Seniors’ Exploration of Austria: Vienna, Salzburg, Kaprun Tour

Touch down in the Austrian capital and there is glamor every way you turn. This is one of Europe’s most complete old cities, a glorious rendition of former times played out along townhouse-lined streets. After an airport transfer and some time to rest you’ll explore local history, on a Vienna walking tour. In the Old Town you can walk slowly. There’s a lot to see in a small area and the tour can be adapted if you are uncomfortable walking. It’s a relaxed afternoon and your guide will provide dinner reservations for the evening.

Take a stroll through the glorious hallways of Schonbrunn Palace to continue the historical immersion this morning. With its early 18th-century opulence and remarkable Museum of Carriages, the palace is a real glimpse into royal Hapsburg life. This is a casual morning trip so you’ll have the afternoon free to see more of Vienna, followed by a night at the opera. It’s not just the classical music that will impress, but the chance to spend an evening inside one of the world’s most famous and atmospheric opera houses.

There are a couple of excellent day trips from Vienna and it’s hard not to be tempted by Liechtenstein Castle, which can be switched into your itinerary. However, Melk offers a more varied day away from the capital. Explore the history of Melk Abbey then lounge around the town, enjoying lunch on a cobbled square where the ambiance seems to be from the 1800s. Then savor a cruise along the Danube River, stopping off to see one or more of the small wine towns. You can also go tasting at a vineyard before the short transfer back to Vienna.

Salzburg is a dazzling city in the Alps and it’s a perfect destination for senior travelers. The Old Town is compact and very easy to explore, yet you can also get into the mountains within ten minutes by car. Today you will take a first-class train through sublime scenery, the 2h20 journey followed by a Sound of Music tour of Salzburg. Mixing in movie locations with famous local sights, you’ll get a great understanding of both fact and fiction. The Augustiner Monks Brewery is great in the evening, where local beer is complemented by traditional Austrian cuisine.

Much smaller than Salzburg and perched on a lake, Hallstatt is one of Europe’s prettiest towns. The alpine setting is majestic and you can meander around the old town in just 15 minutes. This is a place to linger and you’ll have a full morning to appreciate the lakefront and narrow streets. Hallstatt’s salt mine is the world’s oldest, although it’s just about to close. So grab the opportunity to explore underground, on a private tour through magnificent salt formations. This is an easy day and you’ll appreciate using Salzburg as a hub for discovering an entire region.

Mozart is Salzburg’s most famous citizen and his family home hints at the musician’s early years. A local musician will be your guide, so you can discover all about this legend who was writing operas aged just 14. Various places in Salzburg help create a narrative of genius and early death. You will listen to his music in churches, explore locales that inspired his operas, and enjoy a full operatic rendition of one of his most famous scores. Along the way you can uncover more of Salzburg itself, a city that is so famous for its music.

Snow glistens on jagged mountain slopes. Green valleys stretch beneath sublime peaks. Glassy lakes stretch out in pristine harmony. Welcome to the Austrian Lake District and a day of discovery that will take you up to Bad Ischl and St Wolfgang. As dazzling landscapes set the scene you’ll sit back in a spa, explore 15th-century frescoed buildings, admire Gothic art, and take a steam-hauled railway line higher into the mountains. For scenic splendor there are few places to rival this Salzkammergut area, in Europe or elsewhere.

Departing Salzburg to your third destination you’ll make a stop in Hellbrunn, a wonderfully diverse palace quite different from elsewhere in Europe. Each room is individually decorated so the archbishop’s hospitality could be adapted depending on the guest. It was a favorite of emperors, who would stay in Chinese rooms or specially shaped rooms perfect for classical music acoustics. From here you will be transferred up into the High Alps and three nights in Kaprun, an idyllic destination beneath the shadow of the Grossglockner mountain range.

Roads twist through alpine wonderland. Waterfalls tumble from towering mountains. Grand glaciers stretch out before your eyes. Valleys emerge from mist and forests elegantly grace the slopes. This is the High Alps and you will have a full day with a local guide, exploring the alpine scenery by road. You will feel immersed in nature’s power and you don’t need to walk to appreciate such spectacles. The day is flexible and can be adapted to your interests, as you may wish to also do some walking in the mountains as well.

This is the second day of customized exploration in the Alps, with the focus likely to be Austria’s highest and greatest natural wonders. The road beneath the Grossglockner is a fairytale journey through forests and vistas, often above the snow and ice line. Twisting further towards the peak you will stop at Emperors’ Viewpoint and gaze across the Pasterze Glacier. Pure snowfields and clear waterfalls cascade here, as the wind whistles eerily from on high. Eagles and ibex can be spotted around here before you end the day with a funicular railway ride to Pasterze Glacier, where you can safely walk on the glacier with a guide if you wish.

From the High Alps you will descend back to Salzburg, savoring the scenery before your outbound flight.