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Explore imperial cities, Alpine views, music, history, and storybook villages on Collette’s Austria tours. Visit places like Salzburg and Innsbruck with local experts, then go deeper with experiences that bring you closer to each region’s food, culture, and history. See the difference 100+ years of tour planning experience makes.
Germany's Christmas markets may get all the attention, but if you want extra old-world charm and historic city squares then Austria may be a better choice for you. Austria's Christmas markets bring festive lights, seasonal treats, and locally-made goods to town squares. On Collette’s European Christmas Markets tour, travellers visit Vienna during the holiday season to experience seasonal traditions.
While German is the official language in Austria, English is commonly spoken in hotels, restaurants, and major visitor areas. It’s still helpful to know a few basic German phrases like “Guten Morgen,” “Bitte,” and “Vielen Dank” as a way to connect with locals.
Many shops and businesses in Austria close on Sundays. Plan ahead for essentials, souvenirs, or pharmacy needs, and use Sundays as a chance relax or explore Austria’s historic streets.
Tour Design Manager
When I travel, I’m inspired by the stories that shape a destination — its history, people, traditions, and everyday rhythms. That’s why I create tours that include authentic local experiences. I want my tours to feel engaging, purposeful, and memorable, so you go home with a deeper understanding of the places you’ve been.
Want to learn more about our Tour Managers and Designers?
Learn MoreFrom handpicked hotels, restaurants, and cultural experiences to thoughtfully integrated free time, our on-the-ground team in Austria crafts journeys they'd want to take themselves.
Travellers always tell us that Tour Managers make the journey. It's like travelling with a friend who's got the inside scoop. They live in the destination and share hidden gems that only the locals know.
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The excursion to Mount Pilatus was awesome. Going up on the funicular. The view from the top. And coming down on the gondolas.
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Totally enjoyed our Collette tour of Switzerland, Austria Bavaria. Our Tour Manager Leanne was awesome throughout our tour! The excursions, meals and accommodations were outstanding. I would recommend this tour to everyone!
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We had a blast!!!
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I absolutely loved this tour! As this was my trip to Europe, I couldn’t have asked for better way to experience this beautiful part of the world! Our tour director was amazing! She was very available for questions, was extremely knowledgeable and made the trip unforgettable! Sergio, the bus driver, was also great! I can’t say I had just one favorite memorable experience. I traveled with my elderly father, stepmother and brother. This tour was about building memories to last a lifetime. For me, Collette Tours exceeded all of my expectations and more! I’m looking forward to my next adventure with Collette!
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Levi our tour manager was spectacular.
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It was busy, but fun! So manny interesting places. Possibly an extra day in krakow.
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This was a very good tour. The places we visited were amazing. The tour manager was very knowlegeable, kind, organized, and super competent at this job. We saw and experienced the best of the locations we visited. Collette was veey good.
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We had a wonderful small group of travelers. Vili, our tour Manager was The Best, as was Diego our bus driver and the sights unbelievably magnificent while the experiences will be remembered forever. I highly recommend this trip of a lifetime to anyone able to book the Peaks of Europe tour of The Alps.
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Many wonderful experiences!The concert in Vienna was an incredible experience for me!I am 83 and the concert took me back to public school days in Birmingham, Alabama, when our teachers took the whole class to hear the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra playing the same pieces that were superbly done in Vienna, enhanced by the vocalists and the ballet performers. I loved the architecture, history, food , and friendships made on the tour. My bucket list is almost complete.
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Lucerne and Habkern were great experiences. Really enjoyed the Tyrolean Folklore show too. The Oktoberfest was a different than i expected and I’m so glad we were able to attend.
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I enjoyed every aspect of our tour. Our tour guide was truly amazing with so much attention to every detail. She made sure every one was well taken care of with such care and compassion. Collette is a very good travel company and I’m so glad I choose this trip. It was fabulous !!
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We had an absolutely wonderful experience traveling through Austria, Germany, and Switzerland in September! A huge thank-you to our amazing tour guide, Carmen, and our incredible bus driver, Joseph, for helping make this trip so memorable. Carmen was knowledgeable, friendly, organized, and passionate about sharing the beauty, history, and culture of each destination. Her stories, insights, and attention to detail brought every place we visited to life. She made sure we felt informed, comfortable, and well taken care of throughout our journey. Joseph was equally fantastic! Navigating the beautiful but sometimes challenging Alpine roads takes great skill, and he handled every mile with professionalism and confidence. We always felt safe and comfortable, and his calm, friendly demeanor made our travels even more enjoyable. Together, Carmen and Joseph made the perfect team! Their hard work, kindness, and dedication helped create a trip filled with breathtaking scenery, wonderful memories, and experiences we will treasure for years to come. Thank you both for going above and beyond and for making our September adventure through the Alpine countries such a special experience. You truly helped make this trip one to remember! We couldn’t have asked for a better guide and driver! ❤️
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I loved all the experiences, the walk in the forest in chamonix was a hi-lite, the cable cars up the mountains, a stop in Thun, cheese fondue, to hear how the alpinehorn is made and played, the vineyard to hear about prosecio is made, meeting new, fun people, learning about history all facilitated by a wonderful, funny, patient, kind guide, Javier. He was exceptional.
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Our tour guide provided great background on the locations that we visited. Everything gave us a feel and taste of the regions. I have many favorites!
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My favorite part was the steps in Mirabelle Garden in Austria. We took a group photo and the local guide played “DoReMi” from The Sound of Music”. We all sang and people took videos of us! I liked that we were given short tours of our hotel surroundings and told where to find good restaurants and ATMs. Our tour guide also took us on public transportation to widen our experience. We saw a lot of the cities we stayed in and felt comfortable on our own. The local guides were good and gave interesting details during the tours. I also enjoyed the different experiences we had with the Alpine Horn Workshop and Apple Streudle making lessons and recipe. Pedro was great!
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I have always enjoyed Switzerland and Bern was wonderful. I was the ****** (traveling with my group from Michigan/USA) and I can say that my clients really enjoyed Javier’s fun, personality!
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Hotels were top class. No complaints. Were able to see every site we wanted. The tour director went above and beyond then another director I had on previous trips from other agencies. He made the tour.
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Our tour manager Benedikt was the perfect combination of knowledge and personality and made our time on the motor coach so enjoyable! The hotels, excursions and pacing were excellent. We enjoyed our free time and felt safe wandering Bern and Innsbruck. We also enjoyed meeting new friends at breakfast, the group lunches/dinners as well as evenings in the hotel lobbies/bars.
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Everything was great from start to finish. I seriously cannot find anything wrong with this tour. Our tour guide throughout and our individual tour guides were terrific. I think I got spoiled for any other Collette tour that I take. If I had one negative I would say that the Radisson red in Berlin was a very tiny hotel, but very nice. I thought the hotel in Budapest probably was the most rude staff and not very accommodating. But the hotel room was fine The side tours were great. The activities were great.
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Bus tour of Switzerland. Up into the mountains visiting villages. Our tour manager, Martin was outstanding! Would hope to have him again.
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Experience the holiday spirit in Austria and Germany, where the tradition of the Christkindlesmarkt began over 600 years ago.
View 8-Day ItineraryCollette’s Austria tour packages include Tour Manager services 24/7, in-country transportation, admission to included attractions, and meals as outlined in the tour itinerary. Some tours include cultural experiences in places like Innsbruck, Salzburg, Seefeld, or Vienna. Check the Austria tour itineraries to find a tour that’s right for you.
Austria is part of the Schengen Area. Visa requirements depend on your nationality and passport, so travellers should review current entry requirements before departure.
The best time to visit Austria depends on what you want to experience. Winter is ideal for Christmas markets in places like Vienna and Salzburg, while warmer months are better for Alpine scenery, city touring, and outdoor walks. Pack layers year-round, since temperatures can change with elevation and weather can shift quickly.
Austria tours can be a good fit for senior travellers who are comfortable with walking on cobblestones, uneven streets, and through historic areas. Activity levels vary by tour. For example, some Innsbruck walking tours require walking for about 30 minutes at a time. You can see included activities and the overall tour activity level on the tour itinerary before you book.
Pack comfortable walking shoes, light layers, and rain gear such as a raincoat or umbrella. In the Alpine region, temperatures can change with altitude, so bring a sweater or light jacket. If your tour travels in winter or visits Christmas markets, warm layers, gloves, and weather-proof footwear are especially helpful.
Austria uses the Euro. Credit cards, especially Visa and Mastercard, are widely accepted, and contactless payments are common. It is still useful to carry some cash or coins for cafés, small vendors, public restrooms, and gratuities. If paying by card, choosing the local currency usually gives a better exchange rate.
English is commonly spoken in hotels, restaurants, and major visitor areas in Austria. Learning a few simple German phrases, such as “Guten Morgen,” “Bitte,” and “Vielen Dank,” is a respectful way to connect with locals during your trip.
Yes, select Collette tours feature Austria during Christmas market season. Depending on the tour, travellers may spend time at markets in Vienna or Salzburg, where festive lights, artisan stalls, seasonal foods, music, and historic squares create a classic holiday atmosphere.
Austria is known for comforting Alpine cuisine and classic sweets. Look for dishes like Rindsuppe, Tafelspitz, goulash, Liptauer, Selchfleisch, Kaiserschmarrn, Germknödel, and apple strudel. On tour, included meals are chosen to reflect regional flavours, and your Tour Manager can recommend local restaurants during free time.
