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10 Literary, Art & Music Tours in Austria That You Shouldn't Miss
As home to majestic mountains, opulent palaces, and high culture, Austria's attractions are classically sumptuous and enduring. But beyond the waltzes, the strudels, the alpine summits, and Habsburg architecture, its modern cities are proof of just how easily Austria combines the contemporary with the historic.
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1. Private Custom Day Tour from Vienna: Original Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
After you travel by train from Vienna to Salzburg, you will meet your guide directly at the train station to experience the unique story of the Sound of Music in Salzburg during a 4-hour private custom tour. The train tickets from Vienna to Salzburg are not included, so you'll need to arrange these at your own expense. No transportation between Vienna and Salzburg is included.
Inclusions: Professional driver/guide, Pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points, Private tour, Transport by private vehicle
Exclusions: Train Ticket Vienna - Salzburg (about 35 Euros pp oneway with Westbahn), Food and drinks, Gratuities
Reviewed By jamescS4128UQ
This tour was not my list even though I knew about it. It rained so we did it. OH MY GOD, wow that was time well spent. The travel distance going into the mine was unbelieveable. Seemed it went on forever. The slide was so smooth, something you can not do in the states, we went down as a family. That was fun to be together to experience. Well worth your time. In fact we are going back to the region and I have researched other salt mines and we are going to them also.
2. The Hills Are Alive
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Devote a day to ‘The Sound of Music’ on this private, customizable 8-hour tour from Salzburg. Traveling by private minivan, trace the footsteps of Maria and the Von Trapps to one location after another, stopping for lunch (own expense) on route. Tour the ‘Do Re Mi’ scenes in Salzburg, see the famous gazebo, Mondsee, and ‘The Hills are Alive’ meadow, and absorb the Alpine scenery. Price is per vehicle, with hotel pickup and drop-off included.
Inclusions: Private tour, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Professional guide
Exclusions: Food and drinks, Gratuities
Reviewed By 692stacyp
We requested Carlos for the Sound of Music Tour. The luxury Mercedes Van top notch. Carlos was very personable, professional, and his history/knowledge created a day we will remember the rest of our lives. We toured every Sound of Music sight-every step/stop memorable. He surprised us by driving to Berchtesgaden, where we hiked in the snow amazing! Our final Sound of Music point, where “The Hills Were Alive” I twirled-magical! Final surprise Red Bull Hangar7 and AC Schnitzer BMW Race Team HQ. Thank you Carlos for the time of our lives! Salzburg Private Tours-the ONLY way to go!
3. Klimt's Kisses from Vienna a Private Expert-Walk from Baroque to Art Nouveau
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
This half-day walking-tour presents two of Vienna’s most outstanding periods, Baroque and Art Nouveau. We skip-the-line to explore the Upper Belvederes refined interior. The Austria Gallery’s highlight is the Kiss by Gustav Klimt – presented among ten other Klimts and works of his contemporaries like Schiele and Kokoschka. Baroque gardens always hide little surprises – lets decipher them. The open spaces of Schwarzenbergplatz and Karlsplatz offer unique vistas spanning periods from the seventeen-hundreds to WWII. An art nouveau signature building itself the Secession holds another Kiss at the end of Klimt’s “illustration” of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. At the end, Naschmarkt invites you to explore Vienna’s culinary diversity or just relax with an al fresco lunch or afternoon snack.
Inclusions: Live guiding by a licensed Austria Guide, Skip the line
Exclusions: Public transportation , Admissions , Personal expenses
Reviewed By Camper38056700594
Walter was an excellent tour guide. Professional, Knowledgeable, and Courteous. Very organized tour with our driver, and walking. I would highly recommend this tour.
4. Daytripping to Salzburg your private Sound of Music tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5 reviews
The hills are alive! Love the cinematic masterpiece “The Sound of Music,” but only have a few days in Vienna and can’t make it to Salzburg to go on a Sound of Music tour? Our private Sound of Music tour leaves from Vienna in the morning and whisks you off to Salzburg, a mere 2,5 hours from Vienna, where the World’s #1 Sound of Music Fan (who happens to work for Austria Tours & Travel) will take you to all the filming locations of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s beloved musical. From the gazebo where Liesl and Rolf sang “Sixteen going on Seventeen” to the von Trapp villa, to the horse fountain and Mirabell palace in the city of Salzburg, you’ll get to see it all. You will also get a little break to refuel on Schnitzel with noodles if you so desire, or just stock up on souvenirs. “The Sound of Music” soundtrack will be played in the van and singing along to all the songs is highly encouraged.
Inclusions: Private transportation
Exclusions: Gratuities
Reviewed By elizabethsT3577KE
I loved walking down Vienna’s old cobble stone streets, and listening to Lisa’s scary stories often with unexpected endings. Spooky details based on historical cases. “If death were a person he/she would be Viennese”.
5. Backstage Classical Music Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Discover and explore the major sights of Vienna, it's history, it's architecture as well as religion through the stories of the most famous Classical Musicians.
Inclusions: Hot wine punch is included, All Fees and Taxes
Exclusions: Lunch with drinks are not included, Coffee and/or Tea
Reviewed By Lisa M
I did a tour with Long and it was wonderful! She knows SO much about everything having to do with Vienna and she explains everything in a fun and interesting way! Great tour!
6. Private 3 hour Vienna Music Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
More composers have lived in Vienna than in any other city in the world-find out why on our private Vienna music tour! From the Vienna Boys Choir to the famous State Opera to the "Waltz King" Johann Strauss to the Austropop legend Falco, Vienna has it all! Our 3h musical odyssey will begin with a tour at the State Opera house (entrance fee included) where you will get behind-the-scenes access to the most famous opera house in the world. Afterwards, we'll embark on a leisurely musical stroll through the inner city of Vienna. Stops will include (but are not limited to): - Palais Lobkowitz (where Beethoven premiered his Symphony No. 3 “Eroica” and the home of his main patron) - Hofburg Imperial Chapel (where the Vienna Boys Choir perform every Sunday) - The Mozart Memorial - Former dance salon where the Waltz King Johann Strauss made the ladies swoon - Pasqualati House (former residence of Ludwig van Beethoven) - St. Stephen's Cathedral - Mozart's home and many more!
Inclusions: Entry into State Opera, State-certified accredited Austria Guide
Exclusions: Gratuities
Reviewed By elizabethsT3577KE
I loved walking down Vienna’s old cobble stone streets, and listening to Lisa’s scary stories often with unexpected endings. Spooky details based on historical cases. “If death were a person he/she would be Viennese”.
7. Belvedere Palace 2.5-Hour Small-Group History Tour in Vienna
Overall Ratings
4.7 based on 19 reviews
Discover the Belvedere complex on a two-and-a-half-hour history tour with a scholar guide and familiarize yourself with an architectural masterpiece of a bygone aristocratic splendor. After the one-hour excursion to the grounds and palaces, your guide will give you an introductory hour-and-a-half tour to point out the Art Museum’s highlights.
Inclusions: Professional art historian guide
Exclusions: Additional fees: Upper Belvedere: Individual: €15, students & seniors €12.50 If you wish to visit the Lower Belvedere's temporary exhibition after your tour ends, you'll want to purchase a combined ticket to both Upper and Lower Belvedere. Upper & Lower Belvedere and Orangery: Individual: €22, students & seniors €19, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Transportation to/from attractions
Reviewed By Alex_Sh_888
Love Vienna, really worth visiting! I've spent in Vienna one week, and each day was filled with new impressions.
8. Private Tour: Vienna Inner City Highlights
Overall Ratings
4.6 based on 14 reviews
The perfect half-day tour for first-time visitors, this sightseeing experience in Vienna’s center is led by a private guide for a personal experience. The 3.5-hour tour visits three of Vienna's most important attractions: Belvedere Palace, the Ring and Heldenplatz, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Weather permitting, there will be a surprise "rooftop view" portion of the tour, and a snack break at a traditional Viennese café or a tucked-away beer garden to keep you refreshed as you traverse Austria's capital city. Public transport and food are at your own expense.
Inclusions: Professional guide, Hotel pickup
Exclusions: Public transport to/from attractions, Food and drinks, Hotel drop-off
Reviewed By Camper38056700594
Walter was an excellent tour guide. Professional, Knowledgeable, and Courteous. Very organized tour with our driver, and walking. I would highly recommend this tour.
9. 2 pm Sound of Music Tour by minivan
Overall Ratings
4.6 based on 11 reviews
Let us take you out for an unforgettable day. Following the Von Trapp story, we visit several movie locations of the "Sound of Music", the 16-going-on-17-gazebo and of course the wedding church. Your enthusiastic tour guide will give you lots of information about the filming of the Sound of Music, the real Von Trapp family and Austrian culture and lifestyle in general.
Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle
Exclusions: Gratuities, Food and drinks
Reviewed By hollieg966
My husband and I booked a tour very last minute. It's covid time so I didn't think it would be a problem to book only the day before rather than 3+ days ahead. Due to covid, we were the only people on our tour so we got a very lovely private tour. Our guide even gave me quite a bit of interesting info about Salzburg. It was my first time visiting the city and I didn't know much about it other than it being the filming location for The sound of Music. He was also very helpful for giving us tips regarding the rest of our trip to the city such as showing us the location of an interesting lift up to the Mönchsberg and informing us that we could hike from there to the Festung, which was our ultimate destination. Overall extremely helpful! Our guide was quite funny and very knowledgeable about the film and the filming locations. I came prepared with a bunch of questions to ask and he answered them all with ease! Plus he was completely prepared with the soundtrack and not only was he understanding that I wanted to sing along, he said that most people typically do! Our guide drove us through the beautiful countryside and through lots of small dorfs on our way to Wolfgangsee and a quick photo op and to stretch our legs. Then we were on to Mondsee and the Basilika St. Michael. We had a lovely brunch stop in Mondsee. We found a table overlooking the basilica square and had a lovely brunch. Afterward, we were on our way back to Salzburg while singing along with the soundtrack. I would very much recommend this tour as we had a terrific time and our guide was so helpful and knowledgeable! Also of note -- the company required masks to be worn while inside the tour van, which we were already prepared for, but our guide also wore a mask which was very nice to see.
10. The Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg With Lunch or Dinner
Overall Ratings
4.6 based on 8 reviews
Explore the picturesque World Heritage City of Salzburg on this 4-hour tour. Relive your favorite scenes from the movie The Sound of Music as you visit some of the main filming locations in the city. After your tour, enjoy either lunch or dinner of schnitzel and noodles at a local restaurant.
Inclusions: All taxes, fees and handling charges, 3-course dinner (if option selected), 3-course lunch (if option selected)
Exclusions: Drinks, Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase), Gratuities
Reviewed By jamescS4128UQ
This tour was not my list even though I knew about it. It rained so we did it. OH MY GOD, wow that was time well spent. The travel distance going into the mine was unbelieveable. Seemed it went on forever. The slide was so smooth, something you can not do in the states, we went down as a family. That was fun to be together to experience. Well worth your time. In fact we are going back to the region and I have researched other salt mines and we are going to them also.
