Rhaegar14

Dear friends,

Am traveling to Vienna from India during the last week of September. Have September 30th - Oct 3 to do some sight seeing. Was thinking of going to Regensburg by train on the 29th, overnight stay with a friend and visit the Oktoberfest at Munich the next day (Sep 30) .

From here I am a bit confused about whether to travel to Garmisch and then to Innsbruck and back to Vienna (all trains) for my flight home on 3rd or to visit other parts of germany like frankfurt/ stuttgart or fly to italy (rome/milan) or travel to interlaken in Switzerland by train?

I know that I have put up too many options but I thought that you might be the best people to answer this question. Which would be ideal for a 3.5 day vacation? New suggestions are also welcome.

And what is the best way to travel around Europe: the train or buses? I will be using public transportation. Not planning to rent a car. How do I book rail tickets? When I google, I get too many options for rail tickets....

It would be great if somebody gives me some clarity.

Thanks
Viktor

traveller1959

You do not have much time for your trip. Here my advice:

- Switzerland is too far away (the train trip takes at least 6 hours and a flight would you cost almost a day too). So forget it.

- The train to Garmisch takes just 1:22 and Garmisch offers moutain-feeling too.

- The ride from Garmisch to Innsbruck takes 1:19, but from Innsbruck to Vienna 4:16. This leaves neither time for each of these destinations.

- What you can do is a daytrip from München to Garmisch and then take the train from München to Vienna (4:01). But I would not recommend this. You have just 3 days and both München and Garmisch have much to offer. You can easily spend 2 days in München and 1 day in Garmisch. Or, if you really want a taste of Austria, better do a daytrip from München to Salzburg (1:34).

- I would not visit other regions in Germany (like Frankfurt or Stuttgart) - München and the Alps are attractive enough and you will be there already.

- A flight to Italy would be a completely different story. It will cost you at least half a day (with all the transfers), but then you will be in a different world and have two days to see either Rome (would be my recommendation) or Milan and the Borromaic Islands on Lage Maggiore).

The train system is easy to use, pretty reliable and fast. Long-distance buses are cheaper but much slower. You don't have time for buses.

For train tickets, use the website of the German rail company: http://www.bahn.de/p_en/view/index.shtml

You can book online, print your tickets (preferred) or send them to your phone and pay by credit card. If you book the saver fares be aware there is no change of times and no refund.

nytraveler

The ideal for a 3.5 day trip is to stay in one place and actually see something of it. This will avoid wasting a lot of your VERY limited time just getting from one place to another never mind the cost or train tickets all over hell and gone.

Unless you have been to any of these places before you will barely have time to see anything in 3.5 days (and I think you really have only 3 given your fights and your desire for a day trip).

Rhaegar14

Thanks for the quick replies... I forgot to add... Will be there in Vienna from 24-29 for work purposes... So will have ample time in between to explore Vienna... So there is no need to do sight seeing in Vienna later.

Pegontheroad

I would also stay in Munich and Garmisch. Do not underestimate the time it will take you to visit other areas, such as Frankfurt or Stuttgart. In my opinion, they don't have as much offer as Bavaria.

I'm an experienced traveler, but on my last trip, I made the rookie mistake of not allocating enough time in Tallinn after a 7-hour bus ride from St.Petersburg.

In Germany, I always take the train. It's easy and comfortable. Go to Deutsche Bahn for tickets.

fourfortravel

Rhaegar14, unless your work purposes allow you afternoons off, you'll likely not see much of Vienna during the week, as most museums close by 18:00, with stores following shortly thereafter. On Mondays almost all museums are closed, as well.

However, you will be in Vienna for one of our favorite events, and a rather unique one many travelers don't experience, the Wien Weinwandertag weekend. On 26 and 27 September the vintners open their small taverns in the vineyards along the northern edge of the city. One can sample the wines and small plates along an 11km trail. Even if you don't imbibe (alcohol free beverages are available), the views over Vienna are beautiful, the vines are at their prettiest, and it's the best chance to see smiling, happy Viennese. Reaching the vineyards is easy, too: catch the 38A bus from the terminus of the U4 to the "Grinzing" stop, and follow the crowds.

kja

"Which would be ideal for a 3.5 day vacation?"

Munich, and if time permits, a day trip.

And as for your time in Vienna -- depending on your interests, you may have very little leeway! I spent 4 full days there purely as a tourist, and didn't see everyhing I would have liked to see!

Cowboy1968

During Oktoberfest, I would only suggest to stay in Munich if you can stay with your friend for the whole time.
At this time, you won't find a hotel for anyless less than outrageously inflated rates and in mostly lacking locations.

Otherwise Munich would be a good hub to see Garmisch and other nice places in the region. While Oktoberfest is a zoo, most action is focused on the fairgrounds where it happens and does not really affect the other sights in town with longer queues.

If you want more Alpine countryside than Munich cityscape, you can either move on to Garmisch or Mittenwald, or straight on to Innsbruck.
Personally, I would suggest Garmisch as a hub for exploring nearby Linderhof palace or for a bit of hiking.
But also Innsbruck is a good choice, if you want a bit larger city to stay in than a smaller country town.

Going back to Vienna will take a bit more time from Garmisch than from Munich but if you take the regional train to Innsbruck and connect there to the faster Railjet trains to Vienna you avoid to backtrack to Munich and get a nicer scenery when you go via Innsbruck.

You should only get the long distance railway tickets (Vienna - Regensburg; Munich or Innsbruck - Vienna) in advance to make use of saver fares. Either via German Rail (bahn.com) or Austrian Rail (oebb.at).
The routes in between (Regensburg-Munich, Munich-Garmisch, Garmisch-Innsbruck) are on regional trains for which you do not need to buy tickets in advance as you don't get discounts and cannot make reservations. You can get regional discounts in the form of day passes for those routes in between, but as there is a myriad of offers, it will only make sense to advise on that once you finalized your itinerary.

Rhaegar14

Thanks for all the replies... So this is the tentative plan... Please let me know if something sounds really stupid...

23rd September: Arrive in Vienna at midnight; Stay at the airport and start to Salzburg early morning and check in there (Does it sound too difficult? will it be possible to bunk up in the airport?)

24th September: Visit Salzburg and o/n stay

25-29 Sep: Work in Vienna; Some sightseeing

29 Evening: Leave for Regensburg: Overnight stay

30 Early morning: Leave to Munich: Visit Munich and the Oktoberfest; Take the last train to Garmisch or the first one next morning (Again can I stay and sleep at the train station for few hours safely?)

1 and 2: Garmisch

3rd morning: Train from Garmisch to Vienna; Night flight from Vienna back.

Cowboy1968

(Again can I stay and sleep at the train station for few hours safely?)

No.

But as Oktoberfest closes much earlier than most anticipate (at 9pm), it is no problem to catch the train to Garmisch then.

Cowboy1968

sorry.. the Oktoberfest grounds do not close at 9pm. But last orders is around 10 or 10.30. Anyway, I think you will definetely have enough of it by 9pm or earlier if you get there already by mid-day.

maxima

Don't underestimate the effects of jet lag. You will be in Vienna to work, so you should be sure to catch up on sleep.

I would not go to Salzburg at the beginning of your trip before starting work. Its not likely you can just stay at the airport all night without going to an airport hotel. you will need to go to Vienna to get the train to Salzburg
take your things to a hotel, do some sight seeing and take a train to Vienna the next day where you are to begin work.. not likely you will be rested and ready to work with that schedule.