Austria & Hungary
 

Planning a driving trip, can you give suggestions for a day trip Salzburg to Vienna ? Places to stop along the way,.We are staying over 2 nights in Vienna, then again driving to Budapest in a day, staying on the Buda side.

I am not sure I understand this. You are staying in Salzburg, want to make a daytrip to Vienna, go back to Salzburg, move on to Vienna for a 2 nichts stay, and then proceed to Budapest?

Time of year? That may influence recommendations. Without knowing that, I'd recommend the Wachau valley---specifically Durnstein.

LisaG

Will have done Salzburg, then heading to Vienna the next day. just wanted some travel ideas for scenic stops along the way. will stay 2 nights in Vienna, then again driving to Budapest . August trip

OK, no day trip.

Scenic stops along the way:
Fuschl am See
Mondsee
St. Wolfgang
St. Gilgen
Gmunden
Grein
Steyr
Melk

If you like to stay on the direct route, I'd also suggest the Wachau valley.
Take motorway A1 east to Melk (Monastery!). Follow highway 3 along the Danube via Dürnstein to Krems. Motorways S5/A22 from Krems to Vienna.

If you wanted to add some real mountains (without actual mountain driving), you could take a more Southern route:
Motorway A10 to St. Michael im Lungau (extra toll for Tauern tunnel). Highway 96 east till you hit highway 317, which becomes S36/S6/A2 to Vienna.
There are many Southern routes which cut through the many valleys and offer great vistas of the "real mountains", but also options to drive across the mountains.. so if you prefered a "mountain route", this could be scaled from "quick/ mostly motorways" to "all day, via pass roads and scenic by-ways".

Look up Gyor and the Archabbey at Pannonhalma both halfway between Vienna and Budapest. Worth the stop and an overnight if you have time. As good as Melk, maybe better.

Want to see the sights where the sound of music was filmed, especially the meadow surrounded by mountains. we can drive... Did not want to go on a Tour.

Also staying in Buda isn't really optimum.