huntersmom

We are going July 1 to 15 to Austria. I don't have any set itinerary other than I want to incorporate a few days in the Dolomites and to be able to drive the grossglockner road. My question is if 4 days is a decent amount of time to spend in the trentinto region (obviously you could spend months there but we only have 2 weeks) We were thinking of seeing selva Val Gardena and Bolzano but are pretty open to suggestions. We do like hiking but don't want to drag hiking boots with us. I was thinking to start 3 days Vienna, take train to Salzburg then take car for dolomite portion of trip then the rest was pretty nebulous other than to try to end up back in Vienna for the last 2 or even 3 days. Thanks in advance.

neckervd

All depends on the places you plan to visit in Trentino.

I understand that you plan to go by car from Salzburg to Bischofshofen - Bruck (and may be Zell am See) - Grossglockner - Lienz - Toblach - Cortina d'Ampezzo - Corvara in Alta Badia - Ortisei - Seiseralm - Bolzano/Bozen and then into the Trentino, either along the motorway or via Mendelpass or via Lavazze Pass.

You can of course spend more than a week along this itinerary, but if you want to see more places in Trentino (like Lake Garda, San Martino di Castrozza or Madonna di Campiglio) and spend at least 4 days there, you will have to do the Northern part rather rapidly. Everything is possible.

huntersmom

I was thinking of staying maybe in selva Val Gardena for 4 days and use it as a base to see towns/ do some short hikes in the area. we understand we can't see it all (too bad *sigh*) but don't want to totally short change ourselves. I roughly allocated 6 days for Vienna/Salzburg and 4 for dolomite road/stay in that area. That leaves us 4 days as available to spend how we want in Austria.

neckervd

So, you are no longer interested in Trentino.
I think it's a good choice, as 2 weeks are by far not enough for Austria, South Tyrol AND Trentino, anyway.

pja1

HI,

It's very simple. I'd allow 5 nights if possible, with one spent on the way to the Dolomites.

Leave Salzburg and drive the Grossglockner. Stay a night in Heiligenblut, an extremely picturesque village with outstanding alpine scenery at the southern end of the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse.

Next day drive to the Alta Badia via Cortina d'Ampezzo. Stay here for 3 nights.

Drive back to the Salzburg or Berchtesgaden area via the Brenner Pass and Innsbruck.

Drop car and head to Vienna.

The passes in the Dolomites rival and exceed the scenic Grossglockner in my opinion.

Paul

pja1

To get the the Val Gardena in about 4 or so hours, drive to Innsbruck, head over the Brenner and then take the A22 to the Val Gardena exit, about 1:30 from Innsbruck.

The Gardena Pass, our favorite drive in the Dolomites, connects the Val Gardena and the Alta Badia. In a small area you have the Gardena, Sella, Pordoi, Campolongo, Falzarego and Giau passes.

You could easily drive the Gardena, Sella, Pordoi and Campolongo passes in a "loop drive" easily in less than a full day.

pja1

If interested, our Dolomite pics (10/03, 10/06 and 9/09) are at:

www.flickr.com/photos/pjbassplyr/sets

Paul

huntersmom

Thanks all - lots to think about. Really looking forward to this trip!

huntersmom

Paul thanks for photo link