Austria Classic

About the destination: Munich, situated on the Isar River in southern Bavaria, is renowned for its world-class museums, stunning parks, the annual Oktoberfest beer festival, and architecture. The magnificent public buildings and monuments stand as a testament to the imperial ambitions of the Wittelsbach family, who ruled Bavaria from the 12th to the 20th century. Despite suffering significant damage from allied bombings during World War II, many of its historic buildings have been restored, and the city center largely resembles its appearance in the late 1800s. This includes its largest church, the Frauenkirche, and the famous city hall (Neues Rathaus). A unique blend of proud tradition and cutting-edge culture will keep you engaged and active. The city stays alive until the wee hours, thanks to its many students and the quintessential Bavarian zest for life.

About the destination: Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart, is located on the border of Austria and Germany. The Salzach River divides Salzburg's old and new towns. The old town is remarkable and compact, centered around the expansive Residenzplatz and is primarily a pedestrian area. The relatively new town is centered around Mirabellplatz and Markartplatz. Salzburg's striking hills emerge directly from the old town. The most noticeable hilltop fortification is the Hohensalzburg, constructed over centuries on an ancient Celtic and Roman site, and is now the largest fully preserved medieval castle in Europe. For a different kind of grandeur, visit the Schloss Mirabell and its Gardens, situated right next to the Salzach River and the Mozarteum University of Music and Arts. The castle was built by an archbishop for his beloved courtesan. You can stroll through lavish rose and flower gardens and admire the stone dwarves in the Zwerglgarten. To learn about Mozart and his life, visit his Geburtshaus, Mozart's birth house. The street itself is worth seeing, with the guild signs and painted wall decorations remaining much as they were at the time of Mozart’s birth. The house displays pictures, letters, and stage sets from the various operas Mozart composed. Surrounded by forested mountains, Salzburg is a city of magic whose spirit is expressed in some of the world's most divine music, composed by its favorite son, Mozart. The era that gave birth to the unparalleled musical genius of Mozart also constructed the beautiful castles and churches of Salzburg, and fostered a love of music that continues today in Salzburg's numerous concert series and annual summer festival.

About the destination: Vienna is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Austria. This beautiful, romantic city is renowned for its coffee culture and cafes, classical music and concert halls, historical buildings, horse-drawn carriages, and its enchanting streets. Vienna boasts a rich cultural diversity, and its central location in Europe makes it an ideal starting point for exploring the continent. Vienna is a remarkable city to visit, characterized by the Ringstrasse, a four-kilometer-long boulevard that encircles the city center. The city is replete with modern amenities and attractions, yet it is also steeped in reminders of its rich historical and cultural heritage. Outstanding museums, palaces, gardens, architectural masterpieces, remnants of ancient inhabitants, statues, and grand cafes coexist with trendy shops, top-notch restaurants, accessible music venues, contemporary museums and sculptures, and luxury hotels, making Vienna incredibly appealing. The extensive pedestrian-only streets of the old city are a joy to explore, lined with beautiful old buildings, bustling with people of all ages, filled with local shops, boutiques and cafes, and offering surprises at every turn. The city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Vienna is a blend of history and music, poetry and culture, modernism and tradition, nostalgia and grandeur.

About the destination: Budapest is recognized as one of the most breathtaking cities in Europe. This could be attributed to its remarkable surroundings, such as the Danube River that bisects the city, the Buda hills to the west, and the Great Plain to the east, or perhaps its diverse and stunning architecture: Renaissance, Byzantine, Neo-Classical, and Art-Nouveau structures coexist in perfect harmony. Its extensive World Heritage Site encompasses: the banks of the Danube, Buda Castle Quarter, Andrassy Avenue, Hero’s Square, and the Millennium Underground Railway. Additionally, the city boasts 80 geothermal springs and the world's largest water cave system, where visitors can enjoy a soothing bath. Budapest was unified as a single city in 1873, straddling both banks of the Danube River, with Buda to the west and Pest to the east. Each side of the city has its own distinct character. Buda is the more tranquil part of the city. As visitors wander around Buda, they can explore the Castle Quarter and the narrow cobblestone streets leading to the Fishermen’s Bastion with its enchanting towers, symbolizing the 7 tribes that inhabited the city in the 9th century. This ornamental fortification, situated atop Buda Castle Hill, offers the most spectacular panoramic view in Budapest. On the other hand, Pest is where the city's hustle and bustle is concentrated. This part of the city exudes a fin-de-siècle vibe, and almost every building has some intriguing or unique detail. Visitors are encouraged to take leisurely walks on its broad boulevards brimming with a variety of shops or to unwind with a cup of coffee in its grand coffee houses. Pest is home to the parliament building and the Dohari street synagogue, the largest synagogue in Europe. The remnants of WWII are still evident in the city, with bullet holes and shrapnel damage from the Second World War and the 1956 Uprising still visible on some facades, serving as somber reminders of this dark period in history. There are several memorials honoring the Hungarian Jews who perished, such as the poignant Shoes on the Danube memorial and the Raoul Wallenberg Holocaust Memorial Park. This side of the river is also considered the city's cultural hub, with numerous art galleries and more opera, concerts, and ballet performances than there are days in the week. The city's finest restaurants are located in Pest, and it's also where the nightlife thrives until the wee hours. For a unique drinking experience, try a Ruin Pub, part of Budapest's network of bars in repurposed buildings, including former tenement houses, factory buildings, and community centers. Budapest has successfully integrated all its influences and navigated its complex history to forge its own identity, and it has certainly done so with aplomb.