Thursday, December 17th: Recommended departure from your airport of choice to airport Salzburg, Austria. You will be in the new "old" world Friday.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1, Friday, December 18th: Salzburg
- If you fly to our recommended airport Salzburg, Karin will pick you up and transfer you to your nice, quiet, over 700 years old (since 1353) family owned 4**** star hotel in the center (Altstadt) of the city of Salzburg.
- If you wish to arrive earlier than Friday, we will advise you on how to meet up with your tour host at your hotel.
- Freshen up in your room.
- Enjoy a gourmet dinner at the famous restaurant "Goldener Hirsch" at the Getreidegasse.
- Then in the following experience your first concert, the "Advent Concert" in the beautiful "Gothic Hall" above the St. Blaise church.
- Transfer to the hotel.
Day 2, Saturday, December 19th: Hellbrunn
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Transfer to the palace Hellbrunn at the outskirts of the city. Visit of the Hellbrunn palace gardens and Christkindlmarkt with some free time to shop.
- Transfer back to the old town.
- Escorted tour of the famous Getreidegasse and Mozart's birthplace.
- Transfer to the hotel to freshen up.
- Dinner at the cafe/restaurant Mozarthaus.
- In the evening at 7:30 enjoy the concert "Gustav-Kuhn-Delirium" by the Haydn Orchester Bozen-Trient, Conductor: Gustav Kuhn; they will perform Mozart "Symphonies 39 - 41" at the "Mozarteum".
- Transfer to the hotel.
Day 3, Sunday, December 20th: Country Village Oberndorf
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- At 10 a.m. listen to the Missa Noe, Noe by J. Arcadelt at the cathedral.
- Visit of the Christmas market in the Sterngarten.
- For lunch Karin recommends the famous Bosna (sausages) in the Getreidegasse.
- Transfer to the train station.
- At 2:15 p.m. transfer by the romantic historical train to the country village Oberndorf, where the famous song "Silent Night - Holy Night" was written. Visit of the Silent Night - Holy Night museum.
- Transfer back by train to Salzburg, freshen up at the hotel.
In the evening transfer to the restaurant "Stiftskeller St. Peter", which is the oldest restaurant in Europe.
- There you will enjoy the famous Mozart Dinner Concert. Since more than 10 years the Mozart Dinner Concert at Stiftskeller St. Peter became a fixed and famous part of Salzburg's musical events. This success has a very good reason: The Mozart Dinner Concert is more than just a concert - it is real and authentic. The visitor feels like being taken back to Mozart's time - he enjoys an evening like in the year 1780: with candlelight, a dinner based on historical recipes, period costumes and instruments and - last but not least - the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Mozart Dinner Concert Menu:
- Small piece of typical Salzburg bread with butter
- Cream soup with the fine taste of lemons and cinnamon
- Breast of roasted Capon (special kind of chicken) on truffled cream of sage with polenta, potato stuffed pear and vegetables from Pater Prior's garden.
- Semi frozen parfait of honey with two kinds of fruit sauces.
First Part: "Don Giovanni" KV 527. Instrumental:
- "Notte giorno" (Leporello)
- "Madamina, il catalogo..."; (Leporello), 1st part
- "Batti, batti o bel Masetto" (Zerlina)
- "Deh vieni alla finestra..." (Don Giovanni)
- Menuett from "Don Giovanni"
- "La ci darem la mano..." (Duett Don Giovanni/Zerlina).
Second Part: "Le Nozze di Figaro" KV 492. Instrumental:
- "Se vuol ballare, Signor contino..." (Figaro)
- "Non so piu cosa son..." (Cherubino)
- "Non piu andrai..." (Figaro)
- "Deh vieni non tardar..." (Susanna)
- "Cinque, dieci, venti..." (Duett Figaro/Susanna).
Third Part: "Die Zauberfloete" KV 620:
- Serenade "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" G-Dur KV 525 1. Satz ~ 1st part, Allegro
- "Ein Maedchen oder Weibchen..." (Papageno)
- "Bei Maennern welche Liebe fuehlen!" (Duett Pamina/Papageno)
- "Klinget Gloeckchen, klinget..." (Papageno)
- "Pa-pa-pa" (Duett Papageno/Papagena).
Amadeus Consort : The ensemble "Amadeus Consort Salzburg", consisting of two singers and five musicians concentrates particularly on the works of Salzburg's "genius loci", W. A. Mozart. The program comprises popular compositions from "The Magic Flute", "Don Giovanni" and "Le Nozze di Figaro" as well as divertimenti and serenades like "A Little Night Music". Of their first CD "Zu Gast bei Mozart" ("A guest of Mozart") 30,000 copies were produced. The ensemble regularly gives performances abroad and participates in numerous TV-productions.
Day 4, Monday, December 21st: Salzburg
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Transfer to the Mirabell place in the city.
- Visit the Christmas Market at the Mirabell Place.
- Transfer to the "old city".
- Lunch of your choice.
Transfer the Archbishop's Residence and Gallery. On a tour through the Residence you will experience two centuries of cultural history and discover in the sumptuous state rooms a harmonious architectural unity of Renaissance, Baroque and Classical styles. Masterpieces of handicraft, construction - and ceiling paintings, frescoes, stuccos, antique furniture, embroidery, marquetry, marble portals, numerous valuable clocks and paintings permit one a glimpse into the richness of earlier eras.
The Residence Gallery Salzburg, housing the State of Salzburg's painting collection, presents European paintings from the 16th to 19th century. (The magnificent ambiance is the ideal setting for Salzburg's state collection and reflects the city's baroque character.) The collections focus on Dutch paintings from the 17th century, Italian, French and Austrian baroque paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries and Austrian paintings from the 19th century. In addition to its own changing exhibitions, special exhibitions are offered regularly, providing an interesting juxtaposition between historic and contemporary art.
- At 5:00 p.m. listen to the "singing in front of the cathedral", a choir concert featuring a choir from the Province of Salzburg.
- Transfer to the hotel. Freshen up.
- Dinner at the Hotel Sacher Restaurant "Salzachgrill".
- Transfer to the hotel.
Day 5, Tuesday, December 22nd: Salzburg
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Get ready for a wonderful adventure ahead: "A Sleigh Ride Through the Mountains of Austria".
- Transfer to the Salzburg country side along the Salzach river valley past many of Austria's beautiful ski resorts to the town of "Filzmoos", where your Christmas Time Horse Drawn Sleigh Ride will begin.
- In the village there is time for a stroll in the frosty fresh air.
Lunch in the local country restaurant (Gasthaus) "Kirchenwirt".
- Then you will hear the "yodling" of your driver and your winter sleigh ride begins! A stop for refreshments is made along the way where the horses rest and you have the opportunity to try some Austrian specialties.
- Please visit our tour guest Dona Sauerburger's Website (it opens in a new window) where she shows photos of her and her husband's sleigh ride from our Christmas Tour 2008.
- Rosy cheeks and happy expressions are proof that it was a successful day - one that you will remember long afterward.
- Transfer back to the city of Salzburg.
- Have a wonderful free evening and enjoy a dinner of your choice in one of the great restaurants in Salzburg.
Day 6, Wednesday, December 23rd: Salzburg
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Enjoy a wonderful free day in Salzburg on your own with shopping, enjoying the cafes and pastries, strolling through the city, etc.
- At 5:15 p.m. enjoy the Advent music at the castle Mirabell's Christmas market at Mirabell Square.
- After that stroll the Mirabell Christmas market and then have dinner at the wonderful restaurant Stadtkrug at your hotel.
Day 7, Thursday, December 24th: Salzburg
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Enjoy a wonderful free morning.
- Lunch of your choice.
- At 2:00 p.m. enjoy the classical Christmas concert at the fortress "Hohensalzburg", you will hear classical music performed by the Salzburg Mozart Ensemble.
- In the following (later afternoon) Karin will transfer with you to a lovely private home near the castle Klessheim. There you will enjoy a festive traditional Austrian Christmas dinner prepared by Karin from the freshest ingredients she will be able to get at the Farmers Market. Be delighted by the traditionally decorated Salzburg Christmas tree with candles, fruits and handmade ornaments. A lovely surprise Christmas gift will await you under the tree!
- At about 9:30 p.m. transfer to the Franciscan church, where you will watch the Christmette (Christ service) and listen to J. Haydn: "Nicolai-Messe" and F.X. Gruber: Silent Night, Holy Night.
- Then at 11:00 p.m. escorted walk over to the St. Peter's church where you will watch their Holy Mass and listen to Joseph Haydn's "Youth Mass".
- These events in Salzburg are truly unforgettable!
- Transfer to the hotel.
Day 8, Friday, December 25th: Salzburg
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Transfer to the "old city".
- At 10 a.m. listen to the "Pastoral Mass in F" by A. Diabelli at the Cathedral.
- Lunch of your choice and some free time in the afternoon.
- Freshen up at the hotel.
- At 4:30 p.m. transfer to the "Mozarteum" where you will listen to the Festliches Weihnachtskonzert (festive Christmas concert), where the Salzburg cathedral orchester with the cathedral boys and girls choir and the choir Salisburgensis will perform with soloists. Conductor: Janos Czifra and Gerrit Stadlbauer. They will perform works by G.F. Haendel, W.A. Mozart, A. Vivaldi, M. Haydn and others.
- Transfer to the restaurant "K & K" for a special Christmas Day dinner.
- Transfer to the hotel.
Day 9, Saturday, December 26th: Salzburg
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- If you fly from our recommended airport Salzburg that day, Karin will transfer you to the airport.
- Recommended departure from airport Salzburg to the airport of your choice. You will arrive in the United States the same day.
- If you choose to leave later than Saturday we can advise you as to prolong your stay to make your extended visit enjoyable.
Note: This itinerary is subject of change at any time and/or the sites included, should it be deemed necessary due to local conditions, time restrictions, or other circumstances.
Member discount:
10% discount for InfoHub customer. Request a free gift certificate.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Personal tour assistance and escort of your tour by your Tour Host Karin
- Transfers as scheduled
- Eight nights in a historical 4 star hotel in the city of Salzburg
- Eight breakfasts at the hotel
- One traditional five course Christmas dinner in a private home prepared by Personal Chef Karin (wine and soft drinks included)
- Lovely surprise gift
- One lunch in the country
- Six selected restaurant dinners (drinks not included), including a special Mozart dinner and Christmas Day dinner
- Train ride to the country village Oberndorf where the song Silent Night - Holy Night was composed
- Trip to the country village Filzmoos with a sleigh ride through the mountains
- All private guided tours and admissions to points of interest as scheduled
- Admission and train ride to the Fortress Hohensalzburg
- Admissions to five classical concerts, six sacred music concerts
- All service charges & taxes (gratuities not included).
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Austria
Local Culture
Christmas/New Year Tours
Food & Wine
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