We are in the very early planning stage of a 3 week trip to Switzerland and Austria. Slight possibility of a side trip to Slovakia as my S. O.'s dad was from there. We are avid hikers/outdoor lovers and would rather be enjoying the scenery than in a museum. Not that we don't love history (at least one of us does), but like a good mix of activities, people and good food (and beer and schnapps). Please give me some ideas of possible routes and highlights. What was your favorite place, activity, site, hike? Best to travel by train, car or a mix of both? Thanks for your help!
Posted by
Idaho, USA
7775 posts
HI Jenny, check out the itinerary & photos of this RS tour as a start: http://www.ricksteves.com/tours/europe/my-way-alpine
Our favorites:
Switzerland - Wengen/Lauterbrunnen/Murren area has outstanding hiking & views & excellent train/gondola transportation.
Austria - Salzburg, Lakes area ~Hallstatt, St. Wolfgang. From what you've written, I don't know if you would enjoy Vienna, but I would recommend a mix of outdoors with at least one large city for some variety.
We're going back to Austria & Germany this year, and our itinerary is: Munich, Mittenwald (great for outdoors, gondola, check out photos of the hike at Leutaschklamm Gorge), Salzburg (nice city & outdoors), St. Wolfgang (excellent for outdoors - lake & cogwheel train up mountain that was in Sound of Music), Melk (can bike to next town along river) & Vienna.
Posted by
Seattle
4637 posts
Slovakia is a hiking wonderland and a very scenic country with many old castles. It is on Euro and prices are incomparable with prices in Switzerland and significantly lower than in Austria. You will find alpine hiking in the High Tatras (Vysoke Tatry). I don't know when you are going. The trails above tree line in H.T. open June 30th until October 31st. Just to mention other mountains there (not alpine) somewhat resembling White Mountains in New Hampshire: Low Tatras (Nizke Tatry), Mala Fatra, Velka Fatra, Slovensky Raj and Rohace which are somewhat smaller than High Tatras but having also alpine look (Rohace). Others and I already wrote about Slovakia and High Tatras, check under Slovakia or these websites:
http://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/slovakia/is-this-country-the-most-underrated-on-this-travel-forum
http://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/slovakia/best-destination-in-slovakia
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8312 posts
I would suggest you fly open jaw into Vienna and home from Zurich.
You can catch a bus into Bratislava, Slovakia from the airport. We found Bratislava a nice smaller town--very high income vs. rest of Europe. The rest of the country is quite quaint, too.
The bus back into Vienna is just 39 miles, and it is a major city worth seeing.
There are so many sights to see in Austria, including Hallstadt, Salzburg, Innsbruck and the Austria Alps by train and/or car.
From Innsbruck, it's a straight shot west into Switzerland.
I've only traveled the flat part of Switzerland, and I don't have any recommendations there.
Good luck to you. It's a fabulous region to travel--of the utmost beauty. And the people are great.
Posted by
Seattle
4637 posts
"We found Bratislava a nice smaller town - very high income vs. rest of Europe." I think that David probably meant vs. rest of Slovakia.
Posted by
OP
Orcas Island, WA
116 posts
Jean-The My Way Alpine tour does have a great itinerary and I even considered taking it but like a little more time in each location and a little more time in Austria. Definitely some must-sees! Ilja- Thank you for the specifics on Slovakia. I will research your suggestions. Ed's dad learned to ski in the High Tatras and skied into his 70's. I think seeing them would be very meaningful for Ed. David- I like your idea of beginning in Vienna, then bus or train into Slovakia and home from Zurich or Geneva. You all have given me great ideas. Thanks!