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Based in Salzburg for 5 days, November. Itinerary thoughts?

Hello,

We are going to be based in Salzburg for 5 days in order to be central for a few day trips. (landing in Munich and taking train straight there).

Our interests are,

Sound of Music tour,

Swarovski crystal world,

Zell am See and other beautiful landscapes (aware it is November)

A day in Vienna

We will then be going to Obergurgl for 6 days for snowboarding then taking the train to Zurich and going home.

Does this sound like a good plan? Setting up base in Salzburg and taking day trips? We have the flexibility of hiring a car for a day if a train won't get us where we want to go.

Open to other suggestions?

Cheers!

PS. Upon landing in Munich, we have a 40km Chauffer transfer as part of our airfares. Where should we tell him to drop us off? Our final destination is Salzburg by train.

Posted by
818 posts

Go to berchetsgaden and see the documentation center / museum there - the Eagles Nest is maybe closed already. I don't know - it was closed when we were there on April.

Posted by
2903 posts

Hi,

When in November will you be there? Early, mid or late in the month? I ask as Salzburg's Christmas Markets open on November 19th and Innsbruck's open on November 15th. Here's the opening times for the markets in St. Gilgen, St. Wolfgang and Strobl along the Wolfgangsee.

http://advent.wolfgangsee.at/en/opening-hours-2015/

I'd skip Swarovski. Been there and we thought it was a waste of time. Mediocre exhibits and a big store.

Posted by
2903 posts

I'd skip Zell am See. It will most likely be dead there. While we love Zell am See, we stayed once in Spetmeber and visited another time on Nov. 1 and on Nov. 1 just about everything was closed. Many signs on restaurants and shops stated they closed on Oct. 31.

For beautiful landscapes, head to Berchtesgaden or even better, Innsbruck, which will have the bonus of having the Christmas Markets open. We visited during the markets in 2010 and 2013 (among many other visits in October). Spectacular alpine scenery and the incredible festive Christmas atmosphere at this time of year.

www.flickr.com/photos/pjbassplyr/sets

Paul

Posted by
8434 posts

its about three hours from Salzburg to Vienna. That's a long way for a day trip. Vienna on a day trip is like visiting New York, London, or Paris for a couple of hours. You won't have time to see or do anything.

Posted by
3391 posts

Take the salt mine tour at the Salzbergwerks in Berchtesgaden...very fun and interesting!

Posted by
4 posts

Berchtesgaden looks like a great area. Hopefully some stuff will be open in Mid November.

How do you suggest we get there from Salzburg? I heard the bus is a good cheap way to go.

If you had 5 days before snowboarding starts and you land in Munich, would you go 2 days Vienna then 3 days Salzburg + surrounds?

We then go to Obergurgl to break a leg/wrist trying to snowboard!

Posted by
5379 posts

Sound of Music tour - yes
Crystal World - tourist trap by definition. No.
Zell am See - not logical. Go to Wlofgangsee instead.
Day in Vienna - No, too far. 3 hours each way. Stay around Salzburg.

Don't forget you need a day or two to just explore Salzburg.

Too bad you just miss the Christmas Markets.

Posted by
4 posts

Nov 14th - Vienna
Nov 15th - Vienna
Nov 16th - Salzburg & Surrounds
Nov 17th - Salzburg & Surrounds
Nov 18th - Salzburg & Surrounds

Nov 19th - Salzburg & Surrounds

20-25 - Snowboarding

26-27 Zurich

The salzburg Xmas market opens 19th which we just make it to. Innsbruck and Vienna markets would have already opened too.

Would people recommend hiring a car once in Salzburg and driving to areas like Berchtesgaden and Lakes district etc?

Posted by
7271 posts

This itinerary you're showing in not optimum. If you're landing in Munich, it's a 4-hour train or car to Vienna. If you're landing Nov. 14th, that day is used up by transportation & checking into the hotel. That leaves 1 day for Vienna; as others mentioned, that isn't good. If your priority is now to spend time in Vienna, then switch Nov. 16th to also be in Vienna. But, if your priority is to see the scenery, focus on the Germany/Austria villages & Salzburg.

Nov 14th - Vienna
Nov 15th - Vienna
Nov 16th - Salzburg & Surrounds
Nov 17th - Salzburg & Surrounds
Nov 18th - Salzburg & Surrounds
Nov 19th - Salzburg & Surrounds
20-25 - Snowboarding
26-27 Zurich