We can spend around 11 nights in Austria between Switzerland and Germany. I’ve been researching a lot and getting contradictory opinions about where to stay.

We were thinking of 2 nights in Innsbruck first, but many people don’t think it’s worth a stop. It would be convenient for us as we’ll be leaving from Thun in Switzerland and going all the way to Salzburg would be a long train trip. Is it worth a stop?

The next puzzle I have is whether to stay in Salzburg itself or the Salzkammergut. Some people say stay in one or the other, not both. I was thinking of splitting our time - 3 nights Salzburg and 2 nights Hallstatt or Bad Ischl. Would it be better to spend 5 nights in St Gilgen and do day trips into Salzburg?

The next quandry is whether to stay 4 nights in Vienna with a day trip to Melk to do the cruise to Krems, or whether to spend 2 nights in Melk itself and 2 nights in Vienna.

I would appreciate more opinions about all this from anyone who’s recently been to Austria. Thanks in advance.

I and most would chose Hallstatt over Bad Ischl for sure- not sure why folks would say stay in Salzburg or Lake District and not both. Salzburg being one of the prettiest cities in Europe IMO - If staying in Lake District - St Wolfgang is a favorite for many but anyplace there neat.

As relocating is IMO a time-consuming hassle I'd stay 4 nights in Vienna and day trip to Melk and Wachau Valley - can't really imagine spending two days there at expense of one day in Vienna. Take a public bus from Salzburg to Lake District and to Bad Ischl to hook up with trains to Hallstatt (station on other side of lovely lake - take a boat from station over- Hallstatt is awesome setting but little per say to do in town - rather excusions by bus and or train to the awesome high Alps and maybe a salt mine would be great, Anyway for loads on trains check Mega site of Bible Information - Austrian Railways or its low-cost competitor www.westbahn/com (on main routes only) - www.seat61.com is a font of useful info on booking own trains online - general info trains also9 www.ricksteves.com and BETS-European Rail Experts.

Munich to Salzburg you can use the bargain Bavaria Pass for unlimited regional train travel all day for 30-35 euros for both - ditto for day trips into Bavaria from Munichl

Thanks PalenQ

And what do you think of Innsbruck? I really need to know whether we should stop there for 2 nights or spend more time in Salzburg, Salzkammergut and Vienna. I’m interested in going up in the Nordkettenbahn, or taking a train to a mountain village if we do stop there.

I've been to Innsbruck several times and it is a nice city too - but it makes a much longer trip train-wise - you could easily do a day trip from Munich or Salzburg - Igls is a mountain town to head to from Innsbruck - take tram up there to Olympic Ski Jump area and do some gentle walking or hard trekking! Can't see cutting days off Vienna or Salzburg area as 2 days really means 1.5 figuring in relocation time and hassle.

But this is rather subjective - others will have differnt takes.

For others like me who had forgotten or did not know what Nordkettlebahn was:

https://www.austria.info/us/austria/...rdkettenbahnen

Just 20 minutes each way so could easily do both Igls or other mountain village on same day but spend a few hours strolling around Innsbruck itself - especially the cathedral area.

We’re actally getting to Austria from Thun via Zurich so Innsbruck is two hours closer than going on to Salzburg. It would be more convenient for arrival as we wouldn’t have to leave Switzerland so early.

Even if Innsbruck isn’t as interesting as Sallzburg, I thought with the mountain lifts/railways it might still be worth stopping there. But if it would be more worthwhile to add those days to Salzburg/Salzkammergut we could do that instead.

Hi jacooper,

I live only about 65 km from Innsbruck, but I've only gone there a handful of times. It just seems a bit underwhelming to me.

The old town area is about 15 or 20 minutes away by foot from the train station. The old town is a pretty area, especially near the river, but it's pretty small, just a few blocks. I don't think it's special enough to warrant a stop.

The trip from Thun to Salzburg is only about 7h, with 1 or 2 changes. Yes, going to Innsbruck would be quicker, at about 5h or 5h30. However, you need to factor in the time you'll "waste" with getting to a hotel, checking in, unpacking, and then doing it all again in reverse after a day or two. To me, staying in place for only another 2h would be the easier option, especially if you don't have a read desire to see Innsbruck. To me, a train ride has to be longer than 9h before looking for options. Train travel is actually fun & stress-free.

Have fun as you plan!

s

For me, Innsbruck is not as special as the villages and cities in the near, like Hall in Tirol and Seefeld in Tirol; or a little further afield, Reith in Alpbachtal. Seefeld is our preferred (we drive with our personal vehicle) and take day trips by train to Innsbruck when so inspired. Especially given that you will be in Salzburg (with the Schafbergbahn) and Vienna (with plenty of Baroque charm), I might consider skipping Innsbruck and adding days as your itinerary fills out.

Let your itinerary decide how long to stay in Salzburg, the Salzkammergut, and Hallstatt. We have visited the first two several times and can always find something interesting (hiking, wine tasting, photography in a different season, a concert, etc.) to fill a night or two, but your interests might suggest a different number of nights. I think five nights in St. Gilgen would be a bit much; the village is small. St. Wolfgang, though larger (and this is all relative), tends to have more to do in the evening.

Hands down, stay four nights in Vienna and day trip to Melk and Krems. Melk is small and the sidewalks roll up early; Krems is larger, but overall you'll appreciate evenings in Vienna.

I hope this is helpful.

Thanks Swandav

I think you’ve convinced me to continue to Salzburg. So you don’t think riding the cable cars up to the mountains or a day trip to Seefeld or Mittenwald would make it worthwhile stopping either? I guess the cable cars require good weather and that can’t be guaranteed.

Thanks fourfortravel

Do you think it’s worth staying in Innsbruck so we can do a day trip to Seefeld or Mittenwald then? But we’ll be in Germany after Austria so can see Mittenwald then too.

Or if we skip Innsbruck then we could have 4 nights in Salzburg, 3 nights in Hallstat and 4 nights in Vienna.

If you are interested in the museums at Innsbruck and Schwaz (actually Maasai exhibition), in the mountains around Innsbruck (Nordkette, Fulpmes/Stubaital), in the Svarovski Kristallwelten at Wattens or in the small medieval city of Rattenberg and it's castle, stop over at Innsbruck.
If not, you may look for alternatives like Bregenz or Lindau im Bodensee (3 1/2 hrs by train from Thun, 4 1/2 hrs by train from Salzburg).

Seems like you want to go to Innsbruck and for good reasons IMO so yes do two nights there and 2 less in Salzburg and or Vienna.

Your final itinerary truly depends on what your interests are, and how you can make it all work via train. I/we have taken visiting family and friends on day trips to Salzburg because they just wanted to visit the city; with other friends we have spent long weekends in Tirol because hiking is what they want to do (and we, as well). What are your holiday objectives and goals and wishes for the Austria part of your holiday?

I too have enjoyed day trips to Innsbruck but agree that it hasn't got enough there to justify an overnight when you could just press on to Salzburg, which has so much to offer not just in itself but also for day trips.

As Fourfortravel says, so much depends on your personal interests and traveling style. For example, however many times we tried, we just didn't like staying in those little inns in the country that look so charming as for us, there was so little to do in the evening - perhaps it's got something to do with living in the country. What worked for us was staying in a large town or small city and using that as a touring base so we got the countryside in the day and plenty to do in the evenings. So with the time you have I would probably opt for 4 nights in Salzburg and at least 4 in Vienna with perhaps a couple of nights in the Salzkammergut in the middle, if I could make the trains work for that.

So with the time you have I would probably opt for 4 nights in Salzburg and at least 4 in Vienna with perhaps a couple of nights in the Salzkammergut in the middle, if I could make the trains work for that>

Trains and buses work well for that - Salzburg - bus to Lake District and to Bad Ischl for trains to Hallstatt - train to Vienna - all very easy and fairly short hops.

Thanks for all the replies. I really only started to look for day trips from Innsbruck when I read that it wasn’t very interesting in itself. So we’ll definitely keep going to Salzburg now.

Hiking is something I’d love to do but can’t these days due to problems with my feet. As a result I enjoy being on trains to see the scenery and like doing day trips that don’t involve a lot of walking.

I love dramatic Alpine scenery and medieval towns with lots of interesting old buildings. As long as there are restaurants available in a town for dinner I’m not interested in nightlife.

I love dramatic Alpine scenery and medieval towns with lots of interesting old buildings. As long as there are restaurants available in a town for dinner I’m not interested in nightlife.>>

lol, we weren't interested that much in "nightlife" if by that you mean clubs and bars, but we did and I do still like theatres, concerts, ballet, plus the sort of buzz that you get from a vibrant town or city centre.

Hi again,

Yes, I personally enjoy staying in small country inns and in villages. Even when I'm not hiking, I can usually stroll around for an hour or two, and there are SO many trails close to public transport where you can lose yourself in nature for just an hour or two. You can just walk a few hundred meters down the trail, find a bench, and sit and soak it in. Or read a book or eat a picnic, etc.

It sounds like you have a good plan for your own preferences and abilities now! I know you'll have a great time.

s

OK. We tend not to go to concerts, ballet and theatre, so I’m not looking for that. We usually veg out in the hotel room after dinner - my feet are usually so sore from walking that all I want to do is rest them.

small country inns in villages may not always be that accessible by trains - cities make more sense but Lake District has great bus service between Salzburg and Bad Ischl (catch trains there for Hallstatt).