Austria Road Trip Itinerary: Beautiful Alps, Charming Villages and much more

Austria is an underrated destination that feels pulled from the pages of a fairy tale, especially the region around the Austrian Alps, surrounded by majestic mountains, glassy lakes, charming villages and cozy chalets. Our recent road trip through the Alps was a nice blend of serene landscapes, charming towns, and outdoor adventure. The flexibility of a car meant we could explore at our own pace, stopping for lakeside photos, mountain views, or coffee breaks whenever the mood struck.

Here’s a suggested jam-packed 10-days itinerary, but feel free to adjust it to suit your schedule and budget. 

If you like to travel at a relaxed pace, consider skipping destinations or extend your stays in places that appeal to you more.

📅 We travelled in the summer (end of July) although this itinerary should work well in Spring (May onwards) and Autumn (until Oct end) too.

✈️ For this itinerary, if you’re coming from within Europe, you may be able to fly directly into Salzburg. However, if flight options are limited or you’re arriving from a more distant location, Munich Airport is the nearest major international hub and a convenient alternative.

🚙 We rented a Toyota Corolla Hybrid from Enterprise Rent-A-Car. It was a comfortable car and worked well even on the mountain roads.

🗺️ Here’s a Google Map to help you see the itinerary visually. The Blue circles B, C and D were our base locations. The Yellow stars were the day trips we took from the base locations.

Suggested Route:

• Day 1: Munich or Salzburg Airport ➡️ Unterlengdorf (~ 1-2 hrs drive)
  • Day 2 & 3: Day trips to Halstatt and Planai Schladming
• Day 4: Unterlengdorf ➡️ Zell am See (~2 hrs drive)
  • Day 5 & 6: Day trips to Top of Salzburg and Grossglockner High Alpine Road
• Day 7: Zell am See ➡️ Salzburg (~1.5 hrs drive)
  • Day 8: Day trip to Wolfgangsee Lake
• Day 9: Explore Salzburg
• Day 10: Departure

Day 1: Arrival & Scenic Stay in a peaceful village

Munich / Salzburg Airport ➡️ Unterlengdorf (~ 1-2 hrs drive)

After landing in Salzburg, we picked up our rental car and drove to the peaceful village of Unterlengdorf (about 2 hours from Munich).

🛏️ We stayed at a cozy Airbnb chalet called Da Alois, surrounded by rolling hills and towering peaks. The other advantage of this place was that it came with a well equipped kitchen which made it easy to prepare our meals.

In the evening, we stretched our legs with a walk through the valley. The views were lovely with the golden hour spilling over jagged peaks, clouds drifting over the slopes and a crispness in the air that city life can’t deliver.

Day 2: Day Trip to Hallstatt village

Unterlengdorf ➡️ Hallstatt (~ 1.5 hrs drive)

After breakfast, we hit the road for Hallstatt. This is a fairytale lakeside village that lives up to its reputation. In 1997, Hallstatt was listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. This culturally historic region is now known as the Dachstein Salzkammergut-region. 

Suggested Things to do in Hallstatt:

• Wander the Old Town and soak up the charm of lakeside cafes and colorful buildings.
• Take the funicular up to the Skywalk for breathtaking views of the village below.
• Tour the Salt Mine (Salzwelten), the oldest in the world.
• Boat ride on Lake Hallstatt for unbeatable views from the water.
• Visit the eerie but fascinating Bone House (Beinhaus).
• Bike around the lake on e-bikes.

We returned to Unterlengdorf just in time for a sunset glass of wine on the patio.

📌 Travel Tip: Keep in mind that parking in Halstatt is limited and fills up fast. It’s a good idea to check available parking in advance and be ready to leave your car a bit outside the town, then walk in.

Day 3: 🚡 Day Trip to Planai Schladming

Unterlengdorf ➡️ Planai Schladming (~45 mins drive)

Our day 3 was spent at Planai Schladming or the Planai mountain in the Schladming ski region. Going up Planai Schladming is a wonderful option which offers activities suitable for hikers, families as well as mountain bikers.

Start at Planet Planai, a spacious ticket and transport hub with easy parking. From here, catch the Planai cable car that lifts you from the valley to 1,830–1,894 m above sea level, offering sweeping views. See more details, here.

🥾 Once at the summit, you can enjoy options like the Planai Panorama Loop, a pleasant ~40-minute walk with minimal elevation gain that circles the peak. Alternatively, venture on longer hikes to Lärchkogel or enjoy the bike park trails if you’re visiting with a mountain bike.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Fun at Alpine Playgrounds. Hopsiland that sits at about 1,800 m near the top station, is a fun-filled 1.5 km circular trail with over 15 play stations: swings, slides, water play zones and climbing features, all accompanied by “Hopsi” the mascot rabbit.
The trail is stroller-friendly and includes restaurants for snacks. There’s also a free inclined lift (“Hopsi Express”) for added convenience.

🍴 Dining with a view. Scattered across the summit and along hiking routes are several alpine huts and summer restaurants. These include Schafalm Inn, Planaihof, Lärchkogelhütte, and Schmidnger Hütte, serving hearty dishes with panoramic views of the valley below.

Day 4: Exploring Zell am See

Unterlengdorf ➡️ Zell am See (~2 hrs drive)

We packed up and drove to another picture-postcard lakeside town of Zell am See (approx. 1.5 hours drive). Surrounded by mountains and filled with alpine charm, this town is not only cute and charming but also a great base location for day trips nearby.

🛏️ Our stay was in a comfortable apartment called Aurum that was conveniently located near the town centre. This one also came with a kitchen that let us prepare some of our own meals.

📌 Travel Tip: The Zell am See–Kaprun Summer Card is a complimentary guest card issued to visitors staying at partner accommodations in the region between May 15 and October 31. It offers free or discounted access to many top attractions in the area such as cable car rides, boat cruises, public transport and more. See more details, here.

Suggested Things to do in Zell am See:

• Stroll or cycle the lake promenade.
• Take a boat cruise on Lake Zell for stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
• Ride the Schmittenhöhebahn cable car for sweeping views.
• Wander the Old Town, filled with cozy cafes, boutique shops, and traditional Austrian architecture.

Day 5: 🏔️ Day Trip to Top of Salzburg

Zell am See ➡️ Kaprun (~20 mins drive) | Kaprun ➡️ Kitzsteinhorn Glacier (~1 hr on cable cars)

A quick 20-minute drive from Zell am See town centre, took us to Kaprun for one of the most memorable experiences on our trip – the ascent from the lush green valley of Kaprun all the way to the snow-covered peak of Kitzsteinhorn Glacier at 3,029 meters, the so-called “Top of Salzburg.”

The whole journey is family-friendly as it takes you all the way on a series of cable cars (aka Gondolas) with the option to take breaks at each station where you’ll find restaurants, playgrounds and clean toilets. 💶 It costs around €60 per person but with a Sommercard, it costed us €21 per person.

Here’s a summarised version of the journey:

🚡Ride 1: Kaprun → Maiskogel

• Start your journey in Kaprun at the Maiskogel Valley Station.
• Take the MK Maiskogelbahn gondola up to the Maiskogel mountain station (1,570 m).
• This segment offers picturesque views over Kaprun village and the Salzach valley.

🧸 Travel Tip: There’s a small playground, a viewing area and a nice restaurant at the top of Maiskogel. There are also family-friendly hiking trails you can take from here, in case you do not wish to continue further up.

🚡Ride 2: 3K K-onnection (Maiskogel → Langwied/Kitzsteinhorn)

• From the Maiskogel station, transfer to the 3K K-onnection. This 12-minute ride takes you across deep alpine valleys and ridgelines with jaw-dropping views of cliffs, forests and peaks.

🚡Ride 3: Gletscherjet 2 or Langwiedbahn (Langwied → Alpincenter, 2,450 m)

• Arriving at Langwiedboden, you’re now entering glacier territory. Take either the Gletscherjet 2 or Langwiedbahn to reach the Alpincenter.

🚡Ride 4: Gipfelbahn Cable Car (Alpincenter → Top of Salzburg, 3,029 m)

• The final leg of the journey is aboard the Gipfelbahn, a short ride that whisks you to the summit station, also known as the Top of Salzburg.

🏔️ At the Summit – What to Do at the Top of Salzburg

👀 Top of Salzburg Panoramic Platform:
Step out onto a glass-railed platform with stunning views of over 30 alpine peaks, including Austria’s highest mountain, Großglockner.

❄️ Snow Fun – Even in Summer:
There’s always snow at the summit, where you can have a lighthearted snowball fight or slide down a snow slope on sledges.

🧊 National Park Gallery Tunnel:
Walk through a 360-meter tunnel inside the mountain with exhibits on geology, wildlife, and glaciers, ending at another stunning viewpoint.

🍽️ Summit Dining:
Dine at the Gipfel Restaurant, Austria’s highest restaurant with unbeatable views.

Day 6: 🚗 Day Trip to the Grossglockner High Alpine Road

Zell am See ➡️ Grossglockner High Alpine Road (~4-5 hrs round trip)

Zell am See to the Grossglockner High Alpine Road is Austria’s most famous panoramic route that typically taking about 4 to 5 hours including scenic stops.

The Alpine Road is open from the start of May until the start of November. In the winter months the road is closed since it is impassable due to the amount of snow. 💶 A day ticket costs around €45 for cars. See more details, here.

Here’s what to expect:

• 30‑minute drive (~14 km) from Zell am See to the northern toll station at Fusch–Ferleiten, where the alpine road officially begins.
• 1½ – 2 hours one-way through the 48 km road, with its 36 hairpin bends and beautiful scenery the whole way.
• Stops along the road at several viewpoints like Edelweißspitze and Kaiser‑Franz‑Josefs‑Höhe.
• Grab a bite in one of the many alpine huts and enjoy the extended time in nature.

Day 7: Alpine Coaster & Drive to Salzburg

Zell am See ➡️ Salzburg (~1.5 hrs drive)

Before saying goodbye to the Alps, we returned to Kaprun for a ride on the Maisi Flitzer Alpine Coaster. This is a thrilling ride down the mountain through twists, turns and drops where you can control the speed at which you go.

This is also family-friendly as kids between 3-7 years of age can ride with an adult. 8+ can ride their own coaster carts. 💶 It costs €15.00 per ride and €7.00 for 3-7 year olds.

It was one of the most fun experiences of our trip, and we definitely think it’s worth doing.

Afterward, we headed to Salzburg (1.5-hour drive) and 🛏️ checked into the Leonardo hotel. We stayed in the one close to the airport but we recommend staying in the town centre location as then you’ll be within walking distance to the old town and several cafes / restaurants.

Day 8: Day Trip to Wolfgangsee Lake

Salzburg ➡️ Wolfgangsee (~45 mins drive)

Just under an hour’s drive from Salzburg, the turquoise Wolfgangsee Lake is straight out of a movie set. It’s a beautiful way to spend time in nature so close to Salzburg.

Suggested Things to do at Wolfgangsee:

• Relax lakeside, surrounded by crystal-clear water and forested hills.
• Try water activities such as swimming, paddling in the lake.
• Cruise the lake by boat, stopping at villages like St. Gilgen and St. Wolfgang.
• Bike or hike around the lake.
• Ride the Schafbergbahn cog railway up to 1,783 m for lovely views.

Day 9: Exploring Salzburg

We returned the rental car and spent a full day in Salzburg mostly in the old town area. It was a really nice and relaxing way to unwind after all the driving and adventures in the mountains – and the perfect way to spend our last day in Austria.

Suggested Things to do in Salzburg:

• Visit Hohensalzburg Fortress via funicular for panoramic city views.
• Wander through the beautifully landscaped Mirabell Gardens.
• Tour Mozart’s Birthplace Museum.
• Explore the Salzburg Cathedral and Old Town squares.
• Take a relaxing River Cruise on the Salzach river.
• Have lunch at one of the many restaurants in old town or at a riverside café if you prefer.
• Shop for souvenirs, local products, fashion and more.
• Catch a performance at the Salzburg Marionette Theatre or Mozarteum, in the evening.
• Browse the Weekend Riverside Market – held near the river promenade, it’s a nice one for picking up knick-knacks and even some nibbles over a glass of wine.
• For adventure sports fans and fans of Formula 1, a visit to the Red Bull hangar is a nice one – and it’s free of cost too.

📌 Travel Tip: All guests staying overnight in Salzburg province receive the Guest Mobility Ticket, granting free and unlimited access to most public transportation throughout the Salzburg region, from arrival through departure. It will be provided automatically at check-in (or pre-check-in) by your accommodation as a digital mobile wallet pass or PDF. See more details, here.

Day 10: Breakfast & Departure

If you have some time at hand in the morning, enjoy a breakfast at one of the oldest cafes in Salzburg – Café Tomaselli estb. 1703 or at another one of traditional Austrian cafes such as Café Bazar.

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• Our Travel Essentials
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Hopefully this post gives you a starting point when planning your own trip. If you have any questions, leave them in the comments or reach out to us on Instagram – and we’ll try our best to answer them. Happy travels folks!