Looking to create an itinerary for Vienna surrounding area in late March. My college age son is studying there and we have 9 days to explore. Willing to consider anything.....thanks
You can easily spend the entire 9 in Vienna there is so much to see and do there. You could also do an overnight in Salzburg or in Durnstein.
There are so many great cities within 4 hours by train: Salzburg, Munich, Bratislava (day trip), Budapest, Prague. You couldn't go wrong with any.
If I had a pick of a second location, it'd be Budapest.
Everyone is into something different but if it were my 9 days and my kid this is what I would do.
Days 1,2,3 hang out in Vienna and let your son show you around. Include a day trip to Melk.
Day 4 Train to Budapest
Days 5, 6, 7 in Budapest with possibly a day trip to the Danube Bend towns.
Day 8 Train back to Vienna
Day 9 Day with the kid before you go home
I ran across these a while back. The Viking River Cruise video was almost 100% filmed in Budapest:
http://www.ispot.tv/ad/7wvw/viking-river-cruises-see-things-differently-
The cooking video in Budapest is good as it shows the market. I know the teacher and can give you contact info if you are in to that sort of thing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9LU-5l7HqA&feature=player_embedded
March 15 is a national holiday in Hungary and a particularly great time to be there for all the festivities.
I like the suggestion from James. Visiting the place your son knows and enjoying that, then exploring a new place together (assuming he has not been there) If he has I would choose someplace he has not been, so he does not have to play tour guide. I enjoyed Vienna but would not be happy spending 9 days there with so many other wonderful places within a few hours by train. I would also second Salzburg if you want someplace smaller. Don't know that I would like the riverboat cruise in March.