We are excited to share this spectacular journey that our preferred partner Tauck has crafted for 2020 and 2021. Explore the Swiss Alps and the heart of "Old World Europe" with a 2 night luxury hotel stay in Vienna to start the journey, guests will then board the luxurious Golden Eagle Danube Express for 3 nights. The trip then ventures out into the Austrian countryside toward Semmering Pass, stopping at the Tyrolean village of Jenbach for a ride on a steam-powered locomotive to Lake Achen, followed by a cruise on the lake. The experience ends with 2 nights in Milan.
This 58 Tauck-guest only rail adventure will take you through Italy, Switzerland, Austria, and Lichtenstein in search of art, castles, wine, and cuisines, along some of the most scenic mountain railways in Europe. You will get to experience many Tauck Exclusive Moments throughout including a private reception at Vienna's 19th-century landmark, Hotel Bristol, a private concert and after-hours reception at Schönbrunn Palace, a private organ concert in Como's domed 15th-century Gothic cathedral, a cooking demo and farm tour at an agriturismo outside Milan, and a Gala Tauck dinner with wine pairing and entertainment.
This trip-of-a-lifetime has only recently gone on sale however 8 departures for 2020 are already sold out. Currently there is only space available on 2 departures: October 7th and Oct 11th 2020. The experience will also run in 2021; with dates in May, September and October.
Space is extremely limited- please contact us today for more information or to secure your spot!
Itinerary:
DAY 1 - Arrive Vienna - Tour begins 6:00 PM. A transfer is included from Vienna International Airport to the Hotel Bristol, an elegant Art Deco landmark in the heart of the city, opposite the Vienna State Opera House. Join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner at the hotel.
MEALS Dinner
LODGING Hotel Bristol, Vienna
DAY 2 - Vienna Sights & After-hours at Schönbrunn Palace - City sightseeing includes views of a famous row of apartment houses designed by Friedensreich
Hundertwasser, an artist and architectural rebel whose buildings are undulating patchworks of
irregular shapes and bright colors; and a tour of Belvedere Palace, a museum housing works by
Impressionists including Monet and Van Gogh, Austrian art from the Middle Ages to the present, and
the world's largest collection of Gustav Klimt paintings. Later, get a guided look at the immense
Hofburg, formerly the Imperial Palace, now the residence and offices of the Austrian President; and St.
Stephen's Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece and iconic landmark. Spend free time exploring the city on
your own, then join us this evening for a private after-hours tour of Schönbrunn Palace, the opulent
Habsburg summer residence inspired by Versailles. Start with a reception at the Gloriette, a Romanstyle pavilion overlooking the vast landscaped gardens; inside the palace, your guided tour includes
the dazzling hall of mirrors and the magnificent apartments of Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife
Elisabeth. Dinner tonight is at the Cafe Residenz, a classic Viennese cafe in the eastern wing of the
palace.
MEALS Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
LODGING Hotel Bristol, Vienna
DAY 3 - Vienna & The Danube Express -
Depart your historic Vienna hotel and travel to Vienna Central Station, where you’ll board Golden Eagle
Luxury Trains’ Danube Express, your elegant hotel on wheels for the next three nights, and enjoy lunch aboard the train. After settling in, you’ll attend an exclusive private concert with sparkling wine (or soft
drinks) in an intimate historic setting in Vienna. Dine onboard the train tonight as you head across
central Austria to Innsbruck via the Semmering Pass.
MEALS Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
LODGING Golden Eagle Danube Express
DAY 4 - Semmering Pass to Innsbruck - Travel the scenic alpine landscapes of central Austria to the Semmering Pass, the border between
Lower Austria and Styria; a journey along viaducts and tunnels brings you to Jenbach, where you'll
board a steam rack railway for the climb to Lake Achen, a mountain lake also known as the Fjord of the
Alps. Enjoy a boat cruise on the turquoise water, over a sunken valley that wanders fjord-like for miles
amid limestone peaks and forested islands. Resume your train journey to Innsbruck, the resort capital
of Tyrol, nestled beside the striking Nordkette mountain range; the city was a favorite retreat of the
Habsburgs, who kept a lavish residence here. Take a walking tour of the medieval old town with a local
guide before dinner aboard the Danube Express.
MEALS Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
LODGING Golden Eagle Danube Express
DAY 5 -
Zurich & Vaduz - Watch the enchanting landscapes of Austria's Vorarlberg province – mountain lakes, craggy peaks,
waterfalls, villages, castles and deep valleys – unfold as the Danube Express crosses into Liechtenstein.
Vaduz, the nation's capital, is a fascinating city of art, eclectic architecture, and vantage points for
panoramic views. View the clifftop medieval castle that is still the residence of Liechtenstein's royal
family; trails and overlooks on the grounds offer stunning birds-eye views of the city, the Rhine River,
and the imposing mountain range. Ride the Danube Express to Zurich, where a walking tour includes
the Kunsthaus Museum of Art; the museum's collections of 4,000 paintings, sculptures, and installations
include paintings by Monet, Munch, Picasso, and Van Gogh, as well as works dating back to the Middle
Ages, with an emphasis on Swiss masters. Stroll through Zurich's captivating Old Town with a local
guide.
MEALS Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
LODGING Golden Eagle Danube Express
DAY 6 - St. Gotthard Pass to Lake Como - Dramatic landscapes of granite peaks, plunging valleys, tunnels, and dramatic turns fill your view as the
Danube Express winds through the rugged Gotthard Pass to Italy. Arrive in Como for a walking tour of
its charming narrow streets and pastel houses beside enchanting Lake Como, lined with stately villas,
terraces and promenades against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains. Visit the 14th-century
marble cathedral for an exclusive organ concert, and spend free time in town, then ride the train to
Milan, your final destination. A walking tour of the city's historic center introduces you to the aweinspiring Duomo, which took 600 years to build, and a no-less impressive commercial cathedral, the
Galleria Vittorio Emmanuelle II, a 19th-century shopping arcade under a monumental glass and
ironwork ceiling. Or take a walking tour of the Brera District, a romantic bohemian neighborhood of
narrow cobbled streets, galleries, and artisans' shops known as the Milanese Montmartre. Check into
your prestigious hotel opposite the Central Station, and dine a la carte this evening.
MEALS Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
LODGING Excelsior Hotel Gallia
DAY 7 -
Milan and a cascina - Drive outside the city to a working farm, or cascina, where you'll learn about sustainable farming
methods and the growth of agritourismo – opening family farms to visitors and school children for
recreation and education; you'll also get a hands-on cooking lesson in authentic local cuisine, followed
by lunch. Return to the city for free time on your own, then join us for a farewell dinner with
entertainment at a local enoteca (wine bar) and restaurant, with insights on wine-pairing and wines
from a sommelier.
MEALS Breakfast, Dinner
LODGING Excelsior Hotel Gallia
DAY 8 -
Journey Home
Tour ends: Milan. - Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Hotel Excelsior Gallia to Milan
Malpensa Airport. Allow at least three hours for flight check-in.
MEALS Breakfast
The lounge on Tauck's new Danube Express. Photo: Tauck.
Exclusive Perks:
- Private train, Golden Eagle Luxury Trains’ Danube Express, for Tauck guests only; only 58 Tauck guests aboard, accompanied by two Tauck Directors for the utmost in personalized service; limited to 6 departures.
- Private Imperial Reception, after-hours Imperial Apartments tour and dinner at Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna.
- Hands-on cooking lesson at a cascina outside Milan.
- Private concert with wine in an historic Vienna venue.
- Private organ concert at Como Cathedral.
Tauck Value Includes:
- Three nights aboard Golden Eagle Luxury Trains’ Danube Express.
- Two nights at the stylish Hotel Excelsior Gallia in Milan.
- Two nights at the historic Hotel Bristol in Vienna.
- Walking tour of the historic Brera District in Milan.
- Visit to Kunsthaus Art Museum in Zurich.
- Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as detailed.
- 19 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage.
If you have been dreaming of travelling Europe in style then this Tauck Rail Journey would be a perfect fit. Speak to one of our Travel Specialists to create your custom European Adventure today. Call us at 604-736-7447 or click on the contact us button.