We are planning a trip to Austria and Switzerland this summer. Then thought maybe flying into Amsterdam and making our way to Austria by train is a better plan. I would love some direction on where to go. I always seem to find out about hidden gems after my trips. We are looking at 2 weeks total. Appreciate any tips and ideas!

Susan
The absolute best site for anything train related, is seat61.com It has been operating for years and I have used it many times. You enter your starting point, then your destination and will give you best options.types of trains. Frequency of service. Cost.How to book. If you have never taken a train in "Europe before, it is a great experience. The #1 shocker is that THEY RUN ONTIME.
With the exception of the UK. Thy seem to be constantly on strike.
SEAT61.COM
The Man in Seat 61 | The train travel guide

Susan yes! Agree on trains on time in Europe

Susan yep seat61!!!

Susan I found UK trains also to be EXACTLY ON TIME when I visited there for three weeks several years ago.

Carolyn Lucky you are not there now. They have been having rolling strikes for the past 6-9 months. Drives my friends crazy.

Susan We once went to Hawaii when they had a garbage strike.

Carolyn ok! You win!

Susan Timing is everything, I guess.

I’ve lived in Linz, Austria, which is a lovely city on the Danube. Austria is full of villages and there is always something to see or do. There are beautiful churches, monasteries, museums and restaurants everywhere, and train stations are usually central, so everything is walkable. Salzburg is worth visiting, Bad Ischl is lovely, and Hallstatt is a neat place to visit…tour the salt mine, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site. From Linz you can travel by boat to Passau in Germany, which is a nice trip of several hours. Train travel is great, and regional train service is exceptional.

Sabine thank you so much

https://www.ricksteves.com/.../hitlers-eagles-nest-at.... We took our kids here years ago. Loved it. And the area is beautiful. We were just talking about it today. Also Hallstatt , Austria is beautiful as well as the drive there from Salzburg.
RICKSTEVES.COM
The Bavarian Background of Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest

Janice thanks so much!
Going on my list to check out!

Luiza I came to recommend you exactly these places. The little town by eagles nest is called fussien, and Hallstat is the most beautiful place I've ever been

Sandra thank you!!! I’m looking for these types of places

I think my question wasn’t as clear as I thought
I was hoping someone has been to these countries and can share personal experiences/advantages of flying into Amsterdam and out of Vienna.

Luiza I have always enjoyed places more when I've spent more time there. If you have only 2 weeks, I would suggest to stick to Austria and Switzerland. Both of those countries are amazing and have sooooo much to see and experience. Even one area can be very different from another area. Holland is also amazing, but you will only have time for a brief taste of each, rather than settle in for a more memorable experience. I've spent a week in Salzburg and one in Vienna, and was sooooo glad I chose to do that. You can do day trip from any larger center if you want to explore more areas, but you will save a lot of time if you don't have to pack up, check out and check back in too often. You can use that time to do more interesting activities or even rest.

Brigitte that makes a lot of sense. I think a week in each country is probably a better choice.
Thank you, appreciate your input very much

I tried asking on this group about Switzerland a few weeks ago and my post is still pending!!
Since then I've done quite a bit of research, although never having been there - the Jungfrau region is what caught our eye. Grindenwald, Lauterbrunnen, Wengen areas. There is a cog wheel train that takes you to the top of the Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe. Lucerne looks breathtaking.
In Amsterdam, i highly recommend the open air windmill museum- De Zaanse Schans. Amsterdam is incredible. Anne Frank Museum, the farmers markets... rent a bike to live like a local! Schipol airport is a great airport, and if you're looking for a fun place to stay I recommend the Citizen M hotel. They have one at the airport and in the city center.

Tanya there are two beautiful mountains depending what area of Switzerland you are in Luzern - mount pilatus or Säntis in eastern Switzerland both offer a breathtaking view of

Tanya I hope you get some great info here as well
Thank you for sharing your insights!!!

I have found great ideas and places to visit by using pinterest and searching the country.ypu plan to visit

Sylvia I don’t use Pinterest

I stayed in Interlaken in Switzerland, loved it there. And it’s a good central location to do some day trips on the train to other spots in the country.

I loved Amsterdam when I was there.

You can fly direct to Amsterdam from Edmonton on klm. We went last October. Flight was great!

Joanne agree. But this year it’s a lot more expensive because last year it was a new flight. That being said, we flew to Amsterdam and then connecting flight to Nice. Came back from Paris to Amsterdam. This year we are flying to Amsterdam and then Milan. Then taking high speed train from Paris to Amsterdam on the way home.

Joanne I love that route - and the extra legroom section at the front is VERY reasonable and totally worth it!

The trip advisor forums are a great resource for questions and ideas.

Patti thank you!

Innsbruck was wonderful!

Seat61 is
. I use it often and highly recommend.

Make sure you book Anne Frank museum on line early it's usually weeks out in bookings.

Highly recommend DK Eyewitness Top 10 series. They have them for countries and for cities. Start with your library, grab few travel books and see which ones work best for you.

Natali I have found, using travel books is great, but you never really see the hidden gems. I see reels of Rome ( where we were last summer) and my Eyewitness book mentioned none of the places I’ve seen in reels.

Luiza I'd say walk around, get lost and explore. You might not find exact place as in reels but you will find something of your own that will leave great memories.

Zermatt looks incredible but it’s mostly a winter destination.

Jasser thank you, I’ll keep it in mind for future trips

Jasser definitely not just for winter! Great hiking in the summer. Zermatt is lovely!

Sarah id love to visit one day.

Get onto the AtlasObscura website/app and you find all kinds of hidden gems nearly anywhere you travel.

Donna thank you!!!

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I don't know what your budget is like, but could be more costly to fly into city and out of another. Or maybe it's cheaper. My husband's family is Swiss, so if you need any recommendations for Switzerland, feel free to DM me. It's s a beautiful country with lots to see!

Get Rick Steves books out from the library- Europe through the back door. He has great insights on hidden gems!

Carolyn definitely agree!

Carolyn we booked every hotel last year from his recommendations and private tour guides. I can’t even explain how wonderful it was. Just did France. Stayed in places like Villefraiche Sur Mer, Les Baux, La Roque in Dordogne, Chencenou, Bayeux and then Paris. Paris was the only city we stayed in. Highly recommend. This year we got the Rick Steves tour books for Switzerland, Italy and the Netherlands. Found sweet places to go to as well. Planning a trip yourself takes a LOT of time and effort. Reading reviews, emailing, awaiting the answers the next morning. Helped to make the winter go by, although tonight’s storm makes me think it wouldn’t be so bad to be in Mexico. Lol. Rick Steves does have lots of hidden treasures in there as well.

Jackie I’m sold then. I will get his book!

Luiza buy it for sure. Mine is dog eared and highlighted all throughout. Our tour guide actually met with Rick Steves and his partner a couple weeks after our tour.

Jackie so we should be booking tours through contacts in his book?
I’ve always travelled with a LP book so I’m new to him.
Thanks again!

Luiza ps if you have a free Edm public library card you can order the book into your local branch to look at first as well. We didn’t do any of the tours as we are independent travellers but used his guide as a where to go and did stay at some of the recommended places. Epl.ca is the library website.

The private guides are not cheap. But we thought they were totally worth it. Didn’t have one every day. Just a few key places. But each book has suggestions for tour groups as well.