GERMANY, AUSTRIA, & SWITZERLAND in 12 days
Vienna - 2 nights
Salzburg - 2 nights
Reutte - 1 night
Lauterbrunnen - 2 nights
Rothenburg - 2 nights
Munich - 2 nights
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$3795 + air
Single Supplement = $680
Explore the grand imperial city of Vienna, famous for castles, kings, music, and cuisine. Then, you’ll have two relaxing days in Salzburg’s famous city center. A visit to Neuschwanstein Castle and nearby Reutte rounds out the fifth day of the tour. We'll head to Switzerland for my favorite alpine village experience in the beautiful Lauterbrunnen valley. Leaving the Alps, take a turn to the north and follow the Rhine River valley through the Black Forest to the cute little town of Rothenburg. Finally, visit Hitler’s first concentration camp in Dachau before capping off your tour with two days in Munich, the capital city of Bavaria.
DAY 1: Welcome to Vienna - Meet your Exploring Europe guide at 3:00 p.m. in the lobby of your Vienna hotel for greetings and introductions. Then we will take a walking tour through the historical heart of Vienna so you can get your bearings. We will make a stop at the massive St. Stephen’s Cathedral before heading off for dinner in one of our favorite restaurants. Sleep for 2 nights in Vienna. Walking: Moderate. Dinner.
DAY 2: Vienna – After breakfast, we will begin a walking tour concentrating on the royal Habsburgs and their importance to this city. You will visit the Opera House (when open), the Hofburg Palace, the Imperial Apartments, and the Royal Treasury. The remainder of the day and evening is free to explore another museum or a palace or slow down and enjoy the coffee café culture. Walking: Moderate.
DAY 3: Salzburg and The Sound of Music! – Today, we will head west along the Danube, tracing the route of the Habsburg tradesmen. Closing in on Salzburg, we will strike out on a driving tour, hitting the highlights of the popular movie, The Sound of Music. Later, stroll through the historic old town taking in several famous musical sights and churches. After a bit of free time, we will meet for dinner at the Augustiner Braühaus, a huge beer hall and garden in the hills overlooking the city. Driving: 4 hours. Walking: moderate. Sleep for 2 nights in Salzburg. Dinner.
DAY 4: Salzburg – We’ll spend most of the morning on a historical walking tour of Salzburg’s old town. This was the home to Mozart and the Von Trapp family so we tie in a lot of musical elements as well. After the walking tour, you will have the remainder of the day and evening to explore more of Salzburg on your own. Your guide will be available to help with your sightseeing plans and activities. Walking: moderate.
DAY 5: Neuschwanstein Castle - Today, we will head west into the scenic mountains of Bavaria. You will have most of the afternoon to explore Schloss Neuschwanstein, the fairy-tale fantasy castle of Bavaria’s King Ludwig II. You’ll recognize it as Walt Disney’s model for Cinderella’s Castle. Later, we will drive back across the border and set up in Reutte, Austria, for the evening. Here, enjoy dinner featuring fresh Austrian cuisine in a traditional guesthouse setting. Driving: 4 hours. Walking: Strenuous. Sleep 1 night in Reutte. Dinner.
DAY 6: Liechtenstein and Switzerland – Driving through lush mountain meadows and alpine foothills, we will arrive in the tiny country of Liechtenstein in time for lunch. Enjoy a stop in Vaduz, the capital city, and get your passport stamped! Then it is on to Switzerland. The beautiful Lauterbrunnen Valley is located in the heart of the Swiss Alps and is filled with waterfalls, glaciers, and cowbells. After checking into the hotel, you’ll have the remainder of the afternoon to settle in. Tonight, enjoy a traditional Swiss dinner at a favorite restaurant. Driving: 6 hours. Walking: light. Sleep 2 nights in Lauterbrunnen. Dinner.
DAY 7: Enjoy the mountains! - You may want to hike, ride a lift to a mountain summit, or even play in the snow. The hills are filled with alpine villages, shops, restaurants, hiking trails, and mountain lifts. Walking: Your choice.
DAY 8: The Black Forest and Rothenburg – We will get an early start this morning as we leave the Alps and head up the Rhine River valley. Along the way, enjoy a stop for lunch in a German town near the Black Forest. Later, arrive in Rothenburg for hotel check-in and dinner. Driving: 8 hours (with stops). Walking: Light. Sleep for 2 nights in Rothenburg. Dinner.
DAY 9: Rothenburg – You will have the entire day to do a little exploring on your own in Rothenburg. Enjoy a stroll in the castle gardens, a walk on the medieval-era town walls, plenty of shopping, wine tasting, and of course, their cute little “Christmas all year” shops. Walking: Your choice.
DAY 10: Munich – It is a short ride on the Autobahn down to Munich. Before heading into town, we will start our tour on a somber note as we visit Hitler’s first concentration camp in Dachau. Learn how in 1943, this became the model for all future camps. Then, let’s head directly to Munich’s bustling city center for a walking tour of the city’s highlights and an opportunity to take a break at a famous beer garden. Settle in at our hotel and enjoy a relaxing afternoon and evening. Driving: 3 hours. Walking: moderate. Sleep for 2 nights in Munich.
DAY 11: Munich - Enjoy an event-free day in town. Tonight, we’ll meet for a festive farewell dinner at one of my favorite restaurants. Walking: Your choice. Dinner.
DAY 12: So Long, Farewell – Your tour ends this morning after breakfast. There are no scheduled activities today. Munich’s train station and airport are nearby, and your guide will be happy to point you in the right direction for your onward journey. Auf Wiedersehen!
Itinerary specifics are subject to change.
Transportation provided by coach and/or minibus from your first hotel in Vienna to your final hotel in Munich.
11 nights accommodation in centrally located hotels, guesthouses, and B&Bs. All rooms have private en-suite baths.
All tips and gratuities to guides, drivers, restaurant, and hotel staff.
Guaranteed Small Group consisting of 6-18 travelers.
All breakfasts and six of your dinners or lunches.
Water is included with all meals. Soda, coffee, tea, beer, wine, or other beverages are up to you.
Traditional dining experiences at some of David's personal favorite restaurants. Eating well is a priority, and you’ll enjoy fine regional fare featuring the best the locale has to offer.
Tours and admissions to the following attractions, experiences, and sights: Orientation and walking tour of Munich, Salzburg, Vienna, and Rothenburg; Entrance to the imperial Habsburg site mentioned in the itinerary; WWII concentration camp in Dachau; Sound of Music walking and driving tour; Castle Neuschwanstein guided tour and entrance; two days in the Swiss Alps filled with alpine villages, hiking, and grand mountain vistas; many gourmet dining experiences ▪ and much more.
A full-time Exploring Europe guide and local experts dedicated to bringing to life the art, history, and culture of the tour destinations.
David’s tour handouts are delivered electronically and detail each day’s historical and cultural experiences.
Free luggage tags and David’s custom-designed drawstring backpacks.
Our Unconditional Tour Price Guarantee, once locked in, will never change.
$50 Tour Alumni discount for each David McGuffin tour you’ve taken prior to this travel year.
Anything not listed above in the "inclusions" area is not included in the cost of your tour.
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Walking and Physical Activity: We have planned this trip to provide maximum tour experiences. The basic nature of Europe does require some degree of physical activity to get out and see the sights, especially in the big cities. To help you plan, we’ve included a daily projection of physical activity. Here is the key for our walking activity ratings:
Light – Walking done on level surfaces with some hills and elevation gains. Two miles or less of required walking during the day.
Moderate – Walking done on paved and gravel paths and cobbled city sidewalks. To enjoy the full tour experience, some uphill and downhill walking is expected, as is standing while viewing sights or museums. Four to six miles of walking per day.
Strenuous – Walking done on rugged and rocky paths and city-cobbled sidewalks. There will be steps and stairs. Up to three hours standing in museums or experience sites. Up to eight miles of walking per day.
Your Choice – No matter what your walking ability, we will help you find alternative ways to enjoy and experience all Europe has to offer. To get the most out of our tours, you should be able to operate at the light level every day with spurts of moderate and strenuous.
Now that you've decided to join this tour, we are sure you'll have some questions. Don't worry. We are here to help you through each aspect of your tour from start to finish.
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