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Austria/Italy itinerary ideas with Vienna & Tuscany

We're planning 3 weeks in May, starting with 8 days in Fonte Bertusi (our 2nd time there--we loved it) near Pienza, Tuscany. Then we want to go to Vienna and will do Melk (train one way/river back to Vienna or vice versa). We have already done the Salzburg/Hallstatt/Reutte trip in 2011 and loved the Salzkammergut, but we never got to Vienna then. I think we can spend 5 days to see Vienna in leisure, plus a day or two to and from Melk. So I'm looking for suggestions for other places of interest in Austria, as well as other ideas for northern Italy (have already done Florence, Venice, Como, Dolomites, Cinque Terra). Is Bratislava a good idea? Have not been to Budapest. Is there a river boat one can take from Vienna to Budapest? As for Italy, what about the Emilio-Romagna area? I've heard wonderful stories of the food scene there.
Katie

Posted by
8094 posts

We went from Budapest to Bratislava to Vienna 3 years ago. They do have cruise ships on The River, however they're slow and very expensive.
We like Budapest so much, we went back a year later.
Bratislava is a gem of a high tech/income town and it's only 39 miles from Vienna. There have fast boats going between the towns, but most just take the 1 hour bus. We never heard the first word of German spoken there, however.
If you need a place to stay, PM me.

Posted by
2462 posts

We took the train to Prague from Vienna and spent two nights there. It was an easy and enjoyable trip.

Beth

Posted by
5362 posts

When visiting the Wachau Valley (the area between Melk and Krems), I strongly suggest you take the boat only between Melk and Krems. The boat ride from Krems to Vienna is not scenic, too long and boring. Typically, visitors take the train from Vienna to Melk and then take the train again from Krems to Vienna.

Bratislava is fine for a day trip. Take the bus, not the boat.

There are many Austrian holidays in May, so determine how these holidays may impact your plans.

Posted by
11247 posts

Do you have your flight home booked yet? If you want to include Italy in your itinerary, you will want to fly out of somewhere near your last stop. We had a lovely trip into the mountains outside of Bologna for hiking some WWII sites. A car is required, IMO, for the rural spots in E-R, although you can stay in Bologna and day trip to several towns like Ravenna, Parma, etc. Yes, the food is great although I think it is pretty darn good all over Italy.

Posted by
1 posts

If you're traveling between northern Italy and Austria, Slovenia may be a good place to visit. The Soca River and the lakes in particular are very close to Slovenia's border with Italy and Austria, and romantic Ljubljana isn't far away either. The weather is already warm in May, but you'll still have many of the sights to yourself at that time of the year.