Backpacking Austria: A 10-Day Guide

This 10-day route takes you across Austria from east to west, from Vienna’s palaces to the mountains above Innsbruck, with a stop in the lake country between. It suits travelers who want the classic highlights with time to breathe, at a steady but relaxed pace of two to three nights per base. You will rely on ÖBB intercity trains, regional trains, the Postbus between Salzburg and the lakes, and a cable car or two in Tyrol.

Days 1-3: Vienna and the Danube

Three nights in Vienna cover the imperial core. Book a timed ticket for Schönbrunn Palace and its state rooms, then explore the gardens and maze for free. On day two, pair the Kunsthistorisches Museum, with its Bruegels and the Kunstkammer, and an afternoon at the Belvedere Palace, where the Upper Belvedere holds Klimt’s The Kiss. Coffeehouse culture comes into its own here: one Melange and a newspaper can last an hour without anyone hurrying you. On day 3, take the train out to the Wachau and walk up to the castle ruin above Dürnstein, … read more 👉

This 10-day route takes you across Austria from east to west, from Vienna’s palaces to the mountains above Innsbruck, with a stop in the lake country between. It suits travelers who want the classic highlights with time to breathe, at a steady but relaxed pace of two to three nights per base. You will rely on ÖBB intercity trains, regional trains, the Postbus between Salzburg and the lakes, and a cable car or two in Tyrol.

Days 1-3: Vienna and the Danube

Three nights in Vienna cover the imperial core. Book a timed ticket for Schönbrunn Palace and its state rooms, then explore the gardens and maze for free. On day two, pair the Kunsthistorisches Museum, with its Bruegels and the Kunstkammer, and an afternoon at the Belvedere Palace, where the Upper Belvedere holds Klimt’s The Kiss. Coffeehouse culture comes into its own here: one Melange and a newspaper can last an hour without anyone hurrying you. On day 3, take the train out to the Wachau and walk up to the castle ruin above Dürnstein, overlooking the Danube and its vineyard terraces, before heading back for dinner at a wine tavern on the city’s edge.

Days 4-5: Salzburg

The Railjet to Salzburg takes about 2.5 hours. Spend your time here on the fortress, the cathedral and the river walk, but also on the quieter Nonnberg Abbey lanes and the Kapuzinerberg trail, where locals walk their dogs. Two nights give you an evening concert option and a slow morning at the Grünmarkt.

Days 6-7: Bad Ischl and Hallstatt

Take bus 150 for about 1.5 hours to Bad Ischl, the old imperial spa town and a cheaper, central base for the Salzkammergut. Tour the Kaiservilla, the emperor’s summer residence, and order a slice of cake at Zauner, the pastry shop that supplied the court. On day 7, the train reaches Hallstatt in about 30 minutes; go early, ferry across from the station, and climb to the salt mine before the tour buses peak around midday.

Days 8-10: Innsbruck and Seefeld

Day 8 is the one long travel day, roughly 4 hours via Salzburg to Innsbruck. The payoff comes fast: the Nordkette cable car runs from the city center to 2,256 meters, so you can swap cobblestones for scree in about 30 minutes. On day 9, ride the Karwendel line to Seefeld in Tirol, about 40 minutes on one of the most scenic rail lines in the region, for an easy loop around the Wildsee or a hike up from the Rosshütte. Fly out of Innsbruck on day 10, or continue by train toward Munich or Zurich.

Ten minutes by train from Innsbruck, the medieval old town of Hall in Tirol has its own mint tower and almost none of the capital’s crowds.