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Salzburg/Vienna

Hi there
Doing a Viking cruise late November (Budapest to Passau) and considering extending it to include extra time in Salzburg and Vienna (never been to either city). Would you recommend this or recommend other cities? We already plan to spend a couple of nights in Prague. FYI this will be last couple of days in November and early December
Thanks

Posted by
4761 posts

Both places are certainly worth a few days time.

Posted by
8377 posts

I would, without hesitation - either or both, whatever you can afford. Experience says you can plan those extensions for a whole let less than the cruise company will charge.

Oh, and Viking can arrange the return flight from Vienna, for example, as part of the package, for an upcharge.

Posted by
7129 posts

We really like both Vienna & Salzburg - have been to both multiple times. We also like St.Wolfgang which is near Salzburg.

We have only been there during the Summer/early Fall months, so I am wondering if you will have a chance for any Christmas markets.

For Salzburg, we purchased the Salzburg Card and felt like it was good value, plus we stopped into a few places on the card just to see it for 15 minutes that we would have missed. The Sound of Music spots are fun to see, too.

For Vienna, enjoy its old historical elegance- lots of museums & the Schonbrunnen Palace. Also, classical music concerts at both cities.

Posted by
1875 posts

I would do the cruise as planned and add all extras afterwards.

The cruise ends in Passau, you wrote. How would be the regular transfer to an airport then?

Posted by
45 posts

Thanks for all your responses. Viking has a airfare deal currently that I think is $600RT so we are flying into Budapest and out of Prague
Any hotel/restaurant suggestions in Vienna/Salzburg

Posted by
1875 posts

Does that mean that at the end of the cruise in Passau they carry you by bus to Prague?

Posted by
3809 posts

Salzburg is one of my favorite small cities in Europe. The Christmas market opens Nov 17, so it will be up and running during your time there, should you choose to go. Have dinner and catch an Advent concert at the fortress (or just go to the concert). Check out the Christmas museum. Wander Mirabell Gardens. Much to do!

Posted by
45 posts

@wmt1 we chose Prague so it’s not Vikings responsibility, they would have flown us home from Passau
@Dave thank you for the recommendations, I looked at the fortress options and definitely doing the dinner/concert and it looks simple to book
Any recommendations for lodging?

Posted by
1875 posts

@Rick
I was asking because Passau has no airport. The closest airports are Salzburg, Linz or Munich. So you could use the shuttle service to reach the next bigger city to start your private journey.

Posted by
366 posts

Yes, arrange it yourself. You’ll get way better bang for your buck and likely have a more genuine experience.

As far as budgeting time, I’d choose Vienna over Salzburg because there is just so much more to do and it’s just a beautiful city. Salzburg is smaller and walkable-ish but downtown Vienna is really easily navigable as well. Streetcars and busses are fantastic

Prague is wonderful. Have a great time there.

Posted by
3809 posts

Any hotel/restaurant suggestions in Vienna/Salzburg?

I have to admit that I'm always looking for inexpensive, clean, well-located lodging... a little character is nice, too. In Salzburg, there is a priest seminary that has a Gästehaus... the appropriately-named Gästehaus im Priesterseminar Salzburg. It has clean rooms that are reasonable size by European standards with en-suite bathrooms in a building built in the 1500's (as I recall). It's located right across the river from the old town and is an easy walk to the old town across your choice of bridges. Breakfast is a decent spread... soft-boiled eggs, cold cuts, cheese, fresh bread, a homemade sweet, yogurt, vegetables, coffee, juice, pimento cheese (not something I feel I often encounter in Germany/Austria), jam. A single room is 67 euro per night. It looks like a double can be had for 100-115 euro per night during Nov/Dec, depending on the size room. I've stayed there 3 times and would stay again. The Gästehaus is equipped with a lift, and it has a coin-operated washer and dryer, as well as a kitchenette, in the common area. There is a Spar grocery around the corner, along with a great ice cream shop (Eis Greissler) with many creative organic flavors -- okay, maybe not so much of a selling point in November and December!

https://www.gaestehaus-priesterseminar-salzburg.at/en/

I find German food merely okay (not a meat and potato guy), so my favorite place to eat in Salzburg is... the Afro Cafe. Great tea and coffee... the tea bags themselves are super cool... made from a woven material. Best falafel I've ever had. The Afro Delis appetizer with white bean hummus, dal, ostrich ham, olives, capers and three-grain bread has really nice flavors.

https://www.afrocoffee.com/shop/en/afro-cafe