Vienna, Salzburg & the Danube

From London to Cologne

We meet at our dedicated Departure Office at St Pancras International, and travel by Eurostar to Brussels on the first leg of our journey to Germany. We travel in Standard Premier Class, enjoying a light meal and drinks served at our seats during the journey. On arrival in the Belgian capital, our journey continues on the high-speed service to Cologne. Here we stay overnight at a centrally-located hotel, situated close to the city's railway station, Old Town and its beautiful Gothic Cathedral.

First Class rail to Vienna

Leaving Cologne behind, today we continue by highspeed rail to Austria. Our route takes us southwards across Germany and into the state of Bavaria. We continue across the Austrian border and travel to Vienna, its historic Baroque capital city.

Vienna sightseeing and Schönbrunn Palace

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 built by the Habsburgs over six centuries. Other highlights include the ornate Opera House, the grand Parliament building and the lavish Town Hall. Later today we visit the spectacular Schönbrunn Palace, the former summer residence of the Imperial family, which is situated on the outskirts of Vienna in its own beautiful landscaped parkland. We enjoy a guided tour of the palace, followed by free time to stroll through its acres of formal gardens.

Danube cruise between Melk and Krems

Today's full-day excursion takes us on a cruise along the picturesque Wachau Valley, which is famed for its vineyards and castles. We also enjoy some time at leisure in the medieval towns of Melk and Krems. Melk is situated in Austria's wine-growing region and the gateway to the scenic Wachau Valley. Its magnificent 11th century Benedictine Abbey stands on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube and the town. Home to the prestigious Marble Room and the Abbey Church, which is generally considered one of the most beautiful Baroque churches north of the Alps.

Krems is located at the eastern edge of the Wachau Valley, where the Krems and Danube Rivers meet. A beautiful medieval riverside destination known for its wine production, the town has a charming historic centre, where a simple layout sees neat rows of pretty frescoed houses lining straight roads. There are plenty of wine-tasting opportunities to be had in Krems, with celebrated local wines offered at reduced tariffs.

A day discovering Vienna

Your day is free to explore the Austrian capital. Vienna's glorious Gothic Cathedral, the Stephansdom, is located at the very centre of the city. Its ornate interior makes it well worth a visit, and by climbing the 553 steps to the top of the Cathedral you will be rewarded with one of the best views of the city. Alternatively, you could perhaps take a ride on the giant Ferris wheel at the Prater Gardens, as this offers a more laid-back way of taking in the city's wonderful skyline. Further out of Vienna is Lake Neusiedl, situated on the border of Hungary and Austria. This is a lovely area for walking, hiking and bird watching, and makes a change from the city's hustle and bustle.

Scenic Route to Salzburg

Departing Vienna in a southerly direction, we encounter the spectacular mountain landscape of the Semmering Railway. Built across high mountain terrain during the pioneering era of the railways, the Semmering Railway was the first standard gauge mountain railway and is a protected UNESCO World Heritage site. Heading into the sunny southern Austrian state of Carinthia, we change at Leoben, travelling northwards through the wonderful mountain landscapes of the Tauern range en-route to Salzburg.

A guided sightseeing tour of Salzburg

Known for being the birthplace of Mozart, Salzburg is one of Austria's most famous cities, whose centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here we enjoy a guided sightseeing tour. 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.

On completion of the tour, the rest of your day is free to spend on sightseeing at leisure. Salzburg's squares are delightful; and another popular option is the Getreidegasse, which offers retail therapy in the most splendid setting. Otherwise, take a stroll through the beautiful Mirabell Gardens, or visit the Hohensalzburg Fortress, which offers superb views of the city - and the courtyard cafés are a great place to relax with a strudel and a coffee.

‘The Sound of Music’

Today we enjoy a guided tour of the lakes and mountains around Salzburg. This stunning 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 lined with lively cafes, shops and frescoed houses. 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 head back to Salzburg in time for our evening meal.

Salzburg to London by First Class rail

We leave Salzburg by high-speed rail to Cologne, where we overnight. The next day we continue to Brussels, boarding the Eurostar to London.