Hello all,
4 adults(2 seniors, 2 young adults) planning a return trip to Switzerland & Austria for summer 2025 and would like to hit the following- Murren, possibly Lucerne, Innsbruck or Salzburg, Vienna. Kayak on lake Brienzersee, Schilthorn, Would love to take a ride on the Danube from Salzburg to Vienna - is this even possible? Small towns, scenery & concerts in Vienna. Short - non scary(no mountain cliffs please) hikes. We have 2 weeks to work with.
Looks like a lot of train/gondola travel in between. I can't seem to figure out the logistics of this trip. Any thoughts?
Thank you all!
Posted by
San Diego, California
5966 posts
Hopefully the above Search will help you. How many nights actually on the ground?
I'd download the SBB app for Swiss trains, DBNavigator for German trains, OBB for Austria, to research travel times.
Just some thoughts-
Fly open jaw, ( multi- city) into one city and out of another. I'm guessing one of those cities will be Zurich. What is your origin city?
Murren should get at least four nights.
You can go directly to Lucerne to/from Zurich.
Book lodging asap, it's not too early.
Have a great family trip. Safe travels.
Posted by
Schwerin
3424 posts
Would love to take a ride on the Danube from Salzburg to Vienna
Heads up: Salzburg is not located on Danube river
Looks like a lot of train/gondola travel in between. I can't seem to figure out the logistics of this trip.
Austria trains: https://www.oebb.at/en/
Swiss trains: https://www.sbb.ch/en
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
21228 posts
Heads Up! This forum can be somewhat .... not sure how to describe it. Sorry.
So, I have heard that there maybe boats from Linz but couldnt find one. But didnt look too hard.
I know there are boats from Melk to Krems and that is supposed to be a beautiful trip (and Abbey at Melk is worth the visit)
I also found a boat from Krems to Vienna and that might be a nice 5 hour trip.
So you would presume that there is a boat from Melk to Vienna, but I did not find (or look too hard).
So you have some options if you want to get on the river. Do a little more digging and I bet you find more.
Posted by
Paradise
7205 posts
I can't seem to figure out the logistics of this trip.
1) Mürren, Brienzersee, Schilthorn, Lauterbrunnen... all quite close to one another:
This pass may be helpful:
https://www.berneseoberlandpass.ch/
Rick Steves' advice for rail travel in Switzerland is HERE.
2) From Switzerland to Austria: Innsbruck and Salzburg
We took the Arlberg Railway a few months back. Lovely scenery. It stops in Innsbruck and passes through southern Bavaria on its way to SALZBURG, where a few days are surely worth spending.
Train details for the Arlberg run from the rail professional: The Man in Seat 61
Small towns: ??? Hiking? Maybe you would enjoy someplace like WERFEN, a short, direct train ride from Salzburg through the Salzach River Gorge. We stayed in Golling (also small) in between Salzburg and Werfen, but Werfen works as a day trip from Salzburg just fine. Here's a map of this area. The scenery on this train route is stunning. Once in Werfen you can hike 30 minutes from the station up to Hohenwerfen Fortress where there's a tour and a falconry show. Where Eagles Dare (Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood) was filmed at this location. And there's another hike from town that takes you on the "Sound of Music Trail" to the Alpine meadow you might remember from the film. Near Werfen is also the Eisriesenwelt Ice Cave experience (which you might do on a separate day from a Salzburg base.) BERCHTESGADEN (Germany) is also near Salzburg and easy to reach by train or bus.
Posted by
OP
101 posts
Oh my goodness! Love all of the suggestions! Thank you all so very much!!
Posted by
Austin, TX
9 posts
My best advice for Salzburg is to get a Salzburg Card. Some places in the city also sell them but I just got mine online. It's around $39-$49 depending on when you go and it's all-inclusive to the major activities and sights. I did about eight or nine things that it included and I would have spent over $150 had I bought them all individually. Doing the Salzburg Fortress (included on the card) is a good non-scary hike and gives you some really picturesque views of the city. Hope you have a wonderful trip!
Posted by
OP
101 posts
Have decided we have to cut either Appenzell or Salzburg for 2 nights. Will be coming from Vienna, then after either Appenzell or Salzburg, Lucerne for 3 nights, then Murren for 3 nights. I realize a very long train ride to Appenzell, but if we stop in Salzburg, it is still long train ride to Lucerne. Any thoughts?
Many thanks!!
Posted by
1 posts
Thanks for the info, I appreciate it.