New Year 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. Tonight we travel to Grinzing, a charming wine village bordered by the Vienna Woods, where we enjoy a fantastic gala buffet dinner accompanied by live music to welcome in the New Year. (B)

On New Year's Day you are free to explore one of the great European capitals, a city full of tradition and rich in architectural, artistic and musical heritage. Vienna is full of reminders of its imperial heyday, from the regal Hofburg Palace to the magnificent Baroque Belvedere Palace. (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)

Today 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 this delightful city at your own pace. (B,D)

Today 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". This morning we enjoy a tour taking in some of this 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 picturesque 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. (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)

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