Day trip to Vienna
 

Hubby and I in our late 50's will have about 4-5 days to be in Austria the end of April. We are not big on larger cities and prefer to stay smaller towns and train to the larger ones. With that said is it doable to stay in Salzburg and train to Vienna? Or would that just be silly. Our interests are not so much museums... more scenery, good food and wine/beer. We will be celebrating our 40th anniversary as well so any restaurant suggestions would be appreciated...scenic with good food and wine.
Thanks in advance for any comments.

If you are in Salzburg and prefer scenery to museums it would make more sense to visit the lake district.

Of course it's doable. There is a train between them and it's not that far. The trains take between 2:20 and 3 hours each way, so I'd pick a train that is the shorter time, sure (Railjet are shorter than IC). Also, some go to the central rail station and some to Westbahnof. Either one is fine as they both are on Ubahn lines which will go to the center.

If you really want to see Vienna, why not. I've done day trips that took that long, that isn't really that bad to me, you have most of the day there and are worn out by 5-6 pm anyway, when you can go back.

I think if you want to see Vienna's grand buildings and some of the famous old cafes, it's worth it. Depends what you really want for scenery. I don't care for Viennese cuisine any way, but don't think you'll find a lot better food there than in Salzburg. FOodies may disagree if there is some famous restaurant you want to go to, I don't know. I'm not a veal fan. YOu can obviously drink beer and wine anywhere.

Salzburg though not a huge city liie Vienna is a fairly big city - if looking for a smaller town base chose one between Vienna and Salzburg and day trip to each as well as the Lake District and Hallstatt if into an Alpine Wonderland.

If Salzburg is a base then you can easily day trip even to Munich by train - in under two hours or to Innsbruck, etc. Austrian trains are great - check Westbahn trains for cheap walk up fares as opposed to Austrian Railways - they have cheap tickets too but you have to book in advance as they are sold I believe in limited numbers on each train. For lots on Austrian trains check www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

Or split time between Vienna and Salzburg - I based in St Poltein a nice regional town and day tripped into Vienna once - convenient for the Wachau Valley boats too.

Indeed a base in the Austrian Lake District could be sweet if you want to avoid big cities but be at their doorstep to visit them - like in St Wolfgang, about an hour from Salzburg by postal bus - and a fairly scenic route. Also can easily train to Vienna from there or other Lake District (a k a Sound of Music Country) base. Easy to day trip to wonderful Hallsatt too:

https://www.google.com/search?q=aust...HcRkArMQsAQIHg

https://www.google.com/search?q=hall...HdwzD1YQsAQIGw

The way you describe yourselves and your interests, I think a day trip to Vienna would be a waste of a day for you on your anniversary trip. If you were keen on Viennese pastries, might be fun, but otherwise, head for something likely to ring all your bells. That is not the super-urban Imperial capital of Vienna with its smoky restauarants.

Thank you so much for all your help. I hadn't thought of the lake district due to the fact we are heading to Lucerne or Interlaken as well after Austria so figured that would be our Lake Area...however the Austrian lakes district looks wonderful...like the idea of training either to Salzburg or Vienna ... had wanted to do a Wachau Valley wine tour. A concern I have is that we will be there in April and thought the weather would not be good for the boats?
We are in Europe for a month so maybe we will pick another place for our dinner.

A day trip to Vienna from Salzburg is entirely doable, but given your interests the value of the time spent probably isn't worth it. The weather could be anything from gray to spring-like; the "cafe culture" has become absurdly touristic; and while we have enjoyed two very good special occasion meals in Vienna, neither would warrant a day trip from Salzburg. On the other hand, DH and I spent a lovely long weekend in St. Wolfgang at Im Weissen Rössl, including dinner one evening at their restaurant. The meal was memorable, and I am always plotting for a way to return, if even just for lunch. :)

If you really want to enjoy Vienna, you must stay at least a full day and a full evening there: spend the evening in a Heurigen (at Grinzing or so) and sleep there.

BTW: Vienna doesn't only mean museums, castles/palaces and Hunderwasser houses, but a lot of music and theatre performances, wine cellars with Schrammelmusik, Danube boat cruises, Prater fun Park (with the oldest big wheel of the world).....

....and there are of course tons of charming small towns around Vienna, along the Danube river, at lake Neusiedl and in the Hinterland.

Try for a few more days in Austria and base in both Salzburg and Vienna areas - a day trip to Vienna from Salzburg is not nearly enough to get the feel of the unique city - at one time not long ago one of the world's major capitals.