Tour: RT - 2012 (RT) - 2012 / 2013

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Itinerary

DAY 1Arrive in Munich, Germany

Time to rest or to start exploring the Bavarian capital. At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (Dinner)

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DAY 2Munich

Sightseeing with a Local Guide of Germany’s “Secret Capital” includes the Olympic Stadium, 1,000-foot-high Television Tower, MARIENPLATZ with the Old and the New Town Halls, and the gothic Frauenkirche. An optional excursion to Linderhof Castle and the Passion Play town of Oberammergau is available. (Breakfast)

Oberammergau

"Promises to God are notoriously hard to keep. The townspeople of Oberammergau in the Bavarian Alps have not only kept their renaissance promise, they’ve turned it into euros and cents. Flashback to 1633. Oberammergau was a stop on the market road between Augsburg and Venice. When the plague hit, the town elders swore to heaven: Protect us and we’ll do a play about Jesus’ crucifixion every ten years. The first began in 1634. Today the village of Oberammergau lives because of theater. Half of the 5,400 residents break a leg in the Passionsspiel, performed in years ending in zero from May to October."

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DAY 3Munich–Neuschwanstein–Innsbruck, Austria–Salzburg

Drive into the garden-like landscapes of the Bavarian Alps and visit one of King Ludwig’s magnificent castles: NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE. On to Innsbruck in the Tyrolean Mountains and a walk through the quaint medieval lanes to Emperor Maximilian’s GOLDEN ROOF. In the afternoon, enjoy a scenic drive to Salzburg. (Breakfast, Dinner)

The Hohensalzburg Fortress is the largest fully preserved fortress in Europe

View the majestic mountains of the Tyrolean Valley

Enjoy some time exploring the beautiful Innsbruck

Neuschwanstein Castle

"As it rises from its alpine backdrop, Neuschwanstein Castle near Füssen has all the drama of a well-planned stage scene. And so it is. The late 19th century dream castle joins various architectural styles with the eccentric fancy of Ludwig II, Bavaria’s most peculiar sovereign. From afar he adored the anorexic Austrian Empress Elisabeth, he wrote about suicide in his diaries and he bankrolled the composer Richard Wagner. He also loved building castles. In the process, he nearly bankrupted his government. Today, he’s the equivalent of a pop star in Bavaria for giving Germany its most popular tourist attraction."

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DAY 4Salzburg

A pleasant stroll with a Local Guide takes you through the historic center. Admire exquisite MIRABELL GARDENS, the Great Festival Hall, ST. PETER’S CHURCHYARD, and the monumental Domplatz. Also visit MOZART’S BIRTHPLACE in the charming Getreidegasse. Afternoon at leisure. Scenes from the Sound of Music will delight you both during the morning tour and on the available optional excursion to Berchtesgaden and Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. (Breakfast)

The Mirabell Gardens in Salzburg are considered to be one of the most beautiful Baroque gardens of Europe

Shop along the cobbled Getreidegasse Street in downtown Salzburg

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DAY 5Salzburg–Mondsee–Vienna

This morning, visit the PARISH CHURCH in Mondsee, which was used for the wedding scenes in the Sound of Music. Next, enjoy a leisurely DANUBE CRUISE along the most scenic section of the river, before arriving in Vienna, once the center of the mighty Habsburg Empire. An optional excursion to the wine village of Grinzing is a possibility tonight. (Breakfast)

The Belvedere gardens in Vienna, Austria

The Museum of Natural History in Vienna is one of the important museums of the world

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DAY 6Vienna

Start your guided sightseeing with a visit to magnificent SCHÖNBRUNN PALACE. Next, enjoy vistas of Prater Park with its giant Ferris wheel, and the United Nations City on the banks of the Danube River. Then, drive along Ring Boulevard, pass the State Opera House, the Jewish quarter, and stop at the Hofburg Palace, winter residence of the Austrian Imperial family. Marvel at the impressive courtyards, famous Heldenplatz, and awesome St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Tonight, why not take in an operetta concert in one of Vienna’s elegant concert halls? (Breakfast)

View the Romanesque and Gothic architecture of St. Stephen’s Cathedral

Vienna, once the center of the mighty Habsburg Empire

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DAY 7At Leisure in Vienna

A whole day at leisure and lots to do! Don’t forget to savor Sachertorte and watch the jolly crowd in one of Vienna’s famous coffee houses. An optional excursion to Bratislava, capital of Slovakia, is available. Tonight, a farewell dinner at a local restaurant is included to celebrate the success of your vacation. (Breakfast, Dinner)

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DAY 8Vienna

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)

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DATES & PRICES