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Vienna to Salzburg - Train or Car? Salzkammergut or Wachau Valley?

Posted by (Kenner, LA, USA) on

I’m planning a September trip through Austria and right now I’m trying to work out the travel day between Vienna and Salzburg. Originally I wanted to go through the Salzkammergut area on our way to Salzburg but lately I’ve been tempted to go through the Wachau Valley instead. We have been to Salzburg and Vienna before but never to the areas in between (other than an hour in Mondsee). Also I’m trying to decide if we should travel this stretch by train or car. It seems like Wachau is more do-able by train than Salzkammergut but what do y’all think? There will be 4 adults in the group.

If it makes a difference, we have a Vienna hotel near the Westbahnhof and a Salzburg hotel near old town. Also we don’t have enough time in either Vienna or Salzburg to make a day trip to either of these places so the travel day is our only shot at one or both (although both seems like a bad idea). Thanks in advance for the advice!!

Posted by
509 posts

Given your time constraints, I think you will be able to see a lot of the Wachau Valley -- including a stop at Melk Abbey if that's of interest -- en route to Vienna. We spent 5 days exploring the Salzkammergut by car last September (then drove to Vienna thru Wachau Valley). In your circumstances, I'd save Salzkammergut for a future trip when you can spend more time visiting the many villages and enjoying the beautiful scenery between them. I can't comment on what one would see from the train, but the Austria experts are likely to provide help.

Posted by
2427 posts

An alternative is to travel from Vienna to Krems by train, take the ferry up the Danube (through the Wachau Valley) from Krems to Melk, spend a night in Melk and then train to Salzburg. You will have to watch your timing for departing from Vienna to Krems so that you have enough time to make the ferry departure. Because you are going upstream on the Danube, it is a longer journey on the Danube. Get in line early at the ferry to score a seat on top if the weather is good for the best views. There are big bus tours in Salzburg which you can take to the Salzkammergut.

Posted by
77 posts

Thanks for the advice so far! I should clarify that we will be making the trip from Vienna to Salzburg, not the other way around. Also, unfortunately we won’t be able to spend the night between Salzburg in Vienna.

It seems the general consensus so far is leaning toward the Wachau Valley, which was what I was leaning towards since it’s more directly on the route. I was just suffering from some serious FOMO on the halstatt/Salzkammergut area. Bit I guess there’s always next time!

If we go through the Wachau Valley, does anyone have any suggestions? I know the main sites (Melk Abbey, Durnstein, Krems, etc.) but I guess I’m looking for the lesser known treasures? Perhaps a good winery or secret small town. Also has anyone biked through here? That seems like it could be a fun way to see the valley.

Posted by
1902 posts

Sorry, I had it the other way round. That is now the correct direction:

Take the train from Vienna to Krems, take bus WL1 from Krems to Melk. You should make an intermediate stop in Dürnstein; if time allows climb to the top of the fortress' ruins for a magnificent view. Visit the abbey in Melk, go by train to Salzburg (one train change).

Already this schedule is tight as you are just on the way from Vienna to Salzburg. There are much more places to see in the Wachau valley, but this would need more time.

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