Austria with a touch of Switzerland in 8 days
 

We, a family of a couple with 2 kids (4 and 7 years of age), have a trip to Austria and Switzerland planned for next month. Landing date in Vienna is August 05 and departure on August 13 so it makes about 8 days of excursion.

Our focus is Austria with a touch of Switzerland. Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Interlaken and Lucern are some of the places we have found interesting via internet research.

a) Experienced travelers are requested to guide us in planning the tour itinerary.
b) The suggestions on weather, clothing and accommodation would also be welcome

Thanks and regards
Sohail

Where do you fly home from? Will you have jet lag? With only eight days you don't really have enough time for Austria, never mind Switzerland.

For train schedules see bahn.de

I agree with thursdaysd - it takes a whole day to go between Salzburg and Lucerne or Interlaken just about and back to Vienna is a long way (though there is I believe an overnight train Zurich to Vienna) - are you going by train - for cities like you mention it makes sense - for lots of train info yes see www.bahn.de/en for schedules of all trains in those countries and www.seat61.com (tips on discounted fares and discount train company Westbahn); www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com)

Substitute Hallstatt in Austria if you want to see the high Alps in all their glory as you would in Switzerland.

I, too, am vacationing in Austria in August. With everything I read, Halstatt is the absolute place to see and go.

Out of everything we have planned so far, that is what I am looking forward to the most.

Just do a google image search or search on pinterest "Hallstatt, Austria"

Hallstatt is beautiful, but also small and very popular (one of Rick Steves' back doors that is no longer a back door). You might also consider Zell-am-See, which I used as a base for visiting Krimml waterfall and the Grossglockner High Alpine road - both by public transport.

Photos here:
https://kwilhelm.smugmug.com/Travel/...t-Zell-am-See/

but in Hallstatt you are smack dab right in the high Alps - rugged peaks from your hotel balcony perhaps.

Zell-am-See is sweet too but to get to the high Alps takes a while - if you have time good too. Zell is a very popular resort to with Europeans.

I've been to both and Hallstatt the town and the lake and the soaring Alps itself is much more awesome place - from the train you take a boat to go across the idyllic Alpine lake Hallstatt sits on (or a bus around the lake at times).

I've been to both, I preferred Zell. And if they're going to Innsbruck they can go up to the Stubai glacier for serious mountains.

Folks!! Switzerland is a must due to some psychological reasons :-)

a) In order to save time, we are ready to use aerial route
b) We may also reduce the number of destinations
c) We aren not fond of a lot of walking and mountauins. Priorities are natural scenery and old architecture however at least cabe car ride is a must

In light of these points, please suggest an ideal 8-day itinerary for Austria and Switzerland.

Thanks

Vienna and Murren and Lucerne.

this seems interesting.

How many days do you recommend for each destination??
Can we make Lucerne the base and have day trip to Murren from there??

Regards
Sohail

I'd love to try and help, but including Switzerland makes so little sense. Do you realize you can enjoy the alpine scenery in the Innsbruck area, Zillertal , close to Innsbruck, Zell am See and then add Salzburg. Even that's too much for 8 nights starting and ending in Vienna.

@pja1 your point is understood but we do not want to COVER Austria as a whole. Vienna was selected for landing because of more votes in its favor as compared to Zurich. Switzerland is my wife's dream destination so we cannot afford to compromise on it. Our itinerary is becoming a serious challenge, i realize :-)
Hope you'd understand and help/

You still haven't told us where you fly OUT. How do you expect a sensible itinerary without that info? And if it is Vienna you messed up.

Correct, if you want to see Salzburg and some sights in Switzerland,a logical fly-in airport choice is, believe it or not, Munich. But let's assume You are locked into Vienna. Can you drive? One idea is to rail to Innsbruck from Vienna or Salzberg, then rent a car and drive down the Inn river valley (Called the Engadin)to the town of Scuol and on to St Mortiz. You want great scenery? Trust me, the Inn Valley has killer scenery, then the drive back to Austria is feasible. You can find reasonable lodging as long as you don't stay in downtown St Moritz, which has no fewer than THREE magnificant cable cars and a great funicular rail. Does this help?

<<Can we make Lucerne the base and have day trip to Murren from there??>>

No, not sensible. If you want to make Luzern your base (reasonable) then the logical day trip for great alpine scenery and a great cable car ride is Engleberg and Mt Titlis. With two little ones in tow, you have to be careful not to bite off a big time-sink. The train ride from Lucern to Engleberg cannot be more delightful, and frequent. You may observe my ideas don't show up on many guidebooks.
H-E-L-L-O O!! that would be the point.

@thursdaysd Sorry I missed it. We will coming from Dubai and departing for Ghana. Both are long flights.

@docdan Thanks. this seems really helpful. St. Moritz is adding the touch of Switzerland (so Lucern and Interlaken are out). Yes I can drive. Can you suggest per day itinnerary/plan?? (I hope I am not asking for too much)

Head to the Innsbruck area (killer alpine scenery is correct) or near Oetz (Oetztal -Oetz Valley is stunning), roughly the mid point. Stay a night. Then continue to the Berner Oberland. Stay at least 4 nights. This is what most see as quintessential Switzerland. Stay in the alps, Wengen or Muerren. Head back to Vienna stopping once or twice on the way back.

I was asking whether you were flying both in and out of Vienna. If so, you will waste time backtracking, and had better use docdan's route.

Please explain to your wife that the Alps run both sides of the Swiss border, it just costs you more money to visit them in Switzerland.

yes it in and out of Vienna

Ok, I would suggest you go straight from the Vienna Airport via rail to Salzburg, this will allow your group to nap after the flight.
5-7 Salzburg
then on the 7th rail to Innsbruck
7-9- Innsburck
On the 9th (or so, depending on when you can book Hotels)
rent a car and drive to St. Moritz
If you stay two nights in one of the hotels in and around St MOritz, they will give you a day pass for Cable cars and other public transportation, a good deal at

http://www.engadin.stmoritz.ch/somme...sive/#/page.9/

So that leaves you in St Mortiz, 9-11, then on the 11th, you return to Vienna, either driving the whole way (with a drop off fee) or return to Innsubruck and rail the 4-5 hour trip back to Vienna. I promise you'll get your Alpine view and cable car orgy in the Engadine and in and around St Moritz.
If you need more time in Vienna, then just stay one night in Innsburck.