Highlights of Switzerland & Austria

Arrival to Geneva & Train to Montreux
Welcome to Switzerland! At first, you arrive at beautiful Geneva where you take a comfortable train ride to the traditional resort town of Montreux located on the shores of Geneva Lake! Then you walk to your centrally-located hotel for check-in. 

The rest of the day is free for you to start exploring the city on your own.

Trip to Chillon Castle & Montreux Sightseeing
Following breakfast, you take a public boat cruise on Lake Geneva to reach the most recognizable historic monument in Switzerland - Chillon Castle which dates back to medieval ages. Its charming architectural style and rich history inspired such literary geniuses as Victor Hugo, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Lord Byron. First, you admire the exterior of this historical monument from water. Upon disembarkation, you have a private guided tour around the most spectacular parts of Chillon Castle.

Following Chillon, you head for Montreux where you meet your guide and have a private walking tour.  

You learn about the history and culture of charming 'Swiss Riviera' strolling along the lake shores where the summer Jazz Festival takes place. On the way up to the old town, you enjoy stunning views over the lake and pass by the oldest house in Montreux, dating back to the 16th century. 

While you walk the little streets of this charming town, your guide shares with you the stories of the famous expats in Montreux such as Vladimir Nabokov and Freddie Mercury. You see the statue of Freddie Mercury and have a chance to visit the Queen: The Studio Experience exhibition located in the original Mountain Studios, part of the Montreux Casino. Queen recorded a total of seven albums here at Mountain Studios in Montreux, which the band owned between 1979 and 1996, including the final album Made in Heaven. 

During the tour, you also find out how the fire at the Montreux Casino inspired Deep Purple's classic "Smoke on the Water." Since then the casino has been beautifully rebuilt, so have a great chance to visit it in the evening. 

After the tour, you return to your hotel.

Note: cruises are available from mid-April to mid-October; in winter season they are replaced with train rides.

Day Trip to Geneva
Following breakfast, you walk to the train station for a 1-hour train to Geneva.   

Upon arrival, you meet your guide and start exploring the highlights of Geneva, the second-most populous city of Switzerland and a capital of Romandy, the French-speaking region. Being the European seat of the UN and headquarters of the Red Cross, Geneva is known as the «capital of peace». 

You start discovering Geneva sights by the lakefront. You take a short water tram ride on lake Geneva and see one of the most famous landmarks, the Jet d'Eau fountain of 140 m (460 ft) and enjoy the view of the mountains.  

Then you proceed to the astonishing Old Town and see St. Peter Cathedral, the English Garden with Flower Clock, Ile Rousseau and Castle Tour-de-l'ile. Here you also see the city council building where the first Geneva Convention was signed, in the Alabama Room, as it is now called, and learn about the beginning of international Geneva. You also visit the grounds of the University of Geneva to see the Reformation Wall that features statues of the four Geneva luminaries and learn about the role Geneva played in the Reformation in the 16th century. 

Finally, you have a short ride by public transport to view the international district of Geneva and its heart - United Nations Office located in the Palace of Nations.   

After the tour, you return to Montreux by train.

Train to Zermatt
Today following breakfast you check out from your Montreux hotel and head for the Montreux railway station. During your 2.5-hour ride to Zermatt, a traffic-free mountain village, you enjoy the views of beautiful Pfyn-Finges Nature Park along the way (you have a train transfer in Visp). 

Arrival in Zermatt
Zermatt is famous not only for being a popular ski resort. This lovely village is located in the southern canton of Valais which is home to some of the world's most spectacular mountains, including Matterhorn.

Upon arrival, you walk to your hotel for check-in and have the rest of the day at leisure.

Day Trip to Gornegrat 
After breakfast, you walk to the railway station, where you board a cogwheel train equipped with large windows which allow you to enjoy a journey across the highest open-air railway in Europe. The Gornergrat Bahn is the cog railway which was the first in the world to be fully electrified. Nowadays regenerative braking system of this eco-friendly railway generates electricity on the descent and so saves energy.

After about 45 minutes you reach the station of Gornergrat which is considered to be the highest open-air railway station of Europe at an altitude of 3, 090 m (10,135 ft). Gornergrat observation platform is accessible all year round and offers one of the finest panoramas in Switzerland. From there you have a glorious view of more than 20 four-thousand m (13,123 ft) peaks, one of which is Matterhorn. A truly unforgettable experience you cannot miss!

Please, note: It is important to wear something warm and wind/rain protective when going to Gornergrat. The temperature there is usually lower than in the cities even in summer. In case you feel too cold you can always go inside the restaurant which is close to the observation platform. The trains to/from Gornergrat are heated well.

After some free time in Gornergrat, you have a train ride back to Zermatt. The rest of the day is free.

Departure to Zurich
Following breakfast, you check out from the Zermatt hotel and walk to the station and take a train ride to Zurich.  

Arrival in Zurich & City Tour
Welcome to the largest city in Switzerland - Zurich! Upon arrival, you have a transfer to the hotel and check-in. 

The same day you meet your private guide and enjoy a perfectly-planned sightseeing tour around the most beautiful landmarks of Zurich. Immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere of the Old Town for the following 3 hours, walking through its narrow cosy streets and exploring its breathtaking medieval houses, churches and town hall.

After the tour the rest of the evening is free.

Exploring Lucerne Region
Following breakfast, you head to the railway station to take a train to Lucerne. In about 50 minutes you meet your guide at the station of Lucerne.

Then you are invited to take an unforgettable trip with your private guide who shows you the magnificent views of Mount Pilatus and the Lucerne region. The tour starts with a cruise across the Lake Lucerne to Alpnachstad. There you board the famous cogwheel train that takes you across the world's steepest railway passing through lush Alpine meadows, spectacular rocks and sparkling mountain streams to the top of Mt Pilatus, the altitude of which is 2,132 m (6,995 ft).

For the return journey, you ride a cable car to enjoy the fantastic scenery once again. As the last part of your magnificent tour, you take a 20-minute bus from Kriens to Lucerne. Tickets* for a public boat cruise, cogwheel train, cable car, and bus are included.

Please note: boat and cogwheel train are available only from the middle of May to September. The rest of the year they are replaced with cable car and bus.

After the tour, you take a train back to Zurich. The rest of the evening is free.

Departure to Innsbruck
Following breakfast, you check out from the Zurich hotel and have a transfer to the station where you take a train to Innsbruck. 

Arrival in Innsbruck & City Tour
Upon arrival, you meet your driver and head for your hotel to check-in.

Later you meet your guide in the hotel lobby and start a tour of magnificent Innsbruck, also known as the Capital of the Alps.

You explore the oldest part of the town called Altstadt, with its beautifully cobbled streets and medieval houses coloured in lively pastel colours. The amazing mix of Gothic and Baroque styles gives Innsbruck's old town a special charm. During the tour, you see one of the Innsbruck highlights - the Goldenes Dachl (the Golden Roof) nicely decorated with fire-gilded copper tiles. It was constructed in 1500 for Emperor Maximilian to mark his wedding to Bianca Maria Sforza.

You continue to Innsbruck's Boulevard and a central street area called Maria-Theresien-Strasse, which offers a wonderful street view with the mountains seen in the back before you finally return back to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Departure to Salzburg
After breakfast, you check out from your Innsbruck hotel and and have a transfer to the station where you take a train to Salzburg. 

Arrival to Salzburg & City Tour
Upon arrival, you have a transfer to your centrally located hotel and check-in. Later you meet your private guide and embark on an exciting tour of Salzburg and the Lake Region. 

You discover the UNESCO-listed Historic Centre of the City of Salzburg with its medieval fortress, baroque palaces and churches. You see the Getreidegasse and Mozart’s birthplace, pass by the Festival Houses where the Salzburg Festival is held every year, stroll along the narrow streets and enjoy the flair of this old city. 

After the tour, you return back to your hotel or continue exploring Salzburg on your own.

Departure to Vienna
Today after breakfast you check out from your Salzburg hotel and have a transfer to the train station where you catch your train to Vienna. 

Arrival in Vienna
Upon arrival to the European capital of music, your private driver picks you up at the station and transfers to the hotel in the very heart of Vienna.

The rest of the day is free for you to either relax or start exploring glorious Vienna on your own.

Optional tour: Concert "Sound of Vienna", Vienna

Vienna Sightseeing
Following breakfast at the hotel, your guide takes you on a 3-hour walking tour of downtown Vienna. You start at the State Opera House and walk through the Karntnerstrasse, a shopping street in the pedestrian zone in the city center, to St. Stephen's Cathedral. Then walk along the Graben and the Kohlmarkt, a very exquisite shopping area, to the Imperial Palace Hofburg, the former winter residence of the Habsburgs. It now houses the Imperial Apartments, Sisi Museum, Imperial Silver Chamber, Austrian National Library and much more.

Continue to Ring avenue home to the Museums of Fine Art and National History, the Parliament, the City Hall, and the Burgtheater. During the tour, you also see Neuer Markt and the Capuchin monastery.

After the tour, you return to your hotel and have the rest of the day free. In the evening you can enjoy an optional concert 'Sounds of Vienna'.

Schonbrunn Palace & Vienna Woods Exploration
After breakfast, your guide and driver take you on a 4-hour touring program around the most significant sites within the boundaries and in the surrounding area of Vienna.

During the tour, you explore the Vienna Woods, which are the most eastern foothills of the Alps. You enjoy a stunning view over the city and Danube River from Kahlenberg, the highest hill in the city.

Then you drive through the wine area in the foot of the Vienna Woods, the town of Grinzing, and learn why Vienna is called the 'Wine-Growing Capital of the World'.

Next on your list is the magnificent Schonbrunn Palace, the former summer royal residence, that gives you a historical impression of the glorious imperial times. A highlight is a guided inside visit to the showrooms of the Palace.

After the tour, you return to your hotel in Vienna. The rest of the day is free.

Departure
This is the final day of your tour. Today your driver takes you to the airport for your flight back home. We hope you enjoyed your European tour and the charming capitals you have explored!

Please note: you may extend your stay in Vienna and have optional day-tour to Wachau Valley & Wine Tasting or continue your trip to Krakow. Please, contact your travel specialist for the details.

Optional extensions: Krakow Extension from Vienna or Tour to Wachau Valley & Wine Tasting