Europe Private Tour (AUA013) Grand Austria Tour (9 Days 8 Nights)

We meet and welcome you at Vienna International Airport in Austria (Vienna Airport). Then, we depart for Melk, a distance of 86.4 kilometers taking about 1 hour. Melk is a charming small town along the Danube River and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit Melk Abbey, a masterpiece of Baroque architecture. Inside the abbey, tour the Imperial Rooms displayed as a museum, and visit the Marble Hall (Mable Hall). Walking out of the Marble Hall reveals stunning views of Melk. Next, admire the historic library, ranked among the most beautiful in the world and filled with countless ancient books. Afterward, we visit Dürnstein Castle (Durnstein Castle), located 29 kilometers away.

Board a cruise along the Danube River. Along the way, take in views of Baroque castles, vineyards, and wineries until the boat reaches Krems, a city in western Austria and one of the country's most important wine production hubs.

hotel Overnight Melk · example hotel Hotel Stadt Melk ***

Today, we depart for Hallstatt, a distance of 206 kilometers taking about 2 hours and 20 minutes. Hallstatt is known as the most beautiful lakeside village in the world and is one of Austria's top travel destinations. Hallstatt is a small town located on the southwestern shore of Lake Hallstatt (Lake Hallstatt) in the Salzkammergut region (Salzkammergut), one of Austria's most historically significant regions.

What makes the town truly remarkable is its small-town countryside charm with wonderfully fresh air—perfect for a relaxing holiday surrounded by the serene lake and towering mountains. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997.

Enjoy a leisurely stroll through Hallstatt, visit the church, and take photos at the iconic photo spot. If you wish, we can visit the ancient salt mine (Salzwelten), which dates back more than 7,000 years, taking a steep and fast funicular railway up to the salt mine situated at about 838 meters above sea level. Alternatively, you can take a cable car up to the high-angle nature observation deck (5 Fingers Viewpoint), where the view from the top is absolutely spectacular.

Then, we'll take you to visit Lake Wolfgang (Wolfgangsee Lake), located just 40 kilometers away with a travel time of 40 minutes. Lake Wolfgang is another beautiful and famous lake in Austria, featuring emerald-green waters. Board the Schafbergbahn cogwheel train to reach the summit of Haus Schafbergspitze and take in views of the 3 lakes surrounding the mountain: Wolfgangsee, Mondsee, and Attersee.

hotel Overnight Obertraun · example hotel Hotel Haus Am See ***

After breakfast, depart for Salzburg, located 1 hour 10 minutes away (72 kilometers), to follow in the footsteps of the musical The Sound of Music. Visit Mirabell Garden, a filming location for the musical offering magnificent city views. Stroll across the bridge over the emerald-green Salzach River, rich in salt minerals and the origin of the name Salzburg, a historic salt trading center.

Visit Festung Hohensalzburg (Hohensalzburg Fortress), standing prominently on the hilltop as the iconic symbol of Salzburg.

We will take you on a walk down Getreidegasse, adorned with intricately crafted wrought-iron shop signs. Visit the birthplace of the world-renowned composer Mozart at No. 9 on this street. A great shopping highlight here is Mozart chocolate.

hotel Overnight Salzburg · example hotel Arena City Hotel ****

Today, depart for Wattens, a distance of 172 kilometers taking about 1 hour 45 minutes of travel time. In Wattens, visit Swarovski Kristallwelten, the famous crystal museum. Enjoy admiring various collections from the past to the present, and shop for crystals to take home as souvenirs at factory prices.

Next, travel to Innsbruck, located just 17 kilometers away. Innsbruck is a skier's paradise, embraced 360 degrees by the Alps. The Inn River flows around the town, creating a grand atmosphere where the majestic mountains dwarf the town below, with crisp, clear water running through. The city layout is neat, clean, and pleasant. We can take you to enjoy panoramic views of the city on the NORDKETTENBAHNEN cable car if desired.

Then, explore the Old Town, strolling along Maria-Theresien-Strasse and Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse to admire the gorgeous Baroque buildings. The city's landmark is the famous Golden Roof, an ancient building once used by Tyrolean rulers to observe performances by the townspeople. The roof gleams in golden yellow, crafted from gilded copper tiles to honor royalty.

Enjoy free time for shopping at your leisure or visiting museums such as FERDINANDEUM TYROLEAN STATE MUSEUM / Stadtmuseum / ARSENAL MUSEUM / or Ambras Castle.

hotel Overnight Innsbruck · example hotel Alphotel Innsbruck ****

Today, depart for Kitzbuhel (92 km, travel time approx. 1 hour 15 minutes). Explore the town of Kitzbuhel, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and lush greenery, and visit Schwarzsee Lake.

When time permits, set off for the Grossglockner High Alpine Road (88 km), winding through charming countryside nestled amidst high mountain valleys. Grossglockner is the highest peak in Austria at 3,798 meters, while the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, opened in 1935, spans about 49 kilometers and was once used as a racetrack. The highest point on the road reaches 2,571 meters above sea level.

Highlights of Grossglockner that are especially popular with travelers include Edelweissspitze, the highest point at 2,571 meters offering a 360-degree panoramic view of nature, and Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe (2,369 m), a spectacular viewpoint overlooking the glacier and the Grossglockner peak.

Continue to Kaprun, a municipality in the Zell am See district within the state of Salzburg in central Austria—widely known among travelers as “Zell am See-Kaprun”—and stay overnight here.

hotel Overnight Kaprun · example hotel Das Alpenhaus Kaprun ****

Depart for Klagenfurt (221 km, approx. 2.5 hours). Admire Lake Wörthersee and visit Minimundus, a miniature park featuring over 150 famous world landmarks replicated on a 1:25 scale. Visit Schloss Velden and the Museum of Modern Art.

hotel Overnight Klagenfurt · example hotel Seepark Congress And Spa ****

Take you on a journey to Graz (135 km, travel time approx. 1.5 hours). Graz is located in southern Austria, a city renowned for history, culture, and contemporary art.

Visit Schlossberg (Castle Hill), home to the historic clock tower (Uhrturm), the city's iconic symbol. Explore the cannon bastions, ancient cistern, bell tower, statues, and more, which tell the medieval history of the city to visitors. Not far from Schlossberg, admire the Mur River, where a New York architect designed a floating giant seashell featuring a cafe and performance arena. Walking a little further along the river, you will find the contemporary art museum (Kunsthaus).

Explore the Old Town, lined with shops and restaurants along both sides of the streets, which is also home to the City Hall (Rathaus). Visit the Styrian Armoury, the Mausoleum of Emperor Ferdinand II, and historic churches.

Also see the Glockenspiel clock tower, where carved wooden figures dressed in traditional attire emerge to dance to the melody. Visit Eggenberg Palace (Schloss Eggenberg), designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2010, standing majestically at the foot of the hill.

hotel Overnight Graz · example hotel Star Inn Premium, By Quality ***

Today, depart for Vienna (200 km, travel time 2 hours 15 minutes). Take you on a tour of Vienna, the capital of Austria and city of music. In modern times, it has been voted the world's most liveable city thanks to its thoughtful urban planning, plentiful parks, arts, and comprehensive entertainment. Vienna is a classical city of art with clean, pleasant streets, where art blends seamlessly with modernity.

Visit Schönbrunn Palace, exploring 20 imperial rooms, and stroll through the beautifully landscaped palace gardens. Enjoy lunch at the historic Naschmarkt, where you can sample a wide variety of international dishes, local specialties, and fresh fruits and vegetables.

Then head to central Vienna to the courtyard of Hofburg Palace, St. Stephen's Cathedral, and Kärntner Straße shopping street, lined with boutiques, stylish souvenirs, and luxury designer brands. Admire the Gothic-style Vienna City Hall (Rathaus), the Opera House, and the Parliament.

hotel Overnight Vienna · example hotel Zeitgeist Hauptbahnhof ****

There is no tour today. We will transfer you to Vienna Airport as scheduled. However, if your flight departs in the evening, you can enjoy some shopping before heading home at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Parndorf.