Fifteen days through Alsace and the Alps, for two
Half-timbered villages in Alsace, the spa town of Baden-Baden, Bavarian peaks, Austrian lakes and Swiss mountain chalets: a slow, scenic honeymoon by train and car through the heart of Europe.
Full 15-day trip for two, door to door from the USA
Where the money goes
Estimated budget for two over 15 days, in US dollars. Summer and ski-season peaks raise alpine hotel prices.
| Category | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| International flightsUSA ⇄ Strasbourg via Paris or Frankfurt, return from Geneva, 2 people. | $1,300 – $2,600 |
| Accommodation (14 nights)About $220–$550 a night: Alsatian inns, spa hotels and alpine resorts. | $3,080 – $7,700 |
| Meals and diningWine-route dinners, beer gardens and alpine huts. | $1,400 – $2,400 |
| Activities and experiencesSpa entries, cable cars, wine tastings, lake cruises. | $500 – $1,000 |
| Transport in the regionRental car with cross-border fees, or rail passes. | $900 – $1,500 |
| Ground totalAll costs on the ground, excluding international flights | $5,880 – $12,600 |
| Grand totalFull 15-day trip for two, door to door from the USA | $7,180 – $15,200 |
Estimates only. Prices vary by season, departure city and availability.
Suggested 15-day itinerary
France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Each stop shows the estimated cost of your stay.
Strasbourg & Eguisheim, France
- Strasbourg Cathedral and the canals of Petite France.
- Drive the Alsace wine route to Eguisheim and Colmar.
- Tastings of Riesling and Gewürztraminer.
Baden-Baden & Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
- Thermal baths at Friedrichsbad and Caracalla in Baden-Baden.
- Drive to Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
- Zugspitze, Germany's highest peak.
Zell am See, Austria
- Lake Zell and the Kitzsteinhorn glacier.
- Day trip to Hallstatt.
- Grossglockner High Alpine Road in summer.
Innsbruck & Längenfeld, North Tyrol, Austria
- Innsbruck's Golden Roof and Nordkette cable car.
- Aqua Dome thermal spa in Längenfeld.
Champéry, Switzerland
- Chalet village under the Dents du Midi.
- Cable car and mountain walk.
- Fly home from Geneva.
Special notes for an intimate escape
Alpine romance.
Private spa suite
Spa hotels in Baden-Baden rent private spa suites with sauna and bath for couples by the hour.
Lake dinner
Book a lakeside table in Zell am See as the mountains glow in the evening light.
Logistics and travel tips
Getting around
A car gives the most freedom on the wine route and in the Alps; Swiss motorways need a vignette.
Best time to go
June–September for hiking; December–March for skiing.
Entry
Check ETIAS requirements for the Schengen area.
Money
Euros everywhere except Switzerland (Swiss francs).
Plan the Alsace and the Alps trip at $239 – $507 per person a day
Browse tours and activities, or compare it with our 15-day Thailand honeymoon.