Imperial Capitals

2012 Season
Departs From: London

From 1,319EUR

Length:  16 days from London to London, or 17 days incl. travel

Overview

This fascinating adventure covers central and eastern Europe, focusing on the monumental architecture, history, and traditions of the former Prussian and Austro-Hungarian Empires. Begin with two overnights in London, then ferry across the English Channel and join your motorcoach to Brussels, capital of Belgium. Pass through the Duchy of Luxembourg to enter Germany with a stop in ancient Trier. Overnight in Frankfurt and travel through Bavaria, visiting Nuremberg and Munich, and arriving in Mozart’s hometown of Salzburg in Austria. Included sightseeing in Vienna shows off the State Opera, Hofburg Palace, Parliament, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. On to Hungary for two overnights in Budapest, where you’ll admire the Parliament Building, Fishermen’s Bastion, Matthias Coronation Church, and more. Stop in the Slovakian capital of Bratislava, then encounter the brilliant gothic and baroque architecture in Prague, including the Charles Bridge and the Astronomical Clock. Back in Germany, visit Dresden, Berlin, and medieval Hamelin to hear the story of the Pied Piper. Continue to the Rhineland for the night, then back across the English Channel to England for a final night in London.

Duration:  16 Days

Schedule:

Start Date	End Date
03 June, 2012	18 June, 2012
10 June, 2012	25 June, 2012
01 July, 2012	16 July, 2012
12 August, 2012	27 August, 2012
26 August, 2012	10 September, 2012
02 September, 2012	17 September, 2012
09 September, 2012	24 September, 2012
16 September, 2012	01 October, 2012
23 September, 2012	08 October, 2012
30 September, 2012	15 October, 2012
07 October, 2012	22 October, 2012
14 October, 2012	29 October, 2012

City Highlights

Headsets throughout the tour

Visits to Trier, Nuremberg, Salzburg, Bratislava, Dresden, Hamelin

Scenic Highlights

Moselle Valley, Salzkammergut, Rhineland, Lake Balaton, Bohemia

Day 1   Arrive in London, England. Check into your hotel. In the afternoon you may want to start exploring the lively British capital. Uniformed hosts are available to help you make the most of your stay.

Day 2   London. A full day to savor our rich program of optional activities: take a panoramic tour of London’s landmarks, visit the Tower of London, or choose an excursion to Windsor Castle. Tonight, maybe a leisurely cruise on the River Thames? (B)

Day 3   London–Brussels, Belgium. Leave London in the early morning and head through the lush English countryside to the Channel port, where you board your ferry for the Continent. Here, meet your Tour Director and board your luxury coach for the drive to Brussels. (B)

Day 4   Brussels–Luxembourg–Trier, Germany–Frankfurt Area. Drive south this morning into the Duchy of Luxembourg. Cross the German border and make a stop in ancient Trier before continuing through the splendid scenery of the Moselle Valley. A choice this afternoon of the included scenic drive along the shores of the Rhine or, even more thrilling, the optional Rhine cruise with vistas of the Lorelei rock, hilltop castles, half-timbered wine villages, and terraced vineyards. Just a few more miles by coach to the overnight in the Frankfurt area. (B,D)

Day 5   Frankfurt Area–Nuremberg–Munich–Salzburg, Austria. Journey through the heart of Germany on the highway to reach Nuremberg, at one time Germany’s most beautiful city and, much later, famed for the war criminal trials that took place in 1945. Stop for a short visit. Drive south this afternoon through Bavaria, across the German-Austrian border, and head towards Salzburg for an overnight. (B)

Day 6   Salzburg–Vienna. A morning to enjoy some optional sightseeing in Salzburg, Mozart’s hometown. In the afternoon, journey through the Salzkammergut Lakelands, of Sound of Music fame, past Mondsee to follow the Danube almost all the way to Vienna. (B)

Day 7   Vienna. Start the morning with an included sightseeing tour featuring the State Opera, Parliament, and the Town Hall. Stop for a stroll in Heroes’ Square to view the Hofburg. Finally, an inside visit of St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Complete the day by joining the optional excursion to Schönbrunn Palace. (B)

Day 8   Vienna–Lake Balaton, Hungary–Budapest. East today into Hungary through the historic city of Györ. Next, the vast stretch of Lake Balaton unfolds as you drive through some of its summer resorts. Reach Budapest by way of Martonvasar, where Beethoven wrote his Appassionata. Tonight an optional cruise on the Danube to enjoy the fascinating city illuminations. (B,D)

Day 9   Budapest. Buda Castle dominates the twin cities of Buda and Pest, separated by the broad ribbon of the Danube. Heroes’ Square typifies the modern capital, while along the riverbank you find the old inns and wine cellars. Included sightseeing takes in the Parliament building, Margaret Island, Fishermen’s Bastion, the Royal Castle, and Matthias Coronation Church. (B)

Day 10   Budapest–Bratislava, Slovakia–Prague, Czech Republic. Start the day by traveling into Slovakia. Once across the border, have a break in Bratislava, its capital. Drive north to cross yet another border into the Czech Republic. The highway will take you through Bohemia, an enchanted land of castles, spa towns, and picket-fenced villages. Evening arrival in Prague. (B,D)

Day 11   Prague. The wealth of gothic and baroque architecture here perhaps inspired Dvorak and Smetana, both Prague composers. Included sightseeing features landmarks such as the Jewish Quarter, Wenceslas Square, Charles Bridge, and the Old Town Square with the Astronomical Clock. (B)

Day 12   Prague–Dresden, Germany–Berlin. Discover more of Bohemia as you journey towards the German frontier. Next, the mountains and fortresses of the Erzgebirge range. Today’s highlight is a stop in Dresden, a magnificently restored city after its almost total destruction in World War II. In the afternoon, travel north across the River Elbe to reach Berlin for two overnights. (B)

Day 13   Berlin. Included sightseeing focuses on the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, and the Europa Center. Reunited Berlin has regained not only its territorial integrity but also the status of a German capital. Afternoon at leisure or join an optional excursion. (B)

Day 14   Berlin–Hamelin–Rhineland. Back on the Autobahn this morning past Brunswick on the way to Hamelin. Stop and hear the story of the Pied Piper. Next, the grand scenery of the Teutoburger Forest and into the Ruhr, then farther west to the Rhineland for an overnight. (B,D)

Day 15   Rhineland–London, England. A comfortable drive this morning to the Channel port for your ferry crossing from the Continent to England. Through Kent, return to London for an evening arrival. (B)

Day 16   London. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Meals:  Buffet breakfasts (B); 4 dinners (D)

Hotel Information:  LONDON Novotel London West (F), BRUSSELS Sodehotel La Woluwe (F), FRANKFURT AREA Mercure (F) at Friedrichsdorf, SALZBURG Ramada (F), VIENNA Kavalier (ST), BUDAPEST Budapest (F), PRAGUE Clarion (F), BERLIN Abba (F), RHINELAND Holiday Inn (F) at Cologne-Bonn Airport or Ramada (F) at Bruehl

Guides

Host service in London. Local Guides for city sightseeing in Vienna, Budapest, Prague, Berlin. Professional Tour Director while touring

Transportation

If transport to or from airport is required, please let us know. Round-trip transportation between London and the Channel ports; on the Continent, private first-class air-conditioned motorcoach. Cross-Channel ferry


Terms and Conditions

Note: Flights are NOT included with the Tour and unless otherwise stated above transfers are also NOT included.

Currently viewing: Austria Tours - TravelToe Inclusive Tours - Imperial Capitals