We will be visiting Salzburg, Innsbruck and Vienna in September and would greatly appreciate any recommendations for lodging in these cities. Another 'later middle aged' couple is joining us and we will have a car. Our preference would be for smaller, local places (as opposed to large chain hotels) but having no experience with these locations, we are open to any and all suggestions. In addition, we are trying to plan our routes and stops of interest and awe! If there are roadways to avoid (or not miss!) and local gems along the way, we would certainly appreciate your insight and willingness to share. We have lots of flexibility but were thinking of two or three nights in each city.

The Fodor's community was a tremendous help to me once before so I thought it worth another go! I thank you in advance for your time and consideration of my request.
Linda

Having only lived in Vienna for 7 years (and traveling all around Austria) I am by no means an expert. Heck, DH and I have lived in Northern Virginia for 30 years and just this past weekend we discovered a whole day's worth of historical exploration.

This written, September is a glorious time to visit. There are the grape harvest festivals and...Almabtrieb--when the cows are decorated and brought down from the alpine pastures for the winter. If you know your travel dates I would be happy to look for the various festivals to help you plan your itinerary across the country.

As for lodging we often stayed in a local Gasthaus, European-style B&Bs with incredible breakfasts. They're everywhere. We did spend one weekend during Christmas market season at the Iris Porsche (Mondsee); and then another Spring weekend at Schloss Leopoldkron (Salzburg), the palace that inspired the ballroom scence from The Sound of Music. Both were lovely.

Happy Planning!

One of our early trips to Austria, we flew open jaw into Vienna and out of Innsbruck - to avoid backtracking. After a few days in Vienna, we took the train to Salzburg and only rented a car when leaving for the glorious Salzkammergut and eventually heading to Innsbruck (via Zell Am See/the Grossglockner High Alpine Road -an absolute belter/Krimml). Just sharing this if helpful, without knowing what overall route/sequence you have in mind for these 3 cities.

We've previously enjoyed our stays in these (4* equivalent) hotels:
Vienna : K&K Maria Theresia (reopening next month under new ownership as Miiro Spittelberg) in the Museum Quareter
Salzburg : Zum Hirschen, near the station
Innsbruck : Hotel Das Innsbruck, just off the altstadt

A guidebook or two could help refine your plans, enjoy your trip !

What is your hotel budget? Is that set in stone or does it have some wiggle room?

There are tons of gems between Innsbruck and Vienna.
How much time will you have?
What are you interested in (glaciers, lakes, castles, scenic small medieval cities, outstanding museums........)?

Thank you very much for your reply, FourforTravel. I will certainly research the lodging you suggested - and I am very excited to learn of harvest festivals and decorated cows! Our (now very loose and easily changed) itinerary looks like 9/10-12 Salzburg, 9/12-14 Innsbruck and 9/14-17 Vienna.

Again, thank you for your willingness to assist! I am grateful for the help.
Linda

ANUJ, thank you for taking the time and effort to reply to my request. As we fly in and out of Vienna, we WILL be required to do some backtracking. The hope is to find a different, inspiring route each way. After arrival in Vienna (9/9) we are thinking of heading straight to Salzburg for a few days, on to Innsbruck for a few days and return to Vienna to spend several days there before our departure (9/18). I greatly appreciate the hotel recommendations you provided. I wll be sure and look at each. The 4* equivalent is perfect for us.... but reminds me to research the rating systems between the US and Austria - I likely shouldn't assume they are the same.

Again, thank you for your valuable recommendations. I greatly appreciate it.
Linda

WeisserTee, thank you so much for your reply. While we are not prepared with a set lodging budget, I can say that 'wiggle room' exists. In general I would think that 4-star is the sweet spot, with 3-star being the least and 5-star a possibility for a really special experience. That said, we are traveling from the US and I expect that any lodging in Austria will be a special experience for us! If that helps you in thinking of specific options, I would be most grateful for your recommendations.

Thank you again!
Linda

Thank you, Neckervd, for being willing to address my inquiry. I very much appreciate your help.

We will have 9 days to split between the three cities. While we fly in and out of Vienna we were thinking of saving Vienna exploration for the end of our time so we will be close the morning of our return flight. So...arrive Vienna and head straight to Salzburg - on to Innsbruck and then back to Vienna. Our time does not necessarily need to be split evenly between the cities - and if it makes sense for a night or two elsewhere en route, we are open to that! In terms of interests we have a geologist in the group so a glacier would be of interest. Mountain lakes, castles and medieval cities are virtually unknown to us and we all share a great interest in history and architecture. If a museum was housed in a former palace, church or government building, that would be a bonus! To be honest, we are looking to experience the granduer of the Alps from our car, a vista or a lookout. Our days of hiking, trekking and roughing it in nature are behind us. I hope that gives you enough information, Neckervd. I will anxiously await any recommendations you may provide.

Thank you again for your help.
LInda

Why not head first to Innsbruck (area) and work your way back to Vienna? Or, given your short stay, drop Innsbruck and split that time between Salzburg/Salzkammergut and Vienna? The amount of time spent traveling between the three cities might not give you the ROI you're seeking. Even if you switch the order, your possible itinerary is rushed given what you want to see.

For example:

10 September: Vienna

11 September:

Vienna to Steyr (perfectly preserved medieval village) : ~2hrs by car

Steyr to Eng (2,000 maple trees surrounding a charming alpine village in the Karwendel--should be beautiful in autumn): ~ 6hrs

Lodging in Eng

12-13 September:

Eng to Innsbruck via Seefeld in Tirol: ~2hrs

In Seefeld, take the Rosshuttebahn up to the top for lunch if the weather is nice.

Seefeld to Innsbruck ~30 minutes

Lodging in Innsbruck

14-15 September:

Innsbruck to Salzburg: ~2.5 hours

Lodging in Salzburg

16-17 September:

Salzburg to Vienna: ~3 hours

Lodging in Vienna.

1-3 days isn't enough to capture Vienna's cultural essence. On my personal art shortlist for a day in Vienna would be the Heidi Horton Collection. The KHM (art history museum) is an all-day kind of affair. I would visit Schönbrunn for the grounds in September; tour the palace only if you've never been in a Baroque palace.

Perhaps Erntedank (Harvest Festival) will be happening. That's at least worth a couple of hours and and a pound or two on the waistline. Between that, admiring the architecture of the Inner Stadt, all you really have time for is cake (Gerstner's by Opera), Schnitzel (Plachutta is the go-to) and a Heuriger evening (Kierlinger (or its neighbor, Heuriger Schübel-Auer if Kierlinger is closed) or Fuhrgassl-Huber (easy public transport); Mayer on Pfarrplatz (a tourist favorite)).


The 2026 Almabtrieb dates haven't been announced yet, but in looking at the 2025 dates (and my travel notes), you'll likely miss all the decorated cows.

~~~~~

Alternatively, if you drop Innsbruck:

10 September: Vienna

11-12 September:

Vienna to Salzburg: ~3hours

A stop in Steyr could work for lunch

Lodging in Salzburg

13 September:

Salzburg to Strobl/St. Wolfgang: ~ 1hour

Enjoy the charming alpine towns

Lodging in St. Wolfgang or Mondsee (Iris Porsche)

14-17 September:

Salzburg to Vienna: ~3 hours

You could stop at Melk Abbey.

Lodging in Vienna.

In 9 days only, you can't do anything else than visit the 3 cities you obviously like best.
But for that, you don't need a car. Trains are faster and more comfortable.
It would be too dangerous to do a 3-4 hrs car journey just after a overnight flight anyway.