Trip to Austria
 

I'm going to Austria very soon. For the most part my trip is fully planned, which is good. I just need some advice.

Days 1 through 7 are at a seminar in Salzburg.

Day 8 I'll take a train to Vienna for 2 days.

Day 9 I'll rent a car and here is my question.

I have 2 days to drive through the Alps. My plan is to stay in Graz. Then I'll drive to Salzburg. I need to be in Salzburg in the early eveing beacuse my flight is the following morning. I want to see the countryside and that is why I'm renting a car to drive from Vienna to Salzburg. I figured Graz was a good midway point. Of course I could drive from Vienna to Tyrol and spend the night there.

Any ideas?

I would agree with your latter notion and not bother with Graz - head right back to the Salzburg area. That's where the best scenery is: Salzkammergut (Hallstatt, St Wolfgang, etc) plus the nearby Berchtesgaden area of Germany.

Maximize your limited time to this region and minimize it to other areas.

Double ditto!

Another option is to take the Danube route: Take the A22 autobahn going north from Vienna, get off at exit #30 and head west toward Krems on the B-55. From Krems take the B-3 as far as Mauthausen- Ems, and pop over to the autobahn A-1 to Salzburg.

Along the way you can visit Duernstein, the church Maria Taferl and, at Emmersdorf you can cross the river to Melk. If you are in a hurry, you can also catch the A-1 at Melk.

I suggest St. Wolfgang as a place to bed down for the night. The lakes around that area of the Salzkammergut are renowned for their appeal.

Otherwise in a limited time you will be driving and not seeing much but the roadsides.

I would suggest Heiligenblut, but that would mean a long drive from Vienna.

I don't want to discourage what you do, but if St. Wolfgang is your destination, I suggest you try to get a place to stay fairly soon. Those lakes are tremendously popular.

Salzburg in the summer is virtually overrun with American tourists.

I REALLY, REALLY hate to keep anybody from Graz, but if you have 2 days, and mountain scenery is your objective, Graz makes no sense.

The area around Salzburg, especially Hallstatt, should be where you spend yout limited time.

~Liz

treplow's route suggestion is excellent IMO.
The drive along the Danube river is scenic, Duernstein is a gem - and don't forget to try some excellent Gruener Veltliner White Wine from that stretch called Wachau!