Best of Germany and Austria

Location: 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.<br/>

Accommodation: Sheraton Offenbach

Accommodation Name: Sheraton Offenbach

Location: Rhine River, Cologne Cathedral, Cologne

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.<br/>

Accommodation: Mercure Koeln Belfortstrasse

Accommodation Name: Mercure Koeln Belfortstrasse

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Location: Berlin, Brandenburg Gate, Tiergarten, Unter den Linden, Reichstag Building

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.<br/>

Accommodation: Mercure MOA

Accommodation Name: Vienna House by Wyndham Andel's

Meals: Breakfast

Location: Berlin, Berlin TV Tower, Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, Potsdam

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.<br/>

Accommodation: Mercure MOA

Accommodation Name: Vienna House by Wyndham Andel's

Meals: Breakfast

Location: Würzburg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber

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.<br/>

Accommodation: Prinzhotel

Accommodation Name: Prinzhotel

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Location: Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Munich

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.<br/>

Accommodation: Sheraton Arabellapark

Accommodation Name: Four Points by Sheraton Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Location: Munich, Marienplatz, St. Peter's Church, Viktualienmarkt

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.<br/>

Accommodation: Sheraton Arabellapark

Accommodation Name: Four Points by Sheraton Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Location: Neuschwanstein Castle, 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.<br/>

Accommodation: Tivoli Innsbruck

Accommodation Name: Tivoli Innsbruck

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Location: Innsbruck, Hofburg Palace, Golden Roof, Swarovski Crystal Worlds Store

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.<br/>

Accommodation: Tivoli Innsbruck

Accommodation Name: Tivoli Innsbruck

Meals: Breakfast

Location: Salzburg, Hohensalzburg Castle, Getreidegasse, Salzburg Cathedral

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.<br/>

Accommodation: Austria Trend Europa

Accommodation Name: Holiday Inn Salzburg City

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Location: Wachau Valley, Melk Abbey, Dürnstein, 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.<br/>

Accommodation: Imperial Riding School

Accommodation Name: Imperial Riding School

Meals: Breakfast

Location: Vienna, Hofburg Palace, Vienna, State Opera House, Vienna, Ringstrasse, Vienna, St. Stephen's Cathedral, 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.<br/>

Accommodation: Imperial Riding School

Accommodation Name: Imperial Riding School

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Location: Vienna

We bid farewell to our companions at the end of a wonderful holiday.<br/>

Meals: Breakfast