Hello to everyone. Located this site while researching a trip to Linz, Austria next month. I could sure use some help from the knowledgeable people here.
My wife will be competing at the World Masters Indoor Championships there. While she is busy with some of that, I want to get out and explore some of the country while I have the chance. I really want to see some of the Alpine areas. Besides visiting Salzburg during the trip west across the country, what would be the best place to go to and what transportation? Auto or Train? I am leaning toward the auto as it gives more freedom and appears to cost less. I will most likely only have a couple of days to explore so a dash to Switzerland and back is probably what I am facing if I want to get a good look at high alpine views/towns. Any thoughts would be most appreciated.
DS

Hi D,

I take it that you are going to Linz, Austria and not Linz, Germany.

>Besides visiting Salzburg during the trip west across the country, ..<

From whence are you coming to Salzburg?

While you are in Salzburg you could go to Garmisch and Innsbruck for some mountain views.

Before you go dashing off to Switzerland to see high alps, you should take look at how long it will take you to drive it.

To see the bigger peaks you will need to travel to Grindelwald/Lauterbrunnen or Zermatt/Saas Fee.

From Linz the distance is fairly long. It is over 400 miles and takes about 7 hours if you don't stop much.

It can be done, but in March there is the danger of snow.

I suggest you think in terms of the
Ötztal, which is west and south of Innsbruck. The peaks around Obergürgel and Solden are snow and ice covered and the relief is relatively great.

If you were there a little later I would suggest the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse, but it will be closed because of the icy conditions that persist well into the spring.

Don't sell the Austrian Alps short. They are very dramatic in the snow.

Thanks for the input, Ira and Brookwood. Ira, I was coming from Linz, Austria. I had heard that Slazburg was a definite place to see yet I wanted to see some of the true alpine towns in the Alps that I had heard about and had saw in pictures for years. I know that two days is a mad dash yet it may be all that I have and it's hard not to take the chance while over there so I guess I'll head toward Innsbrook based on both of your comments. For such a short time does a car more sense?
Any other thoughts appreciated.

Why don't you make Salzburg your "headquarters" for the few days that you have and drive from there on dxay trips to (1)Berchtesgaden (a good hour's drive), where you can take the gondola lift to the top of the Jenner (to get there, take the road from the RR station toward the Koenigsee; the parking lot for the lift is on your left). (2) Another day trip is beyond Berchtesgaden on the Alpenstrasse (Alpine Highway, a very well maintained scenic road) to Lofer, Saalfelden and Zell am See (about 2 1/2 hrs.) There you can take the cable car up to the Schmittenhoehe which affords you a great view of the Austrian and Italian alps. (3) Finally, you can also take a day trip to Hallstatt. Take autobahn south of Salzburg to Golling, then head east to Hallstatt.

Remember, to drive on Austrian Autobahns you need a user's decal (vignette)which you can get at most service stations.

This schedule strikes me as less of a mad dash than driving to Innsbruck.

Thanks for the insight Treplow. Sounds very interesting with the lift rides. Something different than just being inside a car or train all the time. Sure that it will make for some good photo ops while doing so. I will definitely look into that. While I'm there if anyone is close by let me know and maybe we can say have a drink or just say hello. 14-03-06 through 22-03-06
Anything else that comes to mind, please write.
Thanks again for everyones assistance.

Switzerland, as the others already told, is simply out of reach from Linz in two days. The route is very unpleasant to drive (I've driven it quite often), and you'll need one whole day to reach Switzerland and one whole day to return - without seeing a single Swiss mountain, as the eastern edge of the country is flat almost like the great plains.
Innsbruck & the Tyrol seems more realistic, but by no means comfortable. I share treplow's view - and I add that even nearer to Linz, there is beautiful and famous Alpine scenery: in the Salzkammergut! St. Wolfgang, Mondsee, Bad Aussee, Altaussee... for the better part of the 19th and 20th centuries, this was the most famous and the best-loved part of the Austrian alps!