Salzburg, Vienna & Prague Performance Tour

Ride the funicular to Hohensalzburg Fortress, once the stronghold of the prince-archbishops. Tour the ornate State Apartments, the Burgmuseum’s medieval art, the Rainermuseum’s arms and armor, and St. George’s Chapel with its Gothic details. Take in sweeping Alpine views from the Watchtower and look out over Salzburg’s domes and towers from the Kuenberg Bastion.

Explore select rooms inside Nonnberg Abbey, the centuries-old and still active convent where Maria von Trapp once lived. Enjoy sweeping views of Salzburg from just outside the abbey.

Explore Salzburger Dom (Salzburg Cathedral), world renowned for its 4,000-pipe organ. Often called the most perfect Renaissance building in the Germanic world, the cathedral features a striking marble façade and symmetrical twin towers.

Potential venues include (but are not limited to): Mozarthaus, the Silent Night Chapel (for small choir only) where the song Silent Night was written, Kollegienkirche, an informal lunchtime performance at Salzburg Cathedral, or an exchange with a local school, university, or community group.

Visit Melk Abbey, a masterpiece of baroque architecture. Your tour includes the Marble Hall with its red marble pilasters and allegorical ceiling, the Library holding more than 80,000 volumes, and the Kaisergang lined with portraits of Austrian rulers. You’ll also see the Abbey’s musical archive, home to historic instruments and more than 10,000 works, including early manuscripts by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Schumann.

This interactive museum is located in the former home of Otto Nicolai, founder of the Vienna Philharmonic. Explore the lives of classical composers, compose your own waltz, and discover the science behind sound and hearing. Step onto a virtual conductor’s podium to lead the Vienna Philharmonic, and receive feedback from the musicians themselves.

Explore Vienna’s imperial past with a guided visit to the Hofburg, the historic seat of the Habsburgs. Continue to the elegant Belvedere Palace before viewing the famed Vienna Opera House. Visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral in the heart of the city, then end your tour at Schönbrunn Palace, where young Mozart once performed for Marie Antoinette.

Explore Stadt Park, a lovely park that lies on the slope where the Danube used to overflow into the inner city before the construction of the Danube Canal. Many memorial statues of the the great composers of the past stand in the park; the best known depicts Johann Strauss Jr., who composed Die Fledermaus and "The Beautiful Blue Danube."

Performance groups may have the opportunity to take the stage at historic venues such as St. Stephen’s Cathedral—closely tied to Vienna’s rich musical heritage—or the beautifully baroque Peterskirche, known for its outstanding acoustics. For those seeking a secular space, the Haus der Musik, Vienna’s renowned Museum of Music, also offers an excellent performance setting.

Telc lies at the midpoint of the old King's route from Vienna to Prague. Telc is the best preserved Renaissance town north of the Alps, and was added to the UNESCO list of international heritage sights in 1993.

Feel the inspiration behind Franz Kafka’s novels as you wander the medieval streets of Mala Strana. Continue into Josefov, the Jewish Quarter, to see Europe’s oldest synagogue, which dates back to 1270.

Explore Prague with a guided tour of Old Town Square and its famous Astronomical Clock, where carved figures appear each hour. Walk across Charles Bridge with views of the Vltava and the city’s spires, then stop at the John Lennon Peace Wall. Finish at Prague Castle, a vast complex of courtyards and palaces that once housed the Habsburgs.

Potential venues include (but are not limited to): Church of St. Simon and Jude, St. Salvator Church, Church of St. Wenceslas, Hall of the Cultural Center Novodvorska, English International School, Hlahol Concert Hall, Evangelic Chapel Korunni, St. Martin in the Wall, the Hall of the House of Culture Krakov, or a lunchtime performance at St. Vitus. These venues accommodate a range of performance types and offer unique cultural experiences.

Board your flight home or choose to extend your trip with a two-day visit to Budapest, beginning with travel from Prague and a stop in Bratislava for a city walk through Hlavné Námestie, Michael’s Gate, and the Čumil statue. The following day, explore Budapest on a guided tour featuring the Royal Palace, a funicular ride up Castle Hill, Matthias Church, Fisherman’s Bastion, and the Hungarian Parliament. Conclude your stay with a memorable performance opportunity before heading home from Budapest.