Danube-Halstatt-Zell am See in 7 days?

Hi, If you have 7 days... is that 7 days/6 nights or 7 nights? Does your 7 days include the day you arrive and the day you depart? For visiting Zell am See, Hallstatt and Salzburg, Munich would be the best (cheapest, convenient) place to fly into/out of. Munich is only 2 hours from Salzburg. Never been to Vienna, so can't comment. We stayed at the Pension Alpenrose in Zell am See. Nice place, reasonable rates, small but clean, comfortable rooms (w/small balcony) and a great buffet breakfast (incl. in room price). It's a 5 minute walk to the old town of Zell am See and about 15 minute walk from the train station. http://www.pension-alpenrose.com http://www.worldisround.com/articles/355540/index.html Paul

Thanks! We will have 2 nights in both Durnstein and Halstatt and 3 nights in Zell am See.

Vienna is a good long way from Zell am See. Why not drive back to Salzburg, drop the car and take the train to Munich and fly home from there. The Munich airport is a really nice one, modern, not too crowded, easily and cheaply reached from the downtown main railway station (or possibly the train will continue to the airport, I don't know). Look for a pension or b&b in Zell am See, they're bound to be cheaper than hotels.

To reach Munich Airport you need to change to the S-Bahn, lines 1 or 8. Also, a GREAT place to stay in Hallstatt is Haus Gummerer, large room with balcony right on the lake - beautiful, best B+B I ever stayed in! Fabulous view, great breakfast that you can have in the downstairs breakfast room next to Anne-Maries garden or in your room if you like. The room has a small bathroom but the toilet is right outside the door, a coffee maker, room safe, big table, tv, big sturdy Austrian made radio, books, all the info on Hallstatt you'll ever need, and The Gummerers are about the nicest people I've ever met. Anne-Marie not only washed my jeans but offered to iron them, and on the day I left, they drove me to Salzburg. I made her a promise that I would tell folks about her house, and I really can't say enough good things about it! The room is bright and cheerful and up on the third floor next to the mountainside, and their large cat is an occasional visitor.

Most regional and express trains from Salzburg (except RailJet) stop at Munich's East Station (Ostbahnhof) on their way to Munich Hbf. You can get off at Ostbahnhof and catch the S8 to the airport. That's faster than going to the Hbf and catching either S-Bahn. If you are coming in on a regional train and using a €29 Bayern-Ticket, it will cover the S-Bahn to the airport as well. No need to get another ticket.

Thanks to everyone for your ideas and input!