This customized tour offers you only the best of Austria and Switzerland in addition to taking you along the Danube River and into the illustrious Alps. Austria will enchant you with its Baroque architecture, opulent palaces, and famous concerts, and Switzerland will captivate you with its villages of half-timbered homes, beautiful vineyards, and dramatic mountain peaks.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Vienna – The Imperial City
Vienna is a vibrant city that embodies the best of Austria’s illustrious. A private transfer will meet you at the Vienna airport upon your arrival and escort you to your accommodations in the heart of the city. The State Opera House stages more than 300 performances a year and has fuelled a dramatic passion for the art since the 1600s. This evening, you will have the luxury of attending a performance here. The current structure was built in the 19th-century with embellished French Renaissance style.
What's Included:
Day 2
Vienna – Explore Vienna
Day 3
Salzburg – Cruise along the Danube
Day 4
Salzburg – A Day at your Leisure
Day 5
St. Moritz – Visit Innsbruck
Day 6
Zermatt – The Glacier Express
Day 7
Zermatt – Alpine Beauty around Zermatt
Day 8
Berne – The Banks of the Aare River
Day 9
Berne – The Lavaux Wine Region
Day 10
Lucerne – Scenic Tour of Interlake
Day 11
Lucerne – The Treasures of the City
Day 12
Lucerne – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Enjoy a luxurious Danube cruise to visit the opulent Melk Church above the riverbank
- Discover the grandeur and grace of the Hapsburg Palace that borders the city of Vienna
- Stroll through a stunning Glacier Palace in view of the Matterhorn peak
- Experience the copper tiles of the Golden Roof and the black-marble tomb of Maximilian I in Innsbruck
- Wander the medieval grounds of Chateau de Chillon and follow in the footsteps of the dukes of Savoy
- View the open grounds of Bearpark, which is home to a family of bears for which the capital 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 wines from the traditional vineyards of the Lavaux wine region
- Visit the unique World War II era Nazi retreat and bunker at the infamous Eagle’s Nest
- Delight in a scenic train ride through the countryside on the Glacier Express Train to visit the charming villages at the base of the Matterhorn
Detailed Description
Whether you are a fan of castles and palaces or take pleasure in hiking across meadows, you will enjoy this 12-day tour to Austria and Switzerland. The countryside will be your playground, and the cities and villages will be your classroom on this immersive tour of history, culture, and landscapes. Your flight will land at Vienna Airport, and your private transfer will escort you into the heart of the city. Here, you will spend the next day with a tour of Austria’s capital.
The following day, you will board a boat on the Danube River before visiting the Mel Abbey and the Salzkammergut Lakeland en route to Salzburg. Here, you can traverse the charming streets of Salzburg at your preferred pace in addition to taking in the Baroque architecture and musical history around the city. You will then have an excursion to the Bavarian Alps to see the infamous Eagle’s Nest before venturing to Innsbruck. In Innsbruck, you will witness the graceful artistry of the city and its medieval lanes before continuing over the Swiss border to the lakeside town of St. Moritz.
Here, you can visit the charming old town of Chur to catch the Glacier Express Train to the Matterhorn base. Once you reach the village of Zermatt, you can relax with an impressive view of the massif. The next day will be yours to discover the majesty of the region around Zermatt, and you can hike along the countless trails before entering an ice cave at the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. The following day, you will stop at Lake Geneva and stroll along the ramparts of Chateau de Chillon before continuing to the capital city of Bern.
You will receive an introduction to Swiss tradition in the Lavaux wine region. Afterward, you will travel to the alpine town of Interlaken to witness the drama of the Jungfrau Massif. 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.
Starting Price
$5,900 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
The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.85 stars based on 874 reviews.
My first solo trip was something I had dreamed about for years. I wanted it to be more than sightseeing. I wanted adventure, comfort, safety, and freedom without the stress of planning it all alone. Through Zicasso, I was connected to two specialists and Zicasso's travel consultant stood out immediately. She delivered an itinerary that gave me everything I asked for and more: maximum cities, maximum fun, and maximum value, all without compromise.
Before deciding, I researched and compared tours, packages, and individual prices online. The travel consultant’s proposal came out on top for value and content. While the other agent offered fewer cities and activities at a higher price, her plan was ambitious without being overwhelming. She booked my trains, arranged private transfers where needed, and selected boutique-style hotels that exceeded expectations. I was honestly surprised at how good they were. I stayed at hotels in Interlaken, Florence, and Sorrento. Each was clean, comfortable, and perfectly located for exploring. I had prepared myself for budget trade-offs, but instead, I found thoughtfully chosen hotels that balanced affordability with real quality.
Every document, train ticket, and activity confirmation was uploaded into the app. It became my lifeline throughout the trip, with every detail at my fingertips. The structure gave me confidence, while still leaving me free to explore.
Switzerland came first: Zurich, Lucerne, Interlaken, and Zermatt. Each city felt like stepping into a postcard. Interlaken gave me the adrenaline rush of skydiving, while Zermatt charmed me with its close-knit magic and alpine beauty. Italy unfolded with equal ease: Lake Como, Venice, Florence, Sorrento, Amalfi, and Rome. Every destination felt curated, yet natural, from gondola rides in Venice to boat tours on the Amalfi Coast.
What I loved most was the balance between structure and freedom. Pre-booked activities and restaurant reservations gave me a strong framework, but I could just as easily decide to spend an afternoon wandering Florence, eating gelato, or sitting in a piazza. The rhythm of the trip was perfect, structured enough to tick off bucket-list highlights, yet relaxed enough to feel like a real vacation.
Food was freestyle, but memorable. Highlights included a Japanese-Peruvian restaurant in Zurich with its elegant Japanese-Peruvian flavors, a different Japanese restaurant, a restaurant in Como with its modern fusion menu, an Indian restaurant for comforting classics, and international favorites like those in one of the restaurants in Rome. Between those meals and plenty of gelato and crepes, every stop added its own flavor to the journey.
As a solo traveler, safety mattered. I felt comfortable walking around in the evenings and was usually back in my hotel by 1am to stay rested for the next day. What really gave me peace of mind was the travel consultant’s constant support. Communication was fast and responsive. I never had to wait long for answers, whether through the app or email. There was a moment when I made a mistake with the trains and missed an activity. She immediately stepped in and worked to reschedule it or secure a refund that same day.
Earlier in the planning process, I also had a card issue due to an address error. Even though policy would not normally allow it, she and her team patiently waited until I received the refund before finalizing the booking, just weeks before my trip. That flexibility and care spoke volumes.
The difference was clear. She used my budget to its fullest potential, giving me more destinations, more experiences, and better hotels than the alternative option. She managed to combine the efficiency of a fully organized tour with the freedom of independent travel. Everything was planned, yet everything was still mine to shape.
This trip was everything I wanted: good food, beautiful views, safety, and absolute reliability. It was an organized journey with freestyle flexibility, which is exactly what solo travelers dream of. The travel consultant’s planning let me chase adventure while always knowing I had a safety net. Switzerland and Italy gave me memories I will never forget, but it was the behind-the-scenes planning that made it possible. If you want a trip that is your way, your budget, your pace, but without the endless hassle of managing it yourself, the travel consultant at this agency is the person who can make it happen. My first solo trip became my dream trip and that is the highest praise I can give.
Reviewed By tasmia S.
The trip was excellent. The hotels and itinerary were exactly as we wanted. Zicasso's travel company knows the country, and my contact responded immediately when I needed service in-country. Great job!!
Reviewed By jonathan C.
We were very happy with the services provided by Zicasso's tour operator. Our agent and his team were very responsive to all of our communications and created an itinerary for us that was exactly the mix of places to see and activities we were looking for.
The tour operator provided us with all of the information we needed to navigate around Switzerland (visiting Zermatt, Grindelwald, and Lucerne). We liked all of the hotels they selected and found their restaurant recommendations to be very helpful. They also provided us with a package of materials containing our rail passes, maps, and detailed instructions that helped make our trip seamless and stress-free.
We felt like we were in very good hands with them and would definitely use them again if we return to Switzerland.
Reviewed By Elisa R.
We had a wonderful trip and Zicasso's travel partner was great to work with.
Reviewed By Fan Q.
From the moment we landed in Germany to the moment we left, the trip was incredibly well planned and tailored specifically to what we were interested in, but with the expert knowledge of Zicasso's travel agent and our tour operator to guide us toward our best possible experience.
DO IAfter receiving the initial itinerary proposal from him, we had a helpful phone conversation to talk about our family "must-do's." The itinerary was adjusted accordingly and was perfect. Every day had a memorable experience and everything went smoothly!
I cannot recommend this tour company any higher. If you are considering working with our travel agent and his colleague, do it. I am already trying to determine when we can return to Germany and work with them to plan our Germany vacation (part two)!
Reviewed By Kerri B.
It was a very good trip. It was pretty well planned, with great hotels and scenery, and we loved the train trips. A suggestive comment would be to steer the old folks (like us) away from the hotel; it seemed too "young" for my crowd.
Reviewed By Nelson T.
