I will be in Salzburg for five full days with my mother (in her late 70s) near the end of May. Would like some day trip options (by mass transit, no car). She is in pretty good shape, but tires easily, so day trips that require a LOT of walking or hilly streets would be a bit much. She has already been to Munich, Innsbruck and Berchtesgaden/Eagle's Nest.
So far, we've got planned:
1. Full day in Salzburg
2. Sound of Music tour
3. Day in Bad Reichenhall (thanks to another Fodorite thread).
4. Hallstatt or Zell am See. Will Hallstatt be too crowded? Is there anything to do in town that isn't too taxing physically? If we only do one, which would be better? Can you do a boat cruise from Zell am See?
5. Open to suggestions. Considered Cesky Krumlov briefly, but it's simply too far. Prefer to spend no more than 2.5 hours getting there (and 2.5 hours back); less would be better. Don't want to rush around OR have to make a lot of connections.

She likes lake cruises, scenic train rides, funiculars, window shopping, cafes. Museums aren't a priority on this trip, although we will do some Mozart things in Salzburg. No salt mines (that 100 foot slide rules it out). Considering Werfen for the castle and its falconry display. Definitely no ice caves.

Thanks!

I recommend Schloss Hellbrun water fountains, about 15min bus ride from Salzburg. Well served by public transportation.

Adjacent to the Schloss are large public gardens/park. You can pack a picnic lunch and enjoy a relaxing hr or 2 there after the tour.

Assuming you'll see something of the Salzkammergut in the SOM tour, maybe you ought to spend another day in Salzburg, not rush your mother around so much.

Alternately, IIRC, you can get to Hallstatt by train and then a boat across the lake. That wouldn't require hill climbing, and would be a fun way to see the town. I doubt it would be too busy in May. Sorry, don't know Zell am See.

Hi BT,

To get to Hallstatt from Salzburg by train, I think you take the train to Obertraun, about 2:45 hr, and then the ferry across the lake.

You might also want to consider Bad Ischl - 2:11 hr.

You could take a bus to St. Gilgen and from there a boat to St. Wolfgang--which is a compact little town with shopping and restaurants overlooking the lake. There is a bit of a downhill walk from where the bus lets you off to the boat dock, but I don't recall it as strenuous at all.

Thanks for all your suggestions. I'm not sure we'll do Hallstatt on this trip, just don't feel like such long train rides. We will try the Schloss Hellbrunn. We will look into St. Wolfgang--a downhill walk would be fine, but then there is the walk back to consider and that would be uphill.

Has anyone been to Badgastein lately? Worth a peek? Or should it be skipped, since we're already set for Bad Reichenhall...

BTilke,
Yes, it is the return that might be a wee bit strenuous for the last 50 yards or so. When we went in 2002, my spouse, who has a condition that causes joint pain, made the walk with out trouble as I recall. It might be a bit more difficult for your mother, depending upon her condition.

I too recommend St. Gilgen and St. Wolfgangsee. Both towns are a delight to visit, and taking the boat across the beautiful lake from St. Gilgen to St. Wolfgang is nice.

Another great place we daytripped to was the Wachau Valley. I believe it took about two hours by car to get to Melk. The Melk Abbey is just spectacular. The other towns along the Valley are quaint and very nice, and they make for an excellent day of strolling. There are cafes and wineries all over. Many people train from Melk to Krems and take the boat back to Melk to catch their train back.

Tracy

Also in St Wolfgang there's a little steam train up (and back down!) the mountain behind the town - nice views of the lake - and you could go on the lake as well.

Well, we've been back a while. We didn't do Hallstatt, the weather was very uncooperative (cold with steady rain, sometimes downpours, every day). We loved Schloss Hellbrunn, even in the rain. We went to Bad Hofgastein/Bad Gastein, which wasn't a hit as it was simply too steep for Mom (and me too), esp. when the streets were running with water.
Bad Reichenhall was lovely. The SoM tour gave a good overview of the area and my mother didn't have to walk too much.
Because of the bad weather we didn't do any boat cruises (fog and rain, not so scenic). However, the steam train around St. Wolfgang sounds like fun, will try to fit it in for our next trip.

Hi BTilke,

Wow, it was rainy every day?
DH and I are taking our parents (upper-50s) to the area for three of four days in early June. Both moms have very bad knees so hopefully we won't get rain the entire time.

TexasAggie,

When we were in the area last May it rained several days. However, usually the rain was more of a drizzle, and I don't recall it raining the whole day; more off and on drizzling and light showers. Unfortunately with the rain came cloudy skies and fog on occassion, denying us of some wonderful mountain view pictures. Overall, though, the weather definitely wasn't enough to ruin our vacation. My advice would be to plan your itinerary as loosely as possible to afford the possibility of rain. For instance, I would skip going up to the Salzburg Fortress unless the weather was clear or else you will miss out on some fantastic scenery. We still had a fantastic time.

Tracy

If you ever saw the WW2 war/adventure film Where eagles Dare (1969, MGM, Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood, Mary Ure) It was filmed in Hohenwerfen Castle.

Its not to far from Salzburg.

It might interest you.

http://www.burger.si/Austria/Werfen/Hohenwefen.html

Yes, it rained EVERY day. And for most of the days, it rained ALL day. No, it was not just a drizzle. It was rain. Sometimes a light steady rain, mostly a moderate steady rain, and sometimes a complete downpour. As in it was raining so hard in Berchtesgaden the only thing to do after arriving by postbus was turn around and catch a next train back. As in the SoM tour coming to a halt in St. Gilgen while everyone sat in cafes waiting for the cloudburst to lighten so we could race back to the bus. As in the trick fountain display at Hellbrunn being outdone by a thunderstorm. I think you get the idea.
We had a good time anyway.