Christmas in Salzburg & Vienna 2012 

We depart St Pancras International by Eurostar to Brussels in Standard Premier Class, with a 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 on a direct rail service to Vienna. We arrive in the Austrian capital and transfer to our base for three nights, the elegant 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)

We begin our stay in Vienna with a tour of the city's main sights, taking in the magnificent Imperial architecture on the famous Ringstrasse - a wide avenue that encircles the Old City of Vienna. We see many of Vienna's finest buildings including the impressive Hofburg Palace, a vast complex of buildings constructed by the Habsburgs over six centuries. Other highlights include the ornate Opera House, the grand Parliament building and the lavish Town Hall. 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)

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 Schönbrunn Palace, the former summer residence of the Imperial Family. Situated on the outskirts of Vienna in its own beautiful landscaped parkland, the spectacular palace is 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 depart Vienna today, travelling by First Class rail directly to Salzburg. The city of Salzburg is one of Austria's largest 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 discovering Salzburg, whose centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site, on a guided sightseeing tour. Among the many highlights, we admire the Old Town. The city's internationally renowned Baroque architecture sits in one of Europe's best-preserved city centres, which combines with the lovely local scenery to create a unique charm. We also walk along the famous Getreidegasse, one of the city's oldest streets and Mozart's childhood home. On completion of the tour, you are free 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 moutains 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". This morning we enjoy a tour taking in some of the beautiful region's most popular sights, including Hellbrunn Castle Gardens. We also enjoy visits to St Gilgen, a small town on the shores of Lake Wolfgangsee, and Mondsee, another lakeside town that is home to the church used in the wedding scenes of the musical. You have some free time in St Gilgen, the birthplace of Mozart's mother, to explore its piecuresque streets and frescoed houses. Perhaps take a stroll along the lakeside promenade to admire the view towards the majestic Schafberg mountain. From here we continue to St Wolfgang, a pretty little town on the north shores of the lake. After taking in the delights of the area, we return to the hotel in the late afternoon, where we settle down to a traditional three-course Christmas dinner. (B,D)

We leave Salzburg 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