Best of Munich, Salzburg & Vienna in 8 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My first tour, loved the overall experience. All of the other tour participants were friendly and accommodating to each other.

Favorite "WOW" moment

" Everyone seemed to have similar expectations which made the tour very memorable"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Wonderful guide, great group and exciting cities!! Jana was extremely helpful, organized and welcomed us with great information on Germany and Austria. Her knowledge of these cities introduced and educated our group with directed but relaxed fun. It was certainly a real vacation!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wow moments started with our first hotel in Munich. Our welcome meeting was on point with a calming game of learn our names. Pleasant welcome walk to a lovely restaurant the Ratskullar restaurant. The mixed side salad was so good we went back the next night for bigger ones. Tuesday’s bus ride brought back fun memories of previous tours. The restaurant stop with white wurst was lovely. However, the excitement was all during the brewery tour with their guide. She was awesome explaining all. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A memorable trip indeed, from the historical places, food, quality guides, art and music.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Double harpsichord concert of Mozart compositions in Salzburg."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was well organized, had a good balance of planned activities and free time, a terrific host guide and the local guides were exceptional. I appreciated that the tour had us participate in unique aspects of each town as well as covering some of the places you'd expect.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The full moon on Lake Hallstatt and being in the picture perfect town after all the crowds had left was amazing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great group. Jana was a wonderful guide. She was warm knowledgeable and interactive with all tour members. The local guides always gave us the inside scoop.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As for wow moment(s): learning about Munich’s role in WW2; walking in the footsteps of Amadeus Mozart and listening to classical music; the breathtaking beauty of Hallstatt; the the history of the Hapsburg monarchy and Vienna’s vibe. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Always well run tours. Our group really felt like a family this year.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hallstatt"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is our sixth RS tour. Each one is special and unique. Munich, Salzburg, and Vienna were vibrant cities and we had excellent guides (including our tour leader) and we learned so much.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Hallstatt area was amazingly beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Other guests were very friendly, group got along well, tour leader was great

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Didn't have one"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great group of fellow travelers. wonderful trip leader. good local guides

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cooking class where we made apple strudel"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful in all aspects: hotels, food, travel arrangements and staffing

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Munich tour and local guide"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful tour in Munich, Salzburg, and Vienna. Hotel accommodations were excellent, bus transportation smooth and easy, our guide very knowledgeable, helpful, and fun. Members of our tour group were friendly and delightful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow" moments were in Hallstatt. The town is so charming, and the mountain and lake views so spectacular, with an ever-changing scene created by rain, fog, clouds, and sun. "

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

The cities we visited were beautiful and I would like to spend more time in each city and hope to go back. The tour itself was overall disappointing. It felt like more on your own time than our 2 previous tours. Some of our stops were not fun for some people. I enjoyed the Welt Brewery; my wife thought it a waste of time. We both felt like 1 day in Vienna was not enough (arrive 5pm Friday-meet for final dinner 545pm Saturday)

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My WOW moment, sadly, was 2 things we did on our own. Visiting Dachau concentration camp and visiting Hitlers "Eagle Nest." Somehow Rick Steves thinks neither of these needs more attention in history then a casual mention. I understand the Eagles Nest is really dependent on nice weather to appreciate the beauty, but Dachau is history everyone should be shown and taught."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a great tour and our tour guide was wonderful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Roof top bar in Salzburg seeing the "Fortress" and Salzach River. Also the Third Man Tour in Vienna."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I had a great time, but how do you not?

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The scenery"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every city was unique and interesting in its own way. We had a great guide who helped us to find experiences in which we were interested during our free time and how to get there. Our small group of 27 was friendly and we all looked out for each other.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Hallstatt was so quaint! I had purchased a puzzle with the scene of the lake and town in the foothills. It was just beautiful. Even though it was raining the day we went there, it did not make it any less fun. I also really enjoyed the unique experience of making apple streudel. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I was concerned about how much walking the tour was supposed to involve, The group spirit and the guide's encouragement made it possible for me to sustain the pace of the daily walks. The flow of historical and cultural information helped keep the daily tours interesting. Food stops and hotel breakfasts were good, especially in Salzburg. The variety of sites visited was superb. Bus travel was excellent. I felt safe with all three drivers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The museum of classical arts in Vienna, especially the big exhibit of Breugel's work."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

This is the 3rd RS tour we've taken and I rank this experience only as good instead of outstanding like the other two. There were significantly fewer wow moments.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Third Man Museum, in Vienna, was absolutely fantastic. Gerhard Strassgschwandtner is an amazing speaker for his museum, as well as an outstanding tour guide in the Kunthistoriches Museum. He brought together many interesting facts to illustrate why each of the paintings was an important piece of art to the museum. This was no rote recitation of historical facts; this was like listening to a marvelous podcast in which an expert, with a wry sense of humor, makes old stories vividly real."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved every place we visited on our tour! Collette was an exceptionally talented and insightful guide -- a true citizen of Munich!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow" moment was visiting the Kaiservilla in Bad Ischl and learning about the Habsburg family. I also really enjoyed exploring the salt mines in the Salzkammergut between Salzburg and Hallstatt. The baroque and rococo architecture throughout Bavaria and Austria was breathtaking."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was well balanced between historical and just fun things. Local guides were very helpful in providing the background of the historical events in the cities we visited..

Favorite "WOW" moment

"St Stephen's Cathedral, a packed church at high Mass with pipe organ, choir and string orchestra."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We covered so much in such a short time! We really enjoyed the guided tours and the well organized aspects of the trip. I liked using the public transportation with our guide to help navigate ticketing and explain the systems. Collette (our guide) was always cheerful, positive and shared her knowledge and love of Germany and Austria.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When we stepped out of our Hallstatt hotel into the cute little square of shops, I felt like I was in a Disney movie, like the opening scene in Beauty and the Beast. Hallstatt was beautiful. I had never even heard of it prior to this tour so it never made my bucket list. We approached our hotel from the boat cruise where we were surrounded by mountains and charming homes and churches."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Wonderful Rick Steves guide attended to our every need and was so much fun to be with. Everything was so organized and easy. So much to see and learn, plus plenty of time on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Austrian countryside and Alps were amazing. The bone chapel was a one of a kind experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well paced, nice group size

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Underground cafe in Vienna"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A great experience overall; saw so many things and our guide, Collette was perfect.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to name but St. Stephens Cathedral right across from the hotel was spectacular and the Third Man Museum was amazing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour was excellent . We appreciated the activities we would never have done on our own ie farm visit and third man museum

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Third Man Museum and the passion of its owner It was one of the highlights "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well organized, thoughtfully planned, and well rounded. The hotels were in the best locations and everything was within walking distance. Our guide was incredibly thorough and very attentive to everyone’s needs. We had plenty of free time to explore and received many helpful tips to enjoy this free time. The people on our tour were fun, smart, savvy travelers and it was great fun being with them!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment was visiting the Third Man Museum in Vienna and getting an in depth look at Vienna’s history during that time."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was organized and we visited a lot of interesting historical places

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I liked visiting Lake Hallstatt and Oktoberfest."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The trip was very smooth and fun! Our tour guide Nico, and the local tour guides were enjoyable and informative.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably the Third Man Museum. I am not yet familiar with the film, but the insight into Germany and Austria in WWII and the aftermath was very important to see. And now I have the film to look forward to! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first RS tour - all my expectations were met and exceeded. Nico our guide was always available and always knowledgeable on wonderful things about Munich, Salzburg and Vienna. We always felt well taken care of and enjoyed all the other group members as well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Having an afternoon coffee at the castle in Salzburg when all the church bells across the city rang at the top of the hour - must have been 10 minutes of bell-a-rama - amazing."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very enjoyable tour. It was special to be in Munich during Octoberfest. Vienna is one of my most favourite cities, so beautiful. The little stops at the farm in rural Austria and at the 3rd Man Museum in Vienna were especially interesting and informative surprises.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think Octoberfest was the ´Wow’ moment. I had no idea that it is so massive. Probably ore than 6 million people attend annually. I am not much of a fan of beer or exhibitions but this event was a delight for me. What an introduction to Bavaria!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a great time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Oktoberfest with an insider!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The cities we visited were planned perfectly! I learned a lot about the people, culture and history

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tour guides! They were extremely knowledgeable and engaging "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We thoroughly enjoyed our first Rick Steves tour! We were particularly impressed with the locations and quality of the hotels, the passionate and learned city guides, and the flexibility of the tour overall. We enjoyed meeting everyone in our tour group and made friends!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each time we walked into a new hotel, I had a wow moment. They were so friendly, charming and well-appointed. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Darija was a fabulous and knowledgeable guide. We enjoyed the historical tours as well as free time to do our own things which included a Sound of Music bike tour in Salzburg and Dachau concentration camp in Munich. We had a great group and enjoyed our time together at meals and Octoberfest. It was a great time to take advantage of Octoberfest activities and kick off parade. The only thing we didn’t do was a tour of the Vienna Opera house that I would have liked, but wasn’t incl & was sold out.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was the picturesque Lake Hallstatt. It was a beautiful tranquil town where we could just relax in the beauty and enjoy the boat ride. We took lots of scenic pictures. My understanding is future groups will not be going there anymore, so my daughter and I were grateful for this tranquil stop. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Being my first time in Europe, and really my first guided tour anywhere, I was extremely impressed with the organization and pace of the tour schedule. We were able to experience so much on the tour, while still having some free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment was seeing the enormity of Oktoberfest, learning some of the history, then partaking in the festival."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour gave a wonderful introduction to Munich, Salzburg, and Vienna. Our guide Darija was kind, knowledgeable, and extremely helpful, and the local guides in each city provided great local insight. All of the group activities were well organized, and the hotels were all quite good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was surprised by the charm of Salzburg and the marvelous architecture of Vienna."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was well organized, lots of variety, and great value

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Listening to the organ practice in St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna late at night "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was everything I wanted it to be.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking through Vienna, picturing Beethoven angrily bustling around, as I listened to his Piano Concerto #5 on my Beats. (I know that wasn't provided by the tour, but still...)"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Steves tour. Colette was an outstanding tour guide! We loved the variety of activities and places we visited. It was a great balance of activities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the organic farm outside of Salzburg. It was a place we wouldn't find on our own. The tour was so interesting and we enjoyed learning all about it and sampling the products."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well organized. Our guide did an excellent job and was very attentive, helpful and resourceful. She was determined to make sure we all had a very enjoyable experience. It was fun and interesting to meet all the other members of our tour. The hotels met or exceeded our expectations and the tour buses were comfortable with excellent drivers. We looked forward to a delicious and heart breakfast each morning and enjoyed the various restaurants along the way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We both enjoyed the beautiful scenery, city tours and a highlight was the visit to organic farm in Austria."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

our tour guide Colette is the best

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the cheese farm"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Despite the rain—very heavy and very windy at times—the trip was great! No one can control the weather! Planned tours were excellent and the free time allotted was just right. Hotels were very charming and very well located in each town/city. For my first RST, I was very very pleased.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Third Man Museum in Vienna was unbelievable! Also, on a more somber note, visiting Dachau was extremely moving and heartbreaking but definitely worth seeing. On a happier note, discovered a delicious new beer (for this non-beer drinker) called Radler. The Best of Mozart Fortress Concert and Dinner in Salzburg was outstanding! And last but not least was the apple strudel baking lesson at the Edelweiss Cooking School with schnapps tasting and songs by beautiful & talented opera singer. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour to Munich, Salzburg, and Vienna, was outstanding! Our guide show, made our trip so easy-going, fun, and memorable. The local guides were also outstanding and very knowledgeable and passionate About their area of expertise. The hotels were comfortable and had great breakfasts. They also had character and were memorable in themselves- I especially enjoyed the one at Lake Halstatt. The balance of activities and free time was good. Great group of fellow travelers made the trip special

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were too many wow moments to pick just one! I enjoyed our visit to Lake Halstattand stopping at the mountain retreat of Kaiser Villa. I also enjoyed visiting the third man museum in Vienna. Although this was not on the tour, I very much enjoyed a VIP dinner and best of Mozart concert at the. Hohensalzburg Firtress"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

This was our 4th RS trip and compared to the others the weather did not contribute to our high expectations. Everybody made the best despite the poor weather conditions. We enjoyed our tour guide Joe and the entire tour group. Joe set up a Whats App to enhance the communications

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We enjoyed the High Mass with full orchestra at Augustinian Church in Vienna. We also enjoyed the Apple Strudel cooking class, meal and later entertained by an opera singer in Strasburg."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour exceeded my expectations! I had anticipated "average" hotels, not the lovely accommodations we had. Our terrific guide, Joe, was very informative, kept our journey running smoothly, and was all-around great company. The balance of planned activities/travel and free time was just right, I would say. We were unlucky in that our tour fell in the week of the disastrous storm (Boris) and flooding that Central Europe suffered, but Joe's upbeat leadership kept our spirits up.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I'm sure it's been said many times that it's impossible to choose just one, but I'll hold myself to two. As far as planned activities, I really enjoyed the apple strudel lesson at the Edelweiss Cooking School, capped by the spectacular operatic singing of Chef Johan's assistant. On my own, I attended a concert at the Mirabell Palace in Salzburg that created a genuine "pinch me" moment, both for the thrilling performance and the stunning setting, the Marble Hall."

Overall rating: rating 1 of 5

The tour started well but soon deteriorated with the weather. The guide followed the tour itinerary and tour details to the Tee, even when some minor changes would have made the tour much better. A professional tour group like Rick Steves has to make modifications possible when the weather goes bad. It was continuous rain and blowing wind during the last 4 days of the tour. The tour continued as if it was bright and sunny. Very disappointing from a group I have high regards for, or used to!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We arrived in Munich three days prior to the main tour. What we did during that time was the "wow" moment. To pick a wow moment from the main tour itself - The apple strudel making in Salzburg was good. The surprise Opera singing by the young lady there was awesome."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Best Rick Steves tour yet (all have been great)!

Favorite "WOW" moment

" Going through the arch of the Rathskellar at Marionplatz and being smacked with the magnificence of the courtyard shrouded within my kind of architecture!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

To begin, we had a wonderful tour guide, the sites were very interesting, and the food that was planned was excellent making for a great vacation!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Salzburg, Austria, and enjoying the walkable city and visiting the fortress which allowed you to overlook the city."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first RS tour and it exceeded my expectations. Our guide Joe was professional, knowledgeable, had a great sense of humor, and made the trip easy and fun! The accommodations were great and the local tour guides were fantastic providing historical context for the trip. We were also blessed with an amazing group of fellow travelers. I can't wait for my next RS tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's always hard to pick one wow moment. I really loved Salzburg as it's very walkable, charming, and beautiful. We attended dinner and a concert at the 900 year old fortress and it was a highlight of the trip! I also loved Lake Hallstatt. It is such a sweet little village even thought it rained while we were there and had snow on the hills the day we left. The entire trip was one bit wow moment!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I enjoyed the beautiful scenery in Salzburg, Hallstatt and even Vienna. The German and Austrian food was not my favorite- I found it lacking fresh vegetables.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"A wonderful terrace dinner and Mozart concert in Salzburg at the Fortress- this was not part of the tour but definitely my favorite. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was the first time traveling that I did an actual tour. The tour guide and the other travelers in the group were all very nice. We all got along so well that ALL OF US exchanged phone numbers and plan to stay in touch. Actually, one of the women in the group came to New York last week and we spoke many times giving her suggestions on where to go.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Besides having a great tour guide and meeting some wonderful people -- if we were not part of the tour, we probably would have not gone to the picturesque town of Hallstatt. It was absolutely beautiful! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

A great tour that exposed me to some unseen treasures.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hallstatt for sure because of its incredible beauty and majesty."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Daria was our tour guide & she was Amazing!!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hallstatt was our favorite!! Munich & Vienna!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a fantastic time

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the views of the Alps and of Salzburg from Fortress Hohensalzburg "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

All was very good except for one thing which I will get to. The tour was excellent, good people on the tour, our guide was quite good. I saw a lot of interesting and fascinating things things, learned a great deal about the history and culture of the area and enjoyed the countryside very much. I was not pleased about the lack of AC in the hotels. With the money we pay I think we might want to have hotels with AC.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Without question it was in Salzburg. We went up to the Fortress for dinner on the terrace, with great, great views and then had a wonderful concert of Mozart music after dinner. A great evening and very worthwhile."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Tour guide and local city guides were excellent. Also there was a nice mix of city visits, an afternoon cruise on the Danube and a brewery tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Third Man museum visit hosted by Gerhard was particularly interesting "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Good mix of history and culture. Nice hotels and good food. Enjoyed meeting all of the other tour members.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Austrian alps."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Seeing the major attractions such as the Munich city tour, the Eagle's nest, Dachau, the salt mines in Salzburgh, and simply the Alpen countryside.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our guide Marijan took us to a small dairy farm, where we saw cheese manufacturing, and working family farm. It looked as though life hadn't changed there in 200 years"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great week, lots of interesting sights (and sites), and very informative about German and Austrian history, both ancient, world war eras, and current. Our guide Marijan was great and very informative and the local guides Michael in Munich and Gerhard in Vienna were engaging and thought-provoking. The hotels were nice, great locations, breakfasts were good and the other meals mostly good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pick just one, Hallstatt was absolutely beautiful and charming, even with the crowds. The visit to the Third Man Museum was such a unique and interesting experience. Loved getting to pet adorable calves at the dairy/cheese farm."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My overall experience was outstanding. Our guide Marijan was great…so full of knowledge and so comfortable. And our local guides Michael, Sabine and Gearhart were also fabulous.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In Munich while on our walking tour with Michael, I felt the emotional impact of the past and especially the impact of WW2. Also sunrise on Lake Hallstatt was amazingly beautiful!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a marvelous time! Maijan was a phenomenal guide!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We loved the BioFarm and making strudel."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

THE TOUR OVER EXCEEDED OUR EXPECTATIONS.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"TOUR GUIDE MICHAEL IN MUNICH, COOKING CLASS IN SALTZBURG, BEAUTY OF LAKE HALLSTATT"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very enjoyable. Everything was well planned. Accommodations were great. The guides were all excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Arriving at Hallstatt."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Absolutely a beautiful trip. I would only suggest one change: take one day from Munich and spend it in Vienna. So much more to see there.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many! The best one was the Museum of Fine Arts in Vienna; then the Hallstatt Village and Lake; then the Kaiservilla. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well organized and coordinated. Marijan is an excellent tour host. He prepared us every day for what was to come during the day. The history and background was very helpful throughout the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Mirabelle Palace gardens in Salzburg. A truly well maintained gem of a location. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was a perfect blend of history and culture (both outdoors — walking tours— and indoors —museums), good food, group time, and time on your own!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning from our tour guide, as well as from each of the local guides provided a constant feeling of “wow” during the tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour of Munich, Salzburg & Vienna guided by a true tour professional, Marijan. Each day was different and each day was rewarding. A good mix of city, country, small town. Fun trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The apple strudel cooking project was my highlight. Enjoyed the hands-on tutorial & participation. Also got to meet tour members who I had not previously spent much time getting to know. Delicious end product made even better by our operatic singing assistant, who serenaded us with tunes from "The Sound of Music.""

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful time! Jam packed with meaningful activities

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Haltstatt was my favorite! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

There was a good variety of activities on this tour, and all of it involved beautiful scenery. Every local guide was informative and entertaining (looking in your direction, especially, Michael in Munich), and it was nice to have the mix of alpine beauty in Hallstatt and the farm visit in Hallein to compare to the neighborhood feel of the cities we visited. The only thing I would have changed is to have an extra day or two in the places in the middle of the tour. Salzburg felt a little rushed

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The meticulous and thought-provoking telling of the history of Austria leading up to WWII at the Third Man Museum. Anyone who has an interest in history could spend an entire day reading all the newspaper articles and information that Gerhardt has assembled. His passion for his work is undeniable and commendable."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent! Hard to go wrong with friendly RS travelers; a well-organized, knowledgeable, energetic, and engaging guide, George; and a week chock-full of interesting experiences and beautiful scenery. Our hotels were centrally located and the breakfasts were top-notch.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My initial “wow” was, “WE ARE ON A PLANE.” After getting caught up in the Worldwide IT outage, I didn’t think we’d make it to Europe. Once there, our visit to Hallstatt was magical. Other highlights were the hospitality of Niki and Maria at the organic dairy farm; Gerhard’s knowledge of WWII and the unopened CARE Package at the Third Man Museum; and making apple strudel at Edelweiss Cooking School, which actually turned out perfectly."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well scheduled. Excursions were fun & educational.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hallstatt! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Itinerary, pace, transfers, tours and restaurants for group meals were all excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view from Lake Hallstatt is truly amazing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great trip, well planned. Guide was knowledgeable and very helpful. The excursions were great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Exploring the town of Hallstatt and the apple strudel making workshop."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was when we visited "The Third Man" museum. I did not know about Austria's dark history during WW11. I appreciated being caught up on that dark chapter at this time when our own country is facing the next election. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A wonderful guide! So much to see and do. Our guide was very helpful in helping us to select places to explore and the best way to do that. The additional guides were very interesting and engaging.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hallstatt! The views, the town, the salt mine tour with the history of the Hallstatt culture. Fascinating!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was well organized and informative.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved Salzburg. Very walkable and safe. Beautiful! Loved the total experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved every minute of this tour. It was well planned out, had the right amount of together time with the group and enough of our own time to see what we wanted to see and explore on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The views from Lake Hallstatt were absolutely stunning. I couldn't believe I was seeing it with my own eyes."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Accommodations and locations were well chosen. Our guide, Mark, was very helpful and knowledgeable. Local guides are always excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Hallstatt's beauty."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The edelweiss cooking class "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Touring beautiful and historic Munich and Austria with a small group of friendly travelers and an organized relaxed guide is a perfect vacation. I enjoy seeing and doing more without the hassle of arranging all of the travel, lodging, and meals. This tour has a great balance of scheduled tours (city walking tours, brewery, dairy farm, abbey, museums, etc) and free time to pursue your own interests. I highly recommend this tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As we took our three teenagers, I loved how much they enjoyed the Salzwelten (salt mine) tour in Hallstatt. As the oldest salt mine in the world, it was interesting, and it is set among some gorgeous scenery. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had an amazing week in Germany and Austria. The trip was carefully planned and everything worked perfectly. This was our first tour with a group, and it will certainly not be our last Rick Steves trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hallstatt was definitely the most impressive stop on this trip. The natural beauty and picture perfect village were a truly wow combination. Everyone agreed that we need to plan our next tour to include many days in the Alps."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved the best week tour of Munich, Salzburg, Melk Abbey and Vienna. It was short but filled with sites and group talks we would not have discovered in our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think the Melk Abbey church was a total wow. So was the postcard perfect Hallstadt. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Andrea Wolfe, was excellent. There was another young guide with her and he was also very helpful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Very hard to say. So much to enjoy! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My tour guide, Andrea, was phenomenal. She was a lovely storyteller and balanced giving our group interesting facts about the town in addition to telling her own personal stories. She also did a great job of making the group feel like a family. There wasn't a single place on the tour that made me wish we had done something else. Everything was so thoughtfully planned out, plus I enjoyed how trying the local specialties was often built into our group activities and meals!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hallstatt really surprised me because I didn't know anything about it before and we had such amazing views there. The boat ride was very peaceful and the town was lovely to walk around for a day."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour covered a lot in a relatively short time which is not easy to pull off, but it ended up being very satisfying and enjoyable. The curated experiences in Munich, Salzburg, Lake Hallstatt and Vienna were very well chosen and guided, and the travel from one venue to the next always included some additional stops and tours, all of which were interesting and fun. Our guides were outstanding---fun and professional. Hotels and meals were tops. Great balance of scheduled and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's impossible to pick just one of many "wow" moments. I love living history and especially enjoyed learning first hand about the opulences of the Habsburg dynasty and their prominent role in history over the centuries. Likewise, I was especially taken by the guided tours in Munich and Vienna which shed light on the role of these two cities in the dark days of the Third Reich. I also very much enjoyed the iconic Bavarian fun, food, and beer in the beer gardens and beerhalls of Munich. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Exellent

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hotels guides Munich hitler info"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great group. Andrea and Tomas were excellent guides and very good with medical emergencies

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The third man museum or maybe it was a wow only because it was last! Salzburg and Hallstatt great. Never knew about salt mining and mountains "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved every minute! The guides were very knowledgeable and engaging. Our hotels were centrally located, and we had an opportunity to get “off the beaten” path without sacrificing some must-see tourist sights. The other travelers in the group were lovely, and Andrea did a great job including everyone.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our dinner the first night in Salzburg was wonderful. We were eating outside in this beautiful town square, and I couldn’t believe I was there. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was outstanding from beginning to end. Barbara was an amazing guide who provided many insights and experiences for our group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I would guess that most people will say the beautiful vistas as we headed into the Alps, and the scenery was breathtaking! But I would say that our local guide in Munich, Michael, really brought the city’s past and present to life. I learned so much from him that each moment of the Munich city tour was a wow moment! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, the tour exceeded expectations. A very nice mix of big city (or small town) highlights with intimate experiences along the way. Our guides in specific cities were knowledgeable and engaging, but Barbara - she was absolutely amazing. She made it all come alive - giving nudges of encouragement to fully experience a city/event while offering a home-base sense of support.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many but for different reasons. We took our free afternoon in Munich to visit Dachau, which was “wow” for a ver sobering reason. The views in Hallstatt were a “wow” respite from the city and the heavier topics discussed."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour experience was fantastic!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Generally, The eternally significant religious, political and social history in the MSV region."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Guide was awesome and provided daily surprises including local treats and thoughtful additions to itinerary.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Gondola ride outside Hallstatt Austria and walking in mountains."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Lots to see and do. Hotels were nice. Tasty food at the group meals. (I would prefer less goulash, more schnitzel!) Liked Salzburg, didn't expect to. I even liked the bus rides. Interesting local experts, friendly tour members, and we were well taken care of by our tour guide. Don't know how Rick will replace Hallstatt next year. It's a special place despite the daytripper hoards.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Light group lunch at a local beer garden in Munich, or maybe just Hallstatt Zwickel beer from Brauerei Göss! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This 8 day tour was fast paced and covered a multitude of city/countryside sites. Besides the group tours & meals, we had ample free time for our personal activity choices. Our guide Barbara was outstanding. Besides sharing her love & depth of knowledge of the landscape, she plied us with candy/cookie/food goodies & treats. Our mixed age group of 28 was comprised of families, couples & a single. The local guides were well versed in the history, culture & love of their localities. Great trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had 2 "wow" moments: 1. The environs of Halstatt--the swans floating on the lake, the picturesque houses and flower gardens of the town, the gully-washer of a rainstorm some of us experienced as we hiked down from the mountains and--most of all--the 6 am church bells pealing right outside our hotel room windows. 2. The caliber and seemingly endless number of the museums of Munich, Salzburg and Vienna. Thanks, Barbara, for the surprise visit to the Klimt."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The selection of locations visited with our guide, or local guides was excellent. We felt the balance of guided vs non-guided tine was just right. Our guide himself, was an outstanding, knowledgeable, kind, and considerate individual.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hallstatt Austria was entirely our wow moment. From the first glimpse of the lake to the breathtaking overlooking view of the village, the incredible hotel and locale."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great experience on our tour of Munich, Salzburg and Vienna. We enjoyed the information and insight provided by the local guides, the convenient hotel locations to the old town city center areas and the amazing leadership of our Rick Steves tour guide George Farkas.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We really enjoyed the tour of Salzburg with our local guide through Mirabell Palace, the cathedral and the old town area."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

In the past we've taken tours that were fast paced and very regimented, we wanted to get away from that. Our tour was the perfect balance of guided touring and free time experience. George was the perfect guide, informative but not overbearing . He give us great advice about local culture and attractions. Another thing I liked was that when we were on the tour bus it was not crowded at all and we could spread out.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The "wow"moment would have to be Lake Hallstatt. Talk about picture post card views from every angle. From the boat ride around the lake to the ride up on the vernacular to the viewing platform it was one of the most scenic places I've been."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, George was very knowledgeable and informative. We liked the itinerary for the most part, although would have loved to have had more time in Salzburg instead of the multiple tours the day we drove in from Munich

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing a swan swim under a rainbow at Lake Hallstatt "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Had great fun in Munich. Salzburg and Hallstatt were picture perfect and Vienna was full of culture and music. Totally enjoyed every day of this trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hallstatt!!!! The boat ride, the swans, the view from top of the hill, the hotel, everything was perfect. Even when there was fog on the lake early in the morning, the place still looked gorgeous."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour delivered on the itinerary described. It was a good balance of cultural sights, educational information, local food experiences and time to oneself.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sitting on the deck of our hotel room overlooking Lake Hallsted. Gorgeous. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Informative, extremely well organized, and fun for all.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Johanna and Gerhard - the local guides in Munich and Vienna tie for the best parts of the tour. They were both humorous and provided a ton of education that made the rest of our time in those cities even more enjoyable. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The combination of group activities and time to explore on my own was just right. The historical and current context in each location was informative and interesting. The local guides enhanced that.

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well planned with an outstanding main tour guide and wonderful local guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The 3rd Man Museum in Vienna. So glad Rick Steves included this! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was excellent! well organized, very nice hotels and good food. The stops at the brewery and the dairy farm were much more fun than we expected and helped us see a side of Germany and Austria that we would not have found on our own

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several. The strudel making and the dairy farm were outstanding. The Third Man Museum was so much more than memorabilia from on old movie. We learned so much about Austria before and after WWII and the owner was a marvelous host with a wealth of knowle"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was an amazingly organized and informative trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hallstat"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great group of people, interesting places, truly beautiful landscapes and cultural sights.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sight of the mountains when traveling to Salzburg."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was the perfect balance of scheduled touring and free time. I got to see sights I might not have chosen on my own but found they were really fun. Our tour leader was superb!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Nothing beats the spectacular natural beauty of the Austrian alps"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Michael, our tour guide, made the tour! He was so attentive, caring, funny, and provided a wealth of information.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Making strudel in Saltzberg"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As before, the level of education is excellent, attention to detail unsurpassed!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I cannot name just one. Everything runs so well and our tour guide was fabulous!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Love not having to make decisions! Great locations and once again the group meals were terrific.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The young lady singing at the Strudel making shop."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a wonderful experience. I am experienced Rick Steve’s traveler and I know what to expect. The tour went well due to the tour guide Micheal. He was one of the best.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Augustine brewery recommended by the guide it was slice of life of the Austrian life . It was a wonderful afternoon ."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our guide Michael was absolutely outstanding: knowledgeable, friendly, quick to assist with any questions or problems and highly skilled at shepherding 28 adults. The orientation we received by our guide at the start of each stay as to the location of a safe ATM, a grocery store and pharmacy was very helpful. The pace was quick but we felt always left a good amount of time to explore things on our own. The buses were comfortable and provided time to relax, talk with new friends.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sitting in an outdoor cafe at the fortress with a spectacular view of Salzburg and the distant alps. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour always felt safe and on schedule. Tour events were excellent and left free time for personal chosen events. Hotels were very satisfactuary and in great locations. Our tour guide was very professional and extremely organized.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The whole Hallstatt experience from the boat ride, to going up the funicular,and finally enjoying the fresh caught trout evening meal."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

JIm was an excellent overall tour guide, very organized, efficient and knowledgeable. All sections of the tour went off without a hitch, and the site guides overall were great and enthusiastic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Third Man exhibition and the museums curator's fascinating history of WWII and how that was integral into the current day functioning of Germany and Austria. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was very organized, stayed on time, and visited the sites I wanted to see. That’s more of the small, out of the way things that I like.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We lucked into an amazing hotel room, looking at the lake, in Hallstatt. When in the room it was peaceful, and lovely. It’s when you get on the street that you realize it is overcrowded."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was better than expected! I met great people like Marietta and Tom. Our tour Guide was very professional and intelligent (Jim). He was a pro at planning and explaining the history and culture of Germany and Austria. There were no issues or any unpleasantness on the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When we went to Hallstatt. It looked like a fairy tale! I loved going to the brewery and the trip to Emperor Franz Josef's private residence. I really loved Salzburg! It is a very charming place. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great oraganization, hotels, meals, transportation. This is what I want from a tour. Also the amount of free time is perfect.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of Hallstatt. I know you may not be including this city on the tour, and I understand, because the crowds were overwhelming. but still, the beauty. You'll need to replace that!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first tour, and we came away very impressed. The commitment to our enjoyment was beyond expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Edelweiss Cooking school was a unique and enjoyable experience."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was fun, nice people, great tour master, hotels a bit rough for age group,

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hallstatt"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well organized, the accommodations and transportation were good, and our guides, from Jim to the individual, local experts, were engaging, insightful, and knowledgeable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Halstatt in the morning mist, before trains and buses arrived with more of the daily tourists. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall very good. The laundry options were less than convenient - closed early during the week; Vienna hotel could not assist w/Friday afternoon arrival - their next pick ups were not avail until Monday; 'just around the corner' was NOT just around the corner; and one of the Salzburg hotels that offer reasonably priced 'service' only do so for the 1st 4-5 people, all others out of luck. We were warned about the attitude in Vienna - but WOW, not impressed with Kaiserhof staff - RUDE.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was thrilled to see Gustav Klimt's The Kiss in Vienna. One of my all time favorites."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We enjoyed this tour, especially our time in Salzburg and Lake Hallstatt. Our guide, Jim, was incredibly organized and detailed and provided us with great information about the history and culture of each area we visited. We loved getting to know our other tour members and have great memories of our time together in each location and at our group dinners.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We loved our time in Lake Hallstatt, even though it was only one night. The boat ride on the lake gave us great views of the surrounding town. We also enjoyed our tour in Bad Ischl with the tour of the Kaiservilla and learned so much about the history of Emperor Franz Josef and his wife Sisi. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Awesome Tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"An accumulation of experiences so I felt really immersed in the regions history, geography, and food. Loved the Museum in Vienna! World Class!!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide was Jana and she was excellent. She was knowledgable, personable, and intelligent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I enjoyed the cooking class at Edelweiss Cooking School; it was a blast!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The first thing is our tour guide, Jana, who was amazing at her job, making everyone feel welcome from the very first orientation. She was a wealth of knowledge and her manner is perfect for being a tour guide, very concerned and helpful, always there for whatever we all needed. The extra tour guides ijn the cities were also quite good, and I came away with learning a lot of history and about their cities. I loved that everything was included in the tour, activities, transportation tickets.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I especially liked Salzburg, as it was a smaller, very picturesque city. The apple strudel class was such a fun time, and when the assistant gave an impromptu aria concert, it amazed everyone and was so enjoyable"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As a solo traveler, I felt comfortable in the group right away. Not a moment was wasted in the itinerary, and I can’t believe how much we fit in each day. There was a nice balance of curated activities and free time, which was important to me, and I’m glad it was as advertised. Our guide, Jana, was a gem - knowledgeable and fun. I wasn’t expecting the added education and little surprises she provided along the way, and it added even more to the experience. Already planning my next RS adventure!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The high quality local guides - I especially enjoyed Gerhard in Vienna and Birgit in Munich. The architecture and stories of postwar restorations in every city. The WWII history brought to life - the Stumbling Stones in Salzburg were particularly poignant. I loved exploring St. Peter’s Cemetery in Salzburg . . . the boat tour on Lake Hallstatt . . . My most unexpected was the Third Man Museum in Vienna. It wasn’t on my radar before the trip and I could have easily spent a whole day there. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Honestly, not enough words to explain or express the joy of going on my tour. All tour guide were interesting as well as informative with the just right dash of a sense of humor.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Riding on the lake in Hallstatt. Amazing scenery."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Guide Jane was a gem! She added extra touches such as drawing #s for special little gifts during the bus trips. The whole trip was a learning experience as well as entertaining. The chosen restaurants were outstanding. The Third Man Museum and its owner captivated me The visit there made me want to learn more and read more about that time period...which I did. Perfect timing for good weather. Such a good group; it was hard to say goodbye.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to pick out one but: The Mozart concert, the strudel lesson, lunch and mini concert, defininely the Third Man Museum. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a fantastic tour. As always the guide makes the tour and Jana is the best of the best. The combination of beauty from Lake Hallstatt to Salzburg and Melk Abbey and Danube combined with the history from Munich to Kaiservilla to Vienna and Third man museum really made this a great tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sobering Dachau concentration camp tour as recommended by RSE along with the tour of Kaiservilla and the actual desk where declaration of war starting WWI was signed along with the Third man museum about post WWII Vienna brought home a Wow that seems appropriate for our time. Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As always, the tour was well planned and we enjoyed all the restaurants, hotels, and sites we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Only one 'wow' is really hard, but I'll say having dinner one night at the Hofbrauhaus in Munich."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great , knowledgeable local guides. Two stand out local guides were Mikhail in Munich and Gerhard in Vienna. Very friendly tour group .

Favorite "WOW" moment

"3rd Man. Museum was a very enlightening experience after watching the movie. Gerhard was a literal fountain of information. Really enjoyed Hallstatt - would love to see it in spring summer and fall now that I’ve seen it in winter. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first tour of any kind. We chose a Rick Steves tour because of its reliability, sense of adventure, and variety. We git all of those and more! The tour was well-paced, interesting, fun and eye-opening.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I especially enjoyed the amazing scenery on the Halstatt cruise. We were very fortunate to have great weather. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

George really fostered a community within the group. I believe everyone felt included in the group. George kept the day moving along and busy ! I also felt George gave some really good suggestions as to how to optimize your free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The town of Hallstatt Austria. It was amazing !"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first international trip, and we'll be back for more with Rick Steves' Tours! The tour took care of all of the logistics and details so we were free to explore, learn, and enjoy ourselves.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being a musician, my "wow" moment came several times during masses I attended. (FYI: I'm not Catholic). Until that time, most classical music was, for me, on the same plane. I studied it, learned it, practiced it, taught it, and enjoyed it. That changed when I heard classical sacred music performed in the rooms and spaces where it was intended to be played and sung. The music came from the choir loft above and behind the service, and it truly sounded like music coming from heaven!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Communication: Online sign-up was easy, and the pre-trip material was comprehensive and helpful. Our guide George was also an excellent communicator--each day he summarized our activities, on the bus he gave us interesting lectures en-route, and he was helpful with meal and shopping tips. Itinerary: The itinerary was the perfect mesh of group activities and on-your-own time. The off-the-beaten track activities were a delight.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the Salt Mine in Hallstatt and the Third Man Museum in Vienna. Both were fun and enlightening. I particularly appreciated the engaging local guides in Munich and Salzburg."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As always, RSE has curated an amazing set of experiences for the places visited. The guides were fantastic, the group meals were delicious and added to the camaraderie of the group, and hotels were well-located within the city centre. LOVE the RSE tours!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"During the apple strudel cooking class, one of the helpers suddenly broke out into song, and sang an aria from a Mozart opera. Being a classically-trained musician, I was immediately drawn into this performance and intrigued. Moments earlier, she was helping us stretch our strudel dough, and now she was belting out an amazing aria. What a treat! She also sang, Do-Re-Mi, from the Sound of Music, & engaged the entire group in singing along with her. The experience left a smile on everyone's face!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

History ...informative

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the 3rd man museum"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Guides were terrific, hotels convenient, a good mix of free and organized time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Halstadtt, it was SO beautiful. The village looked like a fairy tale. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

After a rocky start with flight re-routes due to weather and lost luggage (you're so right, Rick, NEVER check a bag!), my son and I decided to make it part of our adventure to shop like locals for clothing and toiletries. The tour was wonderful, the snow added to the magical feel. The Christmas markets didn't disappoint (we're making apple strudel and gluhwein for Christmas). Andrea and Barbara were great and the local guides were the best. We met some great people. So glad we soldiered on!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I expect most people will say Lake Hallstatt, and it was really like being inside a fairy tale, so beautiful. But I was enchanted by Salzburg. It's a thriving city but very homey feeling. We listened to a Mozart concert at the fortress on the hill at night, magical. All the extras, the strudel lesson, the Kaiservilla, the dairy farm just added to the charm. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 1st Rick Steves tour and it didn't disappoint. The only unfortunate experience was the snow storm in Munich that closed the airport. We missed day 1 of the tour due to that storm and ended up flying into Frankfurt instead and taking a train to Munich.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Hallstatt and the church at Melk Abbey and St. Stephen's Cathedral. But the snow covered alps at Lake Hallstatt were unbelievable. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was absolutely amazing. This is my 2nd RSE tour and I was very impressed with our guide, what we saw and the accommodations. Going in December allowed us to visit many Christmas Markets in our free time which was an added bonus for me!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think seeing Hallstatt from the boat was the most magical for me. With all of the snow on the ground and mountains above, I felt like I was looking at a postcard or puzzle. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was so well organized from the activities, meals, hotels and buses!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to mention! Tours and tour guides in every city were fabulous. The organic farm was a highlight for me. Micheal in Munich was my favorite! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour had my some of favourite guides of the 3 tours I've done. Andrea is wonderful and helped us connect easily and perfectly with places and people. The dairy farm experience was my favourite! (:

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It seems obvious to me that Halstatt was the highlight. Of course the mountains are breathtaking, with the lake and snow and lovely town."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was wonderful,magical! Our tour guide, Barbara Schikofsky was very knowledgeable AND flexible. We came into Munich after 18 in of snow. She was able to guide us thru the Christmas markets. michael was so informative. Saltzburg, Halstatt and Vienna were all memorable. As a substitute, Barbara took us on a tour to Schloss Artstetten where Franz Ferdinand and wife are buried. It gave me chills to see how history is repeating itself with Russia and Ukraine now.Great addition to 3rd Man Mus

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So hard to choose! How much the apple strudel dough stretched!! Also the Alps with snow. The Kiserhof hotel.My husband's was the view from Halstatt salt mine."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great tour experience despite the less than desirable weather. Our group were troopers - no whiners, and we bundled up and made the best of it. We loved the Christmas markets and the festive atmosphere of Germany and Austria during the holidays. The local guides were outstanding and added value to our understanding of their local areas and sites.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Meeting the Countess Alex de la Poeze at the Artstetten castle in Melk. Another highlight was Gerhart - the third man museum and his tour of the fine arts museum. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was a great tour and made even better by the fact that there was snow just about everywhere except Vienna. The group was fun and our guide Barbara was very energetic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several "wow" moments. The visit to the Trumer Welt brewery, making apple strudel in Salzburg, and visiting Artstetten Castle and talking with Alexandra."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour guide Barbara, was the absolute best ever. We were with a great group of fellow travelers. The hotels were very good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

" When Cindy, the helper at the apple strudel class stood up and sang an Aria from the Magic Flute, was a huge wow for me. Also the scenery in Hallstatt was stunning."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first time with a tour group and it was an awesome experience. Barbara Schifosky was an amazing and personable guide/guru. From practicalities to personalized experiences she was the best. We saw things and met people that we would not be able to see on our own. We survived the historic snowfall in Munich 2023 under the great care of Rick Steves. We had a unique and magical time touring Bavaria and Austria and all of the Christmas Markets. What a treat.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Meeting the Royal Family at Artstetten Castle; the final resting place of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his beloved wife Sophie. We enjoyed our private champagne reception with Alix [the daughter of the Princess] and her family that reside in the Castle today. What a fabulous experience and a wonderful way to be immersed in the local history and culture of this beautiful place. We also loved our accidental run in with the Krampus Lauf in Salzburg. Talk about bringing history to life!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour itinerary is wonderful, especially during the holidays. Our tour guide Barbara was amazing with her personality, knowledge, thoughtfulness, organization, and enthusiasm for creating an amazing experience for us. Rick Steves' tour guides are great, and Barbara is tops and the best I've ever had.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Barbara arranged a visit to Artstetten Castle. The castle was spectacular and it was interesting to learn more about the Habsburg family both past and current. The highlight was a visit with Alix, the great-great-granddaughter of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Alix was lovely, gracious, and authentic. I recommend adding this experience to the MSV tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic tour! The main guide was amazing! No complaints here other than wanting more time in each city!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hallstatt was overwhelmingly beautiful. I could spend days just looking out the window there."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Completely blown away with the quality of everything on the tour. From the local guides, food and hotels, everything was superb.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Hallstat. Maybe is was the snow and the fire it’s created, but it was so charming. I would have loved to stay another day. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Barbara was an excellent tour guide making the experience memorable!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The drive to Hallstatt with the snow on the mountains and the beautiful town and lake."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Barbara was beyond super fantastic. She's knowledgeable about the history, architectural and culture of the region. She made each member of the tour feel heard & special. She truly cared about giving us a fabulous vacation. There was a good balance of time together & time alone. Meals were delicious and very large. Enjoyed each location. For tourists from warmer regions, RS should give greater detail of how COLD the region can be & that they don't do anything about snow or ice.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to list. each walking tour/experience was excellent. Michael gave an excellent overview of Munich's history, setting the stage for next stops. Each stop built on previous expanding our learning of the Empire and the HRE. Sabine, then Gerhart were also excellent. The 3rd man museum should be rebranded to be 'post war Vienna museum' - excellent. Strudel making exceeded expectations. Really enjoyed the castles, audience with the Countess, and our shy guide Max at the other castle. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our group conversation with Alix de la Poëze, Countess d'Harambure at her family’s palace. She was smart, funny, humble and informative. The encounter was something we never expected and thoroughly enjoyed!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A lot of fun, no surprises, excellent everything, George Farkus was fantastic

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Having George our tour guide was perfect"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We chose this tour not only to take in the beautiful cities in Germany and Austria, but also to attend the Christmas Markets! It was a wonderful trip, and I love the mix of guided touring and free time. The local guide in Munich was exceptional. The local guide in Salzburg was excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think Lake Hallstatt *should* have been my WOW moment, but the weather was very poor that day and we didn't get to see or enjoy that little town. I really enjoyed the strudel-making class in Salzburg. It was a lot of fun to be "hands on!""

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Third Man Museum and Gerhart giving the tour. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

exceeded all expectations

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It snowed everyday, it was magical! My wow, wow moment was walking around old town Salzburg and Hallstatt at night in the snow!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was impressed that everyone was so friendly. Did matter whether it was someone at the hotels or if it was someone that was traveling with us. The people were so helpful with everything.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Christmas markets were so amazing. I never saw a place where there was so much to see . I liked the warm drink as you walked around. The church tour was great to see. I liked the bridge with the locks of love."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

For my first time it was amazing

Favorite "WOW" moment

" I was amazed at the bridge where all the locks of love were put on the fence that was placed there and the scene of the mountains that you could see from there. Our guides were so great, they made sure that we stayed with the group and never got left behind. Enjoyed all of the trip and would do another trip. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guides again as this was my 7th RS trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This is a combo platter ranging from fun tour members, strudel making, schnapps tasting, visit to Hallstatt, the Glockenspiel, and snow falling on the various Christmas markets. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The local guides and the tour guides that have the first hand experience of living in Europe truly make the experience. This was my second tour with Marijan and it was equally as special as the first. Also, taking this tour at Christmas time really made it special.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We woke up to snow the first morning in Salzburg. This really enhanced the Christmas feel and the whole town felt so magical. My favorite Christmas market was in Salzburg and finding it that first night while it was snowing was so very magical. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A great time! Nice food, great attractions. Seamless.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Third Man Museum"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Because this was a one-week tour in November weather, planning and coordination were key. Our tour guide, George, accomplished this perfectly, with just the right balance of group activities and free time to keep us busy but not overwhelmed. Munich, Salzburg, and Vienna are easy to like, but we came away from a visit to the Bio Hofkäserei Fürstenhof dairy farm near Kuchl with an appreciation of not only how Austrians actually live, but what makes them unique.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"A tough choice in a tour filled with them, from the historic old towns of perfectly preserved cities to any view from any angle of Hallstatt and the surrounding mountains. But for the completely unexpected, the top moment would be receiving a Habsburg family history lesson and a tour of the Kaiservilla summer retreat in Bad Ischl from Markus Habsburg-Lothringen himself."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Have come to expect RS tours to be organized, fun, unique, and educational and this tour met all my expectations. Our leader, George, was wonderful! And our local guides were great. Big plus was watching the preparations for Christmas markets in Munich and then going to several in Vienna. And who knew Gluwein was so tasty especially on a cold day!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Standing on the spot where Kristallknacht began in Munich was a sobering reminder and warning of the dangers of hatred and fascism. Maybe not a typical “wow” moment but for me it was very powerful."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Everything was the quality expected from a Rick Steve’s tour

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We learned so much while seeing amazing sights. Our guides were so friendly and informative, it seemed like they really enjoyed their jobs, which was nice to see.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Hallstadt's scenery was the absolute wow moment for us."

Our first RS tour was very enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Hallstatt "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved all the sites and felt our guides were very knowledgeable about each place

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the beautiful town of Hallstatt was a wow moment. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The usual: great guides, good meals, interesting sights and experiences, comfortable hotels, nice group of people, reasonable free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I don't really have "wow" moments. However, Gerhard and The Third Man Museum were particularly memorable. His passion and dedication (obsession?) are inspiring. I've been exposed to a lot of WWII history, but hadn't realized how little I'd heard about Austria before, during, and after the war. The visit was a very interesting and knowledge-expanding experience."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was my 3rd Rick Steves tour, and I am looking at my options for 2024! I enjoyed all the local guides and "activities" that were part of the tour. It was a great opportunity to see famous artwork - I appreciate having enough free time to explore additional sites that were of interest and not part of the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This was my 4th trip to Munich, and it never disappoints. The beautiful cruise and stay in Hallstatt were awe-inspiring, no wonder it is Rick's favorite."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our overall experience was wonderful. We felt like we hit all of the highlights in each area that we were in. We had plenty of time on our own and the group outings were a lot of fun as everyone in our group was friendly and pleasant to be around.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This is very hard to narrow down but our visit to Hallstatt was wonderful and we had a great hotel with a lake view from our room. Also the entire city of Vienna was beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was fabulous from the locations, hotels, transportation, guided tours to the group meals!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Hallstatt area!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our third Rick Steves' tour. Everything about it was exceptional. We had a wonderful time and learned a great deal about the history of Munich, Saltzburg and Vienna.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to come up with just one moment. The scenery in Austria was breathtaking. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour experience was fantastic and our Tour Guide was exceptional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Surprise performance by a local student singing at the Apple Strudel lesson. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Exceeded Expectations

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite was at the First Dinner on Sunday night after Orientation and a short walking tour. I sat and looked at the Group and the restaurant surroundings and thought 'WoW" we are just starting, and it feels like Family."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It could not have been better! The tours and guides were top notch!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I cannot choose 1. Munich Salzburg Vienna all had their moments. Next time I will take notes like I saw someone on the tour doing. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide and the introduction to the cities was the outstanding part for me. The itinerary was easy, and I enjoyed every part. I personally would have spent less time in the 3rd man museum and more around the city.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me I enjoyed Hallstatt"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

great trip, guide and hotels

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Alps"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had an excellent tour experience. Our guide was very personable, organized and knowledgeable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Hallstatt and the location of the hotel in Vienna."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Kattja was an amazing guide! The tour gave an introductory overview to each city with suggestions for free time. Excellent hotel locations. Really gave a taste of the culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Arriving at our hotel in Vienna and viewing the amazing and awe inspiring St. Stephen’s Cathedral right outside our door. Breathtaking."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was exactly as advertised, always a good experience when people deliver what they say they will.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The young voice student singing arias during the strudel making exercise. She has a future whether she pursues opera or teaching."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I have an altered sense of history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning to understand the old art masters"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was fantastic to have someone else to manage the logistics of everything. I was able to just relax and enjoy the experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It was all the "little" things that I wouldn't have thought to look for. The cheese farm, the apple strudel making class. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I can't say enough about how fabulous our tour experience was! From our guide, to the hotels, the food, city guides - it was all incredible!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Oktoberfest! What a crazy celebration!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was outstanding. The tour was planned out perfectly. From the initial group meetup to the farewell dinner - everything was perfect. Our tour guide (Colette) was terrific. She made the trip fun and exciting. We didn't have to worry about anything. Munich, Salsburg and Vienna were beautiful. The one day trip to Hallstatt was breathtaking (Mountain views) Our hotel was right in the middle of the town circle (square). We met a lot of new friends on this tour. I would do this trip again.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to choose from. The mountain views were spectacular. I think the day trip in Hallstatt was my WOW moment. After a tour of the Salt mine, I joined a few of my fellow tour members for a couple of beverages (ok Beer) while sitting on the outside patio overlooking the little town square. It was perfect."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was initially reluctant to do a group tour, as I've always traveled independently and wasn't sure about following someone else's itinerary, but I was quickly won over. We had a terrific group of fellow travelers whose company we enjoyed, our guide Colette was wonderful, and I soon realized the tour gave us access to places and activities we otherwise wouldn't have even thought to look into. It was a very good experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's hard to choose just one... what comes immediately to mind was our arrival at Lake Hallstatt, one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen; the dinner we enjoyed with the group in Salzburg, as well as a second dinner at a place recommended by our guide; and seeing the open manhole in Vienna that Orson Welles used to make his escape in "The Third Man" (I'm a huge fan of that film!). "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We absolutely loved our tour! Our guide Colette pulled the group together in a very positive and fun way. Each day there were so many different things to experience and adventures to enjoy. We felt the boutique hotels were exquisite and the locations were top notch. Multiple night stays in any location for us is very important. thoroughly enjoyed the variety of the experiences including a dairy farm, a brewery, the Oktoberfest, Vienna museums, and a cooking class.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our biggest wow from this tour was our tour guide Colette. She was very knowledgeable and gave us spirited history talks. And multiple interactive activities. Our night in Hallstatt was really a wow moment. The location and the interior of the hotel we’re simply amazing right on the lake. We loved our little lake cruise and walking through the adorable town. We would’ve enjoyed staying there one more night."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour group was awesome, our tour guide was very informative and funny, and the hotels kept getting better and better. I highly recommend this tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Even though this was not on the tour itinerary, Oktoberfest was a WOW moment for me. Another wow moment was visiting beautiful Hallstatt. We were blessed as the weather was perfect the entire trip."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first experience with a tour group. I found that having the travel arrangements and a number of events and meals scheduled took a lot of stress out of my planning. Almost every day included free time to explore the locations on our own. I was blown away by the excellent tour manager, as well as the phenomenal guides used in each of the locations we visited. I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to be on this tour with. Everyone was wonderful!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hallstatt was the most beautiful location we visited. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing experience! Loved the views and scenery along with learning the cultures of the locals and the language as well

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Experiencing Octoberfest and seeing the mountains of Austria"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

All accommodations were excellent. Everything that was planned out for us was exceptional. It was great being able to explore the cities on our own as well.

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our 4th RS tour. We are seeing the pattern. Overall very good. our first experience in Germanic countries. Munich overall surprisingly charming. German guide Iris was very frank about Hiltler and antisemetic, in particular, events and was forthright about contemporary programs to confront/acknowledge the past, but discretely mentioned (as those of us who read the paper) right/reactionary political movements brewing in Europe. #There really wasn't that much to see in the brewery tour. #

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Beer is cheaper than Coke or water in Munich!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Iris was excellent. She was very thorough in her descriptions of the places we toured and has a very pleasant voice to listen to as there is a lot of information and history to absorb. Our group was a good group, on time and communicative so everyone got along great! The meals were mostly enjoyed, traditional food mainly on our nights together, we will not be having schnitzel or sauerkraut for awhile! The breakfasts were excellent! Accommodations were spot on, location location!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We both loved Salzburg and its beauty as well as the variety of activities we accomplished. The fortress, the gardens, making strudel and attending a concert at the Mirabel Palace. We also enjoyed the Third Man Museum in Vienna and were very intrigued by it (we have since watched the movie and it is very insightful of the ugliness after war) as well as the history of Hitler and how he rose to power. The beauty of Hallstadtt was breathtaking and our room was special with a lake view. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves Tour. My sisters have taken tours and are big fans, so we went with Rick Steves too. Loved it! Great guides. Met nice people on the tour. LOVED having all the trip details taken care of by RS. I'm the trip planner for our U.S. trips, and I had no desire to plan a trip to Europe. So glad someone else did it for me!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the beautiful buildings and homes in each city. Everything is so different from my suburban neighborhood, circa 1965! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a wonderful trip. We are new to traveling in Europe and it was a great way to start. We really enjoyed all the great experiences. There were so many wonderful things to see and do. The guides were wonderful, the hotels were charming. We really liked the city tours and planned activities, but it was nice to have time to do things on our own as well. This was such an amazing trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment was arriving at our train stop in Munich, taking the escalator out of the station and stepping into the Marienplatz and seeing the Glockenspiel. It was magical because I realized we were really there, and the trip had begun. "

My overall experience was very good. Trip was the right length, The balance between free time and planned activities was good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I didn’t have one “wow” moment, but favorites were Lake Hallstatt (boat ride and beautiful location), Salzburg and Oktoberfest."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The sites were amazing and our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable. We had a diverse group and he was able to keep us all engaged and entertained.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The multiple sites in both Munich and Vienna and all of Hallstaff. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We traveled from Munich to Salzburg to Hallstatt, finishing in Vienna. It was planned as the trip of a lifetime with family and friends. Rick Steves' delivered on every experience! I'm not generally excited about groups and forced interactions with strangers, but this was fantastic. We saw the countries in a way we never could have as solo travelers. I would do this again 110%

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's honestly too difficult to pick just one! Each location, each local guide, every single one created an atmosphere of learning and appreciation of the local environment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was very well planned. Our guides were well informed about the sites and the country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"With all the people in the cities we never felt unsafe. Everything was clean and well kept. All of our rooms were GREAT."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our second RS tour and loved it. Our tour guide Jana was excellent, very informative and made the tour fun. We also liked our guide in training, Collette, who shared some of her experiences with us. We started the tour as a group of strangers and by the end became a group of friends. From Munich, Salzburg to Vienna, every place was amazing. Enjoyed the history behind each city.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The ferry ride to Lake Hallstatt was awesome. Lake Hallstatt itself was picturesque. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect room than the one we had which overlooked the lake. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Informational content, very fun and knowledgeable tour guides. Our hotels and meals were nice and not overly formal. The side trips chosen seemed to be well liked by all travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The trip to Hallstat was like entering a fairytale village in a storybook that I might have read as a child. Definitely, an extra day, could have been added to this stay."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Loved our trip overall but I do have a few recommendations to make it even better. At least in my opinion for my taste. Hopefully I can embellish on this in fire questions

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hallstatt! Loved this cute little village! If with some rain and cloudy skies it was amazing."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great tour of three cities - Munich, Salzberg, and Vienna. Loved that the city tours were in the morning to free up the afternoons.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The WOW moments were the unbelievable crowds in Munich (due to Octoberfest) and Vienna. Didn't expect Vienna to be so crowded with tourists since it is in the shoulder season."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first RS tour and it met (or exceeded) all of our expectations. The pre-tour communications were very helpful in setting expectations about attitudes, hotels, and tours, and Rick undersells the hotels in particular. All 4 hotels we stayed in were amazing - great location, good sized rooms, quaint and local, clean. Jana, our tour guide, was great in managing the group and being super clear with deadlines, and we loved the history lessons on the bus. And the sites of course were great

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cruise on Lake Hallstatt and Mozart chamber music concert in Salzburg (Mirabell Palace)."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved the balance of time with the group and on our own. Also loved the opportunities that we would not have had if we did it on our own. Such as the Octoberfest history, the brewery tour, the apple strudel cooking class, the behind the scenes tour at 2nd Man Museum and so many more.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moments were in Salzburg. The education received during the walking tour led us to go to a Mozart concert one evening on our own. I would have never had such an amazing Mozart concert experience if I were not provided those ideas during our walking tour of the power of music that Salzburg influenced by Mozart's upbringing. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Absolutely wonderful trip experience! Well organized. Clean and safe hotels that were always centrally located. Great morning breakfasts. Much more educational than what I was expecting :) Excellent tour guides that were fun, knowledgeable and friendly. Unique stops on 'bus days'. Overall amazing experience all the way through!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Looking out of my hotel window down to the little town square in Halstatt. It looked almost fake! It looked like a movie set--but it was all real."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Jim is the best guide we had so far. His commitment to the enjoyment of each member, his knowledge of history and his exquisite attention to details made all the places experiences extremely easy to understand and enjoy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Vienna was the pearl of the cities for its beauty and elegance and in particular the Third man museum for the originality and dedication to the truth in the role of Vienna in the war."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Munich-Salzburg-Vienna was a terrific trip. Highlights for me were the Salzburg Fortress concert (on our own but recommended by our guide), the cruise on Lake Hallstatt, and the Third Man Museum. I loved the pacing and the spacing. I usually spent the time on our own with other tour members in assorted combinations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite “wow” moment was the lake cruise at Hallstatt. So beautiful!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

There were many excellent elements of the tour, the best of which was our guide Jim

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The impromptu concert after making apple strudel in Salzburg. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Jim, our guide was informative and thoughtful. He gave us clear directions and made useful suggestions. There was a good balance of guided tours and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hallstatt was a picture perfect fairytale town. The view from our hotel balcony onto the town square made us giggle with excitement."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Anja was excellent! Our group was very diverse and fascinating, but we all got along well. There was a good balance of group activities and free time to choose our own activities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved Salzburg and the beautiful lake countryside on our way to Hallstatt."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My very first organized tour. It was fabulous.!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Hallstatt"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first group tour and it was overall a good experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Time spent on Hallstatt Lake. We had perfect weather and the view was amazing.We didn't want to leave."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

After our sixth tour, a disappointing tour to Scotland with James, it was good to renew our enthusiasm with a wonderful tour. After Scotland, we even tried a river cruise, so it was great being back on an RS tour. Anja, our guide, was great. The people on the tour were diverse, very compatible, and fun. The weather was perfect, and the local guides were good. The crowds in the cities are getting bigger but we dealt with it. We are now looking forward to tour number eight.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The apple strudel-making lesson and especially Branden's singing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful group of fellow travelers, our guide Anja was excellent and fun, the weather was perfect and there was a wide variety of sights and activities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Several: The strudel making class with Brandon's surprise solos, Lake Hallstatt, Austria's spectacular scenery"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Anja was a delightful host, knowing when to give people a break and when to present information. I also noted on several of our walking tours, she was using the tour to increase her own knowledge. The activities were unique and would be very difficult to create on our own. This includes making strudel, a day in Hallstatt, visits to the monastery, the family brewery and Sisi's summer home.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view of Hallstatt from the top of the salt mine. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a time we all had. Jim asked us to pick a moment we loved best on the tour,but I could not pick a moment because every minute was awesome, even the rain in Munich was bearable because our guides took special care to keep us under cover and dry. Joe and Jim were a hoot and without a doubt the bestess two men to lead our pack, they were attentive, considerate and kind, patient even though our group was spot on time and punctual! I did not hear one word of negativity on the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hallstatt was the highlight for me, did J&J order the fabulous band that was playing outside our hotel balcony that evening??? I wondered LOL. I can’t say a negative thing about all the magical places we visited but ONE thing I can say is that if it were not for J&J leading us along the way we would not have experienced a fraction of Europe’s beauty and history. Rick Steves is a must, and I can’t wait to plan another knowing ahead of time that the trip will be smooth and organized. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was fabulous. Jim was a great guide and set such a positive vibe for the whole trip. We had a great group too. It was so well organized.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Staying at Lake Halsteadt! So beautiful and authentic Austrian! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was incredibly educational and interesting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Going to Hallstatt."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Jim, the tour guide, was outstanding and could mold the group into a friendly traveling cohort seeking new experiences, knowledge, and fun. Joe, the tour guide in "training" was helpful and provided an interesting story of being in Europe. The tour guide provided a fun environment that balanced group sightseeing and some time to explore on your own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In Salzburg, with the combination of walking and then the team event of cooking apple strudel with the surprise opera singing. The combination of both sightseeing and a new delightful experience allows you to bond with teachers and fellow travelers. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my third RS tour and the best so far. Not in terms of what we saw (which was great) but the group and guides were amazing. Im glad I went but other cities countries are more at the top of my list to "revisit". I came away with a more clear understanding of the damages of WWII that I did not appreciate before from what little history I had in high school and college.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Mozarts home in Saltzburg on my afternoon off and wandering the picturesque streets. The short Danube cruise was also a favorite."

It was a great experience overall. The composition of the tour group worked well and Jim as the main guide was amazing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"That's difficult to parse out as there were so many wonderful experiences. The scenery at Lake Hallstatt was amazing, but overall I really enjoyed Salzburg the most."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a really well run tour. Jim gave us expectations early on and I think we met them. The group got along really well with no drama. The bus rides were scenic and we had adequate comfort breaks.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s hard to pick just one. I think my favorite was the guided walk of Munich. Robert did such a great job that I almost forgot that it was pouring rain. He gave us a great history of the city. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The experience was lovely. George was a phenomenal tour guide! He created so many moments for us that will stick with me for a lifetime. He really introduced you to the local culture. It really felt like you were immersed in the city and country you were in. It was a fantastic experience, and I am looking forward to doing it again in the future. George has truly set the bar high as a tour guide!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was in Salzburg, Austria. We had some free time one evening. So I chose to do the river cruise, dinner at the Panorama Restaurant, and a Mozart concert at the Fortress. It was such a magical time that I couldn't believe I was experiencing it. I mean listening to Mozart at the Fortress in the city where he was born! Amazing!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We absolutely loved our experience and can’t wait to do another! Our guide, George, was outstanding and shared the history and interesting information about a city before we arrived. He was so fun and yet professional the entire time!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have too many to limit it but here are a couple- driving into Lake Hallstatt and seeing the beauty. Learning so much more about WW2 history and especially the resistance in Munich. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was absolutely wonderful!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the salt mine in Hallstatt"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Simply wonderful

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Halstead. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were always moving and enjoying others in the group

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Halsted"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We traveled ,learned and had a great time with everyone. George and his local guides did a great job on every part.I felt comfortable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Food,making strudel."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great time! Our tour guide George thought of everything, surprising us with little treats and acknowledging birthdays and anniversaries. The tour was a nice mix of group time and on your own time. Our local guides did a great job helping us get oriented and able to then explore on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We loved the cooking class and our surprise serenade!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic in every way - tour leader, local guides, logistics and free time, fellow travelers with a shared sense of curiosity and adventure. We learned much more than we expected!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many to choose from! Driving into Hallstatt and the boat ride around the lake would be among the top of the list."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

My 6th Rick Steves Tour! Had a fantastic time exploring Austria and Germany. The group of 29 on the tour were all great and made for a fun week together. We bonded quickly and made memories. The two tour Guides were very good as well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Benedictine abbey at Melk was a wonderful surprise as I knew nothing of the place beforehand. The structure was gorgeous and the grounds were beautiful! The abbey tour guide was also great."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first tour and I loved it. The guides were amazing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Kaiservilla visit. It was the only site I had read about in advance and it was great to get to see it in person."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first RS tour since the pandemic. It was a really great time. We got to know our group which included a few families, retirees, recent high school graduates and some still in the working force. Our guides, Carlos and Katja were exceptional; knowledgeable, kind, humorous and supportive. We appreciated their expertise in retelling historical facts. Great hotels, a really fun “getting to know your Buddy night” at the dinner in Hallstatt, extra treats and incredible photo ops.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Favorite “wow” was our stay in Hallstatt. We were caught in the rain (downpour). Our first opportunity to wear our rain coats which we had dragged (grumbling) around in the heat. So happy we had them. We stayed out, taking phenomenal pictures, hiking up to the waterfall, and not caring about “bad” hair days (LOL). Since we had free time, checked out a few shops and bought a few mementos to take home. After the tour group dinner, went out in the dark taking incredible pics (some of the best)"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was phenomenal! The activities that were included were great, and we felt like we had a blast and also learned a lot.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment was our ferry ride in Hallstatt! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was amazing. Our guide, George, was very knowledgeable and so kind and helpful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"By far, Hallstatt was the most amazing place I have ever visited. I loved every single second of my time there."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My first tour experience and it exceeded ALL my expectations. I was a solo traveler but never felt alone! All ages, all walks of life, solo, couples, and families were on our tour. And, George, our guide, was amazing! Intelligent, charming and engaging. A joy to have on our trip! As I have told everyone since I returned, so happy I took the plunge. No regrets and I cannot wait to do another tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Streusel making and schnapps tasting in Salzburg with Johan was so fun and delicious! A great team activity after an interesting and educational morning touring the city. and when Brandon broke into song at the end of our time at the cooking school, I got chills! A true Bavarian experience!!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I learned, I laughed, drank a lot of beer and made good friends.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Time in Salzburg was my favorite. 'Rick's favorite beer garden' in Salzburg is mine as well. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Incredible. Jim and Michael were wealths of knowledge. They did all sort of little extra things...schnapps, chocolates, Basilica, ornaments--they shared something personal with each stop. They were experts at herding "cats"; and facilitated multi-generational guests. The food that was provided on trip was exceptional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I'd have to say Vienna and Lake Hallstatt. My husband would say Munich and Lake Hallstatt. But really the people we met--both Europeans who live there--and those that were on our tour--were really exceptional. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent pacing, fun and historical activities, outstanding restaurants, beautiful hotels. Truly, it exceeded the expectations of my husband and I. Our tour guides Jim and Michael were wonderful and so full of knowledge. We enjoyed traveling with both of them

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hallstatt - all of it. Our room faced the Lake- must have been the best room in the hotel. Just awe-inspiring."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first tour and we weren't sure group travelling would be for us, but the combination of group time and free time was perfect. We made good friends and learned so much and saw much more of the cities we travelled to in Germany and Austria than we would have on our own. Our hotels were always in the best locations. I highly recommend the tour. We are already planning another Rick Steves' tour to another part of Europe in 2025 - with a couple we met on the Munich/Salzburg/Vienna tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many 'wow' moments, like seeing the castle ruins in Salzburg for the first time, or the impromptu unscheduled trip to a beautiful basilica (Maria Plains) with incredible views while traveling in between cities. But my favorite 'wow' moment was walking into our hotel room in Hallstatt and seeing that our charming room with connected patio overlooked the lake and mountains."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was very interesting and informative. I have always wanted to take one of your tours and intend to take more. The guides were friendly and very knowledgeable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The whole was my wow moment. I have never been to that part of the world."