A 2-week Austria road trip itinerary is the perfect way to experience everything this beautiful and charming country has to offer. From breathtaking alpine valleys to fairytale towns and world-class cities, Austria is full of unforgettable stops—and driving gives you the freedom to explore them all at your own pace. I truly loved every second of my time on the road here, and this 2-week Austria road trip itinerary includes all the highlights I personally enjoyed and would highly recommend. So if you’re planning your own Austrian adventure, keep scrolling for a practical and inspiring 2-week Austria road trip itinerary!
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A few notes…
This Austrian road trip itinerary is designed for summer travel and doesn’t include winter activities like skiing. It’s built with the average traveler in mind, combining major highlights with a few hidden gems along the way. You won’t find any intense alpine hiking here—we weren’t in shape for that during our visits—but there’s still plenty of scenic beauty to enjoy. While many of the places and activities are kid-friendly, this itinerary is geared more toward adult travelers. It starts in Innsbruck and ends in Vienna, but feel free to adapt it however it works best for you!
How to get to Austria?
How you get to Austria will definitely shape how you plan your road trip. I came from Bolzano, Italy (which I LOVED and highly recommend!), and took a comfortable and scenic two-hour train to Innsbruck. I spent the night there, then picked up my rental car the next day to start the road trip.
You can also easily fly into either Vienna or Innsbruck—both are great starting points. While flying into Salzburg is another option, I personally prefer starting in Vienna or Innsbruck to avoid unnecessary backtracking.
If you’re flying in and out of Vienna (which is the main international airport), you’ve got a couple of options: you can either loop back to Vienna by car (about a five-hour drive from Innsbruck) or drop the car off in Innsbruck and take a direct four-hour train back to the city. Both work well—it just depends on your travel style.
⇒ Check out our Bolzano, Italy guide. One of our favorite places in Italy.
How to get around Austria?
The best way to get around Austria is by car—it gives you so much more flexibility with timing and allows for those fun, unplanned adventures along the way. The roads are easy to navigate, and Google Maps worked perfectly for us. We rented a car at the end of August, and it was surprisingly affordable. Just a heads-up: if your route takes you through another country, make sure to let your rental company know. There’s usually an extra fee for crossing borders, and skipping that detail can lead to fines.
Important Travel Information
- Credit cards are accepted nearly everywhere but make sure to have Euros handy. Small business may not always accepted credit cards.
- Look into a travel sim card if you cell phone carrier is expensive to use overseas. You will need the GPS while traveling around. We have used Mobimatter in the past and was happy with their service.
- Austria is not a hidden gem. It can get VERY busy so if you want to avoid crowds, I highly recommend visiting at the end of August/September. Barely any crowds and great summer weather.
- Austria is not a cheap destination.
- Alpine hiking is not for beginners. Do your research before setting out on a hike. Check out Moon & Honey for hiking guides. I love their blog.
- Most people speak English but make a point to learn a few basic German phrases.
Map of 2-Week Austria Road Trip Itinerary
2-Week Austria Road Trip Itinerary
Day One: Arrival Innsbruck
Where to stay in Innsbruck: Leipziger Hof Innsbruck
Best Things to do in Innsbruck: Make sure to take some time to wander this city—it’s truly beautiful, especially along the river where you’ll find those iconic colorful houses. And don’t miss the Old Town! Be sure to check out the famous Golden Roof—it’s a must-see and full of charm.
Note on Innsbruck: We didn’t fall in love with Innsbruck, so we kept it simple and just explored the city a bit. I mainly wanted to see the river with the colorful houses—that was worth it. Since we didn’t do much else, I don’t want to recommend things we didn’t try ourselves. We left after breakfast, so we don’t have many food spots to share either. That said, we really liked our hotel—it was clean, cozy, and a nice place to rest for the night.
Day Two: Travel Day to Zillertal Valley
Plug into your GPS your hotel in Zillertal Valley. Our recommendation is Hotel Tipotsch.
Amazing Road Trip Stops: Alpbach, Lake Achensee and Pertisau, Hall in Tirol
Where to eat: Eat in Alpbach at Postalm for some very good pizza and beer.
Day Two-Four: Zillertal Valley
The Zillertal Valley is a stunning alpine region in Tyrol, Austria—think green meadows, mountain views, and cute little villages. It’s a great place to slow down, enjoy nature, and soak in that classic Austrian mountain charm without needing to be an extreme hiker. An absolute must visit!
Where to stay in the Zillertal Valley: Hotel Tipotsch
Best things to do in Zillertal Valley: Explore charming small towns like Stumm and Mayrhofen, Enjoy the wonderful Easy Trail along the valley.
Where to eat: La Pasta, Marzenklamm, Kostner Heimat, Alpenhotel Kramerwirt, Flötzinger Bräustüberl
⇒ More details and information can be found in our Zillertal Valley Travel Guide.
Day Four: Travel Day to Salzburg
Plug into your GPS Salzburg Parking: Parking in Salzburg can be a bit tricky, so it’s worth doing some research ahead of time to find parking in or near the city. A helpful resource is the official Salzburg parking site—it gives you a breakdown of public garages, lets you know if they’re open, and even shows how many free spots are currently available.
Amazing Road Trip Stops: Kitzbuhel, Maria Alm and Zell am See
Where to eat: Herzogin in Maria Alm
Day Four-Seven: Salzburg
Salzburg is one of my absolute favorite cities in Europe—and for good reason. It’s a gorgeous, walkable city full of charm, history, and stunning architecture. Known as the birthplace of Mozart and the setting for The Sound of Music, it blends culture, mountain views, and old-world streets in the best way. Whether you’re into music, history, or just wandering beautiful places, Salzburg delivers.
Where to stay in Salzburg: Altstadthotel Kasererbräu
Best Things to do in Salzburg: Fortress Hohensalzburg, Mozart’s Birthplace, Getreidegasse, Salzburg Cathedral, Stiegl-Keller, Sound of Music Locations: Mirabellgarten, Schloss Hellbrunn
Day Seven: Travel Day to Lakes
Since there’s so much to see and do in Salzburg, I don’t recommend leaving the city too early. Spend most of the day exploring before heading to your hotel in the lakes region—it’s worth taking your time here.
Day Seven-Nine: Salzburg Lakes Region
The lakes in the Salzburg region are absolutely worth a visit—peaceful, scenic, and perfect for slowing down. This area is full of charming villages, crystal-clear lakes, and mountain views. It’s a great spot to relax, swim, or just take in the beauty. Super easy to reach from Salzburg and a great contrast to the city!
Where to stay in the Salzburg Lakes Region: Landhaus Seerieth (Hintersee lake)
Best Things to Do: Explore charming villages like St. Gilgen and St Wolfgang im Salzkammergut, bike around Wolfgangsee, walk around Hintersee lake, paddle and/or swim in Hintersee lake, visit mega-popular Hallstatt
Where to eat: Gausthaus Wirt am Gries, Liva Sankt Gilgen, Gasthof Zur Post, Gelateria Stella
⇒ For more details, check out our guide to Hintersee and our favorite lake region activities!
Day Nine: Travel Day to Wachau Valley
We only made one stop on our way to the Wachau Valley, but it was an important one—Mauthausen Concentration Camp and Memorial. This is a powerful, sobering place and an essential part of our shared history. Visiting was incredibly moving, difficult, and necessary. If you’re doing an Austrian road trip, I strongly encourage you to make time for this stop.
Day Nine-Eleven: Wachau Valley
The Wachau Valley is one of Austria’s most beautiful regions—famous for its terraced vineyards, charming riverside towns, and stunning views along the Danube. Located between Melk and Krems, this stretch of the valley is packed with history, wine, and picture-perfect landscapes. Whether you’re here to bike, sip local white wine, or just soak in the scenery, the Wachau Valley is a must-visit.
Where to stay in the Wachau Valley? Hotel Garni Donauhof
Best Things to Do: Explore charming small towns like Melk, Dürnstein, Weißenkirchen in der Wachau, and Spitz. Visit Melk Abbey. Explore the Danube River. Visit Krems and its many art museums. Visit plenty of wineries and wine bars.
Where to eat? Heuriger Amon-Ottmann, Weingut Hermenegild Mang, Weingut und Restaurant Josef Jamek, Mariandl Café & Mehr, Gritsch
⇒ For more information, check out our Wachau Valley travel guide.
Day Eleven: Travel Day to Vienna
I recommend taking this day at a slower pace. Enjoy the beauty of the Wachau Valley, then take a leisurely drive to Vienna. It’s a relaxed and scenic route—perfect for soaking in your last views of the countryside. This is also a great time to return your rental car if you’re wrapping up your trip in Vienna.
Day Eleven-Fourteen: Vienna
Vienna will likely be one of your longer stops—and for good reason. As the capital of Austria, it’s packed with history, stunning architecture, world-class museums, and a vibrant café culture. It also makes a fantastic base for day trips to nearby major cities like Bratislava and Budapest.
Where to stay in Vienna? Unfortunately, the Airbnb I stayed in is no longer available, so I don’t have a specific place to recommend. That said, Vienna has plenty of great options—from charming apartments to boutique hotels—so you’ll have no trouble finding a comfortable stay that fits your style and budget.
Best things to do in Vienna: Wander the city streets, Schonbrunn Palace, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Hofburg Palace, Kunsthistorisches Art History Museum, Ringstrasse, Volksgarten Rose Garden, Military History Museum, Mozart’s Apartment, Day trips to Bratislava and Budapest
Day Fourteen: Heading Home
Vienna’s international airport makes it easy to find a flight home, no matter where you’re headed. I hope this 2-week Austria road trip itinerary has helped you plan your own Austrian adventure—safe travels and enjoy every moment!
Travel Information
- Bolzano, Italy Travel Guide
- Zillertal Valley Travel Guide
- Easy Trail Information
- Wachau Valley Travel Guide
- Hintersee, Austria: A Hidden Gem
- Great European Hiking Blog
Your Thoughts
This is my recommended 2-week Austria road trip itinerary. What are you going to visit? What are you going to change? Did I miss anything? Comment below!
