Insight's First Class Services

• Escorted by a professional Tour Director
• Luxury 40 seat touring coach with extra legroom & onboard toilet
• First Class hotels with all service charges, taxes and porterage
• Insight Traveler document wallet, map book journal and information pack
• Complimentary transfers on Day 2 & Day 10 between the airport and your tour hotel

Quality Dining

• Highlight Dinner in Innsbruck at a Tyrolean restaurant (HD)
• 8 Buffet breakfasts (BB), 3 three course table d’hôte dinners, or buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)

10 Days ~ Germany - Austria - Switzerland

Tour Pace - This is a well paced tour with two night stays in Munich and Lucerne, allowing plenty of time to explore the Christmas Markets in each of these towns. The driving distances between the other cities are relatively short.

Fellow Passengers - This tour is popular with visitors from warmer climes, who wish to experience the snowy, ‘Christmas card’ scenes and ‘olde worlde’ charm of Europe, not readily found in their own countries.

DAY 1 – DEPART USA
Overnight flight to Frankfurt.

DAY 2 – ARRIVE FRANKFURT
Welcome to Germany! From the Rhine Valley to the Alpine peaks of Austria and Switzerland, you will experience lively cosmopolitan cities, historic old towns, as well as breathtaking natural scenery. Transfers from Frankfurt Airport to the tour hotel depart at 09:30 & 12:00. Later your Frankfurt orientation tour shows you Romerberg Square, St Paul’s Church and Goethe’s birthplace. This evening, join your Tour Director and fellow travelers for a Welcome Drink. Hotel: Sheraton. (D)

DAY 3 – FRANKFURT – MUNICH
Head to Rothenburg where you are plunged back to the 16th century. Enter through medieval walls and follow the cobblestone streets to the Market Square with its Town Clock. Perhaps visit St Jakob's Church to see the amazing 16th century masterpiece of Tilman Riemenschneider, a representation of the Last Supper set into the altar of the Holy Blood. Or pop into the Christmas Shop which brings the glitz and glamour of the festive season all year round. Now follow the Romantic Road to fun loving Munich. Hotel: Westin Grand Arabella Park/Hilton City. (BB)

DAY 4 – MUNICH SIGHTSEEING
Your orientation tour shows you the Olympic Stadium, Victory Arch and university concluding, in the heart of Munich - the Marienplatz with its Gothic Town Hall and Glockenspiel. For those arriving before Christmas there is time to shop in the festive Christmas market. Tonight, why not join the locals and enjoy a foaming stein of beer at the world famous Hofbrauhaus? (BB)

DAY 5 – MUNICH – SALZBURG
Drive past Lake Chiemsee and cross the Austrian border to Salzburg, "alive with the sound of music". Here, your local guide walks you through the gardens of the Mirabell Palace where you have a great chance to photograph the city skyline crowned by the castle heights. Then cross the Salzach River to see Mozart’s birthplace on the Getreidegasse, a lively shopping street lined with attractive wrought iron signs. Now follow the narrow lanes to the Cathedral Square to view the ornate domed cathedral and the splendid Residenz Fountain. This afternoon is at leisure. Hotel: Castellani Park. (BB)

DAY 6 – SALZBURG – INNSBRUCK
A scenic drive takes you through snow capped mountains to Innsbruck. Visit the Wilten Basilica, its interior richly decorated with cherubs and angels and see the Imperial Palace and delightful Golden Roof. The rest of the afternoon you are at leisure to relax among the typical Austrian cafes of the Old Quarter, with its narrow arcades and gabled shop fronts. Tonight enjoy a Highlight Dinner of traditional Tyrolean cuisine! Hotel: Hilton. (BB,HD)

DAY 7 – INNSBRUCK – LUCERNE
More delightful scenery abounds as you make your way to the Arlberg Tunnel. Stop in Vaduz, capital of the Principality of Liechtenstein, at 16 square miles in area, one of Europe's smallest countries. After a chance to explore the town, cross the Swiss border and continue to lakeside Lucerne. Your Tour Director will show the covered Chapel Bridge and the stirring Lion Monument, dedicated to the Swiss guards who died defending the French King. Then you are at leisure to shop for watches and chocolate. Tonight why not join your Tour Director for a Swiss fondue? Hotel: Astoria. (BB)

DAY 8 – LUCERNE SIGHTSEEING
This morning take the cable car to the summit of impressive Mount Pilatus, offering stunning views of Lake Lucerne, the countryside and hills around. Later, back in Lucerne you are at leisure in this beautiful city. Spend some time exploring the old walls and watch towers of the medieval fortifications, lake-side walks and excellent shops. (BB,D)

DAY 9 – LUCERNE – FRANKFURT
First stop is at Schaffhausen to see the Rhine River thundering over the Rhine Falls, before crossing the border into Germany and driving deep into the Black Forest. Now follow the Rhine Valley north to the Student Prince's town of Heidelberg, dominated by its magnificent red sandstone castle. From the castle terrace, there is a wonderful panoramic view over the old town and the Neckar River. Then return to your hotel in Frankfurt in time for dinner. Hotel: Sheraton. (BB,D)

DAY 10 – RETURN USA
After breakfast, your transfer to Frankfurt Airport’s Terminal 1 arrives at 09.00 and Terminal 2 at 09:15. (BB)

Hotels - A mostly modern selection. The Sheraton and Hilton hotels are fine examples from these prestigious chains. Salzburg’s Casetellani Parkhotel combines modern architecture with classical elegance.

Highlights - Seeing medieval Rothenburgin its finest winter setting! Pulling on your hat,coat and gloves to rub shoulders with the localsand to sip the warm mulled wine at the colorful Christmas Markets.

Enjoy our Premium Highlights plus these extra tour features

Excursions & Sights

• Drive along part of Germany’s Romantic Road
• Visit Munich’s Marienplatz and see the Olympic Stadium, Victory Arch and university
• Visit Salzburg’s Old Town & see Mozart’s birthplace
• Visit Innsbruck’s Wilten Basilica & see the Golden Roof
• Drive through the Arlberg Tunnel and stop in Vaduz to see the Castle
• View the emotive Lion Monument, Jesuit Church & Chapel Bridge in Lucerne
• Visit the Rhine Falls and enjoy a scenic Black Forest drive
• Views over Heidelberg and River Neckar from the terrace of the castle

Guided City Tours

• Indepth sightseeing tour in Salzburg
• Orientation tours in Frankfurt, Rothenburg, Munich, Innsbruck, Lucerne & Heidelberg

Insight's First Class Services

• Escorted by a professional Tour Director
• Luxury 40 seat touring coach with extra legroom & onboard toilet
• First Class hotels with all service charges, taxes and porterage
• Insight Traveler document wallet, map book journal and information pack
• Complimentary transfers on Day 2 & Day 10 between the airport and your tour hotel

Quality Dining

• Highlight Dinner in Innsbruck at a Tyrolean restaurant (HD)
• 8 Buffet breakfasts (BB), 3 three course table d’hôte dinners, or buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)