We are planning a trip for next month. We fly into Frankfurt then on to Nuremberg then another stop perhaps Landshut. Then into Salzburg for a couple of days. To take in Halstatt should we do it from Landshut or Salzburg. Then this is where we need help. We have been told to go from Salzburg to Budapest. If we do this where can we stop for a couple of days between Salzburg and Budapest.
Or should we go from Salzburg to Vienna then on to Budapest. We want to do Wachua valley and see Melk so should we do that as a day trip out of Vienna.
I don't want to do any backtracking so I need help I don't want to backtrack. I cant book train tickets until I have my itinerary down pat. We leave Salzburg on june 17 and have to be in Frankfurt for the 3rd of July.
Help please.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8141 posts
If you've got a couple of spare days, by all means hit the high points of Vienna. Or, you can go by train to Budapest bypassing Vienna--straight to Budapest. It's a city certainly worthy of a couple of more days of travel.
We recently went from Budapest to Bratislava by train. And then from Vienna to Prague by train. After about burning up with poor air conditioning (even in Spring), I'd think seriously about 1st class if they have better HVAC for the Summer travel.
If you don't want to backtrack, you should always get open jaw tickets--to your farthest destination and fly home from your closest stop--preferably a big gateway airport with non-stops.
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5384 posts
I assume you are traveling by train? A logical place to stop for a few days would be Vienna. I suggest a day trip to the Wachau, for a couple of reasons 1) you can go on a nice weather day and 2) it is not really on the way from Salzburg to Vienna by train (even though on the map is looks like it is).
Travel from Salzburg to Vienna on the train can be done with OeBB, the Austrian national rail service, where tickets are 19 Euro when booked in advance (www.oebb.at) or with Westbahn, a private rail carrier, where the trip is 23.50 Euro with a ticket purchased on the train (there is no savings with Westbahn for advance purchasing). www.westbahn.at.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
Only a few direct trains depart from Landshut to Salzburg, e.g., at 8:30, 12:30, 14:30, 16:30, so you may prefer those over departures with connections. I don't see any benefit in going from Landshut to Hallstatt, because you would backtrack to Salzburg. Landshut-Salzburg-Hallstatt-Vienna-Budapest is a logical order. There can be discounts for booking trains ahead, but no other need to do so. You can buy tickets on the day of travel in the stations. There's not a railpass that would save money for your list of destinations.