Konigsee vs Zillertal/ Tyrol

"For Tyrol we are thinking Zillertal, Neustift, Achensee, maybe Seefeld and MIttenwald"

That's way too much driving on a single day. You'd have no time enjoying.

I would say that Konigsee/Eagle's Nest is more convenient and scenic.

Oh, sorry for the confusion I was giving options for places in Tyrol. But if the Konigsee area is more scenic, which would be better, the Eagles Nest or the Jennerbahn Cable car? Thanks

Konigssee and the Jenner for me. Get the early boat. If you have time, drive to Ramsau and take a shot of the iconic St Sebastian church; the little cemetery is special.

If you leave early where you are staying, you may be able to pop into Mittenwald or Lindau on the way to Switzerland, depending on the route you take.

Thanks for your responses, it seems that Konigsee would be the best of all the options. We are going to Switzerland by train, so it may be possible to make a stop somewhere. Would the konigsee day trip have more to do than somewhere in Tyrol or Bavaria?

Also, which would be the second best place after Konigsee?

Achensee. Pertisau is enexpensive. It has grown. You can find many holiday aparetments. Can't complain too much for the larger hotels with Pension and Wellness. You are right in the national park.. I last stayed here: Landhaus Achental.

Would Achensee rank above Konigsee, or below it?

I’d say Konigssee and Jennerbahn. They’re basically next to one another. Konigssee is unique in that the alps rise right from the lakeside itself. Pretty impressive.

The church in nearby Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden is so worth seeing. Especially for the location and scenery.

Apples and Oranges. One is a German State Park and the other Austrian. Both have hiking options from beginner to Profi. I can't rate one above the other.
Achensee on a cold blue sky day in late January fantastic.
Königssee after a summer thunderstorm fantastic,.

Sorry had to revisit

Seems that Konigsee is getting more votes than Achensee/ zillertal or anywhere else. Would it be worth it to sacrifice our day in St Gilgen or Sacrafice 1 day in Hallstatt (Lose time for Gosausee, and make everything rushed) to make room for a day in Tyrol or Mittenwald? If not we can just stop for some time on our way to Switzerland. Thanks for all the help.

2 Days in Vienna
2 Days in Hallstatt
1 Day in Saint Gilgen
1 Day for Zell am See and Grossglockner High Alpine Road
1 Day in Salzburg

Help me understand, where is the “free day” in Austria before heading to Switzerland?

Anyway, as it is, I’d do this:

2 days in Vienna
4 days in either: Salzburg, St. Gilgen or Berchtesgaden area. Use one as a base.
(1 day Hallstatt.)
(1 day St. Gilgen although an entire day there is not needed at all. I’d do a lake ship cruise on the Wolfgangsee to Strobl and St. Wolfgang on this day).
(1 day for Salzburg).
(1 day for Konigsee and either Jennerbahn and the Rossfeld Panorama Road above Berchtesgaden).

Drive to Innsbruck or area for the final night.

Paul

Hi Paul, your itinerary seems great but I have a few questions. First, your itinerary has 7 days (No grossglockener day) while we have 8 days. Second, since 1 day most likely won't be enough to see Hallstatt, Gosausee, salt mine, and 5 fingers would it be worth it to skip Gosausee for the extra day? Third our hotels in Zell, St Gilgen, and Salzburg can only be changed and not cancelled. So would it be worth it too gove up the money for 1 hotel to stay at one place? One thing I am thinking is too give up Gosausee, spend the extra day in Achensee and Zillertal. Is that good? If not what else can I do. Skipping Tyrol is still an option, if that is the best thing to do. Thanks guys for all the help :)

Btw, the free day is the day after Salzburg

I didn’t realize you had hotels booked for St. Gilgen, Salzburg and Zell am See.

I just need to say it’s risky to “plan” a day on the Grossglockner Road, as it totally depends on weather. To plan this day on a particular day and it’s raining, well, that’s a waste. Hence in my plan of 4 nights in one location, I suggested the Rossfeld Panorama Road as an option, as you’d have 4 days to make sure you have one clear one for the drive.

We stayed 3 nights in Zell am See and were fortunate to have clear weather. We’ve driven the Grossglockner twice, one time on our way to the Dolomites.

Never been to Gosausee or Achensee.

The Zillertal is all that. We stayed in Finkenberg and the vistas and scenery were tremendous. The further south into the Zillertal, the more spectacular the scenery.

Paul, you seem to highly rate the Zillertal. Would it be worth it to give up our day in St Gilgen or grossglockener (Use it to day trip Konigsee), to have a spare day to see the Zillertal? We can also give up one day in Hallstatt, shift Zell and St Gilgen back to do the Zillertal. Also, what would you say are the chances of any particular day being clear? Thanks for the help

Weather… I'd have no idea, no one would until a couple days out. The Zillertal has spectacular scenery. Not sure if I’d give anything up that you have planned for it as you’re heading to Switzerland where you’ll see even more spectacular scenery. My opinion on Hallstatt itself, the village, is it’s worth a few hours tops.

So just to confirm, you are saying no to Zillertal. Also, did you do 5 fingers. Is that worth it, and can it and salt mine be done in 1 day?

Never did the five fingers. Someone who has can better answer what can be done in a day, but both sound doable to me. Even spending some time in Hallstatt, which is very tiny.

I’m not saying no to anything. Where in Switzerland are you going, staying? I’m just thinking the Zillertal and then Switzerland may be a bit redundant.

I think Salzburg, Hallstatt, Konigssee are “unique” and the Zillertal isn’t much different than what you’ll see in Switzerland. If you’re going to the Berner Oberland (we stayed in Wengen), then imo nothing compares to this area, the BO.

We are going to the Bernese Oberland (Wengen, Lauterbrunnen, Murren,and Grindelwald) and Lucerne (We have 6 days there)

Then I probably would skip the Zillertal.

Ok, but if we weren't going to Switzerland after would your rank Zillertal ahead or Grossglockener/ Zell and St Gilgen?

That’s a tough one. I happen to like Zell am See more than the Salzkammergut, St. Gilgen. The Zillertal also.

Thanks Paul, which would you prefer Zillertal or Grossglockener High Alpine Road/ Zell am See?

Zell Grossglockner.

Anyone who has been to Gosausee, is it worth it too stay another day in Hallstatt to visit it. Would it be possible to visit Gosausee and Wolfgangsee on the same day?

And is it worth it to give up a day in Hallstatt for a day in the Zillertal. BTW, we are coming from Vienna so we will arrive in Hallstatt no earlier than 12:00 ( most likely 12:30)