Treasures of Austria Italy & Switzerland
Day 1 - Depart USA Overnight flight to Zurich.
Day 2 - Arrive Zurich You are met at Zurich airport and transferred to your hotel. After check-in, later this afternoon, we enjoy an orientation tour of Switzerland's financial capital with our Tour Director which includes the grand Cathedral and Bahnhofstrasse with its many elegant stores. Early this evening, we meet for a Welcome Dinner and drink in a charming restaurant in the old town with our Tour Director. (Welcome Dinner)
Day 3 - Zurich — St Gallen — Munich — Innsbruck(3 nights) Today's drive brings us to St Gallen where we pause to see the 18th century baroque Cathedral and the charming pedestrian streets. Then via Germany's largest lake — Constance, we enter Bavaria and take the "autobahn" to its lively captital Munich. Here an orientation shows us the Marienplatz with its famous Glockenspiel — part of the city's Rathaus, and of course the celebrated Hofbrauhaus. Time to explore the bustling food market before continuing south through the snow-capped Alps to Innsbruck in Austria - the capital of the Tyrol. Enjoy dinner this evening at our hotel. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 4 - Innsbruck orientation and at leisure This morning's orientation tour shows us the Golden Roof and Hofburg Palace as well as the Wilten Basilica dominated by the Olympic ski jump. This afternoon you may like to take an excursion to see one of Mad Ludwig's fairytale castles or simply feast on pastries in a coffee-shop in the old town! This evening why not celebrate and join a folklore evening of thigh-slapping and yodelling (Buffet Breakfast )
Day 5 - Salzburg Excursion An early start this morning as we head to the musical city of Salzburg. We take the scenic route via St. Johann, past the Wilder Kaiser Mountains and drive through a small section of Germany to the province of Salzburg and its sugar icing capital.Memories of "The Sound of Music" will haunt us on our guided walking tour. First through the gardens of the Mirabell Palace and along the pretty Getreidegasse to Mozart's birthplace before ending on Mozart Square. Then there's time at leisure to perhaps take the funicular to the Castle Fortress or feast on delicious 'schnitzel and noodles'! An evening return to Innsbruck for a dinner of Tyrolean cuisine in a local restaurant. (Buffet Breakfast / Highlight Dinner)
Day 6 - Innsbruck — Verona (3 nights) Along the Brenner Pass into Italy and the charming landscape of the Dolomite Mountains. Next we descend to the Veneto plain reaching Lake Garda. We drive along its beautiful shores stopping in Sirmione with its ancient castle. Then on through the Bardolino vineyards to Verona — romantic city of star-crossed lovers! (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 7 - Venice Excursion Today is filled with excitement as we drive to the Adriatic Coast and the floating city of Venice. We cruise along the Giudecca Canal by private launch, seeing the Palladian Church of Christ the Redeemer, the island of St. George, the Cathedral of St. Mary of our Health and of course the Doges' Palace and the Byzantine Basilica of St. Mark's. We stop by the Bridge of Sighs on the way to St. Mark's Square and to one of the oldest glass-blowing workshops, where we witness a demonstration of this ancient craft. Then free time to perhaps take an excursion into the Lagoon to the island of Burano, for a fresh seafood lunch! We return to Verona with dinner at our hotel. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 8 - Verona sightseeing & at leisure This morning we discover one of Europe's secret jewels on our walking tour of the city. We will visit the 2,000 year old Arena, built by the Romans and still in use today for Opera performances and popular concerts. We will also see Piazza Bra, Piazza delle Erbe and the tomb of the renowned Scaliger family and of course, we see Juliet's balcony! Verona is one of the most exciting cities in Europe for shopping, so shop till you drop in the Via Mazzini with its boutiques and wine-bars (Buffet Breakfast )
Day 9 - Verona — Lugano — Lucerne (2 nights) A morning drive past Brescia, Bergamo, Milan and Lake Como to Lugano in the Ticino in Switzerland where we have time to explore the old squares and pedestrian streets. We will see the Casino, luxuriant gardens and pretty lake shores and you may wish to take a ride on a pedalo! Then via the Gotthard Range to Lucerne for two nights. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 10 - Lucerne orientation & at leisure Our orientation tour of this medieval city shows us the Lion Monument, the Jesuit Church and the Chapel Bridge. Then you are free to shop for Swiss timepieces and chocolates or maybe take a cable-car up a nearby mountain peak! Tonight perhaps join in the fun of a Swiss folklore show (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 11 - Lucerne — Zurich — USA After breakfast this morning it's time to bid farewell to new-found friends as we transfer you to Zurich Airport for your return flight to America. (Buffet Breakfast)
Please do not schedule any flights before 10.30am.
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