Raad

Hello,

I'm getting married in late November and planning to go Austria / Switzerland for my honeymoon (roughly 27- Nov to 11 Dec). I would like to explore nature, art, culture, adventure, Shopping, Music, maybe skiing, but I am open to anything that would make my trip more memorable.

I'm planning to drive and I found three routes:

1- Vienna, Salzburg, Zell am see, Innsbruck, back to Vienna
2- Zurich, east side of Switzerland, Innsbruck, Zell am see, Salzburg, Vienna
3- Opposite to 2

I'm not really interested in skiing and winter sports, I would like to know which of these routes is the best in terms weather ? is driving a good idea in this time of the year ? and what would be duration to spend in these cities? I'll appreciate other suggestion and recommendations.

Thanks.

PalenQ

There is another driving route I think -like the quickest train connection Innsbruck-Salzburg goes via Kufstein, Germany if you want to get out of the high Alps area say if weather is poor but not nearly as scenic as Innsbruck-Zell-Salzburg, a longer route.

kja

I would not try to drive -- public transportation is excellent, allows the driver to take full advantage of the often magnificent scenery, and means you can ignore the difficulties of driving if the weather is bad.

Option # 1 doesn't make much sense to me -- why backtrack to Vienna? Flying out of Munich would make more sense, I think, particularly once you consider the costs (in time and money) to backtrack to Vienna. And if you must fly into and out of Vienna, put all of your time in that city at the end of your trip if at all possible.

With #2 and #3, I think you really need to decide what you want to see in "the east side of Switzerland," particularly because Zurich is not in the east of that country, and I think you'd need to decide what to SKIP if you want to see all the places on these itineraries.

If you haven't already done so, I strongly recommend that you get the <i>Michelin Green Guide</i>, or another good guide book, ASAP and think through what it is that YOU want to see and experience -- that's really the only way I know to decide how much time to give various places.

Congratulations and best wishes!

Sue81

Hi, I agree with figuring out what you want to see, your interests. If you like music, you might google the Vienna Opera House and see what is on at this time, tickets can be purchased over the Internet. We saw a part of Wagners Ring there, pretty amazing. I do like Vienna, the coffee houses, the palace (Hapsburg?), the Spanish Riding School with the gorgeous horses (get internet tickets ahead to be sure to get in), museums/for Art the Belevedere Palace with it lovely collection of paintings (Klimpt still there I think).

Salzburg, the salt mine tour outside town is interesting, long wooden slide down into it, where German rockets were about to be made. Home of Mozart, marionette theater,much more.

Switzerland....I love all of it.

PalenQ

I would not try to drive -- public transportation is excellent, allows the driver to take full advantage of the often magnificent scenery, and means you can ignore the difficulties of driving if the weather is bad.>

I agree especially at that time of year - can always get icy roads. Anyway for lots of great train info check: www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.seat61.com.

PalenQ

Raad- what do yuh think?

Raad

PalenQ: google maps shows two driving routes and both go through Kufstein, Germany

kja: I wanted to backtrack to Vienna to visit the Christmas market at the end my trip, so I won't carry more stuff through the whole trip. I wend and purchased travel guide to these countries, it does help. Thanks a lot.

Sue81: thank you, great places, I will make sure to visit them. amazing.

PalenQ: I wanted to drive because it gives more freedom and as I was told it's more fun and I won't have to carry luggage between trains. but considering the weather I will use the train. Thanks.

Raad

Thank you all for you help,

I decided to change my trip route to this:

- Munich, Zell am see, Salzburg, Vienna

kja

Sounds much better to me -- enjoy!

fourfortravel

Do you have a particular reason for visiting Zell am See? The area is fabulous for hiking in the summer, and for skiing in the winter, but perhaps you might enjoy those days instead along Wolfgang See as a day trip or overnight from Salzburg. The markets in the three villages are charming, especially in the evening; plus, there is a ferry to take you between all of them.

(http://www.wolfgangseer-advent.at)

Raad

fourfortravel: I wanted to try winter sports and go to Swarovski Kristallwelten Wattens without staying in Innsbruck.
but, I have not considered Wolfgang, such a beautiful place I will include in my trip. Thanks alot.

PalenQ

Zell is sweet but I also prefer St Wolfgang area for sheer beauty.

PalenQ

Munich, Zell am see, Salzburg, Vienna>

replacing St Wolfgang for Zell would also mean less travel.