June 2024 "Intoxicating Eastern Europe: Classic Five-Country Tour of Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Austria 12 Days" Group Tour Travelogue (Part 4) Austria

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Continued from "June 2024 'Intoxicating Eastern Europe: Classic Five-Country Tour of Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Austria 12 Days' Group Tour Travelogue (Part 3) Hungary"

Austria - Vienna - Golden Hall - Music Concert

Austria - Vienna - Schönbrunn Palace - Schönbrunn Palace Gardens

Austria - Vienna - Austrian National Library

Austria - Vienna - Schönbrunn Palace

Austria - Hallstatt Village

Hungary - Budapest - Danube Riverbank - Parliament Building

Czech Republic - Prague - Prague Castle - Observation Deck - Panoramic View of Prague

Slovakia - Bratislava - Hviezdoslavovo Square

Over the years, whenever I saw media reports or videos about Eastern European countries—especially the red rooftops of Prague, the "City of a Thousand Spires," the Hungarian Parliament Building on the Danube in Budapest, and the Golden Hall of Vienna, the "City of Music"—I was always captivated and impressed. The magnificent scenery, long history, and unique charm were deeply appealing, inspiring a strong desire to travel to Eastern Europe and experience its enchanting beauty firsthand. How wonderful it felt that this group tour finally fulfilled my wish to visit Eastern Europe, bringing genuine joy.

This trip started on June 23 and ended successfully on July 4, lasting a total of 12 days. We visited many cities, towns, and attractions in five Central and Eastern European countries: Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Austria. Along the way, we were constantly enchanted by the colorful cities, outstanding architecture, beautiful landscapes, and ancient legends, naturally immersing ourselves in the picturesque urban scenery and lakes and mountains, making us reluctant to leave and feel that the trip was truly worthwhile.

Czech Republic - Prague - Old Town Square

Czech Republic - Český Krumlov (CK Town)

Hungary - Budapest - Fisherman's Bastion - Observation Deck - View of Parliament Building

Hungary - Budapest - Fisherman's Bastion

Hungary - Lake Balaton - Lake Balaton Scenery

Hungary - Hévíz - Hévíz Thermal Spa

Germany - Würzburg - Street View

Germany - Munich - Scenery Along the Way

Fourth Stop: Austria (D7, D8, D9 Morning)

Austria borders Hungary and Slovakia to the east, Italy and Slovenia to the south, Liechtenstein and Switzerland to the west, and Germany and the Czech Republic to the north. Its area is approximately 84,000 square kilometers, with a population of about 9.1 million. The capital is Vienna. Austria is renowned worldwide as the "Land of Music," birthing many musicians such as Haydn, Mozart, and Schubert. The great composer Beethoven studied and created music in Austria during his youth and reached the pinnacle of his artistic career here. The waltzes of the Strauss father and son are widely popular, with Johann Strauss II known as the "King of Waltz."

Visiting the "City of Music" Vienna, Salzburg—the hometown of musical genius Mozart—and the picturesque Hallstatt, known as "the most beautiful village in the world," were the highlights of this "Intoxicating Eastern Europe Tour."

Austria - Vienna - Austrian Parliament Building

Austria - Vienna - Beethoven's Residence

Austria - Vienna - Street View

Austria - Vienna - Vienna City Hall

Austria - Vienna - Maria Theresa Square - Natural History Museum Vienna

Austria - Vienna - Johann Strauss City Park - Golden Statue of Johann Strauss II

Austria - Vienna - Austrian National Library

D7 Today in Vienna, we visited the University of Vienna, Parliament Building (exterior), Vienna City Hall (exterior), Maria Theresa Square, Heroes' Square, St. Augustine's Church, the Hofburg Palace complex, the Austrian National Library, the Plague Column, St. Stephen's Cathedral, and Johann Strauss City Park. In the evening, we went to the Golden Hall in the Vienna Musikverein to attend a classic music concert (both the interior visit and the concert were optional paid activities).

Austria - Vienna - University of Vienna

Austria - Vienna - Heroes' Square

Austria - Vienna - Hofburg Palace complex

Austria - Vienna - St. Augustine's Church

Austria - Vienna - Vienna Musikverein

Austria - Vienna - Vienna Musikverein - Golden Hall

Vienna, the city on the Danube, is world-famous as the "City of Music." After centuries, it still retains its unique character: the ancient imperial core in the center, with a modern city spreading outward, like the rings of a tree. This is a city full of spirit, where one can constantly feel the presence of the great masters—Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, and Johann Strauss once lived here. This eclectic art, an art that transitions as smoothly as music, can be seen in the city's very appearance.

Austria - Vienna - Plague Column

Austria - Vienna - St. Stephen's Cathedral

Austria - Vienna - Schönbrunn Palace

Austria - Vienna - Schönbrunn Palace - Schönbrunn Palace Gardens

D8 In the morning, we visited Schönbrunn Palace, one of Austria's cultural landmarks and the place where Emperor Franz Joseph married Empress Elisabeth (Sisi), and its rear gardens. In the afternoon, we visited Hallstatt, a village on the shores of Lake Hallstatt.

Hallstatt is a village in the Salzkammergut region of Upper Austria, on the shores of Lake Hallstatt. Known for its stunning scenery, it is called "the most beautiful village in the world." Historically, this area prospered from salt mining, earning it the nickname "the oldest salt town in the world." Hallstatt is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is now a popular tourist destination.

Austria - Hallstatt Village

D9 In the morning, we visited Mozart's hometown, Salzburg (optional paid activity), exploring Mozart Square, Mozart's Residence, the streets and alleys of Salzburg, the scenic banks of the Salzach River, and Mirabell Garden, one of the filming locations for the movie "The Sound of Music." This marked the end of the true Eastern Europe tour portion, after which we headed to Munich, Germany to continue the journey.

Salzburg is located in western Austria, at the gateway to the Alps. It is one of Austria's oldest cities. The architectural style is predominantly Baroque, represented by Salzburg Cathedral and Mirabell Garden. The Hellbrunn Palace and its palace gardens and fountains also attract thousands of visitors. The old town of Salzburg was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996.

Austria - Salzburg - View of Salzburg in the distance

Austria - Salzburg - Mozart Square - Mozart Statue

Austria - Salzburg - Mozart's Residence

Austria - Salzburg

Austria - Salzburg - Salzach River - Riverside Scenery

Austria - Salzburg - Salzach River Bank - Street Performer

The Eastern European countries—Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria—have long been cherished travel destinations for me. Finally, this trip came to fruition and ended successfully, fulfilling a long-cherished wish.

There, the scenery changes with every step, accompanying you constantly, and every turn might bring a surprise. There, you can find both the joy of travel and a heart full of emotion. Every place visited was not only a visual feast but also a spiritual cleansing! Such unique landscapes, pleasant journeys, and comfortable experiences leave unforgettable impressions and beautiful memories.

As for this "Intoxicating Eastern Europe: Classic Five-Country Tour of Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Austria 12 Days" group tour, it can be summarized with a few features: First, the season was well-chosen, comfortable and pleasant. Most of the trip had sunny weather, with temperatures around 20°C, very agreeable for the human body. This not only made the scenery more beautiful but also helped alleviate the fatigue of long-distance travel. Second, the itinerary was compact and visually rewarding. Out of the 12 days, excluding 3 days for travel to and from, the remaining 9 days covered multiple cities and towns across 5 countries. Visiting many outstanding attractions brought daily gains and surprises, broadening horizons and delighting the eyes. Third, the cost was reasonable and value for money. The basic group fee of just over 10,000 RMB, plus 3,000 RMB for visa and tips, plus several hundred euros for optional activities, was still quite reasonable compared to current European price levels. Visiting so many countries, cities, attractions, and historical sites was truly pleasing and rewarding. In short, it is highly recommendable.

Additionally, this group tour benefited from the meticulous and responsible work of the tour leader (guide) and bus driver, as well as the sincere cooperation of the group members. Laughter and joy filled the journey, with happiness often visible on everyone's faces. The entire trip was compact, orderly, and successfully completed. This was commendable and worthy of appreciation.

Austria - Salzburg - Mirabell Garden (One of the Filming Locations for "The Sound of Music")

1. Traveling in Europe is generally safe, but it is said that pickpockets are quite active in some cities and attractions. Therefore, one should always be vigilant and cautious, constantly protecting personal belongings.

2. This trip had relatively many optional paid activities, including the interior visit of Prague Castle, Danube River cruise, interior visit of Vienna's Schönbrunn Palace, the Vienna Golden Hall concert, and Salzburg, Austria. Each person spent a considerable amount. However, it felt worthwhile; otherwise, there would have been great regrets.