Best of Austria and Switzerland Tour

Cityscape of Lucerne in the evening, Switzerland.

What to expect on this itinerary

Austria will enchant you with Baroque architecture, opulent palaces, and famous concertos while Switzerland will captivate you with villages of half-timbered homes, beautiful hidden vineyards, and dramatic mountain peaks. Your custom tailored tour offers you only the best and takes you along the Danube River and into the illustrious Alps. The strong walls of a medieval castle reflect in the cobalt waters of the lake as frescoes in a historic abbey resemble murals to decorate a king’s quarters. Statues and furniture carved from ice embellish a glacier palace. Immerse yourself in culture and experience the breathtaking wonders of Austria and Switzerland’s finest.

Countries Visited

Austria, Switzerland

Places Visited

Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Zermatt, Berne, Lucerne, St. Moritz

Suggested Duration

14 Days

Customizable Itinerary

Expand All
Day 1

Vienna – The Contemporary Capital of Austria

Vienna is a vibrant city that embodies the best of Austria’s illustrious past and looks optimistically towards the country’s future. Cozy coffee houses have provided space for philosophers and artists to share their ideas over a strong cup of freshly brewed coffee since the 18th-century. The city offers a home to an elegant ballet as well as the Lipizzaner stallions, angelic tones of premier orchestras and the opulent walls of a historic palace. Postmodernist architectural design edge contemporary styles and fuse the city together with a Baroque past.

Your private transfer will meet you at the Vienna airport upon your arrival and escort you into the heart of the city. The State Opera House stages more than 300 performances a year and has fuelled a dramatic passion for the arts since the 1600s when the first Viennese Court Opera performed. The current structure was built in the 19th-century with embellished French Renaissance style, highlighted by a grand staircase leading to the first floor. The paintings along the foyer depict famous scenes from captivating operas, connoting the allure of music, power, and Austria’s capital.

What's Included:

Accommodation
Transfer
Day 2

Vienna – Day Tour to See History and Elegance

Day 3

Salzburg – Enjoy a Cruise along the Danube

Day 4

Salzburg – Discover the Splendors of the City

Day 5

St. Moritz – Visit Charming City of Innsbruck

Day 6

St. Moritz – Enjoy the Village at Your Pace

Day 7

Zermatt – Ride the Glacier Express Scenic Train

Day 8

Zermatt – Revel in the Alpine Beauty at your Leisure

Day 9

Bern – On the Banks of the Aare River

Day 10

Bern – Tour the Lavaux Wine Region

Day 11

Lucerne – Scenic Tour of Interlake at Jungfrau Massif

Day 12

Lucerne – Cruise on Lake Lucerne

Day 13

Lucerne – Delight in the Beauty of Lucerne

Day 14

Lucerne – Depart for Home

Trip Highlights

  • Enjoy sampling a luxurious Danube cruise west to Salzburg to visit the opulent Melk Church as it towers above the riverbank
  • Discover the grandeur and grace of the Hapsburg Palace that borders the remarkable city of Vienna
  • Stroll through a stunning Glacier Palace in view of the Matterhorn peak at an altitude near 12,750 feet
  • Experience the gilded copper tiles of the Golden Roof and magnificent black marble tomb of Maximilian I in Innsbruck
  • Wander the medieval grounds of Chateau de Chillon to follow in the footsteps of the dukes and counts of Savoy
  • View the new, open grounds of Bearpark, home to a family of bears for which the city capital of Bern was named 
  • Travel along a historical cogwheel train to the Schynige plateau for an unparalleled view of the jagged peaks of the Jungfrau massif
  • Sip delicious wine from the traditional vineyards of the Lavaux wine region that overlook the banks of Lake Geneva
  • Visit the unique World War II era Nazi retreat and bunker at the infamous Eagle’s Nest
  • Relish a scenic train ride through the countryside on the Glacier Express Train to visit the charming villages en route to the Matterhorn base

Detailed Description

Opulence and splendor emanate from the architecture and scenery during your 12-day tour of Austria and Switzerland. Whether you’re a fan of castles and palaces or take pleasure in hiking across undulating meadows, you will enjoy visiting elegant cathedrals and delight in the scenic train rides.  The countryside will be your playground, and the cities and villages will be your classroom on this immersive tour of the history, culture, and landscape across Austria and Switzerland. Your flight lands at Vienna Airport and your private transfer will escort you into the heart of the city. Spend the next day with a dive into the wonders of Austria’s capital with a tour of the beautiful structures of the historical center followed by the luxurious grounds of the Hapsburg Palace.

Step aboard a boat on the Danube River before a visit to the historical Mel Abbey and the sensational Salzkammergut Lakeland en route to Salzburg. Traverse the charming streets of Salzburg at your preferred pace to take in the Baroque architecture and musical history around the city. Take an excursion to the Bavarian Alps to see the infamous Eagle’s Nest before you traverse the Tyrolean Alps to Innsbruck. Relish the graceful artistry of the city and its medieval lanes before continuing over the Swiss border to the lakeside town of St. Moritz.

Venture to the charming old town of Chur to catch the Glacier Express Train to the Matterhorn base. Once you reach the village of Zermatt, relax with an impressive view of the massif. The next day is yours to discover the majesty of the region around Zermatt, as you hike along the countless trails and venture into the heights of the summits on scenic gondola rides, with entry into an ice cave at the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. Travel on to Lake Geneva and stroll along the ramparts of Chateau de Chillon before you reach the capital city of Bern.

Journey on for a refreshing introduction to Swiss tradition in the Lavaux wine region as it overlooks Lake Geneva. Travel to the medieval alpine town of Interlaken to witness the drama of the Jungfrau Massif en route to the charming city of Lucerne. Your guide will lead you on an all-encompassing tour of Lucerne, with time to cruise along the fjord-like lake on a scenic cruise. Conclude your travels as your private transfer will meet you at your hotel in Lucerne and escort you to the Zurich airport for your flight home. 

Starting Price

$8,000 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.8

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 840 reviews

Ken C.
Switzerland Tour Review: Nature, Scenery, 8-Night Trip

The Zicasso tour operator's team did a fantastic job planning our trip to Switzerland. They covered every detail and provided vouchers for every activity, hotel, gondola ride, etc. Not only that, but they even selected specific rooms in hotels. These were corner rooms with the best views, something that would have been very hard for me to do on my own. I can't recommend this team enough for your next trip to this beautiful country.

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Linda B.
Switzerland Travel Review: Alps, Train Trip, 5 Nights

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Switzerland. The hotels were wonderful, with lovely rooms and in great locations (with beautiful views). The luggage express made our trip easy and convenient. The Zicasso travel agent did an excellent job in organizing our trip and he was available whenever we had a question.

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Jason S.
Switzerland Trip Review: Stoos, Zermatt, Hiking, 9 Nights

The trip Zicasso's travel specialist helped us plan was fantastic. He helped us edit the initial itinerary multiple times, until it was exactly what we were looking for! Everything was well organized, the hotels were great, and the recommended activities were wonderful. If/when planning another trip to the area, we will hopefully be able to use them again.

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Nancy M.
Austria, Germany, Switzerland Tour Review: Glacier Express, Musikverein, 15 Nights

This was a five-star trip all the way. We traveled alone, but always knew we had the security of Zicasso's tour company at our immediate disposal, if needed.

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Janelle H.
France, Switzerland Trip Review: Lake Annecy, Chamonix, Food Tour, Private Drivers, 6 Nights

The trip was amazing and your recommendations and organization were so helpful! Everything was well planned, with clear instructions and good hotels, transfers, and excursions! We would definitely use you again.

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Sharon B.
Switzerland Tour Review: Montreux, Matterhorn, Lucerne, Lauterbrunnen, Waterfalls, Villages, 11 Nights

The trip was outstanding. The Zicasso agency listened to our concerns and requests. We really enjoyed the selected cities and the activities were perfect for us. It was a great combination of beautiful sights and scenery, experiencing activities, and hiking. 

The instructions and descriptions from our travel agency were very helpful.

The hotels were comfortable and convenient, and the private transportation they arranged worked well for us.  

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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