Garden enthusiasts looking for a unique garden and cultural travel experience, the Gardens & Castles tour is designed for you! Join us for a curated journey through the botanical wonders and imperial heritage of Austria. Marvel at castles, find inspiration in exquisite public and private gardens, and the rolling hills of Burgenland—Austria’s own “Tuscany.” Attend a local garden festival at a castle to immerse yourself in the culture. A hidden gem that highlights nature, artisans and food. The tour includes an excursion over the border to Hungary to explore the historic city of Sopron and the grandeur of the Esterhazy Palace with its world-renowned rose gardens.

Indulge in a rejuvenating spa day at the whimsical, Hundertwasser-designed spa hotel, where art, architecture, and nature harmonize. Throughout this tour, we will explore UNESCO World Heritage sites and delight in regional culinary treasures, including an authentic wine experience and an expertly guided food safari walking tour in Vienna. With the tour beginning and ending in Vienna, you will have plenty of time to explore the city at your own pace.

The Gardens & Castles tour includes a perfect balance of guided expertise and leisurely exploration. It offers an intimate connection to the landscape, history, and vibrant garden culture of the region.

The tour begins at 3 PM with a welcome drink and orientation at the hotel in Vienna.

After the orientation, we walk and explore the neighborhood on the way to a restaurant for the Welcome Dinner.

Meals Included: Welcome Dinner

A private van will pick the group up at the hotel in Vienna after breakfast and

take us to Tulln Gardens in Lower Austria. Tulln is the first ecological gardens in Europe with 70 show gardens. We will take a guided tour of the gardens and then the rest of the morning is yours to explore and get inspired by the impressive gardens.

After lunch on your own at Tulln, we travel to Rust, a small town in Burgenland, located on the western shore of Lake Neusiedl near the border with Hungary. Rust is the country's smallest royal free city and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

A local historian takes us on a walking tour of the beautiful Baroque/Renaissance historic old town. Rust is also known as the "City of Storks" due to nesting white storks who make the town their home during the season in chimneys atop the historic buildings.

The evening is yours to enjoy Rust. Dinner on your own.

Meals Included: Breakfast

After enjoying breakfast the private van takes us to the impressive Schloss Hof Palace located near the border of Slovakia. The estate consists of a Baroque Palace, extensive gardens and an estate farm. The Baroque gardens feature seven-tiered stunning terraces restored to their 18-century style. We take a private guided tour of the Palace and gardens. After the tour, enjoy lunch on your own in the Schloss Hof restaurant.

We return to Rust and the afternoon is yours to enjoy a walk along the lake, visit the stork sanctuary, shop in the old town or swim at the hotel until dinner.

We conclude our day with a group dinner at a fine-dining restaurant located in a beautifully restored 16th-century building with gardens in the heart of the old town. Our dinner will feature seasonal regional specialties created by the chef and expertly paired with local wines.

Meals Included: Breakfast / Dinner

After breakfast, we check out and head across the border to the historic Hungarian city of Sopron. We will enjoy a guided walking tour of the beautifully preserved Baroque city center, discovering its rich heritage dating back to the Roman era. Following the tour, you will have free time to explore the charming streets and enjoy lunch on your own.

We depart Sopron for The Esterhazy Palace and Margit Cziráky Rose Garden in Fertöd, Hungary. The Palace and gardens are Hungary's best representation of the Baroque-Rococo style and often referred to as the Hungarian Versailles. The Esterhazy Palace is part of the Fertő-Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was the home of Joseph Haydn and his orchestra from 1766 to 1790. We take a private guided tour of the Palace and Gardens.

We will then return to Austria and travel south to the region of Styria, where you can unwind at a unique spa hotel designed by Hundertwasser, featuring thermal springs, swimming pools, and saunas nestled in nature. Dinner is included and on your own at one of the hotel restaurants.

Meals Included: Breakfast / Dinner

Where art and architecture and nature meet relaxation! Today is the day to unwind, pamper yourself and learn about an important part of Austrian culture.

You will have the day and evening to explore and experience the enchanting Hundertwasser designed Bad Blumau complex. Featuring 14 different inside and outside pools and two hot springs and the Vulkania® thermal spring which is a mineral-rich inland lake at a depth of around 3,000 meters with natural salt content.

Nature is an integral part of the architecture and its design. Wander along the trails, discover green roofs, and artsy buildings hidden in and amongst the landscape.

Sign-up for a spa treatment or spend the day lounging in your robe by the pool. The spa day is yours to enjoy however you'd like.

Dinner on your own is included at one of the hotel restaurants.

Meals Included: Breakfast / Dinner

We begin our day with a private tour and a rose hydrosol distilling workshop at Andrea Bregar’s nature garden, where you will discover the art of cultivating and utilizing medicinal herbs. Following this immersive experience, we will stop at a charming local guesthouse for lunch, where you can enjoy authentic regional cuisine on your own.

The afternoon is dedicated to further garden inspiration at the 'Naturgarten' of seed-saving expert Scheidl. This garden features thematic gardens that offer a true feast for the senses. The tour ends with cake and a coffee/tea in the garden’s café.

After checking in at the hotel, enjoy an exquisite 5-course regional buffet dinner featuring locally sourced ingredients.

Meals Included: Breakfast / Dinner

Garden Festival at Kohfidisch Castle is a must on our itinerary! Celebrating nature, craftsmanship, and local culture. The festival features a variety of local artisans, products and foods. You will enjoy an authentic strudel-making demonstration and tasting with a master pastry chef. What started as a local event has become international, with carefully curated exhibitors and catering.

After plenty of time to explore and enjoy the festival and lunch on your own, we head off to Bernhard Strohmaier's 'Philemon's Garden' to discover how over 3,000 species from across the globe can harmonize on a terraced slope in his themed gardens.

To end our garden day, we stop for dinner at a Buschenshank to enjoy a farm-to-table experience featuring local wine and simple, hearty food prepared by winemakers themselves. A Buschenschank is a traditional and seasonal Austrian wine tavern.

Meals Included: Breakfast

We leave Austria's Tuscany and return to the imperial city of Vienna.

After dropping off our luggage, it is time for a customized walking Food Safari tour designed by a trained chef. The food tour highlights historical sights combined with tastes to highlight Austrian cuisine.

The rest of the day and evening is yours to enjoy Vienna. Visit a world-class museum, attend a concert or the theatre, enjoy a coffee at a traditional coffee house, take the Hop-on Hop-off bus (included) to sightsee around the city - the day is yours!

Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch

Today is all about Vienna! The morning is spent exploring the magnificent Schönbrunn Palace and 400-acre park, once the main summer residence of the Habsburg family. Schönbrunn Palace and park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a stunning example of Baroque architecture that includes sculpted gardens and more. In addition to the Palace you can visit the Palm House, built in 1882, and remains one of the largest iron-and-glass greenhouses in Europe, with around 4,500 plant species or take a coffee break while overlooking Vienna at the Gloriette, a hilltop arcade built in 1775 to glorify Habsburg power or visit the Schönbrunn Zoo, the oldest existing zoo in the world, founded in 1752.

The Schönbrunn Panorama Train will help you easily navigate the extensive park. The train has nine stops and allows you to get on and off at your leisure. Our tour includes a ticket of the Palace and Gardens.

After the tour, the afternoon is yours to enjoy lunch and Vienna on your own.

We meet for our Farewell Dinner to share travel memories.

Meals Included: Breakfast / Farewell Dinner

After enjoying breakfast, our memorable tour comes to a close. It is the time to say goodbye to new friends and to Austria. You will return home with a suitcase filled with cultural experiences and memories from this unforgettable tour.

The Vienna Card includes public transportation to the Vienna International airport.

Meals Included: Breakfast

€500 deposit per person is required at the time of booking to confirm a spot on the tour. Deposits are refundable until November 30, 2026.

Payment Options:

1. Payment in full

2. Two equal installments

   1. First payment due by December 30, 2026

   2. Balance due by February 28, 2027

Our tours are small and intimate with 8-14 travelers, we want to ensure that anyone who wants to join in has the opportunity.

Passport:

A valid passport with an expiration date of six months or more is mandatory to depart the United States and to enter Europe. Some airlines will not allow you to board if this requirement is not met. If you need a passport or to renew your passport allow sufficient time.

ETIAS:

European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will be required for entry into Europe beginning in late 2026 for visa exempt travelers. Travelers can apply online and submit a fee. The ETIAS is valid for three years or until passport expiration.

The tour has a Level 3 moderate/active activity level rating. The tour includes daily walking, often on uneven surfaces, inclines and slopes, as well as city walking and public transportation.

Activity Level Ratings:

Level 1: Easy

Level 2: Moderate

Level 3: Moderate/Active

Level 4: Active

Level 5: Challenging

Travelers are responsible for ensuring they are physically able to participate in the daily activities of the tour. Health conditions that will impact or limit participation must be disclosed at the time of booking. We reserve the right to decline a booking if the condition or limitations may affect the ability to safely participate in the tour. By clicking the "Book Now" I acknowledge that I am physically able to participate in the tour/activity.

Travel Insurance:

Travelers are strongly recommended to purchase personal travelers insurance for the tour. Insurance policies can cover medical, medical emergencies, evacuation, trip cancellation, and potential losses including damage to or theft of belongings. Travelers insurance offer you access to 24/7 travel assistance and peace of mind while traveling abroad or if you have an emergency last minute and need to cancel the tour.