Salzburg to Innsbruck

Hi, I need advice from traveller experts.

We are two in group, will arrive Salzburg by flight on 1Apr, will stay overnight in Salzburg for city tour. We would like to travel by car around the Salzburg scenic area on 2Apr, overnight at small town along the way, and plan to reach Innsbruck on 4Apr, will continue to Switzerland by train.

Would like ask is it safe to drive along the Alps in early Apr? How long the car journey from Salzburg to Innsbruck? Which route is best suit our time schedule and meet our needs of scenic tour?

I do understand the rail system is convinent but we like car because can drop by any places we like, espcially when travel with luggage along.

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You won%26#39;t face any road-related problems in April as long as you don%26#39;t take any roads high up to the mountain peaks. I would drive in Southerly direction towards Zell am See either via Bad Reichenhall/Lofer or via Bischofshofen. Stay in Zell am See for the night and then proceed to Innsbruck either via Kitzbühel/Wörgl or via Krimml/Zell am Ziller (=Gerlos Road).

http://www.gerlosstrasse.at/

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Hi,

I like %26quot;Mikey Vienna%26#39;s ideas. Just so you know the trip from Salzburg direct to Innsbruck is about 2:30 minutes drive. Not too far at all.

I like the Salzburg/Lofer to Zell am See route. Do stop in Ramsau (by Berchtesgaden and Bad reichenhall) on the way. The church/setting is beautiful! We did this drive 2 years ago during the first week of November. Gorgeous scenery all along the drive!! Oh, and we loved Zell am See! It%26#39;s about a 2 huor drive.

The Gerlos Pass to Innsbruck takes a bit of time, but again... the scenery is beautiful!!

On both days, you%26#39;ll have plenty of time to stop along the way, as the distances aren%26#39;t too far apart.

We have photo%26#39;s of these places at:

www.worldisround.com/home/pja1/index.html

www.worldisround.com/home/pja1/travel15.html

Hope this helps.

Paul

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Thanks so much!

If we would drive from Salzburg to St Wolfgang-%26gt;Bad Ischl-%26gt;HallStatt-%26gt;Golling-%26gt;Zell Am See-%26gt;Zell am zeller-%26gt;Innsbruck, how about this?

We would like to picture the beautiful Hallstatt by our own eye though it is just a little village with no much to explore.

If we would do that route, what would be the cost of driving? I checked the rental for a small car is ~EUR120 from 2April to 4April. What about the petrol, toll and usage of the road/passes?

Do you have the link to the road map site for Austria?

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As always, it is a tough decision! If you quickly visit the %26#39;Salzkammergut%26#39; (= name of the lake region which accommodates St. Wolfgang, Hallstatt and other towns), you will lose valuable time you could need in the area of %26#39;Zell am See%26#39;. If you don%26#39;t mind driving all the time, then it should be feasible.

I can highly recommend to download GOOGLE EARTH, from which you could extensively benefit in your preparation stage.

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Hi,

As far as tolls for highways... you just need to buy a %26quot;Vignette%26quot;, which is a sticker for your car windshield. It is for use of all highways in Austria. The cost is only 7.60 Euro for a 10 day sticker (the smallest amount of time available). They can be bought at gas stations, convenience stores, etc. You%26#39;ll see signs for them.

http://w.german-way.com/autobahn2.html

The route Salzburg/St. Wolfgang/Bad Ischl/Hallstatt/Golling/Zell am See/Zell am Ziller/Innsbruck is the long way for sure. My advice would be to choose between the Salzkammergut/Hallstatt and Zell am See, as these 2 places are the ones that are not %26quot;enroute%26quot; from Salzburg to Innsbruck. Getting to Hallstatt itself is a bit time consuming. As Mikey stated, you will be driving just about the entire time.

Question, do you plan on staying in Innsbruck 1 the night before you leave for Switzerland? You have 2 nights between Salzburg and the day you leave for Switzerland. Just curious.

Paul

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I got to do more research on the route you are recommending.

We are not spending overnight in Innsbruck, upon arrival in Innsbruck, drop the car then proceed to Zurich by train in the evening. We are not so interested in city.

So, after leaving Salzburg on 2Apr afternoon, will drive to Hallstatt area, stay a night in one of the town along the route. Next day drive toward Zell am see as recommended and stay a night there. On 4Apr depart and drive toward Innsbruck, hope to reach there by early afternoon.

Your suggestion are very helpful for me as first timer to Austria. Thanks alot.

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The windshield sticker, which is manadatory for taking motorways (which can also be named highways with multiple lanes in both directions with a separation strip in between) with abbreviation A (e.g. A1) and S (e.g. S33), should already be adhered if it is an Austrian rental car. If not take the advice of the preceding poster. Regarding tolls for usage of mountain roads please visit the website mentioned.

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Hi again,

Your revised plan sounds good. If you have the time or interest, from Hallstatt area to Zell am See is Hohenwerfen (nice castle) in Werfen.

www.salzburg-burgen.at/en/werfen/

From Zell am See I%26#39;d drive west and over the Gerlos Pass (Zillertal) and again, if time permits and you have an hour or so, the old town of Hall in Tirol (about 10 minutes before you reach Innsbruck) is beautiful. We stayed here 3 times and love it.

Paul

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I tried the Google Earth, it is fantastic! The roads are clear and the directions are detail.

After some research around the Salzburg land to Zell am see, I%26#39;m pretty decided to drive from Salzburg to HallStatt. Mostly will stay in HallStatt, it is such a beautiful village.

Next day drive toward Zell am see, driving time around 2hrs, should have some time to visit the castle.

Last day will drive through the Gerlos Road to Innbruck, drop by the Hall for lunch before Innsbruck.

Quite much of driving in 2.5days and 2 nights. Average 2hrs driving per day, should be manageable I hope.

Thanks all for your guidance.

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