Recommendations for base town in Austria
 

We are looking at going to Austria for the first time in May 2012. We are in the midst of deciding where to base ourselves - 2 adults & 2 kids below 10 years.

We will be using the public transport and will not be driving at all.

We are interested in seeing alongwith the usual 3 cities i.e. Vienna, Salzburg & Innsbruck some nice countryside/villages/mountains/farms. We are okay with being based in the villages and travelling on a daily basis for sightseeing if it is cost effective.
We are interested in some farm stays too.

Can anyone recommend some base towns/villages in each region and where we should stay?

Also, if someone can tell which ticket works out the best (cost effective) in Austria?

Any advise would be very helpful.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

Fodorites who are experts on Austria - please help on base town and train & bus ticket recommendations. Thanks.

For Vienna - it is best to stay in or near to the city center. This will not just provide good accomodtion choices but allow easy access to most major sights.

www.wien.info

You can review the tourist office website for some information.

Hotels in the city center can easily be determined by looking to their postal code - it will be 1010.

Also consider a stay in an apartment - this can be very cost effective for families - comfortable too and the option of having some meals or snacks there too.

In think this site may have apartments

www.netland.at/wien

Many museums in Vienna offer free admission to children - a cost savings - also some have family admissions to save money-

for a sightseeing break - the Zoo at Schonbrunn is great for kids and adults.
Not just the worlds oldest zoo but fine exhibits


The vienna transport system is very convenient - various ticket options available
look here
www.wienerlinien.at

Train from Vienna to Salzburg in just more than 2 1/2 hours.

Staying just outside of salzburg allows not just cheaper accomodations but permits easy touring to the city and also the numerous activities to be found in the surroundings.

Farm stay possible
look here


www.urlaubambauernhof.at

villages like St. Gilgen, Fuschl, Strobl are very nice with fine scenery and lakes also.

www.wolfgangsee.at

Easy bus connections to the city of Salzburg by bus# 150 - also easy connections to such places as Bad Ischl, Hallstatt and more.

Staying outside of the city is not only cost effective but offers much less conjestion, more friendly atmosphere and good food choices too.
Mountain views , walking and biking , boat trips on the lakes fun too.

Innsbruck has a nice old city area but can be toured relatively quickly .
Staying outside of the city - as in Salzburg can be much nicer and less expensive.

Seefeld on a high plateau above Innsbruck is a fine place

www.seefeld.at

varied accomodations.
An easy and scenic train ride of 30 minutes takes you between these places.

Seefeld offers fine mountain scenery- fun atmosphere - good walking - and a nice pedestrian only village center.

Also nice is the village of Igls - just south and above Innsbruck- about 15 minutes by public transport.

www.innsbruck.info.

for transport check the Einfach Raus ticket . this offers all day transport between towns for 2- 5 persons for 28 euro.

Some restrictionsd - regional trains only - and travel weekdays after 9 AM - still a good value

for info

www.oebb.at

available in english

For Salzburg and Salzburg Land - check for the discount card for transport and admissions. Thee may be of value to you.

The Salzburg Card

Salzburgland Card.

For base towns, other than those listed above, you're best to look in the Tirol (Tyrol), which is easily reached by train from Innsbruck. Some base towns/areas, for light (or heavy) hiking, historical rail trips (Achenseebahn), mountain biking, sailing and even white water rafting if the mood grabs you, to consider are Achensee (Jenbach is a good base) St Johann in Tirol, Oberndorf in Tirol or Westerndorf. They are all accessible by regular train services (and buses too), lead off to great scenery and some will have their cable cars running for Summer again to visit further up the mountains - although check as some open again in June after the Winter season.

Hi SK,

How many days?

What draws you to Innsbruck?

If you don;t have a car, staying in little villages and farms is going to greatly limit your ability to travel about.

In Salzburg, I highly recommend www.ammoos.at/main.php?language=en&m=home)

The Salzburg Card is worth the money.

((I))

Just to avoid possible confusion by a posting above.- Innsbruck ,Seefeld and Igls are all in the Austrian state of Tirol.

I would look at the town of St. Gilgen as a possible-without a car-you should be able to get buses to the lakes and other towns-like Hallstatt,Bad Ischl,Gmudsen,etc. Another place with bus service would be Kitzbuhl. Good luck.Sandra

Dear All,

Thanks for the lovely info and recommendations. Will certainly start checking them out and will keep posting further queries as time goes along.

Just one quick query, for Einfach Raus ticket - in case on a particular day we are travelling across 2 states, then we will require 2 ERT - one for each state. Please confirm. Is this similar to Lander ticket in Germany?

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

bookmarking

Einfach Raus guidelines can be found on the austrian rail website

www.oebb.at

for 2-5 persons traveling together- good on regional trains ( designations- R REX and SBahn )

good from 9 AM weekdays until 3 AM the next day - weekends and holidays no such 9AM restriction-
great for regional travel - good anywhere in Austria.

A good bargain.

Excelent for shorter trips or if time is not important even longer journeys

Jenbach as mentioned by a previous poster is the best for train connections to surrounding areas
Bolzano...Italy
Marano.....Italy
Innsbruck
Saltzburg
Alphbach
Wolfsclam
Mayorhof

The list is endless.

I stay at a Hotel called hotel Jenbacherhof and have breakfast and evening meal.

After breakfast I go to the station and plan my days travels. The town is located in a such a place that trains to and from Germany and Italy stop at the important train station in this small town. All my travels from Jenbach have been daytrips returning home in the evening for the Hotlels evening meal.

Check the town out on the map and in particular the train routes that pass by. Love the location for day trips.

Dear All,

Thanks a lot for your very useful insights and advise. Certainly helps when one is travelling to a country first time with family and using the public transport and are budget travellers.

Will check out the various options and will keep posting our queries for the very useful advise.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

Regarding Jenbach

While OK for train connections - it certainly is not one of the more attractive towns of Tirol.
Many are places much nicer and offer scenery and activities locally and yet still convenient.
For example - Jenbach is best known for its large industrial plant for making turbines for industry.
This the formerly Jenbacher concern , now part of the General Electric family.
Not an ideal atmosphere for tourists.

One should know the towns when travelling
for example
Mayorhof is actually Mayrhofen

Alphhach is Alpbach

Saltzburg is Salzburg
Wolfsclam is probably Wolfsklamm by the town of Stans

Dear Molker,

Many thanks for your very useful insights and info. We are interested in beautiful breathtaking mountain sceneries. I have been trying to look at the site : www.urlaubambauernhof.at
But, unable to log on.
Currently, I am looking at arriving in Vienna - do the sightseeing for Vienna and would also like to do the trip to Melk & Krems and the visit to the Ice Caves. How many nights should we keep for Vienna? I assume the horse show at the Spanish Riding School and musical shows will be too expensive and will not allow children. Please correct me if I am wrong.

After completing Vienna, we will move to Salzburg. We will use the Einfach Raus ticket. I am a little confused as the site is in German for the ERT. Will I need to buy 2 ERTs when I am travelling from Vienna to Salzburg - 1 ERT for each state?

Since the time will be long, is there some nice scenic villages or farms where we can halt between these two places for 2 nights.

For our stay in Salzburg, as recommended by you, we will consider to keep base at either St. Gilgen or Fuschl or Strobl. Do we need to spend on our daily commuting to Salzburg? Please advise or is there a free visitor's card where the transport is free.

Likewise from Salzburg, we move to Innsbruck. We will look at Seefeld. Any recommendations for Zell Am See and Hall in Tirol. Saw many reviews but not quite sure of these places.

Understand that the grosglockner road is very scenic with high mountains. Are there are railconnections for this road? Can we base ourselves at some small town or village on this road that has rail connection?

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

Based on recommendations on this board we stayed in Hall in Tirol in January (at the Gasthof Badl) and really liked it. We had a car, so didn't use the train, but the town is on a major train line so I'm sure it's easy to get to Innsbruck which is about 15 min by car. It is a beautiful area.

At the Gasthof Badl we ended up in the family room which has 4 beds and would likely work perfectly for you. The Steiner family who runs it is very nice and in the summer it looks like they have a pretty beer garden in the back. The hotel is a 10 min walk from the center of town across the river on a neat wooden bridge that your kids might like.

SKPKCP11

my feelings-
Vienna alone is worth a visit of at least 3 days.
Schonbrunn Palace and gardens can easily take 1/2 day or more.
This does not include a day trip to the Melk Abbey, Danube area that really takes a full day but is a most enjoyable time in my opinion.

Bus# 150 makes a direct , easy journey from Strobl, St. Gilgen to Salzburg.

Salzburgland card can be investigated but it may not be cost effective for you.

Better may be the Salzburg Card as it provides public transport in Salzburg city and admissions to many sights too.

Grossglockner road area does not have a train line due to terrain limits.
Some limited bus service is available.
Tips for Vienna
Consider making a visit to the Spanish Riding School morning exercise rather than a full performance.
Tickets for this not just much less expensive but can easily be purchased on the morning you visit.
To miss the crowding - arrive a little after the actual opening - many come wait in line for the doors to open- stay a short time and then departleaving much room for later arrivals.
One way to see the white horses " close by " is to stand just outside of the stable entrance where the horses will cross the small street to the riding hall.
The grooms will be moving the horses in both directions and you can get very close to them- great to see this and judge size and looks of the horses.
I think kids under 3 are not permitted in the hall.

For music opportunitiues - in past years the State Opera in Spring and Fall has provided a giant screen for live free viewing of many performances - this found on the side of the Opera house facing the Bristol Hotel. Free sesating provided slso- good for an introduction to the Opera and you cn stay as long or as little as you like.
Standing room tickets for the Opera also go on sale 80 minutes before the nightly performance - just a few euro if you are willing to wait in the line and stand for the viewing.

I clicked on the bauernhof website - it worked for me - please check again.

You need just 1 Einfach raus ticket for the journey. Time and trains are the only limiting factor.

The area around Linz or St. Valentin would make for a possible break for the journey Vienna - Salzburg area- but I would make the journey in one day as the Salzburg area is much more interesting.

Zell is more than 1 hour south of Salzburg direction Grossglockner - not the best place for other Salzburg area visits butn has nice scenery and a beautiful lake .

Hall is close to Innsbruck , but in my opinion more of an industrial town- not a nice austrian village as I know them.

The bus to St. Gilgen from Salzburg and beyond is quite expensive so I would not plan a daily trip into Salzburg for a family of 4. You will easily eat up cost savings of not staying in the center.

Gaming, it is about midway between V and S and on a train spur. You have an 800 year old monastery to stay in that has been converted to a hotel; not merely old monks rooms.

Dear Fodorites,

Thanks a ton for providing more clarity. I will certainly cross out Hall in Tirol from my list.

Any inputs on accomodations in these places, I will be searching on the net. But, makes things easier when some definite leads are available. In the cities, would definitely look at something close to the main Hauptbanhop.

On which site can I have a look at the public transport for Grossglockner Road. Understand there is a place called Lienz, Helienglut and Bischofhofen where we can stay for a night. But, need to be sure that public transport is available and it uses the Grosglockner Road to get there as we will not have a car and booking a car with driver is out of our budget.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

St Gilgen to Salzburg is easily done by bus. Even the normal non discount fare is about 5 euro.
Kids under 6 free I believe.
A series of discounted tickets can be purchaed like a day ticket and also a 24 hour ticket - with these kids 6-14 are 1/2 price too.

Lienz is a larger town south of the Grossglockner about 200 kilometers south of Salzburg - train connections possible from Salzburg - but a relatively long trip.

you can look to

www.postbus.at

for possible bus connections - but I believe these to be very limited.

Heiligenblut is a very nice small village just south of the Grossglockner area - daily excursions to the Grossglockner by tourist bus with time to see things.

Check with the tourist office in the town Zell am See- this a nice town north of the Grossglockner and easily reached by frequent train service from Salzburg.
They have daily excursions to the Grossglockner I think.

Bischofshofen - less convenient in my opinion.
I would check their town website for info.

Hi, I am also planning a Holiday to Austria this summer and have been following this discussion quite closely. It has helped me quite a bit in finalising my plans. However i have a few questions to fellow Fodorites
1. I have 9 days in Austria - would you suggest sticking to Vienna and Salzburg (including its adjoining areas like St Gilgen) or would you suggest adding Innsbruck? I was thinking 4-5 days Vienna and 4-5 days Country side Salzburg basing myself in either St Gilgen or Strobl. Which of the two towns are better connected to areas around it? We do not plan to hire a car.
2. If it is St Gilgen or Strobl, what would be the best mode to travel to it from Vienna? My wife and myself are travelling with a 2.5yr toddler son and thus would prefer an easy mode.
3. would you suggest cutting down days at each place and adding Innsbruck? or maybe even Munich?

There is very little that i can add to the excellent information given by molker.

However, i do have one money saving tip, which is to buy a "sissi" ticket [named after the empress of the same name] at the Hofburg palace, it is valid not only for the Hofburg but also for the whole of the Schönbrunn palace and grounds [apart from the zoo, i think] and there is no need to queue - a great boon at the Schönbrunn where the queues are legendary.

you don't save a lot of money, but you do save a lot of time and stress!

Overall, I would suggest sticking with Austria and keeping to as few destinations as possible; you will actually see more, it will be cheaper, and if my experience with my kids is anything to go by, your DS will be happier.

Have a great trip!

Dear Fodorites,

Thanks for the fantastic insights and suggestions. Please keep them coming.

Based on the very sound suggestions, we are looking at arriving in Vienna. Spending time in Vienna and to do the two day trips i.e. the ice caves and Melk/Krems visit. Any advise is welcome.

From Vienna we will go to Salzburg. Need some clarifications, for Salzburg stay. Do we base ourselves in Fuschl, Strobl and St. Gilgen? Are these connected by train from Vienna? Would it be expensive to travel on a daily basis by train/bus from Strobl etc to Salzburg?

From Salzburg we move to Zell Am See. Should we do Vienna-Zell Am See - Salzburg or Vienna - Salzburg - Zell Am See. From Zell Am See we would like to go to Heiligenblut. How do we do that and is it worth the time spent on travelling in case the Grossglockner road is closed in May.

Is Reutte and Lermoos worth a visit? Can we do Heiligenblut to Lermoos or Reutte? We plan on proceeing to Garmisch from Austria and then fly out of Munich? Any suggestions are welcome? Can we do the Italian Dolomites as a day trip from any of these scenic places using the public transport train/bus?

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

<Would it be expensive to travel on a daily basis by train/bus from Strobl etc to Salzburg?>

We found the bus tickets to be quite expensive so be sure to factor the cost in should you decide to stay outside of Salzburg. This is based on several day trips over the course of several trips.

St. Gilgen is not accessible by train. Zell am See is and is about 2 hours from Salzburg.

I enjoyed staying in Zell (without a car) and took a bus trip up the Grossglockner and another to the Krimml waterfall in the other direction. My trip report, including Hallstatt and Zell is here: http://wilhelmswords.com/eur2006/index.html

Dear Molker........is it really necessary to correct my spelling of Austrian towns....I was only trying to be helpful...and by the way I really do like Jenbach it is a pretty place without tourists........ENOUGH

If travelers do not have correct town names from posters - how does one expect them to locate them via google or other means to obtain any further information.
This is especially important when posters do not add website address to assist.


example
Mayorhof - actually Mayrhofen -



looking for mayorhof produces no results

Mayrhofen - correct name and thus much info including
website found
www.mayrhofen.at

As you advice that you like Jenbach, I certainly can express my opinion also.
I have been in this immediate area for many years having family and friends still in the Zillertal, so I know a little about Jenbach.


For SKPKCP

note - no ice csves found near to Vienna- you have several choices near Salzburg

Dear Fodorites,

Thanks for your valuable inputs. Much appreciate it.

We are 2 adults & 2 children below 10 yrs who will be using public transport preferably trains (Eifach Raus Tickets) as we are budget travellers.

As per all the above inputs, I am planning our tentative itinerary as below. Please feel free to suggest changes :
Arrive Vienna - Spend 4 nights approx. in a hotel near the Vienna Westbahnhof. Any recommendations for budget hotels? Kindly advise the unsafe areas to avoid. We will keep one day for Melk/Krems.

Move from Vienna to Salzburg. Now I am confused. Just thinking out aloud my thoughts - be based in Salzburg for 3 nights (is that too much?) and see Salzburg. Then move to Zell Am See and cover the Krimml waterfalls and Grossglockner strasse.

From Zell Am See move to Heiligenblut. Please advise if there is anything we can cover from Heiliegenblut.

Is there any way we can squeeze Finkenberg? Have read the reviews and I seem to like the great mountain scenery.

From there we move to Seefeld and then onto Innsbruck.

Just want some clarifications :
If we base ourselves at St. Gilgen or Strobl instead of Salzburg - is there a free regional transport like in Germany?

Also, similarly if we base ourselves at Seefeld and cover Innsbruck - how many days to keep.

What are the activities that we can cover by being based at Heliegenblut and Finkerberg?

I am confused and any clarity will certainly help. We do not want to save on accomodation and spend on travel.

Molker - appears you are the expert for Austria. Kindly advise us - first timers. Can I squeeze in a farm stay as our kids thouroughly enjoy staying on the farms.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

Dear All,

I am back with my queries after a lull. Please bear in mind we will have no car and will use train/bus and other public transport preferably Eifach Raus ticket. Request some more clarity :
1. Any recommendations for stay in Vienna - 3 star hotel, B&B, pension or apartment but should be conveniently located to main train station and the attractions.
How many nights should we consider min. stay in Vienna?
2. Vienna to Salzburg using ER ticket
3. How many nights in Salzburg and any hotel recommendation? To save on stay cost, do we stay out of Salzburg but where? and will we end up spending on travelling more to & from to Salzburg?
4. From Salzburg to Zell Am See. How many nights in Zell Am See?
5. From Zell Am See we want to go to and spend a night or two in Heiligenblut but I do not see any connections using the ER ticket. Are there any nice villages on the Grossglockner Road where we can stay?
6. If there are no connections, we will give it a skip and go to Innsbruck/ Seefeld.
7. From Seefeld we move into Garmisch and then to Munich.

Kindly advise which places I should add/delete?
Between Vienna and Salzburg is there any village where we can take a halt for a night or two. I would like to include Gruenau and Seckau as I have read some very good reviews and also Hallstat but I am unable to locate Gruenau & Seckau places on the oebb site. Can I fit these into my schedule? Any recommendations for a farm stay at a working farm are welcome?

Lastly we do not want to save on accomodation and spend on travel.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

I tried to find the number of days that you plan to spend in Austria - did not see this and much advice depends on this and also your list of interests.
some suggestions

1. Vienna has much to see and do - this for adults as well as kids.

I think 3-4 days minimum for a visit - if planning an excursion add a day.

somne nice and good value places

Hotel Austria - this in city center - walk to many sightseeing places - great dining choices

Pension Kraml well located too.

or as recommended above check on the Viena Tourist website.


2. Much is changing regarding tickets and prices between Vienna and Salzburg

the national carrier recently announced a new fare plan- tickets Vienna- Salzburg for 19 euro.

A new carrier is to begin service in December - this known as Westbahn - they plan to make new bus services to various destinations too.

Too soon to recommend the best way and price - but no trouble for you to wait until closer to your trip-
passenger capacity will dramatically increase and probably some price competition too.

example Melk Abbey and Danube boat cruise is really a full day

www.ddsg-blue-danube.at

www.stiftmelk.at


3. Salzburg city sights can be done in 1 day if you wish -

staying outside the city as mentioned above and trsaveling in by bus or train is economical- note recommendation about this before and lower rates for kids too.

Fuschl, St. Gilgen Strobl are nice - scenic and on lakes too.

Staying out of >Salzburg - cheaper - often great value of nice accomodstions -
food tends to be cheasper- greater portions and friendly service
easy access to much sightseeing.

4. Zell - no recommended time - Grossglockner a full day- depends on time you have -
Overall - my opinion- I think you try to cram too much into your trip-
Especially with kids everyone needs a little down time - relax and enjoy where you are - rather than in a rush to get to the next stop

Seckau - is not really directly in your travel route-closer to Graz

www.seckau.at

Grünau is closer to Salzburg and the Lake region-



actually Grünau in Almtal

www.gruenau-almtal.at

accessable by train with a change at Wels on the mainline Vienna- Salzburg

no idea if this practical as do not know your time acailability.

As for a farm stay - website provided above - this is the correct site and works for me.

Perhaps you find a farm in the Salzkammergut - provides value- time to relax yet do your sightseeing.

I can second the Hotel Austria suggestion in Vienna - very central, good transport connections, very quiet and friendly.

Thanks Molker and Annhig.

I will definitely look up Hotel Austria in Vienna.

Any recommendations for hotels in Fuschl, Strobl or St. Gilgen. What are the attractions if we base ourselves in any one of the three towns?

Is Zell Am See same as Zell Am Ziller? What are the attractions that we can do by being based in Zell Am See? Any hotel recommendations are welcome.

What are the attractions that we can cover by being based in Seefeld? Can anyone give recommendations for any hotel in Seefeld?

Molker, we have not decided on the number of days. To be honest, it will depend on the cost of our stay. This is only preliminary ground work which I am doing to zero in our options especially when we will have no vehicle of our own.

Just got to know one more thing - please confirm. Are tourists dressed casually in Vienna looked down upon? Does one need to be fancily dressed? Is it true?

Once again thanks for your wonderful insights - any info on Finkenberg and Lienz. Are they worth doing? and how do I try to include them in the itinerary?

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

If a good music venue like the State Opera, Musikverein - better dress is expected - but no actual dress code -
Same would apply to deluxe restaurants.
Locals tend to dress well most times- if tourists are seated in best areas of the venues or visit deluxe restaurants - they are tolerated -
You will see all types and styles by tourists - your choice but no need to " dress up " for regular touring.

Zell am See and Zell am Ziller are two completely different towns - not even ner each other - Zell am See south of Salzburg
Zell am Ziller is east and south of Innsbruck.

The places you ask about all have websites - if you are in a preliminary stage of plans - these are your places to look -

they offer accomodations - sightseeing facts, activities

sites like www.wolfgangsee.at

www.fuschlsee.at
www.fuschlseeregion.com

Hiking , lake activities - summer tobaggans , mountain railways just a few things, museums too.

You do not mention budget
places like Ebners Waldhof, Schuetzenhof - very nice

Furberg by St. Gilgen - quiet by excelent

Again how can anyone give advice on places like Finkenberg etc. not knowing time frame as you already have so much you wish to do-

Finkenberg is in Tirol- in the far end of a valley - a small village - nice enough - but no lake and out of your way - great if you are into mountain hiking - but in May - very quiet - even mountain huts not open yet.

Hi

We are also planning a trip to Austria during August 2012, I found above posts quite useful thanks for providing all the info.

As of now, we have planned the trip as below and will appreciate if you guys can have a look and suggest if any modifications are required to get best out of trip:
We are 2 Families ( 4 Adults + 3 kids - 2,2&3 year old)

1)Aug 17th: Arriving in Vienna in evening (Just stay in hotel to rest after around 9 hours of flying time)

2) Aug 18th: City Tour of Vienna + Visit Schonbrunn Palace

3) Aug 19th: Danube Valley + In Evening move to Salzburg by Train

4) Aug 20th: City Tour (including Sound of Music Tour)+ Gut Aiderbichl

5) Aug 21st: Morning(Untersberg Lift,Celtic Village)+ Ice Caves tour in afternon ( 1 pm to 6 pm) + Move to Zell Am See and reach by around 9/10 pm.

6) Aug 22nd: Grobglockner Trip by car (plan to Rent on the spot)and cover on the way Muhlauer Sawmill (Fusch) and Wildlife adventure park Ferleiten

7) Aug 23rd: Yet to plan for other Sight Seeing near Zell Am See from morning to evening + Move to Innsbruck in eveing and reach by around 9/10.

8) Aug 24th: City Tour covering few Trams and then late evening move to Zurich.

I will appreciate if you can suggest any improvement in plan as we have not finalzied the hotels yet and have another 2-3 days to confirm the hotel bookings.

Let me know if we are missing any MUST SEE places in Austria after above trip.

Thanks in advance.

Rohit

This is an old thread, why don't you start your own?

Trying to see Vienna AND Schronbrunn in just one day is crazy. It's even more crazy jet-lagged and with small kids! And you might want to reconsider those evening train rides.

Gott in Himmel!

that's quite a full itinerary.

your last sentence implies that you have more time available at the end of the trip - why not use those days to give yourselves more time to do the above?

at least one more day in each of Vienna and Salzburg would be much better, and in either Zell or Innsbruck.

i agree that it would be better to start a new thread, but in the meantime, I suggest this:

1)Aug 17th: Arriving in Vienna in evening (Just stay in hotel to rest after around 9 hours of flying time)

2) Aug 18th: City Tour of Vienna + hofburg palace [buy sissi tickets here to cover entrance to Schoenbrunn - cheaper and avoids the queues]

3) Aug 19th: Visit Schonbrunn Palace including zoo.

4) Aug 20th: Danube Valley + In Evening move to Salzburg by Train

5) Aug 21st: City Tour (including Sound of Music Tour)+ Gut Aiderbichl

6) Aug 22nd: Morning(Untersberg Lift,Celtic Village)+ Ice Caves tour in afternon ( 1 pm to 6 pm)

7) Aug 23rd: Move to Zell Am See and reach by around 2 pm. Afternoon in Zell.

8) Aug 24th:Grobglockner Trip by car (plan to Rent on the spot)and cover on the way Muhlauer Sawmill (Fusch) and Wildlife adventure park Ferleiten

9) Aug 25th: Zell am See

10) Aug 26th morning to Innsbruck - afternoon and evening Innsbruck

11)Aug 27th - City Tour covering few Trams then afternoon move to Zurich.

hope this helps!