Time for another European jaunt!

Vienna - 4 nights
Hallstatt - 2 nights
Salzburg - 2 nights
Munich - 4 nights
Lucerne - 4 nights (day trip to Bern, Zurich)
Viking River Cruise - 8 nights
https://www.vikingrivercruises.com.au/cruise-destinations/europe/rhine-getaway/2018-amsterdam-basel/index.html
Amsterdam - 4 nights

I'd consider tweaking David's plan -

There's enough for 2-3 full days in Vienna, especially if you like art museums and parks. Then there are day trips to Melk and to Bratislava.

I don't think Hallstatt rates the time and effort to get there. I visited on an RS tour and it was chock-full of tourists in early June, seems that it has become too popular. I'd use those 2 days for more Netherlands.

There are things to do around Salzburg - Berchtesgaden for the Konigsee (scenic lake) and the Eagle's Nest, with the Documentation Center and Hitler's bunkers. You'd probably need 2 days to see both, not so much because they each take a full day but because of the public transportation connections. There's also a very good outdoor Salzburger Freilichtmuseum in the other direction.

Munich was a let-down for me. 4 nights would be two too many for me.

Switzerland - I've heard that Zurich is not a good tourist destination. Instead consider spending time in the Bernese Oberland/Lauterbrunnen Valley, 3-4 nights to enjoy the Alpine peaks and villages.

There's a lot to see in the Netherlands after Amsterdam.

Too many places, too little time . . . sigh. Sounds like a great trip.

Traveling in September/October, surely the crowds in Halstatt won't be so bad, and it IS quite beautiful. Plus, part of the fun is getting there - the train down and then the boat across the lake. Although I do trust Chani!! But don't write it totally off yet.

I would add in some of the Swiss mountain towns like Murren etc over somewhere like Zurich.

But in general, I think your prospective destinations cohere nicely and would work in the time that you have available.

Two subjective thoughts, echoing some of the above.

Hallstatt is worthwhile, but not as a sleepover. It's a bit remote as a convenient base for visiting other villages. Last month we spent 7 nights in the Salzburg/Salzkammergut area (based in Mondsee) and did Hallstatt as a day trip. Hitting the road earlyish (8:00 or so), we found convenient parking (see RS suggestions) and had plenty of time to see everything we wanted, including the views and beverages at the World Heritage Skywalk in the afternoon. Using St. Gilgen, St. Wolfgang or Mondsee as a base, you can do Salzburg and other towns (e.g. Chani's excellent suggestions) as easy daytrips and avoid some packing/unpacking. (If you arrive in Hallstatt by rental car, still buy RT tickets on the little boat that goes across the lake to the RR station -- just to get the views and photo ops of Hallstatt from the water.) September was a great time in the area.

Switzerland. Chani and Kim nailed it. Consider trading Zurich for time in the spectacular Berner Oberland. We've enjoyed Murren (Hotel Eiger, particularly memorable) and Grindlewald.

Hallstatt was nice. I just thought the other places sounded even better. That's why lots of opinions are both good and confusing. Enjoy the planning.

If you have 4 weeks and really want to visit all 7 cities/towns you listed above, I say go for it.

You'll be in Europe during the autumn shoulder season which I think is far better than the middle of the summer price-wise, no North American tour group mobs, and the temperatures won't be so hot. Win/win/win.

So... Have had a bit of a change of mind.

Sort of reversing the trip.

Fly into:
Amsterdam (1 night)
cruise to Basel (7 nights). Then:
Lucerne (2 nights)
Innsbruck (2 nights)
Salzburg (2 nights)
Hallstatt (1 night) - Or would a day trip from Salzburg be better?
Vienna (2 nights)
Venice (2 nights)
Milan - Fly home (2 nights)

Thoughts?

Jonno.

I'd suggest at least two nights in Hallstatt, especially if you're planning on seeing the Salt Mines or whatever. One night stops only allow a few hours on the arrival afternoon for sightseeing, and then you'd need to be on your way again the next morning after breakfast.

A day trip from Salzburg would also only allow a few hours in Hallstatt. While the rail trip is only about 2.5 hours each way (one change in Attnang-Pucheim), you also have to account for waiting time and the trip across the lake in the boat. The Funicular that goes up the hill to Rudolfsturm and the Salt Mine is at the opposite end of town from the boat dock, and the walk there will take at least 15-20 minutes each way.

If I was making this trip, I'd probably skip Innsbruck and add a night each in Hallstatt and Lucerne.

We did the river cruise from Amsterdam to Basel and sorry to say it was a big waste of money. On one of Ricks Shows he talks about his favorite part of the Rein. Sorry to say that portion is the only portion that has anything to see. The rest is flat farm land I assume. We have been on many cruises and that is the only one we would never do again.