Day 1  

Arrival at Vienna airport and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Vienna.

 

Day 2   

Vienna – Discover the capital of Austria
Depart for Vienna City tour, which will introduce you to the most important sights of the Austrian capital. As we drive around the famous 'Ringstrasse', Vienna's main boulevard, we shall see the State Opera, the Museums of Fine Arts, the Parliament building, the National Theatre, the City Hall, the University and the City Park. We will also visit Hofburg – the royal palace in Vienna, then walk to the  beautiful Gothic St. Stefan’s cathedral. At the end of tour we will visit the Schönbrunn Palace near Vienna, where we will view some of the most magnificently decorated rooms. Rest of the day – free time.  Overnight in Vienna.

 

Day 3

Vienna – Wachau – Melk - Vienna (125 km/1.50 min)
The Wachau follows the Danube river for 33 kilometers from Melk to Krems and stretches into the side-valleys of the Wachauer Garden. This region is  a UNESCO World Heritage Site which is overflowing  with stunning baroque architecture, impressive towns and vineyards. Along the way you will see among other things the town of Dürnstein, with castle ruins above it. King Richard of England was held for ransom here while returning from the Crusades. We visit the  city of Krems, a 1000 year old town. Also a pleasurable look at the old buildings and streets of Krems which are from Renaissance times – old and impressive. Later we visit Melk Abbey. It goes back about 1000 years - a beautiful 18th-century Benedictine Abbey now fully restored. Many say the most beautiful Baroque abbey in the world - part palace, part monastery, part opera set - and with a commanding view of the Danube.  Overnight in Vienna.

 

Day 4

Vienna – St. Michael - Villach (380 km/5 h )
Friesachban. Stop in this mysterious moated town. The fortifications, include  a town wall and water-filled moat The castle complexes, churches and monasteries and a wide range of smaller-scale monuments make the town an overall work of art and invite guests to go on a journey through time to the past.  St. Michael (elev. 1,075 m) is encircled by a lovely mountain backdrop. Its convenient location and attractive surrounding landscape make it ideal for respite.  Rustic and pristine natural and cultural surroundings as well as a strong sense of tradition make St. Michael a special place to visit. The town offers rest and relaxation for the body, mind, and soul, with a diverse array of wellness services and culinary highlights. Arrival in Villach.  Located in the flatlands among a series of steep Alpine mountain passes, it is a main attraction for skiers seeking a place to relax and shop. The pastel rainbow of buildings on the main street above are inviting, and the numerous coffeehouses were ready to greet with a warm beverage. The village's main street, shown in the first photograph, is typical among small Austrian towns. The main pedestrian walkway is bounded by tightly packed row buildings, each painted different colors. The tower in the distance was that of one of the city's Catholic churches Overnight in Villach.

 

Day 5

Villach and region
In the Napoleonic era Upper Carinthia was separated from Austria, and in 1809 - 1813 Villach was the main town of the region within the French provinces of Illyria.  Mauterndorf Castle Adventures are a spectacular journey back through time for young and old.  In the former summer residence of the Salzburg prince archbishops, the Middle Ages spring back to life: Whether climbing the 44 m-high tower fortifications with fascinating views of Mauterndorf and the surrounding alpine world, attending an audience with the prince archbishop himself, touring the Lungau Folk History Museum or having fun out on the knights’ playground!  We will see a peaceful mountain lake Ossiach which is a secret tip for those longing for rest and relaxation, but also for sports-minded visitors. Visit Spittal an der Draua. (37 km/40 min)Austria′s most elaborate Renaissance castles: The centrally located Schloss Porcia Castle was built by the Spanish nobleman Gabriel of Salamanca, who served as a treasurer to the Habsburgs in the 15th century.  Overnight in Villach.

 

Day 6

Villach – Salzburg (180 km/2.15 min)
Alpine panoramic road with few stops to see beauties of nature.. Break in Bad Ishle  which is a small spa-town, in the heart of the Salzkammergut, surrounded by wooded hills next to the River Traun.  It was the summer residence of the Emperor Franz Josef, and much of the town shows the architectural style of the old Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. In the town center we shall see the Ferdinand-Aubock Square with the parish church from 1753. We also are going to see the Imperial Villa (Kaiservilla), the summer palace of the Emperor surrounded by a lovely park. Overnight in Salzburg.

 

Day 7 

Salzburg
Discover Salzburg: Known worldwide as the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the city of Salzburg is famous for its architecture, often called the Rome of the North, it has  magnificent monuments in Baroque and Renaissance style. Salzburg is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The tour begins at the Palace of Mirabell, built in 1606 for the Archbishop of Salzburg. Then pass the Mozarteum (University of Music) we arrive at the Market Square with the Trinity Church, a Baroque masterpiece. Crossing over Salt river we arrive at the Hellbrunn Palace for a short photo break. The Hellbrunn Palace was built in the 17th century as a hunting lodge and weekend residence for the Archbishops of Salzburg. On the way back to the city center we will pass the palace of Frohnburg and the Nonnberg Abbey, before entering the heart of the city through the Siegmunds Gate. The tour finishes in Mozart Square with the statue of the composer and the cathedral.  In the afternoon we continue our tour and visit Hohensalzburg, the landmark of Salzburg, which is Central Europe’s largest intact fortress and offers fantastic views of the city. Overnight in Salzburg.

 

Day 8

Lakes and Mountains of Salzburg (150 km/2.30 min)
The Salzkammergut is the famous region close to Salzburg with its magnificent mountains, crystal clear lakes and typical Austrian villages. This region was well-liked by the archbishops of Salzburg as well  as by the emperor Franz Josef... The tour goes via Lake St. Gilgen at the Wolfgangsee.  From there it is a very attractive way around the lake Wolfgang to the town of St. Wolfgang, which is one of our highlights. Then we move to Bad Ishl. We have a break in Wolfgangsee, where can see the local Church with the famous winged altar, a masterpiece from Michael Pacher in the  XVth century. We will also see the famous Hotel White Horse Inn. Another break is at St. Gilgen, a town where Mozart’s mother was born, and of course, part of the excursion is St. Wolfgang.  Overnight in Salzburg.

 

Day 9 

Salzburg – Vienna (300 km/3.30 min)
Along the way we visit the Hohenwerfen Castle – amazing fortress in the mountain. A tour of the castle includes a walk around the castle chapel, the pitch kitchen, the armory and arsenal featuring an exhibition of the weapons over the ages, the battlements, the bell tower and the adapted rooms of the regents. We stop for some time in Steyr to visit this unique city, one of the best preserved old towns in Austria. Steyr is famous for its historic town center built around the Town square, with fine pieces of Gothic architecture. Overnight in Vienna.
 

 

Day 10

Vienna
Leisure time, afternoon transfer to the airport for final departure.