Tour 73 - From Prague to Vienna with 2 hours sightseeing stops in Linz and 3 hours in Mauthausen (total 5 hours sightseeing included)
This sightseeing transfer from Prague to Vienna is the perfect trip for those who want to get to know a bit more of Austria as well as increase their knowledge on World War II history. Besides, it allows to split the 4-hour trip from Prague to Vienna into three shorter ones.
Elected as the European Capital of Culture of 2009, Linz is Austria's third largest city, right after Vienna and Graz. Located 2 hours away from Vienna, Linz is filled with pastel buildings and beautiful churches. Although plenty of tourists choose it as the destination for their day trips out of Vienna, Linz is not overflowing with tourists and is a remarkably calm historic city.
Although it is not as impressive architecturally as Vienna or Salzburg, Linz is still a very beautiful city. The Danube river guarantees the city's beauty and offers excellent opportunities to go on one of the many river cruises available. A 2-hour stop might not be enough to fully explore everything Linz has to offer, but it is plenty of time to walk through its Old Town and to relax in one of the many cafes opened by young entrepreneurs. It is also enough time to see some of the major tourist attractions of the city.
After Linz the next stop is the Mauthausen concentration camp. This stop is more serious and not as relaxed as the previous one, it is excellent for those who want to know more about World War II history. Mauthausen was one of the last liberated extermination camps during the war. During the 7 years it was active, over 350 000 people passed through it. Although no official records are available, it is estimated that 105 000 people died at the camp. Mauthausen's guided tours are available in several different languages, it is also possible to explore the premises unguided.
Due to the nature of the stop at Mauthausen it is understandable that more sensitive individuals might want to leave the camp earlier than the agreed-upon time. If that is your case please talk to the driver and he will accommodate your request.
During both stops passengers are free to explore the locations on their own and their bags will be kept safely in the car.
What to visit in Linz
Schlossmuseum Linz
The Linz Castle overlooks the Danube and has been standing as a fortress since the 9th century. Although the main structure was built around the 16th century (and rebuilt after a fire in the 19th), the Schlossmuseum houses several important historical collections and artifacts.
St. Martin's Church
St. Martin's Church is located just by the Linz Castle. It is one of the oldest churches in Austria still preserved in its original form, which dates back to the 8th century.
Suggested schedule and tour itinerary:
Traveling from Prague to Vienna via Linz and Mauthausen:
8:00 pick up in Prague
11:00 Arrival to Linz
11:00 - 13:00 Tour of Linz
13:00 Departure towards Mauthausen
13:30 Sightseeing with or without local guide in Mauthausen concentration camp and memorial (guide is paid extra on the spot)
16:30 Departure from Mauthausen to Vienna
18:30 arrival to Vienna
Pick up point in Prague:
At the hotel: the driver will meet you at the hotel lobby
At the apartment: the driver will be waiting in front of the building
Other: to be agreed
During the sightseeing: you can leave the luggage in the car / minivan, the driver will stay with the car, your luggage will be safe and you can enjoy the sightseeing without any hassle.
Pricing:
Prices includes VAT, diesel, wage of the driver, car rental, all fees and taxes. The tip for the driver is not included, however the driver will never seek for the tip. Tipping is voluntary. The payment can be done in CZK, EUR, USD or credit card. The credit card payment is made in Czech currency according to current payment policy. The parking fees are included.
Photos of Mauthausen and Linz
