We will be in Vienna Oct.9 for our son's wedding.Could someone help with our travel plans.There will be 6 of us .all adults.
We arrive on the 8th. The wedding is the 9th. We will probably rest up and just see a few sites in Vienna on the 10th.We saw most of Vienna last year on a visit with our son.I would like to take a train to Salzburg and see more of the mountains etc. this time.Is the Lakes and Mountain Tour with Boat and Train ride( 9 hrs) a good trip by which to see the mountains etc.We also thought the Sommerrodlebahn would be fun. Would we get to it by bus? Or would taking Bob's special tour SOM be a good way to do this.
What else would be good in that area. Our son getting married cannot travel with us. We'd like to see a castle and which one. We have from the 11th to the 14th and must be back in /Vienna on the 15. The SOM tours are OK but its not a priority, neither is the Motzart tours.We thought of staying at the Institute San Sebastian .Is this OK, We have stayed in hostils before and we don't need anything fancy. If we run out of things in the Salzburg area is there something else to suggest outside of Vienna on our way back.Or is there lots there for the whole time.
I've heard of the Walking the wall of the night watchman tour in Rothenburg and the Fussen area with 2 castles.as well as St. gilden, St.Wolfgang and Bad Ishi.I really don't know the proximity of these places. any help at all would be greatly appreciated. This is only our 2nd time to Europe, and we are not seasoned travellers.
thank you.
Posted by
Ojai, CA
591 posts
Begin by getting some travel books and maps to see what specific places interest you the most and where they're located. With just 4 days, I'd suggest exploring Salzburg the first 2 days (including the half day to get there), a third day with a day trip to Hallstatt (you'll pass St Gilgen & Bad Ischl on the way) and the fourth day with a day trip to the Eagle's Nest / Berchtesgarten. If you want to save some money and not do a guided tour, you might take a regional bus from Mirabell Gardens to St. Gilgen where you can walk about a beautiful village with views over the lake Wolfgang & mountains.
Posted by
Huntington, WV
160 posts
I can't imagine having extra days to do a side trip from Vienna and not going to Melk. Talk about the ideal day trip. You can take a morning train into Melk, tour the magnificent abbey, and take a wonderful boat ride back to Vienna. We took the DDSG Blue Danube last year. One-way only costs about 20 euro, complete with beer, music, wine, dancing, and more beer (booze is extra). If you're really into history, a day trip to Mauthausen is very doable. From Vienna you take a train to St. Valentin and on to Mathhausen train station. From the station you take a taxi to the camp, tell them what time to pick you up and they'll be there. It went much smoother than I had anticipated. I was afraid my daughter would be bored, but she loved it and was disappointed we only spent three hours there. We have done Bob's Berchtesgaden tour also and greatly enjoyed it.
Finally, for something completely different, just about 25 miles south of the city of Slazburg is burg Hohenwerfen - the castle featured in the Clint Eastwood & Richard Burton flic, "Where Eagles Dare." Salzburg City Tours runs a first class out and back tour of the castle. Have a great time!
Posted by
byhalia, ms, usa
16 posts
If at all possible I would say to be sure and see Rothenburg. The night watchman tour is wonderful. Salzburg is also one of our favorites. You can spend several days just seeing things in town - the fortress, the beer hall, and the SOM tour was well worth seeing. It's fun seeing the scenes from the movie - even if it is Hollywood. The Eagles Nest is also worth seeing. If you will be near it, I think Dachau is a good trip also. So much to do, it's hard to pick - have a great time! Anne
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32703 posts
If you do take the train from Wien to Salzburg I would recommend trying to get one of the tilting Railjets which run on the line. Just did the route and the Railjet had a much smoother ride than the standard OEC train, and not just because of the 3! classes on the train. The line is a little bumpy and the OEC doesn't smooth out the bumps as well.
ps OEC=Oestereichishe (Austrian) EuroCity; the fares in standard class are identical. It does add up a bit if you want the Railjet Hot Towels and full! service treatment...