Hi, we are planning on going to Vienna, Salzburg, rent a car in Salzburg, drive through Bavaria to Zurich, where our flight departs. We have 2 full days in Vienna, 1 day Salzburg, 4 days rental car for Bavaria, 1 day Zurich. Does this intinerary make sense? I am having a hard time deciding how much time to spend driving and where. We want to see some Bavarian castles, is 4 days enough, should we drive around Austria as well, are we shorting ourselves with only one day in Zurich? Any input is welcome. Thanks!

Sorry, forgot to include the time period: early September through mid September. Thanks!

4 Days through Bavaria sounds great. You might take a car trip to Hallstatt (Austria) and Berchtesgaden before checking out of Salzburg - they're both close by. The Alpenstrasse is a popular east-west route. The usual stops south of Munich - Garmisch, Mittenwald, Fussen, the Wieskirche, are all great, but between this area and Zurich you'll find some other towns of interest as well, including Oberstdorf, Ottobeuren and Memmingen (a bit to the north), and Lindau and Meersburg on Lake Constance (Bodensee). I wouldn't give up any of these places for a day in Zurich.

Thanks for the prompt response. Even though all these names look the alphabet soup to me. I will be getting a Michelin map to orient myself. Thanks again!

I would spend 2 days in Salzburg since you will arrive in the PM--especially if you stop in Melk and Hallstatt enroute--which is a good idea. Look at the route thru Gmuden and to Hallstatt and then to St. Gilgen. The Lakes area near St.Gilgen is worth a day. You do not need that much time in Bavaria.

Hi bobnavigator, Thanks for the tips. Given your response are you under the impression that we are driving to Salzburg or are these day trips outside Salzburg? We were planning on taking either the train or a boat from Vienna to Salzburg. I don't know if a boat trip is worht the extra time, and I'm not even sure the Danube is high enough for a boat trip?

Oops! I'm looking on a map and the Danube only goes to Linz. Would it be worth while to do a combo boat/train trip from Vienna to Salzburg?