Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
Start at Congress Innsbruck and take the Nordkette Cable Car toward Hungerburg; the funicular and cable-car system gets you from the city center to the mountain in roughly 20–30 minutes, but allow about 2½ hours overall for transfers, viewpoints, and possible queues. The higher sections toward Seegrube and Hafelekar offer the best panorama when weather is clear; check visibility and operating status before leaving, since wind or maintenance can affect the upper lifts. A round trip is typically around €45–55, depending on how high you go. Return to the center and walk into the Old Town, about 15 minutes from Congress.
Spend around 45 minutes at the Golden Roof, then wander the compact medieval lanes around Herzog-Friedrich-Straße and Kiebachgasse. The landmark is easy to see from the square, while the paid museum inside is optional if you want more historical context. Continue a few minutes on foot to Hofkirche, where the dark bronze figures surrounding Emperor Maximilian I’s tomb are the highlight; allow about 45 minutes. Check the current opening hours before setting out, as church access can change for services, and keep voices low inside. For a proper lunch nearby, look for Tiroler specialties around the Old Town rather than rushing the schedule—dumplings, goulash, or a light open sandwich will leave room for the afternoon coffee stop.
Settle into Café Munding, a long-running Old Town institution, for cake and coffee—plan on €8–15 per person and roughly an hour. It is a good place to slow down after the morning’s sightseeing; traditional choices such as Apfelstrudel or cream pastries are exactly what the stop is for. From the Old Town, take a short bus or taxi ride south to Bergisel Ski Jump; buses toward Bergisel generally take about 15–20 minutes, while a taxi is simpler if you are carrying luggage. Allow 1½ hours for the tower, museum areas, and views across Innsbruck. The ski jump’s Zaha Hadid-designed tower is especially striking late in the day, though the upper viewing area can feel exposed in wind. Check the seasonal closing time before going—access is ticketed, usually around €12–15, and the final ascent is earlier than the advertised closing time.
Take a morning Railjet from Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof to Salzburg Hauptbahnhof, ideally departing around 8:00–9:00. Allow 30–45 minutes beforehand for walking to the station, finding the platform, and handling luggage; the train itself takes roughly two hours. On arrival, leave larger bags at your accommodation or the station lockers, then walk about 15 minutes across the river to Mirabell Palace and Gardens. Spend an hour in the formal gardens, especially around the Pegasus Fountain and the long view toward Salzburg’s Old Town. The gardens are generally free and open during daylight, though seasonal access hours can vary.
From Mirabell Palace and Gardens, cross the Makartsteg footbridge and continue into the Old Town, allowing about 10–15 minutes to reach Getreidegasse. This historic lane is worth exploring slowly rather than treating it as a shopping stop: look up for the elaborate wrought-iron shop signs, duck into the small courtyards, and continue toward the Cathedral Quarter. Allow about an hour, with coffee or a pastry at Café Tomaselli nearby if you need a break. For dinner, reserve St. Peter Stiftskulinarium in advance—especially for an evening visit—since its atmospheric historic rooms fill quickly. Expect roughly €30–55 per person before drinks and allow 1½ hours.
After dinner, walk a few minutes through the adjacent Cathedral Quarter to Salzburg Cathedral. Allow around 45 minutes to admire the vast Baroque interior, but check the day’s service and event schedule before relying on a specific entry time; access can pause during worship or special arrangements. If the cathedral is closed when you arrive, enjoy the surrounding squares and return at the next permitted opening rather than trying to force the timing. From here, your accommodation in the Old Town is an easy walk, while Salzburg Hauptbahnhof is about 20–25 minutes on foot or a short city-bus ride away.
Begin with the Mönchsberg Lift from Gstättengasse, the easiest way to reach Museum der Moderne Salzburg without committing to a steep climb. The lift takes only a couple of minutes; allow around two hours for the museum and the viewpoints along Mönchsberg. The contemporary-art galleries are a good counterpoint to Salzburg’s baroque center, and the terrace gives you one of the best overhead views of the rooftops and river. Check the museum’s current opening hours before setting out, as weekly closing days and special exhibitions can change; a combined lift-and-museum ticket is usually around €15–20.
From the museum, continue on foot toward Hohensalzburg Fortress, following the paths across the hill or descending briefly toward the Old Town before taking the fortress funicular. Allow about two hours, including the State Rooms, defensive passages, courtyards, and queue time for the funicular or ticket desk. The fortress is busiest late morning, so pre-booking an entry or funicular ticket can save time, though access remains subject to operating hours and capacity.
Have lunch at Stieglkeller, just below the fortress on Festungsberg. Its terrace is the real draw: you get a broad view across the Old Town while eating Austrian staples such as schnitzel, dumplings, or seasonal dishes. Budget roughly €20–35 per person and allow 1¼ hours; service can be leisurely, especially when the terrace is full. After lunch, walk downhill into the Old Town and along Getreidegasse to Mozart’s Birthplace. The museum takes about an hour and is compact enough to fit comfortably after the fortress, but check the day’s closing time and expect heavier foot traffic on the narrow shopping street.
Finish at Café Tomaselli on Alter Markt, Salzburg’s classic coffeehouse stop. Settle in for a pot of coffee and a slice of cake—allow about an hour and €8–18 per person. It is more atmospheric than hurried, so take a seat inside if the outdoor tables are crowded. From here, everything is walkable: you can drift through the nearby lanes afterward or return to your accommodation on foot.
Take an early ÖBB connection from Salzburg Hauptbahnhof to Hallstatt station, allowing roughly 3–3½ hours door to door, including the connection at Attnang-Puchheim and the ferry across the lake. A departure around 7:00–8:00 gives you the best chance of enjoying the village before the main day-trip crowds arrive. Buy the rail ticket through ÖBB; at the station, follow signs for the ferry and keep some cash or a card ready for the short crossing. The ferry timetable is coordinated with many trains, but it is worth checking the return schedule immediately so you are not caught waiting late in the day.
From the ferry landing, walk into Hallstatt Lakeside and Market Square, taking your time along the waterfront and through the narrow historic lanes. This is the moment to wander rather than chase a checklist: the best photographs are often along the lake edge just beyond the busiest viewpoint. After about 1½ hours, climb through the upper village to the Hallstatt Ossuary at St. Michael’s Chapel. The small chapel and cemetery have remarkable views over the rooftops and lake; the ossuary’s painted skulls are a distinctive local tradition, but opening hours can vary, so treat entry as conditional and allow around 45 minutes.
Continue uphill to the Hallstatt Skywalk “Welterbeblick” at Salt Mountain. The funicular is the practical choice, especially after the morning travel, though queues can build and a walk is possible for energetic visitors. Allow about two hours including the transfer, waiting time, and the viewing platform. Check the current funicular and skywalk status before setting out—weather, maintenance, and seasonal hours can affect access. The panorama is most rewarding when the lake and surrounding peaks are clear, so if clouds are moving in, go straight up rather than lingering over lunch first.
Return to the waterfront for dinner at Restaurant im Seehotel Grüner Baum, where a lakeside table makes a memorable finish to the day. Budget approximately €30–50 per person and reserve ahead if possible, particularly in the busier season; otherwise arrive early and ask about availability. Hallstatt becomes noticeably quieter after the day visitors leave, so take a final short walk along the lake before turning in. Keep tomorrow’s ferry and train timing visible tonight: reaching Hallstatt station requires the ferry crossing, and early departures need extra margin for the walk from your accommodation to the landing.
Take the early ÖBB connection from Hallstatt station to Vienna Hauptbahnhof, allowing about 4½–5½ hours overall, including the change and the ferry from the village to the station. Aim to leave around 7:00 and be at the ferry landing at least 30–45 minutes beforehand with luggage; check the exact sailing and train combination the night before, since the ferry timetable is coordinated with trains but not every connection leaves much slack. On arrival at Vienna Hauptbahnhof, use the U1 or a short taxi ride to reach Belvedere Palace in Landstraße. Allow roughly 2½ hours for the palace interiors and gardens. A timed ticket is strongly advisable for the Upper Belvedere, especially to see Klimt’s The Kiss; leave bags at your accommodation or use station luggage lockers rather than arriving with large luggage.
From Belvedere Palace, walk north through the Belvedere gardens and across toward Karlskirche in Wieden, a pleasant 20–25-minute stroll. The church is usually visited in about 45 minutes, though access to the interior, dome lift, and viewing areas can vary with services or events, so treat those as conditional rather than guaranteed. Its position beside Karlsplatz makes this an easy first taste of Vienna’s grand imperial scale without requiring another transit ride.
Continue west along Wiedner Hauptstraße for roughly 10–15 minutes to Naschmarkt. Set aside about 1½ hours for browsing the stalls and having an informal meal—around €15–30 per person is realistic, depending on whether you choose a simple market plate or sit down at one of the restaurants. The market is liveliest during the day; many stalls close by early evening, and its regular weekly schedule can vary on Sundays and public holidays, so check locally if your flexible travel date falls on one of those days. After eating, take the U4 from Kettenbrückengasse or walk toward Karlsplatz, then make your evening orientation loop along the Ringstrasse.
Finish outside the Vienna State Opera, continuing along the Ring toward Burggarten and the monumental façades around Heldenplatz if energy allows. This one-hour walk is best after the daytime crowds thin, when the illuminated Opera and boulevard buildings are at their most atmospheric. If the long train journey has taken more out of you than expected, stop at the Opera and leave the rest for tomorrow—your accommodation should be reached easily by U-Bahn or taxi from the central ring.
Start at Hofburg Imperial Palace, entering through the Michaelertor and allowing about two hours for the Imperial Apartments, Sisi Museum, and Silver Collection. A timed ticket is the sensible choice, especially during busy periods; leave a little extra time for the security check and the walk between sections. From here, it is only a few minutes on foot to the Austrian National Library State Hall on Josefsplatz, where 45 minutes is enough to admire the monumental Baroque interior, painted dome, globes, and seemingly endless shelves. Check the library’s current opening schedule before setting out, as it is not open every day.
Walk along Kohlmarkt to Demel for Viennese coffee and pastry. Expect roughly €10–20 per person, and try to arrive before the main afternoon rush; the popular front café can have a queue, while the interior seating and pastry counter offer a glimpse of the old imperial confectionery tradition. Afterward, continue toward St. Stephen’s Cathedral and spend around 1¼ hours exploring the Gothic nave, chapels, and patterned roof. If the weather is clear, consider adding one of the tower visits for a different perspective over the city; tower tickets and access arrangements are separate from the main church visit.
Finish with dinner at Figlmüller Wollzeile, a short walk from Stephansplatz. The signature schnitzel is famously oversized, so one portion can be substantial; budget approximately €25–40 per person before drinks. Reserve ahead if possible, since the Wollzeile location fills quickly, and verify the reservation address carefully because the restaurant has more than one central venue. The compact Innere Stadt is easiest on foot today, though the Stephansplatz U-Bahn station is convenient if you prefer not to walk between the final stops.
Make Schönbrunn Palace your main start, arriving close to opening time so you can take the palace tour without losing part of the day in queues. From central Vienna, take the U4 to Schönbrunn; the station is a short walk from the entrance, and the ride usually takes 20–25 minutes. Reserve a timed palace ticket ahead—availability and tour times vary by season—and allow about three hours for the state rooms, audio guide, and a little wandering through the grounds. The gardens are generally free to enter, while the palace tour costs roughly €20–30 depending on the selected visit.
After the interior tour, walk uphill through the formal gardens to the Gloriette. It is a steady, manageable climb rather than a difficult hike, but wear comfortable shoes and allow around 45 minutes for the walk, viewpoint, and photographs. The terrace gives one of Vienna’s best broad views over the palace grounds and city; if the weather is hazy, the lower garden paths are still worth taking slowly.
Have your planned coffee-and-strudel stop at Café Residenz, tucked beside the palace complex. Allow about an hour and expect roughly €10–20 per person for coffee and dessert. It is a convenient place to pause before crossing the city, though service can be leisurely; if you are hungry, order something savory rather than relying only on strudel. From Schönbrunn, take the U4 back toward the center and change for the U1 toward Praterstern—allow approximately 35–45 minutes door to door.
Spend the late afternoon at Prater, where the atmosphere shifts from imperial Vienna to old-fashioned amusement-park energy. The historic Giant Ferris Wheel is the signature ride, but a walk along the main avenue is just as enjoyable if you prefer not to queue. Allow around two hours, and check ride hours and ticket prices locally because they vary by attraction and season. Finish at Gasthaus Wild in Leopoldstadt, an easy walk from the Prater area, for Austrian comfort food such as schnitzel, goulash, or seasonal specials. Budget about €25–40 per person, and reserve if possible—popular neighborhood dining rooms can fill up, particularly on Friday and Saturday evenings.
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