You might have heard about the rising oil prices — or perhaps your driving licence doesn’t allow you to drive in Austria (yes, I know how troublesome the paperwork can be).
Or is there anything else holding you back from driving? Don’t worry. Austria’s official tourism website has an extensive information page on car-free holidays and travelling around Austria by public transport.
This website will be our travel base, so bookmark it if you find it useful. In this guide, I’ll show you where you can travel in Austria using public transport alone, how to get there and what to see.
Hotels in the German-Austrian border region and in Mittersill
If you definitely want to save money on accommodation, you might want to look for hotels in Germany, particularly those located close to the Austrian border.
However, keep the border crossing times and possible traffic jams in mind. Yes, even if you are travelling by bus or train, don’t assume you won’t encounter border checks.
We opted to stay one more night in Austria. We had spent the previous two nights in Germany, which meant travelling back and forth across the border. This was occasionally troublesome because of spontaneous border checks and traffic jams.
For peace of mind, we decided to spend one night in Mittersill at Alpenhof Apartments, a family-run hotel. We paid €121 for a double room, which was very well equipped with kitchen utensils, a mini-fridge, microwave, and kitchen countertop.
Guests also have access to the hotel’s laundry facilities. Washing and drying cost €5 per programme. While the laundry is running, children can entertain themselves in the well-equipped playroom located right next to the laundry room.
What we particularly liked about our room was the view. We could wake up and admire the magnificent Alpine landscape right outside our window.
The hotelier was extremely patient and took very good care of us. She also provided us with the Nationalpark Sommercard as part of our booking. The card allowed us to enjoy tourist attractions and natural hiking areas in the region, either free of charge or at discounted prices.
Zell am See
The Sommercard booklet brought us to Zell am See and its surroundings. My partner was very keen on playing mini golf, so I accompanied him. After completing all 12 rounds, we headed to Zell am See and its pristine, tranquil lake.
It was one of our best decisions to visit the lake on such a scorching summer day. We strolled along the promenade, watching the yachts and children happily running around.
This page from Zell am See-Kaprun will be your friend if you are planning a trip by train. It explains the direct train connections to Zell am See.
Without having to worry about traffic jams, ÖBB trains connect Zell am See with destinations across Austria, as well as Germany and even Switzerland. There are also international connections from as far away as Sweden and Denmark, if you fancy a night train.
You can also take Westbahn trains, which connect Zell am See with other Austrian cities such as St. Pölten, Linz, Salzburg, and Vienna.
Kufstein Ritterfest
We spontaneously discovered that the annual Ritterfest (Knight’s Festival) was taking place during our stay. So we travelled to the festival venue, Kufstein Fortress, and paid €24.50 per person for admission.
There was also a four-day ticket for around €52, covering the entire duration of the festival.
The admission fee included access to the fortress museum as well as artistic performances ranging from circus acts and duels to live music. Considering everything that was included, we found the €24.50 admission fee quite reasonable.
Everything at the festival was medieval-themed. Even the visitors dressed up as medieval peasants, princesses, knights, and merchants. The performers, shopkeepers, and food-stall staff were all dressed in medieval costumes as well.
It was only a half-day experience for us, but it offered a fascinating glimpse into the medieval past of the region. Kufstein Fortress stood at an important crossroads between different territories and witnessed the changing hands of the region throughout history.
Kufstein is well connected to neighbouring towns and cities by ÖBB and BRB, the Bavarian regional railway connecting Bavaria with Austria. Since Kufstein is a border town, the Deutschlandticket can also be used to travel there.
Leave a Reply