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The basilica of Mariazell standing below the Styrian mountains

Austria & Germany Pilgrimages

Vienna, Mariazell, Salzburg, Altötting, Oberammergau and Munich

Ten days between the two national shrines, Mariazell for Austria and Altötting for Bavaria, by way of imperial Vienna, Melk Abbey above the Danube, Salzburg, Neuschwanstein and Oberammergau.

Departures

Current Tours to Austria & Germany

Upcoming departures to Austria & Germany. Each group has its own host, dates, and itinerary. The route below is our standard.

All current pilgrimages
The Route

Eleven stops between Vienna and Munich

Vienna, Melk, Krems an der Donau, Mariazell, Salzburg, Marktl am Inn, Altötting, Neuschwanstein, Oberammergau, Munich and Dachau.

Itinerary · EU_AT-DE-10D-01

Our Standard Austria & Germany Pilgrimage

This ten-day route runs from Vienna to Munich, and it is the only one of ours that reaches both national shrines, Mariazell and Altötting. Your group travels on its own dates, and the itinerary can be adjusted to fit the time you have and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

DAYS 1–4

Vienna and the Danube

The tiled roof and spire of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna
St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna
Day 1

Departure

Our pilgrimage begins with an overnight flight to Vienna. Dinner and breakfast are served during the crossing, and there is time to rest before the first morning in Austria.
Day 2

Arrival in Vienna

Our tour escort meets us at the airport and accompanies us by motorcoach to the hotel. The afternoon is free to settle in and shake off the flight, and the group gathers in the evening for a welcome dinner and the first prayer of the pilgrimage.Dinner and overnight in Vienna.
Day 3

Imperial Vienna and Schönbrunn

St. Stephen’s Cathedral is the Gothic heart of Catholic Vienna, and the Peterskirche stands a few steps away off the Graben. A guided circuit of the Ringstrasse takes in the Hofburg, the Opera and the Burgtheater, and the afternoon is at Schönbrunn, the Habsburgs’ summer palace.Mass is celebrated at St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Dinner and overnight in Vienna.
Day 4

Melk Abbey and the Danube

Melk Abbey is the great Baroque Benedictine house standing on its rock above the river. We tour the abbey and then take the boat down the Wachau, the loveliest reach of the Danube, past terraced vineyards and hilltop castles to Krems an der Donau.Mass is celebrated at Melk Abbey. Dinner and overnight in Vienna.
DAYS 5–6

Mariazell and Salzburg

The yellow baroque front of Melk Abbey above the Danube
Melk Abbey above the Danube
Day 5

Mariazell, the Salzkammergut and Salzburg

We cross the forested mountains to Mariazell, the national pilgrimage centre of Austria, and venerate the Romanesque statue known as the Magna Mater Austriae. The road to Salzburg then runs through the Salzkammergut, the lake district behind the Alps.Mass is celebrated at the Shrine of Our Lady of Mariazell. Dinner and overnight in Salzburg.
Day 6

Salzburg

The city tour takes in the cathedral, the Getreidegasse, the house where Mozart was born and a good many corners familiar from The Sound of Music. The rest of the day is free to walk the old town or climb to the fortress.Mass is celebrated at Salzburg Cathedral. Dinner and overnight in Salzburg.
DAYS 7–8

Bavaria and the Alps

The Chapel of Mercy on the central square at Altotting in Bavaria
The Chapel of Mercy, Altötting
Day 7

Marktl am Inn, Altötting and Munich

We cross into Bavaria to Marktl am Inn, where Pope Benedict XVI was born, and on to Altötting, called the Lourdes of Germany. Its Chapel of Mercy has drawn pilgrims for more than five centuries, and Benedict came here often as a boy.Mass is celebrated at the Shrine of Our Lady of Altötting. Dinner and overnight in Munich.
Day 8

Neuschwanstein and Oberammergau

We drive into the Bavarian Alps to Neuschwanstein, the castle King Ludwig II built out of his own imagination, and on to Oberammergau, which has performed its Passion Play every decade since the villagers vowed it during the plague of 1633.Mass is celebrated at the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Oberammergau. Dinner at the Hofbräuhaus and overnight in Munich.
DAYS 9–10

Munich and home

The old town of Munich with the twin domes of the Frauenkirche
The Frauenkirche, Munich
Day 9

Munich and Dachau

The Marienplatz and its Glockenspiel are the centre of Munich, and the Frauenkirche is the cathedral of Our Lady. In the afternoon we go out to Dachau, where we remember the victims of the camp, among them many priests and religious, and pray for peace.Mass is celebrated at the Frauenkirche, Munich. Dinner and overnight in Munich.
Day 10

Return home

We transfer to Munich Airport for the flight home, with the intercession of Our Lady of Mariazell and Our Lady of Altötting and two national shrines behind us.

Why leaders choose Canterbury

“Canterbury treats you like family! They handle everything, from creating exciting itineraries to managing calls, registrations, and payments.”

Patrick MadridPatrick Madrid
Catholic Speaker, Author & Host of The Patrick Madrid Show on Relevant Radio®
MariazellThe national shrine of Austria, and the Magna Mater Austriae in her Romanesque chapel
Photograph to come · Mariazell
Dates

Your group travels on its own dates.

Tell us the window you have in mind and we will build the itinerary around it: the time you have, and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

Your pilgrimage includes

Tour Package Includes

These inclusions can be easily tailored to the individual needs of your group

  • Daily Mass at the churches we visit
  • Round-trip group airfare
  • Airport transfers on arrival & departure
  • 4-Star hotel accommodations
  • Private motorcoach transportation
  • Breakfast & dinner served daily
  • Wine served with some dinners
  • Dedicated tour manager
  • Licensed guiding & admission fees
  • Porterage service at hotels
  • Whisper headsets when touring
  • Tips for hotel & restaurant staff
  • 9 – 5 PM (EST) reservation support
  • 24/7 travel emergency support
  • Canterbury Mobile App
For the group leader

What you get as the group leader

You travel free.

Every group earns complimentary places. The more pilgrims you bring, the more you earn. How complimentary places work

No financial risk.

If the group does not fill, deposits are returned. You owe nothing and neither do your pilgrims. What happens if a group does not fill

We produce the promotional materials.

Flyers, a registration page, and what you need to invite your people. Our guide to promoting a pilgrimage

We handle your pilgrims.

Registrations, rooming lists, payment plans and the phone calls. How leading a pilgrimage works

In your pocket

The Canterbury Mobile App

Every pilgrim in your group gets the app. Their itinerary, hotels and flights, the prayers of the day and a way to reach one another, all in one place and kept current as the pilgrimage unfolds.

  • Group chat

    Your whole group in one thread, so a change of plan reaches everyone at once.

  • Their itinerary

    The full day-by-day schedule, always current, in every pilgrim’s pocket.

  • Hotels

    Where the group is staying each night, with addresses and dates.

  • Flights

    Flight details kept alongside everything else, not in a separate email.

  • Daily prayers

    The prayers of the day, including the Liturgy of the Hours.

  • Shrine passport

    A keepsake record of the shrines your group visits along the way.

  • Live updates

    Times and meeting points pushed to everyone the moment they change.

Photographs
Photograph to come · The Shrine of Our Lady of Mariazell
The Shrine of Our Lady of Mariazell
Photograph to come · Melk Abbey and the Wachau valley
Melk Abbey and the Wachau valley
The old town of Salzburg along the Salzach below Hohensalzburg fortress at dusk
Salzburg below its fortress
Photograph to come · The Chapel of Mercy at Altötting
The Chapel of Mercy at Altötting
Photograph to come · Neuschwanstein above the Bavarian Alps
Neuschwanstein above the Bavarian Alps
The stage and auditorium of the Passion Play theatre at Oberammergau
The Passion Play theatre at Oberammergau

What group leaders say

“They’re big enough to handle any problem that arises, and small enough to craft truly unique experiences.”

Chris StefanickChris Stefanick
Founder & President of Real Life Catholic
Before you ask

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to travel to Austria and Germany?

Groups travel from May through October. June and September bring long days and mild weather in the Alps, July and August are warmest and busiest, and the Advent markets run from late November. Mariazell and Altötting keep pilgrimages all year, and Oberammergau performs its Passion Play only in the decade years.

How physically demanding is this pilgrimage?

Moderate. Most days involve two to four hours on your feet, with walking on uneven ground, ancient stone, and steps at archaeological sites. Pilgrims who can manage a full day of sightseeing at their own pace do well. If anyone in your group has mobility limitations, tell us early and we will adapt the days around them. What activity level means.

What is generally not included?

Travel insurance, lunches, drinks beyond those served with included meals, personal expenses, and gratuities for your tour manager and driver. Any of these can be built into your package on request, so tell us what you would like covered and we will arrange it. Passports and visa fees are the one exception and remain the responsibility of each pilgrim.

Do I need a passport or visa for Austria and Germany?

United States citizens need a passport valid for at least three months beyond the return date and do not need a visa for a short stay. Both countries are in the Schengen area, so the crossing from Austria into Bavaria has no border control and the route counts as a single entry.

Can our priest celebrate Mass at the churches?

Yes. Daily Mass is built into the itinerary, and we arrange times and locations in advance with each church. Your priest should travel with a celebret or letter of good standing from his bishop or superior. We handle the scheduling.

How many pilgrims do you need for a group?

Most of our groups are between 20 and 50 pilgrims, and we can arrange smaller tours as well. We have also organized pilgrimages for groups as large as 2,500, so whatever size your group turns out to be, we can build for it. Minimum group size for a group flight.

Enquire

Interested in Leading a Pilgrimage to Austria & Germany?

A pilgrimage consultant replies within one business day. No deposit or commitment.

    Your Information

    Your Group

    First time? You are in good company. Many of our group leaders start right here, and we guide you through every step.

    Where You Would Like to Go

    Destinations of interest (check all that apply)

    These are some of our most popular destinations, but we build CUSTOM ITINERARIES anywhere in the world. If you do not see your destination, tell us below.

    Italy, Rome and AssisiFrance, Lourdes and ParisPortugal and FátimaSpain and the Camino de SantiagoPortugal, Spain and France togetherGreece and TurkeyThe Holy LandEgypt and Mount SinaiPoland, Prague and Central EuropeMedjugorje and the BalkansIreland and the United KingdomMexico and Our Lady of GuadalupeArgentinaPeruJapan, Nagasaki and AkitaUnited States and Canada shrinesA pilgrimage cruiseSomewhere else, or not sure yet

    When

    Group Size and Budget

    Complimentary places are arranged based on the size of your group. Let us know how many you expect so we can request them from our suppliers from the start.

    A Few Last Details

    Would you like sample itineraries emailed to you?

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