Christmas in Salzburg & Vienna 2012 

Thanks to a renegotiation with some of our suppliers, we are delighted to confirm a reduction in the price for this tour from the original brochure price as of 12 August 2011.



We depart St Pancras International by Eurostar to Brussels in Standard Premier Class, with a complimentary light meal and drinks served on board. After crossing into Belgium, we change trains in Brussels and continue our journey to Cologne in First Class. We spend the night in Cologne - a fantastic city dominated by its impressive Gothic cathedral. (E,D)

This morning we continue our journey to Austria,travelling in First Class to Salzburg via Mannheim. The city of Salzburg is the fourth largest in Austria and is famous as the birthplace of Mozart. We spend three nights at the elegant 5-star Hotel Bristol, which is set in a charming location in the heart of this impressive city. (B,D)

On Christmas Eve we spend the morning admiring Salzburg's Old Town during a guided walking tour, which takes us past splendid Baroque towers and along the famous Getreidegasse, one of the city's oldest streets and Mozart's childhood home. The afternoon is free for you to explore Salzburg's enchanting Christmas Market, which is located beside the city's impressive Cathedral. It is traditional for Christmas to be celebrated on Christmas Eve in Austria, and back at the hotel we delight in the festive and cosy atmosphere, enjoying Christmas stories, the music of a brass band and a wonderful Christmas dinner. (B,D)

On Christmas Day we enjoy a guided tour of the lakes and mountains around Salzburg. The area is renowned for its beauty, and some of the locations we visit today were featured in the classic film "The Sound of Music". We enjoy visits to St Gilgen, a small town on the shores of Lake Wolfgang, and Mondsee, another lakeside town that is home to the church used in the wedding scenes of the musical. During the excursion we also pass the breathtaking Hellbrunn Castle. We return to the hotel in the late afternoon where we settle down to a traditional three-course Christmas dinner. (B,D)

We depart Salzburg today, travelling by First Class rail directly to Vienna. We arrive mid-afternoon and transfer to our base for three nights, the charming Mercure Grand Hotel Biedermeier, conveniently located close to the city centre. Vienna is Austria's capital and largest city, and is one of the leading cultural and artistic centres of the German-speaking world. It is home to a vast number of superb museums, concert halls and opera houses, as well as the famous Spanish Riding School. (B,D)

Our first full-day in Vienna begins with a guided city tour which takes in Vienna's grand imperial architecture on the famous Ringstrasse. We pass a number of ornate buildings including the Hofburg Palace, the Opera house and Parliament building. Following our tour, your afternoon is free for you to perhaps try a Viennese coffee in one of the many traditional coffee houses. Alternatively visit the Danube Tower, affectionately known as the "concrete needle", which offers spectacular views over the city. (B,D)

Today you are free, until the early evening, to further explore the sights of Vienna at leisure. You could visit the Prater Gardens for a ride on the giant Ferris wheel. Built in 1897, this is a Viennese landmark and not to be missed.This evening we travel to the former imperial residence of Schönbrunn Palace. The palace is arguably one of Austria's greatest buildings and enjoys UNESCO World Heritage status. In the stunning setting of this magnificent complex, we enjoy dinner in the Restaurant Residenz followed by a captivating concert in the Orangery. (B,D)

We leave Vienna this morning as we begin our journey home. We make our way back to Cologne, travelling by First Class rail across the border into Germany. We change trains in Munich, continuing in First Class to Cologne,where we spend the final night of the holiday. (B,D)

We leave Cologne this morning and continue our journey home. We travel to Brussels in First Class, where we connect with Eurostar to St Pancras International, travelling in Standard Premier Class, with a light meal and drinks served on board. (B,E)

E=Eurostar Meal, B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
These meals, where shown are included in the price of your holiday