Experience Austria from Salzburg to the Alps

Route

This journey takes you from Salzburg through lakes and mountain villages into the heart of the Austrian Alps, with excursions to iconic sights just across the border.

Pace

The trip combines city exploration with days in nature, featuring manageable distances and ample time at each stop.

Highlights

Salzburg and Innsbruck, Lake Achensee and the Karwendel mountains, castles such as Neuschwanstein, the Zugspitze and the clear blue waters of Seebensee.

Accommodation

You stay in carefully selected Caractère hotels, ranging from boutique city hotels to chalets and wellness retreats in the mountains.

Profile

For travellers who enjoy combining culture and nature and want to discover Austria through well-known landscapes, standout locations and comfortable stays.

Day 1: Departure to Salzburg

Park your car and check-in at a charming boutique hotel in this city, your stay in this city. Dive into the city center and go shopping in the cozy, car-free Linzergasse and Getreidegasse.

Day 2: Salzburg

With a guide, walk around the city and explore all the highlights including Mozart's birthplace, the Mirabell Palace and Gardens, the Festung Hohensalzburg and so much more. In the evening you will enjoy a classical concert of your choice, combined with a three-course dinner.

Day 3: Achenkirch

You check out and drive on to the next location, Achenkirch. At the hotel where you stay, the focus is on gastronomy and wellness, perfect for unwinding after your city trip through Salzburg.

Day 4: Achensee and Karwendel nature park

Both the Achensee and Karwendel Nature Park, Austria's largest nature park, are absolute top destinations for hikers. Explore the lakes and forests independently or be accompanied by a nature guide who will teach you all about the local fauna and flora.

Day 5: Innsbruck

Today you will visit Innsbruck. In the historic center, admire the iconic Golden Roof, a balcony covered with gilded tiles. Nearby is the Hofburg, an impressive palace from the Habsburg era. The Bergisel ski jump, known from the '76 Olympics, treats you to magnificent views of Innsbruck and the mountains.

Day 6: Biberwier

You drive on to Biberwier, where you check into a fairytale setting. Choose a cottage with direct access to the lake or go for a chalet with private pool and views of the surrounding mountains.

Day 7: Reutte

Get ready for a heavy dose of adrenaline! The Highline 179 is an impressive suspension bridge that spans the valley between Ehrenberg Castle and Fort Claudia. Drive on and visit Neuschwanstein Castle, one of the most iconic castles in the world, located in the Bavarian Alps in southern Germany.

Day 8: Zugspitze

The hotel where you will stay is located at the foot of Germany's highest mountain, the Zugspitze. Adventurers can indulge themselves here with activities such as cycling, rafting, climbing and canyoning. For those who prefer a more leisurely pace, the top of this imposing mountain can also be reached by cable car.

Day 9: Seebensee

Looking for that one vacation photo that will cause goosebumps at home for a long time to come? Then be sure to put on your hiking boots for a visit to the Seebensee in the Wetterstein Mountains. Located at over 1,600 meters, this mountain lake is known for its crystal clear blue water surrounded by majestic mountains and green alpine meadows.