Fragments of the Austrian Empire

Tour start date(s):	08-07-2025
Duration:	10 Days / 9 Nights
Location:	Vienna, Austria (arrival, 3 nights) – Ljubljana, Slovenia (5 nights) – Bratislava, Slovakia – Maribor, Slovenia – Lake Bled – Koper – Izola – Piran – Portorož, Slovenia – Trieste, Italy – Miramare – Postojna Cave – Predjama Castle, Slovenia – Graz, Austri
Price (including tax):	2800 USD DBL; 3220 USD SNGL /Without Flights

Our journey will pass through four countries (Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Italy), we will visit three national capitals (Vienna, Bratislava, Ljubljana) and three regional European capitals (Maribor, Graz, Trieste). We will see five UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Note: In this tour, we will walk a lot, as this is the only way to explore the historic city centers. Therefore, the tour is recommended for people in good physical condition. Please bring comfortable footwear with a low sole.

Day 1. Vienna
Arrival at any time. Individual transfer to the hotel. Check-in at the hotel.
Evening walk through the historic center of Vienna, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site (2001). Here, we will see St. Stephen’s Cathedral, stroll around the Cathedral Square, check the time with the Anker Clock (Ankeruhr), and walk along Kärntnertor Street. Dinner. Overnight in Vienna.

Day 2. Vienna
Breakfast at the hotel.
We will start our day by visiting the Belvedere, a magnificent Rococo palace, now known for its art gallery. It holds the largest collection of Gustav Klimt's works in the world, including “Danaë” and, of course, the famous “The Kiss.” Photography without flash is allowed in the museum, so many take selfies next to the famous painting.
Next, we will head to the Hofburg – the main residence of the Austrian emperors. We will visit the Imperial Apartments.
We will finish our day with a trip to Schönbrunn – a magnificent palace complex and the summer residence of the Austrian Habsburg emperors. The palace is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site (1996). Overnight in Vienna.

Day 3. Vienna – Bratislava – Vienna
Breakfast at the hotel.
After a short drive (70 km), we will arrive in Bratislava, the only capital city in the world bordered by two countries (Austria and Hungary).
Here we will visit Bratislava Castle, a historical fortress with magnificent views of the city and the Danube River. The castle is a symbol of the city.
Then we will stroll through the Old Town, a charming historic center with narrow streets and colorful houses. We will see St. Martin’s Cathedral, one of the oldest churches in Slovakia.
We will ascend to the observation deck on the SNP Bridge to enjoy views of the city and the majestic Danube. Return to Vienna. Overnight in Vienna.

Day 4. Vienna – Maribor – Ljubljana
Breakfast at the hotel.
Check-out from the hotel. We travel from the capital of Austria to the capital of Slovenia. Our route takes us south to the capital of Slovenian Styria – Maribor (255 km, 3 hours).
After visiting Maribor Castle, we will walk through the Old Town. We will see the Old Bridge and the Water Tower, Maribor Synagogue (one of the oldest synagogues in Central Europe). We will also visit the Old Wine Cellar (Stara Trta), where the oldest wine vine in the world grows.
We continue our journey to Ljubljana (127 km, 1 hour 30 minutes). Check-in at the hotel. Overnight in Ljubljana.

Day 5. Ljubljana – Lake Bled – Ljubljana
Breakfast at the hotel.
We will begin the morning with a walk around the city center. Along the cozy embankments of the Ljubljanica River and the Promenade (listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, 2021), we will reach Prešeren Square. Then, we will walk to the Three Bridges: the magnificent Dragon Bridge, designed in the Art Nouveau style, guarded by dragons (the symbol of Ljubljana).
We will head to the funicular and ascend to Ljubljana Castle, from where there are splendid views of the city. Afterward, we will continue our journey outside of Ljubljana.
Next, we travel to Bled (58 km, 1 hour). We will visit Bled Castle, perched on a steep cliff above the lake. In the center of the lake is an island with a wide staircase leading to the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The church was built in the 15th century and is a popular place for weddings. Here, there is also a “wishing wheel” – make a wish, spin the wheel, and if you hear a bell ring, your wish will come true! Overnight in Ljubljana.

Day 6. Ljubljana – Slovenian Riviera: Koper – Izola – Piran – Portorož – Ljubljana
Breakfast at the hotel.
Today, we will visit the stunning Slovenian Riviera (106 km, 1 hour 15 minutes). Many places here will remind you of Venetian architecture, and not by accident – this entire coastline once belonged to the Venetian Republic, and you will see images of the winged lion of Saint Mark, the symbol of Venice, or a tower replica of the Venetian Campanile along our route.
We begin in the city of Koper, visit Koper Castle, stroll through the Old Town, and see the Cathedral and Titov Square.
We proceed to Izola (8 km, 15 minutes), a typical “Venetian” town with an extraordinarily beautiful Old Town and Promenade.
Next, we visit Piran (11 km, 20 minutes), a town known for its architecture, the cozy Tartini Square, and the Church of St. George, built in the 12th century. Piran is also famous for its delicacy salt, harvested for centuries in the fields around the town. Salt is obtained through the natural evaporation of seawater.
Before returning home, we will make a short stop in Portorož (8 km, 5 minutes), a famous Slovenian resort.
Return to Ljubljana (118 km, 1 hour 20 minutes). Free time. Overnight in Ljubljana.

Day 7. Ljubljana – Trieste – Miramare – Ljubljana
Breakfast at the hotel.
We will visit Trieste (94 km, 1 hour 15 minutes). For many centuries, Trieste was the main maritime artery of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It seems to be the least Italian city in Italy. It became part of the Italian Republic only in 1947. The city’s national diversity is reflected in its architecture.
After a sightseeing tour, we will walk through the city’s streets and Piazza Unità and see the ancient Roman theater.
Next, we head to Miramare Castle (9 km, 20 minutes). This castle was built as a summer residence for the Austrian Archduke Maximilian. The magnificent 19th-century neo-Gothic architecture of the castle and its location on the Adriatic cliffs somewhat resemble the Swallow’s Nest. The museum tells the story of the love between Maximilian and his wife, Belgian Princess Charlotte, and the Archduke’s tragic fate after he was elected emperor of Mexico.
Return to Ljubljana (97 km, 1 hour 20 minutes). Overnight in Ljubljana.

Day 8. Ljubljana – Postojna Cave – Predjama Castle – Ljubljana
Breakfast at the hotel.
Do you remember the dragons from the Dragon Bridge in Ljubljana? The coat of arms of the capital has a real-life prototype, which we will try to see in Postojna Cave, not far from the city.
Postojna Cave is one of the largest karst cave systems in the world (up to 24 km). But don’t worry – you won’t need to walk much. The longest underground railway in the world will allow you to enjoy the views of the cave while sitting in comfortable carriages. Then, we will walk along a specially designed trail to the “Russian Bridge” and descend to the aquarium, where you will see the blind salamander olm – the very prototype of Ljubljana’s dragons (ATTENTION: flash photography is prohibited in the cave, as it can cause serious harm to the salamander).
Afterwards, we will head to Predjama Castle, a unique medieval structure from the 13th century. The castle is built into a vertical cliff and guards the entrance to a vast karst cave. Overnight in Ljubljana.

Day 9. Ljubljana – Graz – Vienna
Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out from the hotel.
We head to Graz (194 km, 2 hours 20 minutes). Graz is Austria's second-largest city and the capital of Styria. We will stroll through the Old Town, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site (1999). We will see the Main Square and the Church of the Holy Spirit. We will visit Eggenberg Palace, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010.
We continue our journey to Vienna (201 km, 2 hours 20 minutes). Check-in at the hotel. Overnight in Vienna.

Day 10. Vienna
Breakfast at the hotel. Individual transfer to the airport (departure at any time).

Upon Request: An additional day in Vienna. Shopping tour to Parndorf, an outlet near Vienna.

Hotels along the route:
8-11.07.25, Vienna, Intercity Hotel Wien 4* (3 km from the center)
11-16.07.25, Ljubljana, Occidental Hotel 4* (city center)
16-17.07.25, Intercity Hotel Wien 4* (3 km from the center)

The cost of the tour includes:

• Accommodation in 4-star hotels with breakfast
• Audio guide
• Escort along the route
• Transportation services along the route
• Russian-speaking guides for the sightseeing program
• Entrance tickets for the program: Belvedere, Hofburg, Schönbrunn, Bratislava Castle, Ljubljana Castle, Bled Castle, Boat on Lake Bled, Miramare Castle, Postojna Cave, and Predjama Castle (with audio guide in Russian)
• Tourist taxes at Intercity Hotel Wien 4*

The cost of the tour does not include:

• Lunches and dinners
• Tourist taxes at Occidental Hotel Ljubljana 4* (to be paid by tourists upon check-in: €3.13 per day per person, a total of €15.65 for 5 nights)
• Tips for drivers and guides