Alpine Splendor: Switzerland & Austria

Depart U.S. for Zurich, Switzerland

Arrive Zurich/Lucerne

We arrive in Zurich and transfer by coach to Lucerne. After checking in at our hotel, we meet for a briefing about the journey ahead, followed by dinner at a local restaurant.

Lucerne/Mt. Pilatus

Walking tour of Lucerne, then a visit to Mount Pilatus’ summit.  Take the Lake Lucerne ferry from Mount Pilatus back to Lucerne.  Dine together at a local restaurant in Lucerne in the evening.

Lake Lucerne/Zermatt

Board the Glacier Express in Chur and travel to Zermatt, enjoying lunch on the way.  Spend our evening at leisure.

Zermatt/Gornergrat

Sightsee at Gornergrat Kulm.  Enjoy our afternoon at leisure before enjoying dinner together in Zermatt.

Zermatt/Stresa, Italy/Lugano

We travel by coach today through more superb Swiss scenery, and cross into northern Italy via the legendary Simplon Pass through the Alps. Late morning, we arrive in Stresa, Italy, along the shores of lovely Lake Maggiore, where we have time to explore and enjoy lunch on our own. Then a scenic drive through the famed Italian lake district returns us to Switzerland and our hotel in lakeside Lugano.

Lugano/Bellinzona/Ascona

Today’s tour of Ticino, Switzerland’s southernmost canton, begins in medieval Bellinzona, with its three castles, all UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Here we visit Castelgrande, the iconic central castle, where we explore the ramparts and expansive grounds, then enjoy regional fare as we lunch alfresco at a local grotto restaurant built around mountain caves. Then we coach to the former artists’ colony of Ascona on the shores of Lake Maggiore.

Lake Lugano

After a free morning to explore Lugano independently, we board a motorboat for a private half-day cruise around Lake Lugano. We put ashore at Morcote, a town barely a mile square whose Mediterranean charm led Swiss citizens in 2016 to name it the nation’s loveliest village. After lunch together and time to explore, we continue on our cruise with a stop in Gandria, whose stucco façades seem to cling precariously to the side of Monte Brè.

Lugano/Maienfeld/Vaduz, Liechtenstein/ Seefeld, Austria

We’re bound for Austria today by way of the tiny sovereign nation of Liechtenstein. Late morning we arrive in the Swiss border town of Maienfeld, setting for the beloved novel Heidi. Here we enjoy a tour and tasting at Schloss Salenegg, Europe’s oldest winery (c. 1068 ce). Continuing north, we cross into the Principality of Liechtenstein where we stop for lunch on our own in the capital of Vaduz, then continue on to the mountain village of Seefeld, Austria.

Seefeld/Innsbruck

This morning we coach to nearby Innsbruck, host of the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics. A walking tour highlights the postcard-worthy sights, including the many pedestrian squares surrounded by pastel-colored façades. Then we take a cable car to a lookout in the Nordkette, the “mountain at the heart of Innsbruck,” where we enjoy panoramic views of the city and the surrounding Alps. We have time on our own in Innsbruck before returning to Seefeld.

Seefeld/Tyrol/Salzburg

Today we travel through Tyrol where we stop to visit the Museum of Tyrolean Farms, an interactive outdoor exhibit. Then we continue on to Salzburg, Austria’s riverside jewel and city of Mozart and The Sound of Music. Following dinner at our hotel, we attend a Baroque chamber music concert in the Marble Room of famed Mirabell Palace.

Salzburg

Our walking tour this morning features the geometrically-styled Mirabell Gardens, dating to the 17th century; the Baroque Old Town, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site; and visits to Salzburg Cathedral and medieval Hohensalzburg Fortress, one of Europe’s largest and best-preserved castles. Then the remainder of the day is free for independent exploration.

Salzburg/ Eagle’s Nest/ Berchtesgaden

We travel today to the Bavarian resort town of Berchtesgaden, site of the clifftop Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle’s Nest), the Nazi Party’s alpine retreat. Arriving by the original 1930s brass elevator, we tour the chalet given to Hitler on his 50th birthday and captured by the Allies in the closing days of WWII. In the event Eagle’s Nest is closed because of unseasonal weather, we’ll visit the nearby Berchtesgaden Salt Mine, which has operated continuously for more than 500 years. After lunch together, we take a walking tour of Berchtesgaden before returning to Salzburg. This afternoon is at leisure before we celebrate our splendid journey at a farewell dinner.

Depart for U.S.

We transfer today to the Munich airport for our return flight to the U.S.