Where to visit from Vienna over the New Year

The main attraction in Vienna on December 31st is the traditional "New Year's Eve Trail" for 30+ years, a walking path through the city's center from one event to another, like live music, waltz dancing lessons, etc., from 2pm to 2am.

https://wienersilvesterpfad.at/en/

In German, but easily understandable when using Google Translate:
https://stadtwienmarketing.at/projekt/wiener-silvesterpfad/
https://www.urlaubsguru.at/reisemagazin/silvester-in-wien/#Silvesterpfad

Salzburg would be nice. And you could also consider Budapest.

We will actually be leaving Vienna on December 30th and I was looking for recommendations on places nearby to travel to

I was looking at Salzburg so nice to hear someone seconds that idea

Because this period tends to be quiet (except New Year's Eve!), I suggest that you go to a larger city where there will be plenty of indoor activities to keep you busy. The obvious choice would be Budapest. Alternatively, you could consider Prague.

If you go near ski regions, this is one of the highest seasons of the year. Many places divide the Christmas holidays and New Years into two separate weeks. Some places will not reserve for less than a week and at top dollar. You will probably need New Years Eve dinner reservations wherever you go.

Describe your perfect NYE. Cause there are all sorts of options. What i enjoyed when I was 25 is not what I enjoy now. Some locatios may be more suitable for one sort of experience and other locations for another sort of experience. Someone mentioned Budapest up above. Fine for an over 55 somewhat classy sort of NYE experience but not where I would go if i were under 40. Well, thats not true, ive been pompus since an early age.

Well I am in my 50s but will be traveling with my son 21 and possibly my daughter 23. We aren't looking for a raucous night and really aren't concerned about New Year's Eve celebrations. It just worked out that we can both stay an extra five days after my husband and other daughter leave so we figured we'd try to find another city or town nearby to visit. I just want to make sure that we pick a place where restaurants, attractions will be still be since we will still be on holiday and don't want to go to a town where everything shuts down.

We were thinking about Hallstatt for two days and Salzburg for three but now I'm thinking maybe Budapest?

I forgot to add that none of us ski.

Do any of you know whether Salzburg shuts down just after the New Year?

If Budapest seems interesting, ask some questions in the Hungary forum.

But here is a start, my favorite Budapest Video. https://youtu.be/1nd5AtZIrTk?feature=shared

I like Hallstatt but I am having trouble picturing visiting for this time frame. I think you are going to want advice from someone who has actually been during your specific time. Not general opinions from our visits in, say, June or September.

I think you might want to take Emily’s advice and see Budapest or Prague for that week.

right now I am trying to figure out how to get to Hallstatt and back from Budapest. For the time and the cost to reach it, just not looking like its worth the effort.

Hmmmm ok. Maybe I'll start a new post to see if anyone has spent time in Salzburg from December 30th-January 3rd, the exact dates we would be there. Thank you

right now I am trying to figure out how to get to Hallstatt and back from Budapest.

It is possible with one change of trains, as there is one direct train from Vienna to Hallstatt (and back) per day for certain times of the year. The following schedule is taken from an arbitrary day in September 2024.

Budapest-Keleti EC 40346 -> Vienna Hbf IC 1018 -> Hallstatt Bahnhst
Hallstatt Bahnhst IC 1019 -> Vienna Hbf RJX 261 -> Budapest-Keleti

If you really do this on one day you will have 5 hours to visit Hallstatt (already discounted by one hour for the double ferry ride from/to the train station).

Thank you. I do appreciate it. That will work for the return. Now I need to find another route for the way up.

Salzburg is nice, and they keep the Christmas market open until 1 JAN, so there's that. I have not spent New Years Eve there but I'd consider it. But, with the age of your companions, I would seriously look at Munich, and plan to fly home from there. Munich is a university town, and one with many foreign students. It has a very lively holiday season and lot's of places to visit that are inside.

Hi Emily,
Thanks for your suggestion to spend the New Year in Budapest. I'll hop on that forum to do some research!