So I’m finally able to start planning (again) the trip that we originally wanted to do in 2020. Yay! We want to do Salzburg and the surrounding area and thinking either May 2022 or September 2022. We only have 9 days including travel days.
So far we know we want 2 nights in or near Berchtesgaden, 2 nights in or near Hallstatt, and 2 nights in Salzburg. Debating on what to do with our last night. We have some ideas - a night in Werfen, a night at Schafbergspitze hotel, or an extra night in Salzburg. Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated!
Also, I noticed that the RS guidebooks are kinda slim regarding Salzburg and area. Anyone have either the Vienna and Salzburg book or the Munich and Salzburg book and can tell me whether it’s worth it to buy or which one is better? Or are there any other guidebooks besides Rick’s (gasp) that would be better for this area?
Thanks in advance for any advice!
Posted by
NYC area
2902 posts
All are very close together, so changing hotels, bases isn’t needed. We based in Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden on 5 trips and Salzburg was an easy 30 minute drive from our place. Even Hallstatt was a simple day trip from there. Wolfgangsee and Herrenchiemsee were also easy.
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5365 posts
Exactly what Paul said. There is no need to waste time changing hotels for places that are this close together. I would suggest half of your time in Salzburg and half of your time on Wolfgangsee. For the time you base at Wolfgangsee, I think you should rent a car to make the best use of your time.
Posted by
Noblesville, Indiana, USA
1359 posts
Looks to me like the RS Vienna/Salzburg guide covers most of where you want to go. A few years ago we used the Best of Germany guide for Munich/Salzburg and it worked well for us.
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10201 posts
I agree with the others, you will waste time changing lodging for places that are so close together. We spent a week in a small town in that area in 2016 and did day trips to all the places you mention. Will you have a car?
Posted by
Southwest Florida
855 posts
Unless you want to see Hallstadt for the few hours in the morning and evening when it is relatively tourist-free, there is no compelling reason to stay overnight. As for your other locations, again, day trips. I wouldn't say that the RS guides are "slim" on the Salzburg area. I think it is pretty comprehensive for the area.
We rented a car once in Salzburg, drove to Werfen, then on to Hallstadt and Wolfgangsee. Easy-peasy day. Oh, and then for the photo op in F*cking. I think they have now changed to Fugging.
Posted by
OP
58 posts
Well, I guess I never really considered just having one base because I didn’t want to have to drive back after dinner, especially if we had a few drinks or wanted to hang out. Plus, I do kinda want to see places with less tourists - better pictures!! I definitely planned on having a car except we would just park it while in Salzburg. Also working on getting one extra night! If I did one base, then we’d probably do 3 nights in Salzburg, and 5 nights outside of Salzburg somewhere.
Posted by
Los Angeles
4366 posts
of course there are other guidebooks, Rick didn't drive them out of business. I would never plan a trip with input from just one source. Start with the F books and then go to LP.
Fodors, Frommers, Lonely Planet, if you didn't know. And the intergoogles is full of travel blogs and youtube videos.
Posted by
OP
58 posts
Well, yes, of course I know that there are other guide books. I was just wondering if there was one in particular that was good for this region. My hometown bookstore does not have a big travel section so I can’t just go and browse like most people. I did see that you can download individual chapters for lonely planet so I will probably get the pertinent ones.
Posted by
Southeast US
3830 posts
rrphotogirl,
My first independent European travel trip was to Salzburg in 2014 for its summer festival. The trip was originally planned to be Salzburg and Vienna, but I found enough in and around Salzburg to keep me busy for a week, followed by a few days in Innsbruck/Hall in Tirol. Rick Steves Vienna Salzburg & Tirol was a primary source of information for me. It has a very nice self-guided walk in it. I thought it was a very good resource for planning a trip. I haven't looked at the Munich & Salzburg book.
I also relied quite a bit on online resources like...
Salzburg's splashy, professional tourist info site: https://www.salzburg.info/en
And a not-so-splashy, but full-of-info site run by locals: http://www.visit-salzburg.net/subs/contact.htm
Posted by
Los Angeles
4366 posts
Rick once said it was foolish economy not to spend $30 or so on guidebooks, and I heartily agree. It so happens the latest Fodors Austria drops today (Amazon is winging it to me), you should get it. Frommers seems to have shifted to online only. LP tends to be geared more towards younger, hostel-type travelers.
Posted by
Sweden
6299 posts
Rick once said it was foolish economy not to spend $30 or so on
guidebooks
I'm not surprised someone who sells guidebooks says that…
I would also like to add Wikivoyage to the list, a user-written travel site and sister project of Wikipedia. It doesn't cover everything but you can on the other hand find stuff there that other guide books overlook. And it's free, so there is nothing to lose…
Posted by
Los Angeles
4366 posts
Wow, you don't think you get $15 of value out of a guidebook, and $30 if you buy and study two of them?