Day 1 - Vienna imperial core
Begin at the Hofburg and the Spanish Riding School, then the Kunsthistorisches museum. Afternoon in the Innere Stadt with a Sachertorte at a grand coffee house. Evening a heuriger on the edge with cold cuts and new wine. Sleep in the center to walk everywhere.
Day 2 - Palaces and music
Morning at Schonbrunn Palace and its gardens. Afternoon Belvedere for Klimt. Evening a classical concert or an opera at the Staatsoper. A final coffee and a slice of strudel before rest. Book palace tickets online to skip the gate queue.
Day 3 - Train to Salzburg
Take the rail west to Salzburg, base by the river. Walk the Altstadt and the fortress funicular. Afternoon Mozart squares and the cathedral. Evening a schnitzel dinner in a beisl. Stay two nights to slow the pace.
Day 4 - Sound of country
Day trip to the Salzkammergut lakes or the Berchtesgaden edge by bus or boat. Lunch of trout and dumplings lakeside. Return for a quiet evening stroll. Keep the day light to enjoy the scenery rather than tick boxes.
Day 5 - Exit via the city
A last Salzburg bakery breakfast, then train back to Vienna or onward. Final shopping for Mozartkugeln and wine. Keep the afternoon open for transit. A last sausage stand sends you off full. Pack light; you will have bought souvenirs along the route.
Daily food picks
Eat sachertorte, apfelstrudel, and wiener schnitzel with lemon. Coffee houses are the heart of the city; order a melange and linger. Heurigers pour young wine with plates of ham and cheese. Salzburg adds trout and moist dumplings. Bakeries cover breakfast with vanilla crescents and rolls.
Getting around & budget
Trains link Vienna and Salzburg in under three hours; book seats ahead for savings. Both centers are walkable; use transit passes for longer hops. Budget 120 to 190 euros daily with mid-range hotels and palace entries. City cards bundle transit and museums if you plan many sights.
