In early June, I am planning 9 or 10 (or maybe 11) days:

Vienna - 3
Hallstatt - 1
Salzburg -3
Innsbruck - 1

We want more mountain/hiking time so where for last two days? Do you have favorites? Choices to leave from are

Southern Germany - Munich?
Bolzano and Dolamites - Milan?
Eastern Switzerland - Zurich

Thank you.

given how few days you planning how are you get around? Which airport are you flying out of? What method of transport are you using? Who are we?

We want more mountain/hiking time so where for last two days?

Depends on your departure airport, but you might consider the Salzkammergut, Berchtesgaden or Garmisch-Partenkirchen. All of these might work with a Munich airport departure.

You really don't have enough time to wander into the Dolomites, let alone Switzerland.

I must admit that I find your plan confusing. Have you taken into consideration the time it takes to get from place to place? Will you lose any time to jet lag?

Keep in mind that Hallstatt can be seen as a day trip from Salzburg. I suggest you plan in nights instead of days. So, is it three nights in Vienna (which is two full days) or three full days in Vienna (which is four nights)?

Hello. Bilbo,

The trip is up in the air but trains if we can. Into Vienna and out of Zurich but that could easily change. We is my wife and I.

Thanks.

Thanks. I had considered the Germany sites and Munich. How much time would I need for the other two? We have never been to eastern Switzerland and thought perhaps a night in the St. Moritz area then the Bernina Express to Chur and then to Zurich but I know it's hard to get to SM.

I thought the train rides were only several hours apart, and we usually can sleep on the plane - so where would you recommend please?

Yes, the the trains between the cities you mention are all "only several hours" -- but you also need to consider time to get to and from the train stations, to check in and out, to pack and unpack, etc., so the transitions can really eat into your time.

It really depends on what you want to see and experience, but three days is very little for Vienna. I, personally, would never go to the area around St. Moritz for just one night -- the area is gorgeous, but if I were taking the time to get there, I'd want to actually experience some of that area's many delights. (And FWIW, much as I love that area, I am not a fan of St. Moritz itself.)

If you plan to fly out of either Munich or Zurich, you might consider going to the city from which you will depart. Each has FAR more to offer than you could possible experience in the time you have -- at least as I understand your plan.

Does you 9, 10 or 11 days include flying days? Does it involve an overnight flight?

What is wrong with hiking the mountains in Austria and leaving from the same airport you arrive at?

Note: Melnq8's post #5 was caught up in the moderation queue for 4+ hours and just now displays.

Good point but I've read that the day trippers ruin the city and it's better to check in late afternoon and be there in the evening and early morning. Would you take a bus tour for the day from Salzburg or train/boat over?

Thank you.

I didn't want to go back to Vienna but would you suggest going up the Danube/is the Melk Abbey worth it? I know it is amazing but we have seen so many churches and really wanted to see something else.

If this were my trip I'd stay in the Salzburg region for 5-6 days just enjoy the great hiking opportunities near there, skip Innsbruck (or maybe a day trip by train to/from Salzburg). From Salzburg to Munich airport is an easy 1 connection train trip through Munich proper.

The Bavarian alps offer lots of great hiking opportunities. As with the Salzburg area you can take a cable car up many of the ski mountains and either hike at the top, or wind your way back down to the base. Relocating to southern Bavaria just for 1 day doesn't make sense to me, so Innsbruck for just a day doesn't make sense to me... Pick a base and enjoy being there.

I'd base in an area of good public transport and use mountain rail and cable cars to make the best of your time and your knees. Being in the mountains you will (know) and see that weather varies by the valley so when one area is bad weather you may be more lucky in another right next door. Traveling all over makes no sense.

If you click on my user name, you will see a trip report for the Dolomites. I would stay in Madonna diCampiglia and do hikes from there for 2-3 days. Much nicer than Bolzano!!! You can do all of that with mass transit--trains and buses.

Or you could do Bavaria and do some hiking there--sorry I don't have the names but I know there is plenty towards Mittenwald and Oberammergau.

My trip report also include info on Munich.

I have to agree with pretty much everything the previous posters have written. If you don't want to return to Vienna, and want to enjoy hiking and wandering, then base your entire 11 days between Munich and the Salzkammergut area; OR, spend all of your time in the Öztal (fly in and out of Munich, and train between). There is excellent public transportation to take you to all of the gondolas that will whisk you to the top of some rather gorgeous mountains, where you can wander and stuff yourself with outstanding Tirolean food for a week.

Good point but I've read that the day trippers ruin the city and it's better to check in late afternoon and be there in the evening and early morning. Would you take a bus tour for the day from Salzburg or train/boat over?

Are you referring to my suggestion to visit Hallstatt as a day trip? If so, firstly, it's not a city, it's a village of some 900 people. Yes, it's overrun with tourists to the point of being ruined - yes, many visit just for the day, but you only mentioned one day - if you plan to get there in late afternoon and leave the next morning, you'll not have much time to do much - do check the operating hours of what you're interested in doing (salt mine, skywalk, etc) If you just want to stay a night, wander the town and leave the next morning, sure one night will suffice.

We once visited from St Gilgen, on the bus line from Salzburg - these are my notes from how we did it:

...we boarded Bus 150 to Bad Ischl, paying the driver 9.90 Euro each for the one way trip from St. Gilgen to Hallstatt.

...once in Bad Ischl we waited ~20 minutes at the Bahnhof for Bus #542, which eventually deposited us at Gosaumühle.

...Our bus was met by a passenger van with a Postbus sign on the windshield (evidently the pro tem Bus 543 in the ‘low season’), which barely fit the connecting passengers, let alone their luggage. This was in December

We were then whisked away alongside Hallstatter See and through a long narrow tunnel, arriving at Hallstatt Lahn some ten minutes later.

Return:

...we walked down to the dock and eventually took the ferry (2.50 Euro each) across the lake for the short trip to the train station

...with only seven minutes before the next train, we joined the queue to purchase train tickets from the one and only ticket source, a ticket machine, the people in front of us taking so long that we worried we’d miss our train (9.90 Euro each for train and return bus).

...the ride back to Bad Ischl was very scenic and we’re glad we’d chosen to make the full loop instead of returning the way we’d come.

...a 40 minute wait later and we were on our way back to St. Gilgen via Bus 150.

Thanks to everyone who replied.