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7 Nights 8 Days
Central Europe
Central Europe's Golden Triangle: Budapest, Vienna, Prague
Budapest · Bratislava · Parndorf · Vienna · Český Krumlov · Prague
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Visa Required
Central Europe
Bernina Express & Hallstatt: An Alpine Fairy Tale
Four countries, a panoramic train ride and fairy-tale lakeside towns: the Alps from Lake Constance to Salzburg
Stuttgart · Lindau (Lake Constance) · St. Moritz · Tirano · Innsbruck · Hallstatt · Salzburg
From €649
per person in a double room
Overview
This route is designed to bring together some of the most photogenic corners of the Alps in a short time. Flying into Stuttgart and home from Salzburg, we never retrace our steps and meet a new country, lake or mountain pass every day.
The highlight of the journey is the Bernina Express from St. Moritz to Tirano in Italy, on the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Bernina line. From panoramic carriages we watch glacier views, the Bernina Pass and the Brusio spiral viaduct unfold; the train ticket is included. We then see the submerged bell tower in Lake Reschen before continuing to Innsbruck, lakeside Hallstatt and Mozart's city of Salzburg.
You stay in 3★ hotels in Switzerland and Italy and 4★ hotels in Austria, all with breakfast. A Turkish-speaking guide accompanies you throughout, and the programme leaves plenty of time for scenic stops.
Highlights
- A panoramic Bernina Express journey from St. Moritz to Tirano
- The harbour lion and lighthouse of Lindau, the island town on Lake Constance
- The historic bell tower rising from Lake Reschen
- The Golden Roof and Maria-Theresien-Strasse in Innsbruck
- The lakeshore of UNESCO-listed Hallstatt
- Mirabell Gardens and Getreidegasse in Salzburg
Itinerary
Day 1 Istanbul – Stuttgart – Lindau – Chur
We meet our guide at Istanbul Airport and take a morning Turkish Airlines flight to Stuttgart. Heading south, we reach Lindau, the island town on Lake Constance, and stroll through its old town and the harbour guarded by the Bavarian Lion statue and lighthouse. In the evening we cross into Switzerland and check in to our hotel in the Chur area.
Day 2 St. Moritz – Bernina Express – Tirano
We climb to St. Moritz in the Engadine valley for a short walk by the lake. Boarding the Bernina Express, we pass Ospizio Bernina, the highest point on the line, Lago Bianco and the view of the Palü Glacier from Alp Grüm. After crossing the Brusio spiral viaduct we descend to Tirano in Italy and spend the night in the Tirano area.
Day 3 Tirano – Lake Reschen – Innsbruck
We head north through the Val Venosta valley, carpeted with apple orchards. At Lake Reschen we stop for photos of the historic bell tower rising from the water, all that remains of a village flooded by the reservoir. Crossing into Austria, we explore Innsbruck's Golden Roof, Maria-Theresien-Strasse and the old town beneath the Nordkette mountains.
Day 4 Innsbruck – Hallstatt – Salzburg
We set off for the Salzkammergut and reach Hallstatt, squeezed between the mountains and the lake. We walk around the market square and lakeshore of this UNESCO-listed town, and those who wish can ride the funicular up to the viewing platform by the salt mine. In the late afternoon we arrive in Salzburg and check in to our hotel.
Day 5 Salzburg – Istanbul
After breakfast we walk from Mirabell Palace and Gardens across the Salzach River to Getreidegasse. We see the house where Mozart was born in 1756 from outside, along with Salzburg Cathedral and Residenzplatz, beneath Hohensalzburg Fortress. We then transfer to the airport and fly back to Istanbul with Turkish Airlines at the end of our tour.
Accommodation
You stay in comfortable 3★ hotels in Switzerland and Italy and 4★ hotels in Austria, all with breakfast. In Alpine areas hotels may be a little outside the town centres. Hotel names are confirmed 7 days before departure.
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Chur area3★ hotel
-
Tirano area3★ hotel in the Valtellina valley
-
Innsbruck4★ hotel
-
Salzburg4★ hotel
Transport
The flight into Stuttgart and the return from Salzburg are scheduled Turkish Airlines services. An air-conditioned coach is used throughout; the St. Moritz – Tirano section is travelled by Bernina Express, and the coach meets us in Tirano.
-
Istanbul (IST)Stuttgart (STR)
Flight · Morning flight · approx. 3 h
-
StuttgartChur area
Coach · Coach · with a stop in Lindau, approx. 4 h driving
-
St. MoritzTirano
Train · Bernina Express · approx. 2 h 30 min
-
TiranoInnsbruck
Coach · Coach · with a stop at Lake Reschen, approx. 4 h 30 min driving
-
InnsbruckSalzburg
Coach · Coach · with a stop in Hallstatt, approx. 4 h 30 min driving
-
Salzburg (SZG)Istanbul (IST)
Flight · Evening flight · approx. 2 h 30 min
Dates & Prices
| Dates | Per person | Single supplement | Child (2–12) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7–11 Oct 2026 | €649 | +€220 | €549 | Few seats left · Last 5 seats |
| 12–16 May 2027 | €699 | +€240 | €589 | Available |
| 9–13 Jun 2027 | €749 | +€260 | €629 | Available |
| 15–19 Sep 2027 | €729 | +€250 | €619 | Guaranteed |
Prices are per person in a double room and subject to availability.
What's Included / Not Included
What's Included
- Turkish Airlines economy flights Istanbul – Stuttgart and Salzburg – Istanbul
- 4 nights in 3★ and 4★ hotels
- Daily breakfast at the hotels
- Bernina Express ticket and seat reservation from St. Moritz to Tirano
- Lindau, St. Moritz, Innsbruck, Hallstatt and Salzburg tours as listed in the programme
- Airport – hotel – airport transfers and intercity transport
- Professional Turkish-speaking tour guide
- Compulsory professional liability insurance
Not Included
- Turkish departure fee (yurt dışı çıkış harcı)
- Schengen visa fee and visa application centre service charge
- Travel health insurance (mandatory for the visa application; can be added)
- Lunches, dinners and drinks
- Hallstatt funicular and salt mine, Nordkette cable car and museum entries
- City taxes paid at the hotels and personal expenses
Visa Information Visa Required
Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Austria are all in the Schengen area, so Turkish citizens holding ordinary passports need a Schengen visa. As the tour never leaves the Schengen area, a single-entry visa is sufficient. Your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years and be valid for at least 3 months (preferably 6 months) after the return date. Our adviser will guide you on which country to apply to and the document list; current requirements are confirmed before travel.
Important Information
- The currency in Switzerland is the Swiss franc (CHF); the euro is used in Germany, Italy and Austria, and card payments are widespread.
- Seats on the Bernina Express are allocated by the railway; which side of the carriage you sit on cannot be guaranteed.
- In Hallstatt, set coach parking slots apply, so the visit is limited to about 2 hours.
- Weather on the mountain passes can change quickly; we recommend layers on May and October dates. The tour operates with a minimum of 20 participants.
- The child price (ages 2–12) applies when sharing a room with two adults on an extra bed.
Cancellation & Refunds
Bookings are confirmed with a written package tour contract finalised with our adviser. Cancellation charges based on the time remaining before departure, non-refundable items (visa fees, insurance, special-fare flights) and your rights if a tour is cancelled are explained on our Cancellation & Refund Policy page. Tour-specific terms are stated in the contract.
Cancellation & Refund PolicyGallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Bernina Express ticket really included?
Yes. The Bernina Express ticket from St. Moritz to Tirano and the compulsory seat reservation are included. The journey takes about 2.5 hours in panoramic carriages.
Do I need a separate visa for Switzerland?
No. Although Switzerland is not an EU member, it is part of the Schengen area, so a valid Schengen visa covers all four countries on the tour.
Which dates are best for the scenery?
June and September dates usually bring milder weather and lush green scenery. In October and May there is a chance of snow on the high passes, which gives the Bernina line a special beauty of its own.
Enquire about this tour
Fill in the form for availability, room options and current prices; our adviser will get back to you shortly. No payment is taken on the site.
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