This post includes highlights of our family holiday, you will probably find the classic attractions included but I’ve added a few gems here and there. We rented a car during our stay out of Vienna – on the first and last part of our holiday.
Day 1 – Arriving to Austria.
We landed afternoon and decided to stay at the NH Vienna Airport Conference Center, rest and start the holiday the morning after. The NH hotel is clean and nice, nothing to expect more as it’s near a parking building and the rental agencies. But, it’s a few meters from the arrivals exit so it’s very convenient for those who arrive relatively late and want to rest immediately and start their trip later on.
Day 2 – Vienna Airport → Hallstatt.
Depart NH Vienna Airport Conference Center – Drive time: ~2.5 hrs. Stop in Hallstatt lake to take a few pictures. There is also an option to rent small Kayaks there
(Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/SxZZxZnBrafdyfME9).
Gmunden (Lake Traunsee) Optional.
Drive to Altaussee, there’s a very nice lake with the same name. A nice deck, and the water is clear but cool if you dare. My son dared. Location.
Optional scenic stop near Bad Ischl (if time allows).
We visit Salzwelten Altaussee Salt Mine. The salt mines are a fun experience to all the family, even young children can have fun in it, that being said, it is quite cold, so you get a suit when you enter. It involves quite a bit walking inside the cave and if you want, also slide on a wooden slide solo,couple or even triplets! Very recommended! Maps Link
Overnight: JUFA Hotel Altaussee, a few meters from the salt mine. The Jufa is a nice hotel, no elevator so expect to take your luggage up a few stairs, the room was nice and comfortable, though not too spacy, there’s balcony too with a nice view, breakfast was great as well.
Day 3: Hallstat → Eisriesenwelt → Keltenblitz (Hallein) → Salzburg
Depart JUFA Hotel Altaussee (Hallstatt area) ~1.5 hrs drive to Werfen.
Eisriesenwelt Ice Cave Tour : The Ice cave is a popular visit so you are advised to pre order the tickets. Coming to the site without ticket does not guarantee entrance if the site is packed OR you will be given arbitrary available visiting hours (which can be too short or too long). You can park the car in the village below and take a shuttle to the site. Shuttles are operating until the site closes.
The ice cave involves a fair walk to the cave which is located quite high on a mountain. There is a cable car that takes you middle part of the distance, but the first and last parts are by foot. The ice cave itself is quite popular so you can expect a queue. In the cave there are 1400 steps, some of them are very steep, so it is not recommended for very young children. The temperatures are very low, below freezing point so you must dress appropriately. The walk in the cave is with a tour guide, you can’t walk there by yourself. 105 € or 95 € online for 2 adults and 1 child. Is it worth it? Yes, but prepare for a cardio vascular workout. The Salzburgerland card does not include admission to this site.
- Hike to the cable car (~30 min of walk)
- Cable car ride up the mountain, there’s a queue, especially going down at the closing hours
- Hike to the cave entrance (~30 min)
- Guided ice cave tour (~1 hour)
- Hike to the cable car (~30 min of walk)
- Take the cable car down
- Hike to the exit (~30 min of walk)
- 🕒 Total time on-site: 3-4 hours, maybe more if you stop at the restaurant half way
After the Ice cave we ate at the near Gasthof zur Stiege, a cafe and restaurant, located in Werfen. I had the best Salzburger Schnitzel there, who knew a schnitzel can be served like a ball…
Drive to Salzburg (~45–60 min)
Settle into Salzburg + relaxed sightseeing: Walk through Mirabell Gardens.
Explore Old Town, grab an ice cream or coffee.
Optional visit to Mozart’s Birthplace or riverside stroll. The Mozart place was a bit crowded. In august it was a steam bath, no A.C. available. I did not enjoy it and went outside quite fast. I guess it’s meant for Mozart’s fans, while I’m a more of a Bach person…
Overnight: Hotel Königgut, Wals Austria. Hotel is very nice, rooms are comfy and big, design is modern. It’s recommended if you like quietness and comfort, but note that most surroundings are vegetable plots, no near attractions by foot.
Day 4: Salzburg (morning) → Innsbruck (afternoon).
Morning we headed to see the old city, we parked the car just at the beginning of a nice park (Maps link) and walked through the gardens (see photos below). We then headed by foot to Hohensalzburg Fortress which is a massive fortress that can be seen from a distance. You can take a special shuttle from the lower part of the city to the fortress top, or walk like we did.
Hitler’s former retreat (now a restaurant). Unusual experience: brass elevator through the mountain, winding mountain road. We did not have time to do this. It’s described as breathtaking 360° Alpine views from 1,834m elevation, plus it has its historical significance.
We then headed to Innsbruck, which is the capital of the Austrian state of Tyrol and the fifth-largest city in Austria, but to me it didn’t feel that big. The city is located on the River Inn, it has a stunning view of the mountains, the city is colorful but also has an old town with the famous golden roof and tower close to it with over 133 steps that takes you up up 31 meters high, to overlook the medieval streets of Innsbruck, offering stunning views of Bergisel, Patscherkofel mountain, the River Inn and the Nordkette mountain range.
Overnight: Gartenhotel Maria Theresia, Innsbruck. As much as we requested a room with a view long time before our arrival, we got a 1st floor room, with solar panels right outside our window and a large wide tree, with no view whatsoever. We requested to move, and were relocated to the 2nd floor which was much nicer. The hotel has a very nice wide garden, where the summer restaurant/dining is also located. Great for kids. Room had no AC, it was quite hot in that particular day and area (August), but we did get a fan which helped cool us. Staff was helpful and kind. Breakfast was probably one of the best we had in Austria’s hotels, lots of options + a juice extractor and a nice view to the garden.
Day 5: Day trip to Achensee’s big lake.
We started the day just chilling at one of the lakes one of many lovely shores, water is clear, surrounded by mountains. We then headed a bit north and rented a small paddle boat from this location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/PihtpaY2hhUNUbrZA
The Rofan cable car (Rofan Seilbahn), located directly on the Achensee road in the village of Maurach, it’s just a few minutes to the mountain station at 1,840 meters altitude, the starting point for numerous beautiful hikes. and other activities for all ages. When we got to the summit we were amazed by the grassy top, with beautiful view of the surrounding and the below lake. Cows chewing while ringing their bells, there were also other attractions like the Airrofan and all sorts of kid playgrounds. Recommended! Maps Link
Day 6: Werfen → Ramsau.
Wildkogel Arena: This was one of my favourite days. The cable car takes you up over 2 km high, and it’s the longest ride I’ve ever been on. From the summit, we had a breathtaking view of the surroundings. The big surprise came when we started hiking west from the top station, after just a few hundred meters we discovered a large lake full of tiny frogs and more wildlife.
In the arena there are slides, trampolines for kids, at least two restaurants, and the highlight: mountain carts. These three-wheeled carts race down a 4 km track all the way to the mid station (1.6 km). Getting back up is easy with the cable car (included in the cart ticket). The carts can go very fast, so pay attention!
Continue drive to Ramsau.
Overnight: Aktivhotel Pehab Ramsau. The Pehab hotel was the best hotel we stayed in during our whole holiday. Though a reasonable price, It’s a top notch hotel, very clean, stylish, great food and rooms with a breathtaking view to the mountains and the Pehab old church (Maps link). It has a free parking if you come with a car. The village Ramsau is quiet and beautiful, it’s a ski resort in winter. We ate lunch the next day at the Waldschenke restaurant a few hundred meters from the hotel. It was good. Don’t skip Ramsau, one of the cutest towns/villages we visited and very close to our next day visit, the Dachstein Glacier.
Day 7: Dachstein Glacier → Vienna.
I think the hipe of the Glacier is exaggerated but non the less, it’s a nice place to visit. There is a long queue to go up (15 minutes) and even longer queue (30 minutes) to get down, even though the tickets are pre ordered with a specific entrance and exit times.
he admission to the Glacier must be pre ordered, you need to set the time of arrival and time of exit. Coming there without a ticket could mean you will not be able to enter at all if the place is full OR you’ll have to settle for an arbitrary time table that is available, and chances are there won’t be one. Personally I found this place packed with tourists and crowded. The summit is nice, there’s ice glaciers here and there. We did not have time to visit the whole site (Guess why…). Leave at least 3-4 hours to see it all with no rush, plus the top is icy and walking is slow.
Overnight: A by Adina Vienna Danube. Adina is a great hotel, its weak spots are maybe the simple breakfast, but other than that it’s located in a great place a few meters from the Danube river and a U train station a few meters away. Our hotel room was comfy and wide, had a washing machine + dryer, convection cooktop, oven, fridge, espresso machine and kettle + 2 TVs. The hotel is clean and modern, with parking inside it (not free), a gym, spa, and an outside pool with a bar, with lovely young women in bikinis and fit muscular men in bathing suits, that remind me how old I am. Recommended (The hotel, not the comparison to good looking people).
Day 8-12 – Vienna.
Vienna is a classic European city, spotless clean, transportation is a delight. You can download the WeinMobile app, which ,makes purchasing tickets easy, for a one way, 24 or more hours.
My wife was a bit busy with work so I had to find things to do that are suitable to an elementary school kid. Here are some of what we did:
- The Albertina museum of art – located in the oldest 1st district of Vienna, Austria. Among other art, the museum has acquired, on permanent loan, two significant collections of Impressionist and early 20th-century art, some of which are on permanent display. You can visit the Opera house that is a few steps away.
- Vienna Museum of Science & Technology is my favorite among this list, it’s a 4 story building, with several exhibitions and collection, include transportation (cars, motorcycles and trains), engines, house appliances over the years, all sorts of industrial machines, and more.
- The Haus der Musik in Vienna is an interactive museum where you can explore sound, learn about famous composers, experiment with instruments, and even try conducting the Vienna Philharmonic in a virtual concert and more.
- Schönbrunn Zoo + Gardens besides it (And Japanese garden within). The Zoo is said to be the oldest in Europe, I’m not sure it’s much different from other cities zoos but it’s still fun.
- The Schönbrunn Palace that was the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers, located in Hietzing, the 13th district of Vienna, with a large garden beside it, very close to the Schönbrunn Zoo.
- Prater Amusement Park: A big amusement park with all the classic rides like the giant Ferris wheel, with all the rest of rides that make a grown man noxious and sick. My kid on the other hand, wanted more.
Nice restaurants in Vienna we ate in:
- Ewok – Located in Vienna International Centre (VIC) a short walk from the Adina hotel, it’s not fancy but has nice Asian food.
- Soya – Authentic Japanese restaurant.
- NENI am Prater – Stylish Industrial-chic restaurant with a rooftop terrace overlooking the prater amusement park (amazing at night) with a hybrid of Austrian and Middle Eastern kitchen.
Day 13 – Vienna → Krems.
We started driving to Krems. On our way we drove past a lovely village called Weißenkirchen, we stopped to see it just to find out it had a nice trail in the village that goes through the narrow allies and grapevine, it was a magical and calm stop. We ate at the Kirchenwirt restaurant in the village.
drove to Melk Abbey, which is a grand Benedictine monastery in the town of Melk, perched above the Danube River. Founded in the 11th century and rebuilt in the Baroque style in the early 1700s, it’s famous for its stunning church, magnificent library with medieval manuscripts, sweeping views over the Wachau Valley and a huge backyard garden.
We wanted to visit the near by Dürnstein Castle ruins, which includes a hike to get there with a stunning view at the top, but unfortunately we did not have the time as it was the opposite of our next stop.
Overnight: Landgasthof Erber in the village of Zelking, a cozy family hotel, a few generations old. Freddy the owner went out of his way to make sure we had a nice stay, we ate dinner at the hotel as well, and we can certainly recommend it. Rooms were spacious and clean. We then went for a walk in the pastoral village.
Day 14 – Krems → Semmering.
Well I have to say that with all the good intentions of seeing The Semmering Railway, we couldn’t quite find it. It should be UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world’s first true mountain railways (built 1848–1854). It runs through the Semmering Pass in the Alps, connecting Gloggnitz in Lower Austria with Mürzzuschlag in Styria. We did how ever try to located the 20 schiling pass, we started climbing the trail that was pretty steep, but it began to get late so eventually we hiked back. Maps Link to the start point.
Overnight: We stayed in a hotel that got a very high score on maps and booking, but it was quite awful, very low maintained, cracks in the wall
Day 15: Semmering → Vienna → Fly home
We spent the last day shopping on our way to the airport at Westfield Shopping City Süd (https://maps.app.goo.gl/XuzGrpjZhvQUuSZC7), Austria was nice to us, Vienna was wonderful indeed but for me, as usual – the fun started when we headed to the country, with the numerous rivers and lakes, the vast woodland, the nice air and low temp, even in August.
