Salzburg and day trips
 

Hi - we are in Salzburg from December 26-1st and given the number of days we had we were wondering if it made sense to do a couple of day trips. The towns that came to mind were Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic and also Hallstatt. Both are supposedly very picturesque and within a couple of hours drive so presumably easily done as day trips.

Any suggestions on if these are worth it and suggestions for things to do in the towns including a place for lunch possibly. We also have a few children in the group (3 kids aged 3-10 years) so would not be too ambitious with the amount of sightseeing in one day.

Any tour companies we could use as the group would be 10-12 people?

Could we also get some recommendations for Salzburg including for the kids - think the Sound of Music tour is definitely one. Any suggestions for new years eve and also for babysitters in the city?

Thank you all.

Alok.

Google Maps says 2.5 hours each way drive from Salzburg to Cesky Krumlov. That's a five hour round trip "day trip" with three young kids - presumably longer if you stop, at a time of the year when days are short. Doesn't sound like a lot of fun to me.

I found Cesky Krumlov a bit overrated myself. I'm glad I visited, but I think it's a better summer destination. Even in late September when I was there the town was pretty dead.

Actually I loved CK, but as Andrew said it is a long RT for kids.

IMO that Sound of Music tour is not worth the time or money. You can see several of the supposed venues on your own.

I'd go over to one of the Ludwig castles or the palace at Herrenchiemsee before I'd troop up to CK or even Munich.

Have you looked at doing a salt mine tour from Salzburg? I thought it was a lot of fun but I don't recall if young children were on our tour but I think they are allowed. They give you a jump suit to wear and you ride on top of a little train to get into the mine. Once in you take a tour and then slide down two slides and then a boat across a salt pond. At the end you get a little container of salt to take home.

Minimum age for the salt mine is 4 years old.

thanks all - salt mines sound great but may need to skip them given the age restriction - or maybe part of the group can go. any suggestions on hallstatt? thank you.

I would not miss Hallstatt, and also read about Gosausee on the same day. Take your camera.

I have to disagree on the Sound of Music tour. DH and I took this tour in June, 2014 as part of day trip to Salzburg from Munich. We enjoyed it very much. A lot of the history of the making of the movie included, not just the sites. It was a fun tour we thought. We took the morning tour and bought our tickets in advance even before we left the States. We used Panorama Tours. If the kids are familiar with the music, I think they'll enjoy it.