THE salzburg festival

• Enjoy 8 performances at the renowned Salzburg Festival

• Delight in the vibrant atmosphere of elegant Salzburg at festival time

• Undertake day trips to admire the spectacular scenery of the region, including the beautiful lakes of the Salzkammergut and a panoramic ride on the Schafberg cog railway

• Explore the fascinating history of the region, from Mozart’s Salzburg to the imperial family’s summer retreat at Bad Ischl

• Enhance your enjoyment of the performances with pre-performance talks by tour leader Robert Gay

Until the Festival program for 2027 is released in December 2026, this is an indicative itinerary based on previous Festivals. However, the final itinerary will cover the range of performances and excursions mentioned.

Once the final Festival program is released, we will send you the final itinerary with performance details. You will have the option to retain your place, or to withdraw and receive a refund of your first deposit. Should you choose to retain your place, we will request a second deposit of $2,500pp, due 10 business days after confirmation of the final program.

THURSDAY 19 AUGUST 2027 – ARRIVE SALZBURG (CANAPÉS)

We gather in the lobby of our hotel at 6.00pm, to meet tour leader Robert Gay and to enjoy a welcome drink together. Please note: no arrival transfers are included in the tour price. Salzburg is easily reached by train from Munich and Vienna central stations, with.

FRIDAY 20 AUGUST 2027 – SALZBURG’S ‘NEW TOWN’ & PERFORMANCE 1 (B, L)

We begin with a talk in the hotel by tour leader Robert Gay, before meeting a local guide for a walking tour of the ‘new’ side of Salzburg, which is also indelibly marked by the life of Mozart. Our tour includes the Mirabell Gardens and sites linked to the life of the composer, including Mozart’s residence, now a house museum, and the St Sebastian Cemetery, where his father and wife are buried. After a welcome lunch together, the rest of the afternoon is at leisure to enjoy a visit to one of Salzburg’s museums, or simply to savour the festive ambience of the town, before attending our evening performance.

SATURDAY 21 AUGUST 2027 – THE SALZBURG RESIDENCE & PERFORMANCE 2 (B)

In the sixteenth century, Salzburg was a powerful and independent state, ruled by Prince-Archbishops who controlled the lucrative trade in salt and gold. We commence our day’s program with a guided tour of the Salzburg Residence, a grand palace, today with an art gallery, that reflects the city’s historic importance. Afterwards, we cross Residenzplatz to Salzburg Cathedral. An impressive baroque building, it still preserves the font in which Mozart was baptised. We attend the midday organ recital, before lunch and an afternoon at leisure. We meet this evening for our second performance at the Festival.

SUNDAY 22 AUGUST 2027 – PERFORMANCES 3 & 4 (B)

This morning we have a talk in our hotel by tour leader Robert Gay, who introduces us to today’s two performances. After our matinee performance, there is time at leisure for lunch and a rest before we return to the Festival venue for an evening performance.

MONDAY 23 AUGUST 2027 – THE SALZKAMMERGUT & SCENIC RAILWAY (B, L)

The region around Salzburg is one of outstanding natural beauty – a magnet for artists and composers, such as Schubert and Mahler – complete with picture-perfect Austrian villages. Today we travel by coach to St Gilgen, on the Wolfgangsee, a lovely lakefront town where Mozart’s mother grew up. We stroll through the town before taking a boat across the lake to St Wolfgang, where we take Austria’s steepest cog railway – operating since 1893 – to the summit of the Schafberg. There we enjoy the spectacular panorama of the Salzkammergut’s five lakes, before having lunch in a local restaurant. Descending to St Wolfgang, we meet our coach and return to Salzburg, where the evening is at leisure.

TUESDAY 24 AUGUST 2027 – A PILGRIM CHURCH & PERFORMANCE 5 (B, L)

We meet this morning for a talk in our hotel. Afterwards, we take a private coach to Maria Plain, just outside Salzburg. In 1652, a painting of the Virgin and Child that was brought here began to work miracles, and pilgrims began to visit in increasing numbers. They were rewarded – as we will be – with a beautiful panorama of Salzburg and the Austrian Alps beyond. We have lunch in a restaurant alongside the pilgrim church, before returning to Salzburg for an afternoon at leisure. This evening we attend our fifth performance at the Festival.

WEDNESDAY 25 AUGUST 2027 – BAD ISCHL & THE KAISERVILLA (B, L)

Today we explore a different side of the region’s history, as a place of rest and leisure for Austria’s elite. We begin with a scenic drive, enjoying the forests, mountains and lakes from the comfort of our coach, before arriving at Bad Ischl, one of the region’s many historic spa towns. Bad Ischl’s popularity grew exponentially in the later nineteenth century when Emperor Franz Joseph built the Empress Elisabeth (‘Sisi’) a villa here, making it their preferred summer residence. The villa is still partly occupied by the descendants of the imperial family, although a significant part of it has been preserved as a museum. After a guided tour of the Kaiservilla, we have a relaxed lunch at the historic Café Zauner, before returning to Salzburg, where the evening is at leisure.

THURSDAY 26 AUGUST 2027 – PORSCHE & A LAKESIDE TRIP BY VINTAGE CAR, PERFORMANCE 6 (B, L)

Not far from Salzburg lies Mattsee, a placid lake that also lends its name to a market town. It is also the location of the Ferdinand Porsche Museum, a reminder of the automobile magnate’s ties to Austria through his son-in-law. Ferdinand’s grandson, Ernst Piëch, founded this interactive museum to showcase the family’s longstanding interest in historic automobiles and planes. After our guided tour of the collection, which includes the world's largest private Austro-Daimler collection and early electric carriages, we enjoy a tour of Lake Mattsee by vintage cars, a unique sightseeing experience! There is lunch in a local restaurant before we return to Salzburg for some time at leisure before our evening performance.

FRIDAY 27 AUGUST 2027 – AT LEISURE & PERFORMANCE 7 (B)

Following a talk in the hotel this morning, the rest of the day is at leisure to continue your explorations of this delightful small city. Your tour leader and manager will be able to advise you about Salzburg’s many museums, or you might choose to take the funicular up to Hohensalzburg, the castle which formerly guarded this important salt-trading centre. The views of the surrounding countryside are impressive. We meet in the evening for our penultimate performance at the Festival.

SATURDAY 28 AUGUST 2027 – FAREWELL & PERFORMANCE 8 (B, L)

This morning is at leisure, to pack or to undertake any last-minute sightseeing and shopping. We meet for a farewell lunch in one of the city’s excellent restaurants, before our final performance at the Salzburg Festival. Final night in Salzburg.

SUNDAY 29 AUGUST 2027 – DEPARTURE (B)

The tour concludes after breakfast in our hotel. Please note that no departure transfers are included in the tour price; Salzburg is well-served by train to onward destinations including Vienna and Munich, while Salzburg International Airport offers connecting flights to major European capitals.

Hotel Imlauer Pitter 4* Superior Salzburg, 10 nights

https://imlauer.com/hotel-pitter-salzburg/?lang=en

A family-owned, modern hotel in the centre of Salzburg.

NB: a hotel of a similar standard may be substituted.

• 10 nights’ accommodation at a 4* Superior hotel

• All breakfasts, 6 lunches or dinners, including drinks, and welcome drinks with canapés on arrival

• Best available tickets to 8 performances at the Salzburg Festival

• All ground transport, guided tours and entrance fees to sites as mentioned in the itinerary, and tipping

• Please note that no arrival or departure transfers are included in the price of the tour

• Talks by and expertise of an Australian tour leader throughout

• Services of a German-speaking tour manager throughout

A $1,500pp refundable deposit is required at the time of booking to hold your place on tour.

A second deposit of $2,500pp is due 10 business days after confirmation of the final program in December 2026.

We will invoice you for final payment for the tour, due on 23 February 2027.

When you book on one of tours, we ask you to accept our terms and conditions. You can read our terms and conditions here.