Austria
 

Hi
Every summer for the last 6 years me and my two boys take an extended holiday ...
anywhere from 4- 7 weeks.
We pick an area and rent a car and explore. This summer however due to a medical
condition I am unable to drive, so I have to build our itinerary around train travel.
I was considering going to Austria and using the trains to see as much as possible.
I can fly in and out of any airport. I was thinking Vienna, take the train to Salzberg,
then train to see
Werfen Ice Cave
Hohenwerfen Castle
Hallein Salt Mine
Hallstatt
Königssee

This is basically all I was able to research so far. I wasn't sure if this was the kind of trip you can do without a car. We a re planning on a month. My boys are 11 and 15 and are super travelers and love
to see and do everything - I don't have the worry to entertain them because they love just being on the road. If anyone has another train itinerary out there somewhere else I would be happy to hear that too!

Thanks in advance for the help

All places you mention can perfectly be visited as day trips from Salzburg (by public transport).
But in more than a month, you could also visit the real highlights of Austria.

Be sure to expose them to the splendors of Vienna !!

Can you please tell me tell me what other town you suggest :-)

Book trains at www.oebb.com ior www.westbahn.com - two train companies offering service on main east-west rail line - Westbahn always cheap but Oebb book as early as possible for cheaper fares. Local trains of course just buy at station.

Salzburg-Hallstatt is a long day trip so consider staying over. You can also take a post bus from Salzburg thru the fabled Lakes District (aka Sound of Music Country) - stay say in St Wolfgang and then bus to Bad Ischl to catch trains to Hallstatt.

For lots on Austrian trains check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

There is also an Austrian Railpass you may consider.

Kids would love a boat trip thru the Wachau Valley - you too - most scenic part of Danube - cute wine towns like Durnstein to stop off at: https://www.google.com/search?q=wach...w=1536&bih=759

Boats also I believe have bicycles to ride between docks over one of Europe's most scenic bike routes - paths along river.

Innsbruck with day trips. Zell-am-See with day trips. Graz. Achensee.

With that much time you could take the train to Venice, or Bolzano and a bus up into the Dolomites.

Time to borrow some guidebooks. And read seat61.com.

The official Austrian Tourism website (and the English-speaking online staff) have helped us craft numerous holidays with a variety or requirements. You might want to chat with them.

https://www.austria.info/at

Public boat traffic between
Vienna - Linz - Passau - Regensburg
Bregenz - Konstanz - Schaffhausen
ane local boats on
Lake Neusiedlersee
Lake Woerthersee
Lake Faakersee
Lake Millstaettersee
Lake Ossiachersee
Lake Weissensee
Lake Attersee
Lake Mondsee
Lake Altaussee
Lake Grundlsee
Lake Traunsee
Lake Hallstaettersee
Lake Wolfgangsee
Lake Koenigsee
Lake Chiemsee
Lake Tegernsee
Lake Starnbergersee
Lake Ammersee
Lake Achensee
Lake Plansee
Lake Forggensee

Other towns? Again the Lake District just east of Salzburg could be a nice base - take boats on Lake Wolfgang and take steam train up mountain behind town, etc.

And Hallstatt for some days - lots of easy excursions into high Alps - including another Salt Mine Tour.

Then move east towards Vienna.

fourfortravel who posts above lives in Vienna and travels to rural parts of Austria regularly so is a great resource to tap.

Oops landing in Viena - work west to Salzburg via Wachau Valley, Hallstatt, Lake District, Salzburg, Zell-am-See, Litzbuhel to Innsbruck and then over to Reutte which is a few miles from Mad Ludwig's Neuschwanstein Castles near Fussen. The Bavarian Alps are cool too - Garmisch-Partenkirchen makes a great base for several neat places like ascending the famous Zugspitze.

Your boys will love Werfen Ice Cave. It does involve quite a bit of uphill walking and around 500 stairs inside the cave but it is an experience you will never forget.

The Hohenwerfen Castle has a great raptor/bird show that your sons will enjoy. There is also a fantastic weapons display at the castle. Very interesting.

The salt mine in Hallstatt is a fun way to spend a few hours.

Your trip sounds wonderful!!