Alpine Countries by Rail & Bus: Vienna to Lucerne (Self-Launched)
12 days · Austria, Germany & Switzerland
Collette charges £3,950
No-markup version: ~£1,490 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched take on Collette's 12-day escorted Alpine coach tour from Vienna to Lucerne. You'll hit the same highlights — Schönbrunn Palace, the Danube, Salzburg's Old Town, Munich's Marienplatz, Linderhof and Neuschwanstein, the Black Forest, Freiburg, Zurich and Lucerne — but on public trains, buses and a few cheap local tours. Expect hostels and budget guesthouses instead of four-star hotels, self-booked palace tickets via official sites, and optional splurges like Mount Pilatus. All costs are rough per-person estimates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Vienna
Vienna, Austria
Fly into Vienna (VIE) and take the City Airport Train (CAT) or the cheaper S-Bahn S7 (€4.60) into the centre. Check into a hostel or budget hotel near the Ringstrasse or Naschmarkt. Spend the evening wandering the Innere Stadt, seeing St. Stephen's Cathedral lit up, and eating at a Würstelstand (sausage stand) for a cheap dinner.
🚌S-Bahn S7 from VIE to Wien Mitte ~£4
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse near Mariahilf/Naschmarkt (~£28/night)
- →Evening walk through Innere Stadt
- →St. Stephen's Cathedral exterior
- →Würstelstand dinner
Schönbrunn Palace & Vienna Highlights
Vienna, Austria
Book a timed Grand Tour ticket for Schönbrunn Palace directly on the official kaiserliche-residenzen.at site (€29ish) — much cheaper than a group add-on. Walk the free palace gardens and Gloriette. In the afternoon do a free walking tour of the Ringstrasse (tip-based, ~£5-10), then visit the Hofburg exterior and maybe the Spanish Riding School or a cheap standing-room opera ticket at the Staatsoper (€13-18) — the budget equivalent of Collette's opera/ballet performance.
🚌U-Bahn day pass ~£5
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse near Mariahilf/Naschmarkt (~£28/night)
- →Schönbrunn Palace Grand Tour (self-booked)
- →Free Ringstrasse walking tour
- →Standing-room opera ticket at Wiener Staatsoper
Danube cruise & train to Salzburg
Vienna → Salzburg, Austria
In the morning take the local U1 to Donauinsel and hop a short Danube sightseeing cruise (or rent a bike and ride the free Danube Island path — the true budget version). Around midday, catch a direct ÖBB Railjet to Salzburg (~2h20, book early on oebb.at for €19.90 Sparschiene fares). Drop bags and take an evening stroll through the Old Town.
🚌ÖBB Railjet Vienna Hbf → Salzburg Hbf ~£18 (advance fare)
🛏Hostel or pension in Salzburg Schallmoos/Altstadt edge (~£30/night)
- →Danube Island bike ride or short boat cruise
- →Evening walk in Salzburg Altstadt
Salzburg Old Town & Sound of Music
Salzburg, Austria
Join a tip-based free walking tour of the Old Town (GetYourGuide/GuruWalk), or book the official Sound of Music tour (~£45) if that's your thing — it visits Mondsee and the filming locations. Otherwise DIY it: Mirabell Gardens, Getreidegasse, Hohensalzburg Fortress (walk up free, or funicular ~£12). Optional afternoon bus/train trip to Eagle's Nest at Berchtesgaden via the RVO 840 bus from Salzburg Hbf (~£12 return).
🚌Local buses ~£5
🛏Hostel or pension in Salzburg Schallmoos/Altstadt edge (~£30/night)
- →Free walking tour of Altstadt
- →Hohensalzburg Fortress
- →Optional Eagle's Nest day trip
Salzburg to Munich
Salzburg → Munich, Germany
Take the Meridian/BRB regional train or the ÖBB Railjet to Munich (~1h30, ~£15-20). Check in and head to Marienplatz for the Rathaus Glockenspiel (11am/12pm show). Then do the free Munich walking tour, visit the Residenz Treasury (~£8), and enjoy a cheap beer hall dinner at Augustiner or Hofbräuhaus.
🚌Regional train Salzburg → München Hbf ~£17
🛏Hostel in Munich (e.g. near Hauptbahnhof, ~£32/night)
- →Marienplatz & Glockenspiel
- →Munich Residenz Treasury
- →Free city walking tour
Munich to Oberammergau
Oberammergau, Germany
Morning in Munich for the Deutsches Museum or a stroll in the Englischer Garten, then take the train (München → Murnau → Oberammergau, ~2h, Bayern-Ticket ~£25 for groups) into the Ammergau Alps. Check into a family-run Gasthof in the village and walk the Lüftlmalerei-painted lanes.
🚌Regional trains via Murnau, Bayern-Ticket ~£10-12pp sharing
🛏Gasthof/guesthouse in Oberammergau (~£35/night)
- →Englischer Garten stroll
- →Lüftlmalerei village walk
Linderhof Palace & Neuschwanstein
Oberammergau, Germany
Book Linderhof Palace and Neuschwanstein tickets in advance on the official Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung site (€10 each + €2.50 fee). Take the RVO 9622 bus to Linderhof (30 mins), then connect toward Hohenschwangau (RVO buses/train via Füssen, ~2h). See Neuschwanstein from the outside free from Marienbrücke, or book the interior tour (~£18). Return to Oberammergau by bus/train.
🚌RVO regional buses ~£12
🛏Gasthof/guesthouse in Oberammergau (~£35/night)
- →Linderhof Palace interior tour
- →Neuschwanstein Castle exterior at Marienbrücke
- →Optional Neuschwanstein interior tour
Oberammergau to the Black Forest
Black Forest (Titisee/Hinterzarten), Germany
A long travel day: train from Oberammergau via Murnau, Munich or Augsburg, to Freiburg (~5-6h). Use a Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket or book Sparpreis fares on bahn.de (~£25-30). Base yourself in Titisee or Hinterzarten for the Black Forest. In the evening, sample Black Forest cake at a local café and browse cuckoo-clock and woodcarving workshops.
🚌Regional trains with Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket ~£27
🛏Guesthouse in Titisee/Hinterzarten (~£35/night)
- →Black Forest cake tasting
- →Artisan woodcarving shops
Freiburg & Lake Titisee
Black Forest, Germany
Take the Höllentalbahn train down to Freiburg (~40 mins, included in regional tickets/Deutschlandticket). Join a free walking tour of Freiburg, see the Gothic Münster, and climb the tower (~£3) for city views. Head back up to Titisee and rent a rowing boat or take a short Badische Schifffahrt boat ride on the lake (~£6).
🚌Höllentalbahn train ~£8
🛏Guesthouse in Titisee/Hinterzarten (~£35/night)
- →Freiburg Münster tower climb
- →Free walking tour of Freiburg
- →Titisee boat ride
Black Forest to Zurich to Lucerne
Zurich & Lucerne, Switzerland
Scenic morning train from Titisee/Freiburg through the Black Forest to Zurich (~2h, Sparpreis ~£20). Do a self-guided walk from the Hauptbahnhof through the Old Town to Lake Zurich, or join a free walking tour. Then catch an IR/IC train to Lucerne (~45 mins, ~£13 or ~£10 with a Swiss Half Fare Card). Check into a hostel near the lake and stroll the Old Town, Chapel Bridge and Lion Monument.
🚌Trains Titisee → Zurich → Lucerne ~£33
🛏Hostel in Lucerne (~£40/night; Switzerland is pricier)
- →Zurich Old Town self-guided walk
- →Chapel Bridge & Lion Monument
- →Lake Lucerne waterfront
Mount Pilatus or Lucerne exploring
Lucerne, Switzerland
Optional day trip up Mount Pilatus — take the bus/train to Alpnachstad and the world's steepest cog railway (book the Golden Round Trip ticket ~£55-70 on pilatus.ch, or hike part of the way to save). Alternatively, a much cheaper alternative is Rigi via the Gotthard/Arth-Goldau route or the free lakeside walks and the Swiss Transport Museum. Evening farewell dinner of fondue or rösti at a budget restaurant.
🚌Local bus/boat to Alpnachstad ~£8
🛏Hostel in Lucerne (~£40/night)
- →Mount Pilatus Golden Round Trip (optional)
- →Or Rigi / lakeside hike
- →Fondue farewell dinner
Depart from Zurich
Lucerne → Zurich, Switzerland
Take the direct IR train from Lucerne to Zurich Airport (~1h, ~£13). Depart from ZRH. If you have a few spare hours, a day locker and a final walk along Lake Zurich make a nice send-off.
🚌Lucerne → Zurich Airport train ~£13
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Final lakeside walk (optional)
Self-launched vs. Collette
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Collette | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,490 | £3,950 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,460 per person (62%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Collette-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,490
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Alpine Countries by Rail & Bus: Vienna to Lucerne (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,490 per person for 12 days in Austria, Germany & Switzerland. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Collette?+
Yes — Collette charges around £3,950 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,490 — a saving of roughly £2,460 (62%) per person.
How long is the Austria, Germany & Switzerland trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through Austria, Germany & Switzerland.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, adventure, budget trip through Austria, Germany & Switzerland, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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