A summary of our trip toAustria: two base-camp stays in one trip. We split the holiday between two places to stay, and explored the area from each of them. A two-week itinerary done in mid-August 2023: a couple + 3 kids (ages 4, 7 and 9).
Written by: Adi Bental.
General tips for a trip to Austria
Using Google Maps: Pin all the attractions you want on Google Maps first, and only then choose where to stay.
This is the map we made for our trip:
- We rented a car from Sixt (Citroën C5) which they didn’t have in stock (as happens to many others, it turns out), and we had to upgrade on the spot for another 200 euros to a roomier car. For a family like ours, I recommend booking a 7-seater or a larger category in advance.
- We brought a small soft cooler and three ice packs from home, made sandwiches + vegetables and fruit in plastic boxes every morning (sometimes pasta too), and that kept us going until the evening.
- We set off every morning around 9:00 and managed 3 attractions a day, the last one usually an alpine coaster or a lake/pool.
- We bought the SalzburgerLand Card for 12 days, it was very worthwhile.
- Gear: we packed one carry-on trolley each + one large suitcase for all of us with warm clothes, shoes, travel towels, a pool bag and one booster seat.
- Flight with Ryanair: booked ten months in advance.
Tip from the Check In Out team: Booking a rental car in advance is recommended and will save you the hassle of comparing prices and hunting for a reliable rental agency during your trip. We recommend comparing prices on Paapm Paapm, a car rental search engine that finds cars at reliable rental sites.
We wrote a whole article with tips on renting a car abroad.
Two Base Camps in One Trip
We preferred to stay in smaller, quieter towns rather than where all the tourists gather (like Flachau or Kaprun), and decided to split our stay like this:
First base
The first part of the trip, 8 nights, was in a town called Radstadt (about 10 minutes from Flachau). We stayed at a place called: Landhaus Mooslechner and I warmly recommend it! Excellent location, lovely owners and a 9.7 score on Booking.
Second base
The second part, 5 nights, was in a town called Maria Alm (about 20 minutes from Zell am See). We stayed inan amazing chalet with underfloor heating called Sonnenheim. The chalet has a sauna and an incredible mountain view. You get the Hochkönig Card (free entry to cable cars, pools and alpine coasters in the area). Score 8.9 on Booking. Highly recommended!
The Itinerary
Day 1
Flight to Vienna with Ryanair (booked 10 months in advance) and a 3.5-hour drive to the chalet in Radstadt.
Day 2
A short, easy trail to the Johannes Waterfall (Johanneswasserfall Bobby the Bunny’s cable car) Grünwaldkopfbahn Lucky Flitzer alpine coaster, Rodelbahn Lucky Flitzer
Day 3
We arrived in Hallstatt at 10 in the morning. We parked at the P2 car park and took a lovely half-hour boat ride on the lake. From there we drove to the Gosau cable car and had a picnic by the lake (Gosausee In the afternoon, minigolf in Flachau) Minigolf Flachau.
Day 4
Dachstein Glacier (the suspension bridge, the Stairway to Nothingness and the Ice Palace). I recommend arriving by 9 in the morning; we waited about 15 minutes to take photos.
From there we drove 5 minutes to the alpine coaster at Rittisberg park.
In the afternoon, Therme Amadé.
Day 5
Golling Waterfall: Gollinger Wasserfall Lammerklamm gorge Abtenau alpine coaster
Day 6
Jägersee, the swan lake Grafenberg cable car (free from 12:00): Grafenberg Wagrain water park until closing time
Day 7
Because of the weather forecast for the rest of the week, we drove to the Kaprun dam and high-mountain reservoirs. It was stunning! Kaprun Hochgebirgsstauseen From there to the Sigmund Thun Gorge, Sigmund-Thun Klamm and to Klammsee lake.
Day 8
Zipline and rope park in Gröbming, recommended! Zipline Stoderzinken Go-karting, our eldest drove alone, carefully, and we rode with the two little ones. Mountain Gokart In the afternoon, the Game and Leisure Park (wildlife park).
Day 9
Flori’s adventure trail. Up by open chairlift. Flori’s Erlebnispfad
Moving to the second chalet (a drive of an hour and a quarter).
Lakeside pool in Zell am See. Strandbad Zell am See
Day 10
The 10-slides trail: the kids flew down there! Really lovely. Wildkogel Krimml Waterfalls, breathtaking!
Day 11
Maisi Flitzer alpine coaster in Kaprun Gold panning in the stream in the Rauris Valley (Alpengasthof Bodenhaus Alpentherme in Bad Hofgastein) Alpentherme Gastein
Day 12: a rainy day
A drive to Germany, to the Königssee (the King’s Lake) and to the salt mine, an amazing tour!! Book in advance. Salt Mine Berchtesgaden We wanted to add the Keltenblitz alpine coaster too, but unfortunately it was closed because of the weather.
Day 13: a very, very rainy day!
We decided to drive to the science museum in Salzburg, but saw the queue outside in the rain and gave up… We went to the Europark mall and wasted the day… In hindsight, had it been a nice day we would have done the Senses Park in Leogang, or the Grossglockner High Alpine Road with the Ferleiten wildlife park, which we didn’t get to.
Day 14: driving to Vienna
On the way toVienna we stopped in the town of Gmunden and at the Tauern waterfalls, it was lovely. Last night’s stay atthe NH hotel: highly recommended. Conveniently located opposite the arrivals hall of Vienna International Airport, which makes it an ideal choice for a late arrival or an early departure. We took the metro into the city to wander the main pedestrian street and have dinner.
Day 15
Flight home
In summary… it was a great trip!
Online travelers’ groups helped us a lot along the way, worth joining. (They share very useful files, including Waze links for parking spots and webcams.)
A good family guidebook to the region is also worth buying.
