Suggest tips/itinerary for 10 days - ? Vienna, Salzburg, Munich, Bavaria?

10 days is going to be too few for that many destinations. I'd consider forgetting the car and doing Vienna, Salzburg, smf Munich by train, or getting a car and focusing on Munich/Bavaria/castles (if you're into those) and Switzerland (Berner Oberland) in that timeframe. No idea how to avoid drop charges, though. A car would certainly be helpful for touring Bavaria (outside of Munich) and Switzerland but it can also be done without one. You don't want or need a car for the cities, though, you won't be using it, and you'll have to pay to park it.

We've not been to Vienna (yet!), but have made two trips to Munich and Salzburg - once adding the Black Forest and Berner Oberland (Switzerland) and once adding Prague and Rothenburg odT. Both trips were 10 or 11 nights, flying round trip out of Munich and both trips included rental cars the entire time, so it can be done and, I must say, quite enjoyably. There are hotels that offer free parking in Munich (check the Hotel Uhland -it's wonderful) and Salzburg - you just have to look around. Enjoy!

Thank you for the suggestions. Is the Bavarian area within day trips of Munich? One thought is to rent a car for a couple days perhaps the last day in Munich and drive into Bavaria, then drop the car off on the German border before taking train to Zurich airport. Unfortunately I had to commit to a return flight (Zurich) before I fully planned the pleasure part of this trip.
Sounds like Munich might have been a better in/out city.

It also very much depends on what you like to see. Vienna is a big city, it's crowded and busy. Lots of cool sites, but it is definitely big city. Salzburg, is much smaller, but still large enough. Salzburg - mozart square (of course). The castle has great views. Maria plain is a beautiful with wonderful views of the alps. We used only train travel. We were in Vienna, Salzburg, and Munich in December, among several other places in Germany, Austria, and France. We loved Berchtesgaden in Germany which is very near Salzburg. We also visited Hallstatt.

It also very much depends on what you like to see. Vienna is a big city, it's crowded and busy. Lots of cool sites, but it is definitely big city. Salzburg, is much smaller, but still large enough. Salzburg - mozart square (of course). The castle has great views. Maria plain is a beautiful with wonderful views of the alps. We used only train travel. We were in Vienna, Salzburg, and Munich in December, among several other places in Germany, Austria, and France. We loved Berchtesgaden in Germany which is very near Salzburg. We also visited Hallstatt.

"Is the Bavarian area within day trips of Munich?" Munich lies WITHIN Bavaria - a gigantic state that includes hundreds of other interesting destinations such as... Rothenburg Nuremberg Bamberg Würzburg Regensburg Berchtesgaden Garmisch-Partenkirchen Lindau Ulm Augsburg
Passau ...and many others. But you might start by checking out the places above. "One thought is to rent a car for a couple days perhaps the last day in Munich and drive into Bavaria, then drop the car off on the German border before taking train to Zurich airport." The Bayern Ticket (Bavaria ticket) is a daypass for regional train travel within Bavaria. It's good for travel to Salzburg Austria, too, and on all public transport within Munich and other Bavarian cities. Cost is 29€/day total for 2-5 people and would surely get you to whatever destinations you might hit in 10 days. Of course you can drive, but you're likely to spend a good bit more. http://www.munich-touristinfo.de/Bavaria-Ticket.htm Since you're headed for Zurich. a logical route would take you from Salzburg in the east toward Lindau in the west (on Lake Constance, the huge lake separating Switzerland from Germany.) From Lindau (gorgeous island town) you're about 2-2.5 hours from Zurich by train. Cost via Schaffhausen from Lindau to Zurich airport is a touch over 30€.

The link below shows the extensive network of rail lines for Bavaria: http://www.bahnland-bayern.de/content-startseite/streckennetzplan-pdf

Thanks for the details! I need them. One thing I'm not quite getting: many references by posters to the economy of train travel. However at 20-30 Euro/day per person (there will be three of us) for travel to/from major sites....a compact car rental @~$400/week (assuming no additional drop off charges) sounds somewhat economical as well. Being a car-hugging American I admit the thought of multiple trips via train, having to plan in advance and negotiate schedules (plus lugging my heavy suitcase) is daunting. :-) I'm sure it's easier than that but after visiting multiple rail-sites it only seems more confusing.

ah....I just checked out the Bavarian line you mentioned. It is more economical since it is for up to 5 people. hmmm..
It appears we could take that from Salzburg to Munich. Then use for day trips out of Munich and then finally toward Zurich. Good idea....will investigate further.

"Being a car-hugging American I admit the thought of multiple trips via train, having to plan in advance and negotiate schedules..." You CAN plan out a strict schedule if you wish. But the Bayern ticket is a daypass that encourages spontaneous travel decisions. Stay in place "A" longer than planned if you like, but before you leave the station jot down the possible departure times off the wall schedule for the next place you're headed. Or go to a DB ticket machine and print out the options (no charge.)

Russ, Thanks for the tip. Say, there is a chance now we can leave Europe from another city other than Zurich. My itinerary is probably going to change on the business front end which means ticket change overall and an opportunity to rethink whether leaving from Zurich is the smartest idea.. Given what everyone has suggested, a return flight from Munich might give us more options. Any thoughts about itinerary and strategy are welcome.
We are still flexible in terms of what city (?still Vienna) we first fly into from southern Italy. Thanks again to all for your sage advice.