9 Nights / 10 Days
When we asked Nina Heric, Travelive’s Country Manager for Austria & Germany, to create her perfect introduction to Austria, she imagined the kind of journey she would plan for someone she truly wanted to impress.
The result is a warm, scenic, music-filled itinerary that brings together the Austria Nina knows and loves: morning coffee in Vienna, palace concerts, golden Baroque abbeys, lakeside villages, alpine views, Tyrolean traditions, and a final taste of Bavaria in Munich.
It is elegant, outdoorsy, cultured, and full of character, just like Austria itself.
Servus from Austria. Nina’s Austria, to be exact.
- 2 Nights in Vienna
- 3 Nights in Salzburg
- 2 Nights in Innsbruck
- 2 Nights in Munich
Day 1 | Arrival in Vienna
Arrive in Vienna, where Austria welcomes travelers with grand architecture, polished streets, and old-world charm. After a private transfer to the hotel, take time to settle in and ease into the rhythm of the city.
Depending on arrival time, enjoy a relaxed first walk through the historic center, passing elegant cafés, quiet courtyards, and beautifully preserved buildings that hint at the days ahead.
Day 2 | Imperial Vienna & Classical Music
Begin with a guided introduction to Vienna’s historic center, including St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the surrounding old town. Continue to Schönbrunn Palace, the former summer residence of the Habsburgs and one of Vienna’s most iconic landmarks.
For a lighter, more playful way to experience the city, Nina recommends a private sightseeing ride in a royal-style electric car, ending, as locals do, with a Viennese Melange and a pastry stop.
As evening falls, step into Vienna’s musical world with a classical concert in a palace setting, featuring a Mozart and Strauss program. The settin g, the music, and the act of dressing up all become part of the experience.
As Nina would say, in Vienna, classy meets stylish.
Day 3 | Coffeehouse Culture, The Danube & Belvedere Palace
Today begins with one of Vienna’s best rituals: a classic coffeehouse stop and a slice of Sachertorte. It is not just a coffee break here. It is part of the city’s rhythm.
Continue with a scenic boat ride on the Danube, enjoying apple strudel while seeing Vienna from the water.
Later, visit Belvedere Palace, home to Klimt’s “The Kiss” and one of Vienna’s most memorable palace settings.
In the evening, trade the city center for the local warmth of Grinzing, where a traditional Heuriger wine tavern brings together regional wine, live music, and a relaxed neighborhood atmosphere.
Day 4 | Melk Abbey, the Wachau Valley & Salzburg
Leave Vienna and follow the Danube west toward the Wachau Valley, one of Austria’s most beautiful regions.
Stop at Melk Abbey, a golden Baroque landmark overlooking the river. From here, continue through vineyard-covered hills, small villages, river views, and castle ruins. Depending on the season and preferred pacing, a short Danube cruise can also be included.
By late afternoon, arrive in Salzburg, a city of domes, music, mountain views, and quiet charm. Settle in and enjoy the evening at leisure.
Day 5 | Hallstatt, Wolfgangsee & the Salzkammergut
Today is all about Austria’s lake country, with the right balance of iconic views and quieter local charm.
Begin with a short visit to Hallstatt, one of Austria’s most photographed villages. It is undeniably beautiful, but Nina often notes that its popularity can make it feel less intimate during busier times. For that reason, this itinerary includes Hallstatt as a scenic stop rather than a full-day focus, giving travelers time for a lakeside walk and the famous viewpoint before continuing deeper into the Salzkammergut.
From there, continue toward Wolfgangsee, where the pace feels softer and more authentic. Enjoy time by the water and, when available, a scenic boat ride across the lake, surrounded by alpine scenery and postcard-perfect villages.
For a memorable view of the region, continue by cog railway toward Schafbergalm. At the top, travelers can enjoy local dishes surrounded by sweeping mountain and lake scenery.
This is the Austria Nina wants travelers to feel: fresh air, clear water, alpine views, and villages that still carry the warmth and rhythm of local life.
Day 6 | Salzburg, Mozart & The Sound of Music
Today, Salzburg brings together music, history, and a touch of movie magic.
Explore the Old Town with a private guide, including Getreidegasse, Mozart’s birthplace, Salzburg Cathedral, and Hohensalzburg Fortress, reached by funicular for panoramic views over the rooftops and surrounding Alps.
For travelers who grew up with “The Sound of Music,” Salzburg adds a nostalgic layer to the day. Visit beloved filming locations such as Mirabell Gardens, the gazebo, and Nonnberg Abbey while also discovering the real Salzburg behind the scenes.
In the evening, Nina recommends either a traditional folklore dinner show or a Mozart dinner at St. Peter Stiftskulinarium, one of Europe’s oldest restaurants.
Day 7 | Stubai Glacier, Swarovski Crystal Worlds & Innsbruck
The journey now turns toward the mountains.
Begin with an alpine experience at the Stubai Glacier, where cable cars carry travelers toward the Top of Tyrol for wide-open views of the surrounding peaks.
On the way to Innsbruck, stop at Swarovski Crystal Worlds, a dazzling, only-in-Austria experience that blends art, design, and imagination.
Arrive in Innsbruck, where colorful buildings, mountain peaks, and Tyrolean charm create one of Austria’s most memorable city settings.
Day 8 | Innsbruck & the Tyrolean Alps
Spend the day exploring Innsbruck, where the Alps never feel far away.
Begin in the Old Town, home to colorful façades, lively squares, and the famous Golden Roof. Then take the Nordkette cable car from the city center into the mountains in just minutes.
For the evening, Nina recommends a traditional Tyrolean dinner with folk music or, for something more playful, a knight-style dinner in nearby Hall. Both experiences bring warmth, character, and a little local fun to the final Austrian chapter of the journey.
Day 9 | Munich, Markets & Bavarian Traditions
Continue to Munich, the gateway to Bavaria and a natural extension for travelers combining Austria and Germany.
Begin in the Altstadt at Marienplatz, ideally early in the morning before the city becomes busy. For one of Munich’s best rooftop views, climb the nearby Alter Peter. On a clear day, the Alps appear in the distance.
Continue toward Sendlinger Straße to discover the Asamkirche, a small but extraordinary Baroque church tucked into the city streets, then wander through Viktualienmarkt, Munich’s open-air food market dating back to 1807.
The afternoon can be kept flexible for shopping, museums, or a relaxed café stop before an evening of Bavarian dining.
Day 10 | Munich’s Englischer Garten & Departure
For later departures, enjoy one final taste of Munich’s local life with a walk through the Englischer Garten.
At the Eisbachwelle, surfers ride a standing river wave year-round, one of the city’s most unexpected scenes. From there, continue through the park’s meadows to the Chinesischer Turm beer garden, where chestnut trees, a wooden pagoda, pretzels, and a classic Bavarian Maß offer a relaxed finale to the journey.
Afterward, transfer to the airport for the flight home.
This first-time journey through Austria and Bavaria introduces travelers to imperial cities, alpine landscapes, musical heritage, lakeside villages, and local traditions in one beautifully paced itinerary.
It reflects the Austria Nina knows and loves: elegant, outdoorsy, musical, welcoming, and full of moments that stay with travelers long after they return home.