Germany/Austria final touches

[kaleykate]

Hi again!
I previously posted about travelling to Germany to meet my best friend in Berg. We're basically using the exact itinerary you guys suggested! Love this site!!! Thanks again!! Anyways, as our trip is rapidly approaching we have a few more questions, especially concerning our time of travel (Feb 15-Feb 28). Since it's going to be cold and snowy (i assume), we were mainly wondering if there are sights we should skip (because it won't be green) or extra sights we should tack on, outside of the normal tourist season sights. Our itinerary is:
Feb 15,16 - Cologne (for carnival!!!)
Feb 17, 18 - Innsbruck (we're not really sure what we are going to see here, but we want to go skiing in the Alps..any suggestions? Also, I'd like to do a hike..not sure if we can fit in skiing/hiking/seeing the town in two days)
Feb 19 - Salzburg (hoping to do a Sound of music tour..if it's available in the winter? -or maybe hike here - how close is Zell Am See to here?Also read a post about the Eisriesenwelt ice cave which sounds really cool? Any thoughts?)
Feb 20,21,22 - Vienna ( we're thinking about cutting this down to 2 days. we aren't museum/art people and think it might be sufficient? we're not really sure what to do/see here - I have read the vienna posts tho, so might just go by those)
Feb 23,24,25 - Prague
Feb 26, 27 - Munich/Berg
I know that is a TON of questions, but if anyone has any advice on anything we'd really appreciate it!!
Thank you!!
Kaley

[herrbert]

At this moment skiing conditions in the Alps are really bad, and for hiking it isn't very good either. (too cold, too windy). It looks like it is going to be a little bit colder, the next few days, but without a lot of snow.

If you really want to experience carnival, you should try to be in Cologne, on 17,18, 19 or 20th of february. (might be really full as hostels/hotels in concerned). You are there a little bit too early (there will be parties, but not like in the weekend, monday (Rosenmontag) and tuesday).

The caves of Eisrieselwelt www.eisriesenwelt.at/, are really cool, but only open in the summerseason (1st of May until the end of October), So you won't be able to visit them on this trip.

I would keep at least the 3 days in Vienna. It's not only art.

Salzburg - Zell am See is doable by train in just over one and a half hour. Check this link for the tours, and send them an email if you want, to get information on the tours (they state on the website, there are tour daily) www.panoramatours.com/Detail.fc?sd_type=tour&idobject=b9084cbf-4ccd-4d71-8bef-1d136340cb31. You also need some time to see the center of town, and the castle, and if you like the birthhouse of Mozart. So maybe one day won't do, maybe sneaking in another half day, is best.

[madamtrashheap]

kaleykate, even though it will be a tad chilly (!), the areas you're visiting are still gorgeous in Winter so you'll enjoy it, just take gloves!

To add to Herrbert's notes, the SOM (Sound of Music) tour in Salzburg is so cheesey it's cool, so I'd do it! Panorama Tours have a 4 hour tour (website says daily) www.panoramatours.com/DetailSingle.fc?sd_type=tour&idobject=b9084cbf-4ccd-4d71-8bef-1d136340cb31&single=true&merchant=sound.
The ice caves in the nearby glacier that Herrbert mentioned are worth a look and some of the tours to there also go to the castle in Werfen which makes it an all day tour. The salt mines (in Bad Dürrnberg) are OK to see if you've been to the other places. Unless you do find that extra time, I'd do the SOM tour and visit Mozart's birthplace which will leave time to wander the town.

If you're not into Museums, etc in Vienna, then use the info from other posts to give you ideas (here's a big one pretravel.proboards1.com/index.cgi?board=CCadvice&action=display&n=1&thread=3780&page=1 ), or perhaps consider the following: Sacher Torte at the Hotel Sacher (where it was invented - not cheap but fun!), visit the Habsburg Imperial Burial Vault at the Kapuzinergruft or Kaisergruft (Tegetthoffstrasse 2, just off the main street Kärtnerstraße), vist St Stephans Dom (Cathedral) and take a tour of the cypts below, have a rather strong vienna coffee in the Cafe Palmenhaus in the Burggarten (great view), eat a massive schnitzel in Figlmüller on Wollzelle (my suggestion) or Restaurant Gutenberg on Lugeck (Herrbert's suggestion), gaze at Hundertwasserhaus just for its architecture, jump on the tram (streetcar)# 1 or 2 for a circle "tour" of the Burgring that circles the city and goes past many sights and go for a skate on the ice rink that's usually in front of the Rathaus (town hall) as it should still be open - if it's still cold enough! And don't forget the Spanish Riding School (dancing Lippizanner horses) if you like that sort of thing.

Innsbruck - if the skiing doesn't work out, wander around the old town area and visit the Hofburg (palace), Hofkircke (main church) for the amazing interior, climb the Stadtturm (city tower) if the weather is good and have apple strudel in the old town square while looking at the golden roof and wondering - why?). Check the ski reports a few days before you plan to be there, and even ask at your accommodation for the best snow, but be prepared to either go deep and high into the Tirol valley or skip it. Hiking isn't really a good idea at that time of year as it's either too snowy or wet. And the nightlife in Innsbruck isn't bad either, so ask around for cool bars, etc to check out (try Plateau on Viaductbogen 51 or Novembar in the Stadtcafe on Universitätsstrasse in the centre of town).

If you can sort out to be in Cologne for the best Karnival days then do it - it's excellent fun!

Have a great trip!