Salzkammergut or straight to Salzburg after the Engin Valley
 

We are busy planning our first visit to Austria. We leave the Engin Valley area in Switzerland (6/7 days there) on 5 April 2016 and we have 9 days to see some of Austria. I would be so grateful for some advice. We are in our early 50's, do not do snow sports but love going up the mountains on gondalas, etc to be in the snow and enjoy views. We enjoy beautiful scenery, good food, lake trips, exploring villages and travel by public transport. We were thinking of spending time in the Salzkammergut but are wondering if the Engin Valley experience is similar and if we should rather spend more time in Salzburg and Vienna. Our initial plan was to base ourselves in Bad Isch for 4 days, Salzburg for 3 days and Vienna for 2 days but are not sure if we should be stopping in Tirol for a high mountain experience or if we should go straight to Salzburg after leaving St Moritz. We are thinking that by the time we get to Salzburg and Vienna we will be ready for exploring something different.
So sorry my questions are muddled. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you from Auckland.

Never heard of an Engin valley - where and what is that supposed to be?

Oh my gosh I meant the Engadin Valley. So sorry. Writing this too late at night! We are spending a week in the valley near St Moritz.

Why Bad Ischl? A nice town but not in the Lake District - I'd suggest St Wolfgang as a better base in more awesome scenery.

Hello, We thought of Bad Ischl as a base after reading all the advice on this forum and Tripadvisor. We want to be able to use trains for day trips. Will get on line and research St Wolfgang. Thank you

Was just in St. Wolfgang on Saturday, as part of a day trip from Munich.

Very beautiful but I think the view over St. Gilgen is also spectacular as well.

Didn't get to do the cable car or the rack train.

Another time for those.

Salzburg was nice too. But if you're going in that area, it seems getting to Hallstatt would be a must? That's why I plan to do and then in Vienna, there are supposedly some wonderful excursions in the countryside, enabled by trains and boats.

Bad Ischl would be a better base if going to Hallstatt for the day as it has direct rail service there - but it is on the edge if not out of the fabulous Lake District with so many things to see and do. Bus service is very good however from Bad ischl to St Gilgen and St Wolfgang and onto Salzburg as well.

Bad Ischl is a nice city but that it not what most folks expect out of the Lake District.

Hi jinz,

I stayed in St Gilgen for a week once and liked it a lot. For me, smaller is more, and St. Gilgen is smaller. I took a few nice bike rides around the lake, gorgeous.

Have fun as you plan!

s