Hi, My husband and I will be going to Austria at the end of October. We fly into Vienna and fly out of Salzburg. We would like to stay 3 nights in Vienna, 3 nights in salzburg, 2 nights in Innsbruck, 1 night in Hallstatt and 1 night in Hintertux. I need help putting them in the best order without too much backtracking. We plan on renting a car, so I was thinking that we could rent it when we leave Vienna after the first 3 nights. Drive around the mountain towns, stay in Hasslstatt and Hintertux and return the car in Innsbruck. Enjoy Innsbruck for 2 nights and then take the train to Salzburg for our last 3 nights. Does that make the most sense to you? Any recommendations for other mountain towns would also be great. Thank you all very much!!
Posted by
Southwest Florida
865 posts
By car, Vienna, Hintertux, Innsbruck, Salzburg/Hallstatt. Since you have a car, consider an early (6am) departure from Salzburg to Hallstatt, arriving before the crush. Spend the day there but not the night, and drive back to Salzburg. Saves on packing for a one-nighter. If you drive from Vienna to Hallstatt, it will be at least a 3-1/2 hour drive, so you will arrive during the crush, unles you plan an early Vienna departure. Even then, I'm not certain a one-nighter in Hallstatt is really worth it. Just my opinion.
Take advantage of all the local public transport Innsbruck has to offer. There are multiple trips from the main station that are excellent. One of my favorites is the tram to Fulmpes. Cheap ticket as well. While the train ride to Salzburg from Innsbruck is handy, the drive is wonderful. So many places to stop and see rather than just pass in the train. Jenbach, Sankt Johann, detour northeast here, drive through a bit of Germany and pass through Bad Reichenhall and enter Salzburg via the backdoor.
If you don't want to use Salzburg as a base to access Hallstatt, then: Vienna, Hallstatt, Hintertux, Innsbruck, Salzburg. This keeps you from backtracking (except the last leg).
Posted by
NYC area
2908 posts
Agree, skip an overnight in Hallstatt. Visit from Salzburg or the immediate area.
With the car, I’d stay in Hall in Tirol at the Gasthof Badl instead of in Innsbruck. This is a 15 min. drive from Innsbruck. Hall has a very lovely old town pedestrian zone. We stayed here 5 different trips, a total of 18 nights. Love being here. To visit Innsbruck, it’s an easy drive, park at Innsbruck Congress underground lot.
You can easily do a day trip to Hintertux from here also. (Frees up another night not to move from Innsbruck or Hall). I’d certainly recommend taking the Nordkettenbahn trip right from Innsbruck. Done this a few times and never get tired of the views.
I’d also think about staying in St. Gilgen right on the Wolfgangsee instead of in Salzburg. Again, easy drive to Salzburg and or Hallstatt. For Salzburg, it’s easy to park in the Altstadt Garage under the Monchsberg.
Paul
Posted by
OP
7 posts
Thanks Paul, I never would have thought to stay in Hall or St. Gilgen but I like that idea!
Posted by
NYC area
2908 posts
Our stays at the Gasthof Badl we’re second to none. Even the restaurant there is excellent and reasonable. One of the most comfortable, friendly places we’ve ever stayed.
https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/hall-in-the-shadow-of-innsbruck