner city park, followed by dinner and a classical concert brought to you in a palace where Johann Strauss, the King of Waltz himself, used to conduct his orchestra to the delight of the 19th-century Viennese.
DAY 2 – VIENNA
If today happens to be a Sunday, why not start with attending a concert by the Vienna Boys Choir, performing live in one of the city’s historic churches, followed by a performance of the Spanish Riding School’s white Lipizzaner horses? Then continue with a walking tour of Vienna’s historic center with our local art expert.
DAY 3 – VIENNA
All day is yours to enjoy the museums and coffee houses of Vienna; alternatively, you may want to take a day trip to the Vienna Woods, the picture-perfect Wachau Valley wine region, or visit the Slovakian capital Bratislava.
DAY 4 – GRAZ – VILLACH
Motor past the fertile vineyards of Austia’s Thermenregion (thermal spa region) – or even make a morning stop, before reaching Styria, Austria’s green heart, and its capital Graz. Hike up to the clock tower for magnificent views and a selfie, then continue to Villach. Our suggestion: opt to stay at the Thermenhotel Karawankenhof hotel & spa, and arrive in time to enjoy some of the place’s amazing treatments.
DAY 5 – LIENZ – GROSSGLOCKNER ROAD – KITZBÜHEL
Today is all about breathtaking scenery, and the Road of all Austrian roads. First thing, stop in the historic town of Lienz. Then take in stunning Alpine backdrops as you ascend the Grossglockner Road to an elevation of about 8,200ft and built in the 1930s. Back in the valley, reach Zell am See, and continue to the cosmopolitan winter sports resort of Kitzbühel, basking between the Hahnenkamm and Kitzbüheler Horn mountains. Every winter, Hahnenkamm’s Streif slope is the site of one of the hardest downhill runs of the World Cup Ski Race. In summer, this Tirolean town sees tennis fans arrive in droves for the Austrian Open.
DAY 6 – HALL IN TIROL – INNSBRUCK
After a sumptuous breakfast continue your Austrian Extravaganza to the historic small town of Hall for an expedition into its rich minting heritage. Explore this beautiful town and see the mint that has the distinction of being the cradle of the modern day ‘Dollar’. Then travel to Innsbruck, host to the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics. Stop at the Bergisel ski jump before heading into the center. Why not dine at a local microbrewery on Innsbruck’s main street tonight?
DAY 7 – INNSBRUCK
Your local guide will bring Innsbruck’s Habsburg heritage to life during this morning’s tour. Visit Austria’s oldest continuously operated business, a bell foundry, then board a funicular directly in the center of town transporting you up the mountain to panoramic Seegrube restaurant for lunch. The afternoon is yours to explore the mountain trails, or the city, depending on your preferences.
DAY 8 – KUFSTEIN – SALZBURG
Head east to Kufstein, and visit the towns medieval center and imposing 13th-century fortress. Continue to Salzburg, the city that gave the world W.A. Mozart, The Sound of Music and Red Bull. Visit the energy drink brand’s social hub and aircraft museum at Hangar 7 at Salzburg Airport, followed by a unique dining experience at this location.
DAY 9 – SALZBURG
Join your local expert for an informative and entertaining walk through the historic center of Salzburg, where she will highlight Mozart’s birthplace, and numerous sights known from the 1965 motion picture The Sound of Music. The afternoon is yours to enjoy Salzburg’s atmosphere at your own pace.
DAY 10 – LAKE DISTRICT – HALLSTATT – ST. WOLFGANG
Leave Salzburg for a day in one of Austria’s most picturesque and yet undiscovered regions, the Salzkammergut (Lake District). Learn about prehistoric heritage in Hallstatt, a village perched onto the side of a mountain so limited in space that the deceased have been buried standing up for centuries, and the town’s train station can only be reached by boat. Tour the historic salt mines, then continue to the shores of Lake Wolfgangsee.
DAY 11 – STEYR – MELK – WACHAU VALLEY – VIENNA
Drive to the historic town of Steyr, situated at the confluence of the Enns and Steyr rivers in Upper Austria. Steyr is famous for its magnificent historic center, and the eponymous manufacturer of arms, agricultural machinery and trucks. Continue your journey to the breathtaking Melk Abbey, perched high above the River Danube, for an inside guided visit. Then onto the stunning Wachau Valley, famous for its ruined castles, world-class Grüner Veltliner wines, and apricots. Your day’s journey concludes in Austria’s magnificent capital Vienna, starting point of your trip.
DAY 12 – DEPART VIENNA
Your private airport or station transfer collects you from your hotel after breakfast in time for your onward journey.
