8-Day Adventurous Austria: Vienna, Salzburg & Innsbruck with Zillertal Snowboarding
Austria pairs Old World grandeur with Alpine thrills. From Habsburg palaces and coffeehouse rituals in Vienna to baroque squares in Salzburg and snow-sure slopes near Innsbruck, you’ll experience both culture and adrenaline in one compact trip.
Vienna’s Ringstrasse still encircles a golden age of music and art, while Salzburg’s fortress and abbeys watch over lanes where Mozart once hunted melodies. Westward, the Tyrol delivers mountain drama: craggy peaks, tidy chalets, and valleys like the Zillertal known for superb snowboarding.
Practical notes: trains are fast and frequent, card payments are widely accepted, and local cuisine runs from schnitzel and tafelspitz to Kaspressknödel and Kaiserschmarrn. Pack layers, sturdy shoes, and if you’re riding in Zillertal, bring goggles and a helmet.
Vienna
Vienna, the former Habsburg capital, is a symphony of palaces, parks, and pastries. Its coffeehouse culture (UNESCO-recognized) invites you to linger, while the Ringstrasse circles architectural showpieces from the State Opera to the Parliament.
Top sights include Schönbrunn, the Hofburg, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and the MuseumsQuartier. For a modern edge, stroll the Danube Canal’s street art and bar scene, or ride the Prater’s Giant Ferris Wheel.
Where to stay (mid-range friendly):
- Browse apartments on VRBO Vienna or hotels via Hotels.com Vienna.
- Specific picks: Motel One Wien-Staatsoper (value by the Opera), Hilton Vienna Park (near Stadtpark), budget-chic Wombat's City Hostel Vienna Naschmarkt, splurge at Hotel Sacher Wien or riverside Hilton Vienna Danube Waterfront. Also consider family-friendly Austria Trend Hotel Zoo Wien.
Getting in and around: Fly into Vienna (VIE) and compare fares on Omio (flights to/from Europe). For trains later in the trip, use Omio (trains in Europe).
Day 1: Arrive in Vienna
Afternoon: Land in Vienna and check in. Shake off jet lag at Café Sperl (velvet banquettes, billiards) or Café Central (poets and pastries since 1876). Stroll the pedestrian Graben and peek into St. Stephen’s Cathedral—climb the tower if you want instant city views.
Evening: Go classic with a schnitzel at Figlmüller Wollzeile (paper-thin and plate-sized) or try Gasthaus Pöschl for a cozier, local vibe. Nightcap at 1516 Brewing Company (house ales) or a glass of Grüner Veltliner at Wein & Co Stephansplatz.
Day 2: Imperial Vienna + Museums
Morning: Breakfast at Joseph Brot (legendary sourdough, egg brioche sandwiches). Explore the Hofburg: Imperial Apartments, Sisi Museum, and the Spanish Riding School training session if timing aligns (book ahead). Walk Heldenplatz to the Opera and down Kärntner Straße.
Afternoon: Dive into art: Kunsthistorisches Museum (Bruegel, Rubens) and across the square the MuseumsQuartier (Leopold Museum’s Schiele and Klimt). For lunch, graze the Naschmarkt—NENI for sabich and hummus, Umarfisch for fresh fish, or Deli for Austrian-meets-Mediterranean plates.
Evening: Consider affordable standing-room tickets at the Vienna State Opera (arrive ~80–120 minutes early). Or keep it casual in Neubau at Ulrich (seasonal small plates) then a late walk along the lit-up Ringstrasse.
Day 3: Urban Adventure + Heuriger Evening
Morning: Start at Vollpension (grandma-run cakes and hearty breakfasts). Climb St. Stephen’s south tower (343 steps) for a cardio-and-view combo, then trace bold murals along the Donaukanal. If weather’s fine, rent bikes to the Prater and ride the Giant Ferris Wheel.
Afternoon: Explore the Third Man Museum (film history and Cold War Vienna). Coffee and cake at Demel (strudel slicer’s ballet). Quick shopping on Mariahilfer Straße or indie boutiques on Neubaugasse.
Evening: Head to a heuriger (wine tavern) in Grinzing/Heiligenstadt. Heuriger Mayer am Pfarrplatz pours young Viennese wine; pair with Liptauer and schnitzel. Reach it by tram D to Beethovengang; stroll back under chestnut trees.
Salzburg
Salzburg is baroque beauty: onion domes, pastel lanes, and the mighty Fortress Hohensalzburg. It’s Mozart’s birthplace and the backdrop for “The Sound of Music,” but it also hides beer halls in monasteries and cliffside walking paths.
Top picks: Getreidegasse, Mozart’s Birthplace, Mirabell Gardens, the DomQuartier, and Mönchsberg viewpoints. Don’t miss Augustiner Bräustuben (steins and market-style food stalls).
Where to stay:
- Search stays on VRBO Salzburg or Hotels.com Salzburg.
- Specific picks: Hotel Goldener Hirsch (heritage luxe), Hotel Sacher Salzburg (river views), Hotel & Villa Auersperg (boutique + spa), value MEININGER Hotel Salzburg City Center, or central Hotel Elefant.
Getting there: Morning Railjet Vienna–Salzburg ~2 h 25 min, €25–40 if booked early. Check schedules and fares on Omio (trains). Buses can be cheaper: Omio (buses).
Day 4: Vienna to Salzburg + Fortress Evening
Morning: Depart Vienna by Railjet around 8:00–9:00. Drop bags at your hotel and cross the river to Mirabell Gardens for the Pegasus fountain and hedge tunnels.
Afternoon: Old Town walk: Linzer Gasse to Getreidegasse, pop into Mozart’s Birthplace, and sample an Original Mozartkugel at Konditorei Fürst. Coffee at Café Bazar (writers’ haunt with Salzach views).
Evening: Cap the night with dinner and live music high above town. Book the Best of Mozart Concert and Dinner at Fortress Hohensalzburg.
Day 5: Salzburg Tours + Beer Hall
Morning: Choose between two unique, cinematic adventures. Option A: The Original Sound of Music Tour (visit film locations amid alpine scenery).
Afternoon: Ride the funicular to Hohensalzburg Fortress; explore armories and the corkscrew tower. Walk the Mönchsberg trail to the Museum of Modern Art terrace for coffee with a panorama.
Evening: Classic Salzburg dinner: Bärenwirt (crispy Backhendl) or reservable St. Peter Stiftskulinarium (one of Europe’s oldest restaurants). Then steins at Augustiner Bräustuben—choose your mug, rinse it yourself, and fill it from the barrel, with pretzels and grilled sausages from the market stalls.
Innsbruck
Cradled by the Nordkette, Innsbruck mixes medieval lanes with cutting-edge mountain lifts. It hosted the Winter Olympics twice (1964, 1976), and in minutes you can ride from the Old Town to high-alpine viewpoints.
Highlights: the Golden Roof, Imperial Palace, Bergisel Ski Jump (Zaha Hadid design), and the Nordkette cable car to Seegrube/Hafelekar. Use it as a base for snowboarding day trips to the Zillertal.
Where to stay:
- See options on VRBO Innsbruck or Hotels.com Innsbruck.
- Specific picks: NALA Individuellhotel (designy and good value), or central Hotel Innsbruck (pool, sauna, steps from the Old Town).
Getting there: Salzburg–Innsbruck Railjet ~1 h 50 min, €20–30 via Omio (trains). From Innsbruck, the Zillertal is an easy rail connection via Jenbach.
Day 6: Salzburg to Innsbruck + Nordkette and Folk Show
Morning: Train to Innsbruck and check in. Coffee at Café Munding (since 1803) or Kater Noster (specialty roaster).
Afternoon: Old Town loop: Golden Roof, Ottoburg, Imperial Palace. Ride the Hungerburgbahn and Nordkette cable car to Seegrube for staggering views—hike a short ridge if snow allows.
Evening: Tyrolean dinner at Stiftskeller (Kaspressknödel soup, pork roast) or Die Wilderin (hyper-local, seasonal). Then clap along at the Tyrolean Folk Show—yodels, Schuhplattler dance, and alpine instruments.
Day 7: Zillertal Snowboarding – Mayrhofen (Penken)
Morning: Early train Innsbruck–Jenbach (~30 min), then Zillertalbahn to Mayrhofen (~50 min). Budget €20–25 each way; check times on Omio (trains). Rent from a reputable in-town shop (e.g., Bründl Sports); expect ~€35–45/day for board + boots, helmet extra. Take the Penkenbahn up—intermediate-friendly blues and reds, snowparks, and speedy lifts.
Afternoon: Ride Penken’s wide pistes and the Vans Penken Park for freestyle laps. Lunch on-mountain at Granatalm (sun deck, Tiroler Gröstl) or Panorama at Penken for views over the valley. A Zillertal Superskipass adult day ticket typically runs ~€74–85 depending on season.
Evening: Après at the Ice Bar by the Penkenbahn or Scotland Yard Pub in town. Train back to Innsbruck. Dinner late at Weisses Rössl (Tyrolean classics) or Ottoburg (cozy, medieval rooms).
Day 8: Hintertux Glacier Option + Departure
Morning: If you want one more thrill and conditions demand, go for the snow-sure Hintertux Glacier (year-round riding). From Mayrhofen it’s ~40 min by bus; plan an early start and similar pass/rental costs. Alternatively, take it easy in Innsbruck: Bergisel Ski Jump museum and café view, or sauna time at your hotel.
Afternoon: Depart from Innsbruck (INN) or rail back to Vienna/Munich for flights. Compare options on Omio (flights) and Omio (trains). Grab a farewell bowl of Kaspressknödel soup at Markthalle before you go.
Food & Drink Shortlist (by city)
- Vienna: Breakfast at Joseph Brot or Vollpension; lunch grazing at Naschmarkt (NENI, Umarfisch); dinners at Figlmüller, Gasthaus Pöschl, or Plachutta (tafelspitz). Coffeehouse hits: Sperl, Central, Demel. Drinks at 1516 Brewing Company or a heuriger in Grinzing.
- Salzburg: Coffee at Café Bazar or 220 Grad; street-food “bosna” at Balkan Grill Walter; hearty dinners at Bärenwirt or Die Weisse (brewpub). Sweet stops: Café Sacher Salzburg and Fürst for the original Mozartkugel.
- Innsbruck/Zillertal: Café Munding and Haepinest for coffee; Stiftskeller and Die Wilderin for dinner; Tribaun and 360° Bar for drinks. On-slope eats at Granatalm and Penken Panorama; try Kaiserschmarrn for a sugar boost.
Getting Between Cities (quick reference)
- Vienna → Salzburg: Railjet ~2 h 25 min, €25–40. Book via Omio trains.
- Salzburg → Innsbruck: Railjet ~1 h 50 min, €20–30. See Omio trains.
- Innsbruck ↔ Zillertal (Mayrhofen): Innsbruck–Jenbach (~30 min), Jenbach–Mayrhofen (~50 min). About €20–25 each way. Check Omio trains.
- Flights to/from Europe: compare with Omio flights.
Budget notes: With a mid-range budget (~50/100), mix value hotels (Motel One, NALA, MEININGER), VRBO apartments, and splurge selectively (fortress concert dinner). Reserve trains early for lower fares, and target lunch specials or beer halls for hearty, affordable meals.
This 8-day Austria plan stitches together imperial art, baroque music, and big-mountain riding. You’ll leave with Mozart in your ears, strudel crumbs on your scarf, and fresh corduroy turns in your legs—exactly the adventurous, unique trip you asked for.