Germany, Switzerland & Austria
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Discover three Central European nations, from Germany’s wild forests to Austria’s urbane capital.
They may share a border (and abundant elegance), but Germany, Switzerland, and Austria all dazzle in their own way. On this guided trip, you’ll encounter delightfully distinct style and substance at each stop: Gothic spires keeping watch over red-tiled roofs in Heidelberg, Germany; Art Nouveau buildings flanking sophisticated streets in Vienna, Austria; and more. From the Swiss Alps to the Bavarian Forest, this tour truly has something for everyone—and by taking up the optional extension to Budapest, you can add even more history, and a shot of Magyar magic, to the mix.
Special departures of this itinerary
Your tour package includes
- 12 nights in handpicked hotels
- 12 breakfasts
- 6 dinners with beer or wine
- 8 sightseeing tours
- Expert Tour Director & local guides
Included highlights
- Heidelberg Castle
- The Black Forest
- Kapellbrücke
- Liechtenstein
- Nymphenburg Palace
An expert specializing in tours of this region is here to help.
Day-by-day itinerary
Print itineraryBoard your overnight flight to Frankfurt today.
Willkommen in Deutschland! After landing in Frankfurt, transfer to your hotel in the Heidelberg Region and settle in for the day. Then, enjoy a welcome dinner in good company as you get to know your Tour Director and fellow travelers. Raise your glass of beer or wine and get excited for the days to come.
Cradled by the River Neckar and the Odenwald mountain range, the university town of Heidelberg is famous for its Romantic aesthetics, Baroque architecture, and artistic heritage. Today, embark on a guided tour and fall for the charm of this UNESCO City of Literature.
- Wander into the heart of Heidelberg’s Baroque Old Town and take in the sights and sounds of the Marktplatz—the elegant Market Square, one of the oldest plazas in the city.
- Explore the campus of Heidelberg University. Founded in 1386, it’s the oldest university in Germany and one of the oldest in the world, with the reputation to match. Among its alumni: Dmitri Mendeleev, the creator of the modern periodic table of elements; Robert Schumann, the famous classical composer; and Wilhelm Wundt, one of the “fathers” of modern psychology.
- Ride a funicular up to the Renaissance-era Heidelberg Castle. Protecting the city below from its perch on the slopes of the Königstuhl, this rose-colored ruin ranks among the area’s most iconic features.
Want to see more of the region’s royal past? Add an afternoon outing to your schedule and strike out for the town of Schwetzingen, home to an aristocratic summer residence. Or, use your free time in Heidelberg to wander and ponder on the Philosopher’s Walk—a scenic path along the riverbank once frequented by local professors and thinkers.
Castle & Gardens of Schwetzingen
From $69 per person
Leave Heidelberg and make your way to the Swiss Alps through the fabled Black Forest, a wooded mountain range that provided the backdrop for many of the Brothers Grimm’s folktales. En route, stop at the thundering Rhine Falls—the most powerful cascade in all of Europe. After arriving at your hotel, get situated before reuniting with your group for an included dinner, served with beer or wine.
Set out into lakeside Lucerne (one of Switzerland’s most populated cities) for a guided sightseeing tour and enjoy a taste of Alpine life—complete with clear views of Pilatus, Rigi, and the rugged ridges of other neighboring mountains.
- View the Lion Monument, a tribute to the Swiss Guards who sacrificed their lives in Paris during the French Revolution.
- Pass the hand-painted facades that line the cobbled streets of the Old Town—the traditional core of the city that dates to medieval times.
- Cross the famous wooden Kapellbrücke (say it “ka-PELL-broo-kuh”), a 14th-century covered bridge that spans the Reuss River, and view the adjacent Water Tower. Octagonal in shape and made of stone—with a complicated past as a sentinel’s post, state treasury, and prison—it predates the Kapellbrücke by roughly 100 years.
- See the Jesuit Church, the first large Baroque building of its kind to be built north of the Alps in Switzerland.
If you’d like, add an afternoon journey to the top of Mount Pilatus and explore Lucerne’s surroundings by ferry, cogwheel railway, and cable car. Alternatively, hang back in town and treat yourself to some rösti: Pronounced “REU-shtee,” this dish centers on grated, fried potatoes—kind of like a Swiss hash brown. Top it with eggs or sausage to elevate it from a satisfying snack to a hearty meal.
Mount Pilatus
From $135 per person
Cross into Liechtenstein, a tiny Alpine principality that dates to the Holy Roman Empire. (And we mean tiny: With a population of just under 40,000 people, it’s the sixth-smallest nation in the world.) Visit the capital of Vaduz and pass the royal family’s namesake castle. Perched atop a hill, it has watched over the region since the 12th century and serves as the royal residence to this day.
After getting your passport stamped, continue to Innsbruck—capital of the Austrian state of Tyrol and site of two Winter Olympics—where you’ll hop off your bus for a walking tour with a local guide.
- Venture into the Old Town for a glimpse of two local legends: the Goldenes Dachl (the Golden Roof, covered in over 2,600 gilded copper tiles) and the Stadtturm (the City Tower, a 150-foot Gothic sentry post).
- Pass the Hofburg and walk its cobblestoned courtyard. Prized for its architectural design, this former Habsburg palace is one of the most important cultural sites in all of Austria.
- Enter the Baroque Cathedral of St. James, an 18th-century structure that houses Maria Hilf (Mary of Succor), one of the most venerated works of Marian art in the Christian world.
From there, travel to the Austrian Alps, where you’ll sit down for an included dinner, served with beer or wine.
Pass through the Bavarian Alps, a range of limestone mountains and valleys furrowed by retreating glaciers during the last ice age. Amid this expanse of rocky peaks and alpine forests, you’ll take a slight detour.
- Pause for photos of Neuschwanstein Castle’s mix of Gothic, Romanesque, and Byzantine architecture, and marvel at the fairytale retreat of Ludwig II—the 19th-century king deemed “mad” for his unrestrained patronage of the arts.
- Revel in scenic views of the Alps as you relax and explore during your free time, or grab lunch in Schwangau, the town below Neuschwanstein.
- Embark on a guided tour of a nearby Bavarian castle—yet another royal residence with close ties to Mad King Ludwig.
Then, continue to Munich and sit down for dinner, served with beer or wine.
Please note: Depending on your departure date and booking availability, you’ll enter either Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau Castle, or Linderhof Palace.
Today, embark on a guided tour of Munich. Founded in the 12th century and boasting traditional and cosmopolitan appeal, the capital of Bavaria is the third-largest city in all of Germany. It’s also home to the original Oktoberfest—a massive celebration that, to this day, remains the biggest beer festival in the world.
- Travel past the 18th-century Englischer Garten—a gargantuan urban park that counts a Japanese teahouse and an open-air, Greek-style temple among its many monuments—and the fashionable Schwabing district, formerly home to Munich’s bohemian residents.
- Enter Nymphenburg Palace, the Baroque home to past Bavarian royalty, and walk through its elaborately carved halls.
- Walk from Odeonsplatz—Munich’s large central square, named after an adjacent former concert hall—through the well-manicured grounds of 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 clock. Maybe you’ll catch it as it chimes!
If you choose, join your group on an outing to Dachau—the former site of a notorious Nazi concentration camp—and gain a sobering perspective on one of humanity’s darkest eras. If you’d prefer to stay behind, use the rest of your day at your leisure—perhaps sipping a pint of local ale at a biergarten.
Dachau
From $55 per person
Depart Munich and head to Salzburg, Austria, a city famed for its churches and musical history. Upon arrival, a guide will lead you on a walking tour of its Old Town. Known locally as the Alstadt, Salzburg’s historic core has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, honoring its legacy as the confluence of Italian and German culture.
- Pass by the University of Salzburg—an institution of higher learning first established in 1622—and St. Peter’s Abbey. Operating in some form or another since 696, it’s the oldest continuously running monastery in German-speaking Europe.
- See a trio of famous squares: the Kapitelplatz, former site of the Cathedral Abbey; Residenzplatz, once home of the Price-Archbishops of Salzburg; and Alter Markt, where the city’s weekly market used to set up shop.
- Walk by the dashing yellow facade of the Mozarts Geburtshaus, the birthplace and childhood home of the virtuosic composer himself.
- Enter the richly ornamented Salzburg Cathedral. Although the current Baroque structure was built in the 17th century, the building’s roots go all the way back to 774, when Saint Rupert founded the church atop the remains of an old Roman town.
This evening, sit down with your group for an included dinner, served with beer or wine.
A pair of outings await you today. For a helping of World War II history, set against the backdrop of a quaint mountain village, strike out for Berchtesgaden. For a classy evening of fine dining and classical music, head to St. Peter Stiftskeller. Add one, add both, or take the day for yourself and roam about more of the Altstadt at your leisure.
Please note: The Berchtesgaden excursions are seasonal. The Eagle’s Nest & Salt Mines trip runs mid-May–September, and the Berchtesgaden: Salt Mines & Village Visit outing runs January–April and November–December.
Mozart Concert & Dinner
From $149 per person
Eagle's Nest & Salt Mines
From $135 per person
Berchtesgaden: Salt Mines & Village Visit
From $85 per person
Travel east to the Austrian capital of Vienna, stopping along the way in the little town of Melk for a guided tour of its Benedictine abbey. Built up over the centuries following its foundation in 1089, this mammoth monastery typifies the Baroque style and offers immaculate views of the Wachau Valley—itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore its pavilion, library, and chapel, then continue your journey through the Danube River Basin. Arrive in Vienna, unpack, and prepare for the next day’s sightseeing.
Coffeehouse culture. The Age of Empires. Symphonies and orchestras. Vienna has influenced world affairs for centuries. Today, you’ll enjoy the best of “The City of Dreams” on a guided sightseeing tour.
- Step inside Belvedere Palace, home to the world’s largest collection of paintings by artist Gustav Klimt, and admire acre upon acre of impressive gardens.
- Travel down the tree-canopied paths of the Ringstrasse—the gorgeous Ring Road that encircles Vienna’s Old Town—passing the Austrian Parliament Building, Vienna State Opera, and Kunsthistorisches Museum as you go.
- See the grand Hofburg palace. Once the seat of the Habsburg dynasty, it now serves as the official residence and office of the president of Austria.
To bookend your day with some sweet relaxation (and a glass or two of wine), take up tonight’s outing to a heuriger—a traditional Austrian tavern. Or, spend your evening strolling Vienna’s beautiful boulevards at your own pace.
Traditional Viennese Heurigen Evening
From $119 per person
Squeeze another country into your scrapbook on today’s optional cruise to Bratislava, Slovakia. Or, indulge in a typical Viennese pastime: whiling the hours away, newspaper in hand, at one of the city’s many coffeehouses.
This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner, served with beer or wine, as you celebrate your trip with your fellow group members.
Danube River Cruise & Bratislava
From $129 per person
Transfer to the airport for your flight home. Interested in exploring another UNESCO World Heritage Site—home to the second-largest synagogue and third-largest parliament building on Earth? Continue to Budapest, Hungary, on this trip’s extension.
Travel to Budapest today, then discover the major landmarks of both sides of the city—Buda and Pest, each originally independent towns—with a local guide.
- Trace this nation’s stormy past at Heroes’ Square, adorned with statues of great leaders and other symbolic figures.
- Tour the lavish interior of the Hungarian State Opera House. If you’re wondering how to best define “opulence,” you’ll find it in the auditorium: Rich golds and crimsons carry the eye to statues symbolizing operatic voices and the virtues, all watched over by delicately painted murals.
- Cross the Danube and ascend Castle Hill. Topped by the UNESCO-listed Buda Castle, this outcrop was the historic home of the Hungarian Kings for more than 800 years, until the title was dissolved after World War I.
- Bask in breathtaking views of the city from the Neo-Romanesque Fisherman’s Bastion, so named for the band of fisherfolk who guarded this part of an old castle’s walls.
- Visit the medieval Matthias Church, once the site of Hungarian and Habsburg coronations.
Enjoy a free evening in Budapest and maybe visit one of the city’s famous ruin bars—abandoned buildings that now host quirkily decorated bars.
If you want to spend a few hours delving into Budapest’s history under the Communist regime, tack today’s excursion onto your itinerary. Alternatively, use your free day to soak away your stresses in one of the city’s popular thermal baths.
This evening, enjoy a farewell drink and celebrate your trip with your fellow group members.
Budapest: A Walk Behind the Iron Curtain
From $99 per person
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Book for just $99 down
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Reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars
Overall rating 4.7 out of 5
5 out of 5 stars
I truly enjoyed everyone on this trip. Our tour director, Pawel, was very understanding with so many people wanting to do so many things off the schedule while on this marvelous tour. We had a blast seeing all the Christmas markets, which were a "tip" as we went in December and saw all the festive t...
Hello Thank you for sharing your positive tour ex...
5 out of 5 stars
We had the best time in this tour! Our Tour guide Paul took care of every detail and snafu. From lost passports to late participants Paul tirelessly took care of everything. Our trip to mount Pilatus was beyond expectations from the ferry ride to the gondola ride. Paul let is customize and hike down...
4 out of 5 stars
I had a great time on this trip. there were a few down falls. When we would get free time, the bus would pick us up at 6pm, but the shops closed at 5pm. Our free day was on Sunday and the shops were closed on Sunday. Also, the food choices for the included dinners could have been better. The highli...
Hi Rowynn, Thank you for sharing your positive fe...
Traveler photos
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.This comfortable hotel is located in the Mannheim city center. Guests enjoy a pool, restaurant, and free Wi-Fi. Nearby, you’ll find Schloss Mannheim, ...
This stylish hotel is located in the Austrian Alps town of Tirol, just outside of Innsbruck. Guests enjoy the sauna, fitness center, and impressive ba...
This urban hotel is located in Engelberg. Guests enjoy a restaurant, cafe, and lounge. Nearby, you’ll find Engelberg Abbey, Eugenisee Lake, and views ...
This centrally-located hotel is located in the heart of Munich. Guests enjoy the fitness center, Finnish style sauna, and an on-site restaurant. Nearb...
This contemporary hotel is located in Salzburg city center. Guests enjoy the large garden, fitness center, and restaurant. Nearby, you'll find the Sal...
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...
This comfortable hotel is in Budapest's city center. Guests enjoy the on-site bistro, spacious rooms, and on-site coffee house. Nearby you'll find the...
Flights
- 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
- Find out more about flights
FAQ
Print FAQ- This tour visits Germany, Switzerland and Austria (plus Hungary 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 2025, 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 2025, 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 WWR.
- You will walk for at least 2 hours daily across moderately uneven terrain, including paved roads and cobblestone streets, with few hills or 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 Frankfurt and depart from Vienna (or Budapest 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 WWR.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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, Hungary claims goulash as its national dish, but also is known for excellent salamis, cheeses, nut-flavored pancakes, freshwater fish, and preserved fruits.
- 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 euro in Germany and Austria and the Swiss franc in Switzerland (plus the Hungarian forint in Hungary 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 $10USD to $12USD 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.
- Tips can only be paid in cash.
- Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on your tour.
- Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa, or MasterCard as payment for optional excursions.
- Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
- Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information.
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4.7 out of 5 stars