We have one week in Austria starting and ending in Vienna in late July. We are thinking to rent a car and drive through Melk and Linz through to Salzburg, on to Neuschwanstein in Germany, back through Salzburg to Halstatt and back to Vienna. Are we biting off more than we can chew with only one week of time? Any suggested sites, hotels, restaurants at these stops? Any recommended alternate destinations? To increase the level of difficulty we are traveling with two young children, 4yr and 7yr. Any tips on how to survive that would be fantastic as well. Thanks in advance for the feedback!
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8158 posts
You can do that itinerary in a week, but I hope you're also going to have an extra weekend too. Vienna alone is worth 4 days time, but you can hit the highlights in two days minimum. I suggest you drive to the western end of your itinerary and work your way back toward Vienna.
Tirol is one of my favorite places in Europe, and it's incredibly beautiful. We love to get up on the mountains and drive from village to village. This part of Europe is such a winter sports area that there are thousands of rooms available. You can find many accommodations on Booking.com. Innsbruck's tourism bureau is another great place to locate rooms. You'll want to have reservations in Salzburg as it's such a tourist town--and a really good one.
With 4 and 7 year olds, just be sure to take plenty of snacks and junk food. Our grandchildren also travel better with their IPads in tow.
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
1532 posts
Austria is extremely children friendly. There are a lot of attractions for them, my first idea would be the toy museum in Salzburg.
I would keep the itinerary somewhat shorter. Linz is not really worth a stop if you have limited time. Neuschwanstein is quite distant from all your other destinations, you would have to do a lot of (pleasant) traveling just for a short visit to the castle. I suggest to substitute it with Herrenchiemsee that is an easy day out of Salzburg, but it pays to leave very early. Herrenchiemsee visit involves a ferry, a walk in a park, an optional horsecar ride and, under some circumstance, a steam train, so you understand the children will have plenty to comment. - Do the trip only in good weather.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17972 posts
One week? Maybe 2 days in Austria, then 3 days in Budapest and 2 more days in Austria. This way out get a varied experience and you don't have to fool with cars. Actually, for about the same cost of the rental car for a week I know a driver (or a guide) that would pick you up in Vienna, take you to Melk and then drop you in Budapest; only to return you to Vienna a few days later by way of the Archabbey in Pannonhalma.
Since this is the Austria forum you will get lots of good ideas for the kids in Vienna, here are a few for Budapest
http://visitbudapest.travel/guide/budapest-with-kids/
http://travelwithbender.com/travel-blog/hungary/10-things-to-do-with-kids-in-budapest-hungary
http://welovebudapest.com/budapest.and.hungary/have.fun.10.great.activities.for.children.in.budapest
And the palace of art always has some higher brow entertainment for the kids and family https://www.mupa.hu/en
Posted by
NYC area
2909 posts
jh,
You are definitely trying to do too much, especially with young children. One week - 7 nights? Or is it 6 nights/7 days? Vienna, Salzburg, Fuessen, Hallstatt, Vienna. 5 different places to stay in 6 or 7 nights.
Way too much time in the car and checking into and out of "hotels". Eats up a ton of valuable, and very limited, time. Skip Neuschwanstein. Too far to go for a day/night and then come all the way back.
My suggestion:
Vienna, Salzburg (or nearby), Vienna.
Visit:
Vienna
Salzburg (and Hohensalzburg Fortress)
Day trips to Hallstatt, Salzkammergut (Wolfgangsee), maybe visit Hohenwerfen Fortress, Berchtesgaden area (incl. Konigssee), etc.
I'd suggest staying outside Salzburg looking at a farm stay.
Our favorite place is such, but it's just outside of Berchtesgaden (30 min drive from Salzburg).
Paul