Best of Austria & Switzerland — Self-Launched
10 days · Austria, Switzerland & Liechtenstein
Europamundo charges £1,800
No-markup version: ~£1,070 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 10-day rail-and-bus version of Europamundo's "Best of Austria and Switzerland": Vienna to Geneva via the Wachau Valley, Salzburg's lake district, the Salzwelten salt mines, Krimml Falls, Innsbruck, the Zugspitze, Liechtenstein, St. Gallen, the Rhine Falls, Zurich, Bern, Glacier 3000, Montreux and Chillon Castle. You'll use Austrian/German/Swiss trains and postbuses instead of a coach, stay in hostels and budget guesthouses instead of 3–4★ hotels, and book the big-ticket excursions (Zugspitze, Glacier 3000, salt mines, Melk Abbey) yourself via GetYourGuide or directly with the operators. Switzerland is expensive — even on a backpacker budget it is roughly double Austria per day — so the Swiss leg is where cost control matters. All figures are approximate per-person estimates in GBP for shoulder season, excluding international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Vienna — settle in and evening wander
Vienna, Austria
Fly or train into Vienna and check into a hostel in the 6th/7th district (Wombats Naschmarkt or Hostel Ruthensteiner are good value, dorms ~£20–28, private doubles ~£55). Buy a 48-hour Wiener Linien transport pass (~£11) covering U-Bahn, tram and bus. Spend the late afternoon doing a free self-guided loop of the Innere Stadt: Stephansdom, Graben, Hofburg exterior, the MuseumsQuartier courtyards and the Naschmarkt for dinner. Free walking tours run daily from Albertinaplatz if you want orientation (tip-based, ~£5 tip).
🚌Vienna airport to city: S-Bahn S7 or CAT bus ~£4 (S7 cheaper), 48h transit pass ~£11
🛏Hostel dorm in Vienna (Wombats Naschmarkt / Hostel Ruthensteiner), ~£22
- →Self-guided Innere Stadt walk (Stephansdom, Graben, Hofburg)
- →Naschmarkt food browsing
- →Optional tip-based free walking tour
Vienna in depth — palaces, Belvedere and coffee house culture
Vienna, Austria
Replace the operator's panoramic coach tour with a self-paced day: start at Schönbrunn Palace (Grand Tour ticket ~£25, book on the official palace site or GetYourGuide to skip the queue — go at opening time), then tram 71/D back to the Belvedere for Klimt's 'The Kiss' (~£15). Afternoon at the Hofburg/Imperial Apartments if that interests you (~£16) or just the free Prunksaal-adjacent courtyards. End with a Melange in a traditional coffee house (Café Sperl or Café Hawelka, ~£4) and dinner at a Beisl (~£12–15).
🚌Tram/U-Bahn within city, covered by pass ~£0
🛏Hostel dorm in Vienna, ~£22
- →Schönbrunn Palace Grand Tour
- →Belvedere Gallery (Klimt)
- →Coffee house stop
- →Heuriger or Beisl dinner
Wachau Valley by train and boat — Krems, Dürnstein, Melk Abbey to Linz
Wachau Valley → Linz, Austria
Take the ÖBB railjet/RJ from Wien Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof to Krems an der Donau (~1h, ~£12). Wander Krems' old town, then take the Wachaubahn heritage train or the local bus to Dürnstein (~£4) for the blue church and the 20-minute castle-ruin climb with Danube views. In the afternoon catch the boat from Dürnstein/Krems downriver to Melk (~£18, Brandner or DDSG, seasonal Apr–Oct) and visit Melk Abbey on your own ticket (~£13). Overnight in Linz: ÖBB train Melk–Linz ~1h, ~£15. Stay at a budget hotel/guesthouse near the Hauptbahnhof (~£40).
🚌Train Vienna–Krems ~£12, local bus/train ~£4, boat ~£18, train Melk–Linz ~£15
🛏Budget hotel / guesthouse in Linz, ~£40
- →Krems old town
- →Dürnstein castle ruin hike
- →Danube river boat to Melk
- →Melk Abbey self-guided visit
Salzkammergut lakes — Traunsee, Gmunden, St. Wolfgang to Salzburg
Salzkammergut → Salzburg, Austria
Rail Linz to Gmunden (~1h, ~£10) and walk the lakeside promenade; the Traunsee boat runs from Gmunden to Ebensee or Altmünster (one-way ~£10–12, ~75 min — you can do a shorter hop). Bus 546/rail combo to Bad Ischl, then the local bus to St. Wolfgang (~£3.50) for the lakeside village and the Schafberg view. Skip the expensive Schafbergbahn unless the weather is perfect (~£45 return). Evening: bus St. Wolfgang → Salzburg via Bad Ischl (~1h45, ~£9). Hostel in Salzburg (YoHo International or a Mitterbach guesthouse, dorm ~£25).
🚌Trains and buses ~£25 total
🛏Hostel dorm in Salzburg (YoHo International), ~£25
- →Gmunden lakeside walk
- →Traunsee short cruise
- →St. Wolfgang village and lake
- →Optional Schafberg cog railway
Salt mines, Zell am See and Krimml Falls to Innsbruck
Salzburg → Innsbruck, Austria
This is the big transfer day — the operator does it by coach, you do it by train and postbus. Morning: ÖBB to Hallein/Bad Dürrnberg for the Salzwelten salt mines (~£28 including the underground train and salt-lake boat, book direct or GetYourGuide; allow 2h). From Salzburg take the train to Zell am See (~1h40, ~£18) via a scenic route, short lakeside stop, then the Pinzgauer Lokalbahn + bus to Krimml Falls (~£9) for the lower viewpoints — the ticket to the base is ~£7 and you don't need to climb the whole waterfall. Late bus/train back to Zell am See and the ÖBB to Innsbruck (~2h, ~£20; direct trains available). Budget hostel in Innsbruck (~£28 dorm).
🚌Train/postbus hops ~£50
🛏Budget hostel in Innsbruck, ~£28
- →Salzwelten salt mine tour
- →Zell am See lakeside stop
- →Krimml Waterfalls lower viewpoints
Zugspitze summit, Reutte suspension bridge and into Liechtenstein
Innsbruck → Feldkirch, Austria / Liechtenstein
Bus/train from Innsbruck to Ehrwald (~1h15, ~£8) and take the Tiroler Zugspitzbahn or the Eibsee cable car to the Zugspitze summit — one-way up and down ~£55–60 return, book at the cable car desk or GetYourGuide; check the webcam first, it is worthless in cloud. Alternatively use the Austrian side for a cheaper summit. Descend, then bus to Reutte (~£4) for the Highline179 Tibetan-style suspension bridge (~£9 admission). Continue by bus/train via Garmisch or the Außerfern line to Feldkirch (~£14) and hop the local bus over the border to Vaduz, Liechtenstein (~£3) if you want the passport stamp souvenir (~£3 in the tourist office). Overnight in a Feldkirch guesthouse (~£35).
🚌Buses and trains ~£30 plus cable car £58
🛏Guesthouse in Feldkirch, ~£35
- →Zugspitze cable car to summit
- →Highline179 suspension bridge at Reutte
- →Optional Vaduz excursion in Liechtenstein
St. Gallen, Lake Constance, Stein am Rhein and the Rhine Falls to Zurich
Feldkirch → Zurich, Switzerland
Swiss day — buy a Swiss Half Fare Card (~£100) before you go or a Saver Day Pass (~£50) if you'll be doing several long runs; it pays for itself fast. Train Feldkirch → St. Gallen (~1h, ~£20 with half fare), visit the Abbey Library (~£10) and the UNESCO old town. Train to Rorschach on Lake Constance (~£6) then the S-Bahn along the lake to Kreuzlingen/Constance (~£9) — Constance old town and the harbour are free to wander. Continue to Stein am Rhein (~£8) for the painted facades and castle. In the afternoon reach Schaffhausen (~£8) and the Rhine Falls: the train station is at Schloss Laufen and the waterfall ticket is ~£14 (boat ride to the rock ~£12 extra). Evening train Schaffhausen → Zurich (~1h, ~£12). Zurich hostel (City Backpacker or Zurich Youth Hostel, dorm ~£40).
🚌Swiss trains ~£70 with half-fare card
🛏Hostel dorm in Zurich, ~£40
- →St. Gallen Abbey Library
- →Lake Constance shoreline at Constance
- →Stein am Rhein old town
- →Rhine Falls at Schloss Laufen
Zurich city, Lake Zurich cruise and the Rapperswil train
Zurich, Switzerland
Morning self-guided old-town loop: Bahnhofstrasse, Lindenhof viewpoint, Niederdorf lanes, Grossmünster tower climb (~£5) and the free Kunsthaus collection if it rains. Midday take the S7 to Meilen and the scheduled Lake Zurich passenger boat (ZSG) across to Rapperswil (~£13 with half fare, ~1h30–2h) — the 'Rosenstadt' with its castle and wooden bridge is the operator's own stop. Return to Zurich on the S-Bahn along the lake (~£7). Dinner at a Coop or Migros self-service restaurant or a food hall to keep costs down (~£12–15).
🚌S-Bahn and boat ~£20
🛏Hostel dorm in Zurich, ~£40
- →Zurich old town and Lindenhof
- →Grossmünster tower
- →Lake Zurich boat to Rapperswil
- →Rapperswil castle and wooden bridge
Bern, Gstaad, Glacier 3000, Chillon Castle and Montreux to Geneva
Zurich → Geneva, Switzerland
The longest day — start early. Train Zurich → Bern (~1h, ~£15) for a 90-minute old-town loop (Zytglogge, the free Bärengraben bears, Rosengarten viewpoint). Train Bern → Gstaad via Zweisimmen (GoldenPass route, ~2h, ~£20) and the PostBus up to Col du Pillon (~30 min, ~£8). Glacier 3000 cable car return is ~£65–75 (half fare ~£60) — book online for a small discount and confirm the Peak Walk bridge is open. Descend, train Gstaad → Montreux (~2h, ~£22), quick Montreux lakeside walk, then the trolleybus to Chillon Castle for the last entry (~£13, book on the castle's own site or GetYourGuide). Evening train Montreux → Geneva (~1h, ~£16). Geneva hostel or budget hotel (~£45).
🚌Swiss trains and PostBus ~£85 plus cable car ~£60
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Geneva, ~£45
- →Bern old town loop and Rosengarten
- →GoldenPass train to Gstaad
- →Glacier 3000 cable car and Peak Walk
- →Chillon Castle
- →Montreux lakeside
Geneva old town and lakefront, then depart
Geneva, Switzerland
Self-guided morning: Reformers' Wall, St-Pierre Cathedral, the old town lanes, Jet d'Eau and the Jardin Anglais flower clock, plus a coffee by the lake. The operator's panoramic tour is easy to replicate on foot — the whole centre is walkable. If you have time before your flight, the Bains des Pâquis is a cheap lakeside lunch (~£12). Geneva airport is 7 minutes from Cornavin station by train (~£4) or on the free transport ticket from many hotels/hostels — ask at check-in.
🚌Airport train ~£4 (often free with accommodation pass)
🛏—
- →Geneva old town and St-Pierre Cathedral
- →Jet d'Eau and lakefront
- →Bains des Pâquis lunch
Self-launched vs. Europamundo
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Europamundo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,070 | £1,800 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £730 per person (41%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Europamundo-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,070
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Best of Austria & Switzerland — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,070 per person for 10 days in Austria, Switzerland & Liechtenstein. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Europamundo?+
Yes — Europamundo charges around £1,800 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,070 — a saving of roughly £730 (41%) per person.
How long is the Austria, Switzerland & Liechtenstein trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Austria, Switzerland & Liechtenstein.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, hiking trip through Austria, Switzerland & Liechtenstein, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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