Countless attractions, breathtaking views, affordable prices and excellent public transportation. This guide will help you prepare for a trip with children in wonderful Austria
Chances are you've received at least one hearty recommendation to embark on a family vacation in Austria, and I must concur. Our Austrian journey unfolds across two distinct trips, one in the Salzburg state and the other in the Austrian state of Tyrol. Families are drawn to Austria for countless reasons, including the seamless travel experience, an abundance of attractions and itineraries, efficient public transportation, and reasonable prices. In this post, I'll strive to encompass as much as I can, the areas we've visited.
In this Post:
Salzburgland and Tyrol Are Huge
The two states (locally referred as Bundesländer) have so much to offer so my advice is to focus on one state per trip, and unless you plan long stay of several weeks or months in the area, it's better to focus on regions within the selected state. Why focus, you ask? Well, traveling with children diverges greatly from journeys undertaken by adult couples. When Liron and I travel without the kids, we love road trips that include long drives and changing lodgings. However, when traveling with kids, transitions become considerably more challenging. Think about it for a second. Your daily routine will look like that: wake up in a hotel or apartment > breakfast > an attraction or daytrip > lunch > another activity > return to your lodgings for dinner. Frequent changing of lodging are simply not suitable for that kind of routine. Therefore, it's to stay at a strategically located base for a "star shaped trip". This means staying in the same accommodation throughout your visit in the region, and every day, you leave and return to your central hub.
Whether you opt for Tyrol or Salzburg state, you'll swiftly discover that both areas are replete with exceptional attractions and a plethora of fairy tales hiking trails. On top of that, virtually every nook boasts a playground that will keep your kids happy for hours. Just open Google Maps and search "Spielplatz" or "Playground". The upshot of this is an unceasingly enjoyable experience for your children. For an entire month in Tyrol Gil kept saying, every day anew: "Wow! This is the most fun I've ever had in my life!"
Tip!
Make sure you bring reusable water bottles as tap water are drinkable everywhere in Austria and, all playground have free drinking water taps. Many of them also have nearby toilets.
Focus!
You can't cover everything in one short trip. And as you went on a vacation, you actually shouldn't. It is strongly advisable to focus on a State, or even one or two regions within a state. This will shorten driving times and increase family time. You will be able to see more of the region you selected and create more beautiful memories.
Regional Attraction Tickets Are Key
Upon arrival at your selected hotel or apartment, you'll notice a local tax of approximately 1.5-2 euros per night per adult. Typically, if your stay spans two or more nights, you'll receive a regional attractions card in exchange for this tax payment. This card grants you complimentary admission or discounts at numerous attractions. Additionally, it often includes the option to use regional public transportation for free or at a substantial discount. You can find relevant information within the links provided in the following sections. Search for "Welcome Card" or "Guest Card", then explore the lists of attractions, and select your preferred destinations.
Ask your host to help you activate these cards for maximum benefits during your trip.
Zell Am See-Kaprun | Flachau | Kitzbuhel | Mayrhofen | Zillertal | Achnsee | Innsbruck | Seefeld | Stubai | Sölden | Ischgl
Travel with Kids in Salzburgland
Salzburgland state is situated in the heart of Austria, with its capital city being Salzburg. This city is conveniently located roughly midway between Vienna, the capital of Austria, and Innsbruck, the capital of Tyrol region. The geographical layout of the province, is a reversed 'L'. Salzburg is positioned in the northern part of the state, while the towns of Flachau and St. Johann im Pongau are approximately 60 kilometers to the south of Salzburg. As you move further west, you'll reach Zell Am See and Kaprun, which border the Tyrol region.
While there's an official sub-regional division within Salzburgland, I prefer a simpler distinction between east and west. The dividing point for me is St. Johann im Pongau, and from there, you can explore the areas west of St. Johann, extending to Zell Am See and Kaprun, or head east from St. Johann towards Flachau. Additionally, if you have enough time, you can also choose to visit or even stay a few days in the city of Salzburg which have a lot to offer when traveling when kids.
During our eight-day stay in Salzburgland state, we chose to focus on the easter area, so we stayed in a nice rural apartment in Eben Im Pongau, which we found on Booking.com, close to Flachau. There were so many activities and attractions in the eastern region that we could have easily extended our stay to a month or even longer.
Tip!
The Salt Mines of Salzburg are a great attraction that I would recommend incorporating into your day of moving from Salzburg to the south. Remember to book your visit in advance.
Travel with Kids in Tyrol:
The Tyrol region is vast and extends across both Austria and Italy. During our month-long stay in the Austrian Tyrol, we discovered that we could have easily extended our visit by another two months without running out of things to do. To make the most of your time in Tyrol, I'd suggest focusing on a specific region or, at most, two nearby regions for every seven to ten days of your stay.
Focusing on a smaller area can help you save on transportation costs and ensure you fully enjoy your trip. As I mentioned before, each of these regions boasts numerous attractions and a variety of hiking trails. The best part is that nearly everything (about 95% of places) is accessible via an excellent public transportation system. If your visit extends beyond 10 days, you may consider moving to another sub-region to experience more of the wonderlands of Tyrol.
The state of Tyrol shares its eastern border with the state of Salzburgland and extends westward, where it runs the entire length of its border with Germany to the north and with Italy and Switzerland to the south. There's an official sub-regional division within Tyrol. Here is a list of the best areas (to our opinion), organized from east to west:
Where Should You Fly, Rent A Car, And What About Public Transportation?
Flights
For a journey to Austria, your main options for arrival are Vienna or Munich airports. While there are also airports in Salzburg and Innsbruck, they are smaller in size and offer limited flight options. In most cases, you will need to make a stop at another airport for a connecting flight, which can lengthen your travel time. Additionally, flights to these smaller airports tend to be more expensive.
If you are planning a trip to Tyrol in western Austria, it's advisable to land in Munich to minimize your travel time from the airport. On the other hand, if you're heading to the Salzburgland and find more affordable flights, you can consider landing in Vienna. Deciding whether to rent a car or use public transportation, will also make it easier for you to determine your landing destination.
Car Rental
Renting a car for your Austrian trip is an excellent choice for exploring the country at your own pace. The roads are well-maintained, and you'll find ample parking near popular attractions.
For those planning a trip to Tyrol, it's advisable to arrive in Munich and rent a car at the airport. While it's also possible to travel by train or bus from Munich to Innsbruck and rent a car in the city, my tests have shown that renting a car in Innsbruck can be considerably more expensive, potentially even twice the price of renting one in Munich.
If your destination is the Salzburg state, you have a couple of options:
1. Fly to Vienna or Munich and rent a car at the airport. The driving time from Munich and Vienna is relatively similar but not identical. The journey from Munich is typically shorter, by approximately half an hour to an hour and a half, depending on your final destination.
2. Fly to Vienna, take a train to Salzburg, and rent a car in Salzburg on the morning of the second day. This option is especially attractive as children under 6 travel for free on public transport throughout Austria, and those up to the age of 14 enjoy discounted ticket prices. A trip for a couple of parents with one child over 6 years old and another under 6 years old will cost around 60 euros for the entire family. It's both enjoyable and cost-effective 😊.
Car rental costs in Munich and Vienna are pretty similar, and I'll leave the research and decision-making to you. I'd like to mention that for car rentals throughout Europe, I personally use Rentalcars.com.
Important!
Driving on Austria's intercity roads requires payment of a tax known as 'Vignette' in advance. Failing to pay this tax can result in fines that mysteriously appear in your mailbox at home. We recommend checking with your rental company if Vignette fee is included in your rental package. If not, you can pay it in advance online or purchase a sticker at gas stations in Austria or at gas stations near the border in neighboring countries. Vignettes can be purchased for durations of 10 days, two months, or a year.
Tip!
At major attractions, there are often multiple parking areas. It is advisable to arrive early to secure a parking spot close to the entrance.
Public Transportation in Austria
Austria boasts an outstanding public transportation system that can efficiently take you to nearly any destination while remaining cost-effective. Opting for public transportation not only contributes to environmental conservation by reducing air pollution but also saves you a significant amount of money. Moreover, both parents are relieved from the responsibility of driving, so they are able to focus on taking care of and playing with the children during the journey. Additionally, all trains are equipped with restroom facilities, eliminating the need for frequent stops during your journey.
Once you've completed your trip planning and determined the duration of your stay in each Austrian region, you can purchase the precise travel tickets you require. You have the option to buy tickets for cities, regions, states, and even for the entire country. These tickets can be acquired for single trips, daily use, weekly, monthly, and more.
There are different app available to help you. Our choice is these two apps that will allow you to access all the necessary information and purchase tickets:
2. For route planning based on your origin and destination: SmartRide - Download: Android | iPhone. You might wonder why not just use Google Maps. Well, you're partly correct; however, there are numerous routes, especially in rural areas, that aren't included in Google Maps but are available in the SmartRide application.
If you are interested in using public transport while traveling with children in Austria? It's much simpler than you might think! Discover more in our comprehensive Austria Public Transportation Guide specially prepared for you.
Weather in Austria OR What Should We Pack?!
Before we delve into the details, let me sum it up: Austrian summers are characterized by ideal weather conditions. Mornings are refreshingly cool, and days are warm and delightful. This, combined with low humidity, allows for the enjoyment of various activities even when temperatures soar above 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit).
The coolest part of the day falls in the early morning hours, and typically, the temperature doesn't surpass 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) until around 9 am. After that, the weather gradually warms up, with the peak heat occurring after 2 pm, often lasting until around 7 pm, as the sun sets late, around 9:30 pm.
For those who aren't particularly sensitive to heat or cold, it's advisable to pack predominantly lightweight clothing, sandals, or breathable footwear for walking, and a layer for warmth during the morning hours.
Although the weather is generally pleasant, there's a notable chance of encountering rain. Austria doesn't experience complete rain cessation, and in regions like Salzburg and Tyrol, popular among families, there are approximately 15-20 days with some rain during the summer months. However, there's no need to worry, as rain rarely cancels plans. Based on our experience, summer showers are typically brief, lasting from a few minutes to a few hours. During our month in Tyrol, we encountered only one or two days unsuitable for outdoor activities. On such occasions, we enjoyed our time at indoor pools, complete with water slides, in a heated indoor setting.
All you need to do is equip yourself with one or, at most, two sets of lightweight pants suitable for autumn hiking and a jacket with moderate insulation, such as a softshell. If you plan on extensive nature walks, ensure you have appropriate waterproof hiking shoes.
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