An unforgettable Austrian holiday experience

After meeting at London St Pancras, we board the Eurostar to Brussels. Here we change trains, travelling to Cologne for the night.

We transfer to the train station where we catch the high-speed service to Vienna, our base for the next three nights.

We enjoy a tour of Vienna's main sights, taking in the Imperial architecture on the famous Ringstrasse and the impressive Hofburg Palace, a vast complex of buildings built by the Hapsburgs over six centuries. Other highlights include the ornate Opera House, the grand Parliament building and the Neo-Gothic 'Rathaus'. After our tour, we visit Schönbrunn Palace, former summer residence of the Imperial family. One of the most beautiful rooms here is the Great Gallery, reminiscent of the 'Hall of Mirrors' at Versailles. We enjoy a guided tour followed by a strudel making demonstration, during which we get to taste hand-made pastries made to the authentic recipe. Our day ends in a private capsule aboard the city's famous Ferris wheel - the Wiener Riesenrad. As we admire the Prater Gardens from our unique vantage point, we're treated to a glass of fizz and some Austrian snacks.

We transfer to Melk by coach where we visit Melk Abbey, a grand Benedictine Abbey dating back to the 11th century. We have time to admire its stunning peach and white exterior as well as the arched ceilings and gilded golden walls inside. Next, we take to the waters for a scenic cruise to Durnstein along the Danube River, gliding through the picturesque Wachau Valley. Famed for its vineyards and castles, easily visible from the water, keep watch for Dürnstein Castle, once used to imprison Richard the Lionheart.

We travel through spectacular landscapes aboard the Semmering Railway en-route to Salzburg today. Running over 25 miles from Gloggnitz to Mürzzuschlag, we're immersed in the verdant beauty of the Semmering Pass, crossing 16 viaducts, 110 bridges and travelling through 14 different tunnels along the way. Rather than disrupt the natural beauty of the valley, the route was designed to work in harmony with its surroundings, meaning the views from our carriage are second to none.

We enjoy a guided tour of the lakes and mountains of the Austrian Lake District. This stunning area is renowned for its natural beauty, and some of the locations we visit were featured in 1965 film version of 'The Sound of Music.' Our first stop is Hellbrunn Castle Gardens before we continue to St Gilgen, a small town on the shores of Wolfgangsee. Enjoy free time here before we continue to Mondsee and St Wolfgang, on the north shore of the lake.

We enjoy a guided tour of Salzburg, soaking in the sumptuous Baroque architecture alongside the churches, squares and alleyways of the city's beautiful Old Town. With free time afterwards, you might like to stroll through the Mirabell Gardens or visit Hohensalzburg Fortress. This evening, we make our way to Mirabell Palace for a classical music concert. This is the palace where Mozart himself once enchanted crowds with his music, and we spend an evening immersed in timeless culture as we watch skilled musicians perform.

We leave Salzburg by high-speed rail, travelling to Cologne for the night.

We head to the train station this morning for the service to Brussels. From here, we join the Eurostar to London St Pancras.

The high speed Eurostar trains link St Pancras International in London with Paris and Lille in France as well as Brussels in Belgium.

Eurostar's Standard Class coaches feature two seats on either side of the central aisle, most of which is arranged in an 'airline' seating configuration with drop down tray tables. There are two tables for four per carriage. Passengers travelling in Eurostar Standard Class coaches can take advantage of the Bar-Buffet which sells a range of snacks, meals, hot and cold drinks - including Champagne!

The highest class of Eurostar travel available for leisure customers is Standard Premier Class. In your dedicated Standard Premier carriage you'll find a less dense seat configuration, meaning the seats are larger and you have ample space to relax and stretch out. As part of the service you'll enjoy complimentary drinks and refreshments, served at your seat by friendly, helpful waiting staff.

For the class of travel used on your chosen tour, please refer to the 'What's Included' section of the tour page.

Probably one of Europe's finest high speed trains, the jewel in German Rail's crown is the InterCityExpress or ICE.

Linking all Germany's major cities and selected destinations outside Germany, the ICE trains offer some of the most comfortable and well-designed accommodation around, so you can really get the most out of your journey.

Named after the famous British express service, InterCity trains are long-distance services operating in a variety of different countries, such as Germany, Switzerland and Austria. InterCity trains are distinct from Inter City Express (ICE) and EuroCity services in that they operate on domestic routes within country borders.

Often said to be one of the first mountain railways in the world, this awe-inspiring line also boasts the heady title of being one of the few railways to hold a UNESCO World Heritage listing. This title is for good reason, because the line, which has been running since 1854, passes over and through some of the most incredible scenery on the planet. Running over 41 kilometers from Gloggnitz to Mürzzuschlag, the line winds through the verdant beauty of the Semmering Pass, and passs over 16 viaducts, 110 bridges, and through 14 tunnels. Rather than disrupt the natural beauty of the valley, the line was designed to work in harmony with its surroundings, and therefore the views from the trains that run along it are second to none. In 2012, a base tunnel through the valley began construction, and it is expected to open in 2026, over 170 years after the line first opened. 

Thalys is a brand run by two companies, Thalys International, whose shareholders are French, Belgian and German rail companies, with Dutch Railways (NS) as a privileged partner, and also The Railway Company THI Factory, 60% of whose capital is held by SNCF, and 40% by SNCB.

It runs rail services linking Paris and Brussels with Amsterdam or Cologne. The trains are similar in design to French TGVs and can reach up to 190mph (305km/h) when travelling on dedicated high speed lines.

Comfort 1 (First Class) passengers benefit from spacious seating and are usually served complimentary light refreshments once underway. Both Comfort 1 and Comfort 2 (Standard Class) passengers have access to the Thalys Bar, which serves a selection of snacks, meals and hot and cold drinks during most journeys.

The 4-Star Goldenes Theater Hotel in Salzburg offers a comfortable base in the vibrant city, within easy reach of many of the main attractions. Guest rooms are well-equipped with a television, Wi-Fi and a minibar, and are furnished with modern and chic decor. On site, there's a lobby bar and lounge that serves a selection of drinks, and a breakfast buffet is served daily.

Situated a stone's throw away from beautiful Schloss Belvedere and close to many public transport links, the 4-Star Imperial Riding School Renaissance Vienna Hotel is our base whilst in Vienna. The hotel offers some excellent amenities, including a swimming pool, a sauna, a solarium, and a fitness centre. There are also a selection of fine restaurants and bars, serving anything a fine selection of traditional Austrian cuisine. There is also a seasonal restaurant, the City Garden, which offers delicious barbeque. The rooms are pleasantly decorated in neutral colours, and come well equipped with air-conditioning, an en-suite bathroom, an in-room safe, a hair dryer, a television, and complimentary Wi-Fi.

Our hotel in Vienna is the 4-Star Mercure Grand Hotel Biedermeier. The hotel is conveniently located close to the city centre and St Stephen's cathedral, in a quiet, heritage-style Biedermeier arcade. The hotel offers a café restaurant, hotel bar and the rustic Weissgerberstube pub. Rooms feature air conditioning, safe, television, telephone, radio, minibar and hairdryer.

Typical meal arrangements when dining at the hotel:

• Breakfast: buffet-style continental breakfast
• Dinner: three-course set menu

Spending a night in London before your tour can make such a difference to the first day of your holiday - you can arrive in the capital in good time, relaxed and ready to join your Tour Manager the next morning. You may even want to take in a show on the West End, or dine in one of London's famous restaurants. Perhaps on your return to London, you would like to break your journey with an overnight stay before continuing home.

We are able to book a wide range of hotels in central London or, for our holidays beginning with a flight, at Heathrow, Gatwick or Manchester Airport for the night before or after your holiday. The hotels listed below are some of the more popular hotels our customers book in Central London, others are available on request.

Above prices are approximate, subject to availability, and per room per night based on two people sharing. If you require a quote for single occupancy at any of the hotels please contact us on 01904 734 805. 

Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business - there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules and restrictions. As you are connecting with an international departure, we strongly recommend that you book a fully flexible ticket to ensure that should the departure times for your holiday change, your rail ticket can allow for these changes.

We can book fully-flexible UK rail tickets from your local station to join your holiday whether this be a European holiday from St Pancras or a UK holiday. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes.

For an up to date quote from your local station, please ask one of our Tour Advisors.