Best of Germany, Austria & Switzerland in 14 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful time. The modest group size made for a very comfortable trip. Hotel locations were fabulous and our tour guide Mattias was inspiring, educational and incredubly fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Arriving in Murren via cable car and being surrounded by the swiss alps will always be one of my favortie memories."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was educational, we saw many places we could have never managed on our own. I did not enjoy it as much as out small village Italy tour for several reasons, but I did enjoy the trip. The amount of people on the trip should have been less, even starting with 22-24 instead. The food was bad, really bad. I am a foodie and I was so disappointed in the group meals. The meals should have been outside as much as possible due to Covid. Our tour guide did a wonderful job.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was Murren, I plan to go back to Switzerland. I had never been on a gondola and was scared but they were fantastic. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Saw an awful lot of territory

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Alps…definitely seeing the peaks and grassy mountains"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Selected places to visit were outstanding. The pace of the tour worked out to be great. Hotels were very nice and the tour guide made sure everyone had a great view. The local guides did an outstanding job sharing interesting facts about their city. Meals that were included were representative of the local cuisine and tasted great. Time spent on bus was informative about the history of the area and what we were going to see. Bus driver excellent. Iris our guide couldn’t have been better. Wow!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Really enjoyed Cologne and Salzburg. City sites outstanding. Our visit to Murren was good but rainy. Vienna was wonderful. Overall we enjoyed the other tour members and our time eating local dishes and seeing this part of Europe. Iris provided so much history as did Michael, our tour guide in training. He even sang to us in Germany. Hotels always being located within the city center makes all the difference when on a tour with limited time in each city. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My overall tour experience of Germany, Switzerland and Austria was completely life changing! From start to finish, everything was perfect! From day 1 to day 14, our tour went exceptionally. From the cities, hotel venues, restaurants, bus rides, tour guides, the people we met; all of it was way beyond our expectations!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My “Wow” moment is really the entire trip; from the moment I walked out of Cologne’s train station and saw the mighty Cologne Cathedral. Then the next day climbing to the top of the Cathedral’s tower and seeing the beautiful city below at the banks of the Rhine River."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Wonderful in general

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The small villages especially a slow walk in Murren"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Occasionally felt rushed but otherwise a great experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"First time views of the Swiss Alps. Trummelbach Falls. Neuschwanstein Castle. Salt Mine."

Overall rating: rating 1 of 5

Cologne was uninteresting. Third Man museum did not deserve the amount of time allocated. Really dislike 1-night stays. Guide said "Not a vacation, but a tour", however, it seemed like a marathon with no time for photos or questions. Did not expect 14 days of ancient Roman and WWII history with no information at all about current industry and farms viewed from highway unless members interrupted guide to ask.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Murren"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour exceeded my expectations! Everything was wonderful, our tour guide Matti was exceptional, our bus driver was the best. The itinerary was as described with many fun surprises added.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Switzerland was amazing! Staying in Murren, hiking nearby and going up to Schlithorn. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great group and a great guide (Matti). Matti made every day special. His surprises (Black Forest Cake, schnapps, spritzers, etc. we’re right on target every time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking in Mürren."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything about this trip was amazing. Our guide, Matthias, was outstanding! He kept the group alive and energized. Always with a surprise around every corner. This was a very well organized tour and everything that was included was beyond my expectations! We were given so much history along with so much fun. I know I would not have been able to see and do all the things we did on my own. I would definitely do another trip with Rick Steves. Thank you to Matthias and Jon our bus driver!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking in the Swiss Alps was awe inspiring and with the view of the Alps from our bed was amazing to wake up to in Murren. Hallstatt was as quaint as I was hoping it to be. It was great to spend the night here and have the bout tour before we went to our hotel. It would have been nice to spend more time in Beilstein, as this was another unexpected pleasure! Seeing the castles was also another wow factor!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Extremely informative tour. It allowed us to really become immersed in the culture ,with the orientations at each location providing a history so that you were informed as to how it had evolved into the city or village it is today.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many, but I would have to say the Alps in both Murren and beautiful Lake Hallstatt."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was well organized and there were no glitches. I enjoyed meeting and interacting with all the other tour participants. No shortage of fun and good laughs.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Both the Swiss and Austrian alps. However the countryside in general was beautiful"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Swiss Alps"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a beautifully executed tour. Everything went smoothly and the history and context from local guides and our tour leader added richness to the experience. I really appreciated having a lot of time to explore independently after being oriented to a location. It is a smart way to run a tour as evidenced by how the group members headed off in multiple directions to use our free time - so much nicer than being tied to someone else's idea of a good trip. It was such fun to hear what others did.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lots of great moments. In Salzburg our tour leader arranged tickets for an optional dinner and chamber concert in the 11th century fortress which most of our group chose to do. It was a venue as unlike any at home as I could imagine."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was a fantastic adventure through Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. We saw wonders of nature, learned about ancient and recent history, and experienced the culture of Bavaria, the Alps, and Austria.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The stunning Swiss Alps! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves’ organized trip. I have used (I mean sincerely followed) Rick Steves books for six other trips. This was a treat. I did not have to worry about details and I believe that at the end of trip I earned some education credits. This was a trip where guides were historians. They were passionate and knowledgeable. Additionally, in my spare time, I was still able to travel like a local. I enjoyed the company of other members of the tour. We had an amazing group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I will have to say that my “wow” moment was the education I got from all the guides used in the tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of our tour, the sites, the guides, the food and the hotels. We were fortunate to have had much cooler weather than much of Europe including the tour that preceded us. Although there was some rain it did not deter us from our enjoyment. We also really enjoyed the company of our fellow travelers and tour guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Trummelbach Falls was amazing and we give our guide Bryan all the credit for arranging a 'non-group' group visit of the Falls! It was loud, wet, beautiful and a 'awe'-some. Our whole visit to Interlaken and Switzerland was more majestic than we could have expected. We also got to vicariously enjoy the experience of parasailing in the Alps from our more adventurous travelmates."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very educational and fun!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Switzerland Alps for the first time was exhilarating! Our tour guide was extremely helpful, but also gave us so much information about the area."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour guides were great. Everything was well planned and organized.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Omg there were many on this trip. There was not just one. From the landscape to the food and drinks all where wow."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Provided a learning experience about the history of Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cologne Cathedral"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was great! The tour guides we had 2 were wonderful!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Switzerland…loved we stayed on the mountain could have stayed for longer! Lovely! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Wonderful people, tour guides and experiences. Food choices not to my liking. I don’t eat certain things and apparently did not express properly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Switzerland location and activities were favorites. Hiking there was wonderful. Also Lake Hallstatt location was fantastic. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We loved the beautiful and breathtaking scenery, fellowship with our cohorts, the pace of travel, and the amazing guides. Switzerland was a highlight. The food was least enjoyable part of the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Murren Switzerland and all the breathtaking views and wonderful hiking!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved the knowledge and helpfulness of the tour guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking in the alps. One view was more beautiful than the next. I have hiked a lot in US National Parks, but there was no comparison to hiking in the alps."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very enjoyable, wonderful tour guides, nice sized tour group, nice mix of small towns and large cities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Stepping out onto our deck in Murren and seeing the Alps, right there! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 5th RS trip and it NEVER disappoints. I know I'm signing up for something fun, educational, and meaningful when I register for a RS trip. It never really feels "touristy" since the groups are small and because the quality of the tour guides are always top notch. I especially love the free time to do what I want to after participating in the group tour in the morning.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking the North Face Trail in Murren and taking in an exquisite view. It felt like I was in a virtual 350 post card view of sheer beauty. Hallstatt was another "wow" moment! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Such an amazing journey that combined breathtaking beauty, culture, history and a TON of family. The people on our tour quickly became our friends and it felt like we knew them forever. Our tour guide and especially the apprentice. We’re also so good and extremely knowledgeable, interesting and helpful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Definitely Murren! It’s beauty took my breath away. I loved listening to the “music” of the cowbells as we hiked many of the trails. Trummelbach falls was amazing. Also, the “Big Thrill” walk was a personal accomplishment for me as I have an extreme fear of heights! Also enjoyed the tine we spent in Munich at Biergartens and Haufbrauer house and our group dinner with cheering as the bartender “tapped a new keg”. Really loved it all! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall, it was a nice tour. Carlos gave a lot of great insight about where we were and what we would be doing. The sights we saw were typically very good. Sometimes the travel time between destinations was a bit long, and sometimes the dinner food choices were limited. The hotel rooms were fine. Since we don't spend a lot of time there, they served their purpose. But overall everything was very good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had 2. Being at the top of the Shilthorn in Murren, and the view from our hotel room in Hallstatt. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Wonderful trip I enjoyed meeting everyone on the tour. When you take a 14 day trip and see three countries you know going in you will see just a taste. I'm fine with that and loved all we did.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think staying in Murren in the Alps was my favorite. It's so beautiful and majestic that you have to see it to describe it fully. We had enough free time to explore that I feel we all got to do what we wanted. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every aspect of our trip was absolutely remarkable! The itinerary provided an excellent sampling of Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, including various cities and sites to visit. I especially enjoyed WW1 and WWII history that was shared by our fabulous guide, Carlos. Each bus ride went quickly as we enjoyed the beautiful scenery, stops, and history lessons. Our group included many wonderful people who quicky became friends and well as travel buddies.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The awe-inspiring beauty of the scenery in Murren as we rode in gondolas, on the train, during hikes, at view points, and outside our hotel room window. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The GAS tour is great, lots of territory--3 countries!-- and experiences. Castles, Alps, luges, and salt mines! It also involves substantial travel time on the bus to cover all of that territory. You do get a "taste" of various places, but not much time anywhere. For example, we did not arrive in BadenBaden until 5 pm, and we left early the next morning. Munich was only 1 cold, rainy day. The RS guide and the local guides were superb.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My granddaughter and I decided to go up the Jungfrau in Switzerland. It was a glorious day and experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We can’t say enough good things about this tour. It was our first time traveling with a group and we knew it had to be a RS tour. We definitely made the right choice. The small group, lodging locations, best tour guide ever, and all the little extras not listed in the itinerary all combined to make this a dream trip. Bryan Fellbusch was fun, knowledgeable, accessible, and had a great sense of humor. The itinerary was a perfect mix of structured group activities and time spent exploring alone.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Arriving in Murren, taking the beautiful walk to Hotel Jungfrau, stepping out on our balcony and just gasping at the view. It seemed we could reach out and touch the snow capped Alps. Murren was our favorite stop. The picturesque village with all the gorgeous flowers and lush gardens made every view seem like a postcard. Massive mountains on one side and a rolling meadow on the other. The air was so pure and we loved the backdrop sound of the distant cow-bells. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

After our first, totally amazing, Rick Steves tour last year, our high expectations were most definitely met! The itinerary and activities were all very thoughtfully curated and extraordinarily well-planned. The 14 days were maximized to the fullest - I feel like we saw and did SO much, without it ever being too much or too tiring. Loved that it was a group of 20 - this size made things very manageable, and the group felt tighter / closer than on our previous, slightly larger Rick Steves tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Going up to the Schilthorn in Switzerland on a beautifully sunny, perfectly clear day - it was spectacular! Also, really loved the Swiss cows on the mountainsides with their bells!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my second RS tour and I am already looking into which Rick Steve's will be next summer's vacation. They are a fabulous option for people who like information, like structure to their day, and can't really plan it all out themselves (or don't have the time too!) Rick's tours are well curated, the hotels are great, the included meals are great, and our guide BRYAN was dedicated, organized, smart and funny.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to Mauthausen, a concentration camp in Austria, balanced out all the history, art and culture we were getting. It is important to get as well rounded and full a picture of a place as possible, not just the good food and art museums (which we did in plenty). I appreciate Rick's passion for giving travelers a well balanced picture of a place, through the itineraries he builds and the local guides he chooses. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Looking across the Lauterbrunnen Valley at the Alps from my quaint outside cafe table in Murren: Eye-to-eye with the mighty Jungfrau! So palpable I felt I could reach out and touch them!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I thoroughly enjoyed my first Rick Steve's Tour. Our tour guide Matthias was wonderful. It was a great group of fellow travelers and Will, our bus driver was a wonderful driver. Loved the quaint hotels and tour itinerary.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Looking out our window at Hotel Jungfrau and staring at the amazing view of the mountains. Everything about Murren was outstanding!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first RS guided tour and we had a blast. Everything was well organized and our guide, Mattias, was very helpful and patient with our questions! He was a good history teacher and gave us details on all locations as well as a guided tour. The local guides were also very thorough and passionate about what they do. The hotels were all charming and cute. The group meals were well planned to enjoy local specialties. We had a fun group, from teenagers to retirees. Now friends!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking in Switzerland was a dream come true. The rolling hills and huge mountains, flowery meadows and grazing cows with ringing bells."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Thomas was outstanding! We enjoyed our group of fellow travelers very much.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When I woke up in Switzerland looking at mountains "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide Thomas was very attentive, informative, and provided a lot of history on the different regions we visited. We learned so much on this trip which we really appreciated from a historical sense. There were many unexpected “personal touches” added to daily tours that we loved. This was our first and certainly not our last Rick Steves tour! We really enjoyed the chance to explore on our own, and Thomas always had tips and suggestions to any questions we had.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hallstatt was truly remarkable tucked away in the Austrian Alps. We rented a boat and toured the lake which provided pure enjoyment of the beauty of this town. Another fantastic part was staying in Murren and enjoying a few days of the beautiful Alps. There was a perfect mix of city and countryside in this tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first group tour and we were very happy with the experience, especially our guide Thomas K.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Murren and the Alps were the highlight, we understand why it rated the most days/nights and plan to return for a longer stay in the future. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide was excellent, knowledgeable, helpful, thoughtful. Out driver was skillful. The itinerary was just right.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The gondola rides"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was amazed at the sheer number of importantt sites we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Pretty much all of Mürren nestled in the alps."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour and it exceeded all expectations. Our fellow travelers were amazing people, our tour guide was stellar, our driver made difficult drives look easy, and the tour was the perfect mix of cities and nature, as we hoped it'd be from the itinerary. Iris, our guide, was the heart of our tour and filled our days with humor, kept us on German time, shared her vast knowledge, and took care of us every step of the way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Switzerland was unbelievably gorgeous. The view from our hotel room alone, the view from our climb up the Schilthorn, the view hiking up in Murren and walking the valley, the Swiss Alps are surreal."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steve's Tour. It met and exceeded our expectations. So much that we look forward to taking more Rick Steve's Tours in the near future. Everything went smoothly as it was well organized. The sites, countries and cities we toured were almost magical as they are very historical and famous. I wasn't expecting our tour guide to give us such interesting and informative information as much as she did. That was one of the best parts of this tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are so many wow moments but some of my favorite was Murren, Switzerland - the scenery and the hikes. We also loved Munich, and all that city had yo offer. Another favorite was Salzburg. We attended a concert at the Fortress. Before the concert was a meal up on the top of the Fortress which offered beautiful mountain views. The weather was perfect which added to a glorious evening. We really enjoyed the open air museum in the Black Forest. Seeing the two castles were both "wow" moments."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything about the tour was amazing. Our guide, Iris, was phenomenal. I always felt like I was getting the full experience of any location we were taken (including our rest stops!). Having taken trips to parts of Europe without a guide, I don't know that I will go again without doing a Rick Steves tour (or, at the very least, a Rick Steves book). This tour was the perfect combination of city and countryside, history and current culture, guidance and freedom.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's hard to choose just one, but I think opening the door to the balcony in our hotel room in Murren is the image that I'll always remember and will constantly retell to anyone asking about this tour. I got turned around going up to the room, so I didn't realize we would be facing the beautiful mountains. When we set our bags down, I saw the door to the balcony and thought "Oh, neat!" and when I opened the doors, I gasped. We'd fall asleep looking out at the mountains each night."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, the tour was great. The guide was knowledge and fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Riding the luge and the Swiss Alps"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We enjoyed the variety of sites visited and the diversity of ages in our group. The food was also very good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Murren and the Alps. Our hotel room in Murren faced the Alps adding to our "wow" moments. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was everything I expected and more. Andris was such a great tour guide, providing us with great information as we traveled and with a great sense of humor! This was our first Rick Steves tour to see three countries we'd never visited and we were very happy with the choice. A wonderful group to travel with!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Touring the Mauthausen Concentration camp was a sobering and eye opening moment. We also loved the hiking and scenery in Murren Switzerland. So beautiful!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic! My wife and I enjoyed the Germany/Switzerland/Austria trip and our guide Iris led a great tour. We had previously done the Medieval Villages tour in Italy and they were both excellent in very different ways.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many, but I would have to say hiking in the Swiss Alps on a beautiful sunny afternoon. The mountains were stunning, the air crystal clear, and the cows and cowbells were music to our ears! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cathedrals"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was even better than I had imagined. It was nice to have a mix of organized tours and events as well as free time to do things on our own

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into the Hotel Jungfrau in Mürren and seeing the amazing view of the alps"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a wonderful trip. Rick Steves Tours took excellent care of everyone at all times, the tour bus was beautiful and very clean, our tour guide was so wonderful and informative. I have never learned so much before on a trip. We thoroughly enjoyed each place we visited in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The whole tour was very well planned and organized. You just didn’t have to worry about a thing. I would recommend this tour to anyone.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cathedrals are absolutely awe inspiring. Also hiking the beautiful trails in Switzerland. These were absolutely “wow” moments."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Matheus (Mattie) was awesome. So much fun. Very helpful and what a great singer!!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mitten! By far the best part of the tour!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Too much time in Cologne. Not enough time in Switzerland.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Murren"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well planned, covered a lot of great places, and had excellent guides in both Matthias Unger and the local guides. Was great to visit major cities and their main attractions. Was glad the tour included smaller towns and important sites. The orientation walks were very informative and it was great to have time to see stuff on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Mürren, Switzerland. It was nice to be in a small town after being in the city and the landscape is breathtaking. It was great to do a little hiking and go up the Schilthorn. The power of the Trümmelbach Falls are amazing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great tour experience. Matty was an excellent guide - very organized, informative and upbeat! Our fellow travellers were friendly and very good company. Hotels were nice and centrally located.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Murren and the surrounding area was beautiful! I also enjoyed touring the old farmhouse in the Black Forest. and the town on Lake Hallstatt,"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was a thrilling, bucket list type active tour with an excellent tour guide. The tour covered the gamut of historically significant cities with amazing culture, remote castles, awe-inspiring mountains, and charming hamlets. I thought the itinerary was well designed for the most part as we were able to experience all these different locations. The tour guide, Matthias, was exceptional. He was very professional, outgoing, and had a great sense of humor.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite moment was Murren in the Swiss Alps. Every moment during these three days, I couldn't believe where I was; so much mountain beauty. The trip up to the Shilthorn on the gondola and seeing a wonderful panoramic view of all the snow capped peaks was something I'll always remember."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

My wife and I had a great time, and - as expected - the trip went smoothly and was very enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every location was so different from the others so it's hard to select a single magic moment. I was in awe of the Alps up close and at the top of the cable car."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Matty Unger was great. So glad he is one of your guides!!! Made the trip!!!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Mozart concert in Salzburg at the Schloss Konzerte Mirabell. It was, wow- we're sitting in this beautiful building in Salzburg & listening to wonderful musicians play Mozart. Also LOVED our stay at Lake Hallstadt, our hotel view & the town were amazing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful. Guides were very informative and helpful, willing to answer any questions. We were given the opportunity to explore on our own everywhere we went. The bus was always clean and the driver was friendly and kind. The history of each area was very informative and greatly appreciated. I learned so much from our guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Cathedral in Cologne, the Schilthorn in Murren, salt mine in Hallstatt and all of Salzburg. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was very interesting, I seen so many different sites and learned so much! The tour guide was excellent. He combined the Germany, Switzerland and Austria experience with history while making sure everyone had a enjoyable time. I will definitely return to Europe.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Swiss Alps"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great group of travelers and visited some amazing locations. The weather was for the most part sunny and everyone was in good spirits. Hotel locations were great - walk for a few minutes to the scenic city center. Lots of climbing in the Swiss alps - be sure you and your luggage can handle a couple of flights of stairs. Our tour leader Mathias was truly wonderful - learned a lot from him about the psychology and history of Germany through the eyes of someone who has lived it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Getting up in the morning and seeing the Swiss alps outside - to someone from the Midwest, this is another world. I felt we had really traveled to somewhere new. Would like to acknowledge the food and drink as well. Many different kinds of quality beer, tasty fresh trout, authentic Austrian goulash, German sausages and sauerkraut, excellent chocolate, pastry and daily bread."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything went perfectly smoothly and as planned. Hans was great and very helpful and the itinerary was wonderful, even though I have been to several of those cities it was a great experience and trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Murren and the Swiss Alps. Staying for 3 nights lets us enjoy the Alps at our own pace. Hans our tour guide was great (also our bus driver) and the hotel locations at every stop were excellent! This tour has the perfect balance between cities, nature, and castles/churches. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall it was good. The activities were fun and meaningful. It was a good balance between city culture and nature.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Nothing says wow like hiking through the Swiss alps and seeing cows. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything that I hoped to experience happened and so much more. I learned so much about European history!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Switzerland knocked my socks off!! I’m from Colorado so do know mountains but these mountains are a whole new category!!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was wonderful! My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the other tour members and we thoroughly enjoyed our tour director, Hans.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "Wow" moment was hiking in the Alps outside of Murren! We had perfect weather and with the blue skies and gorgeous mountains, it made for a perfect moment of beauty!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, had a wonderful time. Guide was enthusiastic and fun, liked the mix of group activities and 'unscheduled' time to explore on our own. Group was wonderful and I feel that the clear expectations set attract a 'type' of person who is more easy going and active. Also liked the physical activity involved (lots of walking)!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Staying right in the Swiss Alps (Mürren): hiking, gondolas, waterfalls, drinking cold delicious water right out of the bathroom sink (and water spouts around town)!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was amazing. A combination of the history of a big city and quaint villages with amazing vistas.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The breathtaking views of the Switzerland landscapes. Pictures cannot capture the grandeur of the Alps and the beauty of the Villages."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We enjoyed our trip immensely. Ruby was a wonderful guide and we enjoyed all of the scheduled activities, as well as having time to create our own agenda in the afternoons.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Swiss Alps were breathtaking! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great time on the tour. After doing a multi city Europe trip in the past that was all self-organized, it was nice to have all the logistics from city to city handled as part of the tour. This enabled us to focus on really enjoying the sites and focusing on which sites we wanted to visit at each city. Our guide Ruby was incredible. She had a never-ending positive attitude throughout the trip and really helped make the tour experience fun for us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Staying up in the alps in a small town with incredible views right out our windows. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great trip! Our guide Ruby was wonderful, we were blessed with excellent traveling companions, and really lucked out with perfect weather.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view of the Swiss Alps from our hotel room was stunning!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was a very structured agenda that took a little getting used to. Our guide, Ruby was wonderful

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Swiss Alps and Jungfrau hotel"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent mix of city adventures and small town/ rural experiences. Ruby is an excellent tour guide, funny and encouraging. Enjoyed our group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Trummelbach Falls in Switzerland was a “wow”!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Pretty much what we expected after being on a previous RS tour: a great guide, skilled bus driver, pleasant accommodations, interesting experiences and meeting nice people in our tour group

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cows my husband and I encountered on our walk from Gimmelwald back to Murren, watching a young couple with an armful of bells, along with their tiny little blond daughter proudly carrying one of her own, as they cut through a field and disappeared. About 10 minutes later down the path, we saw them far down a hillside putting the bells on more cattle down there. Of course, the Alps themselves are quite amazing!!! Just saying."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Ruby, our guide, made the tour for me. She was so positive, fun and knowledgeable. I had never been on a long tour like this and was very nervous I would have an "odd" guide. She was incredible!! I immdeitaly felt like she was family. I enjoyed the combination of planned activities and free time. It was a great balance. I would have preferred a little later starts in the morning but I understand that is just my personal preference. Overall, the tour was wonderful and well worth the money!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hallstatt. It was as beautiful as I imagined. I would have loved to stay another day there and in Hallstatt itself."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The structure of the tour was very new for us. We are usually very casual in our travel plans so this was completely out of the ordinary

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Murren, Switzerland was by far our favorite stop. We had plenty of time to explore and hike and ride the gondolas and the trains. The scenery was beyond belief. The hotel we stayed in, Hotel Jungfrau, had amazing views from our rooms and the front desk and restaurant/bar staff were wonderful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

In two weeks, we had more new experiences and things learned than we can count concerning food, culture, economics, human society and structures (e.g. monoarchies and autocracies), beauty in nature and art. There was about the right amount of free vs structured time, and we generally did not feel rushed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For Christine, in Gimelwald watching a young farm family with their tiny daughter walking into a pasture where their cows were in order to attach bells, and seeing the cows get really excited and mooing when they arrived. For Christopher, it was seeing how a lot of the pieces of European history over the last 400 years coordinated with each other, and being awed by the magnitude of the resources of the Hapsburg dynasty, and how quickly it fell apart at World War I, resulting in establishment of "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall, the tour was good. Our tour guide, Ruby, was a blast and really made everyone feel welcome. Most of the Hotels were much nicer than anticipated, which was a welcomed surprise. The only downside to the tour was that the tour itself felt poorly planned. Most days were spent busing through the countries and when we arrived at our destinations everything was closed, allowing no exploration. We would then wake up early the next morning and leave for a different city/ country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view of the Swiss Alps from our Hotel room was unbeatable. Murren in general was the best stop of this tour and offered plenty to see and do with local towns scattered on the mountain side and in the valley. I have never left a tour before and immediately wanted to return to a country, however, Switzerland did have this impression on me. I would love to see more of the country. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Everything went well. Tour guide and bus driver were great. They were Professional, knowledgeable, nice, always doing something extra for us. Good people on the tour. I prefer the smaller towns to the big cities. Would have liked to go to Rothenburg on this trip. Nice mix of group activities and time on your own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking in the Swiss Alps. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Murren"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Love this vacation! The tour was very well organized, the destinations were amazing, and our guide and group were great!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lauterbrunnen valley and Murren in Switzerland. This is the most beautiful area I've ever seen. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well organized. The sites were spectacular. Food and weather was perfect. The time with the group/guides was very informative and rushed. The orientation walks each time we arrived at a new location allowed us to be comfortable to explore independently in our free time. I think each

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each location had a "wow" moment. Each country has so much history. The landscape of Switzerland is majestic. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a fantastic tour, well planned and executed every step of the way. Thomas, our guide was outstanding and contributed so much to the experience with his upbeat disposition, extensive knowledge and ability to tailor suggestions to the different personalities in the group. The restaurants and breakfasts were all memorable and good. Especially notable was the meal at our lodgings for Lake Halstatt. It was a delicious meal.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view of the Swiss alps when the gondola dropped us off in Murren took my breath away. What an incredible area to visit and explore. The feeling of the snow topped mountains all around me accompanied by the sound of the cow bells will have a place in my heart forever. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I felt we were treated with care and professionalism. The tour guide was superb. The tour meals were great. The walking tours were well-thought-out. The hotels were nice and well-located.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was most wowed by Murren in the Swiss Alps - from the majestic views to the small dairy farm we visited with a tour from the farmer."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Perfect mix of group time and time on my own. Also, liked that we didn't move every day. Size of group excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to count. Most unexpected the Mozart Concert in the fortress in Munich. Outstanding!!! The setting, the acoustics, excellence. of the musicians "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Outstanding tour guide (Thomas). Great tour for first-timers to RS and the locations we visited. Excellent introduction for those who wish to return to the area. Tour was well organized and executed: Efficient use of time (for example, early arrival at major sites to avoid crowds); good on-site guides; consistency in quality of hotels and meals; nice balance between active (walking) and inactive (time-off, bus, meals); Right amount of descriptive detail provided for each site; adaptability.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The impact of WWII on each city. For me, this turned out to be a major theme of the tour. It was also timely (for color pictures of what these cities looked like after being bombed, look at Ukraine today). The NS Documentation Center and the Third Man Museum (as an illustration of how the war impacted Vienna) were my favorites, as well as seeing how each city was rebuilt after the war. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Thomas is an amazing tour guide, he had the absolute best recommendations for food and sightseeing. He really cared about giving us a good experience and did everything in his power to make that happen, it was the trip of a lifetime and I've been to Europe several times, this was the best because of him.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The hotel in Mürren Switzerland "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a very good travel group - one of the best things is that Rick Steve's attracts like-minded people who can quickly gel and get along and have a great time together, even during 'free' time. The GAS trip covered a lot of ground, literally and figuratively. The local guides are always great, Cologne was notable. We always enjoy the learning aspect of the tour - i.e. the Habsburg dynasty. Enjoyed getting to know the old cities, the architecture: Cologne, Salzburg, Vienna, Munich etc.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The favorite "wow" moment has to be the Swiss Alps. The 'moment' occurred when I opened the balcony door of our room in Murren, and discovered a panoramic view of snow covered mountain peaks. Nothing better than a glass of wine and enjoying a view that you only get when staying in out-of-way places like Murren (two gondola rides to get up to the town). Truly enjoyable, relaxing and awe inspiring."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized, good variety of activities, excellent guide, awareness of stops, bathrooms and time for a drink or snack.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Staying at Murren among the Alps"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There was a wow moment in every country we visited. Germany The Burg Eltz Castle Switzerland Waking up on a June morning seeing fresh snow on the Alps. Austria The Hapsburg's art collection."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Thomas was a wonderful guide and the group was so much fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were a lot, but probably my favorite was the impromptu stop that we made at an organic dairy farm. It was so interesting learning what a small farm has to deal with to remain in business."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Absolutely loved this tour ! Our tour guide Thomas was excellent a real people person , as well as informative, I feel like Thomas was so incredibly knowledgeable on all of the countries and areas we visited ..

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Berne Oberland , Switzerland all of it !!! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves trip and first organized tour and it exceeded our expectations. Our guide Mathius(Matty) was an excellent tour guide, the itinerary gave us a nice mix of cities and small villages, the members of the group got along great and we loved the free time to explore on our own or with others in the group. We really appreciated the experience and passion the local tour guides had for the history and culture of their country and town. We learned so much.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many but if I had to pick one it would be Murren, Switzerland waking up each morning looking out our hotel window at the beautiful and majestic snow capped Alps overlooking the village."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I thought the tour was a fantastic experience. We were able to see and experience a bit of the culture of each of the cities and regions we visited with time to do some of our own exploring and experience building. Loved our fellow group mates and have no complaints about any of the experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The gorgeous scenery in Mürren and the Lauterbrunnen valley in Switzerland blew me away. Having time to hike and experience the area was a wow moment for sure."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well organized, Mattie was excellent as our guide, our city guides were very engaging and informative, the scenery was breath-taking, the cities like Cologne were unexpectedly historic and had precious artifacts in the various museums, and the group was great!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking through Trummelbach Falls and experiencing the power of falls through all of the various vantage points. It was truly a multi sensory experience: hearing the mightiness of the falls, seeing the water tumble at the various viewpoints, and then finally seeing the falls tumble into the stream at its base. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Matthias Unger, was the perfect guide for our itinerary. He gave us great insight to the culture and history of Germany. The trip details were perfectly executed. Our bus driver made travel between stops easy. Our group was a terrific mix of new friends!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We loved Lake Halstatt! Our hotel could nit have been more perfect! The location, the back patio for gathering was such a pleasure. Of course, lake Halstatt is a beautiful and romantic village to explore."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Mattie made the tour seamless. The sights we saw were beyond comprehension - to say they were incredible is a vast understatement. There was a solid balance between tour time and ‘on our own’ time. I know it was beyond your control, but the people were amazing - we had lots of fun! The long bus rides were arduous- maybe some thought could be done in reducing that. Several of us did not like Cologne - would rather spend that time somewhere else on the tour route.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Switzerland. The Alps were gorgeous but I live in the middle of the Cascades and Olympics. The beauty of that portion of the trip was looking down into the valleys in the area with all the serenity and simpleness. The walks down to Gimmiwald and back from the falls were, without a doubt, the most beautiful part of the entire trip - a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was truly enjoyable. We are very glad we had the chance to come. The planned activities daily, when coupled with the free time was exactly the right mix. Our group was a mixture of people from across the US, some who were very knowledgeable travelers. We enjoyed getting to know them. Two weeks was a long time for me to be gone from my job, but it was an awesome two weeks.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably waking up from our hotel at Murren and seeing the view of breathtaking mountains from our window. All of Switzerland was pretty "wow", seeing the quaint village of Gimmelwald, hiking to Kleine Scheidegg and riding up to the Schilthorn were all "pinch me, am I dreaming moments.""

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

This tour did not have the same feel of my previous Rick Steve's experience. It got off to a rocky start in Cologne, which in my opinion is not the best city to start a tour. There was also a disconnect, at least with me, with the tour guide. More on him later.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Waking up in my hotel room in the Berner Oberland with the doors to my balcony open and an amazing view of the rising sun touching the snow capped peaks of the Swiss Alps."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Such a wonderful trip—truly once in a lifetime. I feel like we fit so much into two weeks that I don’t even know how we did it. The hotels were lovely, our tour mates were great, and the experiences were perfection.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s a tie. My jaw dropped entering Switzerland for the first time and seeing the gorgeous waterfalls and grazing cows with bells against the backdrop of the towering Alps. I was also equally impressed when entering our hotel room in Lake Hallstat that overlooked the cliffs and the lake studded with swans."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent itinerary and guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The entire Murren experience and the Hapsburg treasures in Vienna were unforgettable. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was a whirlwind of extraordinary sites, cuisine, history and current events. It was organized in typical Rick Steves fashion with interesting venues, cozy hotels, and comfortable transportation. There were far too many WOW moments to list each, all expertly facilitated by one of the best guides in Rick's collection and special local guides. The new starting location, Cologne, was a slow start but the remaining of the tour were all sites where we wished for "one more day."

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Impossible. The Luge ride; Initial drive into Lauterbrunnen with snow-covered peaks and waterfalls; views from Muren; walk from Muren to Gimmelwald terminating at the Schwartz Monch; history lesson in Munich with Michael; Hallstatt; chamber concert in the Marble Hall at Mirabell Palace in Salzberg. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Nice people on the tour. A great guide in Bryan, he was always kind and helpful. He was very smart and able to keep things interesting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the Mozart concert. There were many moments that were memorable. The beauty of Europe was incredible."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a monumental tour! Thanks to our guide Brian, the group really came together as a team - everyone enjoying each other's company. In a few short weeks, I learned more about the history of the region and WWII than I had in all my years of schooling.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Easy One - the view from our room in Murren. Our entire time in Murren was breathtakingly beautiful. A once in a lifetime pinch me am I really here moment!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour guide, Bryan, was very knowledgeable. It was great to learn the back stories and a lot of the history of the places we visited. Our bus driver was excellent. Not sure how he made some of those turns and curves! Overall, it was a terrific trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Murren - the Alps were incredible"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a fantastic time on the overall tour. Bryan Fellbusch was our guide and he was absolutely magnificent. He mixed plenty of history into the places we were visiting and kept everything and everyone organized. Can’t give him enough compliments, this was our first Rick Steves tour and he set the bar extremely high!! We had a great group of people and most of the accommodations were on point.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Swiss Alps were amazing in Murren and the accommodations there were perfect and people we so friendly. The other was Lake Hallstatt what a picture perfect place and again the accommodations were terrific."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Bryan our guide was fantastic. His knowledge and enthusiasm made the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Riding gondolas in Murren. The whole valley was spectacular. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great! Bryan was an amazing guide!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Halstatt"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour and guide!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Murren, Switzerland"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We enjoyed the tour thoroughly. Our guide Bryan was very professional, the cities and the flow of the tour had a nice pace (even though there were multiple times that freeway construction did cause some delays) and the little surprises along the way were appreciated.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Murren was the wow factor for our tour, by far! Even though the day we went to the top to view the alps was cloudy, we were able to still see some breathtaking views. The town was quaint and the personnel couldn't have been nicer to our group. Our group had fun with the gondolas along with the hiking in the meadows after we went to the falls."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent variety of tour stops. Bryan was an outstanding guide- very knowledgeable and informative.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Murren (even though I’ve already been there!) Lake Hallstatt "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The guides, Andrea and Ruby were fantastic. As were the local guides in Munich (history teacher) and Vienna (3RD Man Museum). 29 people were too many for a RS tour.

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We enjoyed every moment, though there were a couple of locations we would have liked more time in. Guides: awesome. Accommodations: terrific. Friends: many new ones made. This tour did not disappoint!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We made a last-minute decision to attend a concert at the Mirabel in Salzburg after a terrific dining experience with our new friends from California. Oh, and the gondola lift to the top of the Schilthorn was astounding. Hard to choose just one."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I had never been to Germany, Austria and Switzerland before. I saw beautiful scenery. Ate new foods. Drank new beers and wines. Met fun and interesting people. Most importantly, I learned a lot! The history of before, durning and after WW2 of these countries.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment was the afternoon we spent in Gimmelwald. Exploring, wandering, drinking Schwath Monch beer and sharing a cheese board while looking at the glorious Swiss Alps."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was our first tour and first time to Europe. It allowed us to explore without being too stressed with travel and accommodations. It allowed us to learn our preferences. It provided an excellent variety of cities, landscape, history and nature. There were occasions we would have liked more time like the open air museum and Lake Hallstat. We would have preferred having an audio guide In Vienna at the art museum and leave the 3rd man museum separately.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We had our best day walking from Murren to Gimmelwald with our new friends Bill and Cindy and enjoying a cold beer with a view of the alps. The flowers were in bloom and the cows with their bells out in the fields. Absolutely gorgeous day. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was lead by a very friendly and knowledgeable tour guide named Andrea Wolf. She was excellent and I learned allot of history and filled in many gaps regarding the history of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. We had a friendly group of travelers who were punctual and considerate.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Switzerland was my favorite destination. Hiking in the village of Gimmelwald and taking the tram up to the Schilthorn were my favorite wow moments."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Exceeded my expectations. Andrea our guide was extremely nice, well organized, engaging and knowledgeable. Loved the cities we visited and the extra touches that I wouldn’t have experienced on my own. First RSTour and would definitely do it again,

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was the town of Gimmelwald in the Swiss Alps along with the surprise bonus tour of Maria’s dairy farm where her family made cheese on our way to Lake Hallstatt."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is our 12th Rick STEVES TOURS and we never cease to be amazed at the excitement, the love of travel, the history and the best people to travel with. Two weeks went to quickly. Enjoy and absorb it all

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Water falls in the mountain, Mürren Switzerland in the Lauterbrunnen Valley/Gimmelvald. Superb hiking, wildflowers and incomparable vistas. The beauty and history old cities: Cologne, Burg Eltz Castle, Halstadt and Salzburg – too many "wows" to list"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a great time with all 28 people on our trip. We got to learn some back ground on all the people we met. Some history and art, paintings at all the museums. Got to sample some great wine and beer.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Alps were our wow moment. We had three beautiful sunny days and 70 degree weather. Everywhere you looked it was like a painting."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We waited 3 years for this trip!!! Signed up in 2019 for 2020, again in 2020 for 2021 and then in 2021 for 2022! It lived up to all that was promised! Our wonderful guide Andrea W. was amazing, knowledgeable, fun and inspiring! Our group of fellow travelers were wonderful and kind! I researched all the things to do ( I had a long time to do it!) and it made the trip more enjoyable, interesting and fulfilling!! We wen to bed late and got up early and I never slept on the bus! My dream came true!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every day there was a wow moment! 2000 year old Roman ruins in Trier. Our balcony view of the Swiss Alps and the cows with their bells in Murren. Seeing the palace in Munich and the treasury. Neuschwanstein castle with the fall colors shrouded in fog. Beautiful Salzburg and all the Sound of Music places to see! Tiny Hallstatt in the fall colors and Vienna with all the beautiful architecture, museums, and churches! Last, but not least our wonderful guide, Andrea and our fellow tour members!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Going up the Schilthorn in the Swiss Alps"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had not been to many of the places we visited on this tour. Our experiences seeing new places and meeting new people (both on and off the tour) was fantastic. We have already started talking about which places we want to go back and visit again.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"One of the most memorable may have been the young woman at the cooking school in Salzburg who sang opera during our dinner experience there. Neither of us expected such power and beauty when she opened her mouth to sing. WOW! Even watching her breathing techniques was fascinating. Such a cool and unexpected surprise! Another biggie had to be the beauty of Murren and the Swiss Alps. We had zero expectations for that section of the trip. It was AMAZING, our favorite part. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our overall experience was outstanding! The sites selected, the time allotments, the travel experience all very well done.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For us the "Wow" moment was our stay in Muren. The scenery was unlike anything we've ever experienced."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything about the tour contributed to the overall educational experience: the cities & towns visited, the in-between stops, the narratives of both the tour and local guides and the clever little surprises sprinkled throughout.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each new venue was a "wow" because I thought hotels, natural beauty, information presented couldn't get any better than the venue we were at - - but they did, every one!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Mix and Tempo of the Trip was classic Rick Steve's! Better than anyone else in the business.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Local Musician's in Murien "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great tour overall. Loved our guide and bus driver. Saw many "hidden gems" as we have come to expect from a Rick Steves tour. A little more bus time than I would have liked and some of the hotel rooms were a bit "quaint" but the tour description did a good job describing what we should expect. Destinations were great. I didn't know Trier's history in WW II until we were driving away and would recommend a little more information about that.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the snow covered Alps against a blue sky followed by Lake Halstadt."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We thought the tour was perfect in every way! We loved every minute! Our tour guide, Thomas, was truly the best and made the experience top notch. I can’t stop telling my friends how awesome a Rick Steves tour is!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Murren, Switzerland was our biggest wow moment. This has to be the most beautiful place on earth! Our room balcony overlooking the alps had a magnificent view. Our private outdoor accordion, yodeling and Alp horn concert (complete with us all joining in a polka train at the end), was also very memorable. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I love love our guide Thomas!! He made the trip excellent!! As for the local tour guides they also were outstanding. Locations visited were all fantastic. The exception being Vienna. I like the third man museum and history yet I felt only one day there would’ve been suffice.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Murren, Switzerland and 007 site!! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was absolutely fabulous! The pace of the tour with planned activities and free time was outstanding! The hotels and restaurants we used were top notch and made for a wonderful overall experience!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Swiss Alps"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide, terrific group, fantastic experiences!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Waking up to the Alps on our first morning in Switzerland…then seeing them from our gondola later that day"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour offered a wonderful variety of experiences, from the natural beauty of Murren Switzerland to the history-rich sites of Mauthausen and Vienna. The tour guide was excellent, making the experience both fun and educational.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The southern Bavaria countryside and the scenery near Neuschwanstein. The fall colors were a great bonus."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Terrific tour guide. Enjoyed the cities we visited, the sights we saw and the hotels that we stayed in.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Switzerland and sunrise over the Alps."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What an amazing tour. Beautiful landscapes with so rich with history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

" Standing atop Schilthorn Pit Gloria and soaking in the majestic views. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wow! Our tour was fantastic. When I kept thinking it couldn't get any better it did. Our tour guide, Thomas Kreiseler was wonderful. He made sure everyone was satisfied with everything. He went over and above to provide us with the best experience imaginable.He even changed up our schedule due to the weather so we would have better views of the mountains in Switzerland. We had 20 in our group and everyone was great. We had so much fun!. I wish we could be on another tour together.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many but if I had to chose it would be staying in Murren and doing the hikes and taking the gondola up to Schilthorn and doing the trill walk at Birg."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall the tour was good but not great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The natural scenery"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour guide, great cities, great hotels, great food, great transportation. Great Tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Switzerland!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was great overall. The only negative was weather which no one could control. Our guide did a great job getting us through a lot of rain.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Hallstatt, Austria. So beautiful. "

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

We had one of the best tour groups. The cities we visited were interesting. The rainy days put a drain on a lot of the adventures that I was looking forward to and did not occur. Octoberfest was my draw to scheduling this time of year, which was a very rainy day and evening. I would love to revisit Schilthorn and be able to hike the Swiss Alps on a not so soggy and rainy time of year. The visibility at Schilthorn was zero.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Trummelbach Falls were spectacular. With the amount of rain that we were having, the waterfall were fast and powerful. Very beautiful experience."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great itinerary, great fellow travelers, great tour guide. This was our 4th Rick Steves trip and our fellow travelers rivaled the ones we had on our Village Italy in 14 Days tour. It was a real fun group. Hans, our guide, was very witty, and did a fabulous job organizing activities despite the challenge of some bad weather in Switzerland (it was chilly & rainy like Seattle in December).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Flying umbrella handles! (That's an inside joke our tour and Hans will laugh at). All joking aside, it's hard to choose between The Schilthorn, Neuschwanstein, or Lake Hallstatt. All three are "WOW's". From my engineering perspective, the gondolas and funiculars are really cool, too. Amazing how they built those on sheer cliffs -- what a challenge! Going to Oktoberfest in Munich was a blast, too. Hey, it's just hard to distill the trip into a single WOW."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was wonderful! We did have a lot of cloudy/rainy days but our tour guide Hans was terrific in keeping us laughing and having a good time! We loved Baden Baden, Salzburg and Lake Hallstatt. The people we met in Germany, Switzerland and Austria were so friendly and I have never seen so much bread in all my life. The tour of Mauthausen concentration camp was so important, you see things like this in the movies but it's so much more being there.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow" moment was in Baden Baden when my husband and I decided at the last minute to go to the Friedrichsbad Spa. I can't explain how wonderful it felt and believe it or not it was very relaxing!"

Thank you! GAS was so special, enchanting and magical! Words can't express how refreshing and rejuvenating it was to travel after being an essential worker without a vacation for the past 3 years. This tour was very meaningful to me as my mother was a German immigrant who survived WW11, suffering PTSD; hence a lot of generational trauma resulted. It was so valuable to listen to different personal and political views and overlay that with my experience; the existence of duality. She is home.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Oh. The Swiss Alps! I can't say enough about the fresh, clean mountain air and water, all the hiking, the views, the farms, the hush when I opened our window out to the dawn and towering white capped mountains soared over a sleepy, twinkling village. Storybook Neuschwanstein Castle (how imaginative and interesting), so special to hike up and down. We loved Salzburg and attending a Mozart concert in a place he used to play and Lake Hallstatt; such amazing hikes/views I didn't want to blink!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Like the other RS tours I’ve done, it ran like clockwork. Very well structured and planned. It goes by fast, then you look back and wonder how did we do all those things!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably meeting a very friendly, kind man at a schnapps bar in Salzburg. He took us to the University Cathedral. There he told us of the rooms acoustics and had us go to the alter. From the back of the cathedral he sang an aria. Amazingly, beautiful! Everyone there clapped. An RS moent!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

highly educational and enjoyable. Excellent guide, great variety and wonderful travel companions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Salzburg was a delightful city and Murren Switzerland and Lake Hallstatt, Austria were unbelievably beautiful. The concentration camp visit at the Mauthausen Memorial was beyond sobering. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As always, a wonderful trip! At long last, it was good to be traveling again. Eris (our tour guide) was organized, personable, knowledgeable, helpful and humorous (even though she said Germans have no sense of humor!). She had, at least me, back in the groove of traveling with an empty tank and on-time! Beautiful countries all three!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many "wow" moments! But my favorite one was when the gondola cracked through the clouds on what was a very rainy portion of the trip, and we had a 360 Degree view of the top of the Alps at the top of the Schilthorn! Beautiful! Although only for a few minutes it was stunning! Time for a few pictures before the clouds closed in again. And I know Eris worked hard to calculate the best possible time to be there and it worked! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing experiences in each city and town. The local guides were knowledgeable, interesting and entertaining.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The days spent in Murren was unforgettable. Although the weather was not on our side, we'd all managed to enjoy our wonderful experiences in Switzerland!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Signing up & paying for tour was great. Enjoyed adventure of getting to Trier & the city itself. There were many unique stops, historically educational & fun things to do: churches, hikes, luge etc. It’s nice having a guide & driver make our vacation run smoothly!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Driving into Hallstatt & seeing the view of a hidden village. The view from our room was beautiful & the town quaint & fun to wander. And…being above the clouds at the Schilthorn..sadly the weather wasn’t great to hike "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour with exposure to some of the most beautiful areas of the region

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Murren and Lake Halstadt were our highlights."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

FABULOUS! This was our 2nd RS Tour, and we had a wonderful time. Ruby, our guide, helped us create some great memories that we will treasure for years to come. She has such a fun personality and sense of humor. Johnny, our bus driver, got us safely where we needed to go. We enjoyed him as well. We are hooked on RS Tours! There is the perfect amount of time with the group, and time on your own. We also learned so much history and culture and tried new food, that we wouldn’t have on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Swiss Alps! Even though we were there in 2019 on the BOE14 tour, I think the Swiss Alps will always “Wow!” us! I described the Lauterbrunnen Valley as Yosemite on steroids during our 2019 trip. Staying in Murren was even more amazing. We had lovely, heavenly views from our hotel, and took some hikes in the breathtaking nature that surrounds the area. The cowbells are a treat! And the alphorn and accordion player concert with a view of the alps was just perfect! I could go on and on! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our second RSE tour, the GAS itinerary and collection of tour mates were all fantastic. Our guide, Ruby, went above and beyond to make sure everyone was getting what they wanted out of experience. One noticeable difference between this and our first tour (2015) was the caliber of local guides, which in this instance really added to the overall quality and content of the tour. Hans/Trier, Michael/Munich, and Bridgette/Salzburg really brought those venues to life with their knowledge and stories.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tour's 3-nt stay in Mürren was the perfect stop between Germany's Mosel/BlackForest regions and what was to follow in Bavaria and Austria. We were blessed with incredible weather during Berner Oberland portion of the tour, allowing opportunity to hike from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg on an absolutely crystal-clear autumn day. Finishing the hike with lunch at Grindelwaldblick's patio tables -- sipping a Rugenbräu with the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau within reach -- was a true moment in time."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Unfortunately, my tour was severely truncated when I contracted Covid. Up to that time, it had been a lovely experience. Elke, the local guide in Trier was engaging and informative. I'd have loved to have spent a couple hours in a coffeeshop with her and to ask her more questions. Trier itself was fascinating -- who knew that such a large and thriving Roman city existed on this "western frontier." I wish I had had arranged another day so we could have visited the museum and amphitheater.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lunch in Bielstein. Wonderful desserts and good company."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved our GAS tour. Had so much fun, learned new things and enjoyed meeting our tour group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Going to Hallstatt, Austria was my favorite part of our trip. Such a beautiful little village"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Most of the stops were not "tourist" stops and not expected

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All the "surprises" given by our tour guide Bryan"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Had it not been for COVID, this would have been an outstanding tour. I think more needs to be done to keep everyone safe. Hopefully I'll have an opportunity to discuss that more in the review.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment was finally getting to visit Hallstatt. I'm an amateur photographer and I've wanted to photograph there forever. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Bryan, our tour guide, was unbelievably great - intelligent, informative and often funny. people were all great. The other tour guides were also excellent. The places visited were interesting and historical. The tour meals were excellent. Biggest need would be to have WIFi on the traveling bus. Since we all wore our masks religiously on the bus and around any gatherings one has to guess where the Covid infection started.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Both Murren and Hallstatt were unbelievable, Salzburg was really interesting too. Small towns and cities seem to have more appeal that the big cities like Vienna. However, everything in Europe holds so much history and culture."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Bryan was an excellent guide, hotels were very nice, Frank was an excellent bus driver!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When I opened the drapes in Murren and it was snowing!"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Our tour would have been wonderful had it not been for Covid! 15 members out of 28 were removed from the trip (and more tested positive once they returned home. Those people didn't enjoy the whole trip and we, who completed the trip, missed our new friends and felt an acute sense of loss, too.

Favorite "WOW" moment

" Lake Hallstatt in brilliant sunshine. We sat by the lake having beer and wine with swans nosing about next to us, looking for handouts. It was so peaceful. We could have stayed there for the rest of the trip!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Best tour guide ever! Really enjoyed the whole trip.Too bad about the Covid infections ramped in our trip

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Waterfall inside a mountain in Murren"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This trip is a wonderful overview of the three countries. We experienced highlights of the cities visited and had the opportunity to travel with friends who we met on previous RS trips

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being in Murren after a snowfall. We had been in Murren 2 weeks before and enjoyed glorious weather and great hiking. This time the snow accentuated the beauty of the mountains and created a new appreciation for the majesty of the area."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 1st RS tour. It was a fantastic experience even though our group was decimated by COVID.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Waking in Mürren that 1st morning, opening my curtains and seeing all the snow! It was magical!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was fantastic. Great guide, excellent group of travelers, comfortable bus with lots of room to spread out. The hotels were all well situated, and the locations and stops in-between were all fun and interesting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking in the Alps alongside cows with their bells ringing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

another great Rick Steves tour! Our guide, Hans, was very knowledgeable and entertaining. we had a great group of tour members too.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Staying in Murren and taking the gondolas up to the Schilthorn and around the valley. We didn't get great weather but it cleared up enough to get some good views of the peaks. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, the tour is a fantastic way to see a lot in a relatively short period of time. For me, it struck a great balance of quality and quantity. The only experiences I would recommend changing would be Trier and Baden Baden in favor of the Rhine Valley. Other than that, I loved every place the tour took us. The tour guide, Hans, was fantastic as well. He was fun, knowledgeable, and kept the group entertained. If you're looking to see a lot and have it organized for you, this is the way to go!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Stopping to hang out with the cows in the Swiss Alps during an incredibly picturesque hike. The views were spectacular (it was impossible to take a bad picture) and hearing the cow bells (more cowbell) as we hiked with mountains in the backdrop was majestic. The whole experience was unexpected and truly incredible. I left with some incredible pictures, and memories for a lifetime."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Reasonably well organized. Definitely a couple questionable hotel and restaurant choices. Guide was very good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Staying in Murren Switzerland"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

It was a good tour. There were some good moments and some not so good moments.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Switzerland"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I really enjoyed traveling with this group of people and especially our guide, Hans. We saw a lot of interesting sights and had great experiences such as riding the luge in the Black Forest and touring the salt mine in Hallstadt.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I've traveled extensively in Europe, but not much in the Germanic countries. My favorite sight was Salzburg Cathedral, probably the most beautiful cathedral I've ever seen. (I might have liked it especially because, although Baroque in style, it is slightly subdued and in better taste than the over-the-top examples we saw elsewhere.)"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our two week tour was wonderful. Iris Andre was the best guide you can have. She was very knowledgeable, organized, and had a great personality. Walter our driver was also great. He was very skilled and personable. The places we went were all very interesting and beautiful. I felt that there was a good balance of group activities and personal time to explore. We were also blessed to be traveling with a good group of folks. It was a great time from day one to day 14.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moments were many. The history of Trier, the hiking in Murren, the concert in Salzburg, the beer gardens in Munich, the boat ride on Lake Hallstatt, and the beauty of Vienna. We really enjoyed the Gutach open air museum in the Black Forest. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was wonderful! We had a great first time tour group experience. We had an amazing tour guide, Iris. She was so organized, knowledgeable & able to keep the entire group on task with ease. Walter, our bus driver was terrific, and was missed when he was finished with driving in Vienna. Iris and Walter were a treasured team for us! We loved the size of the group, and were blessed with great traveling companions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many! Switzerland was a favorite for me. Murren was stunning, & I truly loved the surprise Alp horn & music before dinner. Lake Halstatt in Austria was beautiful! I loved the history of each place, both from Iris & the city guides. Michael in Munich was incredible! I could have listened to him all day! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Exceed my expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking the Swiss Alps"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding sites visited, tour guide, fellow tourists and bus driver.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The luge ….. just kidding … coin toss - either Murren or Hallstatt "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our fifth Rick Steves tour, so obviously we like them! This one seemed particularly well done, and we had a fantastic tour group. Iris was the perfect guide, and Walter drove the bus with skill and constant good humor. Loved the Switzerland portion enough that I think we’ll return for that tour. We spent time in Bacharach before the tour, and I highly recommend the area.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Hallstatt was my “wow” moment simply because I didn’t expect it to be that beautiful. I enjoyed everywhere we went"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful tour. Our guide Iris was just great, other tour members were friendly and fun, and the trip itinerary was great. We enjoyed the variety of this trip, visiting both larger cities as well as smaller countryside towns. We're already planning our next Rick Steves tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We loved hearing the cow bells while hiking in Murren, Switzerland. They sounded like wind chimes!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I thoroughly enjoyed this tour- a lot of variety and incredible beauty. I was glad that The concentration camp was included. It wouldn’t seem right to travel to this area and not acknowledge the atrocities that are part of the history. Our guide, Iris, was very knowledgeable and this was the most punctual group we’ve ever traveled with. That allows the whole trip to run smoothly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Swiss Alps were even more incredible than I had hoped. Being able to stay in Murren as long as we did was a definite plus. Wandering along the paths from village to village, stopping to pick up fresh cheese and sausage - just perfect!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The cultural and historical perspective of the area was outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We loved hiking in Switzerland."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved the variety of experiences of the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We loved Switzerland!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a wonderful dream come true for me, even with a hiccup in the beginning and losing our main guide Matthias, we were left in great hands with Thomas Kreiseler. It was educational and cultural which is what I was looking for in the tour. There was a few things I didn't care for but it was all part of the experience. It was great to learn about Thomas' perspective on growing up and living in what was East Berlin and being able to teach him some of our American idioms.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing all of the beauty that this world has to offer and not being caught in the politics of it all. From the beauty of the Bavaria mountains, to the vibrant colors of flowers in Berner Overland, to the thundering water at Trummelbach Falls, the mountains in Switzerland, it was just so WOW seeing God's glory."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I enjoyed every aspect of the tour: the history of the various places, the scenery of all 3 countries, the shared meals together (I miss that drinks are no longer included (they were on my first RS tour in 2012)), and all the people who joined the tour. The 22 of us was the best highlight. The joys of travel are meant to be shared and and traveling with the 10 other couples made it a wonderful shared experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The scenery in Switzerland. Taking the train from the Lauterbrunnen Valley through Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg and then hiking to Mannlichen, and stopping for a beer every time we had to wait for a train, a gondola, or a bus."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We thoroughly enjoyed all of the experiences on our tour and the friends & memories made along the way made this a great trip. As usual, the Rick Steves' guides are the best. Our primary guide Matty had to leave our tour and take over another tour, the apprentice guide Thomas took over and was fantastic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The days we spent in the Swiss Alps in Murren were amazing. It is such a unique and wonderful area. Looking out at the mountain vistas every morning was a real treat."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I have come to expect a certain level of organization and expertise on rs tours. This one met or exceeded all of my expectations. Great guide, great itinerary, great tour members.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tough call. Visiting gimmelwald or hiking north face trail we’re definite high points"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first RS tour and it did not Disappoint. Though we had to switch from the main guide to the apprentice guide Thomas. He was outstanding. The hotels were very good especially in Murren and Vienna. More time was need in Baden Baden and the Black Forest and could have done without the local guide in Vienna. Lake Hallstatt was great but, I would not advertise the salt mine anymore that was to underwhelming.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Even though it was very foggy most of the time were at the Schilthorn I will still say the time spent in the Alps. My first look at the mountains was OMG. Walking through the Trummelbach Falls was amazing seeing what nature can do with time. The most amazing thing I recall is the vibrancy of the colors. Going up in the gondolas and seeing how green was the grass. Walking through Grindlewald and the Red in the Roses and the Purple colors. were just so vibrant. Those are my WOW moments."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Really enjoyed the tour. Our guide, Donald was professional, very knowledgeable, compassionate, funny and terrifically helpful in helping plan our free time. Rick Steves as usual has outstanding local and tour guides. The stops on the tour were well thought out and the hotels were very good. It would be almost impossible to put a tour like this together on your own. Kudos to the entire Rick Steves organization.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Murren, Switzerland. Waking up and seeing the Eiger outside of our hotel window."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful tour with great balance of historical lessons and outdoor beauty. Perfect amount of group vs. on your own time. RS members are very like minded making it great fun to spend free time in a small group of new friends. RS did a good job of keeping members up to date prior to leaving US, Covid Protical's, etc.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking the North Face in Murren! The spectacular views, wandering cows, pubs with the trail passing through the patios. RS Tours take you to your hotel in the Swiss Alps that takes 2 gondolas to arrive, you know you're in a special place."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Another great tour! Perfectly situated hotels and a skillful guide made for a wonderful experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking the North Face trail in Switzerland on a beautiful sunny day, and then finishing the day with a beer on a terrace in Gimmelwald."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Tour was enjoyable as always. We had a great guide and our group was really cohesive so that added to the fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking the Swiss Alps"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Loved Muerren. I think overall too far and too many short overnight stops. Eliminate Trier, Baden-Baden. Increase additional days in Salzburg, Halstatt, and Vienna. Name should be "A Taste of..." Exhausting as is. Fellow passengers were exhausted. Evening tours and native docents should be no more than one hour in duration. More free elective time needed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Third Man Museum. Gerhard Strassgschwandtner and his museum are amazing and profound. Life Changing. Americans in particular need to get it the cost of Facism and Totalitarianism."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was a good combination of culture, local lore, history, and fun

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mountain scenery "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking the Swiss Alps was the most fun ever!!!!"

Our whole experience on the tour was wonderful which was mostly due to our exceptional guide Andrea Wolf. Her knowledge of the areas we visited and her explanations of the history of the cities added to the experience. The tour was exactly as we anticipated due to the excellent communication from Rick Steves. The size of the tour group was perfect to be able to enjoy the sites (we had an extra small group of 14). The tour’s itinerary was nicely diverse between small towns and cities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view from the Schilthorn in Switzerland and the total beauty of Murren surrounding valley. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Andrea is an amazing tour guide, extremely knowledgeable and a genuinely nice person. We were very fortunate to have only 14 persons in our group. Henri, our bus driver is a skilled driver and was willing to engage with our group. The overall itinerary was diverse and well planned, would eliminate Baden Baden.if possible would add another day in Salzburg. Hotels all provided pleasant stay, enjoyed breakfasts and pleasant staff. Would have preferred staying in Hallstatt not other side of lake.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tour with Gerhard including the tour of the Opera House when we were the only persons in there. Also enjoyed the Third Man Museum. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved it! We enjoyed learning so much about the countries and their history and their way of life now. Small group size was a big plus.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Berner Oberland area - wow! So beautiful. Also all the Roman history of Trier: the museum and the baths."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Getting to Trier was not a good experience, as plane delayed coming out of Toronto, making catching train to Koblenz a challenge, as had to catch slow train. I am glad I took the extra day as recommended by RS tour so I was stressed, but not worried about making it to Trier in time for tour. Once tour started, it was very good. Not a fan of Trier, would not go back. I loved Baden-Baden, and Switzerland.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Switzerland, the mountains and hiking "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall it was very good, our tour guide could not have been better. The local guides were also good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Salzburg, walking through an arch and seeing the old town and castle above. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was a wonderful taste of GAS. It had more travel/bus time than the other tours we have taken with RS, but the days were well planned and still provided ample free time. Matthias was a great leader and provided us with a lot of insight into pre & post WWII history & culture which helped to put many of the sights into perspective.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Lauterbrunnen Valley is more beautiful than I imagined and impossible to appreciate without being there. I will definitely be going back to see more of Switzerland. I think there could be a week long immersive tour for Vienna and another for Salzburg. We stayed 3 extra nights and there is still more I want to do in Vienna. I feel like we just touched the surface of Salzburg. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great tour. A fun mix of education, scheduled activities, and free time. It was a bit larger group than I expected (28 if I recall correctly), but that wasn't a problem. Tour and hotel staff members were kind and friendly. I was pleasantly surprised that finding vegetarian food was not a problem. I remember thinking, "Thank god I'm on this tour! There's no way I could have arranged all these different activities on my own."

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Swiss Alps from my hotel room window. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I learned so much on this tour about history and geography. I never knew how beautiful Germany was. I had heard Switzerland was gorgeous, and it lived up to expectations. We loved riding on the big tour bus with plenty of room for us each to have our own seat. It was great not having to plan for hotels or worry about getting anywhere on time. Lodging and food was pretty much taken care of us by the tour. The tour was exactly as described in the tour brochures, including activity levels.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking in Switzerland. We rode a train up from the Lauterbrunnen valley to Wengen. From there we took a cable car to Mannlichen, then hiked from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg. We saw very few people on this hike. It was foggy when we started and I now understand why Swiss farmers put bells on their cows. Even though we could not see very far ahead through the fog, we could locate the cows throughout the valleys below by the sound of their bells. The scenery was spectacular."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great, as usual. This was our 9th ...

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Halstaf (?) in Austria. Beautifully quaint lake and village We'd been to Murren on a prior R.S. tour, and named it our wow moment then (2006), so rather than name it again ..."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour is well organized. All of the guides are well experienced and helpful. We believe that we received fair value for what we paid.

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

My wife and I had a great time and really enjoyed the whole experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Hallstat was amazing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Donald White was excellent! Good mixture of big cities and small beautiful town and our fellow travelers were both fun and interesting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Murren Switzerland!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a great trip! Donald White was an excellent tour guide, very patient, helpful and organized. And Knowledgeable! I found all the information regarding transportation in Murren confusing but he helped tremendously in that regard. Our group was wonderful also as usual. My main regret was that we didn’t have more time in Vienna,I felt that we really didn’t do it justice—partly due to time constraints but also because as our last stop, I think the whole group was kind of exhausted!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Alps of course! Also the view from the breakfast room in our Vienna hotel, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, I believe? Awe—inspiring!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The skilled driver and tour guides were THE best, the scenery & tours were amazing. The rule of 'No Grumps' was adhered to, but the lack of AC meant I had 2-3 decent nights of rest, the remaining was very sweaty near sleepless nights on very hot days. I will not do another summer tour with Rick Steves unless that is addressed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Switzerland landscapes, waterfalls & mountain ranges were truly breathtaking."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was fabulous! Every stop was interesting, educational, and exceeded my expectations. The variety of sites and experiences was perfect…. interesting and exciting without being exhausting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mürren was my favorite stop. Every view looked like a postcard. Hiking in the Alps was a bucket list item and it did not disappoint. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was AWESOME. We were blown away at every stop from Trier to Baden Baden, Murren, Munich, Salzburg, Halstatt, and Vienna, and at each stop along the way (with extra points for the luge ride in the Black Forest). Every stop was a highlight and we left with that "Rick Steve's Feeling" of knowing that if we go back, we could do it ourselves. And a special shout-out to Iris, our tour guide, who was so generous in what and how she shared her vast experience (and her patience) with us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Murren and the Alps. To be taken thousands of feet up a sheer rock cliff in a cable car, to look DOWN on people riding parasails, to be face to face with the Alps (and their sadly receding glaciers), to hear the never ending roar of water flowing down the mountain faces in the night, and to stand on the peak of one of those mountains and have a 360 degree view of the world......just WOW."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was an amazing tour. Our tour guide Iris and her assistant Francis contributed to it in so many ways, they were the greatest. There was so much variety. I have to thank Iris for providing me with gluten free meals. I have celiac disease and can not eat gluten. I would have liked to have spent more time in Baden Baden but don’t know how you would have done that since I wouldn’t have wanted time to have been taken from anywhere else. I did not like the tour guide in Vienna, cynical.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite moments was the time spent in Mürren, Lake Hallstatt and the Open air museum in the Black Forrest. I come from German immigrant farmers and there were so many similarities to my family farm. It was an absolute joy of my life and I would recommend it to anyone."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved my Best of Germany, Austria & Switzerland tour! There is little that could be done to make the experience any better! Iris Andre is the most phenomenal tour guide and we had the luxury of also having Francis Touschek as Iris' assistant and he could not have been the more perfect addition to our experience. Both Iris' and Francis' knowledge of European history was such an added bonus and made every day enjoyable! Bravo Iris and Francis!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The three days spent in Murren, Switzerland were jaw-dropping gorgeous! I kept saying I was running out of adjectives to describe the beauty! Our yummy fondue dinner in Murren was such a delight as well. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We enjoyed everything about the Best of Germany, Switzerland, and Germany tour; including the beautiful cities chosen for our stays, informative and exciting tour excursions each day, picturesque hotels, and a wonderful cultural experience with a good mix of group and independent time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The town of Murren in Switzerland’s Alps was a “wow” moment of our tour which was “jaw dropping” and beautiful. We especially loved our hotel which offered a front-row view of the Munch, Eiger, and Jungfrau off our private Deck."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide was outstanding, really a lot of fun, we had excellent hotels and the various siteseeing tours were excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our time in Murren was breathtaking. The hikes were a lot of fun and we had a wonderful hotel."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our 2020 tour finally happened this year and it was worth the wait. This is our 3rd tour and as always, our guide and bus driver were professional, organized, and fun. We covered a lot of territory within GAS so spent a lot of hours on the bus. This was not a deterrent as we had many great conversations with the entire group and saw a lot of beautiful places. All of the stops were great places.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Neuschwanstein Castle was the reason we booked this particular tour and it did not disappoint. We were able to go on the Mary's Bridge. It was foggy and the clouds opened up to reveal the Castle. It took my breath away. The best surprise was Murren. We loved our time in the Alps. The scenery was breathtaking. Hallstatt was amazing-wish the boat tour had been longer as it was so peaceful on the lake. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first trip to Europe. Our tour guide made the experience so much better because of his outstanding knowledge of the history of all 3 countries. I loved his sense of humor, the many surprises that he had for us, his interaction with our bus driver, (Big John), and he kept the bus rides from being boring by telling stories about his personal life or history of the places that we saw along the bus route. He gave us many options for things to do once we got to our destination.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The location of the hotel in Switzerland was amazing. Murren was the best part of my trip. I loved that we had to take a gondola to get there, and the views were amazing. I could sleep with my windows open and hear the cow bells in the distance. Being able to hike into the Alps from the hotel was worth the price of the whole trip. The hotels in Murren, Lake Hallstatt and Vienna were incredible. I would have rather gone to Rothenburg over Munich. I didn't care for Munich."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Profound!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hallstatt was fabulous!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a fantastic guide and he made what was already a wonderful tour outstanding!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Murren, Switzerland: the picture postcard valley, mountain views of Eiger and Jungfrau, going up to the Schilthorn, the gondola rides, the town of Murren itself; all "wow"!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My experience of the first two days was wonderful. Then, however, I got Covid and my grandson and I were off the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tasting Mosel wines and seeing the Roman ruins in Trier."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was extremely well organized and contained a great balance of "programmed" time versus "independent" time. We felt we were able to see and experience what we needed without feeling we missed key elements. We really appreciated having 2+ days at each location to settle in and become familiar with the location.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Several wow moments, but hiking in the Swiss Alps and experiencing the majesty of nature was a key one."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were traveling with our 3 kids (ages 15,15 and 13) and I was initially a little apprehensive that we wouldn’t “fit in” or that the kids would be bored. That never happened! Our two guides made a point to make sure the kids were engaged and interested and the rest of the group was wonderful as well. Knowing my kids were having fun made it easier for me to have fun and it was really great to experience this trip with my family.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Honestly this doesn’t probably help with planning your tours but my wow moment was when the tour ended, we used being in Europe and the confidence we’d gained from the 2 week tour to launch into our own extension trip to Budapest. We may never have just gone to Budapest on our own - it maybe seemed too far east or too foreign - but getting there with the tour launched us in to our own exploration. We ended up loving it and now want to go back and explore Eastern Europe. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tara and Ruby were our guides. The group became like a "family". Tara was very thorough and organized. She would give us a map of the city we were traveling to with things to do highlighted on it. She gave history behind every place we were visiting. The "Buddy Check" system was a great way to make sure nobody got lost ir left behind between stops. The scenery, churches, castles, Mauthsuaen Holocaust memorial, Murren, and Lake Hallstatt were wondeful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When Tara sent a short video of Rhys saying"I love you Rick Steves" and Rick sent a reply back to Rhys. Everyone was happy crying from that."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We already had tickets to a Pearl Jam concert and chose this tour because it ended at the right time and place for the concert. It didn't matter that the concert was cancelled because the tour exceeded expectations. Facinating history. Great people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our tour group included a family with a challenged, young boy. Led by the way our guides treated him with respect, the whole group ended up adopting him. One day he was taped saying he loved Rick Steves. Our guide sent the tape to Edmonds and the next day Rick sent a video response that was played at breakfast. The whole room teared up!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour and it was nothing short of magical. The itinerary and the experiences we had were so much fun. Our tour guides were amazing and our tour group became very much like a family. This was my son's first trip to Europe and he had a wonderful time. Not sure travel to Europe will ever be the same after this experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many "wow" moments but my favorites were the Swiss Alps and Lake Hallstatt. So much natural beauty."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was great having expert guides throughout.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Getting to our hotel in Mürren. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First tour experience and would definitely do it again. Well spaced out and planned with stops and durations, felt like really maximized our time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Paragliding in the Alps"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Tara, was outstanding in every way and made sure that we had the best experience possible. We enjoyed bonding with our fellow tour members, who all had the same positive, curious outlook.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We loved Hallstatt--the private boat ride for an introduction to the area, the old-world hotel, and the winding "back streets"--just so relaxing and unique."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves tour. I loved the whole experience. Not having to worry about where we were going next, or how we were going to get there. I enjoyed getting to know other tour members and making some life long friends. I'm looking forward to my next Rick Steves vacation.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When we were in Hallstatt, Austria waiting for the boat to pick us up. While the scenery was breathtaking, the dock was filled with people waiting to get on the relatively large boat for a sight seeing excursion. When the boat docked, the crew on the boat called out for "Rick Steves" and only the Rick Steves tour group boarded the boat, leaving all of the others on the dock as we pulled away. We had a private tour of the lake. Hallstatt was a beautiful area."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

outstanding itinerary, very professional guides great group of fellow travelers

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When I found out that joining a Rick Steves Tour was a little like joining a cult. Once you go on one of these tours it will be hard to go back to your old way of traveling."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

this is my 9th rs tour. they all have been great & this was no exception. tara & ruby were fantastic directors, but i have never had a bad director on a rs tour. the sites were fantastic. hotels great. food fantastic as always. fellow travelers were very friendly. got to see all the sights listed & more. everything that i have come to expect from a rs tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"wow moment was the underground waterfall in murren switzerland. i love waterfalls, but this one was different since you got to be so close to it. hear the power of the rushing water. the rocks & its beauty were outstanding. i always enjoy any unesco site & this one didn't disappoint. be sure to keep it on the tour. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My mood going into the tour was not great: I was apprehensive about traveling far from home, about COVID, about how much the world might have changed in the last two years plus... - but I had a wonderful time. I faced each day looking for new scenes and new adventures, and knew I'd be supported by the tour guides and fellow travelers. The trip opened my eyes and ears and mind once again to exploring, as well as to just being still, being alive in the here and now.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our view from the balcony of the hotel in Murren: mind-boggling."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was amazing- Andrea was kind, friendly, knowledgeable, personable, the activities were well planned, great balance between group stuff and alone time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Concentration camp, Murren"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent trip: tour guide, city guides, variety of locations and experiences, co-travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Riding into the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Beautiful, green, valley bordered by steep Alps. It was not what I expected. Every view in the Swiss Alps was stunning. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our trip was extremely enjoyable with fantastic exposures to the scenery of Switzerland, southern Germany, and Austria. I felt the balance between guided tours and free time to explore museums and hike on our own was perfect. Our guide, Andrea Wolf, was very knowledgeable, very pleasant, and very considerate of all of the guests under her care.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Lauterbrunnen Valley was one of the more impressive places I’ve ever been in my life. The view from our hotel in Murren was Incredible. Every time we looked at our hotel window we saw the Jungfrau, monk, and Eiger mountains displayed across the eastern side of the valley."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great itinerary, wonderful guide (Andrea Wolf), great local guides, brilliant side trip choices, top notch accommodations, comfortable bus with a personable driver (Eric).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Murren and the waterfalls, Lake Hallstatt!"

Overall rating: rating 1 of 5

Simply put it was the best vacation I've ever had. I think we got real lucky that nobody got sick and the weather was on our side every single day. Our tour guide Andrea was just fantastic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lauterbrunnen Valley and our ascent to our hotel in Murren! In a tour that had a ton of great moments, the time spent in the swiss alps towers above the rest. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was fantastic! We saw many interesting places and had some great experiences. Andrea was an excellent guide - informative, knowledgeable, very upbeat, and organized. She was very much in tune to the needs and interests of the group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Going to the top of the Schilthorn! The scenery and views were breathtaking- no picture could do it justice. And the thrill walk was really fun!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful time, the group was fantastic, nobody was troublesome or falling behind, all but a few were seasoned travelers. Fantastic sights and stops. We got lucky with perfect weather.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Murren, and the Schilthorn visit was breathtaking. My daughter said, "Alaska is Washington (state) on steroids, Switzerland is Alaska on steroids!""

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It met all of our expectations, and our guice, Andrea, was a huge part of that.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several, but we attended a choir performance at a church in Hallstatt that was one of those spur-of-the moment, little nuggets you can't plan for. They were world class. A close second was approaching Lauterbrunnen valley. It's so beautiful it doesn't seem real."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything about this tour was perfect. Our guide, the bus driver, the locations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Switzerland was probably the biggest 'wow' for me. The beauty was overwhelming. So many opportunities for hiking."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

What kept me from giving tour an outstanding rating had to do with short time in Baden Baden, arrived early evening, would have liked an afternoon and evening there. Also the visit to the Third Man Museum in Vienna was way too long and the local guide there was very eccentric to say the least.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In Switzerland, looking out my window and seeing the Monch, Eiger, and Jungfrau gleaming in the sun, as well as our cable car ride up to the Schlithorn, and doing the "Thrill Walk". Actually everything about the Berner Oberland was a "Wow" including a rather interesting hike on the North Face. Murren was delightful!"

I had a wonderful time. The tour was very active but there was a nice blend of group and free time. It was also a great blend of scenery and cities. Our tour guide, Marajan was the best I have ever had.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Alps in Switzerland on a sunny day. I woke up the second morning in Murren and saw the most amazing view of the mountains. Our trip to Schilthorn as a group and our own hike through the mountains was spectacular."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was an awesome tour, and Marijan, our guide, did a wonderful job of showing us a great time. He was always cheerful and upbeat, and very knowledgable about the history of the places we visited.There was a good mix of cities, history, castles and beautiful scenery, plus lots of free time to do our own exploring. Also, good food, good beer, and good company!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our time in Switzerland was the "WOW" for us! The scenery was absolutely incredible. Going up to the Schilthorn on a clear morning, and seeing all around us the beautiful peaks, and walking on the Thrill Walk."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was well organized and planned and the guide was excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Views from Schlitthorn"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We’ll planned and executed

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hallstatt "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved the food, scenery, group and guide, she was excellent

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Looking out of our hotel room in Murren Switzerland at the Alps. Just wow"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Good variety in the locations, soaking up the beauty of the mountains one day, walking through a bustling city the next.... never a dull moment.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The depth of the peaceful silence in Murren, the stunning views of the mountains, the town, the cows... nothing like anything I had previously experienced."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Really exceptional itinerary that mixed smaller sites with big attractions and ample free time with group activities. Our tour guide, Iris, was fantastic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably Mürren, Switzerland - the gondolas, the hiking, the gasp-around-every-corner... it was hard to beat!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fastastic guide Eris and wonderful visits to Germany, Austria dn Switzerland.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Perhaps the luge ride and the over all scenery in Murren"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I would define the tour as very active, by choice. It was hard to sit still when there was so much to see, learn about, and explore on our own. The tour was very well organized, and our tour guide, Iris Andre, was a true professional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"That's hard to pin point, but, I guess it was our stay in Murren, Switzerland. The scenery in every direction (including downward) was amazing, hiking the North Trail was amazing, the constant ringing of cow bells was magical, and the hang gliders were fun to watch. Swimming for free at the local sports center after our hike was perfect, and listening to a late evening rainstorm from our bedroom window lulled me to sleep. "