Austria Private Tour and Charter: Vienna, Salzburg and the Alps

Austria fits a week better than almost any country in Europe: Vienna's imperial centre, the Salzkammergut lakes an hour apart by road, Salzburg's old town, and the Tyrol's mountains at the western end. The trains are good between cities; the lakes and the alpine villages need a car.

包車 — charter, car and driver

A charter covers the Salzkammergut loop (Hallstatt, Wolfgangsee, Bad Ischl), the Wachau valley's vineyards along the Danube, and the mountain roads of the Tyrol. It also solves Hallstatt's parking problem, which is the single most common complaint from people who drive there themselves.

包團 — private tour, the route planned too

A private tour adds hotels in the old towns, concert and opera tickets in Vienna, and the order that keeps the driving days short. Austria's distances are modest, so the quality of the trip is decided by where you sleep and what you book, not by how far you drive.

Routes that work

• 7 days: Vienna three nights, Wachau by car, Salzburg two nights, Hallstatt day.
• 10 days: add the Tyrol — Innsbruck, the Zillertal and Kitzbühel.
• 10 days with neighbours: Vienna, Salzburg, Hallstatt, then Munich or Prague by road.

Getting around

Vienna to Salzburg is about two and a half hours by train or three by road. Salzburg to Hallstatt roughly an hour and a half by car. Salzburg to Innsbruck about two hours. The Salzkammergut villages are twenty to forty minutes apart by road and awkward by bus.

When to come

May, June and September for the lakes and the cities; July and August are busy but the lakes are at their best. December for the Christmas markets in Vienna and Salzburg. January and February for skiing in the Tyrol.

Frequently asked questions

Is Hallstatt worth the trip?

Yes, early morning or late afternoon. It is small and crowded between ten and four, and the difference is the whole experience.

Do we need a car in Vienna?

No. Vienna's trams and metro are better than driving. The car starts with the Wachau and the lakes.

Can we combine Austria with Germany or the Czech Republic?

Yes — Salzburg to Munich is under two hours, Vienna to Prague about four by road or train.

How many days for Austria?

Seven covers Vienna, Salzburg and the Salzkammergut at a sane pace. Ten adds the Tyrol.

Do your drivers speak English or Chinese?

We match the driver to the party. Tell us the language you need when you ask, and we confirm for your dates.

Cities we cover

Choose a city for routes, drive times and what a private car changes.

• Vienna