Vienna and Hallstatt or just Vienna

Hallstatt is gorgeous and is the perfect place to kick back and do lots of nothing. Excellect place for R&R. You can do as much or as little as you like. TC

I love Hallstatt but a couple of days there will leave you less time in Vienna where there is so much to see and do. Why not make a day trip to Durnstein and Melk Abbey instead and save Hallstatt for another trip.

Agree with TC. We would go back to Hallstatt in a heartbeat and for longer than the 2 nights we were there - great place to re-charge. If we had to choose Hallstatt or Vienna, Hallstatt would win hands down.

To offer a contrary opinion, I was underwhelmed by Hallstatt. To be fair, my opinion was very much colored by the weather while I was there and I'm someone who prefers big cities to small towns. I stopped there for one night on the way to Vienna. It was lovely as I first arrived, but it started pouring rain about 30 minutes after I got there and rained the whole day. I was ready to leave after a day. Personally, I know I'd go stir-crazy there for more than one night, but obviously there are others who love the place.

Tough call. You would spend half a day in each direction getting to and from Hallstatt. If you love train rides and watching the countryside roll by (I do!), that's great. But its a 6 day vacation at best, minus travel time getting to and from the airport. There is plenty to do in and around Vienna. Just depends on your priorities and how important seeing Hallstatt is to you. I'd probably stay in Vienna and vicinity. But I am famously biased and love all things Vienna. So take my opinion with a grain of salt!

Vienna is an amazing city with so much to see and do that if I only had six days, I would spend it all in Vienna (and the nearby regions). Wine harvest will be starting around that time, and going to a local winery in the countryside near Vienna might make an easier day trip.

Hi, With only six full days I would choose to spend it all in Vienna, that splendid, haunting, captivating (and more) place with its various museums, the Kunsthistorisches, the Military History museum, etc. where you spend the entire afternoon. If you were to go on a day trip, r/t, then I would recommend Graz or closer to Vienna the town Eisenstadt in Burgenland.

We have been to Hallstatter See 3 times, and, obviously, love it.....hiking, biking, boating, tram to ski area/hiking, salt mine, relaxing/taking in the beauty. It is truly gorgeous. We go late Sept., & it hasn't been too busy/crowded. But.....with just 5-6 days, I would concentrate on Vienna, & Wachau Valley on Danube-train from Vienna to Melk/cruise Melk to Krem, train to Vienna (R.S. describes in book). We are returning to Austria this fall, and as much as we are drawn to Hallstatt, we think we should explore other areas. Gute reise-
Patsy

Thank you everyone for the feedback. As much as I want to see Hallstatt, I have decided to save it for another time. I feel like if we try to squeeze that in we are going to be in such a rush the entire time we won't be able to fully enjoy either place. Thanks again!! Jen