The city of Salzburg, Austria

Classic Austria

Bike riding in Seefeld, Austria

Classic Austria

The colorful waterfront of Innsbruck, Austria

Classic Austria

Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany

Classic Austria

Castles, Alpine Valleys, and Historic Cities Across Bavaria and Austria

Days: 11 | From: $8,180/per person

  • Enjoy accommodations at best-in-class boutique hotels.
  • Curated tours with outstanding private guides: you’ll have an instant local friend with insider access.

This itinerary explores Austria's cultural and alpine highlights through a journey that connects historic cities, mountain landscapes, and traditional villages. Begin in Munich with time to explore its historic center before traveling into the Bavarian Alps, visiting castles and quaint villages along the way. Cross into Austria to stay in Seefeld, where you'll ride bikes through mountain valleys and visit master artisans in the fairytale town of Mittenwald. Continue to Salzburg for exploration of its baroque Old Town, fortress, and attend a classical concert in Mozart's hometown. From there, follow the Danube through the Wachau Valley, visiting Melk Abbey and cycling past vineyards and riverside villages before arriving in Vienna. The journey concludes with time to discover Vienna’s imperial landmarks, Schönbrunn Palace, and the city’s famous café culture.

Talk to a Vaya Travel Specialist

We tailor itineraries to your dates and interests, adjusting hotels, excursions and length as desired.

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At a Glance

  • Munich
    2 nights: tour the timeless capital of Bavaria
  • Seefeld
    2 nights: bike ride through alpine valleys and explore quaint historical villages
  • Salzburg
    3 nights: listen to classical music, tour Medieval fortresses, and see authentic Austrian culture in Mozart's hometown
  • Vienna
    3 nights: discover the palaces, cathedrals, and markets of Austria's charming capital city

All itineraries are fully customizable. We will send you a personalized variation that reflects your interests and travel dates at no extra cost. Call to discuss your travel plans with one of our Specialists who know this region firsthand.

5-Star Reviews

Find out why our discerning travelers consistently rate us with 5-stars.

Sample Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Munich

Welcome to Germany! Upon arrival at Munich Airport, you’ll be privately transferred to your hotel in the city center. The remainder of the day is at leisure to settle in or begin exploring Bavaria’s capital at your own pace.

Accommodations: Boutique Hotel Splendid, 2 nights

Boutique Hotel Splendid is a small, family-run hotel located in the historic district of Lehel. Housed in a late 19th-century townhouse, the building retains its historic façade and classic architectural details. Facilities include a breakfast room serving a daily buffet, a bar area, a living room with a cozy fireplace, and a quiet garden terrace set under shady trees. The hotel’s scale and residential setting offer a more intimate alternative to larger city properties.

Alternative lodging options:
Hotel Mirabell , Platzl Hotel , Eden Hotel Wolff , 25hours Hotel München The Royal Bavarian , Mandarin Oriental Munich , Rosewood Munich , Do & Co Hotel , Beyond by Geisel

Day 2: Explore and Tour Munich

Today you’ll set out for a two-hour walking tour of Munich’s historic center. After breakfast, meet your guide in the hotel lobby and begin exploring the architectural and cultural landmarks that define the Bavarian capital.

Start at Marienplatz, home to the renowned Glockenspiel and the New and Old Town Halls. Continue to St. Peter’s Church and the twin-domed Frauenkirche, two of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. Walk through the lively Viktualienmarkt, pass the grand Residenz, once the seat of Bavarian royalty, and conclude at the elegant Odeonsplatz. The tour offers a clear introduction to Munich’s history, layout, and daily life.

Accommodations: Boutique Hotel Splendid, 2 nights

*Includes: Breakfast

Day 3: Castles of the Bavarian Alps and Travel to Tirol, Austria

After breakfast, check out and meet your guide in the hotel lobby. Today you’ll leave Munich behind and drive south into the Bavarian Alps. Visit Neuschwanstein Castle, set above forested hills and alpine lakes, and take in sweeping views of the surrounding mountains.

Continue to a traditional cheese farm for a rustic lunch featuring regional specialties, then travel through the village of Oberammergau, known for its Passion Play and woodcarving tradition. Stop in Ettal to see the baroque Ettal Abbey, a Benedictine monastery that has stood here since the 14th century.

By late afternoon, cross the border into Austria and arrive in Seefeld in Tirol, an alpine resort town that has hosted multiple Winter Olympic events and will serve as your base for the next two nights.

Accommodations: Hotel Seefelderhof, 2 nights

Hotel Seefelderhof is a family-run alpine hotel located in the center of Seefeld in Tiro. Rooms and suites are furnished in modern Tyrolean country style, many with balconies. The hotel has a restaurant serving Austrian and international cuisine, and facilities include a wellness area with an indoor swimming pool, steam bath, and traditional outdoor sauna, along with spa treatments and massages. The hotel has a landscaped outdoor garden area for lounging.

*Includes: Breakfast, Lunch

Alternative lodging options:
Hotel Seelos , Bergresort Seefeld , Die Seefelderin , Interalpen-Hotel Tyrol , Alpin Resort Sacher , Hotel Klosterbräu

Day 4: Bike Ride through the Leutasch Valley

Today you’ll set out on an e-bike ride through the alpine landscape surrounding Seefeld. Follow scenic paths toward Mittenwald, a charming Bavarian village known for its brightly painted houses and long tradition of violin making. While in town, visit the Geigenbaumuseum to learn about the centuries-old craft of violin building, then spend some time wandering Mittenwald’s streets, where small shops, cafés, and mountain views give the village its distinctive character.

In the afternoon, cycle back to Seefeld through the Leutasch Valley, passing clear rivers, open meadows, and dramatic peaks along the way. Once back at the hotel, enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure to relax and take advantage of the hotel’s facilities.

Accommodations: Hotel Seefelderhof, 2 nights

*Includes: Breakfast

Day 5: Charming Innsbruck and Travel to Salzburg

Depart Seefeld and travel by private shuttle to Innsbruck, the capital of Tyrol. Surrounded by steep alpine peaks, the city blends imperial history with a lively mountain atmosphere.

Upon arrival, join your guide for a walking tour of the Old Town. See landmarks such as the Golden Roof, the former imperial Hofburg Palace, and the baroque Cathedral of St. James. After the tour, enjoy time to explore the historic center on your own before sitting down for lunch at a local restaurant serving traditional Tyrolean dishes.

In the afternoon, continue east through the Alps to Salzburg. Once you arrive, the rest of the evening is at leisure to begin exploring Mozart’s hometown at your own pace.

Accommodations: Altstadthotel Weisse Taube, 3 nights

Altstadthotel Weisse Taube is a historic hotel in Salzburg’s Old Town, set in a building dating back to 1365 on a quiet side street near the cathedral and Residenzplatz. The hotel offers simple yet well-appointed rooms. A breakfast room serves a daily buffet, and the property features a small lobby area while placing guests within steps of Salzburg’s main cultural sights, restaurants, and shopping streets.

*Includes: Breakfast, Lunch

Alternative lodging options:
Hotel & Villa Auersperg , Hotel Laschenskyhof , Hotel Stein , Hotel Gmachl , Hyperion Hotel Salzburg , Hotel Bristol Salzburg , Hotel Schloss Mönchstein , Hotel Goldener Hirsch

Day 6: Sights and Sounds of Salzburg

Set out to explore Salzburg, a city known for its music, baroque architecture, and well-preserved historic center. Begin with a guided walking tour through the UNESCO-listed Old Town, where narrow cobbled streets connect elegant squares, churches, and landmarks such as Mozart’s birthplace and Residenzplatz.

Continue up to Hohensalzburg Fortress, one of the largest and best-preserved medieval castles in Europe. From its hilltop setting, take in sweeping views over the city and surrounding mountains while learning about Salzburg’s long history.

In the evening, you’ll attend a classical concert at Schloss Mirabell, where Mozart’s works are performed in the elegant Marble Hall, once used for royal celebrations.

Accommodations: Altstadthotel Weisse Taube, 3 nights

*Includes: Breakfast

Day 7: Salzburg at Leisure

Enjoy a full day at leisure in Salzburg, giving you the flexibility to explore the city and its surroundings at your own pace.

You might choose to join a private Sound of Music tour, which begins at Schloss Mirabell and travels through the landscapes of the Salzburgerland, visiting several well-known filming locations set among alpine lakes and mountain scenery.

Alternatively, take a ferry cruise on the Salzach River for a different perspective of Salzburg’s baroque skyline. Or simply opt to wander the Old Town’s streets with its boutique stores and sidewalk cafés, perhaps stopping at Konditorei Fürst, the original home of the famous Mozartkugel chocolate. For a taste of local life, consider visiting one of Salzburg’s traditional breweries and enjoying a beer in the city’s relaxed, gemütlich atmosphere.

Accommodations: Altstadthotel Weisse Taube, 3 nights

*Includes: Breakfast

Day 8: Bike the Wachau Valley and Travel to Vienna

Depart Salzburg this morning and travel east toward the Danube with your private driver. Your first stop is Melk Abbey, an impressive Baroque complex set high above the river. Explore its grand halls, ornate church, and historic library while learning about the abbey’s centuries-long role in the region.

From Melk, switch to an e-bike and begin a scenic ride through the Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its vineyards, small villages, and medieval ruins. Following paths along the Danube, you’ll pass apricot orchards, church spires, and hillside castles that define this stretch of the river.

After the ride, meet your driver and continue on to Vienna, where the final chapter of your trip begins.

Accommodations: Hotel Altstadt Vienna, 3 nights

Hotel Altstadt Vienna is a boutique hotel located in Vienna’s Spittelberg district, housed in a historic patrician building near the MuseumsQuartier. The hotel offers individually designed rooms and suites created in collaboration with various artists and designers, giving each space a distinct character. Facilities include a rooftop garden to lounge in, a breakfast salon serving a daily buffet, an afternoon tea service, and a bar and salon, along with art-filled lounge areas.

*Includes: Breakfast, Lunch

Alternative lodging options:
Hotel Gilbert , O11 Boutique Hotel Vienna , Das Tyrol , The Amauris Vienna , Almanac Palais Vienna , Hotel Imperial , Hotel Sans Souci , Rosewood Vienna

Day 9: Explore Vienna's Cathedrals, Palaces, and Viennese Cafe Culture

Meet your private guide and driver for a full day exploring Vienna. The tour combines both driving and walking, allowing you to experience the city’s major landmarks in a single day.

Begin in the historic center, where pedestrian streets lead to St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Gothic heart of Vienna, and the nearby Hofburg Palace, once the seat of the Habsburg dynasty. Later, visit Schönbrunn Palace, the former imperial summer residence and one of Austria’s most visited sites, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Along the way, enjoy a traditional Viennese lunch and pause at one of the city’s classic cafés for coffee and cake, an essential part of Vienna’s cultural life.

Accommodations: Hotel Altstadt Vienna, 3 nights

*Includes: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 10: Vienna at Leisure

Enjoy a full day at leisure in Vienna, giving you time to explore the city at your own pace. If you’re interested in local cuisine, you might join a cooking class to learn how to prepare Kaiserschmarrn, a classic Austrian dessert once favored by Empress Sisi, or take a guided food tour through the lively Naschmarkt, one of the city’s best-known markets.

Vienna also offers an outstanding collection of museums, many of which can be visited independently or with a private guide. If shopping is more appealing, Mariahilfer Strasse is lined with boutiques and larger stores.

In the evening, consider marking the end of your journey with a special farewell dinner, perhaps at a traditional Heuriger wine tavern or a cozy Viennese Beisl, where local dishes and regional wines take center stage.

Accommodations: Hotel Altstadt Vienna, 3 nights

*Includes: Breakfast

Day 11: Departure

Say goodbye to Austria and head to the airport to catch your departing flight.

*Includes: Breakfast

Popular Ways to Customize This Itinerary

  • Add time exploring Austria’s Wachau Valley wine region, with private tastings and scenic biking along the Danube.

  • Spend extra nights hiking and enjoying the Alpine scenery around Innsbruck or Kitzbühel.

  • Explore the lakes and charming villages of the beautiful Salzkammergut Lakes district.

  • Discover Austria’s culinary scene with market visits and cooking classes in Vienna or Graz

  • Visit Austria’s lesser-known wine country along the South Styrian Wine Road near Graz.

  • Include a relaxing lakeside stay near Hallstatt or along Lake Wolfgang.

  • Travel during winter to experience festive Christmas markets in Vienna and Salzburg.

Contact us to learn about more options for designing and customizing your trip.
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