cindyjo

Hello, looking for some advice for a 1 night stay.

We will be in Vienna for 5 nights (we arrive early morning of the first night). We then will take the train to Salzburg for 4 nights (14-18 December). We would like to rent a car for 1 of those nights with an overnight in the Wolfgangsee area in order to explore a bit more than a day trip would allow.

Which town would you suggest?

Is our time in Salzburg enough to warrant this side trip?

Thanks for any help.

michelhuebeli

If there is snow, it's worth going, but will you be equipped?

If there is no snow, it may not look like what you expect it to look like - be realistic.

As far as accommodation - any of the towns nearby will do, look at
http://wolfgangsee.salzkammergut.at/en/winter.html

Helsie

St Wolfgang looks nice.

joannyc

Loved staying in St. Wolfgang. Visited St. GIlgen but liked St. Wolfgang better.

Trophywife007

I think St. Wolfgang would have more hotel options that St. Gilgen but both are lovely towns that are easy to access by car; however, I don't know the limitations if there is snow.

4 nights is a nice stay for Salzburg but taking one night away for the lake district could be a good investment, again, depending on how well the weather cooperates.

wunderbar2

Cindyjo, is your upcoming trip this December? If so and you haven't booked you may want to do it soon. We'll be staying in St Wolfgang December 2-5 and due to the holiday activities we booked a few months ago. It's a busy time all over this area but so picturesque with the Christmas markets and the beautiful setting, with or without snow in our opinion. We've stayed in St Wolfgang before and have visited during December several times, yes, I think it's worth taking a day away from Salzburg, however it's an easy drive from Salzburg so another option would be going for the day.

fourfortravel

Though you are outside of the opening of the Wolfgangseer Advent (18 November), some of the Salzburg Christmas markets will have begun, but lodging may be a challenge in both places. Im Weissen Roessl is a lovely place to stay in St. Wolfgang, should you be lucky enough to find availability.

The Salzkammergut makes for a memorable day trip from Salzburg, providing the weather is cooperative. Layers of grey upon grey, obscuring the mountains, can be disappointing. At this time of year, perhaps staying in Salzburg and taking a day trip on the best weather day is a good idea.

pja1

Hi cindyjo,

Yes, spending a night in either St. Gilgen or St. Wolfgang makes perfect sense. I'd go with St. Gilgen or very close by. The Christmas Markets along the Wolfgangsee (St. Wolfang, St. Gilgen and Strobl) will be open 12/15 to 12/18 this year.

http://www.wolfgangseer-advent.at/me...hours-140.html

You could include a cruise on the Wolfgangsee plus the steam train trip in St. Wolfgang and the cable car trip in St. Gilgen.

http://www.wolfgangseer-advent.at/hi...oat-trips.html

http://www.wolfgangseer-advent.at/hi...eam-train.html

http://www.wolfgangseer-advent.at/hi...in-advent.html


In fact, you could base in this area and make a day trip to Salzburg, plus another day or half day to Hallstatt.

Paul

Trophywife007

Oooo, I like Paul's plan.

pja1

Thank you

We did trips in early December to this area in 2010 and 2013. Snow was not an issue at all. Even on "dreary day", which we had only one of, the lights and smells of food, chestnuts roasting, wood fires going to warm up by, the village and town Christmas Markets were still wonderful.

cindyjo

Thank you so much for this great info although I am still conflicted about what to do.

We are 5 whole days in Vienna, 4 nights in Salzburg and 1 night before flying in Munich. We plan on taking the train from Salzburg to Munich on 18 December.

Does it make sense to take an early train from Vienna to Salzburg, rent a car and drive to Wolfgansee, stay overnight, explore the area and return to Salzburg for the two nights remaining before our return to Munich?

Or should we rent a car and drive to Wolfgangsee from Vienna by way of a scenic route. Spend the night and stay the last 2 nights in Salzburg.

After 5 nights in Vienna, will we miss much by cutting Salzburg to 2 nights instead of 4.

Thanks for any help.

maxima

The historic center of Salzburg is not that large, and you can see most everything in 2 days. Also the train runs frequently to Munich, so you can select the time you wish to depart.

You should check the availability of accommodations in the lake district. I liked St Wolfgang, its larger than St Gilgen, and the town center is mostly a pedestrian zone.
I stayed at the SeeVilla, which is on the lake, and just two blocks or so to the center. The rooms have a variety of décor.

It will take less time to take the train and then pick up a car in Salzburg and may cost less to return it in the same city. Also daylight hours are short in December, so seeing the sights en route may be a bit more curtailed after dark.