Hello! I hope that this post doesn't appear twice, but the one that I posted earlier tonight seems to not have made it. I would love to hear from those of you who have traveled in Austria, particularly Innsbruck, <BR>Salzburg and Vienna. I am in the process of doing the planning for our first European trip. I have 5 or 6 days left with which I can play around with; we will be coming from <BR>Northern Italy by train. Everything that I have read on this forum says go to Switzerland to see the Alps, but my 17 year old daughter would love to go to Austria, so I am doing some comparing. Please give me your thoughts and suggestions. I have filled a briefcase with ideas from this forum. I enjoy it very much. Thanks so much.

I just got back from this region. I'm not a city fan so be forewarned. But, the countryside around the Zugspitze (just south or Reutte) and the Salzkammergut (especially Hallstatt) are beautiful beyond description.

I'd vote for Austria. Innsbruck has the mountains, Salzburg is absolutely charming and Vienna is the former center of the Hapsburg empire. So you get scenery, charm and history in one package! I travelled by bus many years ago from Italy to Innsbruck [over the Brenner Pass I think]. It was breathtaking. <BR>Transportation and tourist facilities are efficient and excellent. Warning: Vienna is very *very* *EXPENSIVE* <BR>

My vote goes to Austria. Absolutely the most beautiful and cleanest country I have visited (close tie with Scotland). Salzburg alone is worth the trip across the Atlantic (am going back again for the 4th time this Spring). Austria, like Switzerland is expensive, but I believe less so than Switzerland. Vienna is an absolutely beautiful city with incredible architecture and parks. Take a day trip to Durnstein by train, the boat takes too long, and enjoy a small village. Also you may want to visit the Abbey at Melk. Try Stiglbrau or Gosser for an incredible beer. I believe that you will like it, have a great trip!

I haven't been to Switzerland so it's <BR>hard to compare, but I went to Austria <BR>for a week last July (4 days Vienna, then <BR>3 days Salzburg). I liked Salzburg a <BR>lot. Not crazy about Vienna--just thought <BR>it rather ugly in many parts (very surprising) <BR>and not that much interesting to do. <BR>Didn't think their museums were very <BR>good at all (but I'm used to NY, London <BR>and Paris). But, the people were nice <BR>and there's enough to see for 2-3 days; <BR>4 days were too much, I got bored and hopped <BR>a bus for a day trip to Budapest <BR>(it's only 150 mi away). This was a <BR>great idea; I loved Budapest and the <BR>weather was a lot better there than <BR>gloomy, rainy Vienna. I will comment <BR>that I really disagree with remarks <BR>on how expensive Austria was. I had <BR>read such things before on this board <BR>and elsewhere, but costs in Vienna and <BR>Salzburg were very reasonable--both <BR>were less expensive than Paris and <BR>much cheaper than London. I got a <BR>large double room in a well-located <BR>4-star pension in Vienna for only $95, <BR>and a double in a very, very nice 3-star <BR>hotel (Hotel Elefant) in the old district <BR>of Salzburg for only $120. <BR>Food was cheap (complete dinners with <BR>dessert, coffee and wine for only about <BR>$25 in nice restaurants), drug store items weren't <BR>bad at all, and a coffee in a cafe was <BR>less than in Paris (only about $2-3, I <BR>think, in comparison to Paris $4 or so). <BR>So, I wasn't that crazy about Vienna, <BR>but I've heard Switzerland is more <BR>boring than Austria (except for the <BR>scenery, of course). Anyway, don't <BR>less the cost scare you away.

Vienna boring? <BR>The omnipresent Hapsburgs edifices can be oppresive after a while, but there is plenty of history there available and interesting. The Hofburg [and the treasury], the Belvedere [with a *great* view of the city] and Schonbrun [impressive in any season]. I agree that *some* of the museums are disappointing. [The modern ones in particular] BUT to call the Kunsthistoriches "second rate" as the previous poster implied is far from the truth. I too have visited museums in most major cities in Europe [and have lived in Philadelphia and Chicago with frequent visits to NYC]What I have found is that each museum and city has its strengths. When I think of Paris I think of the Impressionists. When I think of London I think of the Turners at the Tate, or the Elgin marbles at the British Museum. But when I think of Vienna I think of the largest collection of Peter Bruegels [sp?] anywhere, as well as a pretty fair run on the Italian Renaissance. It is a *major* museum by any criterion. <BR>I do agree entirely that Budapest is a jewel [still rough around the edges]. There I would recommend the National Museum [excellent history exhibit... very up to date in terms of how it is presented], the National Gallery [on Castle Hill] where you will find the history of Hunharian painting. It's fascinating to see the major movements of art filtered thriugh the Magyar aesthetic and mind. The third isn't a *great* museum. It's the Museum of Fine Arts on Hosok Terre. It is the paintings by "foreigners", i.r. non-magyar. Very few names we would recognize from our art history text, but instructive to see that there are many interesting and excellent artists outside the art history pantheon that guides "major museum" collecting and exhibiting. <BR>Whew! You got me going there <BR>

We rented a car in Salzburg, and stayed in Schladming, a tiny winter resort town in the mountains about an hour away. There is SO much to see! The castles in and around Salzburg, and spectacular Hallstatt. We drove to Vienna, staying off of the highways and on the smaller roads, beside the Danube - stopping at interesting places through the day. Melk Abbey was fascinating. <BR>A high point in Austria is always the music - both Salzburg and Vienna are so full of marvelous music-related sites, concerts, and superb listening experiences even just walking around the shopping areas! <BR>

<BR>To all of you wonderful people who post on this board, I say thank you. I have now been planning our first trip to Europe for about 6 months, and I have received so much helpful information from the kind, generous people who frequent Fodors. I am now in the final stages of planning, and after reading all of the recent postings, we will conclude this very special trip in Austria. I hope that the postings that I reply to are received in the same manner as which I have received all of the wonderful opinions and advice. History will prevail on this trip! I feel as though many of you are my friends, though we only communicate via <BR>a travel bulletin board. Thanks again. <BR> <BR>Kathy in South Carolina

Kathy, I'd like to add a few words about Vienna. My wife and I spent 5 days there in '97. We both love cities and spent the trip in Berlin and Prague as well as Vienna. In terms of charm and beauty, Vienna was our pick of the three. It reminds me of Paris in many ways, with lovely gardens and parks and urban vistas. The Kuntshistoriches Museum -- the big art museum -- has a world class collection of renaissance paintings, great Durers and Cranachs as well as Bruegels and many others. And while I'm tone deaf, the music is pervasive enough to make some impression even on me. In addition to the palaces and other sites that have been mentioned, St. Stephen's is spectacular, the Vienna Secession (early 20th century) buildings are worth seeing, and Freud's apartment is among the most interesting house museums I've been to. If you and your family like this kind of stuff, I hope you're able to spend some time in Vienna. Have a good trip, Joe