Day 1

The trip departs Rome from the Roma Termini train station at 18:00*. The meeting point is in front of the Nike store at the front of the train station. Please meet your trip leader 20 minutes prior to departure. Travel to Vienna is by private luxury coach with A/C, DVD, and bathroom. We make one 45 minute stop. Estimated travel time is 13.5 hours**. We will arrive in Vienna at approximately 7:30*. Upon arrival to Vienna, we will immediately check into our accommodation.

Day 2

Friday morning, after stopping for Starbucks, we offer a small tour by tram on the Vienna Ring Road that encircles Old Town Vienna. The Ring Road is home to many of the city’s historical buildings and museums. The tour meets at 10:30* in the obby of our accommodation. After our tram ride, we take you past the famous Opera House and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. We stop off at the Hotel Sacher, home of the original recipe of the Sacher Torte, to taste this world famous chocolate cake.

From Hotel Sacher, The Hofburg Palace (and its many exhibits, including Crown Jewels and Royal Apartments) and Vienna’s famous museums are in easy walking distance. Friday afternoon you may join your trip leader for a tour and tasting at the Schnapps Museum (6 euro). See how the liquors are made and sample the 20 flavors!

Vienna has numerous options for dinner and nightlife.Vienna has a great selection of local and international restaurants, with Sushi, Mexican and South American restaurants. If you want to stay local, you cannot miss Wiener Schnitzel. Your trip leader will be able to inform you ahead of time of Opera and Ballet performances in Vienna for our weekend. The Vienna Opera House is THE most famous in the world. Tickets for standing room are very cheap (as low as 2 Euro)!

For those looking to party, Vienna has an eclectic mix of bars and clubs in the inner city. One area in particular nicknamed ‘The Bermuda Triangle’ has a high density of bars and clubs that are very popular with the local Viennese. There is even a club located in an abandoned subway station.

Day 3

Saturday morning we highly recommend a visit to the Schonbrunn Palace The ‘Country Royal Palace’ is situated only 15 minutes by tram from our accommodation. Meet your trip leader at 10:00* to visit the Palace. This magnificent Palace can be toured in sections and has an amazing history attached to it. Marie Antoinette is one famous resident of the palace. The Palace, located in a fully sculptured garden, is considered second only to Versaille in style, size, and opulence.

Departure for Salzburg is at 12:00*. Estimated travel time is 3 hours**. The beautiful drive takes us through the Austrian Alps. We will arrive in Salzburg at approximately 15:00*. Upon arrival to Salzburg, we will immediately check into our accommodation. Salzburg is well-known for being the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and for providing the beautiful backdrop to one of the most famous musical films of all time, ‘The Sound of Music.’ There are numerous tours and buildings associated with Mozart in Salzburg including his birthplace, now a museum and a home. For chocolate lovers, you can buy Mozart chocolates everywhere.

Below the magnificent Hohensalzburg Fortress, which can be accessed by an uphill walk or cable car, lies the Old Town of Salzburg. Head up to the Hoensalzburg for the best views in the city. Old Town offers endless shopping streets, museums, cafes, and some of the best-preserved Baroque architecture north of the Alps.

Your trip leader will organize an optional group dinner at the Stieglkeller, overlooking the whole city, or the Augustiner Braustubl. Both are large beer halls that serve traditional food and beverages. Meet at 20:00* at the hostel. The location for dinner will be determined by your trip leader based on weather conditions and availability. Salzburg is home to three large universities, adding to its bustling night scene. After dinner, the night is free to explore Salzburg’s club, bar and cafe scene.

Day 4

Sunday you can explore more of Salzburg at your own pace or go on the highly recommended ‘Sound of Music Tour’ (30 euro). The tour departs from our accommodation at 9:00*. This tour is entertaining and informative, highlighting not only the classic film but also local history and customs. You will see all the main settings for the film in addition to the beautiful Alpine countryside surrounding Salzburg.

We depart Salzburg for Rome at 14:00*. Meet back at the hostel at 13:30. Estimated travel time is 12.5 hours**. We will make one stop en route for dinner. We will arrive back in Rome at approximately 2:30*.

Included Activities

Vienna Tram Tour: Tram tickets cost 1.80 Euro - The quickest way to see all of Vienna’s top attractions is by the ring tram. On this tour you will pass the Hofburg Palace, the Volksgarten, the Parliament building, the Town Hall, the National Theater, and the State Opera House along with an overview of the city.

Optional Activities

Sound of Music Tour: 30 Euro - This lively musical tour takes you by coach bus to all of the locations that the movie made famous. The tour will take you through the Austrian countryside and up into the Austrain Alps. The tour not only teaches you about the movie and real-life story behind ‘The Sound of Music’, but is an informative historical account for the surrounding area. 

Schnap Museum Tour and Tasting: 6 Euro - Learn the history of and how the various kinds of schnapps are made, followed by a free sampling of the products.

Sacher-Torte: You trip leader will bring you to the home of the famous sweet dessert, where you will have the option to sample the famous tortes. 

Performance at Vienna’s State Opera House: prices vary, standing from 2 Euro - Notably the most famous Opera House in the world, there typically are performances every night. 

Augustiner Brewery (Salzburg): Explore the various food stalls for traditional Austrian food such as schnitzel. This self service brewer lets you grab your own beer mug, cool it down in the fountain, and fill it for a cold, refreshing brew.

Stieglkeller (Salzburg): When weather permits, this is the best place to grab some dinner in Salzburg. The Stieglkeller is situated below the Hohensalzburg Castle and overlooks the city.