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Late November/Early December: Hallstatt or Innsbruck?

I have spent hours reading about this online, but I just want to get some more insight based on my travel style. Thanks in advance for your help!

I have 9 full days with a flight arriving in Vienna and departing in Munich in late November/early December.

My tentative plan is:
2 nights in Vienna
2 nights in Salzburg
1 night somewhere
and 3 nights in Munich

The question is, which small town should I add? My original plan was to do Vienna -> Hallstatt -> Salzburg -> Munich, but then I realized that Hallstatt pretty much shuts down in the winter, so now I'm unsure if I should visit Hallstatt at that time. An option I came up with is to add Hallstatt for one short night and then go to Munich with a stopover in Mittenwald.

When I travel, I enjoy wandering around scenic cities, and I don't care much for museums/touristy activities. For example, I have little desire to go see the Neuschwanstein Castle, and I only went to Versaille because I felt obligated to go when I was in Paris. What I really enjoy though is wandering around small towns with nice decoration. For example, I enjoyed my one night stay each in Cesky Krumlov and Toledo during Christmas time. I've already been to Prague/Budapest during Christmas, so I"m looking to focus on places near the Vienna -> Munich route.

If you had to choose, would you choose either Innsbruck or Hallstatt in late november/early december?

Posted by
2903 posts

Hi,

While we love Innsbruck and the area, for 1 night I wouldn't go out of my way. During the Christmas Markets, it's gorgeous though. I'd probably add a night to Salzburg and spend that day cruising the nearby Wolfgangsee and visiting St. Gilgen, St. Wolfgang and Strobl. All which are cute and have Christmas Markets. If not, head over to Berchtesgaden for that day, see the old town and market, take in the cruise on the Konigssee, see if the Jennerbahn cable car is running.

Paul