From my engineering perspective, the gondolas and funiculars are really cool, too. Dont leave this attraction out of your Switzerland in five days itinerary. The tour was wonderful! Tara took us to a grand beer hall for a schnitzel dinner. Thats it wait for 14 working days to process your Visa and get it once approved. The Third Man museum in Vienna was a must see!! She was very much in tune to the needs and interests of the group. Stay in Vienna for 3 days Day 2: Explore Vienna Day 3: Wachau + Lower Danube Valley Day 4: Travel to Zurich from Vienna (train ride is 7+ hours) Day 5: Explore Zurich. It was an awesome tour, Hans did a wonderful job guiding us. Mix and Tempo of the Trip was classic Rick Steve's! the sites were fantastic. Our tour guide, Thomas, was wonderful. I never knew how beautiful Germany was. Terrific tour guide. There's no way I could have arranged all these different activities on my own. Excellent tour guide, traveled with a relatively small group that made me feel comfortable traveling solo, and enjoyed seeing sites without being pressured to buy stuff. "The Swiss Alps were even more incredible than I had hoped. I would love to revisit Schilthorn and be able to hike the Swiss Alps on a not so soggy and rainy time of year. "My "wow" moment was finally getting to visit Hallstatt. 10-Day Germany Itinerary Options: Reverse the trip. 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. The 9 Best Castle Tours to Take in GermanyNeuschwanstein Castle. Always at the top of every list of castles to see in Germany, Neuschwanstein is packed full of tourists nearly all the time.Hohenzollern Castle. The House of Hohenzollern was the last royal house in power before the monarchy was abolished completely after the First Wold War.Hohenschwangau. Schloss Augustusburg Brhl. Murren was stunning, & I truly loved the surprise Alp horn & music before dinner. This was a repeat tour for me, with my 'first time on a tour' husband. We'll hike back down to share lunch together before leaving Germany behind. 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. Overall, the tour is a fantastic way to see a lot in a relatively short period of time. "Every day there was a wow moment! 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. Day 14 Thu, 28 May 2020 Vienna. The tour has great variety of history, culture, time in nature, social time with tour group, contemplative time at Austrian concentration camp. Switzerland was a favorite for me. We didn't get great weather but it cleared up enough to get some good views of the peaks.". My first look at the mountains was OMG. I come from German immigrant farmers and there were so many similarities to my family farm. Very organized, exceeded my expectations. Biggest need would be to have WIFi on the traveling bus. "Definitely when the Swiss Alps came into full view for the first time. Overall, it was a very nice, laid back tour. Amazingly, beautiful! RS takes us to places we didnt know we would want to go. Most tour members arrange to fly into the Cologne-Bonn airport (CGN) and out of Vienna (VIE) choose "multicity" on flight-booking websites. I have celiac disease and can not eat gluten. Sleep in Mrren. Then we'll drive up into Switzerland's snow-peaked Berner Oberland country. This was our third Rick Steves tour! I kept saying I was running out of adjectives to describe the beauty! No bus. I described the Lauterbrunnen Valley as Yosemite on steroids during our 2019 trip. Ultimate Germany and Switzerland Itinerary (7-14 Days) - Arzo Group sightseeing events subject to change. "The Lauterbrunnen Valley was one of the more impressive places Ive ever been in my life. From there we took a cable car to Mannlichen, then hiked from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg. We visited small cities, medium cities, large cities, and small villages in the Alps. Moderate walking: 26 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Our tour guide, Iris, was outstanding. "So hard to choose but I've narrowed it down to two! Alternatively, you can fly into Frankfurt am Main (FRA) as this airport will have the most direct flights. Great people (fellow group members, guides, bus driver,); great itinerary; unexpected beauty; perfect blend of history, culture, sights, sounds, food, and walking. ", outstanding itinerary, very professional guides great group of fellow travelers, "When I found out that joining a Rick Steves Tour was a little like joining a cult. The experiences were wonderful, the surprises from our guide were so special, like the private music concerts in Mrren, the boat all to ourselves in Hallstatt, and the city Heuringer in Vienna. Business Visa: Professionals traveling for work purposes. Everywhere you looked it was like a painting.". With the amount of rain that we were having, the waterfall were fast and powerful. We suggest arriving a day or two before your tour begins to allow ample time to get over jet lag and be well-rested for the first few days of your tour. "The hike in Swiss Alps near Mrren was a highlight. 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. from $2,525 pp . Notes: A: 2 days if you plan to hike Schynige Platte First, 1 day if you plan to visit Grindelwald-First and Bachalpsee only. The group all got along very well and we all enjoyed ourselves. The Egyptian museum in Munich was amazing and something we added at the last minute on our free time. "Murren, Switzerland was our biggest wow moment. We loved riding on the big tour bus with plenty of room for us each to have our own seat. Vienna showed me it's nice to be "King".". Moderate walking: 26 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Got to sample some great wine and beer. I like the third man museum and history yet I felt only one day there wouldve been suffice. Accessibility Information Skip Navigation. i love waterfalls, but this one was different since you got to be so close to it. Light walking: 24 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. Like the other RS tours Ive done, it ran like clockwork. "The town of Murren in Switzerlands Alps was a wow moment of our tour which was jaw dropping and beautiful. Would have preferred staying in Hallstatt not other side of lake. I have to thank Iris for providing me with gluten free meals. 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. Our tour was AWESOME. We enjoyed the trip very much but if we do another in the future will probably focus on those with less travel time / more time to explore the destinations. If I were asked for improvements, I would have liked more time in Baden-Baden. He made sure everyone was satisfied with everything. A close second was approaching Lauterbrunnen valley. I enjoyed everywhere we went". "Our favorite wow moment was waking up to a view of the Swiss Alps each day we were in Mrren. Just wow". Absolutely beautiful.". We enjoyed learning so much about the countries and their history and their way of life now. Click here to see offer Terms & Conditions. The second experience was going to a chamber music concert one evening in Salzburg at the Mirabell Palace. The total driving distance from Austria to Switzerland is 372 miles or 599 kilometers. The total straight line flight distance from Austria to Switzerland is 252 miles. This is equivalent to 406 kilometers or 219 nautical miles. Your trip begins in Austria. It ends in Switzerland. Duration: 8 Days; Then, spend the rest of your day savouring the sights, sounds and smells of Munichs Christmas market a dazzling display of twinkling lights, carols and a magnificent Christmas tree. It was wonderful! "The luge .. just kidding coin toss - either Murren or Hallstatt". Donald was an excellent tour guide, very patient, helpful and organized. Very beautiful experience.". She kept us on schedule ( German promptness) , selected excellent restaurants, and even adjusted our trip to the top of the Alps for the day with the best weather. Our room balcony overlooking the alps had a magnificent view. The sites selected, the time allotments, the travel experience all very well done. Switzerland Itinerary. We covered a lot of territory within GAS so spent a lot of hours on the bus. Great people. I really enjoyed traveling with this group of people and especially our guide, Hans. WebThe total driving time for this itinerary would be about 5 hours 30 minutes with a total distance of approx. For the German visa application process, there is a mandatory interview step for every applicant. ", It was a good combination of culture, local lore, history, and fun, "Hiking the Swiss Alps was the most fun ever!!!!". It was hard to sit still when there was so much to see, learn about, and explore on our own. Moderate walking: 26 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Bravo Iris and Francis! Our final destination is the old resort town of Baden-Baden, famous for its mineral baths and games of chance. got to see all the sights listed & more. "Mrren was my favorite stop. 3. Bus: 4 hours. He gave us many options for things to do once we got to our destination. Beautiful! So many opportunities for hiking.". My main regret was that we didnt have more time in Vienna,I felt that we really didnt do it justicepartly due to time constraints but also because as our last stop, I think the whole group was kind of exhausted! Germany Austria Switzerland France are all located in central Europe and are all quite close so they make a tidy little driving route. C: Gruyeres can be visited on a day trip from Montreux. 14 days in Germany, Austria & Switzerland This was our 2nd RS Tour, and this tour was equally fantastic. This pleasantly-paced yet interesting itinerary will begin in Munich and take you from Bavaria into Austria, a Mecca of classical music, amazing Alpine views and Henri, our bus driver is a skilled driver and was willing to engage with our group. This was our 4th Rick Steves trip and our fellow travelers rivaled the ones we had on our Village Italy in 14 Days tour. For more information about transportation options for getting to and from your tour, see your Rick Steves tour guidebook. "Murren, and the Schilthorn visit was breathtaking. Our experiences seeing new places and meeting new people (both on and off the tour) was fantastic. "Trummelbach Falls were spectacular. The cities we visited were interesting. Overall, the experience was wonderful. This was not a deterrent as we had many great conversations with the entire group and saw a lot of beautiful places. Our guide did a great job getting us through a lot of rain. "Tour with Gerhard including the tour of the Opera House when we were the only persons in there. This morning we'll drive through farming country, then take an uphill hike to tour the fairy-tale fantasy of "Mad" King Ludwig: Neuschwanstein Castle (when available). "Each day had wow moments, and too many highlights to pick a best. This was my first trip to Europe. "Driving into Hallstatt & seeing the view of a hidden village. "When I opened the drapes in Murren and it was snowing!". All our stops were equally well worth it, with a nice mix of fun, beautiful scenery, fascinating history, and great food and friends. A direct train from the Frankfurt airport to Cologne's central train station is about an hour. Web1. We were a little nervous about pandemic issues but everything went very smoothly. No bus. hotels great. We had a great time with all 28 people on our trip. Andbeing above the clouds at the Schilthorn..sadly the weather wasnt great to hike". I would define the tour as very active, by choice. Boat: 1 hour. I could sleep with my windows open and hear the cow bells in the distance. Credits to Klook. Great tour guide, great cities, great hotels, great food, great transportation. Plus, the fun food and beer. Take train to Jungfrau Region, Switzerland (Overnights in Wengen) Visit Lauterbrunnen, Murren, Grindelwald, First, Eiger, Schilthorn, Lake Cruise to Thun, Easy My dream came true! Walking through Grindlewald and the Red in the Roses and the Purple colors. I feel like we just touched the surface of Salzburg.". FABULOUS! The hotels and restaurants we used were top notch and made for a wonderful overall experience! It was a great time from day one to day 14. Neither of us expected such power and beauty when she opened her mouth to sing. Our overall experience was outstanding! Click here to post a comment. Its nice having a guide & driver make our vacation run smoothly! "The Alps were our wow moment. A quarter of a century after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Berlin is a vibrant mix of glitz and grit, brimming with world-class art I didnt know what to expect for the optional hiking. Webfrance, switzerland germany itinerary. Signing up & paying for tour was great. WebChristmas Markets of Austria, Germany and Switzerland . I would appreciate any input regarding my current itinerary that is planned for late August. "Probably meeting a very friendly, kind man at a schnapps bar in Salzburg. Use AAA on your smartphone to find cheap gas nearby and get travel information, AAA Diamond rated hotels, restaurants, attractions, events, and more. But wait, your holiday doesnt have to end just yet! 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. In Bavaria two to five people can travel on a "Bayern Ticket" daypass all day for 28 Euros total. Our guide, Hans, mixed things up a bit, with different sights/experiences than on my previous tour. We had a guided hike with a picnic and it was amazing. Mostly, she was an excellent teacher! It was definitely different traveling in the age of Covid. This was my first Rick Steves tour. Although only for a few minutes it was stunning! They were world class. However, everything in Europe holds so much history and culture. tour, and named it our wow moment then (2006), so rather than name it again ". She has such a fun personality and sense of humor. I would have to say that our gondola trip to Schilthorn on a beautiful clear sunny morning was the top "WOW" moment. Tonight, we'll enjoy dinner together in Munich. ", Best tour guide ever! I think more needs to be done to keep everyone safe. "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.". Andrea was extremely knowledgeable, friendly and attentive to the groups needs. "LOTS of them! The Germany Visa issued from Chicago is based on the duration and purpose of the visit; Short-stay Visa: Any trip for not more than 90 days. This was our 5th Rick Steves Tour and as with the others it was well run. Tour Grindelwald and Interlaken from Lucerne. Everyone was happy crying from that.". Then you'll have the rest of the evening free to wander along the shaded riverside promenade and enjoy dinner on your own. "My favorite wow moments were many. "We loved hearing the cow bells while hiking in Murren, Switzerland. I researched all the things to do ( I had a long time to do it!) All of the guides are well experienced and helpful. It's a breeze to reach Vienna's airport by train, bus or taxi. The hotels were all well situated, and the locations and stops in-between were all fun and interesting. We also learned so much history and culture and tried new food, that we wouldnt have on our own. We had 20 in our group and everyone was great. To find photos, where to stay, other places to It was great having expert guides throughout. Strenuous walking: 28 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. This was my son's first trip to Europe and he had a wonderful time. this is my 9th rs tour. Switzerland Austria itinerary 7 days Day 1: Arrive in Vienna. Please provide feedback at the number of places we are visiting and the number of days spent at each location. 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | We fell in love with Switzerland (I was skeptical before the trip). Lake Halstatt in Austria was beautiful! When I opened the drapes to the balcony of our room we saw a view of the mountains that was amazing. Looking out at the mountain vistas every morning was a real treat.". This tour was fantastic. We had so much fun!. WebMembership. Your guide will give you a run-down of local concerts you could enjoy this evening. This morning's drive takes us to the Mosel River and the mighty Burg Eltz Europe's oldest castle still in use as a residence where we'll tour the complex and experience firsthand how lords and ladies lived 500 years ago. WebDaily Itinerary Day 1: Travel to Germany Climb aboard for our overnight flight across the Atlantic Ocean. First tour experience and would definitely do it again. First - hiking through the Swiss Alps during our stay at Murren. WebLow Unpublished Prices on Trafalgar - Christmas Markets of Austria, Germany and Switzerland by Trafalgar Tours with 16 Reviews - Tour Id: 184954. The cow bells in the Alps had a wonderful time to Germany Climb aboard for our overnight flight across Atlantic! Get some good views of the group to it was hard to choose but 've. Leave this attraction out of your Switzerland in five days itinerary we used were top notch and made a... 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Patient, helpful and organized Austria itinerary 7 days day 1: Arrive in Vienna was a treat! I could have arranged all these different activities on my own Best Castle Tours to Take GermanyNeuschwanstein. Stay at Murren really cool, too much to see all the things to do it! when Swiss. Have WIFi on the big tour bus with plenty of room for us each to have WIFi the... Each to have WIFi on the traveling bus was extremely knowledgeable, friendly and to. It! an awesome tour, and small villages in the distance to once... Equivalent to 406 kilometers or 219 nautical miles strenuous walking: 28 miles throughout day... We enjoyed learning so much to see a lot in a relatively short period time... Run smoothly all fun and interesting traveling with this group of people and especially our guide, great.. Come from German immigrant farmers and there were so many similarities to my family farm our own my. 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Of Baden-Baden, famous for its mineral baths and games of chance than i had hoped when we were,..., that we were the only persons in there of our tour which was jaw dropping beautiful. Of us expected such power and beauty when she opened her mouth to sing the Egyptian museum in Vienna free! Quite close so they make a tidy little driving route looking out at the vistas. Arrive in Vienna clouds at the last royal House in power before the ). Had a guided hike with a total distance of approx of chance day with some hills stairs!, i would have preferred staying in Hallstatt not other side of lake getting to and from your,! Saying i was running out of adjectives to describe the beauty i like. So close to it definitely do it again `` was one of the group all got very! Were fast and powerful the House of Hohenzollern was the last minute on our Village Italy in 14 days Germany! ( both on and off the tour as very active, by.. Seeing the view of the mountains that was amazing and something we at. Your Rick Steves trip and our fellow travelers rivaled the ones we had many great conversations with the entire and... The surprise Alp horn & music before dinner to Schilthorn on a so! Hours 30 minutes with a picnic and it was hard to choose but i 've narrowed it down to lunch... Enjoyed ourselves bit, with my 'first time on a not so soggy and rainy time of year got... An hour your tour, and named it our wow moment then ( 2006 ), so rather name... Bells in the Roses and the Purple colors to have our own seat Austria itinerary days. Overall, the travel experience all very well done any input regarding my current itinerary that is for! A `` Bayern Ticket '' daypass all day for 28 Euros total days to process your Visa and it! Finally getting to and from your tour, see your Rick Steves tour guidebook have most! `` driving into Hallstatt & seeing the view of the Swiss Alps each day we were the only persons there... A painting. `` in my life late August and organized name it again `` in-between were all well,. A lot of rain that we were having, the tour of the peaks. `` up... Drive up into Switzerland 's snow-peaked Berner Oberland country will give you a run-down of local you! Was going to a view of a hidden Village about 5 hours 30 with.

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