To all, We are planning our first trip to Austria and are trying to do so with direct flights. For example flying into Zurich and returning by Munich. In between we will be traveling by car in Austria. Can this be done in a painlessly?

What trains are there from Zurich & Munich to cities in Austria?

What cities would you recommend seeing along the way?

We are not skiing so what months would best for traveling?

Greg

We did something very similar last year. We had a Eurail Pass, so train travel was easy. There is a train from Zurich to Munich, it takes about 4 hours. We bought some goodies at the Zurich train station (there is a great food hall downstairs with a bakery) and had a delicious lunch on the train (better & cheaper than train food).

We traveled by train from Munich to Salzburg, then to Hallstatt (you are met by a ferry boat at the train stop & the ferry takes you to Hallstatt). We also took the train from Hallstatt to Vienna.

We drove in Germany, not Austria, but I am guessing that driving in Austria would be about the same. Try to avoid driving in the cities.

Austria is gorgeous!!

Hi Greg,

Train schedules, prices and tickets are at www.bahn.de.

>What cities would you recommend seeing along the way?

Go to www.viamichelin.com and plot a route from Zurich to Salzburg via St. Anton and St. Johan in Tirol.

You can stop off in Fussen if you wish.

I would probably suggest flying into Munich and training down to Salzburg to pick up your car. Austria is a great country to drive in, and is certainly painless.

I would definitely suggest seeing some of the Salzkammergut....Hallstatt, St. Wolfgang and St. Gilgen, etc. All are lovely towns on gorgeous lakes in picture-perfect settings.

If you are traveling from Munich to Zurich, I probably wouldn't suggest going any farther east of the Salzkammergut unless you have quite a bit of time before you have to be back in Zurich. Otherwise Vienna, and the Wachau Valley about an hour from Vienna, are both great places to visit.

We were in Salzburg in May and it was wonderful. Slightly chilly at times, but most of the tourists were still at home so the crowds were minimal. We were in Vienna in February a few years ago and it was beyond cold. I would never go back to Vienna during that time of year, mainly because it was too cold for us do much walking, but the city was lovely nevertheless and I would love to go back.

You will love Austria. Of the 15 or so countries I've been to, Austria is my favorite.

Tracy

Hi Gregg,
We did this trip a few years ago...it's a circular route...
Flew to Munich, got our car and drove to Salzburg (very easy) for 3 nights. We spent a day driving to Hall in Tirol (Innsbruck area) stopping along the way and stayed another 3 nights. We then drove to Fussen (another 3 nights) stopping to go to the top of the Zugspitze from the Austrian side. We saw Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau and Linderhof Castles, Weis Church, Obermammergau, etc. based from Fussen. We then drove back to Munich, stopping at Anedch Monestary beer garden for lunch (great place), to fly home.
www.regionhall.at
www.badl.at
www.stadt-fuessen.de
http://www.moevenpick-hotels.com/hot...promotions.htm
Hope this helps in someway.

paul