germany and austria road trip

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Ultimate epic Road Trip Austria, Germany, Slovenia itinerary! (photos!)

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Road trip Austria itinerary: 2 weeks (14 days) plus Germany and Slovenia

Are you wanting to experience an epic 2-week Germany , Slovenia Austria road trip? Look no further!

I collected info on some of the best things to do in the Bavarian, Austrian and Slovenian Alps regions and combined them into an epic two-week road trip itinerary! I’ve included some of the best landmarks from each country and combined them into a tidy little driving route.

This is a fast-paced trip but if you’re determined you’ll have enough time to fit it all in! Pace too fast? Have only 10 days? No problem, just pick and choose your favorites.

Overview: 2 weeks in Germany and Austria and Slovenia

Travel Style for this trip:

• Medieval towns and cobbled streets
• dense forests
• dreamy castles
• UNESCO World Heritage sites
• bucket list worthy locations
• milky blue rivers and streams

alpine lakes

and so much more! = dream trip!

I avoid larger cities in favor of small villages (no big cities!) The largest city we’ll visit on this trip is Salzburg , population 152,367 (2017)

At a glance:

5 total days in southern Germany 3.5 days in beautiful Slovenia 5.5 days in Austria

This “road trip Austria Germany Slovenia” route was planned to be as efficient as possible adding as many highlights as possible with as little driving as possible.

Our starting point, Frankfurt Germany because a) it was cheaper to fly into b) had better flight options and shorter flight times c) the rental cars seemed to be much less expensive.

IF you can start your journey in Munich, it will save you approximately 8 hours of driving! Additionally, this trip could start in Salzburg. HOWEVER, if you choose either of these starting points, you will miss out on Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

Total Drive time for the entire trip:

FRA-Berchtesgaden-Slovenia-Hallstatt-Salzburg-FRA approximately 22 hours driving

Getting around

public transport It’s affordable and efficient, but you’re at the mercy of transit schedules so you may not be able to fit everything in. You can explore your options on the Rome2Rio website or app. (New to Public Transportation ? You may find this article for beginners helpful)

driving Because of the remote locations on this itinerary, a road trip is the best way to do this trip. With your own car you can get around faster.

1-Do yourself a big favor and add the GPS onto your car rental, or bring one along. We have this GPS unit from Garmin. 2- You may need an International Driving Permit to drive in Europe. Get one at your local AAA office. 3-Rental Car: Search on Booking.com or Expedia to find the best rates and then book with the company directly for peace of mind.

where to stay?

I’ll include the places we stayed but if they don’t suit your tastes, my favorite place to search accommodations is booking.com. If you use the links in this article to book your stay, you’ll help me continue to fund this website! Thank you! Danke! And Hvala!

*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own

*** Day 1 ***

arrival in Germany and Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Where to stay: 1 night: This one isn’t optional! Historik Hotel Gotisches Haus garni is located in a 700-year-old building and is decorated in gorgeous old world furnishings. It’s my favorite place to stay in Rothenburg! Prices starting at : $150 per night Guest rating 9.1

travel time: 2 hours (TRAFFIC DEPENDANT)

arrival in Germany

First up: we’ll spend the better part of the first week in Germany.

BEFORE YOU HEAD TO GERMANY check out my Ultimate Guide to Traveling in Germany !

getting money

You may want to hit the ATM and get some Euros before you leave the airport. It’s the fastest, easiest and often least expensive way for travelers to obtain foreign currency. Don’t forget to refuse the Dynamic Currency Conversion.

Pick up your rental car on the first day

Most companies charge a nominal fee for crossing country borders. Inquire with your rental company.

***Drive to Rothenburg ob der Tauber: 2 hours (IF the autobahn isn’t a congested mess)

Rothenburg ob der Tauber (Germany)

Rothenburg is a fairytale come to life. This medieval city will charm you with its half-timbered houses, cobbled streets, and 14th century medieval town walls. There’s a lot to do in Rothenburg. Since, depending on your arrival time, you only have a few hours, my recommendation would be simply walking the medieval town wall and exploring the old city center. It’s a great way to get an overview of the town.

Get more details : in my how to make the best of your trip to Rothenburg ! article

Dinner: There are two very special places to eat in Rothenburg: (you’ll need a reservation for both) Zur Holl is located in an old and ancient looking 1,000 year old building! and Altfränkische Weinstube is located in a 650-year-old building that looks like it was designed for gnomes! (No CREDIT CARD, cash only at this one)

Optional experience (September): Rothenburg Imperial City Festival. What a treat! The entire town turns into a medieval encampment with thousands of Germans wearing traditional costumes.

south Germany and the German Alps

*** Day 2 ***

Herrenchiemsee New Palace and mountain carts

where to stay: night 1/3: We stayed at Pension Greti in the Königssee area because it seemed central to our activities. Prices starting at: $110 per night Guest rating: 8.1

total drive time: 5 hours

Drive to Chiemsee : 3.5 hour drive

Herrenchiemsee New Palace (Neues Schloss Herrenchiemsee) Germany

King Ludwig strikes again! Known for his masterpiece, Neuschwanstein Castle, this sprawling palace is his answer to Versailles! On strict orders from the King, it was imperative that everything in this palace be done in the French style.

Herrenchiemsee Palace is located on an island in Chiemsee Lake so you will need to take a 20-minute ferry over. When you arrive at the island you can either walk 20 minutes from the dock on the island or take a (very reasonably priced!) horse drawn carriage ride.

Optional experience: While you can technically do this in a couple of hours There is so much to do in this area, consider skipping the mountain carts and spending more time here.

*** Drive to your next hotel: approximately 1.5 hours. NOTE: you will either want to set your route to avoid toll roads in Austria or purchase your toll pass now. More on that later.

Adrenalin Erlebnis mountain cart tour (Germany)

Take a mountain cart tour with Adrenalin Erlebnis. Both the young and the young at heart will enjoy this adventure with fantastic mountain views! Contact Marco through their website for more information.

*** Day 3 ***

where to stay: night 2/3

total drive time for the day: minimal

Königssee and Obersee Lakes Germany

Catch the first boat of the day for a scenic boat tour through the Bavarian Alps on fjord like Konigsee lake. Disembark in Salet and then take the path that leads to Obersee , an idyllic emerald-green alpine lake with stunning views! Obersee was a bucket list experience for me. From Obersee you can take a trail to Röthbachfall waterfall, Germany’s highest waterfall! (sorry Triberg , it’s a fact)

Get more details: in my Obersee Königssee article.

*** Day 4 ***

scenic gorge and waterfall, iconic church, national park

where to stay: night 3/3

total drive time: minimal

Wimbachklamm gorge and waterfall (Germany)

Don’t miss this stunner! Transverse elevated wooden walkways and bridges that run through this ridiculously scenic gorge with multiple waterfalls. Easy 1.4-mile loop.

I couldn’t quite capture the natural beauty of this place in photos. Here’s my video instead!

Parish Church of St. Sebastian (Germany)

The adorable St. Sebastian Church has been on my bucket list for quite some time. I finally made it! It’s picture perfect with the mountains in the background, and the little brook and bridge in the foreground. You don’t want to miss it!

fun fact: You may not know it by looking at the pictures, but I was so surprised that the church is actually located in town with a road running through it!

Get more details: get full details on visiting the Parish Church of St. Sebastian

Lake Hintersee (Germany)

There’s another lovely lake just a short drive from the church. Hintersee Lake has a 3.5-kilometer trail that circles the lake and takes you through a magical forest. I’ll be honest, this wasn’t the prettiest lake I saw on our trip but I’m a huge sucker for a scenic trail, or rent a swan boat or electric boat and get out on the lake!

Berchtesgaden National Park (Nationalpark) Germany

Berchtesgaden National Park boasts 174 named mountains, including the Watzmann, the tallest peak in the park. Hiking trails are abundant in the park, it’s a veritable hiking paradise. Make your way to one of the mountain huts scattered throughout the park for refreshments and good views or simply ride the ALM ErlebnisBUS shuttle through the park.

tips: Bring water OR just bring a water bottle. Because on a happy note, the water that comes off the mountains and fills the streams is drinking water quality. Get familiar with the bus schedule. I assumed that there were frequent buses. There are not. (my video from the park:)

optional experience: My husband decided that he was interested in seeing Eagle’s Nest. It’s just a few kilometers away. You can either drive there or take a tour with a local guide from Salzburg. Check Get Your Guide for options.

travel day Austria / Slovenia

*** Day 5 ***

Hohenwerfen Castle / drive to Slovenia

Where to stay: night 1/2: Klavze 28 (this one isn’t optional either! I’ll review it below)

total drive time: 4 hour 15-minute drive

*** Drive to Hohenwerfen Castle: 45 minutes. IMPORTANT: Stop at the Germany Austria border (a gas station near the German border works) it is time to purchase your vignette sticker. This toll pass allows you to drive on the Austrian expressways

Hohenwerfen Castle (Austria)

The nearly 1,000 year old Hohenwerfen Castle sits high above the valley below, surrounded by mountains. This delightful castle has a daily falconry show and when we were there the current castle exhibit was all about witches…perfect! Take the steep path up or ride the somewhat pricey funicular. Want to guess which we chose? I’m all about saving my legs any and every way possible on these long trips! The guided tour lasts about an hour.

It gets a bit crowded so try to get there as soon as they open. You may even get to sleep in a bit! When we visited, the first tour didn’t start until 10 am.

get more information: Visit Hohenwerfen, everything you need to know!

***Drive to Klavze 28 in Slovenia: 3.5 hours. Stop at the Slovenia border for a Slovenian vignette (this one is a receipt instead of an actual sticker). IF you are sure you won’t be using any toll roads while in Slovenia you can skip this one. 15 euros for a 1-week pass.

Klavze 28 (Slovenia)

Klavze 28 is a rustic farmhouse bed and breakfast located in a secluded area of the Soca Valley. Two old restored farmhouses sitting pretty in an idyllic valley surrounded by mountains, rolling hills, meadows and forests. We have things planned for the next day, but you may love it here so much you may decide not to go anywhere!

Klavze requires a 2-night stay. I gladly rearranged our entire itinerary to make it work.

Dinner: This area is remote. You may want to ask Klavze in advance of your arrival to make a dinner reservation for you at one of their recommended restaurants. Hisa Polonka in Kobarid is recommended by Rick Steves (closed Tuesday and Wednesday)

Get more details : Read my in depth review of Klavze 28 here or if you prefer, just book it now !

*** Day 6 ***

Predjama Castle, Slovenia show caves, and dinner in Italy!

where to stay: night 2/2

total drive time: 4-hours drive time for the day

***drive to: Predjama Castle 1 hour 45-minute drive

Predjama Castle (Slovenia)

(Prehd-YAH-mah)/ Predjamski Grad is an over 800-year old cave castle (the largest in the world) that was actually on both mine AND my husband’s bucket lists! This castle really had a great feel that seemed to shine through even though it was SUPER CROWDED! Self-guided audio tour, pay the entrance fee and head in, no need to wait for “tour times.”

There’s a Stone Age cave behind the castle but Rick Steves says that it’s skippable, so we did. We figured our time and money would be better spent at one of the world class show caves, our next stop.

Choose a cave: There are two popular show caves in this area. Postojna Cave (10 km ride the underground train! ) and Škocjan Caves (35 km) Due to time constraints you are going to have to choose.

***drive to Škocjan Caves: 30 minute drive

Škocjan Caves (Slovenia)

We chose Škocjan Caves. I can’t quite remember what the deciding factor was. Škocjan Caves have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which very well could have been the deciding factor because we love to add UNESCO sites to our travel itineraries. There’s a raging underground river that flows through Škocjan Cave. Visitors experience a guided 2-mile hike, that includes 400 stairs, through the caves.

Warning: We arrived late in the day and tickets were sold out! Entry denied! It was such a disappointment. You may want to consider pre purchasing tickets.

Dinner in Italy?

If you happen to be at Škocjan Caves, then you also happen to be only 25 km from Italy. I had never been, so it was just too tempting and I had to cross over. Why not stop in Trieste and have dinner overlooking the Adriatic Sea? From there it’s a 1 hour 45-minute drive back to Klavze.

*** Day 7 ***

The Julian Alps/ Triglav National Park / Lake Jasna/ Vintgar Gorge

where to stay: night 1/2: We stayed at Hiša Pr’Pristavc in Bohinj (central to activities on our itinerary) prices starting at: $139 per night guest rating: 8.7

travel time for the day: 3.5 hours drive

You will need to be at Vintgar Gorge well before closing time so plan appropriately!

The Julian Alps/ Triglav National Park (Slovenia)

Napoleon’s bridge , make a quick stop at this neat bridge for photos.

Kozjak Waterfall trail is a fairly easy hike that leads to a dramatic cascade plunging 50 feet through a narrow cavern into a beautiful pool. 1.5 hours round trip. Just before you reach Kozjak Waterfall you’ll need to stop and buy a ticket so bring cash.

River stops: As you follow along the route, you’ll want to make frequent stops to enjoy the remarkable clarity and milky blue waters of the Soča.

Vršič Pass (vur-SHEECH) Pass Scenic drive This amazing high altitude drive (5,285 ft) through the Julian Alps includes 50 hairpin turns (each numbered and labeled.) (We’ll be doing it backwards so starting at 50.) There are frequent pull outs along the way so stop for the views. #24 is the highest point (summit.) Stop at the cozy Tičar Lodge for refreshments and stunning views.

FULL disclosure I was completely intimidated by the thought of this drive. I am glad we did it because it was such a joy!

Would you rather someone else do the driving??? You can take guide tours from Bled, Bohinj, and even Kranjska Gora that include the Vršič Pass ! Shop your options on Get Your Guide!

Lake Jasna (Jezero Jasna) Slovenia

As we continued our journey, suddenly the most stunning emerald-green lake with a mirror-like surface reflecting the surrounding mountains came into view. You’ll want to work a little time into your schedule for this one!

Get more details : in my Jasna Lake article!

Vintgar Gorge (Slovenia)

Make this stunning mile long gorge a priority! Transverse wooden boardwalks and bridges deep below in the valley of this gorge. Allow 1.5 hours round trip from entrance. See the official website for details.

*** Day 8 ***

total driving: minimal

Lake Bled Day (locals pronounce it “Blade”)

Laundry day! Our first stop of the day was to drop off our laundry first thing. We picked it up later in the day, washed, dried and folded! 15 euros per load for same day service. (Anze Stalc) Trough 63 4260 Bled, phone 041 575 522 address that is from their map: Pralnica Perila MANA, Koritno 63, 4260 Bled. Don’t forget to pick it up before they close!

Bled castle We then drove straight to Bled Castle in an attempt to beat the crowds. The castle itself was alright. The real draw to this 1,000-year-old cliff hanging castle is the intoxicating views of Lake Bled and surrounding mountains! Outstanding! Pricey paid parking at the castle, restaurant with nice views.

Parking travel tip: Repark the car. Parking in Bled can be challenging. We parked at the Luge lot for free! We never had to show any proof that we were paying customers.

around the lake There’s a 3.5-mile path that surrounds lake Bled. Here are some options for getting around the lake: Walk, rent a bike or an ebike, or a tourist train (stops along the way)

boat ride A boat ride to the island in the center of the lake-the island and the cute church that occupies are what make up the iconic view of lake bled. To get to the island: electric boat tour OR Cruise over on a Pletna boat (these are the traditional passenger row boats) or rent a rowboat and row yourself over.

Summer tobogganing at Straza Mountain. We took a few turns on the toboggan run! It was a little expensive but fun, something I’ve been wanting to do for a while.

Where to eat: anywhere along the lake with a view! The food may or may not be great, but the views are guaranteed to be! Be sure to try the Kremna Rezina or kremsnita layer of cream, layer of custard between sheets of crisp crust.

Massage By now your muscles probably could use a massage, consider making an appointment for tonight to cap off your day.

travel day Slovenia / Austria

*** Day 9 ***

Lake Bohinj / Savica Waterfall / Hochosterwitz Castle

where to stay : night 1/2: in or near Hallstatt . We stayed at Welterbe-Wirtshaus Steegwirt (Bad Goisern) because it was central to Hallstatt and Gosausee . Its a 400-year-old building with a mountain backdrop. Simply gorgeous! prices starting at : $240 per night guest rating : 9.4

total travel time: 4.5 hours of driving

Lake Bohinj (Slovenia)

The next morning you’ll need to get an early start. Head for Lake Bohinj ( BOH-heen) and stop and get pictures of the Zlatorog the Goldenhorn first thing! It’s going to get crowded.

Savica (sah-VEET-seh) Waterfall This is a moderate to strenuous 20-minute uphill trail 553 stairs) to a remarkably pure pool of aquamarine snowmelt. Bring cash for the small fee. 1.4 miles round trip. Tip: bring your hiking poles for this one!

*** drive to Hochosterwitz Castle

Burg Hochosterwitz Castle

Hochosterwitz Castle, one of the most famous Austrian landmarks, is a 9th century medieval fortress that’s perched on rock high above the valley below. Take the funicular up because I know you must be tired at this point and there’s lots more to come! We drove about an hour out of the way to visit this castle but I would say it was worth it!

Get more details: in my Hochosterwitz article !

*** Drive to your hotel

Dinner options : If you are staying at the recommended Welterbe-Wirtshaus Steegwirt save yourself the trouble and have dinner there. The food is DELICIOUS!

*** Day 10 ***

Hallstatt and Gosausee

total drive time: about an hour

Hallstatt (Austria)

Head for your day trip to Hallstatt early because if there ever was a time to practice crowd beating tips it is now!

The charming small town of Hallstatt sits prettily on the shores of beautiful Lake Hallstatt, surrounded by majestic mountains and lush forests. Another UNESCO site and yet another of my bucket list destinations! Traditional Alpine architecture and colorful houses built into the mountainside, each one adorned with flower boxes and views of the swan studded lake! Choose from things like:

• the bone chapel that contains hundreds of human bones and skulls
• Roman ruins
• getting out on the lake
• OR above the little town for a unique perspective
• the 700-year-old salt mine.

Lunch: same as before, anywhere along the lake with a view! The food may or may not be great, but the views are guaranteed to be!

Get more details : in my Hallstatt article (that includes crow beating tips!)

Now after an early lunch, get the heck out of town, because it’s about to get real crowded.

Gosausee (Austria)

In order to avoid the crowds in Hallstatt, I headed to another lake. Gosausee. The crystal-clear emerald green lake reflects the surrounding majestic mountain range. There’s a picturesque trail that circles the lake, or head up the cable car for views of the lake from above. Gosausee is a popular tourist destination too, however nowhere as crowded as the city center of Hallstatt! (25-minute drive from Hallstatt)

Get more details: In my article on how to plan the perfect trip to Gosausee , the prettiest place on earth!

Dinner: I’d eat dinner at the restaurant on Gosausee Lake. The restaurants in Hallstatt can close up pretty early. (We ended up getting stuck eating gas station food! HA HA HA!)

Round 2 Hallstatt

Now that the midday and late afternoon crowds have dissipated it’s time to head back to Hallstatt for sunset views and a romantically lit evening!

*** Day 11 ***

Drive to Salzburg / explore Salzburg

where to stay: Night 1/3: Bloberger Hof , this one is highly recommended, by me! You could stay in the hustle and bustle of the city, but you won’t need your car while there and you’ll likely pay a premium for parking. Bloberger Hof has free private parking and is conveniently located near a bus stop that goes to the city center. Our balcony had mountain views and the food was delicious! 10/10 for me! prices starting at: $140 per night guest rating: 9.2!

total travel time: 1.5 hours

*** Drive to Salzburg: 1.5 hours. You have two options here. Let the GPS show you the most direct route OR take the Salzkammergut Scenic drive (Hwy 145 N to north of Bad Ischl and then take the 158 to Salzburg)

Check into your hotel (too early? They should be able to store your luggage)

PURCHASE SALZBURG CARD (your hotel probably sells them) whic covers many of the recommended attractions in this article, ride area buses for free, a free round trip boat ride and more! Discounts on the hop-on-hop-off bus tours and more! If you plan on visiting many attractions it’s a good idea to get a Salzburg Card. We figure it saved us about 30 euros per person over the 3 days.

Head to Salzburg Old Town City Centre: We jumped on the bus, easy and free of charge with our Salzburg cards!

Charming Salzburg Old Town, (Altstadt) Austria: Day 1

a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the very best-preserved European cities. The unique architecture is a fanciful mixture of baroque architecture and Gothic, which gives the town a decidedly ornate appearance. You will simply fall in love with it! To further add to its charm Salzburg is surrounded by mountains which provide a stunning backdrop.

Salzburg is the birthplace of Mozart , and they are proud of it! There are so many neat Mozart related things to do, I wrote an entire article: Mozart in Salzburg

Get more information: I’ll be working on a Salzburg itinerary next, with everything you need to know. Stay tuned!

Day 1 Salzburg highlights include:

• Mozart’s Birthplace (Mozart was born here in 1756.)
• Getreidegasse is the very crowded main drag in old Salzburg, which looks much like it did in Mozart’s day.
• The Mozart Family Residence (after they moved from the birthplace)
• Mirabelle Gardens and Dwarf Park (Mirabelle Palace is worth a look too!)

Total walking about 1.5 miles

Get more information: I’ve got a more in depth look at Salzburg in my 3-Day Salzburg Itinerary

*** Day 12 ***

Salzburg Day 2

total travel time: none!

Salzburg Day 2 Highlights:

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Statue
• Italian fountains
• Salzburg Cathedral (Salzburger Dom) where Mozart was baptized and served as organist for two years
• St. Peter’s church and Catacombs: Medieval hermit monks lived here.

Hohensalzburg Fortress (Festung Hohensalzburg)

Take the funicular (skip the line with the Salzburg card!) up to the 1,000 year old Hohensalzburg Castle, also known as the Hohensalzburg Fortress is a medieval fortress perched high on Festungsberg Mountain overlooking charming Salzburg. It offers panoramic vistas of Salzburg’s fanciful rooftops and surrounding mountains.

The expansive eight-acre fortress complex, a nice place to grab an ice cream and wader, has about of 50ish buildings. Consider attending one of the world class Mozart Dinner Concerts at the Fortress.

*** Day 13 ***

Salzburg Day 3 (Hellbrunn Palace and Mozart Dinner Concert)

total travel time: almost none

Schloss Hellbrunn Palace and Gardens

Drive to Schloss Hellbrunn, also known as Hellbrunn Palace, a baroque palace located on the outskirts of Salzburg. Built in the 1600’s, what makes Hellbrunn so special are the dozens of playful trick fountains located in the gardens. The water features that were designed to entertain guests. The palace interior is stunningly decorated and worth seeing for its intricate frescoes and ornate furnishings.

You have the rest of the day free. Might I suggest relaxing? A massage? Your choice.

Mozart Dinner Concert

This unique experience is a MUST elegant baroque setting, three courses of food, Mozart era recipes, three 20-minute courses of music. It was the BEST EXPERIENCE! Located in Stiftskeller St. Peter restaurant. The Mozart family frequented this restaurant, and Charlemagne ate here in 803, making it perhaps the oldest restaurant in Europe. Book it on Get Your Guide !

*** Day 14 ***

drive from Salzburg to the airport

where to stay: I like to stay close to the airport. We stayed at Best Western Hotel Airport Frankfurt

total travel time: It’s the last day so head back to the airport, for us, Frankfurt International: 4 hours (according to Google maps but only IF the autobahn isn’t congested.)

Looking for something to do on the route from Salzburg to Frankfurt? Here are a couple of options:

• Furstenfeld Abbey Monastery church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary near Munich for jeweled skeletons.
• Wurzburg Palace is stunning if you haven’t already been.
• Burg Frankenstein for dinner? You’ll need to make a reservation but it’s only a half hours drive from the airport. Mary Shelley was a visitor to this castle 2 years before penning her novel.

When is the best time to go?

Spring and Fall are ideal times to visit this region of Europe. However, mountain regions may already or still be dealing with snow. Winters are cold. Expect to deal with winter weather road conditions, particularly because most of this Germany Slovenia Austria itinerary is located in the mountainous Alps region. Some mountain passes may be closed. Summer is prime time to visit for summer activities like swimming and boating but it will be crowded.

crowd beating tips

The common sense rule of thumb for avoiding the worst crowds at popular tourist attractions are:

• Visit early morning or late in the day (i.e., the first or last tour of the day)
• Weekdays are often less crowded than weekends.
• Travel in the shoulder or off season

When in Rome

If you’re like me, then the best part of the trip is usually the food! When in Rome, try the local cuisine!

When in Rome: Slovenia Cuisine

• Burek: Savory phyllo-dough pastry
• Struklji: dumpling cakes stuffed with cheese, meat etc.
• Repa is a turnip prepared like sauerkraut.
• Not common to ask for tap water but try asking for a voda iz pipe.
• Potica walnut roll

When in Rome: Austrian dishes

• Eiernockerl (their version of spaetzle with cheese and fried onions)
• Speckknodel (dumplings with ham and bacon mixed in, served with broth)
• Mozart cake
• Salzburger Nockerl, (souffle resembling mountain peaks with a snowy dusting of sugar)

when in Rome German Food:

German food , you know the basics…wurst, schnitzel…I love German food so much I wrote an entire article on it! Learn all about the best German food you simply MUST try!

cost and money saving tips

How much can you expect to spend on this “road trip Austria Germany Slovenia” trip?

(prices are an approximation)

Don’t forget to add the cost of airfare (we fly free , learn how here !) PLUS sign up for “ Going” (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) to get FREE flight deals sent to your inbox! see the world for less!

Want to take that trip you’ve always dreamed of but not sure how to pay for it? Here are some easy budget friendly ways to pay for your Austrian road trip.

Protect yourself with trip insurance

Road trips in Austria cost money. Protect your investment with “cancel for any reason” trip insurance. Shop for one at Travel Insurance.com ! but don’t delay, most CFAR policies need to be purchased within 14-21 days of your initial trip payment, depending on the policy.

Travel Resources

Check out my Travel Resources page to learn how to get the best deals on airfare, rental cars for your Austrian road trip, accommodations, language learning resources and more!

Plan your road trip

Want to create your own unique Germany Slovenia Austria Road trip? Plan the perfect road trip in just 6 simple steps ! Get the best Europe travel Guide: You only really need one book! The absolute best books on traveling Europe!

don’t forget to check here to plan a trip to Germany or anywhere in Europe on a budget !

Nervous about not speaking German or Slovenian? No problem! I have a guide to overcoming the travel language barrier so you can relax and enjoy your travels!

Leavenworth Washington winter! ultimate guide (with photos! and video!)

Amazing slovenia itinerary 5 days (prejama, bohinj, bled, julian alps), the ultimate guide to traveling germany on a budget (2024), austrian landmarks: popular famous landmarks in austria (photos).

Thank you Angie from Kansas for your blog. Im looking to do a road trip vacation frankfurt to slovenia in 10 days. I would obviously have to cut out some of your stops but it looks like it is doable. I am from canada, nova scotia so lakes and ocean are common here. I do like the mid evil towns and alps. We are traveling end of june and dont want go anywheres too …hot. any tips you could offer would be appreciated. Thx in advance Cindy from Nova Scotia

Cindy, how exciting for you! Hopefully you can give a little more time to the amazing medieval town of Rothenburg. We have been there before but I can’t hardly drive by it without stopping so we just spent a few hours there on an overnight stop. Hallstatt was simply magical but crowds may be at their peak that time of the year. If you follow the crowd beating tips in my Hallstatt article it may be a more pleasant experience. Back when I was a child living in Germany a/c wasn’t really needed in that part of the world. Sadly, that isn’t always so anymore. It may be quite warm during the day. I believe that Slovenia was the coolest place we visited and anywhere that you can get up into the mountains will be cooler.

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• The Perfect 10 Day Austria Road Trip Itinerary

With its outstanding natural beauty and sophisticated cities that fuse old with new, Austria is one of the most enchanting countries to visit in Europe. As there are so many pristine lakes, rivers, and mountain ranges to explore in between the urban areas, the best way to experience the place has to be with an epic Austrian road trip.

Renting a car and hitting the road in Austria gives you so much freedom to pick and choose which places you get to visit. No matter where you drive, you will find yourself surrounded by incredible landscapes the whole time, without even needing to leave the car.

If you’re not sure where to begin, then my 10 day Austria road trip itinerary is here to help! This guide contains all the practical information you need as well as the most impressive destinations that let you experience a bit of everything that Austria is known for.

* Disclosure: This post contains a few affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through my link. *

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Table of Contents

Useful Info for Your Austria Road Trip

How to get to austria .

This Austria road trip itinerary is designed to start in either Vienna or Innsbruck. My guide starts in the east, in Vienna, and concludes in the west, at Innsbruck. However, you can flip it and do it in reverse if that suits you better!

Both Vienna and Innsbruck are served by an international airport. As the Austrian capital and largest city, Vienna International Airport (Flughafen Wien) connects nonstop to the vast majority of European cities. You can also find direct flights from the US, Canada, the Middle East, and some Asian cities.

As a smaller airport, there are fewer direct flights to Innsbruck Airport (Flughafen Innsbruck). However, you can fly nonstop from other Austrian airports as well as from a select number of European destinations including Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.

Best time to visit Austria 

Austria experiences the four distinct seasons as per the Northern Hemisphere and other Central European nations, so the best time to visit Austria really depends on the type of experience you are after. The climate and temperatures differ depending on the altitude, so during the course of this road trip in Austria, you should expect the weather to fluctuate somewhat. 

The peak travel season is the summer months of July and August when the temperatures are at their hottest, reaching typically 27-29°C (80-84°F) or sometimes even higher. Meanwhile, winter brings snowfall to the mountains and sees the ski resorts open up for the season.

In terms of the best time to visit Austria as part of a road trip, the shoulder seasons of late spring and autumn are the most pleasant overall. Temperatures are at their most comfortable, you will have less competition for accommodation and parking space, and tours and hotels will be a fraction cheaper. And to be honest, when you’re up in the mountains you will likely still see dustings of snow on the peaks.

Car rental in Austria

No matter which airport you fly to (Vienna or Innsbruck), there are car rental agencies located at both of the airports and in the cities themselves.

I recommend booking your rental well in advance to get the best deals. Prices can be pretty inflated during the summer months so the earlier you book, the better deals you can snag.

Driving tips for Austria 

Driving in Austria is a doddle, providing that you follow the rules and understand the local road rules. Naturally, you must wear a seatbelt at all times, not drive while under the influence, or when using your mobile phone. Here are a few more driving tips for your Austria road trip itinerary: 

• During the summer season and warmer months, Austrian roads are a joy to drive. They are paved and well maintained. However, between December and March, snow and ice is likely at higher altitudes so you will need to ensure that your rental is fitted with winter tires and that you have snow chains in the boot. 
• To drive in Austria, you must possess a full driving license from your home country as well as an International Driver’s Permit (IDP). You will need to arrange this documentation prior to arriving in the country to start your Austria road trip. If your driving license was issued by one of the member states of the European Economic Area, you will not need the IDP as your license is valid in Austria.
• Traffic rules and regulations are comparable to other European countries. In general, the speed limit is 100 km/h (62 mph) on Bundesstraße (freeways) and S Roads (expressways) and 130 km/h (81 mph) on Autobahn (highways). When driving through residential areas and inner cities, the speed limit is usually 50 km/h (31 mph), but you should stay alert for signs.
• In order to drive on the Austrian Autobahn and S Roads, your rental must display a vignette toll sticker. If your rental car doesn’t have one, you must purchase a vignette before hitting the highways. For this Austria road trip itinerary, purchasing a 10-day vignette is the best option which costs €9.90. You can buy the vignette at any of the petrol stations and then stick it to your windshield.
• Driving with your headlights on is optional during daylight hours and compulsory at night in Austria. 
• ÖAMTC and ARBÖ are the two major breakdown assistance services in Austria and both operate 24/7. The numbers are 120 and 123, respectively. As a non-member, you will be liable to pay a fee if you use this service. 
• This itinerary for Austria includes a generous amount of hiking so it’s really important to have some sturdy hiking boots in your rental that you can throw on whenever you reach the trails. You should also have a significant stash of water ready for the hikes. 

Overview of Your 10 Day Austria Road Trip Itinerary

Breakdown of your 10 days in austria.

This is your itinerary at a glance, with details about where you will need to book accommodation for each of the 10 nights. Remember, you can do the route in reverse if it suits your travel plans better.

• Day 1-2: Two full days in Vienna (overnight in Vienna)
• Day 3: Grüner See, Admont Abbey Library, arriving in Hallstatt (overnight in Hallstatt)
• Day 4: Full day in Hallstatt (overnight in Hallstatt)
• Day 5: 5 Fingers Viewing Platform (Dachstein), Gosauseen, arriving in Salzburg (overnight in Salzburg)
• Day 6: Full day in Salzburg (overnight in Salzburg)
• Day 7: Gollinger Wasserfall, Bluntauseen, Hohenwerfen Castle, arriving in Zell am See (overnight in Zell am See)
• Day 8: Stausee Mooserboden, Sigmund-Thun Klamm, Alpine Coaster Maisiflitzer Kaprun, Mitterberghof Jausenstation (overnight in Zell am See)
• Day 9: Krimml Waterfalls, arriving in Mayrhofen (overnight in Mayrhofen)
• Day 10: Olpererhütte, Innsbruck (overnight in Innsbruck)

Map for your Austria road trip

Below you can find a customized map that includes all the locations you’re going to visit on this Austria road trip itinerary. I marked the different parts of the road trip with different colors so you can easily see which places you’re going to visit each day.

If you open up this post on your phone and you click on the bracket in the upper right corner of the map, it will automatically save this map to your Google Maps app so you can always have it with you. Super convenient, right?

Day 1-2: Vienna

Number one on your Austria itinerary is Vienna, the capital and largest city in the country, located in the northeast. The oldest part of the city and its most central district is the Innere Stadt, which is contained by a ring road.

Within this neighborhood, you will find the majority of the key attractions and majestic architecture, including Baroque palaces and gardens, museums, and concert halls. No wonder that Vienna is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Europe !

Vienna is synonymous with classical music and was the home of musical masters including Mozart and Beethoven so you will find numerous references and recitals in town.

Two days in Vienna is plenty of time to explore the major landmarks of this elegant city. You will not need a car for these two days as it’s easier to get around the city via public transport and walking so you can pick up your rental car after your two days in Vienna are over.

Where to stay in Vienna

If this is your first time visiting Vienna then I recommend staying in the Innere Stadt. Hotels are more expensive but deals can always be found. Alternatively, you can choose accommodation in one of the outlying neighborhoods and connect to the Old Town easily by metro.

Trendy Wieden has affordable accommodation which is convenient for seeing the sights featured on this road trip in Austria. Landstrasse, to the east of the Innere Stadt, is another alternative for budget hotels. As you will not pick up your rental until the third day, you don’t need to worry about finding a hotel with parking.

Below you can find my suggestions for the best places to stay in Vienna for 2 nights.

LUXURY – Palais Hansen Kempinski Vienna

Built as a hotel for the World Exhibition in Vienna in 1873, the luxurious Palais Hansen Kempinski Vienna can be found right on the famous Ringstraße boulevard in the heart of the city. The hotel features 2 restaurants, a bar, and an exclusive spa and fitness center.

MID-RANGE – Hilton Vienna Plaza

Located on the historic Ringstraße in the Innere Stand, the city center of Vienna, Hilton Vienna Plaza combines modern and Art Déco design elements. The elegantly decorated rooms come with marble bathrooms and offer amazing views of the city from their large windows.

BUDGET – K+K Palais Hotel

Centrally located in the quiet part of Vienna’s city center, K+K Palais Hotel is a total steal. Boasting fully air-conditioned rooms and state-of-the-art amenities, the property is in close proximity to many major sights, such as the St. Stephen’s Cathedral.

Best things to do in Vienna 

Explore the innere stadt.

Vienna’s old town is brimming with museums, monuments, and landmarks that you can explore on foot. Slip into your sneakers and spend a day touring the key sights.

Look out for the ornate Anker Clock, the commanding Rathaus (city hall), the manicured Volksgarten, and the Wiener Minoritenkirche which features a mosaic of Da Vinci’s Last Supper.

Hundertwasserhaus

Perhaps the most unusual building you’ll see during your Austria road trip, the Hundertwasserhaus was conceived by the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser and architect Joseph Krawina in 1985.

The concept was to create a space in harmony with nature and highlights include the grass on the roof and the trees that grow freely through the floors. Thanks to its vibrant colors, it’s definitely one of the best Vienna Instagram spots !

Classical concert

In a city famed for its lineage of classic music, you might want to book tickets to catch a show for yourself. There are various concert halls scattered throughout the Innere Stadt.

Once you’ve confirmed the dates for your itinerary for Austria, check out what’s on at the Wiener Musikverein, Wiener Konzerthaus, and the Vienna State Opera House . The main season runs from September to June.

Schönbrunn Palace

This 18th-century palace and gardens are located southwest of the Innere Stadt. Once the summer residence of the Habsburg royal family, this colossal complex is now the star attraction in Vienna. Queues are always long so I recommend booking a skip-the-line tour of Schönbrunn Palace to save time.

Hofburg Palace

Another palace for your list, this one was built during the 13th century and has been restored and expanded in the following centuries. Originally the winter home of the Austro-Hungarian Empire leaders, the property is now the office of the Austrian president.

Vergnügungspark

One of the most fun things to do in Vienna at night is to visit the Prater amusement park. The star attraction is the giant Ferris wheel which has been rotating since 1897 but there are plenty of other rides to satisfy all thrill-seekers.

Where to eat in Vienna

• Honu Tiki Bowls : Colorful cuisine in an equally colorful setting! You can select one of the signature bowls or customize your own. There are plenty of options to satisfy vegans, carnivores and seafood lovers.
• Das LOFT : Dine high above the rooftops of Vienna at this upscale restaurant that serves contemporary Viennese dishes, quality wines, and delectable cocktails. They’re also open for breakfast.
• Café Anzengruber : Located in the foodie haven that is Wieden, the 4th District, this is one of the best places for authentic schnitzel, goulash, and other traditional Austrian plates you must try during your 10 days in Austria.
• Restaurant Ofenloch : Another option for classic Austrian food this time in the heart of the Innere Stadt. This historic venue has an irresistible ambiance and an expansive menu. 

Day 3: Vienna to Hallstatt

Pick up your rental and ready your playlist, your Austria road trip officially begins today as you journey into the mountainous state of Styria! The total drive time to today’s final destination, Hallstatt, is around 5 hours and the distance is 340 km (211 miles).

But you will stop along the way before reaching your hotel in Hallstatt so allow extra time to visit the destinations listed below.

Once in Hallstatt, you will need to book 2 nights of accommodation. Refer to the next day if you want to learn about my recommendations for where to stay in Hallstatt!

Grüner See

Driving time: 2 hours and 15 minutes (175 km/110 miles) from Vienna to Grüner See

Leaving the city behind, Grüner See in an unbelievably beautiful pool of water formed by the snowmelt of the surrounding karst mountains. Translating into ‘Green Lake’, the water is an ethereal emerald hue.

There is a huge parking lot at the entrance of the lake but since it’s a popular place among locals and tourists alike, it’s better to go early to secure a parking spot. Parking is €6 for a full day (there is no hourly parking option) and you can only pay with cash.

It takes around 20 minutes to reach the lake from the parking lot on a gravel road, the trail is completely flat and very easy. You can walk around the lake in its entirety in around 30 minutes to appreciate the viewpoints and take photos.

There is a small restaurant next to the lake if you need lunch or you can prepare a picnic to enjoy by the water. Note that swimming is not permitted in the lake due to conservation efforts.

Admont Abbey Library

Driving time: 1 hour and 40 minutes (87 km/54 miles) from Grüner See to Admont Abbey Library

The next scenic stop on today’s journey is a sensational library situated inside Admont Abbey. Stepping into the library feels as if you would enter the library from the Beauty and the Beast !

The archive represents the largest monastic library in the world and the works span architecture, frescoes, sculptures, manuscripts, and printed tomes. Constructed by the architect Josef Hueber, the library hall was completed in 1776.

It registers 70 meters (230 feet) in length, 13 meters (43 feet) in height, and features seven ceiling frescoes that represent the Enlightenment. These were composed by the painter Bartolomeo Altomonte who was 80 years old at the time!

70,000 volumes are stored in the hall while the abbey in total contains around 200,000 books and manuscripts, with some dating as far back as the 8th century AD.

There’s a huge parking lot right next to the Abbey where you can leave your car while you explore the inside.

A ticket to Admont Abbey Library costs €16.50 and it also includes entrance to a bunch of museums such as the Museum of Fine Arts or the Natural History Museum. I’m not a museum kind of girl myself but I really enjoyed wandering around these museums so definitely give them a try!

Depending on how many museums you want to visit, you can easily spend 2-3 hours inside. If you happen to visit at 11 am or 2 pm, you can also take part in a guided tour of the library which lasts for 40 minutes (it’s already included in your ticket price).

Please note that the library only operates on a limited opening time. As of March 2023, according to the official website it’s closed and will be open from April to May between 10.30 am to 3.30 pm and it’s completely closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. From June to October it will be open every day from 10 am to 5 pm. In November you can count on the same opening hours as in April and May. From the second half of December the library is going to be closed.

The official website doesn’t get updated that much so if you want to go for sure, it’s worth calling them in advance about the current opening hours. We almost missed our chance to visit this masterpiece because of the incorrect opening hours on the website so if you want to avoid the struggle, make a call!

Outside of the library, it’s also worth taking a stroll around the beautiful gardens and popping into the Abbey itself (it’s free to visit). Admont itself is situated on the banks of the Enns River right in the middle of the Ennstal Alps so if you have more time, it’s also worth taking a wander around this picturesque town to savor the incredible scenery. 

Arriving in Hallstatt

Driving time: 1 hour and 30 minutes (78 km/48 miles) from Admont Abbey Library to Hallstatt

After wandering around Admont and taking in the scenic views, pop back into your car and drive all the way to Hallstatt. It takes around 1.5 hours to reach this fairytale town from Admont. In case you’re not staying directly in Hallstatt, you might need to calculate different driving times depending on where you’ll stay.

Day 4: Full day in Hallstatt 

Hallstatt is a quaint lakeside village located in the mountainous region of Salzkammergut. It is known for its salt mining heritage and historic center which is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Hallstatt’s setting on the shore of Hallstätter See (Hallstatt Lake) means that you have arresting views in all directions which really do look like something you’d see on a postcard. This is easily one of the prettiest places you’ll stay during your Austria road trip.

Cars are not allowed in Hallstatt Zentrum. So, you will need to leave your car at the parking lot suggested by your hotel while you carry on with your one day in Hallstatt . 

Where to stay in Hallstatt 

As Halsttatt is a small village, accommodation options are limited and it’s essential to book far in advance. However, as you will have your own car you can also consider staying further out of the village in either Obertraun or one of the other nearby hamlets. These are my suggestions for where to stay in Hallstatt for your two nights.

LUXURY – Hallstatt Hideaway

This adults-only resort is located right on the waterfront and comprises a deluxe portfolio of suites that offer lake views. Modern interiors feature a rustic twist and the most decadent options come with additional features ranging from private patios to private spa pools.

MID-RANGE – Heritage Hotel Hallstatt

All rooms and suites at this 4-star hotel provide lake views and are equipped with a private bathroom, coffee maker, and homely touches. The accommodation spans three buildings and there is also a restaurant and sauna on site.

BUDGET – Gasthof Bergfried

This centrally located guest house features compact rooms with en suite bathrooms with the option to upgrade to a balcony suite. The property offers a shared relaxation area with a spa and sauna.

Alternatively, if you have a car, you might want to stay a little further out of town in one of the surrounding hamlets. One of the best options is Obertraun, from where you can reach Hallstatt within 10 minutes by car or you can also take advantage of the ferry.

We stayed at  Haus Salzkammergut  on our second visit to Hallstatt and absolutely loved everything about the hotel! Great location, amazing views from the balcony, lovely owners, cute doggie, and delicious breakfast. I can only recommend this place!

In case the hotel is full or you’re looking for something else, you can  check all the accommodation options in Obertraun here .

Best things to do in Hallstatt 

Hallstatt zentrum.

The center of Hallstatt is totally walkable and you can spend the morning exploring the main sites. Roam the Marktplatz Hallstatt with your camera, take in sweeping views from the top of Evangelisches Pfarramt and visit the ossuary (bone cemetery) at Michaelskapelle. You can also walk down to Small Island and head north of the village to appreciate the scenic viewpoints of Hallstatt.

Ride the ferry

Whether you stay in Hallstatt Zentrum or Obertraun‎, it is worth hopping on the ferry that connects the two towns in order to experience a different perspective of the river. The crossing takes around 25 minutes.

Hallstatt Skywalk

Ride the Salzbergbahn funicular up to this observation deck that rises 350 meters (1,148 feet) above the village and provides sensational views of the alpine landscape. You can also walk up but it is very steep and takes around 1.5 hours. The compromise is that you ride the funicular up and walk back down!

Salzbergwerk Hallstatt

Take a tour of this 7,000 year old salt mine which includes exploring on foot and by traditional mine train. The mine is only accessible via the 90 minutes guided tour which you can book online in advance to secure your spot. Access to the attraction is also via the funicular so you can plan these two activities for the same time.

Hallstatt Waterfall

A shorter waterfall option: you can walk to the Hallstatt Waterfall from Marktplatz in around 20 minutes. It gushes out from the vegetation and is a great way to warm up for a day of sightseeing or cool down in the spray during summer. 

Waldbachstrub Waterfall Hike

It takes around 40 minutes to hike to the Waldbachstrub Waterfall from Parkplatz Echerntal or just over 1 hour from Hallstatt Zentrum. This is an easy trail with minimal incline and is a great way to experience the local nature and warm up for some more challenging hikes later in the Austria itinerary.

Gletschergarten (Glacier Garden) Hike

The Glacier Garden is another wonderful hike that you can do from Hallstatt or Parkplatz Echerntal. This assemblage of rocks and streams formed during the last Ice Age as the local glacier receded from the gorge. It takes 2-3 hours to cover the entire complex and it isn’t too demanding.

Where to eat in Hallstatt

• Restaurant Rudolfsturm : Located within a medieval tower, this place is worth it for the views alone. The menu is typically Austrian and they also do a great apple strudel. 
• Restaurant Am See : This lakeside eatery offers charming views and the menu is rich with local dishes and fresh fish dishes. 
• Pizzeria Kegelbahn : Situated across the lake in Obertraun, this Italian restaurant serves good quality pizza and pasta alongside soups, salads, and Austrian fare. 

Day 5: Hallstatt to Salzburg 

Today you’ll need to check out of your hotel in Hallstatt as it’s time to head to your next destination: Salzburg! You’re going to have two stops along the way so your driving time will be around 2 hours including both stops.

I recommend starting the day as early as you can as you’ll have some exciting plans for the day!

5 Fingers Viewing Platform (Dachstein)

Driving time: 10 minutes (7 km/4.5 miles) from Hallstatt to Dachstein Krippenstein

Your first stop today is going to be the slopes of the Dachstein massif, a dramatic glacial mountain range that rises 2,700 meters (8,858 feet) in the region south of Hallstatt. Once you reach the summit, you can explore the 5 Fingers lookout, an ice cave, and 360° views.

You can park at the cable car, Dachstein Krippenstein, and then hop on the gondola up the mountain to experience incredible views as you soar. The ticket price depends on which attractions you’re planning to visit, you can check the different options here .

For reference, if you only want to visit the 5 Fingers platform, you’ll need to purchase a Panorama ticket that costs €35.30, while the all-inclusive ticket costs €52.20 which includes a visit to the caves as well.

In a remarkable feat of engineering, the 5 Fingers observation platform protrudes 400 meters (1,312 feet) above the ground below and is shaped in the form of a hand with 5 ‘fingers’ stretching out to grasp the cool mountain air.

Once you leave the cable car at Krippenstein (section 2), you’ll need to hike around 25-30 minutes to get to the viewing platform.

The hike is really easy and well-marked so it shouldn’t be a challenge even if you’re not in the best shape. And the views along the way are out of this world!

Within the same area as the lookout, you will also find the Dachstein Giant Ice Cave. Entering this huge cavern, you will encounter stalactites of all different colors before you catch sight of the massive wedge of ice filling the chasm.

Guided tours of the ice cave last 50 minutes and require a 15-minute walk from the cable car station, Schönbergalm (section 1). If you do want to explore the cave, you will need to dress warmly as the average temperature inside is -2 °C (26.6 °F), even during summer. Make sure you pack layers for your 10 days in Austria!

You can find another cave at Schönbergalm (section 1) called Mammut Cave. It’s known as one of the largest karst caves in the world, hence the name. It takes around 15-20 minutes to reach the cave from the cable car station and as with the Giant Ice Cave, a guided tour lasts for 50 minutes as well.

Depending on how much time you have, you can visit either of the caves or both, or you can just go for the 5 Fingers platform for the panorama – it’s completely up to you!

Gosauseen 

Driving time: 30 minutes (27 km/17 miles) from Dachstein Krippenstein to Gosauseen

Gosauseen is a cluster of three beautiful lakes located in the Alps of Upper Austria. You can drive to the Gosausee Parking lot and park your car here while you explore, or you can park near the Gosaukammbahn cable car station and ride up to the lakes this way instead if you prefer.

There are a series of hiking trails that connect the lakes and give you the chance to explore phenomenal nature.

The shortest option is to just walk around the first of the three lakes, Vorderer Gosausee, which takes around 1-1.5 hours in total. The more challenging options take you to the middle lake, Gosaulacke, as well as the third and final lake, Hinterer Gosausee.

To visit all three bodies of water, you will need to allow around 5 hours. As the drive time today is around 3 hours, this is feasible if you depart from Hallstatt as early as possible and skip the caves at Dachstein.

If you don’t want to fully drain your batteries, my recommendation is to visit only the first lake and rest a little bit after you arrive in Salzburg.

Arriving in Salzburg

Driving time: 1 hour and 10 minutes (80 km/50 miles) from Gosauseen to Salzburg

After exploring the lakes, you’ll need to drive around 1 hour to get to Salzburg, which will be the next destination on your Austria road trip itinerary. Once in the city, you’ll need to stay for 2 nights to be able to spend one full day in Salzburg.

If you need recommendations of where to stay in Salzburg, check the next section for my tips!

Day 6: Full day in Salzburg

Salzburg presses its way up against the border with Germany in Western Austria and affords some of the finest views of the Eastern Alps. The Salzach River flows through the center of the city, with the Salzburg Alstadt (Old Town) resting on the left bank.

As the birthplace of the legendary composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, much of the culture of the city revolves around his lineage.

Fans will no doubt want to visit both Mozart’s Birthplace and Mozart’s Residence and catch a recital while in town. But Salzburg is also abundant in museums, galleries, stately residences, and gardens, restaurants, and shops, and it’s really not a place to skip off your Austria road trip.

You can easily spend one day in Salzburg exploring the delights of this UNESCO World Heritage Site and strolling along the riverside. 

Where to stay in Salzburg

As with Vienna, it makes sense to book accommodation as centrally as your budget allows. Hotels in Salzburg Altstadt are priced higher and you should expect to pay around €15 per day for parking so do factor that into your plans and budget.

If you stay further out in areas such as Itzling, Maxglan or Taxham then you will find that accommodation rates drop and you can transfer into the city center efficiently via bus.

These are my suggestions for where to stay in Salzburg for your two nights.

LUXURY – Small Luxury Hotel Goldgasse

All suites at this deluxe hotel are artistically presented and some feature a private terrace. The property is situated in Salzburg Altstadt within walking distance to all the major landmarks and has a wonderful restaurant on the premises. 

MID-RANGE – Hotel Wolf

Colorful rooms are comfortably designed with eclectic furnishings and immaculate bathrooms. The hotel is positioned within a building that dates back to 1429 and is located in the heart of Salzburg Altstadt. A fantastic breakfast is included in the rate. 

BUDGET – Hotel-Flair

Rooms at this budget hotel in Salzburg are clean with plenty of space and each comes with a private bathroom. The property is conveniently located for walking to and from Salzburg Central Station and is a 30-minute walk into Altstadt Salzburg. 

Best things to do in Salzburg

Salzburg alstadt.

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Salzburg Alstadt is where you will find the most historic buildings and streets in the city, as well as museums, public squares, shops, and cafes.

You can call in at the shops on Getreidegasse, stroll down Sigmund-Haffner-Gasse, tour Mozart’s Birthplace, or dip into one of the Salzburg Museum institutions. 

Mirabell Palace & Gardens

This resplendent palace dates back to 1606 when the prince-archbishop Wolf Dietrich commissioned and gifted the residence to his mistress, Salome Alt. You can explore the sprawling gardens and peer into the public rooms of the estate.

If you are a fan of The Sound of Music then this place will be familiar to you already!

Kapuzinerkloster Viewpoint

This viewpoint is accessible via a climb up 260 steps to the Aussicht Kapuzinerberg. Your reward is the scenic views across the city towards Hohensalzburg Castle from the deck and they are worth the effort, I’d say they’re the best in town. 

Hohensalzburg Castle

Ride the funicular up the mountain to get up close to the defining emblem of Salzburg, and one of Austria’s most iconic sights.

Hohensalzburg Castle, the largest fully preserved castle in Central Europe, is home to a portfolio of museums that you can take your pick from. However, it’s the views of the city and the looming alps that more than justify making the journey. 

Where to eat in Salzburg

• Imlauer SkyBar : Located on the sixth floor of the Imlauer Hotel, this swanky restaurant is the perfect place to start your day in Salzburg with brunch or wrap up a perfect day of sightseeing with a decadent dinner!
• Café Bazar : After tackling the viewpoint climb, you can recoup your energy at this historic cafe that looks across at Salzburg Altstadt. Considered the home of artists and poets, the menu spans lunchtime specials, sweet treats, and moreish specialty coffees. 
• S’Kloane Brauhaus : Slip inside this 400 year old building and you will be greeted with the scents of traditional Austrian delicacies. The friendly staff are on hand to guide you through the menu to find your perfect dish!
• Lazarte : It might feel odd to dine on Latin American food during your Austria itinerary, but Lazarte delivers the real deal. Add a dash of spice to your trip and experience the flavors of Mexico, Peru, and beyond at this top rated restaurant. 

Day 7: Salzburg to Zell am See 

The distance from Salzburg to Zell am See via the specified attractions is 120 km (75 miles) and the drive time is approximately 2 hours. Tonight you will need to book accommodation in the little town of Zell am See-Kaprun for 2 nights.

Gollinger Waterfall 

Driving time: 35 minutes (28 km/17 miles) from Salzburg to Gollinger Waterfall

Head to Parkplatz Gollinger Wasserfall where you can leave your car and walk to this remarkable 75 meter (246 feet) waterfall which forms two tiers as it crashes down the cliff from the forest.

Between the months of May and October, you must pay €5 to visit the waterfalls on top of the parking fee which is also €5. You’ll need to drive around 35 minutes to get to the waterfall from Salzburg which makes it one of the best day trips from Salzburg.

There are different viewpoints along the waterfall and you can even hike to the top which I 100% recommend! It takes around 10-15 minutes to reach the lower viewpoint while it will take you approximately 35-40 minutes if you want to go all the way to the top.

The waterfall is super strong so be prepared to get a little bit wet! If you decide to go up, you’ll find a bridge that crosses over the water so that you can get very close to the water spray. It’s recommended to wear sneakers or hiking boots as the trail gets wet and slippery due to the mist.

Driving time: 7 minutes (3.5 km/2 miles) from Gollinger Waterfall to Parkplatz Bluntautal

Another day, another magical lake nestled between mountains and forestry to add to your Austrian road trip! Bluntausee changes color depending on the time of day you visit and what the weather is doing, so it might be emerald or sapphire tinted.

You can follow the hiking trail around the perimeter in less than one hour however swimming in the water is forbidden.

Since it’s only 3.5 km (2 miles) from Gollinger Waterfall, you can easily walk from one place to the other but if you’d rather drive, you can leave your car at Parkplatz Bluntautal which is the closest parking lot to Bluntausee. From the parking lot you’ll need to hike for around 30 minutes to reach the lake.

The trail is completely flat so the hike itself is really easy and it goes through a beautiful forest and crosses a crystal clear river. It’s absolutely worth visiting Bluntausee just for the scenery alone!

Hohenwerfen Castle

Driving time: 20 minutes (18 km/11 miles) from Parkplatz Bluntautal to Hohenwerfen Castle

In a country that is overflowing with beautiful castles, this one really takes the biscuit and is an essential sight during your 10 days in Austria! The hilltop fortress of Hohenwerfen Castle has stood in this spot for over 900 years and from the complex, you can look down at the Salzach River and across at the surrounding mountains and woodland. 

Access to the castle is via funicular or a short but steep 25-minute hike. Once at the fortress, you can observe a demonstration of the resident birds of prey in addition to exploring the museums.

There are always a number of temporary exhibitions which change throughout the year and seasonal events are hosted on the grounds. Entrance to the castle costs €10.40 and if you want to take advantage of the elevator, you can buy a combo ticket for €14.40.

Zell am See-Kaprun

Driving time: 50 minutes (57 km/35 miles) from Hohenwerfen Castle to Zell am See-Kaprun

Today’s final destination is Zell am See-Kaprun, a small town that sits on the shore of Lake Zell (Zeller See). The town is the gateway to the ski resorts and slopes of the Schmittenhöhe mountain that looms over the town and is accessible via cable car if you wish to take in the views.

You can go for a walk or hire some bicycles and cycle along the esplanade that begins at the southwest of the lake and skirts the circumference of the water.

Down at the south corner, you also have the option to rent kayaks or stand up paddleboard and float your way across the lake. There are a number of pretty parks dotted along the lakeside where you can enjoy a picnic and the town has a good spread of restaurants and hotels.

Where to stay in Zell am See

Zell am See-Kaprun is small but it does have a substantial number of hotels and guesthouses. As with Hallstatt, I encourage you to book accommodation way ahead of your Austria road trip and look further out of town if needs be.

Here are my recommendations for where to stay in Zell am See-Kaprun for two nights.

LUXURY – Salzburgerhof Wellness-, Golf- und Genießerhotel

This luxurious, family-run spa, golf, and pleasure hotel offers unique holiday experiences in a beautiful location in Zell am See. Surrounded by a splendid natural landscape, the Salzburgerhof combines 5-star comfort with 4 lilies in the Relax Guide for its spa quality and the culinary pleasures of 3 toques by Gault Millau.

MID-RANGE – Hotel Neue Post

Only a 3-minute walk away from the Zeller Bergbahn cable car, which provides access to the Schmittenhöhe skiing and hiking area, Hotel Neue Post enjoys an exceptional location in the heart of the old town of Zell am See.

BUDGET – Hotel Glasererhaus

Just a 5-minute walk from the shore of Lake Zell in the heart of Zell am See, Hotel Glasererhaus offers individually furnished rooms, a wellness area, and free WiFi. Most rooms additionally come with a balcony featuring a seating area.

Day 8: Highlights of the Kaprun Valley 

Today you will explore the attractions of the Kaprun Valley before returning to your Zell am See accommodation for a second evening.

Stausee Mooserboden

Driving time: 20 minutes (16.5 km/10 miles) from Zell am See-Kaprun to Kaprun Stauseen Parkhaus

Stausee Mooseroden is one of two high-altitude reservoirs and dams in the Kaprun Valley that resemble fjords. At 2,000 meters (6,562 feet) above sea level, the water is a startling shade of turquoise that contrasts against the circling cliffs and snow-capped peaks.

The dam wall at the Moserboden is 107 meters (351 feet) high and almost 500 meters (1,640 feet) long.

Unfortunately, you can’t drive all the way up to Stausee Mooserboden, so you’ll need to leave your car at Kaprun Stauseen Parkhaus (it’s free) and use the shuttle buses from there.

The parking house has 11 floors and if there’s enough free space, it’s worth driving all the way to the top because that’s the direction you’ll need to go in order to find the ticket office and the shuttle buses. If you park on the lower levels, you’ll need to climb up the stairs to get to the top of the parking lot.

Once you purchase your ticket, you’ll need to get on the shuttle bus which will take you to a very cool open-air lift. This is the largest open lift in Europe and it will take you up on the 431 meters (1,414 feet) incline within minutes.

After that, you’ll need to board another shuttle bus which will take you all the way to the reservoir. The whole process takes around 45 minutes and a return ticket costs €28 per person.

During your exploration, you can follow short hiking trails to get a full perspective on this dramatic landscape from the surrounding viewpoints. If you’re up for a challenge, you can also try some of the via ferrata routes but for that, you’ll need to have the proper gear.

If you want something easier, you can just hike up to the upper viewpoint which takes 10-15 minutes and it’s fairly easy. The route is quite narrow and steep so it’s best to wear sturdy shoes and watch out for your steps.

Sigmund-Thun Klamm

Driving time: 6 minutes (4.5 km/3 miles) from Kaprun Stauseen Parkhaus to Sigmund-Thun Klamm

Once you’re reunited with your rental you can drive 5 minutes along the road to the next attraction on your Austrian road trip itinerary.

Sigmund-Thun Klamm is a stunning ravine with an excellent wooden track that lets you walk past the water that thunders through the narrow chasm before culminating in a massive waterfall that falls like a veil.

You’ll find a couple of parking lots near Sigmund-Thun Klamm, the closest one is right at the crossing of Kesselfallstrasse and Klammweg. Once you park your car, you have to follow Klammweg and around 5 minutes later you’ll come across the ticket office which marks the entrance of Sigmund-Thun Klamm (an entrance ticket costs €6.50).

It takes around 20-30 minutes to go through the gorge and it’s important to note that the wooden track is one way only, you will have to take another road to get back to your car.

At the end of the trail you will reach another gorgeous lake called Klammsee that you can then complete a lap around. The lake is quite small and the trail around the lake is only 1.8 km (1.1 miles) so you can walk around the whole lake in 30 minutes.

All in all, you should factor around 1.5-2 hours to fully explore Sigmund-Thun Klamm and Klammsee together. There are few places where you can experience such an extraordinary spectacle of nature and it’s worth taking the time to complete the full route.

Alpine Coaster Maisiflitzer Kaprun

Driving time: 6 minutes (4 km/2.5 miles) from Sigmund-Thun Klamm to Alpine Coaster Maisiflitzer Kaprun

The next item on today’s agenda isn’t one for the fainthearted but it’s great fun! The Alpine Coaster Maisiflitzer Kaprun is essentially a rollercoaster combined with a toboggan.

Once comfortable in your two-seater sled, you will charge down the track reaching speeds of up to 40 km/h (25 mph), and screaming is fully acceptable.

The ride is open year-round and you can opt for a single ride for €14 or pay for 5 for €59.50.

Dinner at Mitterberghof Jausenstation

Driving time: 25 minutes (15 km/9.5 miles) from Alpine Coaster Maisiflitzer Kaprun to Mitterberghof Jausenstation, then 15 minutes (9 km/5.5 miles) back to Zell am See-Kaprun

After a fairly strenuous and hair-raising eighth day of your Austria road trip, you might just want to flop into your hotel bed. However, if you can summon the energy to drive a little bit more, this awesome restaurant is worth the 15-minute drive, especially on a balmy evening.

From the outdoor dining terrace, you can drink up views across the Kaprun Valley and Zeller See. Although, on overcast days you might be seated above the clouds!

You’ll find wholesome Austrian fare on the menu as well as an excellent variety of desserts. The restaurant is actually part of a family-run inn and you could even choose to stay here rather than in Zell am See if you prefer.

In case you’re not hungry or you have other dinner plans, it’s still worth driving up to the restaurant for the view alone.

Day 9: Zell am See to Mayrhofen 

The journey time from Zell am See to Mayrhofen via the below attractions is just shy of 2 hours, and the distance covered is 100 km (62 miles). You will need to book one night of accommodation in Mayrhofen for the penultimate evening of your Austria road trip itinerary.

Krimml Waterfalls 

Driving time: 55 minutes (55 km/34 miles) from Zell am See-Kaprun to Krimml Waterfalls

If you were impressed by the ravine yesterday then just wait until you clap your eyes on what is said to be the highest and most powerful waterfall in Europe!

You’ll find plenty of parking lots near the Krimml Waterfalls, the closest one is P4 so if you find free space there, go for it! There is a small tunnel going under the main road right next to the P4 parking lot, you’ll need to follow this road to get to the ticket office.

An entrance ticket costs €10.20 and if you want to visit the nearby Water Worlds Krimml museum as well, you can purchase a combo ticket for €13.90.

The Krimml waterfalls tumble over several layers and you can decide how far you want to hike. The first viewpoint is accessible via a 15-minute walk from the parking and this alone is impressive.

However, if you want to walk all the way to the summit of the falls, it will take 2-2.5 hours to complete the 380 meters (1,250 feet) hiking trail, and then you’ll need to climb back down so factor in a 5-hour round trip. It does get steep and slippery due to the spray, so excellent hiking boots and a reasonable level of fitness are required.

Driving time: 55 minutes (44 km/27 miles) from Krimml Waterfalls to Mayrhofen

After an intense morning, you can look forward to checking into your hotel in Mayrhofen and taking a leisurely afternoon. It’s a further hour to reach Mayrhofen from the waterfalls if you take Gerlos Strasse.

Since this is a private road, you’ll need to pay €11 per car for the road usage. Sometimes this road gets closed due to weather circumstances so it’s worth checking it in Google Maps in advance before you go in that direction.

If the road is closed or you don’t want to pay, you can take a detour and use another road to get to Mayrhofen, but it will take you 2 hour and 15 minutes this way.

Situated in the Zillertal Valley, in the province of Tyrol, Mayrhofen is another feeder town for the local ski resorts. You can ride the gondolas from the town up to the resorts where you’ll find loads of hiking trails if you have the energy, but the views are lovely on their own.

The Pfarrkirche Mayrhofen is a cute church and you can take a stroll along the river in town.

If you need a restaurant recommendation for dinner, check out Goldkind . They’re the number one restaurant in Mayrhofen according to TripAdvisor and let me tell you, they’re not wrong! The restaurant caters to everyone from vegans and vegetarians to meat lovers.

All the meals we tasted there were super delicious and the prices were reasonable as well (nothing too fancy or expensive). Give them a try, you won’t regret it!

Where to stay in Mayrhofen

As a lively ski town, Mayrhofen features a good spread of accommodation options. The following places are all centrally located and provide free on-site parking which is perfect for your one night in Mayrhofen.

LUXURY – Huber’s Boutique Hotel

This stylish hotel comes with all the luxury trimmings including a pool, spa, and scrumptious breakfast. The top-tier suites feature idyllic freestanding bathtubs and spacious balconies.

MID-RANGE – Gut Stiluppe

This beautiful lodge offers a spread of rooms and suites, including ‘Romantic’ and ‘Royal’ themed choices. There is a pool, sauna, spa, and garden terrace where you can unwind.

BUDGET – Brugger ApartHotel

Rooms at this inviting hotel are decorated in traditional Tyrolean style with wooden furnishings and feature a balcony, a private bathroom, and a seating area. Breakfast is included and the price is happily affordable.

Day 10: Mayrhofen to Innsbruck 

Can you believe that it’s the final day of your Austrian road trip already? Today your final destination will be Innsbruck but first you’re going to take a little detour to reach one of the most epic viewpoints in Austria.

Once you get to Innsbruck, you’ll need to book a hotel for one night.

Olpererhütte 

Driving time: 40 minutes (25 km/15.5 miles) from Mayrhofen to Parkplatz Schlegeis Stausee (Olpererhütte)

First up on the agenda today is a demanding hike up to Olpererhütte, a mountain refuge that sits 2,388 meters (1,273 feet) above sea level.

Olpererhütte is a 30-minute drive southwest of Mayrhofen. There is a parking lot marked as Parkplatz Schlegeis Stausee where you can leave your car as you tackle the Olpererhütte trailhead which starts a few minutes walk from the parking area.

This is another occasion where hiking boots are essential as the trail is steep and strewn with rocks and even some streams that trickle down the mountain which you’ll have to wade through.

The hike up will take between 2-2.5 hours and then you’ll need to make your way down carefully as well so you can factor in 4-5 hours for the whole hike. This is by far the most challenging hike on your Austria road trip itinerary but trust me, it’s so worth it for the views!

Once you reach the summit you are rewarded with breathtaking views of the landscape. You can appreciate the scenery from the Panoramabrücke Olpererhütte, which is a suspension bridge that overlooks the valley and turquoise Schlegeisspeicher down below. And of course, you can get a much-needed drink and snack at the hut.

If you do not fancy the hike then you can enjoy a more relaxing walk around the shore of Schlegeisspeicher, or even head straight to Innsbruck and spend longer there.

Ps: Before you think I’m crazy, I just wanted to let you know that I obviously did not hike up to Olpererhütte in a skirt! I was wearing proper hiking shoes with leggings and a top and I just changed to this red skirt at the bridge for the photos. Don’t underestimate this hike and please don’t try to complete it in pretty dresses!

Driving time: 1 hour and 40 minutes (92 km/57 miles) from Parkplatz Schlegeis Stausee (Olpererhütte) to Innsbruck

The final destination on your Austria road trip (or first, if you’ve flipped the itinerary) is the colorful city of Innsbruck, the capital of the Tyrol province. Most of the touristic attractions are situated within the Altstadt (Old Town) and you will find monuments, museums, and restaurants galore here.

Notable sights include the 16th-century palace, the Hofburg, and the Roman-style Triumphpforte which was erected in 1765. You can walk along the River Inn or hire a bicycle while a series of cable cars whisk you away high into the Nordkette mountain range which is situated in the Karwendel Nature Park.

If you completed the whole Olpererhütte hike then you’ll probably feel super tired so I recommend just casually strolling around the Old Town and finding a great restaurant for dinner.

My personal recommendation is Gasthof Goldener Adler, which is allegedly the oldest restaurant in Innsbruck. They have a really nice terrace right in the heart of the historic old town and their menu is full of authentic Austrian delicacies.

Where to stay in Innsbruck

Innsbruck is teeming with budget-friendly and luxury hotels and you can find decent deals in the city or elect to stay further afield if you are keeping your rental for the final night. Here are my top picks for where to stay in Innsbruck.

LUXURY – aDLERS Hotel Innsbruck

Being the tallest hotel in Innsbruck, aDLERS Hotel Innsbruck offers a breathtaking panorama from its stylish rooms. There is also a spa area on the 11th floor and guests can dine at the Panorama Restaurant and Bar on the 12th floor.

MID-RANGE – Faktorei

Sophisticated rooms weave minimalism with a rustic touch and a number are equipped with a balcony. On site you will find a bohemian cafe and a lovely bar where you can toast the end of your trip!

BUDGET – Hotel Garni Römerhof

Combining modern facilities with a traditional style, Hotel Römerhof enjoys a quiet location only 8 km from the center of Innsbruck. Stylish rooms offer amazing views of the surrounding woods and meadows and there is also a spa area on site.

Planning a trip to Austria?

Then you might want to take a look at all our other travel guides about Austria. I promise, they are just as awesome as this article was!

• Where to Stay in Vienna: 7 Best Areas & Hotels
• 2 Days in Vienna Itinerary: The Perfect Weekend in Vienna
• 19 Stunning Vienna Instagram Spots You Can’t Miss
• How to Spend One Day in Salzburg, Austria
• One Day in Hallstatt Itinerary: The Perfect Hallstatt Day Trip
• Hotel Review: Das Edelweiss Salzburg Mountain Resort
• Hotel Review: Hotel Post Lermoos, Austria

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8 thoughts on “The Perfect 10 Day Austria Road Trip Itinerary”

Hi, we are planning to visit Austria from 26 Nov- 3rd Dec and kind of follow this itinerary. However, could you please tick-off routes and places to be avoided during this time of the year?

I’ve never been to Austria during that time of year so unfortunately I don’t have any first hand experience to help with.

Some good advice but all of these places can be visited by train without adding to green house gasses. I can only hope that this ridiculous trend of travel bloggers posing in long dresses and skirts is dead soon. Seriously, posing in a flowing dress on a hanging bridge or hiking trail just distracts from your articles. It also clogs up travel spots for the rest of us travelers as we have to wait around while you get the perfect photo. Isn’t this blog to serve other travelers? Help with our trips? You’re doing the opposite. Please. Just stop.

Well, yes, most of these places can be visited with a train but then you’ll need a lot more time and wouldn’t be able to complete this itinerary in 10 days. But if you have more free time, go for it! I’m sorry if the pictures bothered you but at the end of the day, did you find the information on this blog helpful? Did it help you to plan your trip? If yes, you are welcome, if you found it useless, then you can just click away and read another blog. I don’t think that by sharing some pictures I like makes the article unhelpful but again, sorry if you feel that way.

Hi! I have been to Austria a few time and I still learned a lot from this blog. Some I have done before and I totally agree with your suggestions so I trust the many suggestions and ideas that I have not heard of or tried. Thank you for your thorough research and clear, well thought out itinerary. I picked and chose what I liked from it and will definitely use it on my trip in May. Really great job. Glad I came across your page. Thank you. Thank you!

Thank you so much for your lovely comment, it really means a lot and I’m so happy I was able to help you plan your trip. Have fun in Austria in May!

Can You tell me please which time have you visited. Because the flow of waterfalls is insane. To witness the same experience I’m asking your travel month. And yes i love your article so much that everyday i come and read your blogs.

Sure! We’ve been to Austria multiple times but most of these photos were taken on a road trip in the middle of June. Hope that helps!

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Complete 7 Day Road Trip: Germany, Austria, Switzerland

• September 22, 2022 April 3, 2023

Last updated on April 3rd, 2023 at 09:48 am

Do you want to experience 4 different countries in 7 days? This is the itinerary for you. It includes a 7 day road trip through Germany, Austria, Switzerland, but also, the sixth smallest country in the world, Liechtenstein! This is the perfect trip for you to make a good dent on your scratch map. The road trip begins and ends in Frankfurt.

How is driving in Germany, Austria & Switzerland?

What is the best time of year to travel to germany, austria & switzerland, is it expensive in germany, austria & switzerland, 1 night in frankfurt, 1 night in nuremburg, 1 night in munich.

• Schloss Neuschwanstein
• 1 Night in Innsbruck
• Liechtenstein

1 Night in Zurich

1 night in freiburg im breisgau, 1 night in baden baden, back to frankfurt.

Can’t get enough of Germany? Then why not consider Berlin? 3 Day Berlin Itinerary: The Best Spots in Berlin

Love to tour around, why not get in 3 of the most popular cities in Italy in 7 days with my 1 week Rome, Florence & Venice itinerary.

Or take a week to admire the stunning beaches, ancient sites and recreate scenes from Game of Thrones in Croatia with my 7 Day Split Croatia Itinerary

• In Germany, there were a lot of roadworks so there may be areas where you have to drive very slowly through. So account for these delays when you are getting to the next stop of the route. This website has an interactive map that shows where the roadworks are, for what distance and the speed limit you have to do.
• Munich is a nightmare to drive in so I would suggest parking on the outskirts of the City and getting public transport in.
• Research parking before you get to each place so you are not stressed about where to park when you get there.
• On the autobahn (motorway in Germany), there are certain sections where you can go as fast as you like, there is no speed limit. These areas are marked by a white sign with 4 black diagonal lines. So unless you have a powerful car, try keep to the slow lane because there will be cars zooming past so fast, you will barely see them.
• When entering Austria, you need a vignette for the windscreen of your car. You can buy this 10 day toll sticker for about €6 online or via petrol stations, newsagents or post offices. Find more information on the Austrian vignette toll sticker here .
• In Switzerland, you need to have a vignette too. Buy the one that lasts 1 year (that is the one you need) and it will cost about €35. You can buy it in petrol stations or online. Visit this website for more information on the Swiss vignette.

Autumn is the best time to do this trip. We went at the start of November and driving through the Black Forest was stunning with the multi-coloured leaves surrounding us.

What’s more, in some of the cities, they were starting to get ready for the Christmas festivities – setting up the Christmas markets and mulled wine could be bought everywhere or Gluhwein as they call it.

As well as this, driving to Austria was very scenic as the mountains were covered in snow.

Germany is quite cheap when you compare it to many of its western neighbours. I was delighted with myself when I could get a pretzel the size of my head for €1 for my breakfast and beer that was under €4. We found Austria cheap as well, similar to Germany. Here, I was drinking cocktails for €3.

But be mindful that Switzerland, on the other hand, is far more expensive. We went to an Irish pub and it was €30 for a burger, chips and a beer!! We only got one meal in Switzerland and waited until we were over the border in to Germany to get our breakfast the next morning.

I think a good starting and ending point on the road trip through Germany, Austria & Switzerland is Frankfurt as it has a major international airport with flights arriving from all over the world (Frankfurt Airport or FRA), so it is a good option if you are coming by plane. This City is quite industrialised as it is a major financial hub and home to the European Central Bank.

In Frankfurt, we walked around the City, the old town and Romerberg was a really nice part of the City. As well as this, we climbed the main tower and got a 360 view over Frankfurt. But, I would suggest to spend no more than one day here.

Where to stay in Frankfurt for one night?

• Hotel Miramar am Romer is a nice option which is about €80 per night for a double room. It is a 3 star hotel, located centrally.
• We stayed at Main Hotel Frankfurt City . It was €40 for the night for a double room and shared bathroom. If you are on a tight budget, this is fine. It was really basic, more like a hostel, than a hotel. It was nothing special and fairly old, but it did the job for 1 night.
• a&o Frankfurt Ostend hostel is an option which may be a good option for those travelling on their own. It is around €40 per night for a bed in a female or mixed 6 bed dorm. It is about 2.6km from city centre.

Driving time: 2 hours 50 minutes On day 2 of this 7 day itinerary, head to Nuremburg. We didn’t know much about it before going, but it was surprisingly nice. We paid a visit to the Nuremberg Castle and walked by the City Walls. The Lorzenkirche is a lovely church in the Centre and we had a browse around the market Square too.

Where to Stay in Nuremburg?

• If you are looking for a hostel, the 5 reasons hostel is a good choice. It is located in the city centre and you can get a bed in a dorm for as little as €28 per night.
• We stayed at Ibis Hotel Nurnberg Alstadt . It was €59 for 1 night for a standard queen room. It was really nice and just a short walk from the town and all the main attractions.
• If you have more to spend then Park Inn by Radisson Nürnberg seems to be a good option. It is around €75 per night and has great reviews.

Driving time: 1 hour 55 minutes

Munich is known for its beer and Oktoberfest, the annual celebration. I remember looking up everywhere I went because the buildings were so big.

While we were in Munich, we went to see a Soccer match at the Allianz Arena. I have no interest in soccer and only went because I am a sound girlfriend, but the stadium was actually really cool. The outside of the stadium was lit up in red as we were entering and there was a great atmosphere inside.

Where to Stay in Munich?

• For a budget friendly hostel, you can stay at Jaegers Munich . You can get a bed in dorm for just €24 per night. The ratings are very good.
• Hotel Eder is a great mid range option, around €90 per night. The location is great, just a 3-minute walk from Munich Main train Station. The rankings are very good across the board, but especially good on value for money.
• If you are looking for a more high end place to stay with great reviews and central location, you can check out Hotel Concorde a 4 star hotel. A room here is about €200 per night.

A visit to Schloss Neuschwanstein

Driving time: 1 hour 50 minutes Stop at Schloss Neuschwanstein on you way to Innsbruck, you will not regret it. This castle was built in the 19th Century, based near the town of Fussen on the Austrian border with such beautiful surroundings.

We did not purchase any tickets and just walked around the outside. But you have the option to enter and get a guided tour here . The walk up to the castle from the road can takes about 30 minutes but you have the option of getting a shuttle bus also when you are there.

When you get to the top, there is a place selling hot drinks, we paid €5 each for a coffee and you get to keep the cup (they are proper cups with a picture of the castle on them).

1 night in Innsbruck

Driving time: 1 hour 50 minutes The drive is really cool to Innsbruck, we had a view of snow covered mountains and you pass through many tunnels that go through the mountains. The town of Innsbruck is really scenic as the mountains are right beside it.

While we were here, we got a cable car to the top of Innsbruck. It was a very worthwhile experience and I would highly recommend it. We booked our tickets with get your guide. If you want to go too, you can book your tickets here .

Where to stay in Innsbruck?

• In Innsbruck, we stayed in Montagu Hostel , it was really nice, clean, basic accommodation. I would highly recommend it. We stayed in the standard double room and it was €72 for the night.
• B&B Hotel Heimgartyl has very good ratings on booking.com. It is located very well. 15 min walk from the town and 5 minutes from the cable car. It is around €90 per night for a double room.
• If you want to go all out, you can stay in Hotel Maximilian , a 4 star hotel for about €180 per night. It has a superb ranking on booking.com and is centrally located.

A quick stop in Liechtenstein

Driving time: 2 hours 20 minutes On route to Zurich, choose to go by Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein. It is more or less on the way anyway. We stopped here for a walk around the town. There is a nice view of Vaduz Castle, which is situated up on a hill.

Driving time: 1 hour 15 minutes

On day 4 of this 7 day road trip, make way to Zurich. Zurich is the financial capital of Switzerland, a very expensive city. It is a nice to stroll around and take in the old town.

Where to Stay in Zurich for one night?

• Green Marmot Capsule Hotel Zurich is a good, reasonably priced option. A single capsule is around €50 per night. Capsule hotels are basically many small bed sized rooms that are known as capsules and have a curtain at the entrance. It is reviewed very good.
• We stayed in Hotel St. George’s for €117 for 1 night. It is a 2 star hotel and was really nice. I would recommend it.
• A more high-end option would be Boutique Hotel Helmhaus Zürich , a 4 star hotel. A double room is about €350 per night here. The location is central and the reviews are great.

Driving time: 1 hour 50 minutes

Freiburg is among the Southern part of the Black Forest and is known for its medieval town centre. So, on the way to Freiburg, we got to see areas of the black forest. While you are here, you should take a stroll down the picturesque cobblestone streets and check out the shops along the way, it is a charming place.

Where to Stay in Freiburg?

• The Black Forest Hostel is a good budget option, here you can get a single bed in a dorm for as little as €25. It is located well, just 0.8km from the centre.
• We stayed at Hotel & Restaurant Sichelschmiede for the night. We booked the double room and paid €99. We really liked this accommodation. The room was above a restaurant/bar and the building is really pretty with rooms that have a real cosy feel to them.
• If you want to treat yourself to a 4 star hotel, the try the Park Hotel Post. It is around €150 for 1 night for a double room. Breakfast is included. The location is great, situated in the old town. Also, the hotel offers free bicycle hire, which may be a nice way to explore Freiburg.

Black Forest Route

From Freiberg, we joined the Bundesstrabe 500 or B500 around the location of ‘Fuhrer Hauptquartier Tannenberg’. The ideal route is to stay on this road to Baden Baden and this is the real height of the Black Forest. So, be sure to stop along the way, there are areas to pull in and go for a stroll up the mountain and take in the scenery.

Driving time: 2 hours 10 minutes

On the last day of our 7 day road trip in Germany, Austria & Switzerland, we opted to stay in Heidelberg. But I wished we stayed in Baden Baden as it looks to be a better option. My thoughts on Heidelberg is that it is good for shopping which is not what we were looking for. That is why I would recommend Baden Baden instead.

Baden Baden is located in the black forest and world renowned for it’s Roman bath culture. Caracalla spa and Friedrichsbad are the 2 most well known so consider a visit to at least one. As well as this, it is a good base to go hiking in the black forest.

Where to Stay in Baden Baden?

• Hotel Athos is around €90 per night for a double room. It has really good ratings and is located in a park just 10 minutes walk from the town centre.
• Hotel Rathausglöckel a 4 star hotel, costing roughly €150 per night for a double room. It has great reviews and located in the old town.

Driving time: 2 hour 5 minutes

The final stop is returning to Frankfurt to catch your flight or continue to your next destination.

I hope you enjoyed this itinerary for a 7 day road trip through Germany, Austria & Switzerland and your journey is an enjoyable one. If you found this helpful, feel free to share it with your friends. Comment below your thoughts or experiences.

Thanks for reading,

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• Don't forget to get travel insurance before you set out on your adventure. Safety Wing is a great choice and so reasonable.
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• Looking to book tours, entry tickets and more, check out Get your Guide.
• Follow me on instagram @wandererlane 🙂 

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Southern Germany Road Trip Itinerary

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Germany is the 7th-largest country in Europe, covering an area of 137,847 square miles (⅓ of which is covered in forests and woodlands). That means that the absolute best way to explore this stunning country is by 4 wheels (and 2 feet)! And since 65% of the Autobahn (highway) has no speed limit, it’s actually really exciting to drive in Germany!

Southern Germany offers dramatic scenery, ancient castles, friendly people, and quaint villages. Our proposed Germany road trip itinerary will take you to all of the highlights in this beautiful region and should take you 2-3 weeks to complete. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of our links we may earn a small commission (don’t worry, it’s at no extra cost to you).

Southern Germany Road Trip Basics

Things to know before you go.

• Renting a campervan in Germany is both totally reasonably priced and easy! You can select one that fits your needs through Motorhome Republic and pick it up right in Munich! Note that you’ll need to bring or buy your own bedding and cookware. (Make sure you check out our Road Trip Packing List for what to bring).
• “Wild camping” is not legal, but “overnight parking” is . It means that as long as you’re not pulling out your awning, camp chairs, and BBQ, you can pretty much park anywhere for 24 hours without anyone bothering you.
• And since road tripping around Germany is a popular pastime, most cities and towns you will encounter have very clear signs to mark where and when motorhomes can park (the largest parking lots meant for motorhomes are generally a mile or so outside of town).
• Germany is a part of the Schengen Zone – make sure you don’t overstay your welcome!
• Gas is expensive! Be sure you budget accordingly.

Fun Facts About Germany

• The compound word, Donau­dampf­schiff­fahrts­elektrizitäten­haupt­betriebs­werk­bau­unter­beamten­gesellschaft, is the longest word published in the German language with 79 letters.
• There are over 1,500 different beers in Germany (and you can consume them in public) and over 1,000 kinds of sausage.
• There are over 2,100 castles (you’ll be exploring more than a few of them during your trip)!
• Beer is cheaper than water (literally), and you’ll pretty much always have to pay to use the toilet (so consider renting a motorhome that is equipped with one inside).

Festivals in Southern Germany

• If you happen to visit Nuremberg during the month of September, be sure to check out Altstadtfest which is a lively market full of beer gardens and restaurants. Also, the Nurnberger Christkindlesmarkt is definitely worth visiting – it’s one of the best Christmas markets in Germany !
• Between Fat Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, the city squares and pubs around Cologne will be crowded with people dressed in colorful costumes, drinking and dancing for one of the largest street festivals in Europe – the Cologne Carnival ! About a million people gather in Cologne on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday.
• If you visit Heidelberg at the end of September, be sure to check out the Old Town Autumn Festival . The streets become filled with locals and tourists alike, drinking the local wine, perusing the flea market, and swaying along with the live music at a variety of stages sprinkled throughout the town. Don’t miss the side streets where locals have set up individual booths, and you can get the best deals on antiques!
• If you happen to visit Germany during the month of September, you’ll find yourself immersed in a sea of lederhosen and dirndls for Oktoberfest! While the entire Bavarian state celebrates many small festivals throughout the month, the most popular Oktoberfest festival takes place daily in Bavariapark in Munich. Contrary to popular belief, Oktoberfest isn’t just about drinking beer and dancing on tables. It’s a giant festival filled with carnival rides, huge beer tents, restaurants, outdoor beer gardens, and thousands of locals and tourists dressed in typical Bavarian attire.

Map for Your Southern Germany Road Trip

Southern germany road trip leg one: intro to bavarian culture, munich (aka münchen).

Considering the fact that Munich is the capital and the most populated city in the German state of Bavaria, with an estimated population of approximately 1.5 million people, it’s pretty amazing that the city center can remain so quaint and pedestrian-friendly.

With churches displaying amazingly intricate architecture and beer gardens rich in history on practically every corner, you’ll never run out of things to see or drink in this darling city. You could easily spend a month exploring, but even with just 2 days in Munich , you can hit the highlights.

If you want to see some of the finest architecture in the region, start with a morning stroll around the Marienplatz . It’s the central square in the center of the city and one of the most instagrammable places in Munich !

Be sure to stop at the Rathaus-Glockenspiel right before 11 am to witness this large mechanical clock in the middle of Marienplatz containing 43 bells and 32 life-sized figures coming to life daily in the 260-foot tower.

You’ll want to peek your head into all of the churches in the square, but be sure not to miss our favorite, Asam Church , which is quite small but will leave you speechless.

From there head over to the Munich Residenz for a tour of the exquisite museum that served as the seat of government and residence of the Bavarian dukes, electors, and kings from 1508 to 1918. It will take you several hours to see all that this gorgeous mansion has to offer!

Finally, end your day with a sunset stroll through the Englischer Garten . This giant park is located centrally in the city and is a hot spot for (occasionally naked) locals when the sun comes out. Not only is there a bustling beer garden in the center of the park, but also surfers who are taking a shot at the narrow wave caused by a standing wall in the man-made river. 

You’ll need to rest your weary feet after all that walking, so take a pit stop at  Hofbraeuhaus which is arguably the most famous beer hall in all of Bavaria! It was originally built in 1589 but not opened to the general public until 1828. All of the rooms except the historic beer hall were destroyed in WWII bombings, but it was reopened in 1958 after post-war restoration work. If you’re looking for something refreshing, try the Radler!

When you’re ready for another pint of Germany’s finest ale, stop at the Biergarten am Chinesischen Turm in the center of the Englischer Garten!

Optional Stop: Fohn-See Lake

One could spend weeks exploring all that Munich has to offer , but you’re on the move! Time to drive about 45 minutes to camp on the beautiful Fohn-See Lake.

For a campsite right on the lake, check out Zweiter Campingplatz Fohnsee where you can sit on the dock and watch an amazing sunset, and then wake up early in the morning for a relaxing stroll around the lake.

Linderhof Palace

From Munich, it’s about 60 miles to Linderhof Palace and should take you an hour and 20 minutes to drive. You’ll be visiting two homes of the eccentric King Ludwig II who was crowned king of Bavaria in 1864 during this leg of your journey. The first is the gorgeous Linderhof Palace which was the king’s summer home and was modeled after the Palace of Versailles.

The palace exterior is spectacular – as are the gardens – but a tour of the inside of the palace is truly fascinating and worth the small fee. Since the King didn’t like to be bothered by his servants during his meals, the dining room table (that was only large enough for one) could be lowered to the floor below, so that the servants could set the table and then hoist it back up to the king awaiting his dinner without being seen!

Your next stop is just a short, 30-minute drive from the palace, to Garmisch-Partnachklamm.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

As you walk through the Olympic Ski Stadium (Olympia Skistadion Ausstellung),   you’ll notice a few things. The first of all is how impressive and intimidating the steep, towering ski jump is, and secondly, how few people could actually fit in the stands (although allegedly it could originally house up to 40,000 guests and was expanded to fit more).

Stop for a bite here before starting your hike. You’ll need to continue walking about a half of a mile to the start of the Partnachklamm ( Partnach Gorge) .

The first half of the Partnach Gorge hike is fairly flat and takes you through several caves that run alongside the Partnach river with waterfalls overhead. Stop frequently to soak in all of your surroundings, you’ll be surprised by just how many waterfalls there are along the way.

Once you reach the end of the gorge hike, turn left to head uphill to turn the hike into a loop. The walk up is steep, but once at the top, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of the Alps and even a quaint Biergarten where you can rest your weary legs while enjoying a refreshing beer. Be sure to take a ride on the alpine slide before you leave the area!

Time to head ~45 miles west (with a quick pop through the tip of Austria) to see the famous castle which was the inspiration for Walt Disney’s fairytale castle.

Optional Stop: Ehrwald, Austria

Quickly cross over the border to Ehrwald, Austria for the most amazing mountain views that you’ll see on your entire trip! If it’s getting late, spend the night at Alpencamp-Marienberg to be surrounded by views and every amenity you could wish for!

Neuschwanstein Castle

This awe-inspiring castle was constructed by King Ludwig II in 1886 as he was a shy king and wanted to withdraw from the public eye. Little did he know that his private castle would be visited by 1.4 million people annually!

As you are driving up Neuschwansteinstraße road, Neuschwanstein Castle will begin to come into view high above you. Stop and take some pictures – the views of the castle from the road are some of the best you’ll see during your visit!

Explore the Castles

Arrive at the village of Hohenschwangau early to purchase your tour tickets as they sell out quickly (for most visitors this is one of those must-see places in Germany ). You will be given a specific tour time and you’ll need to make your way up the hill to the castle. It’s about a 30-minute uphill walk.

You can opt for a shuttle bus ride, or a horse-drawn carriage ride (but keep in mind that these fill up fast!). Make sure you arrive at the castle about an hour before your tour time so you can continue your walk up to the bridge that overlooks the backside of the castle!

Be sure to have a walk around Hohenschwangau Castle as well, built by King Ludwig II’s father. They also offer a guided tour through this amazing gothic wonder and the grounds are lovely and serene.

After your guided tour of the interior of both castles, head back down for a bite to eat in town before setting off for your next stop! It’s about a 30-mile drive to the Allgau Region.

Southern Germany Road Trip Leg Two: Lush Valleys and Towering Mountain Views

Allgau region.

The Allgau Region is a gorgeous mountain region that makes for a lovely drive and also offers several hiking options for the outdoor enthusiast!

Oberstdorf is a small town in the region that is popular with tourists due to its giant chairlift offering sweeping views of the area in the summertime and challenging ski runs in the winter. You can opt for the ride up for panoramic views and then a fairly easy walk back down, or head to the nearby Moorweiher Lake for a short and easy afternoon stroll.

Breitach Gorge

While in the area, don’t miss Breitachklamm (Breitach Gorge) ! This easy out-and-back hike through the deepest gorge in middle Europe follows a path that takes you high above the treacherous and powerful river rushing below you.

Lake Constance (aka Lake Konstanz aka Lake Bodensee)

Lake Constance/Konstanz/Bodensee is a top tourist destination in Southern Germany, and for good reason… it is a large, picturesque lake straddling the borders of Germany, Switzerland, and Austria with stunning views of the alps, which makes it the perfect destination for your motorhome adventure! There are two popular destinations around the lake – the towns of Lindau and Konstanz.

Start your lake itinerary in Lindau, which is the largest town on Lake Constance, and is split between the mainland and an island via a bridge. The island has a harbor offering views of the lake and Austria from the top of the old lighthouse.

It is apparent that the island was an influential and wealthy port town in its heyday and to this day, you’ll find it to be incredibly clean and quaint, with delectable eating and drinking options scattering along the waterfront.

Bonus Stop: Be sure to stop at Basilika Birnau en route to Konstanz for a tour of the lavish church right on the lake!

And stop in Konstanz where you should be sure to check out the spectacular 110-acre “flower island” of Mainau . It’s pricey to visit, but worth it to stroll through the beautiful parks and gardens. Konstanz sits right on the border, so if you haven’t been to Switzerland yet, cross over and put a foot in each country!

From Lindau to Freiburg, your next stop, it’s a little over 100 miles and should take you two and half hours to drive.

Southern Germany Road Trip Leg Three: The Black Forest 

Freiburg (aka freiburg im breisgau).

Sitting on the western edge of the Black Forest, Freiburg is the perfect hub to explore the southern side of the Black Forest. In classic German old town style, you’ll find cobblestone streets, beautiful architecture, and, of course, plenty of beer gardens.

Freiburg is also known as Germany’s warmest city due to the year-round sunshine that it experiences. And it is right in the heart of the Baden wine-growing region, so you’ll have no shortage of imbibing options here!

Be sure to check out the English Swabian Gate (Schwabentor) on your way up the hill to the Kanonenplatz panorama lookout point. You’ll find 360 views from the top as well as dozens of shady hiking trails.

Triberg Waterfalls

Plunging 535 feet into the river below, Triberg Waterfall is the highest waterfall in all of Germany! There is a small fee to enter the hiking area, but once inside you can choose a variety of hiking options of varying difficulty. After you’ve had your fill of the waterfall, be sure to have a stroll through this adorable little town and stop for some famous Black Forest cake!

The Black Forest is not only the birthplace of its namesake cake but also of the cuckoo clock. If you are looking to pick one up during your trip, Triberg is the place to do it!

Allerheiligen Valley

The next stop on your itinerary is Allerheiligen Valley to see the Kloster Allerheiligen (All Saints’ Abbey)  and the nearby waterfall, Wasserfälle Allerheiligen .

The All Saints’ Abbey was a Premonstratensian monastery that dates back to 1192. At its height, it was considered one of the major religious and political centers of the region but sadly, multiple fires over several centuries took their toll. The ruins are still a sight to behold and sit at the start (or the end – depending on where you park) of a lovely hike along several waterfalls on the Lierbach River.

The entire hike is only about a mile from the monastery to the parking lot on the other end. It’s well worth doing the hike in its entirety.

Baden-Baden

No German road trip is complete without a trip to a traditional German bathhouse! You’ve been doing a lot of hiking through the Black Forest, so why not end your trip with a relaxing soak in the thermal baths of Baden-Baden, the city of beauty and wellness ?

The Baths at Baden-Baden

Opt for the three-hour soak, so you have plenty of time to enjoy the indoor/outdoor public baths before heading upstairs for a more traditional (and no clothes allowed) experience. You’ll find a variety of relaxing thermal pools, saunas of varying ambiances, and other spa experiences to suit your fancy.

Be sure to check the rules before settling in (for instance, you’ll need a towel in the sauna and you’ll want to situate it so that neither your feet nor your bum touches the wood benches), and don’t be alarmed – most bathhouses in Germany are co-ed.

Southern Germany Road Trip Leg Four: Exploring Castles

Heidelberg is a lovely, quaint town on the River Neckar where you’ll find pedestrian cobblestone streets through their Baroque-style old town.

The impressive Heidelberg Palace  sits high above the city and is an easy walk to the top from the center of town. Marvel at the views from the top and check out the free apothecary museum for an entertaining history lesson.

When you head back to the center of town, you’ll have a variety of outdoor restaurants and cafes to choose from as well as boutiques filled with locally handmade goods, so give yourself ample time to explore.

Camping in Heidelberg

Camping Heidelberg-Neckartal is a well-equipped campground right outside of town with a convenient bus stop right at the entrance. You’ll love relaxing outside with your morning coffee while enjoying views of the river running right beside your motorhome!

Eltz Castle

The 850-year-old Burg Eltz ( Eltz Castle) sits high in the hills above the Elzbach River just outside of the town of Münstermaifeld in Western Germany.

The castle is referred to as a “Ganerbenburg” which is a castle belonging to a community of joint-heirs. It was divided into several parts as it was owned by different families and over 100 members of the owners’ families occupied the rooms of the castle. It is one of the few European castles that escaped destruction despite an eventful history.

Today although the castle is still privately owned, it is open to the public from April through the end of October. Visitors can opt for a guided tour of the interior, or simply stroll through the grounds and enjoy a cup of coffee at one of the restaurants inside the castle walls.

Park in the large lot and take the footpath to the castle which should take you about 30 minutes to walk. Stop when you get close as the views from afar are spectacular.

Across the river, you’ll find the spectacular Burg Thurant (Thurant Castle)  surrounded by vineyards and offering beautiful views of the river below. There’s a small fee to enter, but it’s worth it to see the bizarre torture contraptions and the dungeon complete with what appear to be actual human bones!

Camping Near Eltz Castle

Once you’ve explored the castle, head down to the small town of Hatzenport where there is a stunning campground – Campinginsel Sonnenwerth – that sits right on the river. If you arrive before sunset, you’ll be rewarded with beautiful views of the surrounding greenery while you sip your German wine and cook yourself a delicious traditional meal!

Cologne (aka Köln)

Cologne is the 4th largest city in Germany and after spending so much time in Bavaria, it may be a bit of a culture shock to see just how diverse Germany really is! While most of the other cities along your road trip have been cute and quaint with cobblestone streets, Cologne feels much more like a thriving metropolis.

Park your motorhome outside of the city and take their convenient public transportation into the city center and plan on spending a few hours exploring.

• Be sure to check out the Hohenzollern Bridge (Hohenzollernbrücke) which is decorated with thousands of inscribed lovelocks.
• And don’t miss the Cologne Cathedral (and especially the street art around the cathedral square).
• Another top tourist activity in Cologne? Shopping! You’ll find anything and everything your heart desires in the center of this city. Grab some fries (Pommes) smothered in curry sauce and wander the Hohe Straße in search of your new German fashion accessories!

Southern Germany Road Trip Leg Five: Cities and Wine

Cologne to Würzburg is a fairly long drive – almost three hours. So if you are looking to stretch your legs or grab a bite to eat, Wiesbaden is an excellent stop en route to your next destination!

Würzburg

Between 1626 and 1631, there were one of the biggest mass trials and mass executions ever seen in Europe during the Thirty Years War – the Würzburg Witch Trials. 157 men, women, and children were burned alive at the stake in Würzburg, Germany. Thankfully the witches have been replaced by gorgeous architecture and lots of wine!

Start your day with a counter-clockwise hike up to the Marienberg Fortress – the prominent landmark looming over the bank of the river. Loop around the castle so you pass through the grapevines on your trek back to the city center.

Head across the Old Bridge (the Alte Mainbrücke) where you can get a glass of wine to-go (with a small deposit on the glass) to enjoy while you marvel at the statues along the picturesque bridge.

From there, head over to the Würzburg Residence for a stroll through the magnificent gardens before taking a tour of one of the wineries in the area.

There are several wonderful wineries in the area, but our favorite is Weingut Am Stein where you can stroll through the steep grapevines while getting beautiful views of the city. They offer tastings of their delicious wines while providing you with helpful information on their organic wine-growing operation. Pick up a bottle of the Würzburger Silvaner – perfect for a sunny afternoon!

But, don’t drink too much because you have a 65-mile drive to Nuremberg coming up!

Nuremberg (aka Nürnberg)

Nuremberg is the quintessential medieval Bavarian town filled with stunning architecture, outdoor markets, museums, and a dark and sordid history. And with over a half-million residents, it is the second-largest city in Bavaria. Its history dates way back but it is most often linked to World War II as it was the headquarters for the Nazis and later was nearly destroyed by allied bombing.

And finally, it was the site of the famous post-war Nuremberg Trials. There was symbolic value in making it the city of the Nazi demise as they held the party’s rallies here and the laws that stripped Jewish people of their citizenship were passed in Nuremberg.

• As you stroll through the pedestrian cobblestone streets in the Altstadt (old city), you’ll have a plethora of outdoor eating and drinking options among the intricate medieval churches and the high-end shops.
• Head to the Imperial Castle of Nuremberg  for sunset where you’ll watch the sky above wash the city below in hues of pink.  

The Danube runs through the middle of the quaint town of Ulm and creates a natural barrier between Ulm and Neu-Ulm. Ulm is classified as Germany and Neu-Ulm is Bavaria. And this barrier creates a bit of a friendly rivalry between the two.

• Sip a cup of coffee while people-watching in the main square, Munsterplatz.
• Climb the 768 stairs to the top of the Ulm Minster (Ulmer Münster) church steeple – the tallest steeple in the world – for amazing views of the city (and a serious cardio workout).
• Then head over to the Fishermen’s Quarter (Fischerviertel) neighborhood where you’ll find darling Bavarian buildings, cobblestone streets, and beautiful river views. 

Return to Munich

From Ulm, you’ll head back to Munich, drop off your campervan, and sadly head back home to reality. Or, if you have time, you can catch the train north to Berlin !

We hope this has helped you to plan your epic road trip through Southern Germany!

Want more adventures in Germany? Check out our favorite travel guides!

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Val grew up in Portland, Oregon but moved to Oahu on a whim back in 2013. She sold her house and all of her belongings and bought a one-way ticket. Since then she’s taken two around-the-world trips and has visited 60-ish countries while living out of a duffel bag. Val started documenting the Wandering Wheatleys travels back in 2013 as a way to update friends and family about her whereabouts and to relay humorous daily interactions. The only readers were her mom and her mother-in-law but that didn’t stop her! These days you’ll find Val dreaming up future trips, creating new travel content, managing a team of amazing travel enthusiasts, and chasing around her two adorable but naughty kids.

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27 thoughts on “southern germany road trip itinerary”.

I hated the Neuschwanstein Castle tour. It was so rushed and didn’t give you time to appreciate the craftsmanship of the rooms. King Ludwig is such an interesting fellow. I feel like he is one whose life should be turned into a movie.

I totally agree that the tour of the interior was WAY too rushed and they fit too many people in at a time. We didn’t even really get to enjoy the space – such a bummer! But exterior castle views are definitely worth the trip!

How long was this road trip?

I love this post. So much great information. My family and I were hoping to plan a road trip in Germany next summer. We have about 10 days. If we had to cute one part of this trip what would you suggest .

Hi Nicole! Thanks for reading our post – so glad you found it helpful! We loved Bavaria and Heidelberg the most so if you’re short on time I would probably recommend skipping Cologne and/or Lake Constance as they are both a bit out of the way. We spent about 21 days on this trip so it will definitely be rushed if you try to accomplish it in 10.

Awesome! Thank you. Do you also have a map? I think I saw one but it disappeared..

Hey Lore, We didn’t have a map, but that’s a great idea so we just added one to our post. Hopefully, now it’s even easier to follow our Southern Germany road trip itinerary! You can also find it here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=11wWd60KRIMP5iuWOmP3ps1oauaGEh_CD&usp=sharing

Thanks for reading! Nick

I don’t think I’ve ever commented on a blog post but I felt it was important to comment on yours because it’s written and detailed how I have ALWAYS dreamed one would be. I have bookmarked this and I can’t wait to do many of the things you’ve recommended. Thank you for being so detailed and included all of this information! 🙂

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The Ultimate Road Trip Itinerary in Bavaria, Germany – Deutsche Alpenstrasse

No sooner have the words ‘holiday in the Alps’ left your lips than the word ‘Switzerland’ comes up. For years, holidays in the Alps have been synonymous with the Swiss Alps. Now don’t get us wrong – we have nothing against Switzerland. In fact, we bloomin’ love it . But it can get expensive – we’re talking £100-for-a-casual-meal expensive. Unsurprisingly then, budgeting for a long road trip around Switzerland is enough to send anyone into a tizzy. Enter a road trip in Germany .

What if we tell you there is a section of the Alps that is equally pretty, much less crowded, not touristy, and much much cheaper ? Nope, it’s not a figment of our imagination – it actually exists!! Welcome to the Deutsche Alpenstrasse (The German Alpine Road). This majestic road passes through picturesque rolling hills, Alpine meadows, quaint villages, gnarled forests, ice caves, enchanting lakes, fairy-tale castles, and more beer gardens than you could possibly count 🙂

This road trip through the Bavarian region in Germany features spectacular scenery that will leave you spell bound and gasping for words. Read the descriptions of the places below – this is a road trip you will want to go on asap 🙂

Germany Road Trip Itinerary

Day 1: Fly to Munich or Memmingen and pick up rental car Day 2: Explore Munich Day 3: The Dachau Concentration Camp Day 4: Fussen and Neuschenwenstein castle Day 5: Ettal abbey, Oberammergau, Garmisch Partenkirchen Day 6: Partnach Gorge Day 7: Linderhof castle, Plansee, and Karwendelbahn Day 8: Walchensee & drive to Unterwossen Day 9: Ice caves in Werfen & Chiemsee Day 10: Day trip to Salzburg, Austria Day 11: Drive back to Memmingen / Munich and fly to London

Total Distance Covered

Where to sleep.

1-2 nights in Munich 5 nights in Ettal 3 nights in Unterwossen

Day 1 and Day 2 – Munich

Begin your epic road trip in Germany by flying into Munich. If you’ve opted for a flight on a European budget airline, chances are your flight will land at Memmingen airport, 100 kms away from Munich. Pick up your rental car and drive to Munich. German Autobahns are (in)famous for being one of the rare motorways without any speed limits for cars. This is a good time to get accustomed to errr combative German drivers on the Autobahn. Try opting for a hotel or B&B on the outskirts of Munich unless you are willing to pay extortionate parking charges in the city. We stayed at Hotel Grunwald Garni .

Over the next day and a half, explore the sights and sounds of Munich. Some of our favourite things to do include visiting the  Viktualienmarkt , a farmers’ market that is a daily fixture in the city centre. It’s the perfect place to sample Bavarian treats such as Bratuwurst (sausage) and Leberkase (meat loaf). We also love the Hofbrauhaus , Munich’s legendary beer hall, for the wide array of German beer (and food!) on offer. We discovered  Hofbrauhaus, thanks to  Monarch’s tips map  and it lives up to its name as a true-blue German drinking establishment.

Day 3: Dachau Concentration Camp and drive to Ettal

Start the day early and head to The Dachau Concentration Camp for a somber lesson in world history. This concentration camp held tens of thousands of prisoners (jews, homosexuals, communists), who were then murdered here. We’re written a whole article on our crazy experience at The Dachau Concentration Camp and we would highly recommend a visit.

It’s easy to spend the better part of the day at this nightmarish complex. Once you’re done, drive to picture-perfect Ettal, which will be your home for the next 4-5 nights. We stayed at the picturesque Hotel Blaue Gams overlooking the Ettal Abbey and paid £50 per night for a double room including breakfast. You can find the best prices here

Read our article on The Dachau Concentration Camp here  (opens in a new tab)

Day 4: Fussen and Neuschwanstein Castle

You will realise you’ve left urbanity far behind when you wake up and glance at the view from your balcony. There are rolling hills, pastures, and traditional Bavarian houses overflowing with flowers as far as the eye can see. According to us, this is the precise moment when the German state of Bavaria starts casting its spell on visitors.

Drive down to Fussen, a gorgeous town surrounded by the Alps. Fussen is just 5 kms away from the Austrian border and is straight out of a fairy tale. Spend this day exploring the legendary Neuschwanstein Castle nearby – it is the castle that is said to have inspired Walt Disney. One glance at it, and you can see why. The castle is surrounded by lush mountains and gorges and its spires reach out to the sky. You almost expect a Rapunzel or Cinderella to peek out of one of the ornamental windows.

Neuschwanstein Castle  is one of the most popular castles in Germany, so its best to get there early to avoid the crowds. Most guidebooks suggest walking to the Marienbrucke Bridge for a good view of the entire castle but if you want an absolutely breathtaking view, continue walking after the Marienbrucke bridge till you reach the highest vantage point in the area. This is the view you will be rewarded with :-

Day 5: Ettal Abbey and Oberammergau

After you’ve repeated the whole getting-up-in-the-morning-and-standing-on-your-balcony-for-hours ritual, we suggest tearing yourself away from your quaint hotel in Ettal and walking to the neighbouring Ettal Abbey. This Benedictine monastery is absolutely stunning on the inside. What’s more, it houses a brewery (it’s Germany, you can never be too far from beer 😉 ). Try the locally-brewed beer or Ettal liqueurs made by the monks at Ettal Abbey.

Then onto our favourite village in the area – Oberammergau. As if it wasn’t enough for Bavarian villages to seem like they belong in a fairy tale, they went ahead and painted the walls of all the houses in this village with fairy-tales by Brothers Grimm. Seriously! This Alpine Road Trip in Germany cannot get any better. Have lunch in Oberammergau and spend the afternoon marvelling at the houses and trying to decipher the tales on their walls.

Day 6: Partnach Gorge and  Garmisch Partenkirchen

A relaxing day spent exploring Ettal and its surroundings needs to be followed by a bout of adventure. Partnach Gorge is one of the crazier natural wonders that we’ve visited. This 260 ft deep gorge has been cut into two by a river and it’s actually possible to walk through it. There’s water (waterfalls, streams, you name it!) everywhere, so make sure you wear a waterproof jacket and non-slippery shoes. You might have to crouch at certain points but its worth it. This is an experience like no other.

Partnach Gorge is also the gateway to a number of hikes in the area. Once you’ve crossed the gorge, you can choose a hike that suits your fitness level. This adventure needs to be followed with a lazy evening.

Spend the evening driving around the Garmisch Partenkirchen area. You’ll spot beer gardens, tiny villages, sylvan country retreats, cows grazing on storybook pastures, and very few tourists. Make sure you sample a Bavarian platter, complete with pretzels, bratwursts,sauerkraut, potato salad, and leberkas. Yummy 🙂

A word of caution – the rustic nature of this area means there aren’t too many vegetarian or international restaurants in the area. If you, like us, enjoy sampling local food, then you’re in for a treat. But if you have dietary restrictions or you’re craving non-Bavarian food, then you might have to look for a supermarket.

Day 7: Linderhof castle, Plansee, and Karwendelbahn

Walking into the ostentatious and preened grounds of Linderhof Castle is akin to walking into a fairy tale. This is King Ludwig’s smallest palace. It’s nowhere near as crowded as Neuschwanstein Castle and that makes it endlessly charming.

You could spend the afternoon picnicking at neighbouring Alpine lake Plansee – the lake is in Austria and is less than 20 minutes away from the Linderhof Castle. The glistening green-blue waters, characteristic of all Alpine lakes, offer a peaceful retreat.

Don’t leave the area without going on a cable car ride near Mittenwald -Zugzpiste is the most popular one but it is invariably crowded (and overpriced!). We love Karwendelbahn – a near vertical cable car ride leads visitors to the top of one of the highest mountains in the area. We were the only ones at the time we visited and we had the whole mountain to ourselves, with a giant telescope for company. The view from the top just cannot be described in words – one can see the Alps across Austria, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. It is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime moment, one you won’t forget for years to come.

Day 8 : Walchensee & drive to Unterwossen

After experiencing everything from gorges and Alpine lakes to picturesque villages and monasteries, it’s time to leave Ettal and drive further east to Unterwossen. This is one of the most scenic and romantic drives in the world and the scenery needs to be seen to be believed. Make sure you stop at one of Germany’s deepest and largest Alpine lakes, Walchensee, on your way to Unterwossen. The lake is nestled in the Alps and the grandiose setting provides a perfect excuse for a long-drawn meal or coffee and kuchen (cake) at a cafe overlooking the lake.

Check in at your hotel/B&B in Unterwossen and prepare yourself for an otherworldly adventure the next day. We spent 4 nights at the gorgeous  Hotel-Gasthof Sonnenbichl and paid £45 per night for a double room including breakfast. You can check here for prices .

Day 9: Ice caves in Werfen & Chiemsee

Drive to the ice-caves in Werfen, Austria. Once you’ve parked your car, trek uphill for 20 minutes to the cable car, take the cable car to the top of the mountain, and walk for another 20 minutes. Soon you will see caves looming in the distance. This is the entrance to the world’s largest ice-caves.  Aah – get ready to enter a world that seems like it doesn’t belong to planet Earth .

Visitors can explore upto 1 km of these caves with a guide. Inside, there are giant icicles, stalactites, stalagmites, and naturally-occurring ice-sculptures that will leave you spell bound. It’s hard to take photos inside the caves but these pictures should give you an idea of what lies inside the labyrinthine ice-caves of Werfen.

On your way back, stop by at Chiemsee, a freshwater-lake in Southern Germany.

Day 10: Day trip to Salzburg, Austria

The achingly perfect landscapes, lakes, and mountain passes on this road trip of Germany and Austria can be overwhelming. How is one to drink up all this beauty all at once? If you’re an urban bunny and you’re missing large cities, then hop over to Salzburg for a quick day trip. Just make sure you park your car at one of the park-and-ride parking lots outside the city. Else you will spend the day looking for parking spots or being stuck in traffic jams in Salzburg.

Once you’re in Salzburg, walk around and absorb the atmosphere. If you’re a Sound of Music fan, then you’ll know what to do even before you get there. Visit Mozart’s birthplace, explore the Hohensalzburg Fortress, or just spend your time marvelling at the old shops or stocking up on supplies at Getreidegasse and Alter Markt Square.

Day 11: Drive back to Memmingen / Munich and fly to London

Spend the last day driving back on the roads you would’ve grown to love in the past couple of weeks. You will drive past dozens of Bavarian villages. Try spotting the Bavarian Maibaum (Maypole), a constant fixture in most villages. It’s a tall pole depicting various rituals and traditions of Bavarian life. In a few hours, you’ll hit the Autobahn – crank up the speed and enjoy the last few hours of driving without speed limits. Do keep in mind that there are some stretches on the Autobahn where there ARE speed limits – so do keep an eye out for the signs 🙂

It’s the end of the trip but we’re sure this is a trip you’ll remember for ages. This Alpine reverie offers panoramas which are as pretty as those you can find in Switzerland but at less than half the cost. This road trip of Germany and Austria offers cable car rides, picturesque panoramas, trekking opportunities, rustic German food and beer, and natural wonders by the dozen – it’s calling out to you. What are you waiting for? 🙂

We hope that we have managed to tempt you to plan an amazing road trip through Bavaria in Germany. If you have any questions or would like to add something to this itinerary, drop us a comment below 🙂 And before you go, do check out some of the related articles:

Are you crazy about Road Trips too? Read about all our favourite road trips in one place 🙂

Do you know we shot an outfit post in a Bavarian forest   when we were in Ettal

Love Germany? Read all our posts on Germany here

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187 thoughts on “ the ultimate road trip itinerary in bavaria, germany – deutsche alpenstrasse ”.

Great story about a wonderful place in Germany. And highlighted with some awesome photos!! I have done this route many years ago and it is just a beautiful piece of the world with great art (castles). Thanks for sharing!

Hey Sabine – did you enjoy it as much as we did? We were just left awestruck by all the castles on the route 🙂

Hi Savi/Vid Thanks for a detailed insight.

Would like some details on the toll charges while you are shuffling between Austrian and Germany border. I heard about buying a “go maut” in German fuel stations, before entering Austria to avoid penalties? Could you educate little bit on that?

What are the speed limits and speed cameras on the road both in Alpine region and Austrian villages? Are the speed limits well marked like in Scandinavia?

Do you have specific recommendations on Alpine roads one must visit to capture some picture perfect scenic experience on road?

Thanks in advance for taking your time for reply.

Hey Subrat,

Apologies for the late reply. Internet has been patchy the past few weeks. Before you enter Austria, you can buy the vignette at any of the fuel stations near the border. A vignette valid for 10 days costs EUR 8.80 and you MUST stick it on your car’s windshield (inside).

Speed limits vary from region to region so you should keep a lookout when driving. They are well marked.

In our opinion, the whole stretch of Deutsche Alpenstrasse is gorgeous.The stretch from Fussen to Ettal is particularly beautiful.

Hope this helps

Hello and thank you for your post. I am flying to Munich and wish to do your road trip except in a shorter period of time. Can you please tell me with which company you rented your car and the costs as well as what type of car did you rent. Thanks. Mariane

Hi Mariane,

We rented through Hertz. The cost was around GBP 25 per day for an economy category car.

Hope this helps 🙂

Im planning a trip for one week to Germany….any suggestions? I’m going late April, thinking of driving. Do you think I need to book places to stay ahead of time since I want to drive and explore as I go along?

Hey you should find accommodation as you go along in April 🙂

Thats a perfect getaway post with the Oh So amazing pictures. 🙂

Thanks Sonal – A Road Trip in Germany actually is THE perfect getaway 🙂

Germany has always been one of my dream destinations! With these stunning pictures m tempted too!

Rashmi go, go, go. Germany offers the perfect package – the cities offer alternative spaces (especially Berlin) while the countryside is absolutely dreamy.

We have 10 days in Germany. We want to do a road trip but combine Black forest and Bavaria. We are also driving around. In terms of the no. of days the choice is spending 2 days in Berlin or Salzburg. What would you recommend

To be honest, we preferred Berlin out of the two (it’s a tough choice though :))

Have a great trip.

just went back to that time ages ago when I’d gone through the dreamy village of Garmisch and they all look just the same. It’s as if time has stood still and is in awe of the beautiful alpine Bavaria. Bravo!

Thanks Raj – I hope these places never change. They have a special quality about them that seems to transcend time 🙂

I love Germany! I lived in Munich for 15 months between 2012-2013 and your pictures are making me miss it all! I’ve been to most of the places mentioned in this post. All are so so gorgeous! If you guys get a chance someday also visit Rothenburg, it’s very fairy tale-esque and adorable as well.

Hey Naima – we hear you. You must’ve hated leaving Germany – the countryside is just SO gorgeous. We enjoyed Munich but Berlin’s gotta be our favourite German city 🙂 PS Will definitely visit Rothenburg

ohh myy godd !!! its overwhelming just to loo at it wonder how it must fell to experience all this live …

Overwhelming is the exact word I’d use for a road trip in Bavaria Kushagr 🙂

This looks too good to be true. Im definitely tempted. Whats the best time to visit? When did you guys go exactly?

Hey Matin – we visited Bavaria at the end of summer but I would say anytime b/w May and October works well. Even cold winter months work well if you intend to ski 🙂

hey..can we plan this trip in nov? We are planning from nov 22-nov 30. pls suggest. thanks

Might be too cold at that time but if you’re ok with the cold then why not 🙂

Your adventure looks equally incredible and beautiful! I have not been to Germany or Austria, but I hope to someday soon, I’d love to use your suggestions as a possible itinerary. I have been to Switzerland, and as you mention, it is incredibly expensive, so it’s great there are other nearby alternatives!

Thanks Brooke – Germany and Austria are incredibly pretty and the Alpine Road is an amazing alternative to a road trip in Switzerland 🙂

Hi guys, this itinerary of urs looks awesome, however could u be more specific on the financial details ie, the budget needed. Did u drive to any other countries as well? Thanks a ton in advance. Love, vinay

Hey Vinay – On this particular trip, we spent our time in Germany and Austria only. Insofar as budget is concerned, you will need to set aside €100-€125 per person per day – this includes all meals, mid-range accommodation, car rental, and entrance to attractions etc. Flights will vary depending on your port of departure. Hope this helps 🙂

The quality of your pictures is amazing. They trily inspire – in fact I made changes to the Germany trip I am currently planning to make sure it includes spending time in Ettal!

Aah Ettal is so gorgeous – when are you going to Germany?

we are going this coming August! can’t wait!

Oh wow- you’ll love it so much 🙂

Great story and Great pics!!!!! Myself and my hubby are planning to cover Germany and Austria this september and I think We ll plan our trip based on ur itenary 🙂 Thanks a ton for sharing it!!!!!!

Hey Shuba – that’s awesome. Have fun in Austria and Germany and do send us photos 🙂

Hey Guys- I have been following your blog for quite sometime now nd I must say u hv inspired me travel nd c the world… I hv actually started off with Dubai… However Europe looks awesome… May b in future will plan out something.. U guys doin great…. Never stop

Hey Komal – you don’t know how excited your comment makes us. We’re so glad we got you travelling – I hope you get to see every inch of the world in the years to come 🙂

Hi Savi Vid, this itinerary is awesome. My husband and me are planning to do the similar route in August with Innsbruck before heading to Unterwossen . Would like to know which car rental did you go for, we are planning to take it from Munich? Also can we take the car crossing the Germany Austria border. Are there any tolls on these border crossings and how many would they be approx?

Thank you so much for posting these. The pictures are just breathtaking.

Looking forward to your reply.

Glad you liked the itinerary and pictures 🙂

We rented through Hertz. Yes, you can rent from Munich (we rented from Memmingen which is very close to Munich). As for crossing to Austria, yes, you can take it across the border but once in Austria you must have a “toll” sticker on your car – you can get these from any petrol station supermarket. Make sure you get them before or as soon as you enter Austria. You can buy a 10 day sticker for €8.7 I think.

Hope this helps.

Hey this looks lovely, how much was your average cost

Roughly around £125 per day (and night) for both of us including accommodation, car rental, food, and drinks.

Great ideas as we are going next month on a very similar trip – we do however have a 3 year old little girl and was wandering how much of your trip would be possible with a toddler in toe??

Hey Arwel – the answer to that is ALL of it 🙂 We were in the car for long periods of time and most of the treks/hikes that can definitely be undertaken with a toddler in tow. As far as infrastructure goes, Bavaria is well equipped. However well-stocked supermarkets are few and far in between. You might want to stock in Munich before heading to the countryside

We have 6 nights in Germany. Plan to do Munich and the Alps during Oktoberfest. Needless to mention we’ve reserved 2 days / nights at the fest to consume and get consumed by greatest invention in the history of mankind. Plan to drive to the alps and back over the next 4 days before we head to Spain for 8 days. We plan to do a road trip both in Germany (Munich – Alps – Munich) and Spain (Malaga to Barcelona). Can you suggest a shortened itinerary ?

Hey there – we’ve written a detailed itinerary for a road trip in Spain that starts in Malaga in a separate post. You can check it out here: You can skip the bits that don’t tickle your fancy. Here’s the link: https://www.bruisedpassports.com/wheres/spain-road-trip-itinerary

As for Germany, you could stick to the first 4-5 days of this itinerary and skip the bit that spills into Austria. That way, you can explore Fussen, Neuschenwenstein castle; Ettal abbey, Oberammergau, Garmisch Partenkirchen, and Partnach Gorge. Have fun 🙂

There’s so much more you can see on a road-trip. I went to Munich last year, and had a chance to explore Neuschwanstein Castle, Dachau Concentration Camp and Salzburg but since I took trains (which was an incredible experience in itself) I missed out on staying in the little Bavarian villages. I love how you plan your holidays? Between the two of you who is the planner and which resources do you use?

Absolutely – we love road trips. Savi is the planner and we rely on a lot of different websites to plan our trips. We have used most of the hotel comparison and car rental comparison sites in the past 🙂

I an my husband are planning a trip to Austria, Germany & Switzerland. While doing research, we came across your blog and totally loved it. We plan to have a similar road trip covering parts of Austria & Bavarian Germany (basically the alpine roads) by road. We live in India and hold valid Indian licenses and were wondering if we can hire car and drive on Indian license. Plz advice from your experience. Thanks!!!

Hi Shreshtha,

Yes, you can drive in Germany and Austria using your Indian license. Before you enter Austria, remember to buy the vignette for your car.

Hi guys..how many hours in car….dont want to be forever driving

Hi Lea-anne,

Not long, to be honest. Imagine 2-3 hours of driving every day. Of course on days that you come from Munich or go to Salzburg, this could be more, but never more than 5 hours a day from our experience.

While planning for our Germany/Austria trip I stumbled across your blog, and ended up using several of your suggestions for hotels and activities. The Hotel Blau Gams in Ettal and the Sonnenbichl in Oberwossen were fantastic! So picturesque and comfortable, and in great areas for exploring. We also went to the ice caves in Werfen, Austria which was a highlight (the hike alone up to the caves was unbelievable!). Thank you, and keep up the traveling and sharing!

Dear Shari,

That’s amazing – it makes all the effort we put in worthwhile 🙂 If you get a chance, send us your pictures from this trip and we’ll share it with out readers on social media!

Thanks again!

This trip looks like a dream! I’m currently trying to figure out how to spend 8 days in Bavaria in mid-October and many of these spots are definitely going on the itinerary… 🙂 I really want to check out the ice caves, but the website makes the trek seem a little more athletic. Did you need any special equipment or abilities to tackle that one? Also, do you have any hotel recommendations near Ettal / Oberammergau? Thanks for the wonderful post!

Dear Emily,

You are going to love Bavaria 🙂

As for Werfen ice caves, we did not need any special equipment, but please keep in mind that we went in July. I am not sure how the weather would be in mid-October, but I doubt there’s going to be snow on the trekking path. We were able to do the trek uphill and downhill without any issues.

The hotel suggestions are mentioned in the post (points 3 and 7) 🙂

Hi! This sounds like such an amazing trip, thanks so much for sharing! When did you guys travel? My husband and I are planning something for November or Dcember during the holidays. Do you think it’d still be good weather to do this? Of course, snow is always welcome by us, but we’re wondering about barren grey landscapes and cold trips 😉

Hi Sarmishta,

We travelled in July 🙂

November/December will have its own charms – think snow capped mountains, fairytale castles, and mulled wine 🙂

It will definitely be cold. If you enjoy skiing then you must go in December. If you enjoy longer days and driving, go in summers for the scenery is unbeatable!

Hello Savi and Vid,

I love this itinerary. My wife and I will be spending over a month in Europe in mid June – July 2016. We would like to fit this drive in between our time in Italy and France. Fly Rome to Munich and then Munich to Paris. I think we will have to cut the drive by a day or two. Probably more like 9 or at most 10 days to fit it in. I know it is a subjective question, but if you had to cut a couple days out of the itinerary, what would you eliminate. I do want to keep the layover day in Munich after our flight from Rome.

Thank you, Dave Inland NW Washington State, USA

Apologies for the late reply!

Well, we’d cut out the bit at the end i.e. Salzburg. Do try to go to the ice caves in Werfen though 🙂

Also, a lot of things that we spread across two days can be done in 1 – for instance you can do Ettal, Partnarch Gorge, Linderhof castle, and Karwendelbahn in a day 🙂

Hope you have a great trip – let us know if you have other questions.

Hi, After a scary time driving in Ireland where there is not enough room for two cars on the road (off the highway), can you tell me how the driving is in Germany? This itinerary looks fantastic. I prefer public transportation due to the aforementioned Ireland experience, but suspect it would be hard to do without a car. Your thoughts? Thanks so much for sharing this.

Hey Gina – roads in Germany offer quite a comfortable experience. They’re narrow in some places (near the smaller villages) but not crowded. However public transport can be used to reach most of the major attractions without any problem – of course, you skip out on seeing the offbeat li’l villages when using public transport.

Amazing blog and pictures! EXACTLY what I was looking for when researching a summer 2016 trip to southern Bavaria! Other than the Ice cave and concentration camp – any edits to be made when traveling with a family, including a 4yo? Also – did you find that certain days of the week/times of day limited your options – we’re used to the US 24-7, all-access thing. Also, may choose Ettal as our home base for the trip – would that work?

Great post – so inspiring!

Thanks a lot – happy to hear you find our post useful.

You definitely won’t find stores open 24/7. In fact, Ettal is a small village so things are quiet once it’s dark. You will definitely find restaurants, so eating out won’t be a problem. On Sundays, for instance, you could drive to the nearest big town (Garmisch) and you’ll find that more stores are open there.

Choosing Ettal as the base might work, but if you plan to go to Werfen (ice caves), Salzburg, or the eastern side of the Deutsch Alpenstrasse on different days, then it might be too much of a drive out and back. On the contrary, having Ettal as the base will help as you won’t have to pack and unpack.

Perhaps you could skip Salzburg and do Werfen and the eastern part of the alpine road in a single day 🙂 Definitely doable

Hope you have a great trip.

This is great! We are thinking of taking our kids to Germany and Austria next summer and I love this itinerary- it has everything we were talking about. We would like to visit Vienna, though, because our family lived there before WWII. Do you think it would be tough to incorporate that for a couple nights?

Hey Stephanie – it’ll be easy to incorporate Vienna into this itinerary -just make sure you leave your car at a Park n Ride Car Park as finding a parking spot in the city can be a nightmare on busy days 🙂

Hi, I was just looking over your itinerary again and really like it. My concern is driving in a foreign country. My only experience with that was in Ireland where the roads were often very narrow so it was quite difficult to me. What is the driving like on this itinerary? Thanks!!

Hey Gina – we found German roads quite comfortable to drive on. Just FYI some of the German freeways have no speed restrictions, so be careful of cars flying past you 🙂

I truly enjoyed your blog ! where can i find the roap map tracing where you travelled in this trip ? and whihc month was it ? thank you

Hey Lilian – we visited Bavaria in July. You can just use Google Maps to trace a route that includes Munich, The Dachau Concentration Camp, Fussen, Ettal, Oberammergau, Garmisch Partenkirchen,Unterwossen, Werfen, and Salzburg including and excluding destinations depending on personal preferences and the days you have at hand 🙂

During which month did you do this trip?

Hey Rita – we visited Bavaria in July 🙂

hi Sid /Savi Fantastic blog I am trying to do a similar trip this April .We fly into Amsterdam and fly out of Munich . We have 14 days of which 5 days will be for visiting Amsterdam ,Bruges and Ghent . We then have 9 days for Germany wherein we would like to do Berlin ,Alpine Road and Munich(not necessarily in that order) before we fly back from Munich . Pls suggest what we should include/skip in the German section .Do you advise we cut down(eliminate) the time in Brussels if the need be . Thanks

You can skip the Austria portions from our itinerary 🙂 PS Make sure you read our article on Things to do in Amsterdam before you hit the streets of the city

Hi Vid/Savi Sorry i spelt your name as Sid . Thanks

Lol- so problem 🙂

Hi again I was interested in doing a similar trip as the one you have done with some modifications . We wanted to spend about 9 days in Germany out of 14 days in Europe The 1st 5 days are planned in Amsterdam Bruges and Ghent Thereafter we will have 9 full days for Germany wherein we plan to keep 3 for Berlin and 6 for Munich and the surrounding places .We are doing this in April 2016 and plan to rent a car . We were wondering if we should skip the 2 days in Belgium(Bruges and Ghent …1 day each)and use these 2 days for the German section of the holiday. Thanks

Hey Fakhree – 9 days should be enough to cover the part of Germany you have in mind. However I’d suggesting spending both days in 1 Belgian city – either Bruges or Ghent. It’ll give you a bit more time to soak in the atmosphere 🙂

Thanks again I will surely take hints from your article on “Things to do in Amsterdam” Also as you suggest we will skip the Austrian section to give us descent time for the Alpine towns in Germany . There are some more options in my mind over which i request you to kindly share your suggestions/ideas Options 1)Keep 2 days for Belgium (As originally decided) 2)Skip 2 days in Belgium and do Salzburg(2days)as an extension of the Alpine journey from Berchtesgaden 3)Skip 2 days in Belgium and do Black forest(2 days)after which we can do the Alpine journey from Lindau on lake Constance .

Hey there – think you should go with Option 1 as that way you can experience a bit of countryside and a couple of cities too 🙂

Hello Savi Vid,

Thoroughly enjoyed going through your blog and based on it we have rescheduled our entire euro trip to include a road trip through Bavaria. Hope I can pick your brain on a couple of things. We were wondering whether we should extend the trip to cover the Hohe Tauren national park and the carinthian lake region in Austria. However, we only have 6 days set aside for the road trip and as such cannot make up our mind on whether to do a leisurely trip covering Ettal and Unterwossen or to try and fit in the national park/carinthian lake region also and eventually drop off our rental car in Vienna(the exorbitant “different drop off location” charges notwithstanding). our next leg of the trip is in Prague; guessing the travel time from Vienna and Munich are not that different. Eagerly awaiting your suggestions. Cheers, ganesh

Hey Ganesh,

Glad you liked our blog. What you have mentioned is doable – just cut out a day from Ettal and a day from Unterwossen and add it for the lake region. We feel it might end up being a bit rushed, but you’ll get to see more 🙂

It’ll also depend on the season you take the trip in – in summers days will be long so you’ll be able to cover more.

hi Savi VId,

i have gone through your Bolg and found super. please give me yr mail id. need to ask you some questions reg the trip in bayern.

Savi Vid, please give me yr email id.

Savi Ved, Please give me your mail id.

Hey Monali- you can use the contact us tab on the top right 🙂

Hi Savi Vid, Thanks for the fantastic blog !! Really helpful.

Myself, my wife and son are planning on taking a rental car from Zurich and driving to see some nearby castles in southern Germany and Austria. Which castles would you recommend. We have around 2 and half days before returning our car in Frankfurt.

Hey Raghu – if you look carefully, you’ll see we’ve mentioned our favourite castles in the post. Choose one or two based on your personal preferences – scenic castles, castles with great art collections etc. Have an amazing time in Europe

Thanks for the great and helpful blog. I want to do a road trip with my girlfriend this summer. But we want to do it in 7 days, and our budget is not verry big (around €500 each). Do you have tips for us to do a part of your roadtrip? What are the highlights, and what can we skip? Which excursions are affordable and which are to expensive?

Hello Jesper,

You can definitely do this trip in 7 days. You could skip the trip to Salzburg and the ice caves if you wish. The castles are amazing and you must see them 🙂

If you are driving then you won’t really need to book an “excursion” – you just visit the places and pay the entry fees, which weren’t too much.

Definitely make time for the drives for they are amazing!

Just planning a road trip somewhere in Europe, I typed Bavarian Road Trips into Google and found you guys. I now know where I am taking my camper this summer. Thanks for putting this on-line. It looks stunning

Hey Frankie – always love it when we can persuade a fellow traveller to explore a place we loved so much. Yay 🙂

Hi Savi Vid

Thank you for this fantastic blog.

I was unsure of where to travel during the July holidays and I came across your blog and this amazing road trip. I am so going ahead with your itinerary. I have a couple of questions

– I want to include Berlin in the itinerary (Fly into Berlin and out of Munich) How many days do you recommend for Berlin? Is it preferable to drive from Berlin to Munich or take a train.

– Are there any farm stay options available? As I have a 2 year old.

Thanks for your help

So happy to hear that you found our itinerary helpful. We recommend spending 3-4 days in Berlin. We’ve written several articles on Berlin in case you’re interested. Here’s the link to all our articles on Germany: https://www.bruisedpassports.com/category/germany A farm-stay option would be great with a 2 year old but we don’t know of any in the area. Sorry we couldn’t be of more help on that front. Have fun in Germany 🙂

Thank you for your quick response. I was trying to book the Hotel Blaue Gams however it showed us an option for the Guesthouse. Is it the same? The Guesthouse seems to be lot cheaper than the Hotel.

Thanks again.

Hey Jeena – I have no clue about the guesthouse but it might be the same! I suggest emailing Blaue Gams and confirming before you book 🙂

hi, is there a lot of oil filling stations for the car gas along the road??

Hey Hanis – yes there’s a fair few gas stations along the road – no problem on that front 😀

hey again, for the drive in germany n austria, do i need to get somekind of road tax,/tols/vignettes?? any important information that i might need to know?? incase i miss anything thanks!!!

You will need a vignette if you’re driving in Austria. You can get these vignettes at all fuel stations near the border.

Hi, we are travelling from Australia and are looking to do something like this in very early January 2017. Will we be able to drive on all of the roads at that time of year, or will snow cause us difficulties. Can we access all the areas you talked about at that time of year?

Hey Janice – we haven’t driven this route during winter but from what we hear, it’s quite a comfortable drive during winter as well. Most roads are accessible but you’ll need winter tyres 🙂

Thanks a lot for this detailed post. it served as a good inspiration and a base/starting point for us to plan our Bavarian trip. Although we planned it differently here and there – this gave a very good overview of the what’s and how’s.

Your pictures are beautiful and they sure did lure us to look into Bavarian Alps when we thought about a trip to the Alps! And it was a magnificent trip! Will surely remember this one for a loonnnggg time!

Thanks, Sheetal.

Hey Sheetal – so so happy to hear that. Do send us some photos from your trip to Bavaria. We’d love to share them with our readers on Facebook and tag you 😀

Could you suggest a small road drive to bavarian Alps for 1 day or 2 days max from Munich. Unfortunately, I could not stay longer..

You could drive to Fussen and Ettal and spend a day or two there exploring the fairytale castles 🙂

Thanks so much for your reports! They helped my wife and I so much in planning our trip.

Cheers Michael! So happy to hear that 🙂

Hey Savi/Vid,

Thanks for this fantastic post. I was looking for a 10 day road itinerary through some of the less beaten paths in Europe when I happened upon your blog. Looks like Bavaria might be a winner.

My wife and I will be travelling from the US (with our 2 yr old daughter in tow) – was curious if some of the accommodations you’ve mentioned here are conducive to a family. We’re quite low-maintenance when it comes to raising our daughter, so we’re not looking for anything fancy – just want to make sure we won’t be completely out of our element at some of these places.

Hey Sameer – sure all these accommodations should work with a child. They’re comfortable and scenic B&Bs 🙂

Dear Savi and Vid,

This was a wonderful article. It inspired us to make Germany our destination for our annual vacation in July. We used it as our base to draw up the itinerary for our trip. We followed a lot of your recommendations (Unterwossen, the Ice Caves, a Gorge (though we did Leichensteimklamm, instead of Partnach Gorge), Dachau) and it turned out to be one of the best road trips. The ice caves were awe inspiring and we would have never thought of it, if not for this article. So thank you so much for this. In fact, when we visited Berlin, we went to Burgermeister too, since it was on your must try recommendations! And though I m a vegetarian, my husband and friend said it was the best burger they has ever eaten!

We look forward to planning our next trips based on your travel exploits too! WE totally love your page and vicariously travel all year round through your photos!

Hey Aparna – that’s amazing 🙂 So happy to hear this! Do send us some photos from your trip to bruisedpassports at gmail dot com. We’d love to share them with our readers and tag you.

I was so excited when I chanced upon this post as I am planning a year end holiday to Europe this year!

My trip is about 18 days to spare and your itinerary seems very doable. I would like to ask if you have been to Rothenburg as I heard that the Christmas Market there is really awesome! Was thinking if its possible to put that in and also possibly visit one more country? (So means Germany, Austria + another country) I would love any recommendations that include natural scenery or quaint towns or places that give out cultural and festive vibes.

Thanks for your comment!

Well, Rothenburg can definitely be added into this itinerary, but you’ll find equally impressive christmas markets in Munich too. That will save you the long drive from Rothenburg to Bavaria. In so far as adding another country, we’d strongly suggest driving into Czech Republic – ample natural scenery and quaint towns. You could end your trip in Prague (return the car the moment you get there and spend 2-3 days exploring the city – it’s one of our favourite cities in Europe and will be amazing in the festive period)

Do check if you’re allowed to drive the car rented in Munich into Czech – we know you can drive into Austria, but just check about czech republic 🙂

Have a great trip!

This blog has been our inspiration for our road trip. We added some places in Tirol like Innsbruck and Wattens. Today, we return our rental to Munich but checking out Herrenchiemsee castle first. Thanks for the inspiration. It’s truly beautiful. 🙂

Thanks a lot 🙂 So happy to hear you had a great time. Do share photos of your road trip with us 🙂

Hi Your road trip has inspired us to do the trip March 2017. We have booked the ferry from the UK already. If the weather is too bad then we will just drive the other way from the ferry to Berlin. Cannot wait!

Hey Christine,

So happy to hear that 🙂

Where does the ferry drop you?

Good afternoon! my husband and myself are planning a last minute trip to Germany in a week. We will be arriving in Munich. We have 7 days to explore! What would you recommend during this time? Staying in Germany or taking a day trip to Austria? I read that some places are closed in the winter months. Any thoughts and opinions are welcome.

The best is to stay in the Garmisch region of Bavaria and do a day trip to Austria. Bavaria is famous for skiing so don’t think anything should be shut 🙂

Have a great trip 🙂

I had just started to plan my Germany Munich trip for around 8 days and I found your website, and it’s a treat , found the perfect itenary and my job almost done. I have some different questions then above and you guys might not be able to help me , but still here is my question :

I am planning to travel with 2.5 years old son , how feasible will be to travel to fairy and bful castles?

I have been to munich and garmisch couple of years back with friends and I think those will be doable .

Any advice ??

Thanks in advance..

Thanks for dropping by 🙂

We see no reason why travelling with your son might be a problem when visiting the castles – we saw plenty of families with toddlers and the little ones seemed to be having the time of their lives 🙂

Have a great trip

This trip looks amazing.. Have been ‘holiday-ing’ for while now and would like to start properly ‘travelling’. I know this is “how long is a piece of string” but do you have a rough price (all in for 2 people) that this would have come to?

Not looking for specifics.. Just wonder if this is in/out budget 🙂 If not I could always tailor it to suit us 🙂 Thanks in advance! Love the blog!

Hey James – this roadtrip in Bavaria comes to around $1000/person 🙂 Hope that helps. Do send us photos from Bavaria if you make it there

Hi guys – I wouldn’t usually comment on a blog but I thought I just had to in this case!

I have been planning a road trip with my partner starting in Germany finishing in Switzerland and was struggling so much to decide on a route (as we have both never been to Germany) and your blog has literally been a life saver!!! It is EXACTLY what I needed and now I have it all booked thanks to you guys. Such a helpful blog – I just wanted to say thanks! 🙂

Zoe (Sydney, Australia)

Hey Zoe – thank you so much for leaving such a nice note for us. So happy to hear you found our itinerary helpful – hope you have a whale of a time in Germany 🙂

Very nice itinerary, hope you could help me out with mine 🙂

I’m planning a trip from the 30th of June to the 5th along the Alpenstrasse then a couple of days in Munich. we will be in Interlaken (swiss) so the plan is to drive to Lindau, Fussen, Ettal, Unterwossen and then to Munich. where do you suggest i spend the 5 night on that road?

Hey Hisham,

Congratulations on the upcoming milestone 😉

That’s a great itinerary. We’d suggest spending 3 nights in Ettal and 2 in Unterwossen 🙂

Hi, I am planning a trip to bavaria along the lines you have mentioned in july.Since we have a 18 month kid i am planning to skip the Partnach Gorge and Garmisch Partenkirchen.

Could you advice if the ice cake trek is possible with a kid on stroller?

You might want to confirm with the cave website, but I doubt that you can take a stroller inside 🙁

Hope you have an amazing trip 🙂

Hi guys ,I need some advice on the road please,1)is it one continual road and 2) are there sections that are very difficult.We have an ageing motorhome and I don,t want to put too much pressure on the engine with difficult climbs Thanks

It’s not one continuous road. From what I can recall, there weren’t any difficult climbs along the route – maybe a few near Fussen but that’s about it. I don’t think it should be a problem for your motorhome 🙂

Hello! Have you used credit card frequently over there? Do you recommend getting cash and if so how much do you recommend to carry as cash?

We used our credit card quite often but also withdrew money from an ATM before starting out – a couple of hundred Euros should be fine 🙂

Thanks for a great itinerary. I am planning a road trip for my partner’s birthday in October, and came across this one. Would you give me some more details on where exactly you stayed, or maybe some pointers atleast. For ex, when I visited Partnaklam Gorge ( we had taken the train from Munich ), I didnt really find a great place to stay in. Hence, I am looking for pointers to help me out here.

Thanks, Anirban

Hi Anirban,

We have mentioned the names of the hotels we stayed in when we were in Bavaria – you can check these hotels and probably stay there too. For instance, Partnach gorge was just 20 minutes from our hotel in Ettal 🙂

Hope this helps!

My husband and I just got back from Bavaria and based our trip off of your recommendations in this post. It was a phenomenal trip and greatly appreciate all of your advice and suggestions! I love that your itinerary focused on places that are somewhat “off the beaten path”…it made for such a unique and memorable travel experience. I look forward to continuing to read you blog and hopefully use your travel experience to plan future trips of my own!

Hey Caitlin,

So happy to hear that 🙂 Bavaria is a magical area, isn’t it? Would you mind sharing some photos from your trip with us? We’d love to share them with our readers!!

Thanks once again

Absolutely! I will email them to you soon 🙂

Thanks a lot Caitlin 🙂

Hello Savi and Vid ,

A huuuuge fan this side .. !! We are planning a road trip to Germany but we just have 4-5 days for it.:( Please suggest a route (Cities and towns) for those 5 days so that we can make most of the time..that will be great help 🙂 We will be traveling from Netherlands ..just to mention .. Much Love

You should base yourself in Ettal and then spend the 4 days exploring the places around as day trips – Fussen, Garmisch, Oberamagau, even Munich 🙂

My husband and I would do a road trip in Germany from Frankfurt to Fussen through the cities of Romantic road. We are staying at Fussen. I have a couple of questions: 1. Is US driving license valid in Germany or need a IDP. 2. Any tips/ suggestion on tolls . 3. For the neuschwanstein castle , how to visit it ie should be go inside and take a trip of the castle or view it from outside and use the day to check out surrounding places. Where else we can go close to Fussen

Hi Atreyee,

a) US driving license should be fine b) From what we remember, no tolls in Germany, however if you drive into Austria, you need to buy one of the vignettes (it was around €8 for a week at the time we went) c) It depends on your likes and dislikes. Seeing it from outside and hiking up to the view points is great and then you can drive to Ettal and Partnarch Gorge to spend the rest of the day.

Hope that helps 🙂

Thanks Savi Vid . I am a huge fan of your posts and follow every where in insta,fb . I love your dressing sense and photography skills.

Thanks Atreyee 🙂

Amazing itinerary. Was planning my first Europe trip and was looking for a very specific experience, your blog was just spot on! Just wanted to let you guys know that me & my wife are doing the exact same itinerary (included Innsbruck on one of the easy days) this September mid. Please let me know if there are any specifics other than in your blog that needs to be accounted for!

Keep rocking!

Hey that’s great. Have fun – we wrote all the details and tips we could think about in this article 🙂

We are thinking about doing this trip between Christmas and New Years – 26-31 Dec. Do you think it’s will be ok then?

It should be – I think there’ll be snow but if you have the right car with proper snow tyres there’s no reason for not driving this route at that time. It will be magical 🙂

Hi savi and vid, lovely travelogue. I wanted to know whether German roads are too stressful to drive on because of the lack of speed limits. We were planning to fly into frankfurt and drive the romantic road to fuessen and then onto mittenwald and salzburg along the alpine road. Since we are from India we drive on the opposite side of the road. So we wondered whether roads were too fast or possible to drive. Thanks, beejal

Hey Beejal,

Just take usual precautions and exercise common sense and you’ll be absolutely fine. It’s one of the most scenic road trips 🙂

Hi Savi/Vid,

I have been dreaming of this road trip since you posted it and I think I finally am in a position to plan this trip. I wanted to check on a couple of things with you which came up while planning this. We, family of 5 adults and 1 kid will be most likely renting a 7 seater for this road trip. We will be coming from US. Is it possible to rent the car at Munich Airport and drop it off in Salzburg? We have a US License – so assuming that should be ok How is the parking with big cars, specially in smaller towns and near the castles/Lakes? Can we use our phone GPS (google maps) or should we rent a LOCAL GPS?

Thanks so much for posting this and I can’t wait to go to this awesome place.

You’re welcome 🙂

yes you can always rent in Munich and drop off in Salzburg – different agencies charge different one-way drop off fees so best check that. Also remember that the moment you enter Austria, you should have the vignette on your car. You can buy it at the petrol station just before crossing the border into Austria 🙂

Your phone GPS should be absolutely fine 🙂

Have you done a trip of the black forest? If so, what are the recommended towns/ villages that you suggest we stay in? We are looking for a farm stay/ cabin stay slightly away from the bigger cities.

Hey no we haven’t (yet) 🙂

Hi Savi and Vid,

I was looking for recommendations on traveling in Bavaria with my family and came across your blog and I feel we might end up doing the EXACT road trip, it seems so good!! I read through the comments and it answers most of my questions, just had one more. I have heard it rains a lot in Germany in July and August. We are planning to travel last week of July/first week of August. How was your experience traveling? Did you face a lot of rainy days and did that dampen or alter any of your plans?

Thanks a ton for all you do!

So happy to hear that 🙂 Surprisingly it didn’t rain in Bavaria at all when we were there in July and hopefully it didn’t for you too 🙂

in this itinerary where exactly are we required to cross the borders and wha t is your opinion of including a drive through grassglockner road

Not sure about grassglockner road – it might be too far but by all means go for it 🙂

Not sure what you mean by where exactly to cross the borders – you will know when – there are plenty of signs – in this itinerary it’ll be when you are heading to Salzburg. Make sure you get a vignette (for road tolls) before getting into Austria – you can buy these at any gas station before or after crossing the border.

Hope this helps. Enjoy your German road trip 🙂

Hi.. how much time it takes to explore Deutsche Alpenstraße by road? Do v have to stay at Bavaria to explore this stretch? Is the weather too cold in October 1st week?

The weather does start getting quite cold in October. Yes you do have to stay in Bavaria to explore it. You can spend anywhere from 3-10 days exploring Deutsche Alpenstraße by road

Thank you so much for the reply.. Loving all your articles and pictures..

Dear Savi And Vid,

I must say I am an ardent follower of your travelogues and completely adore your loving posts. I am planning for a road trip from Munich to Fussen in October and would require your help for some queries. I wanted to know is IDP mandatory for driving in Germany or can I manage to drive with an Indian driving Licence , I got through many posts and all suggested while it is not mandatory but preferable . Do I really need an IDP or could I do without it. Also wanted your suggestion on the route from Munich to Fussen and car rentals near Munich Central station.

Regards, Pratikash

Hey we’d suggest the same – not mandatory but it’s good to have and easily obtained in India. There should definitely be car rental options near the central station – we rented from the airport so unable to comment

Wonderful pictures! Thank you for sharing. While, I’ve been many, many times (having lived in Germany for nearly eleven years before moving back to the States), I am very much looking forward to a road trip through Bavaria next fall (Oct 2019). I loved your pictures for sharing with my friends who’ll be traveling with and have never been at all. Thank you!

Thank you so much Mallorie – hope you all have a great road trip in this beautiful part of Germany 🙂

Hi Savi & Vid,

I follow your insta posts & photos which are just out of this world. I do keep in mind all the beautiful places you mentioned. We, 3 families with kids are planning for a road trip from Prague to Geneva in 10 days. We are planning to cover Munich, Bavaria, Alpine Road, Liechetenstein, Lucerne, Interlaken, Bern, Zermatt & Chamonix. Can you help us if we can cover all these places, reasonable hotels & even a van or mini-bus accommodating 13 Nos.? Searched through a lot of websites & not able to find a vehicle. Is it possible to cover these places? We mite change the intinerary depending on our travel & convenience. Please do suggest the clothing to take during March to these places.

Thanks alot.

Hi Nisha yes it is possible to cover all these places although you won’t really be enjoying much of the places. Why not remove a few places and spend longer in the cities you visit and also drive with less stress to get to the next location. As for vehicles, I believe your only option is to rent a bus or 2 different cars 🙂 (i’d say go for the latter)

Hi guys, we are going to Bavaria in few days. Karwendelbahn looks amazing – just added to our list 🙂

It’s a very interesting and detailed account of your trip, loved every bit of it. In fact am tempted to do the same with my husband n 12 year old daughter. Can u tell me which month did u travel to Munich? Am confused between April and August. Also would you suggest leaving out Austria and doing Berlin instead?

We did this road trip from Munich in July. August should be fine too. As for leaving out Austria and doing Berlin, that’s totally your call 🙂

Very grateful for your post. We are off to Bavaria in the June of 2019 and will def copy some of the roads you been. Beautiful pics! Any suggestions for a 12 yr old lad.. This will be his 16th country and is looking forward to it..

Hope you had a great time driving in Bavaria 🙂 sorry for the late reply 🙁

Hello! I LIVE in Munich and still didn’t know that there’s so much to see around! Thanks a ton for this post, going to use this for the summer! 🙂

Happy to hear that 🙂 Enjoy your time in Bavaria 🙂

Hi Savi Vid,

Bavaria/Germany is beautiful place. Next time you are in region please don’t forget to explore königsee, it’s breath taking beautiful.. Amazing hikes.. Good german food.. But it’s bit crowded especially in summers.

Hi Ashwini,

Sure thing 🙂 Love Bavaria so much !!

Hi, we are looking to do a road trip like the Bavarian , l just have a question, l hate my husbands driving especially on roads with no limits, Will l be safe? Also you don’t mention fees on the roads , could you let me know what we could expect please.

I’m sure your husband will be thrilled to read your comment 😉 Jokes aside, it will be safe, don’t worry 🙂

By “fees on the roads” do you mean tolls? If so, there are no tolls on German roads however as mentioned once (if) you drive over to Austria, you have to buy a vignette (and stick it on the windshield – this is for tolls on Austrian roads) and this vignette is easily available as soon as you enter Austria or even in Germany close to the border with Austria from any fuel station/kiosk.

Hope that helps

Hey guys, this trip looks really interesting. We are planning to take this road trip with two kids aged 1 and 3 years. Can you let me know if vegetarian food is available easily or should we stock up food from supermarkets when possible.

You can definitely find vegetarian food everywhere but in case restaurants don’t cater to your pallette you can always pick food from supermarkets – we do that a lot especially on road trips

Hi Savi / Vid Loved your post on the Bavarian Road Trip…in fact decided to visit the Bavarian Alps in September 2018 after reading your post 🙂 …it was awesome!!

Just wanted to check on one thing – we are thinking of going back to Bavaria this year – do you think we could get to see snow capped mountains in June – didn’t get to see them in September.

Also, given the unpredictability of rain, would June be a good time to go? In which month did you’ll travel?

Thanks Regards Shraddha

We visited Bavaria in July – we feel it’d be difficult to see snow in June, even on mountain tops

• Pingback: 7 Reasons to Visit Bavaria, Germany - Stuck on the Go

Enjoyed your post, so extremely detailed with lots of golden nuggets! A shame you didn’t spend a day in Memmingen, such an exciting city – maybe next time? 🙂

Really amazing blog, it sounds like an amazing place to be, you have written this very well, I loved reading it. Please keep on writing this kind of blogs.

It is great to know about places, I find such blogs which tell about a country like living, food, places to visit. Like I found a lot in this blog and I enjoyed reading it. I hope you will share such good blogs.

I have heard about this place from one of our students during yoga teacher training. Glad to know more from you. Thanks for sharing.

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for Solo Travel Over 50

14 Days in Germany and Austria Without a Car Itinerary 2023

UPDATED 9/23/23

Use this stress-free, budget-friendly itinerary and see the best of Germany and Austria without a car in 14 days. It’s ideal for first-time Germany and Austria solo travel.

As you’ll notice from the tips throughout , this Germany and Austria itinerary is intentionally written for the first time , solo traveler, and/or older traveler (I am over 50 and have been traveling solo FOREVER). Yet, anyone can use this travel itinerary it to plan and book 14 days in Germany and Austria .

Like this? Share it with others!

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. For products, the goal is to first provide direct links to eco-friendly, ethical, and sustainable companies, and then to those same type (i.e., Climate Pledge Friendly Certification ), of brands that use Amazon, if possible. Therefore, you may see multiple links for one option. Should you make a purchase through any link, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. See my Disclaimers & Disclosures and Privacy Policy for more information.

All You Need for This Austria Germany Itinerary

The ultimate austria and germany travel guides, europe travel packing essentials.

• Why You Don't Need a Car for This Itinerary

Why Tour Germany and Austria?

Days 1 – 4: vienna and wachau valley, days 5 – 6: salzburg and hallstatt, day 7: innsbruck, days 8 – 9: füssen and neuschwanstein castle, days 10 – 13: munich and dachau, day 14: munich or vienna.

Here are all of the best booking sites you need to successfully book these 14 days in Germany and Austria.

I recommend you bookmark and use these sites early to lock in your Germany and Austria itinerary and get the best travel deals in Europe.

Cheap Flights to Vienna

Vienna City Airport Transfer (CAT)

Austria Airport Private Transfer

Vienna City Center Accommodations

Salzburg City Center Accommodations

Innsbruck City Center Accommodations

Füssen City Center Accommodations

Munich City Center Accommodations

Cheap Germany and Austria Train Tickets

Cheap Germany and Austria Bus Tickets

Don’t forget to use the Ultimate Austria Solo Travel Guide and Ultimate Germany Solo Travel Guide to plan your 14 days in Europe. They are the ultimate one-stop-shop guides for all you need to know to plan Germany and Austria solo travel with:

• Culture, Currency, Tipping, Holidays, and More
• Travel Entry Requirements
• Travel Packing Essentials
• City Guides and Itineraries
• Booking Flights, Accommodations, Transportation & Things to Do
• Eco-Travel Accommodations, Transportation & Things to Do
• Travel Safety Tips
• Budget Travel Tips

Speaking of budget travel, use the Guide to Budget European Accommodations for planning Europe budget travel.

If you’re new to international travel, Tourism 101   will also help.

More Budget Solo Travel

• How to Create a Solo Travel Budget
• How To Save Money for Solo Travel
• How to Travel Carry-On Only

Here some travel essentials ideal to making your solo travel in Austria and Germany easier, if not more eco-friendly.

Why You Don’t Need a Car for This Itinerary

At CORR Travel, I advocate for eco-travel and sustainable travel practices, such as using public transportation, biking, walking, etc. in lieu of renting a car when possible. This goes for travel within a city as well as between cities and countries. Why not reduce your carbon footprint while you travel?

Renting a car, not to mention the cost of petrol, can be pricey, and gas-powered cars are not-so-hot for the environment. Plus, driving does not always guarantee you will get to another location quicker. When you’re driving and trying to follow directions, you could miss out on some of the lovely scenery. 

I love train travel, and the train service in Europe is extensive. Buses in Europe are also extensive and inexpensive. Trains and buses provide a time to relax, take a nap, or bone up on some ideas for the next town. You might even meet a traveling companion on your solo travel.

You don’t have to get a rental car in Europe in order to have a great time in Europe. You definitely don’t need a car to have a good time spending these two weeks from Austria to Germany. Trust me.

Why not go? Both Germany and Austria are full of culture, jaw-dropping natural and architectural scenery, and culinary delights that make indoor and outdoor activity options endless. Plus, they are very doable on a budget and as a solo traveler.

I have traveled to these Germany Austria locations myself as a solo female traveler and enjoyed all of them. I’m sure you will, too.

Best of Italy in 2 Weeks Itinerary

More europe 2 week itineraries.

• How to See the Best of Italy and Austria in 2 Weeks

14 Day Germany and Austria Itinerary

Why have to choose between Austria and Germany, or spend just 10 days in Germany and Austria when you can spend a few days more, right? Well, you’re in the right place. Let’s get you to seeing the best of both Germany and Austria without a car.

To complete this Germany Austria itinerary, don’t forget to use the city itineraries, like Vienna in 4 Days . Each city itinerary fits this 2 week itinerary and gives you all you need to know on how to spend the best time in each desirable destination, even on a budget.

Your Austria itinerary and Germany itinerary are equally 7 days in Austria and 7 days in Germany. Cool, huh?

Now, let’s get you on your trip to Germany and Austria starting and ending in Vienna. I even give you an alternate option to end in Munich for flexibility.

The capital of Austria, Vienna rests on the Danube River, which runs for 1770 miles and through 10 countries. Vienna is famous for many things such as its opera and the Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna Opera House), stunning baroque architecture, music, and tasty schnitzel, strudel and coffee, just to name a few. 

Vienna is a very safe city surrounded by vineyards. When you go you’ll understand why it’s ranked the top city in the world to live multiple years in a row and got it again in 2022 . Vienna is one of my favorite cities in all of Europe.

Arriving in Vienna

If you are flying into Vienna , you’ll more than likely arrive at the Flughafen Wien (Vienna International Airport), southeast of the city center. If your Vienna city center accommodation does not offer airport shuttle service, the quickest and inexpensive way to get from the Vienna airport to Vienna city center is the 16-minute, non-stop City Airport Train (CAT) .

Vienna does have Uber , but do research on where it is available and if there are any restrictions.

Book Flights to Vienna Early for the Best Deals

By Austria train you’ll arrive either at the Wien Hauptbahnhof or Wien Westbahnhof station. Consider purchasing a Vienna Card or Weekly Travel Pass , covers the bus and U Bahn, and will take you all around the city. 

The Vienna city center is full of attractions and very walkable. I encourage you to take the Vienna public transportation to enhance your stay for attractions out of the city center. It is extensive and efficient, not to mention inexpensive.  

If you don’t wish to purchase the weekly pass you could purchase a 24-, 48-, 72-hour-ticket if this better suits your schedule.

A second option is to get the Vienna City Pass , which is good for 1, 2, 3, or 6 consecutive days and gives access to top Vienna sights and unlimited hop-on, hop-off bus rides.

Trainline has Cheap Train and Bus Tickets

Wachau Valley

An hour west of Vienna lies the Wachau Valley , a UNESCO World Heritage landscape is beautiful and the valley is famous for its peaches from which it makes wine and schnapps with the Danube River winding through it.

I highly recommend a day trip to Wachau Valley , by train or boat , to visit the towns of Melk , Krems , and Dürnstein for bike riding, wine tastng, and historic sightseeing .  You won’t be sorry.

Vienna Travel Itinerary & Guide

To know how to see the best of Vienna in 4 days on this itinerary, including how to get around Vienna, where to stay, what to see and do, and where to eat – even on a budget – use the ultimate Vienna 4 Day Itinerary and Travel Guide . It covers all you need to know for solo travel in Vienna in 4 days.

Jetlag or not, plan on hitting the ground running early your first day. There’s much to see and do in Vienna. You can sleep later.

BEST OF Vienna 4 Day Itinerary & Guide 2023

Best things to do in vienna in 4 days, day 5: vienna to salzburg travel schedule.

• Depart Wien Hauptbahnhof, Vienna early morning
• Time on train – 2h 26m
• Arrive Salzburg Hauptbahnhof, Salzburg
• Get your direct Vienna to Salzburg train ticket in advance.

Salzburg, Austria

Near the German border, Salzburg is the 4 th largest city in Austria and dates back to late 7 th century. Salzburg was the birthplace Mozart, is renowned for its Baroque architecture, and was listed as a  UNESCO World Heritage Site  in 1996. 

Divided by the Salzach River with the “Old City” (Altstadt) on the left bank and the “New City” (Neustadt) on the right bank, Salzburg is easily accessible by foot to take in its historical and natural wonders. 

Once you take in the views of the Eastern Alps from the Fortress Hohensalzburg , you may be inspired to sing, “The hills are alive with the sound of music.”

To see more of the Austrian countryside, take a day trip to Hallstatt , a quaint Austrian village located on Lake Hallstatt between Salzburg and Graz . 

Also a UNESCO heritage site, stroll through Hallstatt’s 16 th century homes and shops. Dine and walk the Welterbeblick (Skywalk Hallstatt) for scenic views, all of which can be enjoyed in a leisurely afternoon.

Salzburg Travel Guide & Itinerary

To know how to see the best of Salzburg in 2 days on this itinerary, including learning how to get around Salzburg, where to stay, what to see and do, and where to eat – even on a budget – use the ultimate Salzburg 2 Day Itinerary and Travel Guide perfect Salzburg 2 day solo travel.

Best 2 Days in Salzburg Itinerary & Guide 2023

Best things to do in salzburg in 2 days, day 7: salzburg to innsbruck travel schedule.

• Depart Salzburg Hauptbahnhof, Salzburg early in the morning.
• Time on train – 1 hr 50 min
• Arrive Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof, Innsbruck
• Get your direct Salzburg to Innsbruck train ticket in advance. 

Innsbruck, Austria

In the center of the Tyrol region, Innsbruck is one of the many Alpine cities that offer downhill skiing and other winter sporting opportunities, centuries of Imperial history, the Hofburg Imperial Palace , and the Schloss Ambras , a Renaissance castle and palace located just on the hills overlooking Innsbruck. 

Tasty beer, schnitzel and apple strudel are the local “comfort food” sure to keep you warmed up.

Innsbruck Travel Guide & Itinerary

To know how to see the best of Innsbruck in a day on this itinerary, including learning getting around Innsbruck, where to stay, what to see and do, and where to eat – even on a budget – download the ultimate Innsbruck in 1 Day Itinerary PDF sure to please on Innsbruck, Austria travel.

Best 1 Day in Innsbruck Itinerary and Guide 2024

Best things to do in innsbruck in a day, more solo travel tips & ideas.

• How to Plan Your First Solo Trip:  Step 1
• How to Choose Your First Solo Trip Destination
• Why Don’t Americans Travel More? The True Reasons
• 7 American Excuses Not to Travel Debunked!

Day 8: Innsbruck to Füssen Travel Schedule

• Depart Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof by regional bus before noon.
• Time on bus – 2h 25m
• Arrive near Old Town, Füssen
• Purchase your I nnsbruck to Füssen bus ticket in advance.

Füssen, Germany

Füssen is the charming, southern-most of the 16 towns on the infamous Romantic Road . It is pretty small so highly accessible by foot, or choose to rent a bike to see more outside the town. Füssen is only a 2.25 hour train ride from München (Munich), making it the perfect next stop on this itinerary.

Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles

A day trip to Schwangau , 15 minutes from Füssen, is a must. What better way to soak in the Bavarian countryside while learning some German history than seeing some of Germany’s most famous castles?

The Schloss Neuschwanstein (“New Swanstone”) was commissioned by King Ludwig II of Bavaria to be his home. It is widely known as the inspiration for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle or recognized from the movies Chitty Chitty Bang Bang or The Great Escape.

Its adjoining castle is the Hohenschwangau (“Upper Swan”) Castle, where Ludwig II was born. He lived in this, the family’s summer home, while Neuschwanstein was being constructed. 

Images from this day trip will surely be imbedded on your brain for a lifetime.

Füssen Travel Guide & Itinerary

To know how to see the best of Füssen and the castles on this itinerary, including learning how to get around Füssen, where to stay and more – even on a budget – check out my ultimate Visit Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles Solo to make planning your Füssen solo travel in Germany easier.

Visit Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles

Day 10: füssen to munich travel schedule.

• Depart FüssenHauptbahnhof early morning.
• Time on train – 2h 25m
• Arrive Munchen Hauptbahnhof
• Purchase your direct Füssen to Munich train ticket in advance. 

Munich, Germany

The capital of Bavaria, Munich (München) is rich in culture one can learn a lot from. Munich is famous for the annual Oktoberfest festival, beer halls and gardens , hearty German cuisine, the 16 th century Glockenspiel in the Marienplatz , and architecture and music, as well as the rise of Nazism.

One of the remaining Nazi camps just 25 minutes outside Munich, this moving experience of the Dachau Camp tour is a must do if you are first-time visitor to Munich. It is easily reached on your own via train starting from the Munich central station, but I highly recommend a half-day Dachau Camp guided tour .

Munich Travel Guide & Itinerary

To know how to see the best of Munich in 4 days on this 2 week itinerary, including learning how to get around Munich, where to stay in Munich, where to eat and more, use the ultimate Munich 4 Day Solo Itinerary and travel guide that covers the best experiences for 4 days of solo travel in Munich, Germany.

4 Days in Munich Solo Travel Itinerary & Guide (2023)

Best things to do in munich in 4 days.

If you booked a Vienna round-trip airline ticket , you’ll do a short Germany to Austria train ride, only 4.5 hours direct from Munich to the Vienna Airport.

Yes, you could fly from Munich Germany to Vienna Austria, but Munich Germany to Gienna Austria by train is much prettier and more eco-friendly. It’s probably cheaper, too.

Alternatively, a one-way ticket from Munich will allow you more time in Munich for more Germany travel fun.

Either way, after using this amazing 14 day Germany and Austria itinerary, you’ll be going home with a smile.

Let Me Hear From You

I would love to hear if my 14 day Germany and Austria itinerary for solo travel was helpful to your planning. Post me your thoughts or questions in the Comments section below. Thank you!

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2 thoughts on “14 days in germany and austria without a car itinerary 2023”.

Hi Gwen, You had a great time in Austria and Germany. I’m planning a trip to Austria and Germany as well. I found your trip is quite interesting but not sure whether you have missed some other destination which is very worth seeing. I prefer to stay 4 or 5 nights in Salzburg as there are many day trips can be done other than touristic Hallstat. Few to name here are: 1) Berchtesgaden in Germany. 2) Dachstein Glacier. 3) Grossglockner High Alpine road which open in late April or early May. 4) St Wolfgang and St Gilgen lake town.

And also will be nice to stay a night or two in Zell Am See as there are amazing places in that region such as Krimml falls(europe tallest fall), Kaprun gorge and Moserboden dam.

From Inssbruck we can do a day trip to Mittenwald Germany (alpine village famous for spectacular views and Violin history), Stubai Glacier and Alpbach region (beautiful most well preserved villages) . I think in order to see all these places I have mentioned here it is best to do a slightly longer trips, may need an additional 5 days I guess. Anyway thanks for sharing your experiences here. Waiting to hear more from you. Tc bye.

Hello! Yes, by all means, longer stays are best. I was on a whirlwind trip so was fortunate to see as much as I could. Next time will be a longer stay, for sure. I’m glad you had a great time. Thanks for sharing your day trip ideas! Best, Gwen

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The Best 10 Day Austria Road Trip Itinerary [2024]

By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 17th April 2021 | Updated: 4th December 2023

An Austrian road trip is the best way by far to explore all that Austria has to offer. From the mountain tops to the vineyard-filled valleys, the city life to the country hikes and everything few and far between.

There is no question about it, Austria is an incredible destination for a road trip. Starting in the capital and driving west this 10-day Austria road trip itinerary is the perfect way to experience Austria for the first time.

📍 Day 1: Vienna Central

📍 Day 2: Vienna East

📍 Day 3: Krems an der Donau

📍 Day 4: Dürnstein 

📍 Day 5: Weißenkirchen in der Wachau & Wösendorf in der Wachau

📍 Day 6: Wolfgangsee

📍 Day 7: Hallstatt

📍 Day 8: Salzburg

📍 Day 9: Innsbruck

📍 Day 10: Aqua Dome & Zugspitze

Austria Road Trip Map

10 day austria road trip itinerary.

• 10 day Austria Road Trip Itinerary FAQs
• Conclusion: 10 day Austria Road Trip Itinerary

Planning Your Trip? Use our favourite travel resources below:

Accommodation: We recommend Booking.com

Rental Car: We recommend Rentalcars.com

Travel Insurance: We recommend World Nomads

Flights: We recommend Kiwi.com

Tours: We recommend Get Your Guide

Day 1 – Vienna Central

The first day of the Austria road trip and we are starting it off in the capital of Austria, Vienna. This city is full of historical buildings mixed in with a bit of modern glamour.

The best way to really get a feel for this capital city is to start at St Stephen’s Cathedral and then walk west along the various streets, including Michalereplatz , Kohlmarkt and Graben. You can get a real sense of old versus new along here with the stunning Hofburg alongside the designer shops.

Make sure in all of your wanderings you visit Café Central for a slice of the famous Viennese Apfelstrudel. The building inside as well as the food is just amazing!

The last place you should stop by before grabbing some local food and heading back to the campsite is back at St Stephen’s Cathedral . Yes, you may have started here but now is the time to go inside to experience the wonderful architecture and to get a chance to see the city from above on the incredible tiled roof!

🚐 How to get there – Take public transport and explore the centre on foot.

📌 Where to eat – Café Central

⛺️ Where to stay – Camping Neue Donau

Day 2 – Vienna East

Before leaving Vienna and continuing on the Austria road trip, we’ve got one final day to explore Vienna, but this time the slightly lesser-known areas to the east. Throughout this area of Vienna, you can find some of the most unique artwork from an artist and architect who isn’t as well-known as he should be… Hundertwasser .

His buildings are really something that have to be seen to be believed! Not only can you visit all of the buildings he has designed along an art trail through this area, but you can also stop for a bite to eat in the garden of the Kunst Haus . From here head back to the campsite before leaving the city tomorrow morning.

🚐 How to get there – Take the local public transport to the area then explore on foot.

📌 Where to eat – Kunst Haus

Day 3 – Krems an der Donau

Day 3 and we’re heading out of the city and into the beautiful countryside along the Danube for the Austria road trip. Just 1.5 hours away after driving along the route of the River Danube into the Wachau region, you will arrive in Krems an der Donau .

This town is full to the brim with historical buildings and monuments alongside a few modern twists. Lying directly alongside the River Danube is also has a rather nice riverside path that is wonderful to walk along in the late evening as the sunsets on the surrounding vineyard-covered hills.

One place you simply must stop by is the Heuriger Weingut Hamböck. Not only does food and local apricot wine mean you should visit, but the view from this bar across to the Göttweig Abbey is incredible. The wander back through the surrounding colourful town streets is also well worth it. Get settled in at the campsite for tonight as it will be your spot for the next few days exploring the Wachau.

🚐 How to get there – Take the B1 north out of Vienna before following the B14 then B43 west.

📌 Where to eat – Heuriger Weingut Hamböck

⛺️ Where to stay – Donaupark Camping Krems

Day 4 – Dürnstein

Dürnstein is a place unlike no other in Austria. With a bright blue monastery overlooking the River Danube to greet you into the village, alongside quaint cobbled streets and alleyways to get lost in, what more could you ask for from a day?

How about some apricots?! If you hadn’t guessed already, this area is well known for its apricots, or marillen, so make sure you stop at Dürnsteinerhof for the apricot pancakes and dumplings, (our personal favourite!).

You can easily spend hours exploring the village with its multitude of tiny shops and numerous local delicacies to try along the Haupstrasse . After all that eating of apricots and cherries, head back to the Krems campsite for your second night.

🚐 How to get there – Drive 10 minutes from the campsite west along the B3, otherwise know as the Österreichische Romantikstraße.

📌 Where to eat – Dürnsteinerhof

Day 5 – Weißenkirchen in der Wachau & Wösendorf in der Wachau

The last day in the Wachau region sees the villages of Weißenkirchen in der Wachau & Wösendorf in der Wachau being explored. Full of colour, wineries and really quite quiet compared to the last couple of days, these villages are all about getting out on foot and exploring all the alleyways and along country paths between the villages.

This particular area of the Wachau and Danube is also famous for its white churches, so try and spot a few before you leave!

Take the tiny roadways and paths through the vineyards to the north of the villages first before walking the footpath/cycle path that runs alongside the main road route 3 / along the Danube back from Wösendorf to Weißenkirchen . Head back to the campsite at Krems for your final night in the Wachau.

🚐 How to get there – Drive 15 minutes from the campsite west along the B3.

📌 Where to eat – Café Elisabeth

Planning your own week on the Romantic Road of Austria? Make sure you check out our Travelling Tedaldi Amazon Store Travel Guides for all your guidebooks and maps. (We’ve done the hard work for you and linked all the things we used to plan our trip!)

Day 6 – Wolfgangsee

Day 6 and we hit the longest stretch on the Austria road trip, 2.5 hours from one campsite to the next at Wolfgangsee . It’s not all that bad though, the drive is through stunning landscapes that will have you stopping every 10 minutes for photos!

This area of Austria, Salzkammergut, is often compared to the UK Lake District, but believe us when we say, the mountain ranges and alpine lakes are uniquely different and truly a sight to behold. Even though this area is slightly more touristy than the Wachau, you can still easily find a relaxing place to stop alongside one of the many lakes including Wolfgangsee.

If you’re brave enough, and not too bothered by the ice-cold waters, you can even hop in for a swim!

If you stay at Paradiescamping Wolfgangsee you can have direct access to the lake, so no need to worry about finding a parking spot along the lake edge further north!

🚐 How to get there – Take the B3 west past your previous days stops, then cross the Danube to Melk before continuing along the A1/E60. Take the A9 south towards Graz before exiting at 69 Liezen to the B320, B145 then the B158.

⛺️ Where to stay – Paradiescamping Wolfgangsee

Day 7 – Hallstatt

If you want to feel like you have stepped into a fairytale then Hallstatt is the place for you . This stunning UNESCO World Heritage Village with its alpine houses covered with flower boxes and views out over one of the most peaceful lakes in Austria is something really magical.

When we visited it chucked it down with rain all day, but it was still one of the most beautiful villages we have ever been lucky enough to visit. The numerous churches and village viewpoints make Hallstatt the perfect place to while away a day, local delicacies in hand, (find the schaumrollen stand, you will not be disappointed).

Make sure you also get off the main tourist trail here though and walk the back streets and alleyways between the buildings, particularly around the Oberer Marktplatz , Doktor Friedrich Morton Weg and stepped path towards Mullersteige. The views will be just as good if not better than the ones with all the tourists. Head back to the campsite at Wolfgangsee for your final night in the area.

🚐 How to get there – Take the B158, then the B145 south before driving a short way on the 166 before taking the Hallstättersee Landesstraße.

📌 Where to eat – Ofenfrishce Schaumrollen

Day 8 – Salzburg

The hills really are alive with the sound of music in Salzburg! Thanks not only to the film filmed across this region of Austria but also to being the birthplace of Mozart.

Park at CONTIPARK Tiefgarage Altstadtgarage A then follow the Monchesberg track south then east towards the Fortress Hohnesalzburg . We couldn’t go in as it was shut, so instead continued on following the path around to Stift Nonnberg and one of the nicest views over the city.

Next take the steps down Festungsgase from Stift Nonnberg into Kaiptelplatz , entering from the south for more stunning views and an entrance into the heart of the old town directly to the Dom zu Salzburg . The roads through this area of Salzburg have some of the oldest buildings in the city, with ornate signs hanging into the street below, (including at Mozarts House!).

Explore this area of the city before crossing the River Salzach to Mirabell Palace and Mirabellgarten . You can easily spend an hour or two wandering through here, listening to live music and enjoying the beautiful well-kept gardens surrounding the palace.

After taking in all the sights you can head back to the car park and onto your next campsite – Campingplatz Judenstein (it is a 2-hour drive, but it’ll be worth it for day 9…).

🚐 How to get there – Drive north following the B158 Österreichische Romantikstraße.

📌 Where to eat – Eleven 11:11 Eleven

⛺️ Where to stay – Campingplatz Judenstein (ready for day 9!).

Day 9 – Innsbruck

How does a day in the mountains sound? Well, that’s just what you’ll get on day 9 during a trip to Innsbruck . Innsbruck was one of our favourite places we visited along this Austria road trip, with the option to get out into nature directly from the city as well as just exploring the city itself, it is somewhat unique.

Start the day off with a trip into the surrounding mountains via the Nordkette Cable Car , which will whisk you from the city outskirts to the top of Innsbruck in a matter of minutes! From here just wander, enjoy the views, and meet some of the local sheep who call the mountains their home. Stop at Restaurant Karstube for some of the best food with a view you will ever have.

After you’ve had enough of the mountain tops, head back down the way you came up and get exploring the city centre. The architecture of the city is stunning, from the Goldenes Dachl to the pink hospital church and all the streets in between.

Be sure to grab a slice of Sacher Torte from Café Sacher whilst exploring, this apricot jam-filled chocolate cake is a local speciality. From the city centre head to the next campsite 1 hour away, for a relaxing final day tomorrow.

🚐 How to get there – Take Rinner Straße west before crossing the A13 at Schloßstraße into the Tivoli area of Innsbruck. Take your pick of parking! We stopped at Congress Parking Rennweg 3, 6020.

📌 Where to eat – Café Sacher Innsbruck and Restaurant Karstube

⛺️ Where to stay – Camping Ötztal Längenfeld

Day 10 – Aqua Dome & Zugspitze

For the final day of the Austria road trip get up after a good lie-in, following the mountain exploring yesterday, and make your way to the Aqua Dome , only a 20-minute walk from the campsite. (You also get a discount on entry if you stay at Camping Ötztal Längenfeld so it’s well worth it!). Soak in the warm waters surrounded by the Austrian mountains until your fully relaxed, before grabbing a bite to eat in the local town.

After getting back to the campsite pack up and drive 1 hour north to the border with Germany and the famous Zugspitze . The campground for the night is shadowed over by this mighty mountain, which you can either make your way up, (weather depending), or if you can’t, relax at the final campsite of the trip in the spa!

🚐 How to get there – Take the B186 north, take the exit at B171, then B189. Upon reaching the B179, take it north, then the L71 and L391 at Fernpaßstraße.

⛺️ Where to stay – Zugspitze Resort Obermoos before travelling onwards through Europe or home via Innsbruck Airport (1 hour away).

10 Day Austria Road Trip Itinerary FAQs

Where is austria.

Austria is located towards the east of Central Europe. It is landlocked by the neighbouring countries of the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland, making it the perfect place to visit whilst exploring Europe on a road trip.

How to get to Austria

Due to its central location and proximity to other countries, it makes it very easy to get to Austria via car or public transport as well as via plane. The train network throughout Austria as well as the neighbouring countries is also some of the most reliable in Europe.

On our visit we were exploring Europe in a campervan so came in via Slovakia, and the border crossing was really easy to navigate, (like most of the border crossings throughout Europe). However most people arrive into Austria by plane at one of the international airports that serve the country;

📍 Vienna International Airport

📍 Innsbruck Airport

📍 Salzburg W.A. Mozart Airport

📍 Graz Airport

Fancy a trip to Austria? Check out our 5 must-see cities, towns and villages

Driving in austria, how long does it take to drive across austria.

We spent 10 days driving across Austria, from entry in the east at the Slovenian border to exit at the border with Liechtenstein in the west, so pretty much the entire width of Austria. We drove from Vienna to Innsbruck, partially on the Romantic Road of Austria and feel like we really got to explore all this wonderfully diverse country has to offer. You can of course take it slower, but we felt that 10 days was the perfect amount of time for our Austria road trip.

Is it safe to drive in Austria?

We drove, parked up and camped in our campervan throughout Austria and not once did we feel unsafe. The Austrians are such a friendly bunch and driving allows you to get to the places that other tourists may not. The places you only find out about from the locals at a campsite down the road, where the best dumplings in the region are for example!

Vignettes and tolls in Austria

You will need to get a vignette if you plan on driving any motorways and expressways in Austria, be it in a car, campervan or via motorbike. The vignettes are compulsory, (and have been since 1997), and ensure that the roads are kept in good condition.

How much is an Austrian vignette?

There are three different types of vignettes, either 10 days for 9.90 euros, 2 months for 29.00 euros or 1 year for 96.40 euros. It is slightly cheaper for motorbikes at 5.80 euros for 10 days, 14.50 euros for 2 months and 38.20 euros for a year.

You can either buy a physical toll sticker that must be on your windscreen or a digital vignette before you begin to travel. (The digital one is not valid until 18 days after purchase, so make sure that you buy it far enough in advance of your trip!).

You can get the physical sticker in lots of places such as petrol stations, post offices and newsagents. As we were driving between countries, before we crossed the border into Austria, we bought a toll sticker at a petrol station in Slovenia. There are signs in convenience stores and petrol stations near the borders of each country in Europe that will remind you to get a new vignette if you need one for that country, so there’s no need to worry about getting caught out.

What do I need to drive in Austria?

To drive in Austria you will need an in date driving license and depending on your passport, an international driving license as well.

Can you drive in Austria without a vignette?

Technically yes, you can drive in Austria without a vignette, although this will mean that you will have to avoid driving on the main roads and motorways throughout the country, which is not recommended if you want to make the most of your time in Austria.

Renting a car in Austria

If you chose to rent a car for your Austria road trip then be sure to check if it already includes the vignette. Depending on where you are starting your journey from, either inside Austria or in a neighbouring country, you may or may not have to purchase a vignette yourself.

Check out Rentalcars.com for all your rental options, they have some great deals on a wide variety of vehicles. We’ve used them in numerous locations across Europe and they’re always really easy and simple to rent through.

Where to stay in Austria

As we were driving through Europe with a campervan, we stayed at a few campsites throughout Austria rather than in hotels or hostels. We would highly recommend staying at the following places:

Camping Neue Donau

Donaupark Camping Krems

Paradiescamping Wolfgangsee

Campingplatz Judenstein

Camping Ötztal Längenfeld

Zugspitze Resort

However, if you would rather road trip through Austria, but stay in accommodation with a bit more luxury then be sure to check out the best accommodation deals on Booking.com .

What is the best time for an Austrian road trip?

We visited Austria during the early summer, (June) and although it was busy in the main cities, most of the other locations we visited were relatively quiet, so just perfect for us. The season really picks up when the schools across Europe break up for the summer holiday from the end of July through to early September.

The weather was stunning throughout our trip, (all bar one day), and we really got to see Austria in its full summer glory. Having said that, we would love to experience Austria in the spring/autumn with a chance of a dusting of snow and even fewer tourists around.

What is the most beautiful road in Austria?

Without a doubt, the most beautiful Austrian road is the Romantic Road. We wrote this guide to it – How to spend a week on the Austrian Romantic Road – following our trip along it. From the start to the end, this route really gives you a sense of the best bits of Austria, but still leaves you wanting to explore even more. Starting/ending in either Salzburg or Vienna, (or vice versa depending on which way you want to drive), and winding along the River Danube, this route is the best place to start if you haven’t visited Austria before.

What is the most famous road in Austria?

There are two famous roads in Austria, the Großglockner High Alpine Road and the Romantic Road of Austria, (we can highly recommend driving this one!).

What is the best way to explore Austria?

By far the best way to explore Austria is with a car or campervan so you can visit both the well known and not so well known places in Austria. It also gives you the chance to visit Austria at your own pace rather than when you are on a tour.

How far is Vienna from Salzburg?

Vienna is roughly a 380km drive from Salzburg.

Is driving in Austria easy?

Driving in Austria is very easy, (although it can get a little more stressful through major cities). Just be sure to remember to drive on the right and give wax to any trams or buses that you come across.

How many days in Austria is enough?

This is slightly dependent on what you want to see and where you want to go, but if like us you want a broad road trip to explore the best bits that Austria has to offer, then 10 days is a great amount of time. We could easily have spent a lot longer in Austria, but for a first Austria road trip, that is a good amount of time.

Is it good to drive in Austria?

100% yes. There are such a wide variety of roads you drive on throughout Austria, from the motorways between cities right through to single-track lanes out into the wine-growing countryside, you will never get bored of driving.

Conclusion: 10 Day Austria Road Trip Itinerary

So, here is our itinerary for a 10-day Austria road trip! From the capital to the leafy vineyard valleys, along the river Rhine and into the Alps, what more could you want from an Austrian road trip?

Let us know if you are planning your own trip to Austria, or if there are any places you would suggest we stop by next time. Be sure to check out our other blog posts on Austria for even more inspiration.

Gemma is the owner and author of The Travelling Tedaldi, a travel blog helping travellers to discover the best road trips and travel itineraries throughout the UK and Europe. When she isn’t writing about her favourite travel destinations, she can often be found out exploring local hikes or planning future trips.

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Okay this looks amazing!! I’ve been thinking of road tripping Austria at some point (mostly to visit Hallstatt) so this is perfect. I’ve never heard of Hundertwasser either, that looks so awesome!

You should definitely road trip through Austria, it is incredible! Hallstatt is on another level too, hope you make it there soon!

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Germany Austria Switzerland Itinerary: 10 Days on the Road

You’ve decided on your Europe trip and you’re now wondering how to plan it. I can help with that!

I lived in Southern Germany (Stuttgart) for six years and traveled to Switzerland and Austria more times than I can count. Since it was just a few hours away, we went for festivals, ski trips, summer hiking, and exploring beautiful villages and cities.

While I don’t recommend trying to cram as much as possible into one trip, I think it’s very doable to visit these three countries within 10 days. 

I’m sharing what I think is the best 10-day Germany, Austria & Switzerland itinerary that’ll show you how to make the most out of your time.

With this itinerary, you will stay within certain regions of each country so you’re not on the road the entire time. 

You’ll have a mix of scenery, busy days, tours, and downtime. The goal is to divide your time over as many activities and places as possible without rushing through them.

Overall, you’ll be splitting your time nearly evenly in each country.

Keep reading for all the details about this itinerary. Every detail has been thought out for the most memorable trip you can have!

Why Combine Germany, Austria, and Switzerland on the Same Trip?

We all know Europe is full of amazing countries with wonderful spots for traveling, so why does this trip include Germany, Austria, and Switzerland instead of someplace else like Italy, Spain, or France? And why only these 3 countries?

Well, this combination has logical, geographical, and experience-related motives.

They’re Close

First, it simply makes sense to combine Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. These 3 countries are very close to one another – they literally share borders.

If you check a map of central Europe, you’ll see that Germany borders both Switzerland and Austria from the south, whereas Austria is to the east of Switzerland.

They Have the Same Language

Another reason why it’s a good idea to combine Germany, Austria, and Switzerland into one trip is the common language. 

All 3 of these countries speak German. It’s one of the 4 official languages of Switzerland and the sole official one in Austria.

If you don’t speak German, this combination means you can learn some basic phrases in German and use them for all the places you’ll visit.

This isn’t an obligation since you can get by just fine with English, but showing you know a few phrases goes over well with locals. 

They’re Versatile and Have a Lot to Offer

Last but not least, combining Germany, Austria, and Switzerland gives you a rich experience with a wide range of activities to satisfy different interests.

These countries have natural landscapes with lakes, waterfalls, rivers, mountains, and more. They have historical sites, museums, art, architecture, adventures like hiking or paragliding, and cuisine among many other cultural aspects.

This means you’re guaranteed to enjoy your visit no matter what you’re looking to do.

Are 10 Days Enough for Visiting Germany, Austria, and Switzerland?

The answer to this heavily depends on your travel style and what you’re looking to accomplish with the trip.

If you’re a home base type of traveler who likes to deeply explore a single location at a time, 10 days likely won’t be enough for you to thoroughly cover even 1 of the countries.

If you’re a go-go-go traveler who aims to see as much as possible of the places they go, then 10 days are probably enough to see a lot of the 3 countries since they’re quite close to one another. However, this approach isn’t the most comfortable or rewarding in my opinion.

If you prefer a balanced approach, then I believe 10 days will be enough for you to experience and enjoy a bit of each country to a pretty satisfying level. This travel style is what I’ve gone for with this itinerary.

How to Get Around During a Germany, Austria, and Switzerland Trip?

Making your way around Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (or Europe in general) is basically a choice between 2 means of transportation: car or train.

Each option has its pros and cons, so I’ll highlight them in this section to help you choose what works best for you.

Taking a Car

This itinerary was created for a car, but you can just as easily take a train too.

The upside of getting around with a car is that you don’t need to worry about sticking to a departure schedule. You can set off according to your own time and you’ll never miss your ride.

A car can also be the faster method to reach some places since you can take shortcuts and don’t have to make stops along the way. Not to mention, taking a car allows you to go on side trips and make detours.

That said, taking a car in Europe can be more expensive than taking a train. Not only because of the rental cost but also the gas and road tax.

• Vignette : Austria and Switzerland both require a vignette, which is a sticker you purchase at a gas station or store to go on your windshield. In Austria, you’ll spend less than 20EUR, but the Swiss vignette runs about 40-45USD (depending on the exchange rate).
• Gas : Gas in Europe is much more expensive than in the US, about 3-4 times the cost.
• Car Rental : Compared to places like the US, a rental car will be considerably cheaper in Europe. Typically you can find a small to midsize sedan for $30-50/day. I always book through Discover Cars , an aggregate company that helps you find the best prices (often lower than through the company directly). They also have fantastic customer service, which can be hard to find in the rental car industry.

Driving in Europe can sound daunting, but these three countries are fairly easy to navigate. The roads are well-maintained and drivers follow the rules of the road. There are plenty of well-marked signs and it’s likely that your rental will have GPS included. 

Taking a Train

While in Europe, trains are a great way to get around. They’re fast, clean, and efficient (especially in these countries!). And train stations are in the center of towns or cities, so once you disembark you’re not too far from your hotel.

They’re also pretty affordable, so you can save much of your budget for the actual visit. Also, you’ll be relieving yourself from the hassle of driving in a new/foreign country.

The downside to trains, however, is having to plan your time around their schedule. Besides the lack of flexibility, you’re also likely to take a longer time to get to your destination by train vs by car.

Some of these trips require multiple connections, so you’ll need to pay attention as well.

Additionally, some places are tricky to reach by train. You’ll get off at the nearest point but have to figure out how to make it to the specific spot you want to visit.

There are many different ways to book train tickets in Europe which deserves its own post. I priced out this trip in May via RailEurope and it is $324 per person (I’m looking about 9 months out). With the Eurail Pass, it’s $292 (but you still need to pay a few euros to reserve seats).

The Eurail Pass is more flexible (i.e. you can change train times if there are open seats) which can be more appealing. Please note the train from Salzburg to Berchtesgaden cannot be booked via Eurail.

Booking your train tickets early is key to finding low prices. If you wait until the last minute, you could end up spending a lot more on your tickets.

Children under 15 travel free via train.

TRIP OVERVIEW & MAP 10 DAYS SWITZERLAND | AUSTRIA | GERMANY ITINERARY

DAY 1: Arrive in Zurich & Head to Lucerne DAY 2: Lucerne to Interlaken/Lauterbrunnen DAY 3: Grindelwald & Junfraujoch DAY 4: Travel to Innsbruck & Overnight DAY 5: Travel to Salzburg & Explore DAY 6: Berchtesgaden | Königsee | Eagle’s Nest DAY 7: Salzburg Day Trip DAY 8: Travel to Munich & Explore DAY 9: Neuschwanstein Day Trip DAY 10: Fly Home

Click on map below to see full map in Google Maps.

Germany Austria Switzerland 10-Day Itinerary

Day 1: arrival in zurich & head to lucerne.

• Distance by car: 52.5km (32 miles)
• By Train: 40-60 minutes, no connections
• Country: Switzerland
• Currency: Swiss Franc (CHF)

Your 10-day trip to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland will start with your landing in Zurich, Switzerland’s capital

Assuming you arrive early in the morning, you’ll have 3 full days to explore Switzerland. 

With this itinerary, I didn’t plan a day in Zurich because it’s a massive business city and one of the most expensive in the world. The town of Lucerne is much more quintessential Switzerland and a much cuter town.

If you would like to get a taste of the city, however, I recommend heading to the old town (Altstadt) and exploring for a few hours before heading to Lucerne. It’s only 6 miles from the airport to the city center and easily accessed via train or car. 

Lucerne is only about 45 minutes from Zurich, so you could spend most of your day in Zurich and then make your way to Lucerne for the evening.

If you decide to head straight to Lucerne (which I highly suggest), here’s how to spend your day.

Grab a bite before on your way to Lucerne or have breakfast when you get there. Some of my favorite places to fill up on breakfast or lunch are Richemont Gastronomioe , Mill’Feuille , and Antons Restaurant .

After food, you’ll start exploring the old and new towns. You can walk around on your own or join a walking tour such as the one to Chapel Bridge and Old Town or one with a local via LocalBini. 

While exploring the old town, don’t miss the sight of the iconic Lion Monument. It dates back to the 1820s and pays tribute to the Swiss Guards who were murdered during the French Revolution.

You can also wander along the lake or catch a boat ride over it with a 1-hour cruise .

If you’re into museum visits, here are some great options such as the Richard Wagner Museum, Sammlung Rosengart Museum, Swiss Museum of Transportation, or Chocolate Adventure Pavilion.

Don’t forget to snap some pictures at the Chapel Bridge. It’s a covered wooden footbridge that crosses the river Reuss. It contains various interior paintings dating back to the 1600s and features a unique flower pot decor along its guard rails.

When dinner time rolls in, be sure to try the country’s world-famous dishes such as fondue, raclette, Älplermagronen, and Rösti. Among my top restaurants for Swiss cuisine are Restaurant Balances , Hermitage , and Gasthaus Schlüssel .

Hotel Recommendations

Most hotels are located in the Old Town, so head over to Waldstatterhof Swiss Quality Hotel or Ibis Styles Luzern for the night whenever you’re ready.

Day 2: Exploring Lauterbrunnen & Interlaken

• Distance by car: 67.6km (42 miles)
• By Train: 2.5-3.5hrs (1+ connections)

Start the day with breakfast at your hotel or at one of the restaurants I mentioned above. Then, you’ll leave from Lucerne to Lauterbrunnen. 

Lauterbrunnen looks like something out of a storybook. Here you’ll see mountains jutting out of the ground and 72 waterfalls all over the mountain valley.

These mountains are sheer rock faces overlooking a wide valley. It was formed by glaciers over millions of years. You’ll often spot base jumpers and other extreme sports enthusiasts enjoying nature’s playground. 

Interlaken is a beautiful little town between the green glacial lakes of Thunersee and Brienzersee (‘see’ means lake). It’s about a 20-minute drive from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen, and you can stay at either location for beautiful views (although Lauterbrunnen sits right in the valley).

Tip: This area has many cable cars going up mountains, boat rides on the lakes, funiculars, and trains to the tops of mountains. There are a lot of ways to see this area! If you want to dig in and explore, I recommend purchasing the Jungfrau Travel Pass . It covers nearly everything with a few exceptions that you can read about here .

Here are my top recommendations for a day in Lauterbrunnen:

WALK THROUGH THE BEAUTIFUL VALLEY FLOOR

Make your way into the valley and park at Lauterbrunnen. From here, walk one of the many trails throughout the valley. You could go on for miles or take a quick stroll. 

If you want to really see all the highlights, though, book this guided tour from Interlaken . You’ll see the best waterfalls in the area and learn about the history of this beautiful valley. This is a great option especially if you don’t have a car.

GO PARAGLIDING IN INTERLAKEN

Paragliding in Interlaken was my absolute favorite activity the last time we visited the area. We went nearly 10 years ago and we still talk about it today. It was a highlight for sure! Because you just drove in today, I recommend doing this early the next morning so you can really explore the valley. I booked with this tour company and loved them. 

VISIT TRÜMMELBACH FALLS

Trümmelbach is the only glacier waterfall in the world that can be accessed underground. These are Europe’s largest subterranean waterfalls and are impressive to see in person.

There are three glaciers feeding meltwater through here to create these falls. And it’s a lot of water! At 20,000 liters per second, you can imagine how powerful and mighty these falls are. 

HIKE ONE OF THE WATERFALL TRAILS

There are tons of hiking opportunities throughout the massive valley. And some lead to villages such as Murren or Wengen.

Some hotels I’d recommend for your stay are Chalet Rosa B&B and Hotel Oberland .

If you don’t wish to stay in Lauterbrunnen, there are so many options in this area. One time we stayed at this small hotel in Le issigen, a small town above Lake Thun (Thunersee). I liked it here because it’s so quiet and you stay at a traditional Swiss mountain home that’s been converted into a hotel.

Day 3: Exploring Grindelwald and Jungfraujoch (Top of Europe)

• Distance by car: 20.3km (12 miles) to Grindelwald. Train required after Grindelwald.
• By Train: 43 minutes to Grindelwald. Then train to Jungfraujoch.

Today you’ll head to Grindelwald and then to Jungfraujoch, called the Top of Europe. This trip takes a bit of time so I recommend starting early. To reach Jungfraujoch, you need to take a train from Grindelwald.

Grindelwald is a small Swiss village in the beautiful Swiss Alps. It’s also a great launching point for Jungfraujoch, a massive mountain at 11,000ft and the tallest in Europe! 

GO TO THE TOP OF JUNGFRAUJOCH

From Grindelwald, you can take the Eiger Express train to the top and back (be sure to book these tickets ahead of time). When you book, you can select how long you wish to stay at the top. There’s plenty to do, including seeing the longest glacier in Europe, taking in the sweeping views, and exploring an underground ice palace with ice sculptures.

I recommend going up Jungfraujoch in the morning so you can spend your afternoon at Grindelwald, but it’s really up to you how you want to plan your day. I prefer to not feel like I’m waiting around to board a train, so I prefer to do those activities in the morning and then be free to explore the rest of the day.

EXPLORE GRINDELWALD

Grindelwald itself has tons to do. Since you’re short on time, I recommend walking the town and grabbing a bite to eat.

For something more adventurous, there’s plenty to do! Soar like an eagle on a fast-moving glider , walk on the cliff walk overlooking the mountains below, or drive a mountain cart , among other things. Note that some of these things require a gondola or cable car ride.

If you prefer to keep your feet planted, go on one of the many hikes in the region such as the Kleine Scheidegg .

At the end of the day make your way back to Interlaken or Lauterbrunnen for your last night in Switzerland.

Day 4: Explore Innsbruck

• Distance by car: 380km (236 miles)
• By Train: 6-7 hours with 3+ connections
• Country: Austria
• Currency: Euro

The following morning you’ll travel from Interlaken to Innsbruck, a cute college town in the mountains of Austria.

This town makes for a great stopping point between Switzerland and Salzburg. 

If you went straight through, the drive would take about 7 hours (assuming there’s zero traffic and you don’t stop), and even longer via train. So I recommend a stopover night in this beautiful and historic town to break up your trip.

I also like this drive because you go through some spectacular mountain scenery, and even cross through the small country of Liechtenstein (look out for the black license plates!).

If you prefer something a bit quieter, I recommend looking into the Achensee, a pretty Alpine lake about 55km (34 miles) from Innsbruck.

If you’re driving, don’t forget to get a Vignette sticker before you cross the border to Austria. It‘ll cost you around 10 EUR, and if you don’t buy one you could get a huge fine of over 100EUR. Vignettes are available at all gas stations.

Since the drive will fill a good portion of your day, here is how I recommend spending your afternoon/evening:

• Walk the cute old town (Altstadt) and check out some of the shops, cafes, and restaurants.
• Visit OlympiaWorld and learn about the 1976 Olympics.
• Climb the town tower for beautiful views.

Each time we’ve been to Innsbruck, we’ve stayed at these beautifully maintained apartments just up the hill from the old town. There are hiking trails from the apartment and a lovely farm-to-table restaurant on the mountainside called Gasthaus Planötzenhof Andreas Heis . If you like pretty views with your meal, then I recommend this place!

Day 5: Explore Salzburg

• Distance by car: 166km (103 miles)
• By Train: 2 hours, no connections

Today you will make your way to Salzburg, just a few hours from Innsbruck. As you’re likely tired from all this travel, you’ll get a chance to relax and enjoy a few nights in the Salzburg area.

Expect more scenic views and an easy drive. If you’re driving, there are three routes to get there, and you can’t go wrong with any of them.

When you arrive at Salzburg (aka the City of Mozart ), you’ll probably be ready to explore.

Make your way to the Old Town (Altstadt). It’s a small but packed old town filled with shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, and cathedrals. 

A must-see spot is Mozart’s birthplace at the intersection of Hagenauerplatz Square and Getreidegasse Street.

There are various walking tours, but you can easily walk yourself. If you want to learn about the history of the area, I recommend this 2.5-hour tour that starts at Palace Mirabell and takes you through the Makartplatz, New & Old Town, Mozart’s Birthplace and ends at the top of Mönchsberg Hill (optional). 

You’ll also see River/Mozartsteg, Toscanini Hof, St. Peter’s Cemetery/Church, Alter Markt, Mirabell Gardens, Kapitelplatz, and many more places.

There are also food tours where you can see the city while experiencing Austrian cuisine. I recommend this one for food tasting or this one for beer tasting in Old Town

It’s hard to miss the imposing Hohensalzburg Fortress perched above the Altstadt. To get there, you can either walk the switchback path to it or take the funicular for about 5EUR (ascent and descent, admission included).

Once at the top, get ready to be blown away by the 360 views. Explore the medieval interior of Europe’s largest intact medieval castle. You can see the Salzburg Bull, the Archbishop Chapel, Golden Hall, and Golden Chamber.

Don’t go back down too soon. You can take the Monchsberg road to reach Augustiner bräu – Kloster Mülln, Austria’s largest beer tavern. For a delicious meal, try the Gasthaus Burgschenke .

My top recommendation for dinner is the Mozart Dinner Concert at St. Peter Stiftskulinarium in the old town. It’s the oldest restaurant in Central Europe.

Call it a night at Altstadt Hotel Hofwirt Salzburg or MEININGER Hotel Salzburg City Center .

Day 6: Explore Salzburg/Berchtesgaden

• Distance by car: 34.6km (21 miles)
• By Train: 1 hour with 1 connection
• Country: Germany & Austria

Since Berchtesgaden is a short distance from Salzburg, we’ll keep our base in the city and do a day trip from here.

Today you’ll go on a day trip to Berchtesgaden, a national park with the looming Eagle’s Nest. There are a few options for your day, depending on your interests:

TAKE A BOAT RIDE AT KÖNIGSEE

The Koenigsee is a beautiful large lake in the southern German Alps. There’s a popular boat ride that takes you along the lake to St. Bartholomew’s Church. They even have a trumpet player that shows you how well this mountain valley can echo! Once at the church, you have time for lunch and a drink before heading back. It’s a beautiful way to spend the day. 

VISIT THE EAGLE’S NEST

Alternative to Lake Königsee, you can visit Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest at the top of Mount Kehlstein and the Documentation Museum. You can take a guided tour from Salzburg or a bus directly from Salzburg to the documentation center.

You can also drive yourself as well.

Once you’re done exploring, head back and recharge for the next day.

Day 7: Explore Around Salzburg: Hallstatt | Sound of Music Tour 

• Distance by car: Varies
• By Train: Bus only

In and around Salzburg, there are many day trips and activities that you can enjoy early in the morning. Here are some of my recommendations.

• Sound of Music Tour : you’ll visit locations used in the movies, hear songs, take photos, and enjoy the countryside.
• Day Trip to Hallstatt : hike up the Salzberg mountain and enjoy the view of the sunrise from the Skywalk (with a photographer)
• Bike Tour Around Salzburg : about 3.5 hours through the city and countryside.

Hallstatt has become really popular in the past few years, but there are many other lakes in the area. Surrounding Salzburg, there are a total of nine lakes in this region.

Mondsee is a good option for a cute town on a pretty lake (but you won’t have the same striking town as Hallstatt). This lake is also on the Sound of Music tour as well. Attersee is the largest in the region and the most striking with mountains in the background.

Alternative Option: If you’re excited to get to Munich, you could alternatively head there today to have an extra day to explore.

Day 8: Explore Munich

• Distance by car: 147km (91 miles)
• Country: Germany

Today you’ll make your way to Munich, the beautiful capital of Bavaria and home to BMW.

Although it’s a large city, the central area is quite walkable and easy to navigate.

There is also a robust train system. The trains within cities in Germany are called ‘U-Bahn’, so look for those signs when walking around. Tickets can be purchased at the kiosks directly at the stations, or you can use their app to book your tickets.

EXPLORE MARIENPLATZ

Once you arrive and get settled, head to the center of town, Marienplatz. This has been Munich’s center square since 1158. I recommend walking around the area and exploring the shops and one of the many breweries. 

You’ll see the New and Old Rathaus (town hall), St. Peter’s Church, and the Marian Column among many others. Interestingly, this place was rebuilt in the traditional style years after its demolition at the end of WWII, so it may not be physically old, but it looks the part.

CLIMB ST PETER’S TOWER & GLOCKENSPIEL SHOW

From there, make your way to St. Peter’s Tower (best to arrive about 30 minutes before 11 or 12 to make the climb before the show starts). Go up to the observation point for a spectacular bird’s eye view of the Platz and a chance to catch the Glockenspiel show away from the crowds.

The Glockenspiel show is a 15-minute spectacle that reenacts bits of the city’s history. It takes place at 11 and 12 daily, ending with 3 chirps from a golden rooster at the top of the square’s mechanical clock.

TAKE A WALKING TOUR

If you’re into walking tours, there are many free options that start right at Marienplatz.

For something a bit more in-depth, I recommend this 1.5-hour tour of the inner city. It starts at the Marienplatz, showing you the highlights, and then heads to the Frauenkirche church, the Royal Brewery, as well as the cathedral and Theatine Church. The tour ends at the Viktualienmarkt.

When it’s time for lunch, the daily food market (Viktualienmarkt) is a fantastic option. It’s about 4 minutes from the city center. Alternatively, you can go to a beer garden for a meal and a drink.

After eating and depending on how late it is, you can explore Munich’s iconic cathedral; the Frauenkirche, the Nymphenburg Palace, or the English Garden.

WALK THE ENGLISH GARDEN

The English Garden (Englisch Garten) is a massive public park in the center of Munich. It’s even larger than Central Park.

Inside there is a huge network of trails that can keep you busy for days. If you prefer a guide to show you around, there are some great tours like this one (via GetYo urGuide) that take you through Marienplatz and the English Garden.

The English Garden is close to Marienplatz, so you can simply head here once you’re done exploring the Marienplatz area.

Here are my top 3 things to do:

• Watch people surf at the Eisbachwelle . This is located at the very south end of the English Garden next to a road. But stopping here is worth it! I thought it was so fun to watch people surfing in the center of a huge city. If you are heading to the English Garden from Marienplatz, you can stop here first.
• Visit the Chinese Tower (Chinesischer Turm) . The Chinese Tower was built as an observation tower. Sadly it was destroyed in WWII, but has been rebuilt in its former style. The second largest beer garden is here, and it’s a great place to grab a beer and have something to eat. It’s about a 15-20 minute walk (less than a mile) from the surfing area.
• Stroll Around and Explore . Aside from the beer garden (biergarten) at the Chinese Tower, there are many other biergartens and restaurants inside the park. There’s also a Japanese Tea House, areas to relax in the grass, ponds, and even a sheep farm.

DINNER AT A BREWERY

Wrap up the day at the Hofbrauhaus restaurant near Marienplatz (a 5-minute walk) for a taste of German cuisine, beer, and atmosphere. The Augustiner restaurant is also a great choice (a 20-minute walk from Marienplatz) with its delicious beer, schnitzel, and maultaschen.

For accommodation, I recommend the Arthotel Munich or Bento Inn Munich Messe .

Day 9: Explore Neuschwanstein Castle

• Distance by car: 109km (67 miles)
• By Train: 3+ hours each way with bus connections (I recommend a tour instead, see below)

Today you’ll be going on a day trip to Füssen, south of Munich.

If you have time, start with a hefty white sausage breakfast – classic Bavaria style. It’s called Weißwurst in Germany, and you can have a tasty one at Schneider Brauhaus, Airbraeu Brauhaus, or Hofbraeukeller.

Füssen is the town that sits at the base of Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany’s most famous castle. It’s the inspiration behind Disney’s castle in Sleeping Beauty.

The fastest way to get to the castle from Munich is by car, and there’s also the option to take the train (which requires many connections).

Or, you can book an inexpensive day tour like this one and have everything done for you. This is my personal recommendation to avoid parking, purchasing tickets, and a lot of waiting.

I recommend booking your tour ahead of time as the line can get really long quickly.

There are actually a few castles in this area. The tour of Neuschwanstein is a bit anti-climactic, so if you don’t want to wait in line for tickets, you can simply walk up to the castle and explore the courtyard.

The Marienbrücke Bridge is where you can get the famous photo (see above) of the castle. It’s free and is a short walk to the right.

Please keep in mind the bridge site is high above a gorge and can get absolutely packed with people. The boards you walk on are not well secured either, so take caution if you decide to walk across it. From here you can continue a bit further up for even better views (note it is steep).

The only way to avoid the crowds is to arrive early.

If you’re into a mesmerizing, adrenaline-packed activity, don’t miss out on paragliding in the Alps (over the castle too!). F ly Royal is a fantastic team to book this activity with; you’ll take off from Tegelberg Mountain and the duration of the flight depends on the package you choose.

Alternatively, you can stay on the ground and explore the lake, take a bus or train ride through the castle’s surroundings, go to vantage points, and discover the tale of King Ludwig, it’s all in this tour .

Once you’re done exploring the castle and area, you’ll head back to Munich. That’s your chance to get your fill of Bavarian beer and cuisine at Steinheil 16, Schiller Brau, and Servus Heidi.

Day 10: Munich/Departure

The last day is all about wrapping up your time in Munich and making your way to the airport to fly back home. If you have time, you can do some last-day shopping at Maximilianstrasse.

If you’re flying from Munich Airport, it’ll take you about 30 minutes by car and around 1 hour by train from the center of Munich. 

If you’re departing from Zurich Airport (only because you booked a two-way ticket), a car drive will take you there in about 3 to 4 hours while a train will do it in 5 to 6 hours. Be sure to factor in construction or train delays so you don’t miss your flight.

Things to Keep In Mind When Traveling to Germany, Austria & Switzerland

Here are a few pointers to keep in mind during your Germany, Austria & Switzerland trip:

• All 3 countries speak German, so you only need to learn common phrases in that one language. That saves you a lot of time and hassle, although English will get you by just fine.
• All 3 countries are included in the Schengen visa agreement.
• Germany and Austria use the Euro, but Switzerland uses the Swiss franc.
• Scheduling your trip during the shoulder season (March through April and September through November) should get you lower rates and fewer crowds.
• While getting around by train is more affordable and less confusing, it typically takes longer and may not reach all locations.
• Getting around by car is more costly and forces you to worry about direction/parking, it offers more flexibility and usually takes less time.

Final Thoughts

That brings us to the end of a full-packed 10-day Germany, Austria & Switzerland itinerary for an unforgettable trip. The only thing left for you to do is actually get the show on the road!

I'm Brea, an Alaskan with a serious case of wanderlust. Join me as I share insider information and firsthand accounts to help with your travels. Find destination guides, itineraries, general travel tips, learn how to take better photos, and more! Follow me on Instagram for all my up-to-date travels @travelingigloo

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Your One Stop Shop For Travel Planning

10 day europe itinerary: germany, italy, switzerland + austria.

Want to travel to Europe, but only have 10 days? With this itinerary, you will get to see 4 European countries in as little as 10 days! Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Austria are all very close together, making it super easy to see them all.

This was my first trip abroad without my family, so I opted in for a tour with EF College Break .  What was so nice about this tour was that it was all college students, so I made a ton of friends and we did things my age group would enjoy. On top of all that, it was extremely inexpensive for all that we got to see!

If you want to do a tour, I would definitely recommend looking into EF College Break. If you want to explore Europe on your own time, you can still do this itinerary by yourself.

For all the self-guided travelers out there… I have an epic (yes, EPIC) itinerary to France where you will get to see all the highlights. This itinerary is self-guided where you get to see Paris, the French Riviera, Provence, and go champagne tasting in Champagne! You can read my 10 day France itinerary here !

Okay, you ready to read this amazing 10 day Europe Itinerary?!

When to go to Europe?

This is a tricky question that will completely depend on the type of trip you want.

Want to see the alps covered in snow and eat fondue? Winter will be best!

Want to avoid crowds? Early spring and late fall will be best!

Want to enjoy prime weather and loads of events? Summer will be best!

I traveled to Europe in late May and it was absolutely beautiful . The crowds were minimal in comparison to the high seasons of June-August, and the weather was ranging from 60-80 degrees (depending on the country). The crowds in Europe hot-spots (especially Venice) will be unbearably crowded. Before you book during the prime summer months, just take that into consideration!

Tour v. No Tour?

I think it depends on your budget and if you are traveling with someone. I didn’t feel comfortable driving in Europe at 19 years old, so the only other way to see multiple countries would be to take trains or fly, which can add up quick!

I loved this tour group because it was all college age students, so I made friends from all over the world and we did a lot of excursions people my age group would do. Also, this tour company gave us SO much free time so even if the tour doesn’t see everything you want, you still have the time to see it.

Typically, I prefer to do self-guided travels because I can wake up as early as I want to see sights, mix and match what I want to see, eat when I want, etc. Of course there will be more stress planning your own trip abroad, but I think the benefit outweighs the cost!

What to Pack for Summer in Europe?

I keep a list of all my summer essentials and favorite finds on this guide here . I am constantly updated it after every warm destination – tried, true & tested! Also, I have a list of my 10 travel essentials I can’t live without, you can read those here !

As for specific things to pack for Europe, these are my top 3 must-have’s:

1. Travel Adapter

Yes, I know this is a very generic thing for a trip abroad, but this one is AMAZING. It is an all-in-one adapter that works on every country you will ever travel to. This is especially important with this itinerary because Switzerland doesn’t use the same plug as the rest of Europe! Click here for one that includes all of the USA, Europe, Australia and UK!

2. Curling Iron with dual voltage

True story… I was so confused about adapters and converters that I decided to just not buy a converter lol. When I turned on my blow dryer in this little hotel in Switzerland, I shut down the ENTIRE hotel because it burnt the circuits!! If you don’t want to worry about a confusing converter, I would just buy a dual voltage curling iron / blow dryer.  This will come in handy on any trip you will ever do! Click here for a dual voltage curling iron.

3. Packing Cubes

Guys, this is so important when you are bouncing around between multiple hotels. Packing cubes saved my LIFE when I did my 10 day France trip because I stayed in three different hotels. Here’s a free tip: Pack the clothes you want to wear in each city (AKA hotel), so that way you only need to take out that cube at that hotel. Most hotels in Europe are super tiny, so saving you room will be a total life saver! PLUS, when you are done wearing those dirty clothes, you can stick them back in the packing cube so they don’t touch your clean clothes! Click here for packing cubes!

BONUS: Anytime I travel to abroad, I always get travel insuranc e so I am covered during my trip. Europe is known for reckless driving and lots of protests, so you want to make sure you have insurance in case of an emergency. Confused on what travel insurance is? I have a lengthy guide that will explain it in great detail !

Itinerary Overview

Day 1: overnight flight.

• Day 2: Munich Sight Seeing

Day 3: Neuschwanstein Castle

• Day 4: Drive to Venice + Lunch in Austria
• Day 5: Explore Venice
• Day 6: Drive to Swizerland + lunch in Verona
• Day 7: Explore Switzerland + Mt. Pilatus

Day 8: Drive to Frankfurt

• Day 9: Explore Frankfurt
• Day 10: Fly home! 🙁

10 Day Europe Itinerary

Hopefully your flight won’t be as long as mine, but usually the entire first day is wasted traveling due to the time change + flight length.

Not being able to sleep on planes makes it feel extra long too. Is anyone else as dorky as me and get too excited to sleep before a vacation?

TIP: Bring Melatonin on your flight to help you sleep! It’s an all-natural vitamin that doesn’t make you feel groggy when you wake up. This also will help you sleep the first few nights you arrive. 

Day 2: Arrive in Munich

We arrived at 7am in the morning.. yes. 7am. It was a rough first day because the time zone difference from Las Vegas was a whopping NINE HOURS . The entire day will be spent keeping yourself as busy as possible to fight that jet lag!

Spend your free day in Munich seeing street performers, watching surfing competitions at The Eisbachwelle , strolling through the cities English Garden, and enjoy lunch and German beer at the Hofbrauhaus !

As you can imagine, the Hofbrauhaus is extremely touristy and always busy! It is a HUGE restaurant, but you still might need to wait to be seated. If you do, just spend some time exploring the nearby shops to start your souvenir shopping early 🙂

End your first day in Germany with a Biergarten dinner at Zum Flaucher . There are SO many beirgartens in Germany that have outdoor seating, twinkly lights, picnic style seating and a relaxed atmosphere. Going to these for dinner was one of my favorite memories in Germany, so I would definitely make it a priority to go to one of them!

By far my favorite day out of the entire trip! This castle is unbelievably breathtaking. The Neuschwanstein ( say that ten times fast ) Castle is located less than 2 hours from Munich in a town called Hohenschwangau ( now say that 20 times fast ). You can either drive if you have a rental car, or there is a train that will take you from Munich to the castle in 2.5 hours. Click here to look at train times and prices! Or if navigating the trains terrifies you, you can sign up for a day trip with a tour company, click here for tour options .

Everything about Hohenschwangau just screams Disneyland. The adorable German Cottages (that people actually live in, oh my gosh!),  glistening blue lake, horse and carriage rides, and a real life sleeping beauty castle nestled up on the mountain. Look at the view of the town from above:

Seriously though, this castle is the real life inspiration of the Disney movie, Sleeping Beauty. When you either walk or take your horse carriage ride to the top, you can take a tour of the castle and walk along the bridge to the castle viewpoint. From the viewpoint you are hanging on a bridge over a river that looks right at the castle and valley behind it. I have no words to explain how beautiful this place was.

Like this photo? Edit like me using my one-click Lightroom Presets !

After your castle tour , rent a paddle boat and enjoy the rest of the day on the lake! You can rent these for fairly inexpensive on the lake, no reservation needed. If you’re going with your significant other, grab picnic items from a local store and have lunch on your private boat. Or if you don’t have a significant other, a bff date will do just fine!

If you are planning a day trip from Munich like my tour did and more info, be sure to check out my friends guide on How to Visit Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich!

If you’re not too jet-lagged, end your night going out to German clubs – which if your from Las Vegas like me, will find hilarious! They’re all like little disco bars where everyone is dancing the night away to old American music. Here are the tops clubs in Munich:

• Harry Klein

I wish I could have spent more days in Germany because I was blown away by how beautiful it was! I loved the culture, food, greenery, and the amount of hidden gems! If you want to extend your Germany stay, I would recommend checking out this guide: Things to do in Cologne Germany!

Day 4: Drive to Venice

There’s no sugar-coating that the drive from Munich to Venice is long and brutal. But, the scenery is out of this world and will make the 6 hour drive go by a lot faster! If you are not driving, there are direct trains that will take you from Munich to Venice at around 7 hours. Click here to search for train times!

If you are driving to Venice, that perfect pit-stop is Salzburg, Austria. You can see this colorful town filled with cobblestone streets, that is located along a river in the middle of the Austrian Alps! There are endless restaurants to choose from, so I would recommend walking around until you find somewhere that looks welcoming 🙂

We stayed in a small beach town outside of the actual island of Venice. I would highly recommend this because you get away from the touristy side of Venice to experience local restaurants and beaches. Doing this will make you feel like you are staying in an authentic Italian town with few tourists!

End your night indulging in pasta and pizza from the smallest hole in the wall you can find! And don’t forget about Italian gelato on the beach for dessert, because you’re in Italy! You’ve GOT TO have gelato everyday!

Day 5: Venice

The city that’s on everyone’s bucket list, Venice! I’ve dreamed about riding a gondola down the grand canal since, well, forever. Once you take the brief ferry ride to Venice island, you’ll take a tour of Saint Mark’s Basilica and the Murano Glass Museum before getting lost in the winding streets and canals of the city.

If you want to see more during your time in Venice, here are some recommendations:

• Sign up for a food tour
• See the colorful streets of Burano
• Take a private gondola ride through the smaller canals
• Have lunch on the Grand Canal at De Pesis!
• Take a day trip to Prosecco Hills for wine tasting

I spent the day just wandering the streets of Venice with no plan and it was amazing! I carelessly roamed the streets, ate WAY too much food, took a gondola ride (or two), got gelato from every shop I saw, & got too many souvenirs!

TIP: Dress appropriately for the churches or else you’ll be forced to buy paper ponchos and skirts to wear inside. You need to cover your shoulders and wear and appropriate length bottom to enter. 

Day 6: Drive to Switzerland

Another long drive, but it doesn’t count as a drive when you are winding through the Swiss Alps. The drive from Venice to Lucerne is a little over 5 hours and the train is roughly 6.5 hours.

The good thing about driving is there are so many towns you can stop in to break up the drive and see more sights! I would recommend stopping in either Verona or Milan (or both!) before heading to Switzerland.

Verona is a small, quaint town that is home to Romeo & Juliette’s famous balcony! While you are there, stop at a farmers market or grab some street food to enjoy under their balcony.

From Verona to Lucerne, it will be about 4 1/2 hours of pure beauty! You will wind up the mountains passing through tunnels carved into mountains. After every tunnel pass, the scenery will be completely different and even more beautiful.

Check into your hotel and head into town for some dinner. We spent an actual hour hunting down fondue for dinner, apparently fondue isn’t a thing in the summer!? People were making fun of us but who cares! WERE TOURISTS AND WERE PROUD! We eventually found a fondue spot and it was amazing to say the least.

Day 7: Switzerland 

Today you’ll be getting a little bit of everything. From adventure to beautiful scenery! Take the ferry over lake Lucerne to the gondola entrance for Mt. Pilatus . You’ll take the gondola up 7,000 ft (2132 meters) to get expansive views of the Swiss alps and Lake Lucerne.

I know the weather is unpredictable, but really try to do this on a clear day so you can get unobstructed views from the top! Once you are up there, there will be walking and hiking trails, a souvenir shop and food stands for you to grab a bight to eat.

On the way down comes the fun part… the steepest railroad in the world has a seat with your name on it. I promise it doesn’t go too fast and doesn’t feel too old. You can also take the gondola down if the train terrifies you, but traveling is all about pushing you out of your comfort zone 🙂

TIP: Don’t wear sandals to Mt. Pilatus because at the halfway point, there’s a type of “adventure park” with an alpine slide down the mountain, zip line and rope park. They are very strict at the zip line/rope park and will not let you on if you don’t have closed toe shoes!

Spend the afternoon hunting down some Swiss Chocolate for your loved ones back home, which is also very hard to find. I learned that everything I thought was stereotypical to Switzerland was just that, a stereotype.

Another day of driving and today’s pit stop will be the charming German village, Heidelberg. Are you all castled-out yet? Of course not! You’ll get to visit another older castle that is home to the world’s largest wine barrel!

The drive & train from Lucerne to Frankfurt is around 4 hours, but if you make a pit stop in Heidelberg for lunch, you will drive 3 hours and then 1 hour!

Once you arrive in Frankfurt you’ll soon see that it is a BIG city with lots of nightlife! Spend your night going out the local bars and enjoy one of your last nights in Europe.

Day 9: Frankfurt

We had a free day before our farewell dinner home, so some fun things to do in Frankfurt would be the Museumsufer (a cluster of 12 museums), Frankfurt Cathedral , Romerburg (a square with medieval homes), Palmengarten , and getting some last minute souvenirs!

Day 10: Fly Home

I can never sleep on planes mostly because I’m always too excited for the destination. I slept the entire 12 hour flight home, so that’s saying something about how “excited” I was to be going home!

Until next time Europe!

Before you go…. Want some more guides on Europe? I think you will love these!

• 10 Day France Itinerary
• Champagne Tasting in Champagne, France
• Ultimate Guide to the Louvre Museum
• Ultimate Guide to the Gorges du Verdon
• 6 Day Iceland Road Trip

Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂

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How much will be the total cost for Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Austria 10 days tour? Will you assist for the visa processing as well? Thanks

This is not a paid tour, a free itinerary to use for your own travel planning! 🙂

You are amazing. I’d love to stomp around Europe with you checking out cute hotels and trying the best food and wines.

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Road Trip through Austria: The Best Travel Itinerary for 2-4 Weeks

Majestic mountains and picturesque valleys, kaiserschmarrn and germknödel, imperial flair and quaint mountain villages – all that and much more awaits you on a road trip through Austria. 

Spoiler: No other country in the world is as beautiful as Austria! We are possibly a little bias (we were born in Austria and grew up there), but one thing is for sure: You will have countless wow-moments on a road trip through Austria. 

In our travel blog we show you the perfect travel itinerary through Austria. It will take you to the greatest highlights of the country in two weeks but has many route options so that you could also easily extend it to four weeks. 

We also provide some useful planning tips in this blog article, such as maps with the most important places along our travel route, so that you can perfectly prepare yourself for your trip around Austria. 

1. Austria Travel Itinerary: Each of the Stops on our Road Trip 

2. map: overview of the travel route, 3. further travel tips for your austria road trip .

Something to note: Our route starts in Vienna but it is a round trip so you can start at any point you wish. So, if you enter from Germany, for example, then you could easily start in Salzburg or Tyrol. 

Our Austrian road trip starts in the heart of the country, in our home city, Vienna. Perhaps we are a bit partial because we have lived here for over 30 years but in our eyes, Vienna is simply the most beautiful city in the world. 

We love Vienna’s baroque, classical flair. The small, picturesque alleyways and the imposing constructions in the inner city look like a film backdrop. We recommend you plan to stay at 

Detailed blog article:  Travel Tips for Vienna Recommended length of stay:  2-4 nights Our hotel tip:  25hours Hotel

Optional: Wachau

Our road trip starts from Vienna towards the west. The first stop is the beautiful Wachau – a picturesque river valley on the Donau between Melk and Krems. We love Wachau but marked this as ‘optional’. (There are just so many highlights in Austria!)

What can you expect from Wachau? One of the most scenic river valleys, sun-drenched vinyards, picturesque wine growing villages and impressive castles or castle ruins. You can take a wine tour, for example, or simply enjoy a bit of Austria’s wine culture. 

Getting from Vienna to Wachau:  This is a fairly short stage of the road trip. You drive about an hour out of Vienna before reaching Wachau. 

Detailed blog article:  Sights of Wachau   (coming soon) Recommended length of stay:  1-2 nights Our hotel tip:   Steigenberger Hotel & Spa

Salzkammergut (Traunsee)

One of our favourite regions in Austria is not to be left off our travel route: The Salzkammergut. The combination of picturesque mountain lakes and rugged peaks is unparalleled. 

Traunsee (Lake Traun) is a great starting point to explore the Salzkammergut. The Gosau Lakes and Lake Altaussee are also undoubtedly worth a visit. And last but not least, you can also find one of the most well-known mountain villages of Austria here in the Salzkammergut: Hallstatt. 

Getting from Wachau to Salzkammergut: You can expect a two hours drive for this part of the roadtrip. Would you like to make a stopover on the route? Then we can recommend the small town of Enns – quite an insider tip.

Detailed blog article: The best things to do in Salzkammergut (coming soon) Recommended length of stay:  2-3 nights Our hotel recommendation: Seehotel Das Traunsee

Salzburg (City)

It wouldn’t be an Austria road trip without a visit to Salzburg! In our opinion, you shouldn’t leave Austria without having paid a visit to the city of Mozart. Yes, Salzburg is very touristy. However, the small city is also just so pretty and cute that we are simply amazed again and again. 

Paying a visit to the majestic Hohensalzburg Fortress is on the must-do list, and of course wandering through the picturesque old town. And please be sure to try an original Salzburger mozartkugel (mozart chocolate). These are only available in Salzburg – just delicious. 

Getting from Salzkammergut to Salzburg:  You can expect just a small drive for this part of the road trip. From Traunsee you will be on the road for just an hour before reaching Salzburg. (Warning: Parking in Salzburg can be a bit of a trouble. It’s best to contact your hotel in advance about a parking space.) 

Detailed blog article:  Salzburg tips   Recommended length of stay:  1-2 nights Our hotel recommendation:  Arthotel Blaue Gans

Bad Gastein

Our travel route takes us out of the city now and in the direction of the mountains. There are countless great destinations in the Austrian mountains, but we dare to say that none are as hip and unique as Bad Gastein. 

Belle-Époque buildings, morbid charm & rugged peaks – either you love Bad Gastein or you will never warm up to it. One thing is for sure: There are countless spectacular hikes around Bad Gastein waiting just for you. The nature is really breathtakingly beautiful. 

Getting from Salzburg to Bad Gastein:  You should allow about 1.5 hours for this stage of the road trip. 

Detailed blog article:  Holiday in Bad Gastein (coming soon)   Recommended length of stay:  2-3 nights Our hotel tip:   Design Hotel Miramonte

Optional: Innsbruck & Bregenzerwald

Now you have two options for the onward journey of this road trip. Either you drive directly south to East Tyrol (then skip to the next chapter). Or you include the west tip of Austria – more precisely the North Tyrol and Voralberg regions. 

The bonus: This is one of the most spectacular scenic areas of Austria. The mountain landscape is unbelievably majestic and impressive. One disadvantage: The region is located a bit off the main route, so you need to allow enough time for it. 

As well as a stop-off in Innsbruck (the capital city of the Tyrol region) we very highly recommend the Bregenzerwald (Bregenz Forest) in Voralberg. The combination of picturesque mountain villages, lovely hills and rugged peaks is wonderfully beautiful. 

Detailed blog article:   Holiday in Bregenzerwald Recommended length of stay:  3-4 nights (better 5-6 nights with a stop off in Innsbruck) Our hotel tip:  Hotel Hirschen  

We’ll say it in short: We love East Tyrol! The rugged peaks and crystal-clear mountain lakes are breathtakingly beautiful. Therefore, we can only warmly recommend including East Tyrol in your travel route. 

If you love (high-)alpine hiking, this is the right place for you. There are countless peaks just waiting to be conquered. We would highly recommend East Tyrol to anyone who is looking for impressive mountains, picturesque valleys and rustic huts. 

Getting from Bad Gastein to East Tyrol:  Here you can expect to experience what might be the most spectacularly scenic stage of the road trip. Be sure to take the route over the Großglockner high alpine road. (Note: only passable in summer and subject to a toll.) The road is already a highlight in itself, so it’s almost worth spending one night along this stretch. The complete travel time is around 2 hours. 

If you decide to take our optional route to Voralberg, then the stretch will take significantly longer. In this case you should allow around 4 to 5 hours driving time. 

Detailed blog article:  Holiday in East Tyrol   (coming soon) Recommended length of stay:  3-4 nights Our hotel recommendation:   Hotel Waldruhe  

Lakes of Carinthia: Lake Faak and Lake Weissensee

What would an Austrian road trip be without a visit to the lakes in the Carinthia region? Unfortunately, Austria is not located close to the sea but when the weather is good the lakes in the south of the country exude equally as much holiday flair. Therefore, the next stop on our route through Austria is perfect for anyone looking to cool down and refresh. 

We personally have two favourite lakes: One of these is the picturesque Lake Faak – a peaceful little spot for a wonderful beach holiday. And the other is the idyllic Lake Weissensee, which is unbelievably beautiful with its turquoise colour. 

Getting from East Tyrol to the lakes of Carinthia:  This stage is one of the shortest. Plan for around one to two hours driving time – depending on which place you leave from in East Tyrol and which lake you are drawn to. 

Detailed blog article:  The Most Beautiful Lakes in Carinthia (coming soon) Recommended length of stay:  3 nights (gladly more, if you visit both lakes) Our hotel tips:  Kleines Hotel Kärnten (Lake Faak) or Seehotel Enzian (Lake Weissensee)

South Styria

If you like wine, you cannot leave out South Styria. The region in the south-east of the country doesn’t have the nickname the Tuscany of Austria for nothing. 

A wonderful, soft rolling landscape, magical trip destinations, rustic taverns and great hotels await you in South Styria. In short: An enjoyable break and the best way to get to know Austria’s wine culture. 

Getting from the Carinthia lakes to South Styria:  You can comfortably drive this stretch of the travel route in around two hours. 

Detailed blog article:  South Styria Tips (coming soon) Recommended length of stay:  2-3 nights Our hotel tip:  Loisium Südsteiermark

Optional: Graz

The last stop on our travel journey is Graz, Austria’s second biggest city. This pleasant university city is an unexciting but very worthwhile destination on a road trip through Austria. 

The city’s landmark is the Graz clock tower on the Schlossberg. A walk (or alternatively a drive) up to it is definitely one for the must-do list. As well as that, the inner city of Graz is really pretty. And last but not least, Graz offers a large range of art and culture. 

Getting from South Styria to Graz: This stage of the road trip is one of the shortest. It will take you less than an hour to reach Graz.  

Detailed blog article:   Graz Tips Recommended length of stay:  1-2 nights Our hotel recommendation:  Grand Hotel Wiesler

We have marked the individual stops of our road trip on this map so that you can get a better overview of the roadtrip journey. The travel times of each stage are very manageable. You will usually be on the road for one or two hours. 

The best time for a road trip through Austria 

Our travel route is primarily designed for a road trip in warm temperatures (i.e. spring / summer / early autumn). We would like to take you through the pros and cons of each month. 

High season: summer months of July and August 

The most popular time to travel is clearly the summer months of July and August, and there are two reasons why: Weather and school holidays. 

• July and August are ideal for a beach holiday. It is warmest in Austria at this time and the lakes also have the most enjoyable temperatures. (The disadvantage: Many hotels at the lake are booked out or the prices skyrocket – more about that soon.)
• Summer is also great for hikes in the mountains. Many huts in the high alpine area open at the beginning or middle of June. Important to know: Thunderstorms occur in the summertime in the mountains. So, definitely keep an eye on the forecasts!
• Staying in the city and going sightseeing can be really tiresome in the summer temperatures. We are mainly thinking about Vienna where it can get uncomfortably hot in summer. However, therefore they have some really great outdoor events such as the film festival at the Rathausplatz (town hall square) in Vienna. 

July and August are the busiest months due to the summer holidays. The Austrian school holidays last nine weeks. (Some regions begin a week later, so it’s actually ten weeks). And then let’s not forget the German holidays. In short: There are many families with children underway in Austria during mid-summer. 

Some regions (especially Austria’s lakes ) are booked to the brim in July and August and almost overcrowded. However, we don’t find it all that necessary to avoid the summer months. Or in other words: If you want to go on your road trip through Austria during the summer, go for it! 

Our tip: late spring / early autumn

If you would like to avoid the summer holidays, then we recommend spring for you. Personally, we find June to be a fantastic time of year for a road trip through Austria. It is usually less busy, and the weather can be quite stable. 

Good to know: Some huts in the high alpine region open at the beginning or middle of June (due to snow). Some roads, such as the Großglockner high alpine road, are also only open from around the beginning of May. 

The autumn season is equally as great. When the leaves are in colour, the atmosphere of some places is really like something out of a picture book. Of course, you also need to be prepared for changes in weather or unstable weather conditions (rain, cold). The weather is usually still quite pleasant in September. 

Booking a rental car

We ourselves always book our rentals through Sunny Cars . Sunny Cars is a platform that compares the offers from various rental car companies. You book through Sunny Cars and then pick up your car at the local company (e.g. Hertz). 

The big benefit of Sunny Cars (apart from the cheap price): You always have fully comprehensive insurance. More precisely, in the event of damage, Sunny Cars will reimburse the deductible. That way, according to experience, you can travel a lot more relaxed. 

You can book your rental car through Sunny Cars from many different locations in Austria – including Vienna and Salzburg. If you start your road trip in Germany, then of course you can also book the car from Munich, for example. (Note: Sometimes a small fee for border crossings may be added.) 

You can search for cheap rental cars here:  Sunny Cars  

Vignette & tolls in Austria 

All highways and expressways in Austria are subject to tolls. Therefore, you can’t get around purchasing a vignette for your road trip through Austria. 

You can get a vignette for 10 days, 2 months or 1 year. The price for 2 months is just under 30 euros. You can quite easily purchase the vignette right before the border crossing at a service station or store. 

Even better: You can purchase it in advance in digital form (‘digital vignette’). It’s important to know that you need to purchase a digital vignette at least 18 days before you start your road trip. (The Consumer Protection Act applies here, which is why the digital vignette is only valid after this period.)

You can purchase the digital vignette here:  ASFINAG (official webshop)

Important to know: Some roads/tunnels in Austria have additional tolls. This includes the Großglockner high alpine road and the Arlberg expressway (Arlberg tunnel). The drive over the Großglockner high alpine road is especially expensive, costing just under 40 euros. 

Book accommodation in advance or spontaneously?

If you really want to stay in your dream-accommodation, then we recommend booking your hotels in advance. That especially applies to certain regions during the main season. Popular hotels (such as those directly on the lake or many that have regular guests) are often booked out weeks in advance. Then it could easily be that your desired hotel is already booked out. 

However, we have also had the experience of still being able to spontaneously get a room somewhere even during the high season. Often you need to settle for your second (or third) choice, but you will always find a place to stay. 

We recommend you do a combination of both booking in advance and spontaneously. (We like to do this on road trips and find it to be the best way to still have some flexibility.) It’s best to book the hotels that particularly appeal to you some weeks (months) in advance. Then you can book the rest of your accommodation while on the road. 

Disclaimer: Affiliate Links

This blog article contains our personal recommendations in the form of affiliate links. If you book or buy something through the links, we receive a small commission. This does not change the price for you at all. A million thanks from the both of us!

Have you already been on a roadtrip through Austria? What did your travel route look like? Are there other stops that you would add to the route? We look forward to hearing about your experiences in the comments. 

You might also be interested in this

Hallstatt Travel Guide: The Most Beautiful Sights & Photo Spots

Vienna on a Budget: Saving Tips for a Cheap City Visit

Bregenz in Austria: The Best Things to Do and See

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Austria Road Trip: The Best Itinerary, Map & Tips

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An Austrian Road Trip from Vienna

Embarking on a scenic Austria road trip is the ultimate way to discover Europe’s most picturesque cities and towns. As you travel through Austria, you will encounter the majestic Austrian Alps, culturally rich cities, unforgettable outdoor experiences, and breathtaking lake and mountain views. 

This Austria itinerary takes you through some of Europe’s most stunning natural scenery, charming historic towns, and bustling modern cities. You’ll also find plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities within alpine mountain ranges and national parks, cultural experiences at UNESCO World Heritage sites, and culinary delights.

In this Austria road trip planner, we share travel tips, the best route between towns and cities, things to do and see along the way, and hotel recommendations to help you plan your perfect road trip through Austria.

Where is Austria?

Austria is a small landlocked mountainous country located in east central Europe, most famous for gemutlichkeit which describes the Austrian’s characteristic way of enjoying life, its castles and palaces, and the Grossglockner peak, Austria’s highest mountain at 3,798 meters above sea level.

The Republic of Austria is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital Vienna, the most populous city and state. Austria is bordered by  Germany  to the northwest, the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia to the northeast, Hungary to the east, Slovenia and  Italy  to the south, and  Switzerland  and Liechtenstein to the west, all of which lend a cosmopolitan culture and outlook to the country.

Is this your first time visiting Austria? Get all the information you need in our Austria Travel Guide , including what to pack, the best time of year to go, getting there, and practical tips to help you have the best trip!

Getting to Austria

Whether you’re taking a road trip to Austria in a car, motorcycle, or campervan, self-driving is absolutely the best way to explore this spectacular European country.

You can stop whenever you want, try new activities, visit places you see along the route, and have the freedom to change plans at the last minute.

Fly into Munich International Airport , 1 . With direct flights from America, Europe, and the UK, we recommend booking through Skyscanner for live deals and the best prices.

Are you planning to rent a car in Austria? As one of the largest car hire aggregator companies in the world, we recommend Rentalcars.com because they have massive purchasing power which enables them to secure the best car rental prices, which benefits you when you’re planning a roadtrip in Austria.

For a real adventure, hire a motorhome or campervan in Austria. We recommend Motorhome Republic , an aggregate booking site who pull together all the best deals from a number of rental agencies, to offer you a wide choice of options alongside an excellent English speaking expert motorhome Concierge Team.

Best Time for an Austrian Road Trip

March to may.

Spring is a fantastic time to visit Austria, with temperatures warming up across the country. Blooming wildflowers, vibrant greenery in the mountains, and cows heading out to pasture mean spring is a fantastic time to experience Austria by car. You’ll find the roads and cities less crowded, and most attractions will be open.

June to August

In summer, Austria enjoys beautiful weather and the prospect of outdoor adventures and extreme activities. This is when locals and visitors alike head to the mountains and lakes, meaning heavier crowds and more traffic.

September to November

Autumn is a fantastic time for an Austria trip . The grapes and crops are being harvested, food festivals celebrate the bounty of the land, and you might enjoy an Indian summer, with the fall colors of the vines aflame.

December to February

The winter months in Austria can be very cold, but most people come to Austria during the months of December to March for winter sports like skiing and snowboarding. It’s not the best time for a road trip, as the spectacular mountain passes will be closed and roads can be challenging to drive.

RELATED POST: Driving in the Alps: Top Tips & Best Routes

Make sure you have travel insurance you can trust when visiting Austria. We recommend True Traveller for their 5-star TrustPilot reviews, variety of cover options, best activities cover as standard, great prices, and excellent service.

Austria Road Trip Map & Route

We recommend starting your two week Austrian road trip in Vienna and concluding the itinerary in Innsbruck. Our two week Austria road trip itinerary travels from the east to the west of Austria and is roughly 615km from start to finish.

As you leave Vienna, beautiful and quaint Austrian towns and villages will greet you as you travel south toward the foodie city of Graz, the next major stop on your Austrian itinerary. From here, its north to Hallstatt, a small, alpine village situated on the western shores of Hallstätter See, also known as Hallstatt Lake, that offers iconic views and outdoor experiences. 

Next up is Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We recommend leaving enough time in your itinerary to explore the Baroque architecture of the city and visit the Salzburg Fortress for stunning panoramic views. From Salzburg, head to Zell am See, a charming mountain town surrounded by the unforgettable mountain peaks of the Alps. 

Your journey will continue on to Mayrhofen, a popular skiing destination known for its vibrant nightlife, unrivaled winter sports, and stunning alpine scenery. 

Finally, finish your Austria road trip in Innsbruck, the capital of the Tyrol region. The city is surrounded by breathtaking mountains and is home to several impressive landmarks. Innsbruck is the perfect place to end your road trip and reflect on the stunning beauty of Austria.

• Get the Travel Guides
• Lonely Planet Austria
• Fodor’s Vienna and the Best of Austria
• DK Eyewitness Austria

Austria Road Trip Itinerary

Vienna – Graz – Hallstatt – Salzburg – Zell am See – Mayrhofen – Innsbruck

• Distance 615km
• Duration 10-14 days
• Drive Time 9 hours

How to use this map – Use your fingers (or computer mouse) to zoom in and out. Click or touch the icons to get more info about a place, and click the arrow in the box top left to open the index. To add to your own Google Maps account, click the star next to the title of the map.

Vienna 

Allow at least 3 days in Vienna ( Wien in German, the official language of Austria) to discover the city’s rich history and cultural heritage. If you’re hiring a car, you should arrange to pick it up after you’ve explored Vienna – you definitely don’t need a vehicle in this city!

There are countless things to see and do in romantic Vienna, from visiting the Schönbrunn Palace, a formal imperial residence and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to St. Stephen’s Cathedral, a Gothic cathedral that represents one of Vienna’s most recognizable landmarks. You must take the 343 steps to the top of the cathedral for breathtaking (literally!) views over Vienna from the south tower.

Other tourist attractions include the Hofburg Palace, Belvedere Palace , home to Klimt’s Kiss , the fabulous Naschmarkt food market , and the Vienna State Opera, one of the world’s most famous opera houses offering daily performances of classical operas and ballets. The Vienna hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tour is a great way to see key attractions in the city.

Travel Tip: Vienna is famous for its coffee culture. Traditional coffeehouses are recognized for their interior and atmosphere. Coffees and pastries are served on small, marble-topped tables with Thonet chairs tucked into alcoves. Try the historic Café Central and we promise an authentic experience of Vienna’s coffee culture.

RELATED POST: Best Cities in Austria for an Amazing Visit!

• Where to Stay in Vienna

Upmarket: Palais Hansen Kempinski Vienna – Booking.com | Agoda

Mid-Range: Jaz in the City Vienna – Booking.com | Agoda

Budget: H+ Hotel Wien – Booking.com | Agoda

Wachau Valley Side Trip

Roughly an hour northwest of Vienna is the Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to rolling hills of grapes vines and apricot trees. A day tour from Vienna to the Wachau Valley is the ideal way to experience this world-renowned area.

If you don’t want to drive, this highly rated Wachau day trip from Vienna takes you on a bus and boat tour of the Wachau and Danube valleys, to the Benedictine Abbey of Melk and the old city of Krems in the heart of the Wachau wine-growing region. Your guide will share Austria’s imperial history as you cruise the famous Blue Danube on its route past picturesque villages and steep vineyards.

The drive from Vienna to Graz mostly takes the E59, S6, and S35 highways, and will take a couple of hours. It’s worth taking the slight detour to Semmering, famous for the UNESCO Semmering Railway, and Bruck an der Mur, one of the oldest cities in Austria.

Graz doesn’t make it onto a lot of Austrian road trip itineraries because its understated charm and lack of bright lights reputation mean people don’t make the effort to drive south.

But we love Graz for its fantastic foodie scene, strong architecture (no surprise that Graz is a UNESCO City of Design), and off-the-beaten-path vibe.

In Austria’s heartland of Styria, known as the “belly of Austria”, Graz’s food offer is legendary – think fried chicken, smoky bacon jam called verhackert , cold cuts, locally made beer and wine, and of course, chocolate.

Alongside the cuisine, this Habsburg city delivers palaces and castles, a UNESCO old town, and colorful squares like Hauptplatz in abundance. Don’t miss Schlossberg and its medieval clock tower called Uhrturm, and the man-made island of Murinsel in the Mur river, constructed to mark Graz being the European Capital of Culture in 2003.

• Where to Stay in Graz

Upmarket: Kai 36 – Hotel zwischen Fels und Fluss – Booking.com | Agoda

Mid-Range: Aiola Living Graz – Booking.com | Agoda

Budget: Zur Steirerstub’n – Booking.com | Agoda

South Styrian Wine Road Side Trip

The South Styrian Wine Road is a round trip route that runs for 44km between Ehrenhausen, a 45 minute drive from Graz via Leutschach. The route follows mile after mile of vineyards, picturesque villages, wine taverns called buschenschank , and family-owned hotels and inns, and is well worth a few days of your time if you’re a wine lover.

South Styria is predominantly a white-wine-growing region, with the dry Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Blanc being the most famous Styrian wines. Visiting a winery, and tasting their wines in situ as you learn about how they’re made is a fantastic experience, and not to be missed in this beautiful part of Austria.

Looking for the best SIM card deals in Europe for your trip? Check out our guide to the best data SIMs in Europe and get the best deal for your trip to Austria.

Hallstatt 

The drive from Graz to Hallstatt will be the longest stint of your Austria road trip! At 176 kilometers, with a drive time of around two and a half hours, this part of your road trip passes through the picturesque landscape of Styria and the foothills of the Alps.

Hallstatt, a small picturesque town located in the Salzkammergut region of Austria, is a popular tourist destination for its natural beauty, which allowed it to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

We loved the Hallstatt World Heritage Skywalk, which reaches 1,148 feet and extends over the edge of a mountain, providing unforgettable views of the Hallstätter See. The Salzbergbahn funicular will carry you from the valley station of Salzwelten Hallstatt to the Skywalk.

If you’re up for an adventure, we think one of the best ways of experiencing the Skywalk is at sunrise when the light is perfect and there are way fewer people around! We highly recommend a dawn hike up Salzberg mountain to enjoy the incredible views from the Skywalk, with a pro photographer by your side.

Hallstatt is also known for its production of salt which dates back to prehistoric times. The Hallstatt Salt Mine is the world’s oldest salt mine and has been in operation since 4000 BC, and a guided tour through the underground tunnels to learn about the history of salt mining in the region is a must.

No trip to Hallstatt is complete without a stroll along the waterfront, to take in the stunning views of the lake and the surrounding mountains. Enjoy fresh fish from the lake itself at restaurants like Schirmbar Hallstatt situated along the water.

Travel Tip: From Hallstatt, we suggest taking a day trip to the Dachstein Ice Cave . You can take a cable car to the giant ice cave to enjoy a guided tour. Remember to wear warm clothing as the caves rarely reach above 4 degrees!

• Where to Stay in Hallstatt

Upmarket: Seehotel Grüner Baum – Booking.com | Agoda

Mid-Range: Fenix Hall Boutique Hotel Hallstatt – Booking.com | Agoda

Budget: Pension Leprich Bad Goisern – Booking.com | Agoda

Don’t forget your road trip essentials! Our free road trip checklists help you remember everything, including road trip snacks , podcasts , and road trip songs for the journey!

Salzburg  

The next stop on your Austria itinerary is Salzburg. Driving from Hallstatt to Salzburg will take just over an hour as you cover 75 kilometers of the beautiful Austrian countryside.

This section of your drive will take you through the Salzkammergut region of Austria, which is dotted with lakes and mountains. Along the way, there are several towns and villages worth stopping at, including St. Wolfgang im Salzkammergut, a picturesque town located on the shores of Wolfgangsee. As well as swimming in the lake, you can enjoy the historic St. Wolfgang Church and the famous Romantik Hotel Im Weissen Rössl am Wolfgangsee – in English, the White Horse Inn!

Salzburg, a city that borders Germany, is the birthplace of Mozart and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This city is well-known for its Baroque architecture, music culture, and stunning landscapes. 

While in Salzburg, we highly recommend taking the funicular up to the historic Hohensalzburg Fortress to enjoy panoramic views over the city. Additionally, experiencing a Mozart concert at Mirabell Palace is a must, even if you don’t consider yourself a classical music fan.

Salzburg Cathedral, featuring a magnificent organ, Mozart’s Birthplace, and Getreidegasse are also popular tourist spots. 

During your stay in Salzburg, why not enjoy a food tour to enjoy traditional Austrian dishes like schnitzel and strudel as you explore the old town with a licensed Salzburg guide to show you the way?

Travel Tip:   Want to practice your do-ray-me-fa-so-la-ti-do lyrics? One of the best things to do in Salzburg is the original Sound of Music tour . You get to visit the filming locations of the classic musical while learning about the history and culture of Salzburg. Book well in advance though, this one sells out quickly!

• Where to Stay in Salzburg

Upmarket: Hotel Sacher Salzburg – Booking.com | Agoda

Mid-Range: Altstadthotel Wolf-Dietrich – Booking.com | Agoda

Budget: Urban Stay Salzburg City – Booking.com | Agoda

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Zell am see .

The drive from Salzburg to Zell am See is a scenic 80 kilometers, passing through the Salzach Valley and the foothills of the Alps. Along the way, there are several towns and villages worth stopping at, including the incredible Hohenwerfen, a medieval fortress located in the Salzach Valley, offering stunning views of the surrounding mountains, and the picturesque village of Werfenweng.

Werfenweng is a charming alpine village known for its stunning natural beauty. If you stop here make sure to enjoy the local cultural attractions like the historic St. Sebastian Church.

Zell am See is a picturesque town located in the Austrian Alps making it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. With numerous ski resorts in the area, it is the perfect place to try your hand at skiing or snowboarding, if you road trip Austria in winter.

Following a trip down the slopes, we recommend warming up by trying local cuisine like goulash and dumplings. If a summer visit is more your thing, you can still experience the stunning alpine landscape by hiking or biking along one of the many trails located in this region. 

A stroll through the old town, to experience the historic architecture of Zell am See, is a must. End a relaxing day with a boat ride on Lake Zell where you can enjoy views of the surrounding mountains.  

The Kitzsteinhorn Glacier (where you can still ski in summer) and Schmittenhöhe Mountain are both accessible by cable car from Zell am See. Taking a trip up to this glacier or mountain peak will allow you to enjoy the breathtaking views of the alpine peaks that Austria is famous for.

• Where to Stay in Zell am See

Upmarket: Grand Hotel Zell am See – Booking.com | Agoda

Mid-Range: Romantikhotel Zell am See – Booking.com | Agoda

Budget: Gästehaus Karl Haffner – Booking.com | Agoda

Grossglockner High Alpine Road Side Trip

During the months of May to early October, the Grossgockner pass will be open. As one of the best driving roads in Europe , we highly recommend you take a short detour south to drive this legendary road.

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is actually route 107 which connects Bruck with Heiligenblut via the Fuscher Törl at 2,428m and the Hochtor Pass at 2,504m. The high road is 47.8km long and has 36 turns which snake between glorious alpine pastures, rocky terrain, and wildflower meadows.

Allow a couple of hours to drive this spectacular road, and then pick up the 108 north at Lienz to return to your original route. This fabulous alpine trip will add two to three hours to your day’s driving, but we promise it’s worth it!

Travel Tip: The road is not open 24/7 even in summer. From early May to May 31st, the road opens between 6am to 8pm daily. From 1st June to 31st August, its open from 5.30am to 9pm, and from 1st September its 6am to 7.30pm. There is also a toll charge of €40 per car.

Want to plan your own road tri p? Get our step-by-step road trip planning guide to help you organize the perfect trip, or check out our Europe road trip ideas .

Mayrhofen 

The drive from Zell am See to Mayrhofen takes you through the Austrian Alps from the Salzburg region into Austria’s historic Tyrol region. You’ll pass through several picturesque towns and villages, including Kitzbühel and Wörgl. Along the way, there are also several opportunities to stop and take in the views, including at the Gerlos Pass in the Hohe Tauern National Park.

The Hohe Tauern National Park is the largest mountain range in the Austrian Alps, offering stunning natural beauty and a range of outdoor activities. With towering peaks, glaciers, and picturesque valleys, the Hohe Tauern is a must-visit destination on your Austria itinerary.  

Mayrhofen is a beautiful alpine village located in the Zillertal Valley of Austria. Here, you can ski on the Hintertux Glacier, visit the Zillertal Alps Nature Park, or take a scenic cable car ride up to the Ahorn Plateau. The Ahornbahn cable car , which takes you to the top of Ahorn Mountain, reveals unparalleled views of the Zillertal Alps. 

Additionally, the nearby Penkenbahn cable car , which takes you to the top of Penken Mountain, offers beautiful views of the surrounding area. In the winter, Penken mountain is the perfect spot for skiing and snowboarding while, in the summer, tourists can enjoy hiking and biking.

If cable cars aren’t your thing, the Zillertal steam train is another way to enjoy scenic views of the Zillertal Valley. Taking one and a half hours, the 119-year-old Zillertalbahn railway is an unmissable experience through the river Ziller valley.

Travel Tip: 12km north of Mayrhofen is Zillertal, a small town that comes alive in the fall every year when the September Almabtrieb  ( cattle drive) takes place. Almabtrieb is the homecoming of the cows, festooned with flowers and head-dress, from the high pastures where the herds have spent the summer.

It is a much-loved tradition and an important part of the Alpine farming calendar, and well worth planning a visit around.

• Where to Stay in Mayrhofen

Upmarket: DasPosthotel Zell am Zimmer – Booking.com | Agoda

Mid-Range: Der Siegeler B&B – Booking.com | Agoda

Budget: das Cityhouse – Booking.com | Agoda

The drive time from Mayrhofen to Innsbruck is approximately one hour and covers 70 kilometers. We recommend visiting both Fügen and Jenbach along this driving route. Both of these charming towns are known for their stunning mountain scenery and historic architecture. 

Innsbruck is the capital city of the Tyrol region in western Austria and is known for its alpine scenery, rich history, and culture. A stroll through Innsbruck’s historic old town to admire the architecture and enjoy the cafes is the perfect way to start your time in the city. 

While visiting Innsbruck, you will be able to visit a range of historic landmarks. These include the Golden Roof, a balcony with a roof covered in over 2,500 gilded copper tiles; Hofburg, a historic palace complex that once housed the Habsburgs; the iconic Bergisel ski jump, and the Imperial Palace, built in the 15th century. 

From Innsbruck in summer , you can take the Nordkette cable car up to the top of the Nordkette mountain range and enjoy the stunning panoramic views of the city and the surrounding alpine landscape. At the summit, you can enjoy an unforgettable dining experience at the Seegrube restaurant . 

Finish off your Austrian road trip by delving into Austrian culture. The Tyrolean Folk Art Museum is an educational experience exploring the history and culture of the Tyrol region and its traditional art and crafts.

Tyrol also has a unique cuisine and experiencing dishes like Tiroler gröstl , a delicious bacon, onion, potato, and egg fry-up, and kaiserschmarrn , a sweet pancake served with apple sauce, is something you should definitely do in Innsbruck.

Travel Tip: From Innsbruck, continue your trip further west to Hoch-Imst and enjoy a unique experience aboard the Alpine Coaster , a summer toboggan run that travels 3,535m along the steepest tracks in the Alps!

To return to Vienna from Innsbruck will add six hours of driving time to your itinerary if you take the ‘quick’ rote back on the E45 and E60 autobahns. Alternatively, fly out of Innsbruck Airport to London Gatwick, Frankfurt Airport, or Amsterdam Airport Schipol, for an easy connection to pretty much anywhere in the world.

• Where to Stay in Innsbruck

Upmarket: Altstadthotel Weißes Kreuz – Booking.com | Agoda

Mid-Range: Hotel Grauer Bär – Booking.com | Agoda

Budget: Meininger Hotel Innsbruck Zentrum – Booking.com | Agoda

Austria Road Trip Resources

Here are the websites and services we personally use and recommend for traveling in Austria.

• Search for affordable flights to Austria with Skyscanner
• Search for availability and book hotels and accommodation in Austria with Booking.com
• Find and book the best campsites in Austria with Eurocampings
• Book the cheapest and most reliable car rentals in Austria with Rentalcars.com
• Find and hire your perfect motorhome or campervan with Motorhome Republic
• Get highly rated, reliable, and trustworthy travel insurance with True Traveller
• Check if you need a visa and arrange your documents with Visagov

Tips for Driving in Austria

The roads in Austria are well maintained and the drivers are courteous and measured. However, the Austrian roads are some of the narrowest in Europe and navigating this winding drive may be challenging for nervous drivers.

Whether you’re traveling in your own vehicle or flying in and renting a car, you need to follow these rules when you drive and travel in Austria;

• You must have at least three months remaining on your passport (issued in the past ten years) at your intended date of departure from Austria.
• You may need a visa to enter Austria, you can find out more on the Federal Ministry Republic of Austria European and International Affairs website .
• You must have at least 3rd party insurance for your vehicle when you road trip in Austria.
• Citizens of non-EU third countries may require an IDP, you can check here .
• Motorists are also required by law to carry the following items when driving in Austria: reflective jackets for driver and passengers; a warning triangle and a first aid box.
• All vehicles must pay a toll called a mautvignette to use the autobahns in Austria. Vehicles are required to display a toll sticker in the windscreen, which is available from border points and fuel stations, or you can buy a digital vignette online here . Rental cars will have the vignette already included and on display in the vehicle.
• If you’re planning a winter road trip to Austria between November 15 and March 15, carrying snow chains in your vehicle is mandatory. Check with your car rental company if these are provided.
• In Austria, motorists drive on the right and overtake on the left. As a general rule, priority must be given to vehicles coming from the right unless indicated
• Radar detectors that interfere with police equipment are prohibited in Austria, although sat nav systems that indicate where fixed speed cameras are located are permitted.
• Dashboard cameras are prohibited in Austria.
• You may only use a mobile phone whilst driving with a hands-free device.

RELATED POST: Driving in Europe – Everything You Need to Know

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5 of the best road trips in Austria

May 19, 2024 • 6 min read

Pause for landscapes that will leave you breathless on these top driving routes in Austria © Fortgens Photography / Shutterstock

There's nothing like hitting the highway in Austria .

Hitting the open road in your own vehicle gives the flexibility to reach the remote corners and great heights of this small country, and the freedom to stop, hike, bike, bathe, and boat to soak in all the surrounding scenery and nature. 

Driving in dreamscape Austria is easy with well-maintained roads, readily available petrol stations and charging points for electric vehicles, and a stack of rest stops and roadside facilities. Enjoy the seamless and scenic transition through the windshield from classical city and historical town to boundless prairies and vineyards, majestic mountain ranges, and the crystal-clear waters of Austria's shimmeringly spectacular lakes. 

From cross-country autobahns to winding mountain passes, here’s our pick of the best road trips in Austria.

1. Grossglockner High Alpine Road

Best road trip for high mountain pass scenery Fusch an der Glocknerstrasse, Salzburgerland to Heiligenblut, Carinthia, 48km (30 miles)

Only the brave traversed this dangerous path on foot before the construction of Austria’s highest mountain pass in 1935. Now, two- and four-wheel enthusiasts can carve through the Hohe Tauern National Park on the  Grossglockner High Alpine Road , whose scenery smacking 36 hairpin turns coil 2500m (8202ft) above sea level before descending across-state into Carinthia.

Half the country's animal species are here, including ibex and golden eagles and the upstaging alpine marmots; a carousel of museums and exhibits along the route highlights conservation efforts. Make a beeline to the emperor-approved Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe observation deck at 2369m (7772ft) for the unbeatable views of the snowcapped 3798m (12,460ft) summit of the Grossglockner peak and the mighty 8km-long (5-mile) Pasterze glacier at its foot. Hikers can pick up the panoramic trailheads here, including the Gamsgrubenweg tunnel-cut track to an alternative glacial lookout. The Edelweissspitze is the highest accessible point at 2571m (8435ft), with a mountain inn serving a traditional menu from schnitzel to strudel.

Planning tip: The Grossglocker High Alpine Road is only open between May and November (day ticket for cars, €43), but always check the weather conditions and what viewpoints are accessible  before heading out.

Don't miss out in Austria. Here are the country's best experiences

2. The Austrian Romantic Road

Best trip for heritage sites and famed lakes Vienna to Salzburg, 450km (280 miles)

Named for its conveyor belt of sumptuous sights, the  Austrian Romantic Road  starts by following the meandering curves of the Danube River on a trail of history-stacked highlights and UNESCO World Heritage sites between Vienna and Salzburg .

Weave through the winemaking region from the monastery-topped Klosterneuburg to the Wachau Valley's gateway town of Krems and the medieval streets of Benedictine monastery-bound Melk. Linger in the quintessential Danube hamlet of Grein and continue to monumental Steyr and Scharnstein – the valley-set teasers before you hit the lake main event of the Salzkammergut , through a route from historic imperial spa haven Bad Ischl and mountainous Dachstein to the bounty trio of beautiful basins, Hallstatt , St Wolfgang and Mondsee .

Planning tip: Don’t cram this all into a pit stop of sites. Spend one week comfortably road-tripping this nature-wrapped heritage hop.

3. South Styrian Wine Road (Südsteirische Weinstraße)

Best trip for cuisine and wine Ehrenhausen to Leutschach, Styria, 25km (16 miles)

This drive takes you along Austria’s famed  South Styrian Wine Road (Südsteirische Weinstraße) through the state’s largest wine-growing region. On a stretch between Ehrenhausen to Leutschach, village hop through a string of soft sloping vineyards on the green quilted meadows bordering Slovenia .

Those looking to indulge in the fruits of the scenery and sample the season’s harvest – from Sauvignon Blanc and Morillon whites to the Schilcher and Blauer Zweigelt red grape varieties – can book into wine estates with accommodation. Hire a bike and make your own full-day tasting tour through the undulating roads to the terraced hill topper Buschenschänken (local wine taverns), serving cold snacks paired with the regional pumpkin seed oil speciality.

Detour: Consider a circular route starting and ending in Graz so you can spend time in Austria's culinary capital.

Want to see more of Austria? Here are the best places to visit

4. Villach Alpine Road

Best road trip for southern alpine views Villach-Möltschach to Rosstratte, 16.5km (10 miles)

Carinthia is known for its warm water ground lakes, but twist up the 11 tight mountain bends of the  Villach Alpine Road on the Dobratsch mountain range and you’ll be rewarded with one of the best viewpoints in southern Austria. On the journey to the highest point – Rosstratte point at 1732m (5682ft) – you’ll have a pick from 11 lookout stations, from birdseye views over Roman-rooted Villach city to the towering Julian Alps summits spread across Slovenia and Italy .

Enjoy the alpine air at the Aichingerhütte mountain hut at 1650m (5413ft) or await the Carinthian cuisine at the apex Rosstratte mountain hut while the children adventure at altitude in the playground. From here you can take two trails into the Dobratsch nature park (the oldest nature reserve in Carinthia), including a geology path and an Alpine Garden packed with 1000 plant species.

Planning tip: Bookend the trip (one-way ticket for cars, €22) with a road tour of Carinthia’s largest lakes, starting at Wörthersee and ending at Millstätter See.

5. Silvretta High Alpine Road

Best trip to reach westernmost Austria Galtür, Tirol to Partenen, Vorarlberg, 22km (12 miles)

Ascending through a swath of peaks, the  Silvretta High Alpine Road (€19.50 per vehicle) connects Tyrol 's ski-renowned Paznaun Valley to Austria's often-overlooked westernmost state, Vorarlberg, and its majestic Montafon region.

Climbing to a backdrop of the spiking Silvretta mountain ranges, the track leads to the lakeside Silvretta-Bielerhöhe apex at 2032m (6666ft), the showstopping platform to Vorarlberg’s towering 3312m-high (10,866ft) summit of Piz Buin. Park here and venture into the recreational playground with a pick for tackling the 320m-long (1050ft) dam wall via ferrata, to try alpine fishing, to follow the nature-blending sculpture scattered hiking trail or to venture into a dazzling light art installation tunnel. Break with a lakeside feast at one of the four restaurants before embarking on the winding descent of 34 hairpin curves leading down into Vorarlberg.

Local tip: Vintage car enthusiasts can stylishly go full throttle during the annual Silvretta Classic Rally Montafon in July.

Tips for driving in Austria

There are charges for toll roads and mountain passes .

For motorway tolls, you must display a physical  Vignette toll sticker or buy a digital sticker online (10 days, €4.60, two months, €11.5, one year, €38.50) or face some hefty fines. Mountain passes have an extra charge for entry.

Know the road rules

Drive on the right and overtake on the left. Speed restrictions are 130km/h on motorways (Autobahn), 100km/h (62mph) on expressways and open roads (Bundesstrasse) and 50km/h (31mph) in residential areas. Take note of  regulations and  emergency numbers.

Research winter road closure dates

Austrian roads are excellent in the warmer months, but winter rain and snow can render them treacherous (winter tires/snow chains are mandatory). Note that many high mountain passes are closed during winter.

Pack a picnic for long drives

From autobahn rest stops to mountain lookout points or hiking trails, you’ll always find seating areas and places to stop if you don’t want to spend money on mountain huts and restaurants.

This article was first published Oct 18, 2021 and updated May 19, 2024.

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My 3-week road trip through Germany, Austria and Italy

First world problems because of Corona: where to travel this summer? But for real guys… don’t forget to be grateful for having a European passport that makes it possible to travel around the world so easily in the first place. Lockdown? Don’t forget to some people are forever in a ‘lockdown’ simply because their passport makes it impossible to travel!

Our first world problems aren’t really a problem, it is just an issue!

Well in my case it just made things easier. No option to fly to another continent, so what we do? We road trip in Europe. Where to go? What to do? Well let’s first pick up my Peugeot 5008 in Amsterdam and then we will see. 

Road tripping in Europe in summer for the 3th year in a row. Last year I traveled from Switzerland through Italy to Slovenia and via Croatia and Hungary to Vienna . In 2018 I also did a road trip with Peugeot and created the ultimate Balkan itinerary for 3 weeks , visiting all 8 countries in that region.

This year I only had about 3 weeks so didn’t wanna go that far and decided to road trip to Germany, Austria and Italy. In this road trip travel blog I show you all my stops and will give you some local tips for that area.

          View this post on Instagram                   More fairytale villages in Austria! 🏘💒 . Different times, different adventures. Road tripping is probably among the safest trips to take at the moment and getting lost in Europe isn’t that bad as you can see! 👌🏻 . Take an unexpected left where you supposed to go right... simply don’t just always follow the paved path. Trust on your instincts and get out of your comfort zone. Now is probably the best time to travel in Europe! #roadtrip #austria #peugeot5008 A post shared by Full Time World Traveler (@traveltomtom) on Jul 6, 2020 at 7:18am PDT

Brombachtal for cycling

Road cycling is a big passion that flourished again during the days of Corona. so I decided to bring my race bike on my road trip. Putting everything in my Peugeot 5008 was super easy and everything actually fitted easily in the trunk: all my bags, tent, camping utilities, my travel gear and my road bike.

On my first day I decided to drive to the Brombachtal to go cycling the beautiful hilly countryside there on the next day. But first I stopped at a little town not far from Frankfurt: Idstein. The center is beautiful. A great restaurant for lunch/dinner is: Deli Dojo.

I found last minute an Airbnb in Brombachtal close to where I was cycling the next day, before heading towards Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Get €25 free Airbnb credit when you sign up through this link . Already got an account? Simply sign up with a different email address!

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Visiting Rothenburg ob der Tauber had no priority as I had been there already in 2018, but when you are that close it is always fun to visit this ‘all-year-round Christmas village’. Patrick, a German friend and awesome travel buddy ( @germanbackpacker ) lives not far from this very popular tourist destination in Germany and I was staying at his place for 2 nights.

The next morning we strolled through the streets of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a picture perfect colorful village in Germany. This is also the place where you will find the amazing Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas shop. You have to walk in here, when visiting Rothenburg ob der Tauber, it is like walking into a fairytale land full of Christmas goodies.

Also find the high-line walking path which gives you some good views over the city, visit the cathedral, find narrow colorful streets and have a coffee on one of the many terraces.

Neuschwanstein Castle

A must do when traveling in Bayern in Southern Germany, but it was going to be my first time only. I heard about the crazy lines and busses full of tourists arriving to catch a glimpse of the Disney Castle Neuschwanstein and that had always put me off a little. Now during the Corona pandemic I figured it would be a great time to visit Neuschwanstein Castle.

Patrick and I drove towards Füssen where we strolled through the city a little bit and had a coffee. Just another German town with some colorful houses I would say, nothing really special. But great place to sit on the terrace have a coffee and a bite before visiting Neuschwanstein Castle. Makes sure to also check out the Füssen Castle: Hohes Schloss zu Füssen.

We arrived at Neuschwanstein Castle around 15:30 only on a cloudy summer day. Parking my Peugeot 5008 costed me €8 and from the parking there are busses going up to Neuschwanstein Castle or you can hike a steep road. We decided to hike up and it took us around 25 minutes I would say. Be aware that it is pretty steep.

When you arrive at the castle, it is so big you can’t really see that much so for a much better view you gotta continue another 10-15 minutes uphill towards the Marienbrücke. From here you have that amazing view and that WOW-moment.

If you go uphill through the a small slippery forest trail you get to an even higher viewpoint that is less crowded. Pretty cool place to go when visiting Neuschwanstein Castle.

          View this post on Instagram                   Tour de Germany! 🇩🇪🏰 It was my first time admiring the most visited tourist attraction in Deutschland and I could not have chosen a better time. . Neuschwanstein Castle was truly mind blowing to see from the bridge above the castle. It is a little bit of a steep hike but totally worth it. I was in awe and after all those castle I have seen in the last years this def is something I recommend. . My trip to Rothenburg ob der Tauber was fun too. At the moment there are hardly any foreign tourists mostly just Germans. This in big contrast to the last time I was in this ‘always Christmas village’. Make sure you don’t miss the Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas market shop. You will be stunned! . All the videos of these adventures can be found in my Germany highlight on my Instagram profile! 🙏🏻 . I understand you re all asking how it is to travel now and I have replied most of you already about it personally. But what you see in my stories is the reality! I visit tourist attractions like normally, hike, explore, visit restaurants spontaneously, find places to sleep online, etc. Of course there are some things different as usually and in Germany you still have to wear a mask indoor. . In my opinion now is the best time to travel, whether you like to hear it or not! Due to corona most places aren’t flooded with tourists and it feels actually very relaxed to be on the road! ✌🏻 #travelnow #germany🇩🇪 A post shared by Full Time World Traveler (@traveltomtom) on Jul 8, 2020 at 5:49am PDT

There is also a second castle, just nearby. You will see it as you hike up to Neuschwanstein. Looks pretty from far!

As we were planning to hike in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and visit the Eibsee and the Zugspitze we stayed in Oberau in the simple but ok hotel Alpenhof for around €80 per night, including breakfast. Hotels in Garmisch-Partenkirchen were simply too expensive in my opinion.

All my travel adventure videos from the above Germany tourist destinations can be found on my Instagram highlight: Germany 1 . 

Hiking at Eibsee/Zugspitze

When you travel with me, it is always a big surprise where you will end up. This day I led Patrick up to (almost) the highest point in Germany: the Zugspitze. We wanted to visit the Eibsee but also go for a cool hike around. I found a cool hiking route, but it was kind of challenging. Well we are fit… let’s see where this ends! :)

Eventually we walked for more than 9 hours and arrived back at my Peugeot 5008 around 9pm, but what an epic adventure it was. The hike is called Riffelscharte and it is a great way to see the Eibsee, hike up to a peak next to the Zugspitze and experience the Höllentalklam, a narrow canyon passage in the mountains.

Probably one of my best hiking adventures in Europe! Here are some impressions.

          View this post on Instagram                   All my hiking adventures in Germany in one post! From the Eibsee to the Tegernsee and everything in and between... . Being outdoors is the best place to be right now and hiking through the mountains Im pretty sure you won’t catch any Corona. Im not a specialist but you hardly come across any other people so there is very slim chance anyway. Being active outdoors is not only healthy but also resets your mind! Not that I need it... but hiking for hours feels like a kind of meditation! Anyone who can relate? . But for those who are writing me it is stupid to travel, I advice you to please stay home. For those who are taking a leap of faith in these uncertain times I will tell you again and again... this is the best time! 🙌🏻⛰ . Also what is your favorite place from all of these pictures? And may you need more info about the hikes, please be patient, I will post about them in detail on my blog soon! #hikersparadise #bavarianalps A post shared by Full Time World Traveler (@traveltomtom) on Jul 10, 2020 at 10:37am PDT

After hiking the Riffelscharte and the Höllentalklam we decided to move onwards towards the Tegernsee where we would go for a hike the next day. We found a cheap place to stay: Lenggrieser Hof in Lenggries and paid only €65 for the night. The hotel was very old fashioned and simple, but good enough for a good sleep.

Watch all my travel adventures from hiking at the Eibsee and Zugspitze in my Instagram highlights: Germany 2 .

Hiking around the Tegernsee

Patrick called a friend from Munich who was willing to guide us around on this beautiful day at the Tegernsee. She led us first steep uphill to the Riederstein Kapelle before we hiked onwards to the top of the Baumgartenschneid.

After yesterday’s big hike I couldn’t feel my legs anymore but we managed and a couple hours later we got back to the Tegernsee. I first wanted to go for a swim, but the water was pretty cold and I was being a pussy!

But on the other hand I still had to drop Patrick and his friend in Munich and then drive back down South to Innsbruck which was going to be my next destination on this road trip with Peugeot.

It happened that I only stayed in Innsbruck for 1 night in Hotel Central. It was a last minute deal but I only paid €95 for this standard but very nice hotel regarding the price, Nice buffet breakfast included.

Initially I wanted to stay longer in Innsbruck and Austria, but I got a confirmation to stay at a very nice place in Merano, South Tyrol, Italy.

Hotel Chalet Mirabell - Merano

The next morning I hopped onto the Brenner highway into Italy and 3 hours later I was checked in to what later became my favorite mountain chalet I ever stayed in. Staying in Hotel Chalet Mirabell was an absolutely amazing experience and very welcome after all my hiking in South Germany.

The wellness area with 4 different sauna’s, multiple relaxing rooms and even an infrared cinema sauna was the perfect place to rejuvenate. The infinity pool and even my balcony had the best mountain views. The breakfast was an absolute dream and was dinner. Four days in a row I didn’t leave the property, that is how fabulous my experience was. 

Check out my review of Hotel Chalet Mirabell blog with more than 40 pictures and you will understand why…

My first stop after staying at Hotel Chalet Mirabell was Merano, but I wasn’t convinced. Sincerely though guys if you have limted time when visiting the South Tyrol region, don’t put Merano on your itinerary. Why not? Because it simply is just another small city. No Italian vibes, no beautiful squares to hang out, no colerful houses or anything that makes a city special to visit. My honest opinion do with it what you want!

Rainbow Lake Carezza

This is one of the emerald blue lakes from the Dolomites you see often passing by on Instagram. It is only 30 minutes from Bolzano so I had to make my way up there. It is located in the Eggental and the drive uphill is beautiful surrounded by the peak of the Dolomites constantly.

Getting to Lake Carezza is easy, walking around even easier. Read all my tips for visiting Lago di Carezza in my complete guide, including multiple photos, places nearby, etc.

Hotel Saltus - San Genesio

After Merano I moved into the hills just above Bolzano. Here in the charming village of San Genesio I found a brand new hotel that I wanted to check out. It was a gorgeous rooftop pool on Instagram that got my attention and that is how I ended up staying the next couple days in Hotel Saltus in Jenesien.

It was the place for total relaxation. Have a look at my Hotel Saltus review blog and find out what I loved about this hotel even more than the rooftop pool. The breakfast and the sauna were by the way also heavenly!

All my videos from my adventures in ITaly so far can be found in my Instagram highlights: Italy 2 .

One of my favorite regions in South Tyrol is Alta Badia. I have been there in winter while snowboarding in Dolomiti Superski , but now I finally had the time to explore Alta Badia in summer. It turned out to be a couple epic days full of adventures.

Paragliding

First I went paragliding which was an absolute dream coming true. I mean I have had a lot of adventures around the world and did crazy things, but this was my first time. I had an absolute legend of a pilot who guided me through the take off and after that it is basically just: sit back, relax and enjoy! I did my tandemflight with Tandemflights Alta Badia .

Also had to take my drone (see my travel gear list for all my equipement) for a spin and hiked up to some lakes. Lake Boé is pretty easy to get to, the other one is located 15 minutes Southwest from Rifugio Franz Kostner where I had lunch. A great place to go for hiking as the majestic peaks of the Dolomites are looming large behind this mountain hut.

It was also my first time renting an e-bike and going on an adventure. I still didn’t have time to take my road bike for a ride and I was willing to ride Sella Ronda, but ended up taking an e-bike up the mountain and ride downhill. But not before I made several stops at different mountain huts.

Check out all my tips for Alta Badia in my blog: Best Things To Do in Alta Badia in Summer . Recommended place to stay in La Villa - Alta Badia: Natur Hotel Miraval .

Also when curious about more videos from the above things to do in Alta Badia then have a look at my Instagram highlights: Italy 3 .

Ciao Bella Italia! I had to say goodbye as I was heading towards Pitztal to climb Austria’s second highest mountain: the Wildspitze. But I still had some time to visit my friend Arianne living in Innsbruck where we went cycling around the mountainous area.

Unfortunately I got the bad news that my expedition leading up to the top of Austria got cancelled due to bad weather! So I had to make new plans.

          View this post on Instagram                   When your friend is 3x World Champion you have to take a selfie! ⛷🥇🙌🏻😂 @ari_tricomi . Went cycling around hilly Innsbruck on a beautiful day and had the best guide ever! I brought my road bike with me on this road trip but actually hardly had time to ride. Still a big fan, but I was on the move too much to really use it. . Well days like these proofed I didn’t bring it for nothing! 🤗🚴🏼‍♂️ . Riding a bike is one of my fave ways to explore a place. You move around so easily, can stop wherever you want, you are active and breath fresh air! . Who else is a fan? . Guess the fact that Im from Holland 🚴🏼‍♂️🇳🇱 contributes to that, but hey guys whenever you can go for it! Grab a bike and start exploring... 👌🏻 A post shared by Full Time World Traveler (@traveltomtom) on Jul 19, 2020 at 6:30am PDT

Well who would have thought I would end up in Italia again towards the end of my road trip? And this was far! I made it to Verona, because I had friends asking me to come over and who were willing to show me around. I quickly looked on Airbnb and found a cool place to stay for €80 a night… that literally felt like I was staying in a castle. Here is the exact Aribnb link . Remeber that signing up through this link gives you €25 travel credit for free and it takes only 2 minutes. Easiest money ever earned !

It was about 20 minutes North of Verona in the little town of Grezzana. A little far from the city to be honest, but the fabulous accommodation made up for it. And besides that I had my Peugeot 5008 with me anyway.

Verona was were I actually felt the real Italian vibes. No bad word about South Tyrol, you guys know I love it, but it is more like Austria up there. The old city of Verona really is worth visiting. On my first day my friends took me for breakfast but I ended up coming back home at my Romeo and Juliet love suite way after midnight.

In Verona definitely go have dinner or lunch at Osteria Ponte Pietra Ristorante, one of the best restaurants in Verona with amazing food and views.

I hope all the above tips were helpful if you are planning a road trip to Southern Germany, Austria and Italy. Let me know if you have any more questions. Please send me a DM on my Instagram account @traveltomtom .

Thank you for keeping up with the adventures of Traveltomtom. 

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Readers’ favourite trips in Germany: ‘We wandered every cobbled street and climbed every gothic tower’

From the Baltic to Bavaria, via Berlin, our tipsters enjoy epic scenery and architecture, culture and steins of fabulous German beer

Literary Lübeck

Lübeck – Queen of the Hanseatic League – has a fading charm and vulnerability absent from the likes of Berlin, Munich and Hamburg … and most of Germany. I loved my trip there, wandering the cobbled streets, climbing every brick gothic church tower – generally alone! Thomas Mann wrote the unbearably sad novel Buddenbrooks there, then fled to the US from nazism in 1939. The Tin Drum author Günter Grass lived and worked in Lübeck in later life. Visit their former houses, now museums, the Grass-Haus and the Buddenbrook Haus . A singular German city, full of history and significance. Martin Charlesworth

Gothic marvel of Marburg, Hesse

Marburg, the small, ancient university town about an hour by train north of Frankfurt, is a fairytale destination, not least because it was once home to the Brothers Grimm . Every cobbled lane leads uphill to the castle, which looms above Marburg’s timber-framed Oberstadt. The castle was host to Martin Luther in 1529, and the Elisabethkirche, one of Germany’s earliest gothic churches, was an important medieval pilgrimage site. One of the main attractions is at the town hall, where, at midday, locals and visitors congregate to witness a brass cockerel (the Gockelhahn ) flap its mechanical wings to mark the hour. Anna

Brilliant viewing tower, Stuttgart

For a viewing tower that outdoes Berlin, take one of the little yellow trams, which then become a funicular, up Stuttgart’s spiralling streets. The views from the tower towards the Black Forest are stunning, and the external viewing platform will have you wondering whether it is gently swaying, or if it’s just your knees wobbling. Stuttgart is a leafy city with great art at the Kunstmuseum and archaeological finds at Landesmuseum Württemberg , and the Swabian cuisine and wines in the local Weinstuben are lighter and tastier than in many other major cities. Tim Proctor

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Monastic day trip from Munich

About 25 miles south-west of Munich is Andechs Monastery – Bavaria at its most idyllic and authentic. Sitting atop Ammersee (Lake Ammer), this Benedicitine monastery and pilgrimage church is popular for its brewery, restaurant and beer garden. It makes the perfect day out: take the S-Bahn from Munich to Herrsching, then hike 40 minutes gently uphill through lovely forest. On arrival, reward yourself with steins of great beer and Bavarian fare. Call into the beautiful St Martin’s church on your way back down to Herrsching, where you can have an ice-cream by the shores of the lake (or take a dip) and watch the boats before returning to Munich. Sonutschka

Culture and art in Nuremberg

If you can, spend time in the beautiful city of Nuremberg, with its amazing museums: the Germanische Nationalmuseum is the equivalent of the British Museum and is the largest German cultural history collection. The Neues Museum has an impressive collection of paintings by renowned visual artist Gerhard Richter and the Zukunftsmuseum is a great science museum. Stay at the Karl August hotel (doubles from €159 room only) with its stunning modern design, spectacular spa area, friendly staff and delicious breakfast (€28, served – instead of buffet – to minimise food waste). Till

A bike ride by the Baltic via Rostock

I had a brilliant time in Germany last summer cycling the Baltic Sea Cycle Route . I put my own two-wheeler on the train at Birmingham and got off in Wismar, northern Germany, then followed the well-signposted route around the charming seaside village of Kühlungsborn. I stopped for a bit of beach time at Warnemünde and had some sardine sandwiches and delicious soft Baltic Berry ice-cream from simple seaside cafes. Rostock is a lovely Hanseatic city with some stern old stone buildings. From here I put my bike on a ferry to car-free and calm Hiddensee island for a couple of quiet nights. Going back to the mainland, Sellin welcomed me with grand elegant villas and an art deco-style 1920s pier and a great footpath under the striking chalk cliffs of the Jasmund national park. I finished my trip by sitting on the white chalk “King’s Chair” (Königsstuhl) cliff, gazing out to sea – feeling like a king. Bill

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Touring Reformation country south of Berlin

In 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Schlosskirche in Wittenberg , forever changing the western world by kicking off the Reformation. Exploring this corner of eastern Germany will reveal beautiful towns and vibrant cities rarely visited by western tourists. Wittenberg, 60 miles south-west of Berlin, itself is a medieval marvel on the River Elbe. Off the beaten track is Eisleben, a half-timbered town where you can visit Luther’s birthplace. The Wartburg is an imposing castle towering over Eisenach. Finish your trip in Halle , a vibrant university city near Leipzig. Luther’s death mask can be seen in the Market Church, where he also gave some sermons. Here, another great German, composer George Frederick Handel, was baptised and played the church’s organ when studying. Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, eldest son of Johann Sebastian, was organist here from 1746 to 1764. Nick

Punk ethos and Turkish delights, Kreuzberg, Berlin

Berlin’s large Turkish community has left an indelible mark on the culinary and artistic culture of the city as a whole, and it is in the neighbourhood of Kreuzberg where this unique fusion is best experienced. Start with a meal at Mardin restaurant , which serves the best kebabs I’ve had outside Turkey, along with perfectly frothy ayran – a salty yoghurt-based drink. Afterwards, find a concert at one of many characterful venues. SO36 , named for the area’s cold war era postcode, began life as a punk venue, but has now also become a centre for Turkish and queer culture – I was fortunate enough to see the psychedelic pop singer Melike Şahin here. The venue has retained its punk ethos and remained firmly rooted in the local community while also playing host to Turkish and other international stars in a wonderfully intimate, hole-in-the-wall setting, which wears its history of artistic and political radicalism with great pride, epitomising the multicultural Berlin with which I fell in love. Bruno

Cologne beyond the cathedral

I really enjoyed Cologne while visiting my daughter. It’s such a relaxed city, with a large student population. Away from the incredible gothic cathedral – Germany’s most popular attraction – there’s history to be discovered in all sorts of places that are best explored by bike on cycle lanes and routes through numerous parks. The city museum , Kölnisches Stadtmuseum, which recently moved to Minoritenstraße, is a good start. Some places are beautiful, such as the botanical garden with its French baroque, English landscape and Italian renaissance spaces. Others are less so, such as the brutalist Kirche Christi Auferstehung (Church of the Resurrection) until you step inside. It’s very thought-provoking, typical of a city shaping its future from a difficult past. And there are the art museums, concert hall, the Rhine and two parkruns. Mark Anstee

Winning tip: oompah bands and lager on Königssee, Bavaria

Last summer my partner and I camped and railed around Germany, utilising the €49 Deutschland-Ticket offering unlimited public transport, countrywide, for a month. A highlight was exploring Königssee in the Berchtesgadener national park, Bavaria. This small resort offers fantastic hiking and biking routes of varying difficulty levels. In summer, whether you have climbed on foot or taken the Jennerbahn cable car , beer garden season is in full swing so you can toast atop the mountain with an oompah band playing and a cold stein in hand. Königssee lake is fed by icy-clear glacier water, ideal for an invigorating swim, and you can explore further into the park by boat. Campsite Mühlleiten is 40 minutes by bus from Salzburg and connected by rail to Munich (Berchtesgaden station is a 40-minute walk away, or 10 minutes on the bus). Enjoy, and try the Berchtesgadener hell ! Becky

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