The Alps: Germany, Austria & Switzerland

9 or 11 days

Munich, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Neuschwanstein, Liechtenstein, Lucerne region, Freiburg, Heidelberg, extension to Rhineland and Cologne

Program designed to: Show that the hills truly do come alive on this delightful exploration of three alpine regions connected by language, history and culture. Experience it all, from Mozart’s birthplace in Salzburg and Mad King Ludwig’s fairytale castle at Neuschwanstein to Lucerne’s medieval covered bridges and Munich’s Hofbrau Haus—one of Europe’s oldest beer halls. Connect with locals on visits to bustling cities and picturesque mountain villages.

Highlight: Develop an ear for how the sound of common words and phrases changes by region—from the standard German spoken in Munich to the Swiss German spoken in Lucerne.

🔹 Curated experiences: Every program is intentionally designed to feature guided learning, cultural engagement, and independent exploration experiences to drive global competency development, denoted on each itinerary with a blue diamond. Learn more about these experiences.

Image displaying map describing the itinerary of the The Alps: Germany, Austria & Switzerland tour

Day 1: Fly overnight to Germany

Day 2: Munich

Meet your Field Director at the airport

Take a walking tour of Munich

With your Field Director you will see:

Munich Cathedral, the representative landmark of Munich
New Town Hall, a towering building home to the city government
Hofbräuhaus, a famous beer hall dating back to the 16th century and a symbol of Bavarian hospitality

Enjoy a traditional Bavarian dinner in Munich

Day 3: Munich

Take a guided tour of Munich

With your expert local guide you will see:

Olympic Stadium, built for the 1972 Olympic Games
Residenz, the former royal palace of the Wittelsbach monarchs
Marienplatz, Munich's main city square

🔹 Guided learning: With an expert local guide, visit and reflect at the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site, which today serves as a memorial museum and a stark reminder of the darkest chapter in this country’s long story

Day 4: Munich • Salzburg • Innsbruck

Travel via Salzburg, the city of Mozart and the Sound of Music, on your way to Innsbruck

🔹 Guided learning: Take a guided tour of Salzburg

With your expert local guide you will see:

Old Town, known for it's baroque architecture and churches
Residenz, the former royal power center of Salzburg
Mozart’s birthplace, now a museum that will transport you back in time

Take an exciting underground tour via train, boat and wooden slides through the 450-year-old salt mines

Day 5: Innsbruck

🔹 Cultural engagement: Tour Innsbruck, the beautiful capital of the Austrian province of Tyrol, with an expert local guide

Take the Nordkette Cable Car to the top station of the Karwendel Mountain Chain for a beautiful view

Enjoy dinner in Innsbruck

Day 6: Innsbruck • Liechtenstein • Lucerne region

Travel via Liechtenstein and Neuschwanstein to the Lucerne region

Visit a Bavarian Castle

Stop to take a photo at Neuschwanstein Castle

Enjoy dinner at your hotel in the Lucerne region

Day 7: Lucerne region

🔹 Cultural engagement: Take a walking tour of Lucerne

With your Field Director you will see:

Lion Monument, a sandstone statue commemorating the Swiss Guards slain in the 1792 Paris storming of the Tuileries
Kapellbrücke, a covered bridge dating back to medieval days adorned with colorful murals overhead

Add this in-depth excursion:

Swiss Alps experience

This exciting half-day adventure takes you to the top of one of the Swiss Alps, the majestic mountainous backdrop of Lucerne. Journey to the base of the mountain by boat and ride a cog railway to the top. You’ll reach the summit and be rewarded with a splendid panorama of Lucerne, its lake, and the glorious snow-capped Alps. On a clear day, you can see for more than 200 miles! You’ll get back to the foot of the mountain by way of a gondola ride. (Please note: Mountains can be cold, even in summer; warm clothes and appropriate shoes are recommended.)

Enjoy dinner at your hotel in the Lucerne region

Day 8: Lucerne region • Freiburg • Heidelberg

Travel via Freiburg to Heidelberg

🔹 Independent exploration: Spend time exploring Freiburg on your own and see its many Baroque, Renaissance and Gothic buildings

Take a tour of Heidelberg, a renowned university city lined with medieval streets and peaked red roofs

Ride a funicular up to Heidelberg Castle, and stand beside the enormous wine barrel—it’s so large that a dance floor was once built on top of it for visitors’ amusement

Enjoy dinner in Heidelberg

Day 9: Depart for home

Add 2 more days

Day 9: Heidelberg • Rhineland

Travel to the Rhineland, a hub for agriculture and wineries that was once a demilitarized zone during WWII

Enjoy a Rhine cruise from Ruedesheim and continue past the terraced vineyards and age-old castles of the St. Goarshausen (March through October)

Enjoy dinner in Rhineland

Day 10: Rhineland • Cologne

Take an excursion to Cologne, the historic, cultural, and economic capital of the Rhineland

Visit the Cologne Cathedral, a sublime, war-scarred Gothic cathedral that took more than 600 years to complete; its impressive twin spires are among the tallest in the world

Tour Cologne with an expert local guide, including its cathedral, the largest Gothic church in northern Europe, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996

Enjoy dinner in Rhineland

Day 11: Depart for home