Hungary and Austria Sample Itinerary
Day
1: Arrive Budapest
You driver will be waiting to transfer you to hotel. This afternoon enjoy a nice walking tour to get acquainted with your new city. Meet your guide and walk to the famous Vörösmarty Square (Gerbeaud Coffeehouse). Travel on the Millennium Underground line to the State Opera House, walk on the Andrássy Street, Hungary's "Broadway" Kodály Körönd. You will also see Heroes’ Square and the Vajdahunyad Castle. This evening take a soak in the wonderful Baths of teh Hotel Gellert.
Day 2: Budapest
Morning on your own to sleep in. After lunch, your guide will meet you to continue your tour of the city. Today you will first drive up to the top of the Gellért Hill to see the most beautiful panorama, and then around Pest to see the boulvards and avenues, famous spas, the Central Market Hall, and the House of Terror. You will also see the Great Synagogue, the Jewish district and the St. Stephen Basilica. The next stop is at the Parliament.
Then you continue across the Margaret Bridge to Buda up the Castle District to see the Royal Palace, the Matthias Church and Fishermen's Bastion.
Day 3: Budapest
Today, you will visit the nearby towns of Szentendre and Visegrad with your guide. Szentendre is known as the town of artists. The town has a picturesque setting on the Danube, with a Mediterranean feel, winding lanes, seven church towers, colourful houses, several galleries and warm cafés. You will visit the Greek Orthodox church, the Jewish Memorial House and Margit Kovács Museum. This is a very good opportunity for shopping in the hundreds of small shops or buying some sweets in the famous Marzipan Museum. After lunch in a Renaissance restaurant or Hunter's lodge, on to Visegrad Castle, which used to be the residence of the Hungarian kings and has interesting exhibitions. From here you have a picturesque view of the Danube Bend. You will visit King Matthias' famous Renaissance Palace which was under the earth for a long time. It is really fascinating to see the reconstructions, the broken original marble fountains and their replicas. Return to your hotel about 4 p.m.
Day 4: Budapest
Today on your own in the city to go shopping or we can arrange some special visits/exploration to your family's origin.
Day 5: Vienna
This morning your driver will transfer you from your Budapest hotel to the train station for your train journey to Vienna. Upon arrival you will meet your driver on the train platform. Driver will take you to your hotel, located on Vienna's longest shopping pedestrian street and convienent to all sites in the historic center.
Day 6: Vienna
Today tour the highlights of Vienna with your guide. You will explore the most elegant and fashionable streets of Vienna and visit the main landmarks of the city. You will see the Hofburg, residence of the Habsburgs for over 600 years, and magnificent St. Stephen’s, one of the finest gothic churches in central Europe. You will hear anecdotes about Emperor Francis Joseph or his beautiful wife, Sisi and stories about the Habsburgs’ unusual burial ceremonies, the history of the Sacher cake or the tradition of the famous Viennese coffee houses and pastry shops. After lunch continue the tour to take in Vienna. This walk takes you off the beaten path to typical Viennese locations and hidden treasures, ones which often surprise even the Viennese themselves. You will see quiet streets and squares, baroque buildings and palaces, and beautifully renovated courtyards. We will also take in locations closely related to famous personalities - such as the composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who spent the last ten years of his life in Vienna, or the famous Austrian military leader Prince Eugene of Savoy. A highlight of the afternoon walk is the Old University with one of the most impressive baroque churches of the city.
Day 7: Vienna
Today, you have tickets to the Spanish Riding School Training session. Watch the prancing Lipizzaner stallions strut their stuff in the opulent surrounds of the Hofburg's Palace. The stallions perform an equine ballet to a program of classical music. After the training session, you will have a tour of the Palace. Afternoon is on your own to explore.
Day
8: Romantic Road Driving Trip (Today's total driving time: 1 hour)
Today, take a taxi from your hotel to the car rental agency. Pick up your rental car and begin your "Romantic Road" driving tour of Austria. Today, your destination is Krems. The historic Danube port of Krems an der Donau stands at the eastern end of the Wachau. It is a major shopping centre with excellent facilities and is one of Austria's most picturesque towns. Surrounded by vineyards, the old town has many historical buildings, from fine burghers' houses to beautiful baroque and gothic churches. You will also see the Italian-style Gozzoburg Palace with its arcaded courtyard and the unusual Sgraffitohaus and the remains of fortifications. This afteroon take a horse-drawn carriage ride. You will travel via the old main road of the Wachau visiting the rock cellar of the Dinstlgut, where it will also be possible to taste several wines. You will trace the tracks of Napoleon´s "Battle at Loiben" and reach the village of Dürnstein, where Richard the Lionhearted was imprisoned in the 12th century. With the sleigh through Dürnstein, you will enjoy a special tasting in the "women vineyards" of Loiben.
Day 9: Romantic Road Driving Trip (Today's total driving time: 2
hours)
Today, drive the Wachau, a 30km stretch of the Danube where it cuts a rocky gorge between the foothills of the Bohemian Forest and the Dunkelsteiner Wald. This beautiful region, with steep-sided, densely wooded southern slopes and a mixture of crags and south-facing vineyards on the north side of the river, was recently declared a World Heritage landscape by UNESCO. Stop in Melk to see the Melk Abbey, situated at the western entrance of the Wachau valley. It was founded in 1089 on a steep rock above the Danube. Built by Jakob Prandtauer, it is the oldest residence of the Babenberg dynasty bearing their tomb and countless art treasures. Lunch can be taken at the restaurant of the Abbey or in one of the small inns along the Danube. We suggest an afternoon coffee stop at the Kaffeehaus Blumenstraussl in Grein and then continue to St. Florian and Enns, the oldest existing town in Austria, along the Romantik Road. End today in Steyr and visit this old romantic river town.
Day 10: Romantic Road Driving Trip (Today's total driving time: 2 hours)
This morning, drive to pristine Hallstatt. Visit and tour one of the oldest salt mines in Austria and the town with it's archaeological excavations. You will take a thrilling funicular ride above downtown Hallstatt. You'll dress up in an old miner's outfit, ride trains into the mountain where the salt was mined, cruise subterranean lakes, scream down long, sliver-free banisters while entertaining guides tell the fascinating story. This is really wonderful and fun! Continue your drive to have lunch at Hotel Gruner Baum, in town, with its wonderful views. This afternoon, continue to St. Gilgen near the Mondsee. Tonight have dinner at your wonderful Inn.
Day 11: Romantic Road Driving Trip
Today, take a trip by boat across Lake Wolfgang or go snowshoeing or sledding if in season. Have lunch at the White Horse Inn.
Day
12 - Salzburg (Today's total driving time: 45 minutes)
After a wonderful brunch at your hotel overlooking the lake, drive into Salzburg and drop off car and take a taxi to your hotel. After getting settled in your hotel stroll through the lovely downtown area and visit Mozart's Birthplace with your private guide. There are three floors of exhibition rooms, which include the Mozart family apartment. The main treasures are the valuable paintings (such as the well-known oil painting Mozart and the Piano, left unfinished by Joseph Lange) and the original instruments: the violin Mozart used as a child, his concert violin, and his viola, fortepiano, and clavichord. It's open daily from 9am to 6pm. Continue to see other sights in the historic center. Afterwards, choose one of the many cafes on the Mozartplatz to have a drink before dinner and hear the 6pm chime of the famous glockenspiel.
Day 13: Salzburg
This morning take the original Sound of Music tour departing at 9:30am.
A wonderful ride with breathtaking views of the landscape where the
opening scenes were filmed. Relax and listen to the original Sound
of Music soundtrack. Our English-speaking guide not only shows you
the highlights of the film 'Sound of Music' but also the historical
and architectural landmarks in the city, as well as a part of the picturesque
lake district. You'll visit the Mirabell Gardens which were laid out
in the 18th century. Maria and the children were seen dancing around
the statue of Pegasus, the winged horse, and throughout the gardens
singing 'Do-Re-Mi'. Then on to the Leopoldskron Castle. The front side
of the castle was used as the Trapp family home, the children were
boating on the Leopoldskron Lake and fell into the water. The Venetian
room was copied from the castle and used as the ballroom. The tour
continues to Hellbrunn Castle. This hunting castle was built in the
early 17th century by Prince-Archbishop Markus Sittikus. In the gardens
the glass pavillion was reconstructed for the pleasure of those fans
still returning after 30 years. Next stop is Nonnberg Abbey, the oldest
convent in the German speaking part of Europe. Maria was a novice there.
The baron and Maria were married here in 1927. The scenes for the movie
made here include the opening with the nuns going to Mass and Maria
coming too late. Then on to St.Gilgen and Lake Wolfgang. Scenery shown
at the beginning of the movie was filmed at Lake Fuschl on the way
to St. Gilgen. Like the Mozart family, visitors from all over the world
appreciate the beautiful village in the Salzkammergut. Finally, the
Wedding Church in Mondsee, the Cathedral where in the film the wedding
between Julie Andrews as Maria and Christopher Plummer as the Baron
took place. Tour returns you to Salzburg about 1:30pm.
This evening take in a concert of Mozart's music at either the Fortress
Hohensalzburg or
at the Castle Mirabell.
Day 14: Salzburg
At 2:00 p.m. depart your hotel with your guide to visit the Bavarian Alps. Passing the Castle Hellbrunn, through Anif, you arrive at the German border. Continue driving along the Königseeache, through the lovely valley and picturesque farmland to Unterau and on to Obersalzberg. Here stop to see what is left of Hitler's mountain compound, the Eagle's Nest, and take in the panorama. Then continue down to the Königsee or Echo Lake, pressed among the steep mountain peaks. On the way back you will stop in Berchtesgaden. Again, there is plenty of time for a look around the village and for refreshments.
Day 15: Departure
Today your driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the airport or train station for your journey home or on to your next destination.