This year, we were blessed to travel back to Europe for our annual vacation. This is going to be a pretty long post, because we stayed for a total of 3 weeks and experienced so much! While we were there, we visited 3 countries; Austria, Germany, & Switzerland. In Austria, the cities we visited were Vienna, Salzburg, & Innsbruck. In Switzerland, the cities we visited were Zurich, and Geneva. We also took a day trip down to The Berchtesgaden Salt Mines in Germany, and had an amazing experience.
—Before getting started, I just want to supply you with some need to know information:
– Use the train to get from the airport to the city center. Also use the train to get between cities as this is the most convenient way to travel in Europe.
– I absolutely suggest purchasing the city cards for each city as they get you free public transportation, and free (or discounted) entry into several of the museums and attractions.
– Study some basic German and French as all of the cities that we visited spoke German except Geneva, which speaks French.
– If at all possible, try to pick hotels that are near the train stations. All of the hotels that we stayed in were less than a short block’s walk. This saves money by avoiding the taxi or rideshares.
– Check websites to see the availability and hours of operation for museums and attractions, as a lot of them are closed on certain days.
– If you use washcloths for your personal hygiene, I would suggest packing a few as most of the hotels that we stayed in do not provide them.
Now that the details are taken care of, I took some amazing photos to share with you all, so here is our trip!
Vienna Salzburg Berchtesgaden Innsbruck Zurich Geneva
Vienna, Austria (5 days)
The 1st city that we visited was Vienna. After leaving the train station, we checked into the Motel One Vienna-Hauptbahnhof, which was very close to the train station. All of our hotels were conveniently close to the train station. This motel has GREAT accommodations, and I absolutely recommend. We then went for a walk around the city…
We visited several hot spots around the city including The Stadtpark and The Burggarten, both being vibrant parks located at the city center that are home to several composer statues and memorials including the gilded statue of composer Johann Strauss and the Mozart Statue…
The Kunsthistorisches Museum, known for its stunning architecture and fascinating contents that span 5000 years from ancient Egypt to the late 1700s. It is also the largest museum in the country…
The Hofburg Imperial Palace, which is the former imperial palace of the Habsburg dynasty known for its stunning Baroque architecture and lavish interiors. Built in the 13th century, it is located in the center of Vienna…
The Belvedere Palace Museum, known for its extensive art collections and fabulous, breathtaking gardens. Upper Belvedere is as grand and as lavish as you would imagine, housing some of the best Austrian art from the Middle Ages while Lower Belvedere showcases more contemporary art…
& The Schloss Schonbrunn Palace, which was the summer residence of the Habsburg rulers, and is the most visited tourist attraction in Austria, known for its stunning architecture and absolutely breathtaking fountains & gardens.
We purchased tickets to attend a concert by the Weiner Mozart Orchestra which we enjoyed thoroughly. The performance was Top Tier! (Chef’s Kiss) We also had a chance to enjoy the world famous Sacher torte, a very delicious and decadent chocolate cake that Vienna is known for.
Salzburg, Austria (5 days)
The 2nd city that we visited was Salzburg. Of all the cities we visited on this trip, this one is probably my favorite. It’s just absolutely charming. We stayed at the H+ Hotel which had great accommodations, and I recommend a stay if you are ever in Salzburg. It is located literally right next to the train station.
The hot spots we visited include the exuberant Mirabell Gardens, a great site for awesome pictures and one of the most beautiful manicured gardens that I have ever seen. There is plenty of romantic energy here and is well worth a visit…
The Hohensalzburg Fortress, the biggest fully preserved medieval castle in Central Europe and “the landmark” of the city that sits atop the Fustengsberg mountain…
The beautiful Salzburg Cathedral, Salzburg’s most important sacred building and the site of Mozart’s baptism. It is a 17th century Baroque cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Salzburg…
Mozart’s Birthplace, the actual building in which he was born. You’ll get to see where he lived, learn about his life and the life of his family, and see some of his personal belongings…
The Schloss Hellbrunn, home of the famous Trick Fountains, was the summer residence of Prince-archbishop Markus Sittikus. It was meant to be an oasis of enjoyment and leisure. There are hidden water jets everywhere!
& Untersberg, where we took the cable car from the bottom of the mountain up to the top (about an 8 minute ride) where we hiked some amazing trails and experienced breathtaking views of the city.
Berchtesgaden, Germany (1 day)
While visiting Salzburg, we took a day trip down to the Berchtesgaden Salt Mines (the oldest active salt mine in Germany) where we delved deep underground during a guided tour, to see and experience the cold, salty atmosphere inside the Bavarian Alps. Pictures were prohibited inside the mines, so you just have to take my word for it and know that it was an awesome experience. We also visited the Berchtesgaden Biergarten and had some wonderfully refreshing beer and probably the best sausage that I have ever tasted in my life.
Innsbruck, Austria (3 days)
The 4th city that we visited was Innsbruck. This was my second favorite city that we visited. The city is beautiful! We stayed at the AC Hotel, located about 2 blocks from the train station. After getting settled in, we explored the city for a few hours.
We enjoyed the St. Jacob cathedral, located within the city center, with its elaborate beautiful ceiling frescoes and stunning architecture, & The City Tower with a 160 step climb to the top is absolutely worth the breathtaking 360 degree views of the city and mountains…
During our stay, we ventured to The Top of Innsbruck located 1700 meters above the city. We took 3 cable cars to the top of the city where we enjoyed spectacular views. This is an absolute MUST when visiting Innsbruck…
The Tiroler Volkskunst Museum presents interesting folk art and cultural artifacts both secular and religious, & The Bergisel Ski Jump, at the top of the tower, provides sensational views of the city, and if you are lucky to catch the ski jumpers practicing, you are in for a real treat…
The Schloss Ambras has the title of being the first museum in the world and is one of the most important sights in Austria making it a must see destination.
Zurich, Switzerland (3 days)
After arriving in Switzerland via high-speed train and settling into our hotel ( The Sorell Hotel Rutli), we explored Zurich as best as we could (considering it was raining off and on the whole time we were there.
The highlight of this stay was our day trip and guided tour down to Zermatt to see The Matterhorn. I was blown away and am still speechless of the most photographed mountain in the world! I have to admit, The Matterhorn is a tough act to follow after taking in its majesty.
Later, we hiked to the top of Uetliberg (Zurich’s very own mountain) where we were able to see some absolutely amazing panoramic views of the city and lake. Some of the scenic views look like the stuff fairytales are made of, they are just absolutely stunning! One thing I can say about the hiking trails of Uetliberg is that they can be taxing at times, but the reward is the breathtaking views.
The next day, we took a relaxing 90 minute round trip cruise on Lake Zurich, where the views of the lake are captivating. It felt so good to just relax and unwind on this lake cruise and just take in the amazing atmosphere and scenery.
After the cruise, we went to the Kunsthaus Zurich Museum, Switzerland’s largest art museum where we were able to appreciate some really beautiful expressions of ideas and emotions displayed on canvas.
Geneva, Switzerland (4 days)
The final city in this year’s European vacation that we visited was Geneva. We stayed at the Hotel Bernina, conveniently located right across the street from the train station.
The popular tourist attractions and sites that we were able to see during our stay are The Reformation Wall – which pays homage to the period when Calvinism was introduced to the town and became a way of life for the citizens. The 4 founding fathers featured on the wall are William Farel, John Calvin, Theodore Beza, & John Knox…
The Flower Clock – an outdoor flower clock that contains about 6500 flowering plants and shrubs. The plants change with the seasons, but the most popular flower is the Four O’clock, which symbolizes protection, harmony, and positive energy and influences…
The Broken Chair – a monumental wooden sculpture standing 39 feet high that depicts a chair with a broken leg. Located across the street from the United Nations Office, the sculpture is a symbol of the campaign against all forms of armed violence that have harmed civilian populations. The chair is still standing despite its brokenness…
The Patek Philippe Museum – a clock and watch museum that is the epitome of prestige and houses over 5 centuries of watchmaking history. I have never seen so many beautiful timepieces in one place!
The highlight of our stay was a 3 hour, walking chocolate tasting tour and old town visit. This guided tour walked us through the city of Geneva to reputable chocolate shops where we indulged our senses in a decadent chocolate escapade. The last 2 photos are two of the chocolate treats that I purchased because I just could not be without them, they were the best (in my opinion) of all the chocolate that I tasted during the entire tour!
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