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Rick Steves’ Best of Munich, Salzburg & Vienna Tour, Day by Day
Let's go where classical music, towering castles, and the-hills-are-alive scenery welcome you to the Gemütlichkeit of Bavaria and opulence of Austria's Golden Age. This new tour takes you to festive Munich, fairy-tale Neuschwanstein, Baroque Salzburg, sparkling Lake Hallstatt, and royal Vienna — with cozy villages, Alpine vistas (and, in winter, colorful Christmas markets!) all along the way. Enjoy this day-by-day slideshow preview of our Best of Munich, Salzburg & Vienna in 8 Days Tour. Let's go!
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Day 1: Welcome to Munich
We'll meet at 2 p.m. at our hotel in Munich for a "Welcome to Bavaria" meeting. Then we'll join a local guide for a walk through the city's historic core, ending with a cozy, frothy prost or two at the famous Hofbräuhaus beer hall, followed by a hearty dinner together.
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Day 2: Fairy-tale Neuschwanstein
This morning we'll drive through Bavarian farm country, then take an uphill hike to tour "Mad" King Ludwig's fairy-tale fantasy: Neuschwanstein Castle. We'll hike back down and drive to a countryside village where we'll share lunch together. Back in Munich, the afternoon will be yours to explore the English Garden, take in a museum, or (on winter tours) simply savor the surrounding Gemütlichkeit (comfy-coziness) of Munich's Christmas markets.
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Day 3: Bavarian Villages and Salzburg
This morning we'll leave Germany behind as we trace the history of the world famous holiday song, "Silent Night," stopping in Oberndorf to see where it was first performed in the 19th century, and nearby Arnsdorf, where composer Franz Gruber once taught school. We'll cap our Christmas-villages visit with a stop in Hellbrunn to take in the wonder of the season. Later this afternoon we'll arrive in Salzburg and settle into our quaint hotel. We'll end our day with an orientation walk through the historic center, and share a "Welcome to Austria" dinner together.
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Day 4: Splendid Salzburg
Salzburg is the perfect town for a walking tour, and that's how we'll spend our morning: strolling under the wrought-iron signs that line Getreidegasse, going for Baroque at the Salzburg Cathedral, and exploring an ancient cemetery. The rest of your afternoon is free for wandering through Salzburg's magnificent gardens, hiking up the fortress hill for a panoramic view, or wandering through the lanes and shops. Later this evening we'll regroup for a dinner concert featuring the work of Salzburg's favorite son: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
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Day 5: Lovely Lakes and Hallstatt
This morning we'll make our way to the postcard-pretty, lakeside village of Hallstatt. On our way, we'll skip like stones across the pristine waters of Austria's Salzkammergut lakes district. This afternoon we'll settle into our guesthouse with a view, where you'll be free to commune with Mother Nature, and perhaps sample some homemade schnapps.
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Day 6: Schönbrunn Palace and Vienna
Today we'll take another scenic drive, this time to extravagant, opulent Vienna. On the way we'll be introduced (figuratively ― curtsies not required) to the family who created one of Europe's most dynamic empires: the Habsburgs. And there's no better venue for this than their immense Schönbrunn Palace. After checking into our hotel, we'll continue with our royal theme on a walk through historic Vienna, including St. Stephen's Cathedral, before relaxing over dinner together.
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Day 7: Royally Elegant Vienna
We'll begin our day with a deeper look into Vienna's rich Habsburg heritage on a walking tour that takes us to the famous opera house, Hofburg Palace, and the Hofburg Treasury. Your afternoon is free to explore another world-class museum or two, or slow down to enjoy sipping a coffee in the city where Europe's café scene was born. Tonight we'll meet for our last dinner together, where we'll share travel memories and toast new friends. Prost!
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Day 8: Tour Over After Breakfast
Breakfast is provided, but there are no group activities today. It's a breeze to reach Vienna's airport by shuttle, bus, or taxi. You'll have easy connections to home, or on to other points in Europe. Auf Wiedersehen!
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