mmmooommm

My son (20 year old) is in school in Vienna, we (husband and self) are visiting in early October for ten days, flying in and out of Vienna.

Want to spend a first several days in Vienna, staying in the first district (I suppose). See the basics, then rent a car for some exploring outside of the city with plans to be in Salzburg for a few days, turning in the car upon arrival in Salzburg and taking the train back to Vienna for our flight home (probably spending another two nights in Vienna).

Concerns. Don't like to pack too much into a trip, too many destinations, etc. Prefer to see the mountains and smaller areas, taking advantage of having a car for this four or so day period. Don't mind spending money on a nice place to stay, if there is something unique to do/see. Budget isn't huge concern, but don't mind simple either! Ideas of where to go? The cities I can plan well enough, but the countryside I don't have as much information on.

Would appreciate any input on this! Thanks so much!!

mmmooommm

Hotel König von Ungarn? seems to be recommended for Vienna, and reasonable. 900 for 4 nights, don't mind paying a bit more if something sparks your fancy!!

NorCal_Jo

Since you mentioned mountains and smaller areas, I highly recommend the Salzkammergut region since you are driving to Salzburg. It is gorgeous!!

My husband and I did a similar trip two years ago (but with our young kids) where we spent 3 days in Vienna, picked up a rental car at the Vienna airport and then drove a scenic route to St. Wolfgang am wolfgangsee (on the lake) from Vienna which was an easy and beautiful drive. We stayed 4 nights in St. Wolfgang and used it as a base to explore the nearby villages including we did a day trip to Salzburg. We then drove back to the Vienna airport to fly out (took the more direct route to make it a loop).

We had investigated St. Wolfgang vs St. Gilgen and a few other towns but settled on St. Wolfgang and were very happy we did as it was a perfect place for us and so beautiful. Goggle St. Wolfgang and once you see the photo's you'll want to be there!

I recall seeing several very nice looking hotels. We ended up staying in an apartment owned by a family that was lovely as we wanted a kitchen and more space for our kids. There were several good restaurants and coffee shops as well as some shopping, grocery etc....

PalenQ

Halstatt is an Alpine Wonderland - the Lake District (a k a Sound of Music Country) just east of Salzburg makes a sweet area to motor thru - stay a few days in Hallstatt and drive via Bad ischl to say St Wolfgang, on an idyllic Alpine lake and the proceed to Vienna - one real nice route for neat scenery:

https://www.google.com/search?q=Hall...=1600&bih=1099

https://www.google.com/search?q=st+w...=1600&bih=1099

You can drive along the Wachau Valley - a gorgeous stretch of the Danube with many vineyards and wine towns:
https://www.google.com/search?

q=wachau+valley+images&es_sm=93&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CB4QsARqFQoTCL2Ao_vdzMcCFQdYkgod-GcPzg&biw=1600&bih=1099

If you wish to visit a Nazi Concentration Camp Mauthausen is right on the way - near Lienz, a really nice large city.

mmmooommm

yes, reading about Hallstatt, also the drive at Grossglockerner Road (might be a bit far).

Aiming to travel lightly, but too many 'one night stays' can get the best of me.

NorCalJo, I will investigate St. Wolfgang as a stay as well. Did you find your place thru VRBO or the like?

PalenQ, glad to see a second for Halstatt. That seems to be an easy drive from Vienna. And hub had mentioned the concentration camp option between the two cities.

Thinking....nine nights total

arrive and 4 nights in Vienna

3 nights on the road (1 in Halstatt area, 2 in Salzburg)

2 nights in Vienna

NorCal_Jo

Hi

For both Vienna apartment and St. Wolfgang we used www.holidaylettings.co.uk (which I think is owned by tripadvisor). I've attached the link to the actual apartment we got in St. Wolfgang - the owner was very nice and the apartment perfectly located.

http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/ren...olfgang/199955

I assume you are trying to maximize days in Vienna due to your son but if I were you I would rather spend more time around St. Wolfgang or Halstatt vs in Salzburg since you'll already have plenty of "city" time.

tms777

Question??? I will be going to Vienna from Prague. I will have 3 or 4 days (Sept. 30 leaving on plane from Vienna on Oct 4.) Is that enough time to see the highlights of Vienna and than drive to Halstatt and Wolfgang and back to Vienna to fly home? I would love to see the countryside, mountains of Austria. Thank you for your thoughts.

fourfortravel

mmmooomm and tms777, living in Vienna, I will add the caution that weather in late September/early October can be unpredictable out in the Salzkammergut. We've attended our daughter's cross-country tournaments out in St. Gilgen at that time of year in rain, cold, and beautiful postcard-perfect settings. Having a Plan B might be a good idea.

tms777, the drive from Vienna to the Salzkammergut is ~3hours one way. The "highlights" of Vienna can take a visitor anywhere from a day to a week or more to explore, depending on interests. How you divide your time will depend on what you want to see in both Vienna and the Salzkammergut (Hallstatt and Wolfgangsee.)

mmmooommm

yep, a big part of me must wants to stay in Vienna the whole time, I am just not one for lots of moving and packing. thanks for the input, this is oct9-18, funny, the information shows this as a fairly dry time, but you never know!! thanks all!

mmmooommm

or maybe skip Salzburg?

annhig

in Vienna we stayed in the Hotel Austria - very well positioned, very friendly, very quiet and an easy walk from everywhere you want to walk to, plus good access to the excellent public transport.

http://www.hotelaustria-wien.at/en/?...FQHkwgodvGoHcQ

do get your son to show you one or more of the wine taverns called "Heurige" - lots of fun with their own wine [as indicated by a fir tree displayed above the door] and good food.

on the way between Vienna and Salzburg you should try to drive along the Wachau valley, in particular the stretch between Melk and Krems, which is lovely, and includes the Stift Melk which should definitely be included in your trip.

We too stayed in St Wolfgang but on the outskirts near the start of the Schafbergbahn - the little train that takes you up to the top of the mountain overlooking the lake:

http://www.schafbergbahn.at/en_uk.html

in retrospect we would have been better staying in the town, or in St Gilgen, which is also very nice.

we had 3 nights in Salzburg which I thought was quite enough, but perhaps the dreadful weather we experienced might have coloured our view.

PalenQ

fairly dry time>

fairly dry for this area could be rather wet compared to much of Europe.

http://www.holiday-weather.com/vienna/averages/october/

syas chance of a sunny day 17%
rainy day 43%

Avg hi 57 F not bad avg low 43 F not bad.

bring good rain gear and an umbrella.

mmmooommm

will do! I can bring rain to the Sahara!!

Thinking of parking our behinds in Vienna and day trip a bit. The days of packing lots of moving around are behind me!

Searching VRBOs etc.

Thanks annhig for the input.

I get tired just thinking of a packed schedule!

annhig

I get tired just thinking of a packed schedule!>>

I hear you, mmmmooommm. you would have to work hard to run out of things to do in Vienna especially with someone around to give you all the insider's tips. We ended up changing our schedule because of the terrible weather and back-tracked to Vienna, spending time in Baden, Gumpoldskirchen, Grinzing etc as well as the city itself.

Melk and Krems can be done as a day trip by train and/or boat but would be best saved for a nice day.

Cathinjoetown

I agree with Annig. First, I'm always recommending the Hotel König, I love the look, the size, the service, the food and wonderful location, tucked on a narrow street behind the cathedral. The concierge could not have been more helpful.

Melk and Krems is a great day trip, Salzburg is wonderful for maybe 2-2 1/2 days, we drove there through the lakes but didn't stop in the lakes area overnight. Depends on what you like to do but I would be happy spending 7 days in Vienna with a day trip or two and a few days in Salzburg.

Twice we got good package/promo rates at the Goldener Hirsch in Salzburg. Ersatz Austrian country hunting lodge motif but very, very lightly and well done. Fabulous location.

mmmooommm

thanks for the tips, just checked the Konig, and right at 2000 Euro for nine nights. we always get apartments, but may consider this...fortunately it is an off time to come, so there are lots of availabilities. We have had some great luck (Venice comes to mind) with rentals, but have also stayed in some really odd places (Rome apt was quite odd). And despite pictures, and reviews, can be surprised.

A nice, well located and smaller hotel sounds pretty good. So, thanks for that.

He is doing quite a bit of touring (our son) so I am sure would love to show us "his Vienna"...especially on our credit card! And playing it by ear with the weather sounds like a plan.

So really , nailing down the lodging, then comes the fun! Thanks all! Keep it coming!!

PalenQ

I get tired just thinking of a packed schedule!>

Yes and sometimes the bigger the tourist mecca the more packed your schedule becomes - you may love a few days in Hallstatt with little on the agenda and play it by ear or do nothing except sit on your hotel balcony and marvel at the views!

If you do do Hallstatt - drive to Salzburg thru the Lakes District via Bah Ischl and stop somewhere for a few hours and end up in Salzburg.

mmmooommm

PalenQ...ok, so IF we attempt Salzburg, which I kinda hate to not do...but then, the laziness/relaxing factor sets in...ok, suppose we do it, perhaps just one night in Salzburg driving thru the above, but no need to stay overnight there?

or to not go nuts...should I do two nights in Salzburg, lingering thru the first day in the above, the full day in Salzburg, spending the night, and driving back a different way, perhaps seeing Mauthausen?

The above doesn't sound too maniacal.

PalenQ

PalenQ...ok, so IF we attempt Salzburg, which I kinda hate to not do...but then, the laziness/relaxing factor sets in...ok, suppose we do it, perhaps just one night in Salzburg driving thru the above, but no need to stay overnight there?>

Yes though it is obviously a longer drive to go via the Lake District it will be, at least seeing it, reason to come back later - have lunch in say St Wolfgang. Hallstatt is too much a detour to drive thru en route from Vienna to Salzburg.

Michael

These pictures, especially those of sites between Vienna and Salzburg, might give you some ideas of what to see:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...57622926792957