tripplanner001

Instead of spending all eight of our nights in Vienna - as much as we enjoy the city - we are now thinking about spending four nights there and dividing the rest up two nights each between the Wachau Valley and Salzburg. We will be there during the last full week in November.

Even though we've visited Austria in the past, it was during the summer months on both occasions. We also find that guidebook information about winter travel to the area is very limited.

Given the time of year, is there enough to keep us occupied in the Wachau Valley to merit two nights, which we equate to one-and-a-half days of sightseeing, wandering about, and Christmas markets? Are there Christmas markets here, and are they open then? Among Melk, Durnstein, and Krems, which would be the best base at that time of year?

Thanks.

nytraveler

You just need to be aware that days re very short that time of year and while the weather can be great (brisk and sunny) it can also be chilly and rainy. Limiting yourself to outdoor activities on any particular day can be an issue - unless you set things up so you can switch out days from country to indoors.

tripplanner001

NYTraveler, thank you for the warning. It's part of the gamble given the time of year, I suppose. It was mostly cloudy and drizzly when we were in Budapest last year, and given the geographic proximity, I'm anticipating similar. Still, Vienna is one of our favorite European cities and we want to experience the Christmas markets again.

fourfortravel

I think I mentioned on your previous post that the weather in the Wachau and Salzkammergut is rather hit-or-miss in late November. The autumn festivals are over, the vineyards are bare and dreary, and the Christmas markets are just opening (some only on weekends), with Advent starting 29 November. There is not enough to do in Krems for 1.5 days of sightseeing indoors; and no indoor sightseeing in Durnstein to speak of. Of the three cities, Krems is the largest and will have more to offer by way of restaurant variety and stores.

Perhaps consider either adding one of the Wachau nights back to Vienna and seeing Melk as a day trip, and adding the other to Salzburg; or, visit Melk en route to Salzburg and staying four nights. There are a number of day trips you could take from Salzburg in the event of inclement weather.

tripplanner001

Fourfortravel, thanks again. I read your previous post but somehow missed that there may be enough indoor activities to occupy us. Instead of doing one night in the Wachau, I'm thinking we may be better off visiting Melk (I'm mindful of the limited hours at the abbey) or Krems on the way from Vienna to Salzburg, and if the weather is particularly bad, skip it altogether.

In terms of day trips out of Salzburg, I am aware of Berchtesgaden. Are there other outings that come to mind for the time of year? Most of what I find seem to be summer options.

We could always go back to plan A and spend our entire time in Vienna but there didn't seem to be that much in the way of day trips out of the capital, again, given the time of year.

Other options that I had considered - Tyrol and Krakow - seemed too far and involved too much travel with eight nights.

Appreciate your input, fourfortravel.

fourfortravel

The variety of inclement-weather day trips from Austria depends on your interests and transportation. We are gone practically once each weekend on day trips to investigate our adopted country and its neighbors, though we have our own vehicle to spirit us away when the mood hits.

For touring Melk Abbey, keep in mind that the tours are guided in November and offered only at 11:00 and 14:00.

If you decide to base in Vienna...Graz is just a couple of hours away and touring Schloss Eggenberg is worthwhile. Their Christmas markets open 20 November, and the city is full of great places to eat.

By train, Brno (CZ) is about two hours away. The Vila Tugendhat, where the Czchoslovakian "Velvet Divorce" was signed can be toured with advance reservations; the construction is Mies van der Rohe for design enthusiasts. If you go, buy your tickets on the Czech train site; the tickets will be much less than on ÖBB. I haven't yet seen the market dates for Brno yet.

Bratislava's Christmas markets are small, and with your time table probably not worth the half-day outing, but the Danubiana Melensteen Art Museum would be worth a day. I think the museum is accessible via bus from Bratislava.

In Györ (H) there is a winter festival that opens on 27 November to include Christmas markets. About 2 hours by train.

From Salzburg, Herrenchiemsee is about an hour away, not counting the boat ride. Innsbruck is a couple of hours away for a taste of Tirol; their Christmas markets will be open, too. There is a spectacular monastery, Kremsmünster, that can be reached and toured in a day from Salzburg by public.

tripplanner001

Forfortravel, thank you so much. We plan on doing most of our travel by train, but don't mind taking buses to places that are not reachable by rail. You've given us plenty to consider (again, thank you). And based upon this info and our interests, we may go back to spending all eight of our nights in Vienna and do day trips. Looks like it will be between that and dividing our time between Vienna and Salzburg.