We will be staying in Vienna Christmas week but would like to take one day to explore outside of the city. We%26#39;re not avid skiers but we would love to glimpse Alpine scenery. I%26#39;ve researched day trips to Salzburg and Semmering but I would appreciate any other suggestions. Most likely, traveling by train would be the most appealing. Thanks in advance.
|||
Semmering is probably the closest and easiest to reach.
Requiring a change of trains and more time is a trip to Mariazell, a Pilgrimage town of great fame here. A very nice old town with a fantastic Church.
The change of train is in St. Polten. The trip from St. Polten to Mariazell is mostly in the mountains and very nice.
www. mariazell.at
for more info.
|||
I would highly recommend a sidetrip to Mariazell. The narrow-gauge train ride is amazing because of the breathtaking scenery. But be aware, trains are rather old but have a special charm. Especially in winter, a trip to Mariazell is recommendable because of the nice christmas market and the loads of snow sometimes burying the town! While Vienna is often dull in December, higher regions like Mariazell are coverd by snow.
|||
Salzburg is 3 hours away by train, and you can spend a nice few hours there exploring the Old City. You also may want to consider the Sound of Music tour. There are numerous tours to choose from (we went on Bob%26#39;s Tours) and they take you into the Lake District, about 45 minutes from Salzburg as part of the tour. I am not a huge Sound of Music fan, but it was fun to see some of the sites, and really fun to see the countryside. The tour takes about 4 hours. To see train schedules, go to www.oebb.at and you can put in different cities to see schedules. Keep in mind it gets dark by 5pm. Have fun!
p.s. While in Vienna, be sure to check out the Spittelberg District Christmas market.
No comments:
Post a Comment