Land Travel to Munich (Germany), Vienna and Salzburg in Austria

Manuel with (L-R) daughter Gella and Pinkie in Vienna

Land Travel to Munich (Germany), Vienna and Salzburg in Austria (as of January 2011)

Program/Itinerary

          This trip involves a land travel from Geneva to Vienna (onward via Munich, Germany) and return via Salzburg in Austria.  Travel is for five days as follows:

          Day 1

                    1. Geneva to Munich, Germany    585km                 5.37hours

          Day 2 &3

                    2. Munich to Vienna                    442km                   4.14hours

          Day 4

                    3. Vienna to Salzburg                  315km                   2.56hours

          Day 5

                    4. Salzburg to Schwyz (Victorionox)  483km     4.57hours

                    5. Schwyz to Geneva                   303km                   2.52hours             

Travel Arrangements and Travel Tips

1.     As this trip involves land travel, it is important for you to first check on the weather and road condition to your place of destination.

2.     If snow is expected, make sure you have your winter tires on as the same is required by law in Germany and Austria.  All weather tires marked “M+S” (mud and snow) are acceptable.

3.     Snow chain may not be necessary unless you go to remote places outside the main highway. In using snow chains speed is limited to 30 km per hour.

4.     Make your passport and visa available for inspection in crossing borders

          Geneva to Munich, Germany

1.     Auto route (highway) in Germany has no speed limit in most parts. Vehicles run approximately 140-160 km per hour but average speed is usually 110 to 120 kms.

2.     Hotel in Munich:

a.      Marriott Courtyard Munich City Center

Schwanthalersstrasse 37

Munich, Bvaria 80336 Germany

Toll-free worldwide reservation – 1 800 321 2211

Tel. – 49-89-54884880

Fax – 49 89 5488488333

b.     Hotel is located in the heart of Munich just steps from the main train station, the old town and Marienplatz

c.      Hotel rooms are spacious and clean with high-speed internet (not free), in-room safe, refrigerator (empty), A/C

d.     You can get snack from the 24-hour Market located at the lobby.

e.      Hotel is in a busy street with lots of shops and eateries, including supermarkets (Ldel).

f.       Underground secured parking at the hotel is available at Euro 18.00 per day.

g.     Family rate  is Euro 71 per night for a double room (breakfast is additional Euro 15 per person).

3.     10 to 15 minutes walk from the hotel brings you to the City’s main shopping district and city attractions

4.     Good Japanese fast food type restaurant (reasonably priced) can be found at Marienplatz:

SASOU

Marienplatz 28, 80331 Munchen

Tel. 089-263701

Munich to Vienna

5.     Travel will take you 4.14 hours.  You need to purchase your highway sticker (vignette) as you enter the highway of Austria. Vignette valid for 10 days costs Euro 7.90.  You can also purchase a monthly pass.

6.     Hotel in Vienna

a.      Marriott Courtyard Messe Wein

Trabrennstrasse 4

Vienna 1020 Austria

Tel. 43-1-72730

Fax 43-1-72730 355

b.     Hotel is a conference hotel located in the area of Pratters. It is 10 minutes away by subway to the main city center and St. Stephens Cathedral.  Hotel is 2 minutes away from Subway U2 and ten stops to Karlzplatz (main city center).  Subway ticket is Euro 1.80 per trip or Euro 5.70 for a Day Ticket.  Train operates on a 24-hour basis.

c.      Hotel has nice spacious and clean rooms with in-room safe, flat TV, stocked refrigerator, A/C. High speed internet is available at Euro 5 per hour and is accessible in your room.

d.     Hotel has restaurants and a “Market” place located beside the reception  where you can buy snacks 24-hours a day.

e.      Family rate for a double room is Euro 65 per night. Breakfast is additional Euro 18 per person.

f.       Underground parking of the hotel is Euro 18.00 per day.

7.     Suggested restaurants in the Karlzplatz area:

a.      Wienerwald Restaurant

Annagasse 3, 1010 Wein

Tel. 01-512 37 66

Restaurant serves authentic schnitzel (breaded pork) and various roasted chicken menu. Reasonably priced (main course at average of Euro 10).  Restaurant is located in the main shopping district beside “Burger King”

b.     A must for good coffee and good pasteries: DEMEL which is located near the Spanish Riding School; Café Central.

c.      Other available restaurants ( Starbucks, Mcdo, Burger King and lots of kebab and sausage stands)

8.     Visit to Schonbrunn Palace (Schloss Schoenbrunn)

a.      Schonbrunn is about four train stops from Karlplatz

b.     Entrance winter ticket is Euro 9.50 per person; student with ID at Euro 8.50.

c.      Above ticket entitles you to the Imperial Tour which takes 30-40 minutes inside the Palace.  Get your free English audio guide at the counter before entering the first room. Gadget will be returned upon finishing the tour.

9.     Sunday Holy Mass at St. Stephens Cathedral is at 10:15 am in German language. Note: cathedral is not heated.

Vienna to Salzburg

10. Travel to Salzburg takes about 3 hours.

11.  Hotel in Salzburg

a.      Hotel Stadikrug Restaurant (Altstad Hotel Restaurant Stadtkrug)

Linzergasse 20

Salzburg, 5020, Austria

Tel +43 662 873545

Fax +43 662 87354554

www.stadtkrug.at

b.     Hotel with its 700-year-old tradition is located in a quiet part of the Old City (Linzergasse) which has maintained its original character up to the present.  Hotel is 10 minutes walking distance to Getregegasse, the main historical center where you find the famous sights --- the Festival houses, the birth place of Mozart (Morzartteum), the cathedral,  other churches, and the main shopping area.

c.      Hotel is old but clean. Rooms are equipped with flat TV, refrigerator, antique cabinets, heaters. Free WI-FI at the lobby.  Hotel has its own restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

d.     Hotel rate is Euro 95 for a double room with free breakfast.

e.      Hotel has no parking area. However public covered parking area is available (Linzer Gasse ParkGarage; 10 minutes walk from the hotel) at the rate of Euro 17.60 per day.

f.       As hotel is located inside the Old Town, driving to the hotel is possible only if you have the entry code to the automatic road barrier which you can get from the hotel reception by calling them.  The road barriers are on from 10 am to 8pm.  Thereafter, vehicles can enter the old town.

12. Other hotels inside the main historical center (not tried by us yet)

a.      Hotel Elefant (four star) Best Western

Sigmund-Haffner Gasse 4

5020 Salzburg, Osterreich

Tel. +43 (0) 622 84 33 97

Fax +43 (0) 622 84 01 09 28

www.elefant.at

http://blog.elefant.at

b.     Boutiquehotel (four star) am dom

Goldgasse 17

5020 Salzburg, Austria

Tel. +43 (0) 622 84 27 65

Fax +43 (0) 622 84 27 65 – 55

office@hotelamdom.at

www.hotelamdom.at

Published rates: Euro 90 to 160 single; Euro 130 to 240 double breakfast included

13. Suggest  authentic Austrian restaurant

WILDEN MANN

Getreidegasse 20

5020 Salsburg

(restaurant is located very near the Mozart’s birthplace)

www.wildermann.co.at

Reasonably priced and good Austrian dishes (schnitzel, apple strudel, grilled German sausauge, etc).  Don’t forget to try the Austrian Beer “Stiegl”

Salzburg to Geneva (via Schwyz)

         

          Travel from Salzburg to Geneva is long (8 hours) and tiring.  That is why we decided to break the trip and first travel from Salzburg to Schywz where we can visit the world-famous Victorionox factory and avail of the 50% discount for diplomats on all items purchased.

14. Salzburg to Schwyz

a.      This is about 5 hours of land travel passing through Liechtenstein, an added attraction.  

The Principality of Liechtenstein (ⁱ /ˈlɪktənstaɪn/ LIK-tən-styn; German: Fürstentum Liechtenstein, German pronunciation: [ˈfʏʁstn̩tuːm ˈlɪçtn̩ʃtaɪn]^[6]) is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Western Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over 160 km² (about 61.7 square miles), and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz; the biggest town is Schaan. Liechtenstein has the highest gross domestic product per person in the world according to the CIA World Factbook.^[7]

Liechtenstein is the smallest yet the richest German-speaking country in the world and the only alpine country to lie entirely within the Alps. It is the only German-speaking country not to share a common border with Germany. It is a constitutional monarchy divided into 11 municipalities. Much of Liechtenstein's terrain is mountainous, making it a winter sports destination. Many cultivated fields and small farms characterize its landscape both in the north (Oberland, upper land) and in the south (Unterland, lower land). The country has a strong financial sector located in the capital, Vaduz, and has been identified as a tax haven. It is a member of the European Free Trade Association and part of the European Economic Area but not of the European Union.

b.     Victorinox AG

Schmiedgasse 57

CH 6438 Ibach-Schwyz

Tel. +41 41 81 81 211

Fax +41 41 81 81 511

Office Hourse

          M – F           7:30 to 12:00

                             1315 to 1800

          Sat               8:00 to 13:00

          Sun              Close

15. Schwyz to Geneva (3 hours)