Need help trying to decide between staying in Salzberg or in the smaller St. Gilgen . My family of 5 will be in Austria for 1 week and were planning on staying 3 nights in the region .
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5372 posts
When is this trip? Will you have a car?
Posted by
1896 posts
It depends what interests you have. Salzburg is a town of history, culture, architecture, and music. St.Gilgen (and the whole area of Salzkammergut) is famous for its lakes, mountains, and scenic setting.
Posted by
OP
Greenville, NC, USA
3 posts
We plan on renting a car and like the idea of staying in a smaller village, but I was not sure how big of a deal it would be to commute and find parking if we daytrip into Salzburg.
Posted by
NYC area
2902 posts
Stay in St. Gilgen if you prefer the lakeside village atmosphere. Plus, as day cruising the lake and visiting towns along it is a great way to spend a day. Parking in Salzburg, we always use the two immense, underground lots. Simple and pretty inexpensive.
http://www.contipark.at/en/find-parking/salzburg-tiefgarage-altstadtgarage-a/
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5372 posts
Farm Stays in Austria are tremendously lovely, especially in the Wolfgangsee area. While I would definitely suggest St. Gilgen, please look around the area a bit. Here is a link for the farm stay search - http://www.farmholidays.com/bundesverband/genuine-holidays-on-the-farm-in-austria.html?L=4
There is tons of outdoor activities in the Wolfgangsee vicinity, including numerous things in Hallstatt. Salzburg is an easy drive for a day trip. You'll really enjoy this area of Austria.
Posted by
Florida
509 posts
We'd agree with Paul. (We stayed in nearby Mondsee but twice had breakfast at Backerei Obauer in St. Gilgen.) St. Wolfgang would be similar; accessible by boat from St. Gilgen.)
(If a short, family-friendly walk/hike in the area is of interest, shoot me a PM and I'll send info on the Schwarzensee, a few miles NE of St. Wolfgang...with 2 restaurants at the end of the pleasant, circuit walk around the lake.)
Posted by
1896 posts
St. Gilgen and St. Wolfgang are both towns at the shore of Lake Wolfgang (Wolfgangsee), about 25 minutes apart (by car).
Starting in St. Wolfgang is Austria's steepest cog railway, going up to the top of Schafberg (Sheep's Mountain) from where you have a breathtaking view. The railway was built in 1893, and they have still steam engines from that time in operation for nostalgia trips.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19092 posts
Bad Ischl is a spa town in Austria, about an hour by rail from Attnang-Puchheim, which is on the line from Vienna to Salzburg. Although a little larger (about 13,000) than St. Gilgen, it is still a pretty small town, a lot smaller than Salzburg, and it has an excellent location for public transportation. St Gilgen and St. Wolfgang are both about a half hour away by bus. Hallstatt Bhf is about 25 minutes away by train. The quickest route to Salzburg (1½ hr) is by bus; you can also do it in about 2 hrs by train. You probably wouldn't need a car.
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5372 posts
I've done this area numerous times and can say that you will see much more with a car and you will be much more efficient with your time. You will be able to drive to lovely, scenic lakes, for example, that the buses don't go to.
Posted by
Hayden, Idaho, USA
7253 posts
Chris, there's a bus that runs between St. Gilgen & the historic center of Salzburg that would be a cheap option if you want to skip a car. We've stayed in Salzburg twice and added St. Wolfgang for a couple of days during the last trip. To arrive at St. Wolfgang, we took the bus to St. Gilgen & boat to St. Wolfgang. Salzburg is a charming city; be sure to plan at least a day there.