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Spend a week seeing the best of one of Europe’s most fascinating regions. Set off from scenic Lucerne, Switzerland to explore Hohenschwangau and Munich, two of Germany’s can’t-miss destinations. Your adventure continues in Austria, where you’ll take in the sights and sounds of Salzburg before being entranced by Vienna’s beauty.
Your tour package includes
7 nights in handpicked hotels
7 breakfasts
3 dinners with beer or wine
6 sightseeing tours
Expert Tour Director & local guides
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Included highlights
Kapellbrücke
Neuschwanstein
Nymphenburg Palace
Salzburg Cathedral
Melk Abbey
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An expert specializing in tours of this region is here to help.
Day 2: Arrival in Zurich & transfer to the Swiss Alps
Included meal: Welcome dinner
Welcome to Switzerland! Transfer to the Swiss Alps. Then, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.
Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Lucerne
Included meal: Breakfast
Get an up-close look at the lakeside city of Lucerne, Switzerland’s idyllic Alpine town, on a guided sightseeing tour.
View the Lion Monument, a tribute to the Swiss Guards who sacrificed their lives in Paris during the French Revolution
Pass hand-painted facades that line the cobbled streets of the Old Town
Cross the medieval Kapellbrücke, a covered wooden footbridge spanning the Reuss River, and view the Water Tower
See the Jesuit Church, the first large Baroque building of its kind to be built north of the Alps in Switzerland
Enjoy a free afternoon in the Swiss Alps or add an excursion.
Mount Pilatus
From $129 per person
Munich2 nights
Day 4: Munich via Liechtenstein & Neuschwanstein
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Cross into Liechtenstein, a tiny Alpine principality dating back to the Holy Roman Empire.
Visit the capital of Vaduz
Pass the royal family’s hilltop castle, still in use as a royal residence
Then, travel through the mountains of Bavaria en route to Munich, Germany.
Make a photo stop at Neuschwanstein Castle, the fairy-tale retreat of “Mad” King Ludwig II
Revel in scenic views of the Alps as you relax during free time for lunch in the town below Neuschwanstein
Continue on to Munich and sit down for an included dinner.
Day 5: Sightseeing tour of Munich
Included meal: Breakfast
Get to know the Bavarian capital on a guided tour.
Travel past the Englischer Garten and fashionable Schwabing district
Enter the Nymphenburg Palace, the Baroque home to past Bavarian royalty
Walk from Odeonsplatz through the Hofgarten to view the Residenz, once home to the Wittelsbach dukes of Bavaria
Explore Marienplatz, Munich’s medieval heart, and see the famed Glockenspiel
Spend a free afternoon in Munich or add an excursion
Dachau
From $55 per person
Salzburg1 night
Day 6: Transfer to Salzburg & sightseeing tour
Included meal: Breakfast
Head to Salzburg, Austria, a city famed for its churches and musical history. There, a local guide leads you on a walking tour of the Old Town.
View the University of Salzburg and the churchyard of St. Peter
See the Kapitelplatz, Residenzplatz, and Alter Markt in the city’s Old Town
Pass through scenery from the beloved film The Sound of Music
Enter the 17th-century Salzburg Cathedral, built in the Baroque style
Enjoy a free evening in Salzburg or add an excursion.
Mozart Concert & Dinner
From $149 per person
Vienna2 nights
Day 7: Vienna via Melk Abbey
Included meal: Breakfast
Travel east through the Danube basin en route to Vienna.
Stop in Melk for a guided tour of the town’s Baroque abbey, which is situated on rock overlooking the Danube River
Explore its Baroque pavilion, library, and chapel
Continue on to Vienna and make a photo stop at Schönbrunn Palace, the Rococo Hapsburg home
Spend a free evening in Vienna or add an excursion.
Please note: On some departures the photo stop at Schönbrunn Palace will be replaced with entrance to Schönbrunn Palace on day 8 depending on the day of the week.
Traditional Viennese Heurigen Evening
From $115 per person
Day 8: Sightseeing tour of Vienna
Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner
Get transported back to the Age of Empires on a guided tour of Vienna.
Step inside Belvedere Palace, home to the world’s largest collection of paintings by artist Gustav Klimt, and admire the palace’s impressive gardens
Travel down the Ringstrasse, passing the Parliament building, Vienna State Opera, and Kunsthistorisches Museum
See the grand Hofburg Palace, the Hapsburg’s preferred winter residence
Celebrate your trip with your group at a farewell dinner this evening.
Please note: Belvedere Palace will be replaced with Schönbrunn Palace if the guided sightseeing falls on a Monday.
Flight Home
Day 9: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
Transfer to the airport for your flight home or continue on to Prague, Czech Republic.
Extension to Prague
Continue your trip to learn why Prague is the City of One Hundred Spires. (Hint: There are a lot of spires, and it’s a really beautiful place.) You’ll also uncover some amazing history as you explore the Czech capital with a local guide.
Prague2 nights
Day 9: Transfer to Prague
Included meal: Breakfast
Drive through the pastoral landscapes of Bohemia on your way to one of Europe’s most beautiful cities: Prague, Czech Republic.
Spend a free evening in the city or add an excursion.
Evening in Prague: River Cruise & Dinner
From $95 per person
Day 10: Sightseeing tour of Prague
Included meal: Breakfast
Discover why Prague is known as the City of One Hundred Spires on a guided tour.
Visit Prague Castle, from which Charles IV governed the Holy Roman Empire
Admire the soaring Gothic vaults of St. Vitus Cathedral
Walk down to the Malá Strana district to sip a coffee at a local cafe
Cross the elegant Charles Bridge for breathtaking views of the city
Stroll through Old Town Square to view the 15th-century Astronomical Clock
Tonight, enjoy a farewell drink as you celebrate your trip with your fellow group members. Then, spend a free evening in Prague or add an excursion.
Château Sychrov
From $159 per person
Flight Home
Day 11: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
This was my second Go Ahead tour. I did this with my husband and two young adult kids. It is a pretty fast paced tour moving from city to city across 4 countries. (We did the Prague extension.) You see a lot. All gorgeous places with amazing history. The hotels are spotless, well located, and comfor...
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EF Go Ahead Tours replied on 9/19/23
Thank you for leaving such a wonderful review! We ...
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5.0 star rating
Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Prague
8/19/23 by 1st-time traveler Yvonne
First of all we had the best tour guide ever Juergen is very knowledgeable, funny, caring, accommodating also good taste in food, places to go see when we had free time and water 😂 can’t forget our bus 🚌 driver Peter 🙆🏻♀️🙌🏼excellent driver, funny, caring. One of the best driver ever👍🏼 Switz...
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5.0 star rating
My first International 🌎 trip
8/19/23 by 1st-time traveler Blanca
It was amazing, words can not explain how spectacular it was and I can't wait to do this again.
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Hotels, flights & FAQ
Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.
Hotels
We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.
Grand Hotel Europe
This Belle Époque hotel is located near the lake promenade. Guests enjoy a restaurant, bar, and free Wi-Fi. Nearby, you’ll find Lake Lucerne, Chapel B...
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NYX Hotel Munich
This artsy hotel is located in the Obersendling district. Guests enjoy a restaurant, bar, and sauna. Nearby you’ll find the Hellabrunn Zoo, the Theres...
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Arcotel Castellani
This contemporary hotel is located in Salzburg city center. Guests enjoy the large garden, fitness center, and restaurant. Nearby, you'll find the Sal...
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MAXX by Steigenberger Hotel Vienna
This convenient hotel is located in the city center of Vienna, Austria. Guests enjoy the fitness area, on-site bar and restaurant, and spa. Nearby you...
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NH Prague City
This modern hotel is located in the Smíchov district of Prague. Guests enjoy a gym and sauna, restaurants with terraces, and tennis court. Nearby, you...
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Flights
Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.
Add our airfare package and you'll get:
Round-trip flight for your tour
Airport transfers at your destination
A great price locked in today
24/7 support from our dedicated service team
Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
This tour visits Switzerland, Germany, and Austria (plus the Czech Republic on the tour extension). In order to enter these countries, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
Beginning in 2024, U.S. and Canadian passport holders must register for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to enter many European countries.
Passport holders from over 60 visa-exempt countries (including the U.S. and Canada) will need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to visit 30 European countries. That means that even if you’ve previously traveled to any of these European countries without a visa, starting in 2024, you’ll need to get ETIAS authorization to visit them again. If you’re traveling to multiple countries with this requirement, you only need to complete the form once. All Go Ahead travelers are responsible for obtaining their own ETIAS travel authorization before departure. For more details, please visit our Help Center.
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code SGA.
You will walk for at least 2.5 hours daily across mostly flat terrain with some cobblestone streets, hills, and stairs.
Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times.
Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special, individual mobility assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group as a whole enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing, individualized assistance to any one traveler.
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Zurich and depart from Vienna (or Prague on the tour extension). A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.
Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).
At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code SGA.
Swiss food is varied and sophisticated, and some popular dishes include sausages, breaded veal fillets, freshwater fish, and cheese dishes such as fondue and raclette. Be sure to try Swiss chocolate, which is among the world’s finest.
German food is hearty and substantial. Among the specialties are dumpling stews, sauerkraut, sausages, smoked cheeses, and dark breads. Bavaria produces some of the world’s purest beers, and white German wines are exceptionally good.
Austria is known for its savory Wiener schnitzel and excellent wild trout, carp, and crayfish. Save room for dessert—especially the strudels of fruit and nuts and elegant chocolate cakes, such as the world-famous Sachertorte.
On the tour extension, Czech food is hearty, and you’ll find large portions of veal, beef, and potato dishes. Some of the world’s finest beers are produced here, including the original Budweiser and Pils.
All destinations visited on this tour operate on the European standard 220–240 volts and use Types C or F plugs with two small, round pins. You may also use a Type J plug with three small pins in Switzerland.
We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
The strength of the air conditioning in European hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
Your hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed.
You will use the Swiss franc in Switzerland and the euro in Germany and Austria (plus the Czech koruna in the Czech Republic on the tour extension).
Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
We recommend tipping the equivalent of $8USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
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