Greetings -

Our family of four (2 boys ages 14 and 12) will visit Austria for the first time this summer. We are so looking forward to our trip. We have not been to Austria before and I would very much appreciate comments/suggestions on our tentative itinerary: three nights in Vienna, one night in Hallstat, two nights in Hall in Tirol, two nights in Salzburg and our final night in Durnstein. We will rent a car in Vienna.

We enjoy the culture and energy of cities, but also like to spend time in smaller towns to really get a sense of the way of life of the country we are visiting. I am concerned that this itinerary might leave us feeling a bit rushed. On the other hand, all of the places listed sound so wonderful that we don't want to miss them.

All comments/suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

I think you should put Durnstein down as a place to visit and stay in nearby Weissenkirchen. Much less touristy and not as crowded. I always tell people that the more time in Vienna the better so you could consider an extra day there. I'm sure there will be many who will tell you that 3 days is more than enough for Vienna. I cannot understand that attitude at all, as we have been many times (at one point a month's stay) and still come back for more. Salzburg can be done easily on an overnight stay...maybe take a day for Grien, Enns, or the many wonderful villages along the Danube. Your kids (and you too) would love a bike excursion along the Danube.

Hi,
I think you're itinerary sounds pretty good. I know you can spend more time in Vienna, but this lets you see more of Austria. Actually, on our 4 trips to Austria so far, we haven't been to Vienna yet. Just my opinion (we don't care for 1 night stays)... you could cut staying in Hallstatt, add the night to Salzburg, and visit it from Salzburg. About an hour and a half drive (through beautiful countryside) each way (we did this). We happen to love Hall in Tirol. I can highly recommend Gasthof Badl (www.badl.at), we stayed there on 3 seperate trips, ask for a room w/balcony. Another recommendation (for dinner) is the Burg Tavern, right across the foot bridge from Gasthof Badl in Burg Hasseg. The Badl also has a very nice (and reasonable) restaurant.

Paul

I trust this is not the exact sequence of your trip, because it is sort of all over the place.

The logical - at least in my7 mind- sequence is: Vienna, Duernstein (with trip along the north bank of the Danube to Linz) and Salzburg. Then Hallstatt, Hall/Tirol and back to Vienna.

I agree that - given your time constraints - two nights in Duernstein is overdoing it.

You might consider just one night or the suggested alternative ( I have stayed in D., but not there.)

En route, you might cut across the Danube to visit Melk, and return to the road you are on. ( The road number is the B-1.
Think about a one day (overnight) detour to Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic. You would head north from Linz to Freistadt to the border, then turn left immediately after the border to Vassi Brod, but before you get to V.B turn right and follow the Modau on route 160 to to C.K. It has the second largest castle in the C.R, and the boys would enjoy it, I think. Good hotel: Hotel Ruze (Rose), a converted Jesuit Monastery overlooking the Moldau river. Return to Linz the way you came.

Take the A-1 Autobahn to the MOndsee exit (Exit# 265) and head to St. Gilgen and Salzburg.


From Hallstatt, take the B-166/162 road to the A-10 autobahn in Golling, follow it south to the Bischoshofen exit, and take the B-164 across the pass road toDienten and Saalfelden. From there take the B-311 to Zell am See. From there, follow the B-168, B-165, B-169 to Jenbach, and the A-12 to Hall.

Remmemer, before you get onto any Austrian autobahns, you have to get a user's decal, usually available at any gas station.

NOw, I'm not quite suree why you want to go as far east as Hall, unlessyou want to take day trips from there o Garmich, or the mountaisn ands valleys around Innsbruck.

I probably would drop the car in Innsbruck, and take the train back

Fist of all, I assume that the sequence of places in your posting is not the one you intend to follow. It is all over the map.

I agree ee with "operaman" not to spend 2 nights in Duernstein. One is enough.

Generally, you might want to drive along the north shore of the Danube toward Linz, but cut across the Danube at Emmersdorf to visit Melk, then return to the B-3 and head to Linz. There you might want to consider a side trip (one overnight) to Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republik. It has the second largest castle in the C.R, and I think the boys might enjoy exploring it and- perhaps - take a boat ride on the Moldau around the city. Hotel: Hotel Ruze (Rose), a converted Jesuit monastery.

To get to C.K., from Linz, head north to Freistadt and the border. Right after the border, turn left toward Vissi Brod. But before you get there, turn right and follow thesigns to C.K. and the Moldau to C.K. (NB: You may have to do a little bit of explaining to the boys about the scantily dressed ladies standing on the side of the road at the intersection . They are NOT a welcoming committee.)

After C.K., return to Linz, and take the Autobahn A-1 to the Mondsee exit (#265) and follow the road to St. Gilgen and the B-158 to Salzburg.

After Hallstatt, follow the B-166/B-162 to Golling and from there the A-10 autobahn to the Bischofshofen exit (#344 or #46). From there take the B-164 to Muehlbach, Dienten , (a beautiful, easy pass road) to Saalfelden. From there take the B-311 to Zell am See.

From Zell, take the B-168/B-165 to the Zillertal, and the B- 169 to Jenbach. There pick up the A-12 to Hall/Tirol.

Now. I'm not sure why you want to go as far east as Hall, unless you want to visit Garmisch or the valleys around Innsbruck.

In any event, I probably would ditch the car in Innsbruck and take the train via Garmisch, Munich, Salzburg back to Vienna, or fly from Innsbruck to Vienna,.

Before you get on any Austrian autobahn, be sure to get a user's decal. They are available at any gas station. Getting caught without one will cost you in excess of $120. A 6-day decal costs about $10.

If you want more info. let me know. I have traveled all the suggested roads repeatedly and they are good and very scenic.

Thank you very much for your comments/suggestions. I am going to revise the itinerary based on your thoughts. Will probably spend another night in one of the villages along the Danube and do some biking with the kids. We will visit Hallstatt from Salzburg (we aren't much for one night stays either) and I have already written to the Gasthof Badl regarding accomodations. I like the idea of a train from Innsbruck to Vienna (or near Vienna), as the kids haven't had the train experience.

One question right now - we are flying out of Vienna airport at 11 am - any thoughts on a smaller town relatively close to the airport to spend the last night? Not sure we want to head back into the City for one night....

Thanks again!

Hi again austriabound2,
Just thinking...if you decide not to travel as far west as Hall in Tirol (roughly 2 to 2 1/2 hours from Salzburg), maybe stay in the Berchtesgaden, Germany area. It's about 30 to 40 min. from Salzburg. Now it's not Austria, of course, but the mountain scenery is wonderful. Last Oct. we stayed in the village of Ramsau (15 min. from Berchtesgaden) and loved it. A visit to King Ludwig's Herrenchiemsee Palace is 45 min. away, Konigsse is very nice, an electric boat will take you to St. Bartholomews church, Jennerbahn cable car, Htiler's Eagle Nest (Kehlsteinhaus) and the old town of Berchtesgaden itself.

www.berchtesgaden.com/e/e_index.htm

Hope this helps.

Paul

Just to add to what I just posted...
Another option (there are so many)...
You could stay in the Berchtesgaden area and visit Salzburg from here. A very short (half hour or so) drive from Berchtesgaden to Salzburg. All depends on your preferences.

Sounds like a great trip though.

paul

Take a serious look at pj1's suggestion re Betchtesgaden and Herrenchiemsee.

In Berchtesgaden, the kids probably would enjoy the trip to the top of the Kehlsteinhaus (aka Eagle's Nest) and a trip to the salt mine. Ours particularly enjoyed the wooden slide in the salt mine.

The boat ride from Prien/Stock to the Herrenchiemsee palace island is very pleasant and not too long.

treplow

What are the Autobahn user decal called in German? Just in case I need to get one.

Thanks!

s

Thanks to everyone for your comments/suggestions. You have given me a lot of wonderful ideas to consider. I appreciate the specific information - it will definately improve out trip. I've been reading the guidebooks,etc., but there is nothing like information from people who have been there.

Thanks again!

Hey swagman,
The "toll" sticker for use of Austria's highways is called a "Vignette". We payed about 7 Euros for a 10 day sticker in Oct. They're available at gas stations, convenience stores, etc.

Paul

Before you decide on a car rental, I suggest you visit www.gemut.com, a broker who works through Auto Europe (which itself is a broker working through the major car rental companies) for travel to Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Last year, I rented a Mercedes B-class (about the size of a Pontiac Vibe) with AUTOMATIC transmission for $30-some dollars a day, including tax (but no insurance - most credit card companies provide insurance). This was much cheaper than going through Auto Europe directly and about half the price of going through the rental car companies directly. I believe car rentals in Austria are generally more expensive than in Germany, but I was amazed at the price difference, especially for an automatic (I usually rent a manual transmission in Europe, but because I was doing mountain driving, I chickened out for an automatic).

By the way, one highlight of my trip was the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse, an alpine mountain road that runs south from Zell am See, which is southwest of Salzburg. It's a toll road (with a fairly steep toll) but the scenery was magnificent. I went in early June so there was still quite a bit of snow on the side of the road at the higher elevations (though the road itself was perfectly clear). A side road takes you to the foot of the Pasterze glacier, which is one of the highest in the Austrian Alps, I believe. Looking at your itineary, you really wouldn't have time for this unless you were to cut out Hall, for example.

Have a great trip.

If you're going to be in Vienna on a Wed., take the "Unknown Underground Vienna" walking tour at 1:30. It meets in front of St. Michael's church in Michaelerplatz. You tour the crypt & your boys will love it!