How to Plan an Austria Itinerary

Because Austria's best-known places sit on the same fast rail line, building an itinerary is largely a question of how much time you have and how much mountain you want. Here's a framework that scales from a week to a fortnight.

One week (the highlights)

Split it between Vienna (3 nights) and Salzburg (3 nights), with a day trip from Salzburg to Hallstatt or the Salzkammergut lakes. This covers the two great cities and one fairy-tale village without rushing, all by train.

Ten to twelve days (add the Alps)

Keep Vienna and Salzburg, then continue west to Innsbruck (2-3 nights) for the high mountains — cable cars, Bergisel and a day trip to a glacier or to Swarovski Kristallwelten. Add an overnight in Hallstatt so you experience the lake after the crowds thin.

Two weeks (the grand tour)

Travel Vienna → Wachau (a Danube day) → Salzburg → Hallstatt → Innsbruck at a relaxed pace, with time to slow down in the Salzkammergut and ride scenic rail routes. This is the full sweep of imperial cities, lakes and Alps — the route our Grand Tour of Austria trip follows.

Tips for sequencing

Start in Vienna (the main international gateway) and move west, ending in Innsbruck — that way you're never backtracking, and you can fly home from Innsbruck or hop onward to Munich. Book ÖBB Sparschiene fares for the long legs as soon as your dates are fixed.

Quick recommendation

If you have seven days, do Vienna and Salzburg plus Hallstatt. With ten or more, add Innsbruck and an overnight at the lake — the difference between seeing Austria's cities and feeling its mountains.