Archdukes and Emperors

This itinerary is the starting point for your tour, but it’s not set in stone. If there are days you would like to change, or specific places you’d like to go, we can work with you to create a personalized program that fits the needs of you and your students.

Day 1: Overnight Flight

Depart from the USA.

Day 2: Salzburg

Arrive in Munich, meet your ACIS Tour Manager and travel to Salzburg, known as the most musical of all Austrian cities. You may want to gain a bird's eye perspective of the Old Town by climbing Kapuzinerberg for its panoramic views before dinner.

Day 3: Vienna

See the enchanting sights of Salzburg on a guided sightseeing tour that will highlight many of the city's “Sound of Music” sites including the lovely, manicured gardens in front of the Mirabell Palace, the Sound of Music Churchyard and the stunning Baroque Dom Cathedral. Next, visit Mozart's Birthplace Museum on the crowded shopping street, the Getreidegasse. Later today depart for the lovely city of Vienna.

Day 4: Vienna

This morning tour the grounds and interior of Schönbrunn Palace, the massive Habsburg summer retreat, including the Imperial state rooms and private quarters of the Austrian Emperors. Included audio guides enhance your visit. Then embark on a sightseeing tour of Vienna where an expert local guide shows you the glory of the former Imperial capital including the Ringstrasse, Hofburg Palace complex, Opera House and St. Stephen's Cathedral. Later a local master will mesmerize you with a demonstration of the world famous Viennese Waltz before you take to the floor to give it a try. All that dancing earns you a taste of the city's famed coffee house culture—visit one of Vienna's many glittering cafés to savor some mélange coffee or hot chocolate and Sachertorte. The rest of the afternoon is free to further explore the city on your own or shop for souvenirs before a traditional Austrian dinner tonight.

Day 5: Budapest

Cross the Hungarian border this morning and arrive in Budapest, known as the Pearl of the Danube. Meet your local guide for a sightseeing tour that teaches you about the amazing 1,000-year history of this city, which is split in half by the Danube River—the Buda district on one side and the Pest district on the other (hence the city's name!). See Heroes' Square, St. Stephen's Basilica, and the spectacular Hungarian Parliament building, then cross one of the city's beautiful bridges to take in wonderful views from the neo-Roman Fisherman's Bastion, and enjoy entrance to Matthias Church.

Day 6: Prague

Follow the Danube River into Slovakia and arrive in the capital city of Bratislava. Enjoy a walking tour with your tour manager viewing the lovely pedestrian-friendly old town nestled along the river, and take time for lunch. This afternoon continue through the countryside of Moravia and Bohemia to Prague.

Day 7: Prague

Prague is one of Europe's most beautiful cities as you'll see during a guided sightseeing tour. A local expert will show us the quaint Malá Strana (Czech for “Lesser Quarter,” named for its location at the foot of Prague's ancient castle) and the graceful Charles Bridge, built during the 14th century. We'll also visit the fortress-like Hradčany Castle complex, perched high above the city. This evening, we'll wander the checkerboard, cobblestone streets of the medieval Old Town to watch the street performers in the main square.

Day 8: Munich

Travel into Germany today and visit the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial, a somber but important reminder of Germany's Nazi past. Continue to Munich for the evening and begin to explore the capital of Bavaria.

Day 9: Munich

The word Gemütlichkeit means coziness, hospitality, warmth and welcome. Dive right into this Bavarian way of thinking with an expertly guided sightseeing tour to sites like Marienplatz with its famed Glockenspiel, the Viktualienmarkt food and flower market and the surfers on the Isar River in the Englischer Garten. Later today, discover the city's hidden gems during a Munich by bike tour of unique neighborhoods and sights off the beaten path.

Day 10: Departure

Depart for the USA.