Hi,
My husband and I are flying into Vienna September 15th at noon. We will be in the area for 9 nights. We would like to drive to surrounding towns/small cities/villages and spend 2 -3 nights in each location. Using each stop as a base to explore local history, castles and eat well. We are not hikers or drinkers. We have already visited Salzburg. Any recommendations on accommodations, favorite highlights and driving routes are very appreciated. Our budget per night is $350. We depart from Vienna and plan on spending the last 2 nights in or very near the city center. Have you visited this area? Is there a place or hotel you wouldn't miss? Please share your thoughts,advice and recommendations.
Thank you,
Tina

The Wachau Valley is so so cool - drive the Danube west of Vienna - castles, vineyards, wine towns - cute:

https://www.google.com/search?q=wach...ih=864&dpr=1.1

Stay in a town like Melk - Uber famous abbey!

Marienzell is a mountain charmer/renown pilgrimage spot near Vienna:

https://www.google.com/search?biw=17...k1.p-GIcwu9NRU

We live in Vienna and often take long weekends to explore our adopted country.

Close to Vienna is Baden bei Wien, a spa town favored by the Emperor and a destination that could be a good base for a couple of nights. The outdoor thermal baths are quite nice even in cooler weather. Nearby is Stift Heiligenkreuz and Schloss Mayerling, where the Emperor’s Son and his mistress committed suicide. You wrote that you don’t “hike,” but does that rule out “wandering?” Myrafälle is close for an outdoor activity, with several bridges and staircases. Naturpark Sparbach offers walking, wandering, and hiking (and Wildschwein to watch). Gumpoldskirchen is a pretty wine village nestled among the vineyards where you could enjoy classic Austrian fare. Seegrotte Hinterbuhl and Burg Liechtenstein are nearby, as well.

Certainly the Wachau Valley could hold one’s attention in the absence of hiking and drinking. Melk Abbey is worthy of a visit; nearby are the castle ruins of Aggstein and Durnstein, though the latter requires considerable hiking on rugged terrain. In the near is also Stift Gottweig, perched on a hill above the Wachau Valley; a lunch or dinner on the restaurant terrace with its commanding view of the valley is impressive. Schloss Schallaburg is a Renaissance castle with beautiful grounds and well-curated exhibits; the current exhibit is “Islam” and is worth seeing. I would not base in Melk; the village is small and rolls up its sidewalks a little early. Krems would be a better choice.

A little further afield to the west is Linz, a good base for exploring Enns (Austria’s oldest city), Steyr (postcard charming); and Sankt Florian.

Heading south, Graz is a natural choice for a base. The Lippizaner Farm at Piber and several castles are within easy day trips.

If any of this appeals to you, I would be more than happy to help work out details and driving routes with you.

Thank you PalenQ. The valley looks ideal as does the pilgrimage spot Marianzell. Right now we are looking at a lovely place in Krems. Have you stayed at any particularly nice hotels?

Thank you fourfortravel. How perfect that you live so nearby! To answer your question, we do wander and explore, just not with backpacks and hiking boots! I have booked a lovely place in Krems for the first 2 nights. And am looking further into your suggestions. I am looking for accommodations in Linz right now. My husband loves castles and the history of fortifications. So, your ideas are very appropriate.

Is there a particularly charming town outside of Graz? I prefer to stay outside cities as much as possible. Also, we will be in Vienna for 3 days. Anything you would say is a must?

Thank you
Tina

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mautha...entration_camp

Just a short drive from Linz is Mauthausen Nazi concentration camp memorial.

My husband loves castles and the history of fortifications>

Durnstein's largely ruined castle was where Richard-the-Lion-Hearted was held for ransom when nabbed returning from some Crusade- nice nice town -short drive from Krems.

Even though driving I'd consider taking the boats thru the Wachau Valley- seeing both sides at once- I believe they have bikes for passengers who may want to pedal between docks - the Wachau is one of Europe's primo biking venues with bike paths along the valley.

Bratislava Slovakia is a short drive too - very neat restored old town center - not your little town but just giving options I've found neat.

Thank you, tinabina. Our "hiking" is largely similar to yours, especially when DDog is with us, so my suggestion of Myrafälle would still work. HoheWand National Park would offer similar, and the added bonus of the skywalk for photos your friends will envy. Plus great Austrian food at the Gasthof.

Krems is pleasant. There is now a München BrauHaus with typical food and liveliness; and a nice Italian place if Austrian fare starts to get to you, Ristorante Firenze.

We always stay in Graz proper, so I can not be of help with lodging in the near. I like the college town atmosphere and the farmer's markets; and the town is not so big that it might still appeal to you. On the subject of fortifications, add Burg Riegersburg to your list if you base in Graz. Your husband will not be disappointed.

If you desire to travel even more further afield, out towards Salzburg is Burg Hochosterwitz; Kufstein fortress; and the Itter Castle, where Americans and Germans fought Nazis in WWII. Itter is privately owned, so you can only admire it from afar.

Vienna "must do" is a touchy subject. My must do's could be entirely your "have no interest in." Being into local history, though, you might find certain wandering routes through the vineyards to be interesting; few activities are more local in Vienna that wandering the vineyards and the Wiener Wald. But on the subject of castles and fortifications easily within a day trip, I offer Burg Hainburg and Burg Lockenhaus, the latter having a dark history.

Happy Planning!

I second the idea of Baden, which we did as a day trip from Gumpoldskirchen, and the wonderfully named Gumpoldskirchen itself which we were lucky enough to happen on when they had a Weinfest in progress - what I remember of it was a lot of fun!

In Vienna itself we liked the Hotel Austria which is both central and slightly out of the way, but I'm sure others will come up with their favourites too.Our favourite activities there were the Belvedere and then getting the bus up to the Kahlenberg and walking down through the vineyards to Heilgenstadt where we spend some happy hours in a few Heuirge sampling their wines. [perhaps there is a bit of a theme here!]

May be a little far afield but if going to Linz - not nearly a small city - then fabled Hallstatt - is not much farther and a scenic drive up a neat Alpine valley.