Salzburg for 3 days

Hi Diane, I can't answer all of your questions but I can give you a few answers. If you're going to The Eagles Nest there is a Luge at Konigsee which might be easier than doing the whole SOM tour if you only want the Luge. BUT if you love SOM as I do then go for it – took the tour many years ago with my mom and sister and had a blast singing along to the soundtrack. Also, the SOM takes you through the Salzkammergut so you will see mountains and lakes there so you may not need to consider BOTH the SOM and the Lakes and Mountains tour. I love the Augustiner Braustuble! There are always people of all ages there - not sure how young your "Younger People" are, but it's a great place. Take cards or dice to give them something to do while you enjoy people watching! The best use we got out of our Salzburg card was our day at the Untersburg... the bus was free and the tram ticket was discounted. The card also gave us discounts on the Furnicular up to the fortress and discounted elevator ride up to M32 at the modern art museum on the Monchsburg... actually I guess the card is pretty good deal afterall! We stayed out the Stieglbrau Hotel/Imlauer http://www.imlauer.com/. It has spacious rooms, big bathrooms and is about 2 blocks from the train station and near Schloss Mirabelle for easy walking anywhere. Explore and enjoy! Prost! -Libby

Hi Diane, you will need 1 day for Eagle's Nest and Lake Konigsee. The train from Salzburg takes about 1 hour and when you arrive in Berchtesgaden cross the bridge over the small river and head right to the visitor,s centre. They have bus timetables to both sights. Also check to see if Eagle's Nest is open (last year we tried to visit it but the roads were closed due to early snow. A couple of years back it was ok in October but not last year). Have a look around Berchtesgaden at the same time - it is great. Also fantatsic tracks to walk through the hills and mountains.

You COULD do Kehlsteinhaus (the Eagles' Nest) and Königssee in a day only if you did not spend two much time at Kehlsteinhaus. Unfortunately, you would not have time to see the Dokumentation Center at the foot of the mountain, which IMO is worth a visit. They have exhibits documenting the Nazi takeover as well as the remains of the system of bunkers built by the SS in Obersalzberg.

Thanks for the last reply. Thats very helpful. I've read lots of reviews and as many say to do Eagles on a tour as they say to do it on your own. I'm leaning to do it on our own. another Q. about some tours . Does anyone know what the difference is between the Austrian Lakes and Mts Tour and the Bavarian Mountains and Obesalzburg Tour. Both with either Viatour or Salzb.Panorama Tours. they seem similar .Are they mostly a ride on a bus or boat and you just pass trough the towns etc. It seems to me just a road trip. Is this the case or do you get out and actually see and do things. also can we just decide when we are there or should we book ahead. There are 9 of us in our group all adults. Thanks for any help.

You're looking for €80 for a room? Double @ €80 per person? Double for 2 @ €80 total? . . . A double at Stieglbräu starts at €173 for low season. I don't think you are going to find much for €80 for a double in Salzburg. Look across the river to Freilassing, Germany. It's an 8-12 minute, €2,10, trip by S-Bahn or regional train from the Freilassing Bahnhof to Salzburg Hbf. Last year I stayed in Freilassing at Hotel Rupertus (www.hotel-rupertus.de). It might not look like much from the outside, but it was neat and clean, with private baths. And, for those who need it, the host speaks English. Big difference to bigger hotel, no front desk, no room service, but a double with breakfast is €55. I think there is also a bus into Salzburg one street over.

With 9 people you would probably do best with two €28 Bayern-Tickets, which you could buy at the Salzburg Hbf from a DB automat. Or in Freilassing at the Bahnhof. It will take you to the Hbf in Berchtesgaden, on any buses in Berchtesgaden (except the mountain buses up to the Eagles' Nest), and back by train to Salzburg Hbf. Only restriction is you can only use it after 9 AM workdays.

Don't know about in-town, but there's plenty of B&B's out on Moosstrasse, which is an easy 10 minute bus ride into the center of Salzburg. Rick has a few in his book, they'll run in the 50-60 euro range for a double. We stayed at Helga Bankhammer's B&B while we were there, she's very nice and runs a nice place with HUGE bathrooms.

We bought the Salzburg pass and it was well worth the money. You can use it on the buses and a single entrance to each of all the sites we wanted to see. Saved us quite a bit.