Hi !

We (2 adults and 2 teens) are making a 35 days trip in central Europe. We will arrive and depart from Vienna. After being in Hungary we will go in Graz for 2 nights. That leaves us with seven nights before heading back to Vienna (which we will have visit 4 days when we arrive).

We will have a car and are looking for natural wonders, small village...We dont think we would go as far as Innsbruck region. So maybe Carinthia and Salzkammergut + 1 night in Wachau Valley. We already been to Salzburg in the past....

Any specifics stop ? Must see ? ideas ?

Thanks !

When are you traveling?

We've spent a lot of time in Steiermark. One of the prettiest villages is Seckau which has our favorite hotel: the Hofwirt. It's absolutely gorgeous, not uber-expensive; also well off the usual tourist radar. It has a fantastic on-site restaurant https://www.tauroa.at/en/hofwirt/gallery/ (the hotel gets a 9.5 rating on booking.com).

The area is very pretty and you're not far from Piber, where the farm is for the young Lippizaner horses. In a picture-perfect setting. https://www.srs.at/en/about-us/styria/welcome

We went several years in a row with our Raisin for a two-week English cocker spaniel training/hiking/ etc event and stayed at the Hofwirt


Getting ready for a group hike

Forgot to say that we will do those 7 days in Austria at the end of july-first week of august.

There's a lot in the Salzkammergut area and since you'll have a car, it will much more accessible.
For starters: Hallstatt, Bad Ischl, St. Wolfgang, St. Gilgen, Mondsee
Vorderer Gosausee - nice walk around the lake, Attersee, Altaussee See, Hohenwerfen fortress and falconry show, Königsee, near Berchtesgaden in Germany...

There are hiking trails, ice caves, salt mines, charming villages... I always suggest at least one night in Hallstatt because the magic happens there when the day-trippers go home. Get a room with a lake view. Have a great time!

Thanks a lot for al those ideas. There's seems to be a lot to do in that region for sure !

We dound a nice airbnb in Bad Aussee. Since we will have a car, could it be a good base for the region ?

Thanaks a lot for all those ideas ! It sure looks that there's plenty to do in that region ! We found a nice airbnb in Bad Ausse, since we will have a car could it be a good base for the region ?

We alos think of a one igh stop in Carinthia ???) and take the glosscockner road.....

Thanks a lot for all those ideas. It seems that there's a lot to do in that region. We found a nice airbnb in Bas Aussee, since we will have a car could it be a good base for the region ?

We also think of one night between Graz and the Grossglcknerroad.

We stayed at Zell am See but didn't do the Grossglockner as the clouds didn't clear while we were there -- much to the relief of Mr. 7 as he is not fond of heights. Additionally, we like to avoid one-night stops, but that's a matter of personal preferences.

Near Berchtesgaden, I forgot to mention the Eagle's Nest or "Kehlsteinhaus" which was the tea house built during WWII as a "birthday gift" for Hitler by Martin Bormann, which is ironic since H had a fear of heights and also was claustrophobic, and is why the elevator was highly polished. There also are salt mines nearby.

We already been to Berchtesgaden and the eagle nest. We also about 1 nighters, but on a 35 days trip we can do some without problems. We are efficient travellers !

Specific suggestions:

Wilhering


Kremsmunster

How about spending a few days at the Wörthersee? Velden am Wörthersee is a charming place that felt like being in Italy.
We also wanted to drive the Grossglockner Alpenstrasse but due bad weather the road was closed. This was in June 2024.

Have you thought about dropping down into Slovenia for a bit? Lots of beautiful country there and outdoorsy activities that teens might enjoy.

Slovenia is great, but since we already been there for 2 weeks 5 years ago we will do something else.

we will check that idea. Thanks.