Central Europe Classic Luxury Rail Tour. The classic cities of Central Europe abound in culture, tradition, and music! Enjoy luxury accommodations in five-star hotels in the cities of Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg, and Munich along this first-class rail tour. And enjoy guided tours in the spectacular landscape around the Danube River and the German and Austrian Alps.
Salzburg Cathedral ©Thomas H. Giesick
Visit the Danube Valley and Melk, join the legendary Sound of Music tour from Salzburg and visit Oberammergau and the Royal Castles, Neuschwanstein and Linderhof, on a day trip from Munich! (see the tableau this is already included in the price of your tour). Here you also find everything else that is included: transfers, rail tickets, tours and admissions.
Price per Person
| two sharing a double room | one in a single room | three sharing a triple room |
| US $ 2,219 | US $ 3,679 | US $ 2,149 |
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Day 1 Munich
By private transfer you will get from Munich International Airport to your hotel. The price of your tour already includes a ticket for free use of public transportation system (buses, trams, subways) within Munich and the admission to many sights in Munich (Munich Residence and Residence Museum, Treasury, Cuvilliés-Theatre, Hall of Fame and Statue of Bavaria, Nymphenburg Palace and Park, Marstallmuseum, Museum of Nymphenburg Porcelain) and with your tour package you will also receive walking suggestions for a self-guided walking tour through Munich City Center. Along this walking tour you will visit the Marienplatz with the New Town Hall (with the “Glockenspiel”), the Konigsplatz (King´s Square), cultural center in the 19th century and later, during the “Third Reich”, site of Nazi Party mass rallies and location of the Nazi Party headquarters in Germany, the English Garden as well as the State Opera House.
Entrance to the Hofbrauhaus and Marienplatz in Munich © Thomas H. Giesick
You will be able to visit famous churches like Munich Frauenkirche, “Dom zu Unserer Lieben Frau (Cathedral of Our Dear Lady), with a height of 325 ft. a Munich landmark, St. Peters Church, built in the 14th century and the Asam Church, which was built as a private chapel and integrated into an apartment building. The tour will pass by the most famous Munich shopping streets (Kaufinger street and Neuhauser street) as well as by the “Viktualienmarkt”, a traditional farmers market (open every day except on Sundays). The tour will take you by the famous “Alois Dallmayr” luxury delicatessen and coffee store as well as to the Hofbrauhaus of course, probably the world’s most popular beer hall. This may be a great place to enjoy a hearty dinner and a fresh Mass of beer (one mug holds 33.8 US fl oz)!
Neuschwanstein Castle Oberammergau © Romantische Strasse Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gbr and Linderhof Palace Ettal © Softeis via Wikimedia Commons
Day 2 Escorted Coach tour to Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace
Your all-day, escorted coach tour will first take you to Oberammergau for a photo stop. The coach will then take you to Linderhof Palace, the “Royal Villa” of Ludwig II. Visit this beautiful furnished castle and the park. Admission to Linderhof Palace and Neuschwanstein Castle is included in the price of the tour. The picture of Neuschwanstein is probably present in everybody’s mind but certainly for those traveling along the Romantic Road. Be prepared that reality will surpass all pictures and imaginations. Neuschwanstein seems to be taken out of a fairy tale! Seeing the castle from the outside is unforgettable, a tour of the interior, which was originally built for one famous inhabitant, will make the picture perfect! But make sure to take some time to explore the castle grounds. The view of Neuschwanstein from the bridge behind the Castle is like no other! PLEASE NOTE: if you have been on the escorted coach tour to the Royal Castles before it is also possible to change this to a different tour from Munich.
Day 3 Salzburg
In about 1 hours and 20 minutes the high-speed “Rail Jet” (RJ) will take you from Munich to Salzburg. Salzburg, beautiful town close to the Alps, birthplace of Mozart is also the site of the popular movie “The Sound of Music”. Your hotel is located in walking distance of Salzburg Central Station and in the early afternoon – after you have checked in – you will be picked up from your hotel to join the English-speaking most unique 4-hour Sound of Music tour!
This tour is an ideal opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Maria von Trapp while taking in local historical sights both from the city of Salzburg and also the picturesque lakes and mountains surrounding the city. After the tour you may want to walk across the Salzach River to take a look at Mozart’s birth house and the small shopping streets in the area. Here you also find a wide choice of restaurants for dinner.
Day 4 Salzburg
Today you will be picked up at your hotel in Salzburg for a half-day tour to the Kehlsteinhaus, located close to nearby Berchtesgaden/Germany, in English-speaking countries known as the “Eagles Nest”.
Eagles Nest – Kehlsteinhaus © Thomas H. Giesick
The Eagles Nest was built for Adolf Hitler for his 50th birthday as a present from his party. It is an architectural master piece: the building on a rock on top of the mountain, a road cut into the mountain ending in front of a tunnel leading to a golden brass elevator through which one can reach the summit. Truly impressive and this is what it was supposed to be: to impress and dazzle people. For information about what to expect at the Eagles Nest you may want to look at our Blog “Eagles Nest – daytrip from Salzburg” where you also find some impressions of this day trip.
Day 5 Vienna
In about 2 hours and 40 minutes the high-speed “Rail Jet” (RJ) will take you throughout Austria, from Salzburg to Vienna located in the east of Austria, close to the borders to Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. The price of your vacation package already includes the 48 hour Vienna Card. With this card you enjoy more than 200 discounts in Vienna, at museums and sights, theaters and concerts, in shops, cafes, restaurants and also the “Heurige” wine taverns. But most importantly with this card you also enjoy unlimited free public transportation within Vienna. Even though your hotel is located in the City Center it is great to have the option to take the subway, a street-car or a public bus. On your first day in Vienna you may want to visit the Imperial Palace, for example, the “Hofburg Vienna”, the center of the former Habsburg Empire. The Palace was Sisi´s Imperial home and household, and the Imperial Apartments, the Sisi Museum and the Silver Collection can be visited here. At the Vienna Hofburg you also find the Spanish Riding School where you may want to watch a performance or join a practice session and also the Old Town Hall which is close by. In immediate walking distance of the Hofburg you will find the State Opera House, definitely one of the world’s most famous Opera Houses where the Vienna Opera Ball takes place every year. St. Stephen’s Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Vienna and it is a “must see” as well as smaller churches like the “Universitatskirche” (Jesuits Church) and the “Peterskirche” (St. Peter’s Church).
Another option is to visit the “Ringstrasse”, a circular road around the inner city districts of Vienna. In the 19th century the road was replacing the Old City Wall which had been built in the 13th century. Many of the buildings you find along this road, the Austrian Parliament Building or the University of Vienna for example, were built around the 1850´s. You may also want to visit Schonbrunn Palace and its beautiful Garden. Your Vienna Card covers the fare to get there; the subway station “Schonbrunn” (subway line U4) is very close to the entrance of Schonbrunn Palace, once the summer residence of the Habsburg family and home of Maria Theresa. The Rococo palace is one of the most important architectural, cultural and historical monuments in Austria and nowadays is one of the most visited sights in Vienna. It all started with the building of a mansion on hunting grounds in 1548 just outside of Vienna. The impressive Palace in its present form (it has 1,441 rooms!) was built and remodeled around the 1750s by Maria Theresa. Make sure to plan in some time for a visit of Schonbrunn Garden before you take the subway back to the city center.
Schoenbrunn Palace and Church of Mariahilf in Vienna ©Österreich Werbung
Day 6 Day trip to the Danube Valley, Melk and Danube River Cruise
Today you will be picked up at your hotel for a day trip which takes you from Vienna into the Wachau, a picturesque valley along the Danube, known for its excellent wine. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and you enjoy the view of medieval castles, impressive monasteries and a breathtaking landscape along this tour.
You will first travel from Vienna to Krems, a pretty town on the banks of the Danube River. After a short visit to the historical city Centre, the bus tour continues on to Spitz. Along the way, you will see the ruins of Duernstein Castle, where the English King Richard the Lionheart was held captive. By boat, you will cruise on the Danube River downstream to the town of Melk. Lush vineyards shape the landscape of the Danube Valley – the views on both sides of the Danube are spectacular!
After the boat trip, you arrive at Melk where the bus awaits you and takes you to the nearby Benedictine Abbey. This impressive baroque building was awarded the prize “Best Historic Destination of the World” together with the Wachau in 2008. On a guided tour you will see the magnificent marble hall, the precious abbey library and the church with its unique frescoes. After this enjoyable day trip, we take you back from the Danube Valley to the Vienna State Opera. Your 48 hour Vienna Card is still valid that day so you may use the public transportation system for some additional sightseeing in Vienna in the evening, to enjoy a nice dinner and to get back to your hotel.
Budapest Castle Area and Budapest Zitadelle©Ungarn Tourismus
Day 7 Budapest
In a little less than three hours, you will be in Budapest. By private transfer, you will get from Budapest Keleti Station to your hotel. Budapest is one of Europe’s most charming and romantic cities. It consists of two very different cities, Buda on the West bank of the Danube River and Pest on the East bank. Most of Budapest’s famous sights are concentrated on Castle Hill on the Buda side, in downtown Pest, and along the riverside walkways. You are holding a 48-hour Hop-on Hop-off City tour ticket which is a great way to explore the City. The most popular attraction of Budapest is the Royal Palace which is towering on the Castle Hill above the city as well as the Parliament Building – a neo-gothic jewel, beautifully situated overlooking the Danube. St. Stephen’s Basilica is the main church of Budapest. It is an important example of neoclassical architecture. The mummified right hand of Hungary´s first king, St. Stephen, is kept in the chapel. The 96-meter high dome can be seen from anywhere in the city and the inside is beautifully decorated with mosaics. Also worth visiting is the State Opera House.
Day 8 Budapest
Your 48-hour Hop-on Hop-off City ticket is still valid today and you may want to take another tour to see more of Budapest. Later on you may want to walk down to the Danube to visit the Chain Bridge (Szechenyi lanchid) as well as stroll along the Danube River bank. The “Shoes on the Danube Bank” can be found there; it is a memorial which honors the Jews who were killed by fascists in Budapest during World War II. The Jews in Budapest were ordered to take off their shoes and were shot at the edge of the water so that their bodies fell into the river and were carried away. The memorial represents their shoes left behind on the bank.More detailed information about the horrors can be found at the Holocaust Memorial Center with its Exhibition Hall, the Synagogue and the “Wall of Victims”.
Day 9 Budapest Int. Airport
By private transfer, you will get from your hotel to the Budapest Airport or Budapest Cruise Ship Port where your tour ends. Please provide your departure details so we can arrange your transfer accordingly.
Would you like to download an overview of the 9 Day Central Europe Classic Luxury Rail Tour (9R09) as a pdf to print it out or to forward it to a friend? Please download it right here:This is already included in the price of your tour
| Day 1 - Munich Int. Aiport to Munich/ Munich | Ticket for unlimited free use of the public transportation system (buses, trams, subways) within Munich as well as for the train from Munich Int. Airport to Munich Central Station | Sofitel Bayerpost Hotel (or similar if not available) | Private transfer from Munich Int. Airport to your hotel, Admission Residence Museum, Treasury Admission Cuvilliés-Theatre, Admission Hall of Fame and Statue of Bavaria, Admission Nymphenburg Palace and Park, Admission Marstallmuseum and Museum of Nymphenburg Porcelain, Munich Walking suggestions |
| Day 2 - Royal Castles/ Munich | no train tickets needed | Sofitel Bayerpost Hotel (or similar if not available) | Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Munich, All day escorted coach tour to Oberammergau and to the Royal Castles - Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace, Admission Neuschwanstein Castle (Hohenschwangau), Admission Linderhof Palace & Park (Ettal) |
| Day 3 - Munich to Salzburg/ Salzburg | First Class High-Speed train ticket from Munich directly to Salzburg (travel time about 1:30 hrs) | Sheraton Hotel Salzburg (or similar if not available), located within 10 walking minutes from Salzburg Central Station | Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Munich, 4 hr Sound of Music tour with a pick-up from your hotel in Salzburg included |
| Day 4 - Salzburg | no train tickets needed | Sheraton Hotel Salzburg (or similar if not available), located within 10 walking minutes from Salzburg Central Station | Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Salzburg, 4.5 hr Eagles Nest tour with a pick-up from your hotel in Salzburg included |
| Day 5 - Salzburg to Vienna/ Vienna | First Class High-Speed train ticket from Salzburg directly to Vienna (travel time about 2:25 hrs), Ticket for unlimited free use of the public transportation system (buses, trams, subways) within Vienna | Le Meridien Vienna Hotel (or similar if not available), located within 10 walking minutes from Vienna Station | Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Salzburg, 48 hrs Vienna Card |
| Day 6 - Vienna | Ticket for unlimited free use of the public transportation system (buses, trams, subways) within Vienna | Le Meridien Vienna Hotel (or similar if not available), , located within 10 walking minutes from Vienna Station | Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Vienna, 48 hrs Vienna Card, Day Trip thru Danube Valley (by coach and boat) |
| Day 7 - Vienna to Budapest/ Budapest | First Class Speed train ticket from Vienna directly to Budapest (travel time about 2:35 hrs) | Boscolo Budapest, Autograph Collection Hotel (or similar if not available) | Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Vienna, private transfer from Budapest Keleti Station to your hotel, 48 h Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus ticket in Budapest |
| Day 8 - Budapest | no train tickets needed | Boscolo Budapest, Autograph Collection Hotel (or similar if not available) | Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Budapest, 48 h Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus ticket in Budapest |
| Day 9 - Budapest to Budapest Airport or Budapest Cruise Ship Port | no train tickets needed | no hotel needed | Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Budapest, private transfer to Budapest Airport or Budapest Cruise Ship Port |
Your tour package includes all tickets, vouchers and information necessary to enjoy a great independent tour. The tour package also contains tour information sheets (20-35 pages) with general information about the tour and a day by day itinerary which you can download from our website once your booking is confirmed.
This is not included in the price of your tour
- Airfare from your origin to Munich Int. Airport/from Budapest Int. Airport to your origin
- all meals other than breakfast (which is included)
- gratuities (tips)
You have booked the tour already and would like to download the to-europe tour information package for this tour now? Please download them right here:
CUSTOMIZED RAIL TOUR PRAGUE TO BUDAPEST We want to let you know how our trip to the Czech Rep., Austria, Slovakia and Hungary went. Well, as the previous two tours you put together for us this was also ” Fantastic”. Prague, Linz, Graz, Vienna, Bratislava, Gyor, Budapest and Eger were all beautiful cities. The hotels in these cities were very good, especially the “Apartment” in Budapest. The location of the hotels were very good. The rail tickets worked out just fine. The Tours you provided in Prague, Vienna and Budapest were very good, enabling us to see the most beautiful parts of these cities, especially the All day Danube Valley Tour. The information sheets provided made our trip very easy. Thomas, we want to thank you for helping us have another ” Fantastic” vacation. – Jerry, Janet, & Timothy M., Minneapolis, MN, USA
We are fortunate to have travelers from all over the world on our pre-packaged tours and we would love to have your feedback! If you have been traveling along this tour with us please leave us a review below – we greatly appreciate your time! (your Email address will not be displayed)
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