Is it your first visit to Austria? If so, this tour is ideal for you and your companions! In just a week’s time, you’ll have the opportunity to see the best of this marvelous country, including the magnificent cities of Vienna and Salzburg and the lovely lake-filled and mountainous regions around them. These two historic cities are tops for cultural experiences and boast an impressive culinary scene and five-star luxury hotels that’ll make it tough to go home again.

Begin your tour with three fun-filled days in Vienna, the capital and largest city in Austria and an important European cultural, economic, and political center. Often referred to as the “City of Music”, Vienna’s musical legacy includes connections with Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Schubert, Brahms, and many other great names in the classical genre. The city is home to a number of opera houses including the magnificent Staatsoper and boasts plenty of venues for symphonic performances, musical theater, dance, and more. Vienna’s museums – many found in the Museum Quarter – are also top-notch and include such offerings as the Museum of Fine Art, Kunsthaus Wien, and Natural History Museum. On your guided tour, you’ll also explore Vienna’s wonderful neighborhoods, visit the famed Spanish Riding School, and learn more about the city’s notable buildings, monuments, palaces, and ecclesiastic structures. Use your free time to sample the java and sweets at Vienna’s many coffeehouses and be sure to sample the chocolate and other food specialties sold at the outdoor Naschmarkt. Don’t forget to make time to also shop for crystal, linens, and other local wares.

After your stay in Vienna, depart for Salzburg, another musical gem. When your private car arrives in this stunning city, you’ll find yourself immersed in the cultural traditions of the city’s favorite native son, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. As a matter of fact, you’re never too far from something Mozart-related, from his birthplace and museums dedicated to the musical genius, to memorable concerts featuring his prolific collection of works. On your full-day private tour of the city, you’ll visit such sights as the Salzburger Dom Cathedral, the Salzburg Castle, St. Peter’s Monastery, Residenz Castle, Hellbrunn Palace, and Mirabell Palace and Gardens. Use your leisure time to shop for local specialties along the Getreidegasse including pewter, gilded glass, woolen loden coats, and magnificent chocolates.