This article describes a 2-week itinerary in Dachstein area from Austria, the Dolomites in Italy and some famous cities like Vienna, Hallstatt, Verona. At the end of the trip we had a dose of adrenaline in the Gardaland amusement park and 2 relaxing days on the Adriatic Coast in Croatia. My brother-in-law spent the first week of the trip with us, that’s why we booked triple rooms.

We visited 3 countries in total.

AUSTRIA

Mountains: Northern Limestone Alps (Hoher Dachstein).

Cities: Vienna, Hallstatt, Ramsau am Dachstein, Zell am See.

ITALY

Mountains: Southern Limestone Alps (Sexten Dolomites).

Cities and village: Alleghe, Verona.

Amusement park: Gardaland.

CROATIA

City: Pula (Adriatic Coast).

Click on the small arrow from the map (top left corner) to expand the map legend and visualize all the touristic attractions mentioned in this article.

This article contains the following categories:

• We’ve been there → how we’ve organized our holiday
• Itinerary → how we’ve spent 2 weeks in Europe (detailed itinerary per day)

LOCATION

Europe: Austria, Italy, Croatia;

DURATION & MONTH

2 weeks spent in August 2016;

TRANSPORT

Personal car;

ACCOMMODATION

Booking (guesthouses, hotels);

2-week ITINERARY

DAY 1 – Romania → Austria

• drive from Bucharest to Vienna
• accommodation – YourApartment 1020 in Vienna

DAY 2 – Austria

• visit Vienna
• drive from Vienna to Lungötz
• accommodation – Pension Rohrmoser in Lungötz

DAY 3 – Austria

• visit Hallstatt
• via ferrata in Hallstatt (Seewand-Klettersteig)
• dinner at Braugasthof Lobisser Gasthof Restaurant in Hallstatt
• accommodation – Pension Rohrmoser in Lungötz

DAY 4 – Austria

• via ferrata in Gosau area (Schmied Klettersteig, Laserer alpin Klettersteig)
• visit Hallstatt
• drive from Hallstatt to Ramsau am Dachstein
• accommodation – Pension Hofweyer in Ramsau am Dachstein

DAY 5 – Austria

• visit Dachstein Südwandbahn Talstation area
• via ferrata Sky Walk Klettersteig & Hoher Dachstein Schulteranstieg Klettersteig
• drive from Ramsau am Dachstein to Zell am See
• accommodation – Jagdhof Pichl in Pichl

DAY 6 – Austria

• visit Zell am See
• accommodation – Mary’s kleines Landhotel by we rent in Zell am See

DAY 7 – Austria → Italy

• visit Zell am See
• drive from Zell am See to Belluno
• accommodation – Hotel O’Scugnizzo 2 in Belluno

DAY 8 – Italy

• visit Three Peaks Nature Park (Tre Cime di Lavaredo)
• via ferrata Torre Toblino & Monte Paterno
• accommodation – Hotel O’Scugnizzo 2 in Belluno

DAY 9 – Italy

• drive from Belluno to Alleghe
• visit Alleghe
• accommodation – Hotel Alle Alpi in Alleghe

DAY 10 – Italy

• visit Piani di Pezzè area
• via ferrata Marmolada – Punta Penia
• accommodation – Hotel Alle Alpi in Alleghe

DAY 11 – Italy

• drive from Alleghe to Verona
• visit Verona
• have lunch at Restaurant Flora in Verona
• have dinner at Osteria Sgarzarie in Verona
• accommodation – B&B Santa Toscana in Verona

DAY 12 – Italy

• visit Verona
• visit Gardaland amusement park
• accommodation – B&B Santa Toscana in Verona

DAY 13 – Italy → Croatia

• drive from Verona to Pula
• visit Pula
• accommodation – Guest house Centar Ljiljana in Pula

DAY 14 – Croatia → back to Romania

• driving from Pula back home in Romania

Detailed itinerary

DAY 1 – Romania → Austria

Drive from Bucharest to Vienna

• passing through Hungary;
• distance 1070km / 664mi;
• duration ~12h;

⚠️When passing through Romania, it is necessary to have a valid vignette (prices in 2020 per passenger car: 3€/7-day, 7€/30-day).

⚠️When passing through Hungary, it is necessary to have a valid vignette (prices in 2020 per passenger car: 20€/10-day, 29.75€/30-day).

⚠️When passing through Austria, it is necessary to have a valid vignette (prices in 2020 per passenger car: 9.4€/10-day, 27.40€/2-month).

?Make sure you get a vignette before entering those countries. You can purchase it in border countries at gas stations, motorway rest stops or online.

Accommodation:

• YourApartment 1020 in Vienna (110€/night/triple room/no meal; of which the cleaning tax was 45€);

DAY 2 – Austria, 80€/night/triple room/no meal

Visit Vienna

Vienna

Along its course from the Black Forest German mountain range down to the Black Sea, the Danube, Europe’s second-longest river, crosses 10 countries. One of these countries is Austria. Danube crosses the upper part of Vienna. On the first day spent in Vienna we rented 3 bikes and rode along the Donaukanal (Danube Canal), passing by St. Francis of Assisi Church and Prater amusament park. One of Vienna’s landmarks is the giant wheel from Prater, built in 1897, which we saw from the distance. It was a sunny day and many people were enjoying the outdoors of the Austrian capital. Some were riding a boat on the canals, others were playing polo. The stroll ended at St. Stephen’s Cathedral, famous for its eye-catching, colored tile roof.

Check out this website for more tourist attractions from Austria.

Drive from Vienna to Lungötz

• distance 330km / 205mi;
• duration ~3h30;

Accommodation:

• Pension Rohrmoser in Lungötz (80€/night/triple room/no meal);

DAY 3 – Austria

Visit Hallstatt

Hallstatt

• small city (~800 residents) located near the Dachstein massif and famous worldwide for its picturesque landscape;
• a million tourists a year;
• Hallstatt-Dachstein (Salzkammergut) was declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1997;
• home to the oldest salt mine in the world;

Top things to do in Hallstatt

• stroll through the village and the Hallstättersee lakeside promenade;
• boating on Hallstättersee;
• visit the Salt Mine (Salzwelten);
• go on the Skywalk (Welterbeblick) viewing platform;

Check out this article for more information and photos from Hallstatt.

Do the Seewand-Klettersteig via ferrata in Hallstatt

• challenging via ferrata (difficulty D/E) in the Dachstein Mountains;
• offers breathtaking views over Hallstatt (Hallstätter See) and Inner Salzkammergut;

Check out this article for more information on the via ferrata.

We had dinner at:

• Braugasthof Lobisser Gasthof Restaurant in Hallstatt;

Accommodation:

• Pension Rohrmoser in Lungötz (80€/night/triple room/no meal);

DAY 4 – Austria, 90€/night/triple room/breakfast

Do the Schmied (Klettersteig) & Laserer alpin (Klettersteig) via ferratas in Gosau area

Schmied (Klettersteig) via ferrata

• via ferrata in the Dachstein Mountains;
• medium-difficulty (C);

Check out this article for more information on the via ferrata.

Laserer alpin (Klettersteig) via ferrata

• via ferrata in the Dachstein Mountains;
• medium-difficulty (C);
• runs directly over the Vorder Gosau Lake;

Check out this article (or this article) for more information on the via ferrata.

Visit Hallstatt

Check out this article for more information and photos from Hallstatt.

Drive from Hallstatt to Ramsau am Dachstein

• distance 82km / 50mi;
• duration ~1h15;

Accommodation:

• Pension Hofweyer in Ramsau am Dachstein (90€/night/triple room/breakfast included);

DAY 5 – Austria

Visit Dachstein Südwandbahn Talstation area

Dachstein panorama road (Dachsteinstraße) connects Ramsau with the Alpine pastures at the foot of the Dachstein mountain. The path that goes aproximately paralel to the road goes along 3.7km/2.3mi up to the bottom station of the gondola lift (1680m/5511ft) that goes to the Dachstein glacier.

My husband climbed the Sky Walk via ferrata up to Hoher Dachstein while I was hiking from Ramsau am Dachstein to Dachstein Südwandbahn Talstation. We met at the gondola lift station in the afternoon returning together in the city by car.

⚠️The cable car passengers can use the Dachstein toll road free of charge. Otherwise, check out here the prices for car/public bus.

Do the Sky Walk (Klettersteig) & Hoher Dachstein Schulteranstieg (Klettersteig) via ferratas

Sky Walk (Klettersteig) via ferrata

• extremely difficult D/E;
• extremely exposed; it requires considerable arm strength;
• start point: Dachstein Gondola’s bottom station;

Check out this article for more information on the via ferrata.

Hoher Dachstein Schulteranstieg (Klettersteig) via ferrata

• moderate difficulty A/B;
• alternative to the route over the Randkluftsteig which became dangerous due to glacier’s crevices;
• distance 800m/2624ft;
• total hiking time ~1h10;

Check out this article for more information on the via ferrata.

Drive from Ramsau am Dachstein to Zell am See

• distance 88km / 54mi;
• duration ~1h15;

Accommodation:

• Jagdhof Pichl in Pichl (102€/night/triple room/breakfast included);

DAY 6 – Austria, 113€/night/triple room/no meal

Visit Zell am See

Zell am See

• the town is also known as Zell am See-Kaprun;
• popular winter and summer resort;

Top things to do in/around Zell am See

• visit the old town (Alt Stadt);
• spend time by the Lake Zell;
• enjoy the surrounding mountains by hiking or biking;
• drive on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road;
• visit Eisriesenwelt ice caves;
• visit Sigmund Thun Gorge(Kaprun) or Kitzlochklamm Gorge;

Check out this article for more information and photos from Zell am See.

Accommodation:

• Mary’s kleines Landhotel by we rent in Zell am See (113€/night/triple room/no meal);

DAY 7 – Austria → Italy, 165€/night/triple room/breakfast included

Visit Zell am See

Check out this article for more information and photos from Zell am See.

Drive from Zell am See to Belluno

• distance 228km / 141mi;
• duration ~3h30min;

⚠️In Italy the tolls are collected at toll gates, so you don’t need a vignette (~9€/100km/car).

Accommodation:

•  Hotel O’Scugnizzo 2 in Belluno (165€/night/triple room/breakfast included);

DAY 8 – Italy

Visit Three Peaks Nature Park

Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Three Peaks of Lavaredo)

• iconic view of the Dolomites mountains;
• three prominent rock formations: Cima Piccola (“little peak”, 2857m/9373ft), Cima Grande (“big peak”, 2999m/9839ft), Cima Ovest (“western peak”, 2973m/9754ft);

Check out this article for more information and photos from Tre Cime di Lavaredo.

Do the Torre di Toblin & Monte Paterno via ferratas

Torre di Toblin via ferrata

• hiking trail:  Parking Tre Cime → Rifugio Auronzo → Cappella degli Alpini → Rifugio Lavaredo → Forcella Lavaredo (observation deck; Tre Cime on the left) → Monte Paterno (on the right) → Gallerie del Monte Paterno (war tunnel on the right) → Rifugio A. Locatelli/S.Innerkofler → Chiesetta Alpina → Laghi dei Piani → (clockwise direction) →Via Ferrata delle Scalette→ Torre di Toblin mountain peak → Torre di Toblin via ferrata → Sasso di Sesto → back to Parking Tre Cime;
• via ferrata very steep; overhanging ladders; exposure along the stairs; level of difficulty C;

Check out this article for more information and photos from Torre di Toblin.

Monte Paterno via ferrata (Innerkofler-De-Luca)

• hiking trail:  Parking Tre Cime → Rifugio Auronzo → Cappella degli Alpini → Rifugio Lavaredo → Forcella Lavaredo (observation deck; Tre Cime on the left) → Monte Paterno → Gallerie del Monte Paterno (war tunnel) ;
• runs along the front line of World War I;
• moderate difficulty;

Check out this article for more information and photos from Monte Paterno.

Accommodation:

•  Hotel O’Scugnizzo 2 in Belluno (165€/night/triple room/breakfast included);

DAY 9 – Italy

Drive from Belluno to Alleghe

• distance 47km / 29mi;
• duration ~50min;

Visit Alleghe

Alleghe village

• charming mountain village;
• highest mountain close to Alleghe is Monte Civetta 3220m/10564ft (Dolomites);

Check out this article for more information and photos from Alleghe.

Accommodation:

• Hotel Alle Alpi in Alleghe (90€/night/double room/no meal);

DAY 10 – Italy

Visit Piani di Pezzè area

Piani di Pezzè

• elevation 1450m/4757ft;
• the area can be reached by the cable car that leaves from Alleghe or by car;
• it offers a view over the northwest face of Monte Civetta, the biggest rock face of the Dolomites;
• from Piani di Pezzè tourists can explore the Ski Civetta area;
• other things to do in Piani di Pezzè (apart from skiing in winter): hiking, visit Civetta Adventure Park, visit Ally Farm;

Do the Marmolada-Punta Penia via ferrata

• via ferrata climbs along the west crest of Marmolada, the highest mountain in the Dolomites;
• hiking trail (circular route):  Lago di Fedaia dam 2053m/6735ft → Passo Fedaia → Museo della Grande Guerra → (cage lift to) Rifugio Pian dei Fiacconi 2626m/8615ft → (start hiking via) Vernel glacier → after ~1h45 you will get to the start of Marmolada-Punta Penia via ferrata which will take you 2h15 to finish it → arriving in 2h at the Marmolada saddle 2910m/9547ft → Val de Contrin → Rifugio Capanna di Punta Penia 3180m/10433ft (booking) → arriving in 4h on Punta Penia mountain peak 3343m/10967ft (Terrazza Marmolada and Punta Rocca cable car 3250m/10662ft can be seen in the distance) → descend to Pian dei Fiacconi in ~2h → Rifugio Ghiacciaio Marmolada 2655m/8710ft → descending with the cage lift to Lago di Fedaia;

Check out this article for more information and photos from Marmolada.

Accommodation:

• Hotel Alle Alpi in Alleghe (90€/night/double room/no meal);

DAY 11 – Italy

Drive from Alleghe to Verona

• distance 255km / 158mi;
• duration ~2h55min;

Visit Verona

Verona

• UNESCO World Heritage Site;
• famous due to William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, and also famous for its Roman amphitheater, Verona Arena, the 3rd largest amphitheater in Italy;
• located close to Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy;

Check out this article for more information and photos from Verona.

We had lunch at:

• Restaurant Flora in Verona;

We had dinner at:

• Osteria Sgarzarie in Verona;

Accommodation:

• B&B Santa Toscana in Verona (59€/night/double room/breakfast included);

DAY 12 – Italy

Visit Verona

Check out this article for more information and photos from Verona.

Visit Gardaland amusement park

Gardaland Park

• ?‍?‍?‍?amusement park located on the eastern shore of Lake Garda;
• visited annually by 3 million people;
• there are 32 rides in total of which 7 roller coasters and 3 water rides;

⚠️Check out the park entry prices here.

Accommodation:

• B&B Santa Toscana in Verona (59€/night/double room/breakfast included);

DAY 13 – Italy → Croatia

Drive from Verona to Pula

• distance 384km / 238mi;
• duration ~4h;

⚠️In Croatia the tolls are collected at toll gates, so you don’t need a vignette (40HRK≈5€/100km/car).

⚠️The currency of Croatia is the Croatian Kuna.

Visit Pula

Pula

• the biggest city on the Croatioan Istria Peninsula (Adriatic Sea);
• home to a well-preserved Roman amphitheater, Pula Arena, and many other Roman buildings (Temple of Augustus, Arch of the Sergii);

Accommodation:

• Guest house Centar Ljiljana in Pula (37€/night/double room/breakfast included);

DAY 14 – Croatia → back to Romania

Driving from Pula back home to Romania

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