June 19, 2012
the hills are alive
Next year my family is heading to Denmark for my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. We've been planning this trip for the last few years and now it's less than a year away. So exciting! After our time in Copenhagen and the island of Bornholm (where my Nielson family is from) we're all splitting up and doing our own thing before returning home to the States. I've been to Europe a couple of times but David has never been so we'd like to go somewhere relatively close to Denmark and go somewhere I've never been (I've seen London, France, Ireland, Denmark and a tiny bit of Sweden). We were thinking that it would be really cool to go to Munich, Salzburg and Vienna. We only have about 6 days. What do you guys think? Have you been to Germany and Austria? What did you love? What would you recommend? Looking at these pictures of Salzburg make me super excited to go there in the spring!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Salzburg is seriously like a dream. So quaint and beautiful. I loved Vienna too.
ReplyDeleteAs a European I would definitely advise Prague (Czech Republic) in that area. It's a gorgeous city.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to go to Prague, Joke! I really want to go to Salzburg though so what do you think of taking a train to Prague after?
DeleteAustria is GORGEOUS, and I loved Switzerland, too!
ReplyDeleteSwitzerland!
ReplyDeleteLizzy, I LOVE Salzburg and I'm so torn trying to decide whether to go there or London or Paris. I mean I really love London and Paris, but I REALLY love Salzburg! There is just something special about it to me. I've been there twice, London and Paris only once, but I still want to go to Salzburg again. Does that tell you something? But since Jay hasn't been anywhere we will probably just start with London/Paris. BUT I would totally choose Salzburg!!! I would choose Innsbruck over Vienna (drive through the Lake District!), and Switzerland. You won't regret it!
ReplyDeleteInnsbruck sounds like a great place! I have to go to Salzburg (dying to do the Sound of Music tour!) but then maybe we'll go to Innsbruck. What do you do there?
DeleteAll of the above selections are so great! Depends on whether you'll be taking the boys. My in laws are from Switzerland, so I've taken my boys as infants, toddlers and beyond, each time the locals were so accomodating and nice to the kids. This summer we are headed back and my boys are now 8.5 and 11 years, so we're adding in London and Paris (they each got to choose). Austria is beautiful and maybe you could sneak in a quick weekend to Prague?
ReplyDeleteOh, I'd give anything to go to Prague! I missed my family's vacation there a few years ago (stupidly CHOSE not to go) and I've regretted it ever since! This is an adults only trip so it'll be easier to travel.
DeleteLiz,
ReplyDeleteDavid and I are going to Vienna and Salzburg. You should come with us! We are traveling before Denmark instead of after.
Salzburg to me is a must but I don't know where else we'll go. David also wants to go before Denmark so maybe we will go with you (especially since you know the area)!
DeleteDefinitely lovely. I have spent weeks in Munich, and I love, love, love it. I've just gone through Austria by train; it looks just divine.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment! What did you do in Munich? Did you enjoy taking the train through Austria? Considering doing that but I don't know if it's worth it with our time restraints.
DeleteOne of the best things to do in Munich is eat! :)
DeleteMan I'm just green with Europe envy over here! It's been a dream of mine to travel all over Europe. It looks like a fairytale to me. Have so much fun! So excited for you to go with David this time! So romantic!
ReplyDeleteWe stayed in St. Goar in the Rhine in Germany. It's a pretty, quaint town with not a lot going on. But perfect for relaxing and enjoying lazy days in a beautiful scenery. You can ride the cute little train between the towns along the Rhine and explore old castles too. The town is quiet because most of the people visiting tour down the Rhine on a boat. We loved our time here.
ReplyDeleteThis place sounds ideal! If we had more time I would love to spend a week in the small cities and just relax!
DeleteDefinitely head to Salzburg! I spent six months backpacking through Europe and loved most of the cities (Vienna was my least favorite) but was a bit tired and felt stifled by all the big cities, and once we got to Salzburg - it was a breath of fresh air! Seriously - we rented bikes and rode for miles along the river, took a tour in the mountains to an ice cave, etc. It's small enough that you feel part of the community and not overwhelmed. You will love it!
ReplyDeleteMunich also is incredible, but I was there for Oktoberfest and beer drinking, which I have a feeling doesn't make it on your top ten list of activities :)
Also,
You lucky girl!! I have been aching for Europe lately. Austria is amazingly beautiful so I second the Innsbruck comment. Also, Rick Steves just told me about a Sound of Music tour in Salzburg sooo, enough said.
ReplyDeleteI have been to Germany and Austria -- GO! I went to Hallstatt, Austria and it is a beautiful town on a lake and it was amazing. Munich is nice too. And Salzburg. Everyone is VERY friendly. It's a beautiful part of the world.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the UK and would actually suggest Barcelona in Spain for a visit! Spain and Italy are gorgeous exciting places to see.
ReplyDeleteI lived in Vienna for a BYU study abroad and loved it. I would recommend Vienna to anybody. It's so cosmopolitan and gorgeous. So much history too if you love music and art. And as the "gateway between eastern and western Europe" it has lots of diversity.
ReplyDeleteAlmost any major city in central Europe, by the way, will have an awesome opera house with cheap standing room. Well, I guess it's been 10 years since I lived there, but there was an opera every night at the Vienna Staatsoper and we got standing room for about 1.50 euro. Prague also has an opera house, also very cheap or was 10 years ago. Definitely check out the opera scene wherever you go.
I don't know if he's still there but I went on the Sound of Music tour with the guide named Peter. He was hysterical. I especially loved the tour because I won the trivia contest on the bus (prize = free beer...awesome). Yes, I am a fan.
For central Europe, if you love big cities, don't miss Prague and don't miss Vienna. If you love food, think about Prague and Budapest! If you love quaintness and music, definitely go for Salzburg (Mozart's birthplace) and of course Mozart also lived in Vienna and Beethoven was born just outside Vienna.
This is all just off the top of my head. Vienna also has amazing pastries. The food, not my favorite...very greasy. Wienerschnitzel (obviously) and oily lentily soup is the kind of stuff I remember. Prague and Budapest, on the other hand...the food was to die for. Stuffed peppers...borscht... And the architecture is so beautiful (at least, the non-Communist-bloc-era architecture). Gorgeous churches and bridges and monuments.
Long comment and I totally don't know you!! But drop me a line if you want any specific info. Again, it's been 10 years since I lived there and I'm sure a lot has changed. But I remember that time of my life so fondly and want to go back someday!
Have you thought about Sweden or Norway? I've been dying to go. I'm a big ABBA fan (nerd alert) which has a lot to do with it, but I also adore Scandi design and general sensibility.
have fun! Sorry again for the super long comment from a stranger!!
Oh I think that is a perfect location given the your time and location. I can't wait to see all the pictures. My sister is the ultimate traveler and Munich is her favorite city.
ReplyDeleteMy family is from Germany & Denmark. I've been to Germany once and I loved it. It is very beautiful. We were in northern Germany, but I am looking forward to visiting Southern Germany and Austria.
ReplyDeleteDear Liz,
ReplyDeleteSince I've been living in Salzburg my whole life i would recommend Salzburg, really. And I must say I really love, Munich, Innsbruck, Vienna and Prague, too. You can get to know Salzburg pretty well in less than 3 days you can do everything by bike or just walk, because it is small, everything is close and very personal. Since I live in "the sound of music"-scenery I have never been on "a sound of music tour" but they have a new one, which I've heard is pretty amazing!The "Salzkammergut" is a wonderful area. From Salzburg you can go to Vienna, Munich, and Innsbruck by train within 2 hours ( it's pretty cheap too). The food in Austria is delicious. You just need to know where to go out. If you need any recommendations for nice restaurants, little hotels in Salzburg, I'll send you some links per e-mail - you'll love it.
I lived in Germany as a kid and loved seeing all the castles! But my favorite thing was traveling through Switzerland. It is so magestic and beautiful. I highly recommend Lugano. It's on the border with Italy just north of Milan. And if you are in Switzerland you might as well open up an off shore account while you're there! I've always wanted to do that; I'm not sure why since I don't have millions to hide away. It's just one of those bucket list things!
ReplyDeleteI love Salzburg! We took the Sound of Music tour... a must if your a fan. I also really loved driving the Romantic Road in Germany. And of course Switzerland is Amazing! You can read my post on this trip here... http://postcardsandcoasters.blogspot.com/2009/04/friday-photo-fresh-air-fondue-cow.html
ReplyDeleteI
I am from Germany and of course I recommend Munich. I have unfortunately never been to Salzburg, but is only a two hour train ride away. Prague is pretty as well - and so is Switzerland. Tough choice :).
ReplyDeleteFeel free to ask any questions you might have.
Vera
Salzburg is a must! I lived in Europe last year with my cousin and of ALL the great places we were able to see, Salzburg was my favorite. It is such a beautiful city, the people are wonderful, the architecture is fantastic - don't miss it:)
ReplyDeleteMia