Christmas in 3 countries: Vienna, Salzburg, Brno, Bratislava
Experience the magic of Christmas in Vienna, Salzburg, Brno, and Bratislava on a 5-day tour. Visit the main attractions of Vienna, explore the Christmas markets of Salzburg, and discover the sights of Brno and Bratislava. Meet your guide at your accommodation and head to the city center of Vienna. Forget for a moment the bustle and stress of modern life. Instead, travel back to a simpler age. Breathe in the aroma of fried sausages, melted cheese, and goulash soup, the tang of roasted almonds and toffee apples, and the sweet fragrance of countless scented soaps and candles. Wreathe yourself in wisps of steam from a mug of hot Christmas punch, and fill your eyes with the dazzling displays of artists, craftspeople, cooks, and shopkeepers. This is also the time for one of the Mozart & Strauss concerts put on especially for visitors. Light classical music in a historical venue on a crisp winter evening adds another touch of pleasure to the seasonal experience in the evening. On day 2, visit the main attractions of Vienna, including Belvedere, Schonbrunn, Hofburg, and St. Stephen's Cathedral. Vienna's artistic and intellectual legacy was shaped by residents including Mozart, Beethoven, and Sigmund Freud. The city is also known for its Imperial palaces, including Schönbrunn, the Habsburgs’ summer residence. In the MuseumsQuartier district, historic and contemporary buildings display works by Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt, and other artists. On day 3, take a day trip to Salzburg. Visit the Salzburg Christkindlmarkt, which has existed since 1974. Every year, the market is officially opened with befitting pomp and circumstance on the Thursday preceding the first Sunday in Advent, closing its shutters for the final time on 1 January. On day 4, take a day trip to Brno. Brno is a city in the Czech Republic. It’s known for its modernist buildings, like the restored Villa Tugendhat, completed in 1930 by architect Mies van der Rohe. The medieval Špilberk Castle houses a city museum, gardens, and a former prison with vaulted tunnels. The Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul has baroque altars, a 14th-century statue of the Madonna and Child, and city views from its steeple. On day 5, take a day trip to Bratislava. Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is set along the Danube River by the border with Austria and Hungary. It’s surrounded by vineyards and the Little Carpathian mountains, crisscrossed with forested hiking and cycling trails. The pedestrian-only, 18th-century old town is known for its lively bars and cafes. Perched atop a hill, the reconstructed Bratislava Castle overlooks old town and the Danube. End the day around 5 PM at the airport, ending this incredible trip which will leave you with unforgettable memories.