Europe to Austria Backpacking - 2 weeks

Disclaimer: Because this trip is not planned by me and i was following the group or sleeping the whole time, please forgive me if the itinerary i've given is very messy. I've tried to put the names of places below the pictures i've taken, so forgive me if there's no cost of the places of interest, transport there or otherwise. Basically, just thoughts and experiences of my first time going to Europe as an adult. (went to europe once in secondary school, but apparently i lost all my memories haha.)

So hi guys, here am i back again on my second trip of year 2017. It's been so long since i have stepped out of Singapore. I have been a good girl for so long, working and staying by boyfriend's side. And yes congratulations to me because i have officially graduated, so this europe trip is kinda like a graduation trip from my mom. Was honestly quite excited at the start of the year, but now i miss my boyfriend so much, 2 weeks in europe ugh. I'm a sticky person so i guess if my boyfriend doesn't want to bring me anywhere, i'd rather stay in Singapore and stick to him, and work to earn money rather then travelling around the world and staying in budget hostels. Actually, in January i have planned to go travelling to taiwan, vietnam, thailand, malaysia etc after graduation, to stay in caravans, have road trips and also even found freelance modelling jobs in malaysia. But i guess boyfriend is more important, because he keeps pressurizing me to start working decent full-time job and be a useful person instead of doing modelling and stuff.

So, my flight on SQ. SG to Munich costs around $1k. Fully sponsored by my mom.

Arrived at the Munich airport by SQ. I used to be so for travelling with budget airlines and staying in hostels, but this past half a year my mindset totally changed a lot. To be honest, i prefer SQ so much more now because budget airlines, the seat is super cramped and if you are sitting more than 4 hours, you are so gonna be pissed off. SQ goes by first class, business class and economy class. First class being the seats are bigger and wider, more luxurious treatment. The difference between business and economy class is that business class seats are made out of leather, and economy class its the normal seats. So, might as well buy economy class or first class. The flight there is around 12-14 hours.

Day 1 - Munich

Honestly do not like this place at all because the tap water is murky, and there's calcium in it no matter how many times you boil it, i can't even drink the water, have to keep buying bottled water and i can't cook soup. Not really used to the food here because its all sandwiches, and very hard ones. I hate bread to the absolute core. I'm more of a soup and rice person, lots of carbs i know but, that's what keeps me full. The food is quite cheap for certain food, such as sausages and pizza (mainly uncooked supermarket food) and i bought lots to cook in the hostel. Actually thought i could drink Erdinger everyday and eat German sausages and sleep till 2pm but this trip is totally different than what i expected. Very budgeted trip, cooking everyday, waking up at 8am every morning, disturbed by my mom from 5am and sleeping at around 12am. Not to say i have to listen to my ipod to sleep everyday just to rid myself of the snorings.

Anyway, hauptbahnhof is known as the main central station in German. You can take S1 or S8 from the airport. The train tickets works in a way that it is cheaper if you have more people. So it's like 1 person $12+ EUR 2/pax. So 5 people $23.90

First stop was Munich Graggenauer Viertel

Lots of greek sculptures and big museums.

Mariensaule

Court Garden

Residenz, Hofgarden

Residenz, Hofgarden

Then we went to this Imperial Palace Museum, more churches, and more museums. Because in Germany, everywhere its churches, more buildings, more museums. And i wasn't interested in any of it, the history of kings, queens, wars, architechture, etc. But the interior designing was not bad, very detailed and defined, many gold carvings and very grand.

Lots of relics, dead catholics or christians hands and skulls. Sorry, just not a history person. I'm more into supernatural stuff like greek mythology and egypt astrology, egypt culture, egypt myths and stuff.

Day 2 - Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangu Castles

Temperature was extremely cold.

Train tickets already bought online in advance, will be cheaper. Bayern ticket covers almost all bus and train routes in Bavaria. Train tickets cost 25 EUR and +6 for every additional passenger

Don't really have much photos of the castle but you can google it.

The castle is normal to me, not very grand to be honest, and i wasn't very impressed. The tickets were around 15-25, not sure because i didn't pay for it, and i wouldn't really recommend it unless you're a castle fan. The scenery there is very good for pictures though. For most of the itinerary here, i followed my mom's friend so i'm just sharing whatever she wrote in the itinerary, because i swear if you just throw me there i wouldn't even know how to go back to the hotel. 

Basically in my own world following them around everywhere to photoshoot. Very tiring 2 weeks everyday wake up and model, especially in freezing icy weather, my mood wasn't exceptionally good too due to the lack of sleep and food.

More of a scenery person

 Day 3 - Salzburg

Salzburg card 48 hours - EUR 48 and get a free bus map. Includes all free museums as well as cruise rides. Mozart Birthplace, M Residence, Monchberglift, Salzach cruise, Panorama musuem, Toy Musuem

We didn't go to St Peter Catacombs though, the one with a lot of skulls.

3 hour train ride

Really like the atmosphere of the place here but was very rush for more museums in our itinerary so didn't really enjoy the place here, lots of branded goods.

Historic Centre of the city of Salzburg

Festung Hohensalzburg to the high palace.

Franciscan Church

 A pic of me in another museum. Because museums being free and Singaporeans go to all things free T_T

Day 4 - Cable Car Untersberg, Grodig

10 degrees up there.

Bus 25 to Grodig - St Leonhard

The weather there was super cold, 20 degrees at first and windy, rained sometimes, and when we went up it was 10 degrees. I tortured myself to take these nice photos, 2 weeks of waking up at 5am everyday, sharing a same room with my mom and having sleep disturbance and putting make-up everyday.

Hellbrunn Palace, Trick Museum - Bus 25 to Hellbrunn

Mirabell Palace and Gardens

Science Center, Toy museum, etc

The science center was my favourite place, lots of things to learn, from rocks and precious gems, to space stuff, to stuffed animals and aquamarine, insects etc.

 Day 5 - Eagle's Nest

Day 6 - Sea Salt Mine

This was quite interesting though, although the ride there from town was around 3 hours, and very complicated to get around, for me. The tour teaches you about how salt is formed and how salt is the main income of the town. Its really quite interesting.

 Many swans everywhere.

My favourite salt lamp, it is said to contain iron deposits and when heated, positive energy would emit so its really good to promote sleep relaxation, for depression and stuff. And t was really cheap, around $13EUR. But it was fucking heavy. Not advisable since my luggage has limit and we would be travelling to other places, oh well.

Day 7 - Vienna City Center

72 hour train pass.

Atmosphere here is super good, horse carriages, super touristy place. Kinda like it, but our trip was "budgeted" for this time, so oh well. I'll come back for a more luxurious one next time. Probably Venice, Italy, Paris, France, Budapest, Prague, Vienna, and stuff in luxurious style.

Day 8 - Stift Melk

Weather started to turn summer like Singapore's weather so kinda got heat stroke and fever.

Plus eating chips and snacks everyday. The food here, its all bread, no asian food, everyday eating parent's cooked food, tuna bread or rice with luncheon meat. If not supermarket food, i think i'm dying.

Day 9 - Schonbrunn Palace

Place here is very nice. Weather here, nah. I swear i almost got cooked.

Still thought of going Egypt, Greece, Athens etc. But i think i will reconsider. I'm afraid of the cold, but heat is crazy too. And the weather is like hot and cold and hot and cold, change even faster than my pms.

Maze runners hehe.

Day 10 - Museums and some mountain

Day 11 - Art museum and Swarovski 

Day 12 - Ambras Castle and Spielzeug Toy Museum

Creepy toys and ending this post with a cute one. Its the cute annabelle dolls that look less harmful that are scary. HAHAHA

And here's the itinerary of my tour leader, it's quite messy but it's really indepth of the cost and directions. But disclaimer first, this is not done by me. Because many people are requesting this, i think you would like it more than looking at my beautiful photos and not knowing how to go to the places. So, here it is.

Day1 Munich, Sunday 4/6/17

Frauenkirche S1-S8 , U3,U6: Marienplatz. Tram 19: Theatinerstrabe

St Peter S1-S8 , U3,U6: Marienplatz. Tram 19: Theatinerstrabe

Residenz S1-S8 Marienplatz, U3 to U6 Odeonsplatz: Tram 19: Nationaltheater

Viktualienmarket S1-S8 , U3,U6: Marienplatz.

Alte Pinakothek U2,U8 Konigsplatz, Tram27,28 ,Bus 100 & 150 Pinakotheken, U3,U6 Universitat,

Alternative places of interest

English Garden U3,U6 : Universitat, bus54 Chinesischer Turm, bus100 Haus der Kunst/National Museum

Nymphenburg Bus51, Tram 17 Schloss Nymphenburg fr TS (15 mins)

Dauchau Concentration camp Take the S2 train from Munich in the direction of Dachau/Petershausen until you reach the Dachau station. The train ride takes approximately 25 minutes from Munich’s Central Station (Hauptbahnhof). Once you have arrived at the Dachau train station, take bus 726 towards "Saubachsiedlung" to the entrance of the memorial site ("KZ-Gedenkstätte"). Munich XXL (München XXL)“. It covers the S-Bahn from Munich Central Station to Dachau and the bus in Dachau to the memorial site.

Lake Starnberg S6 to Gauting, Starnberg Nord, Starnberg, Pöcking-Possenhofen, Feldafing and Tutzing

Day2 Neuschwanstein Castle, Monday 5/6/17

Bayern-Ticket The regional day ticket for Bavaria is valid from 09:00 to 03:00 on the following day, all day on weekends, Bavaria-wide public holidays and on 15 August, on all local and regional trains, on transport association servcies and on almost all bus routes in Bavaria. Price in 2nd class: EUR 25 plus EUR 6 per extra passenger (max. 4) Eur49 and Eur 31

Shuttle-Bus to Neuschwanstein castle: Bus stop village: at the "Alpsee" parking area P4 (below Hohenschwangau Castle) Bus stop castle: Mary's Bridge (above Neuschwanstein Castle)Price: Uphill: € 1,80 Downhill: € 1,00 Up- and downhill: € 2,60 You pay at the cashier at the bus station or directly to the bus driver. Important note: The bus does not go directly to Neuschwanstein castle. There is a steep 15 minutes walking from the bus-stop-castle to the entrance of Neuschwanstein castle. "Mary's" bridge is 5 minutes walking from the bus-stop-castle.

Day3 & 4 Salzburg Tuesday, Wednesday 6-7/6/17 (Salzburg card 48hrs EUR48)

Like 9.55,10.55 for M trains to Salzburg

Take bus1,3,5,6 to Town

Festung Hohensalzburg , Domquartier, Mozart Birthplace, M Residence, Monchberglift, Salzach cruise (if operational) , Panorama museum, toy museum, St Peter Catacombs, Mirabell Gardens

Alternative places of interest

Hellbrunn Palace bus 25 to Hellbrunn (D: Grodig Untersbergbahn)

Cable Car Untersberg bus 25 to Hellbrunn (D: Grodig Untersbergbahn)

Salzburg OpenAir museum Post bus No. 180 Hourly starting off at Salzburg main station to the „Freilichtmuseum“ bus stop, travel time 35 minutes. Check return bus timetable

Day 5, Hallstatt Thursday 8 June (1 transfer going , 2 transfers back) Pack a picnic lunch

See salt mine, viewing platform above Hallstatt and walk around the lake

8.15 Bus and train Platform (F) Regionalbus 150 → Hof -Fuschl -St.Gilgen -Strobl -9.47amBad Ischl 1h 32min

At 10.20 train Bad Ischl Bahnhof (R 3410 Regionalzug → Obertraun-Dachsteinhöhlen Bahnhof )

0h 27min 10:47 Hallstatt Bahnhst (1)

3 buses 8.15 bus 150 to Bad Ischl, reach 9.47. At 10.15 bus542 from Bad Ischl to Hallstatt Gosaumuhle then change from here at 10.49 bus 543 to Hallstatt Lahn (d: Obertraun)

Assuming u are returning from Hallstatt Lahn (3 buses) Note THIS Looks like the Last Bus

16:19 Hallstatt Lahn (Busterminal) Bus 543 → Hallstatt Gosaumühle 0h 8min, 1 Intermediate stop

16:27 Hallstatt Gosaumühle Bus 542 → Bad Ischl Bahnhof0h 29min, 19 Intermediate stops

16:57 Bad Ischl Bahnhof Transfer 17.24 Regionalbus 150 → Strobl -St.Gilgen -Fuschl -Hof -Salzburg

1h 29min,18:53 Salzburg Hauptbahnhof (F)

Another home Route (2 buses and 2 trains)

17:33 Hallstatt Lahn (Busterminal) Bus 543→ Hallstatt Gosaumühle 0h 8min, 1 Intermediate stop

17:41 Hallstatt Gosaumühle 18:28Hallstatt Gosaumühle Bus 542 → Steeg-Gosau Bahnhof 0h 5min, 3 Intermediate stops 18:33Steeg-Gosau Bahnhof

18:39 Steeg-Gosau Bahnhof (2)REX 3431 RegionalExpress → Attnang-Puchheim Bahnhof 1h 8min, 9 Intermediate stops 19:47Attnang-Puchheim Bahnhof (4) Transfer 3+20:00

Attnang-Puchheim Bahnhof (3) RJ 744 Railjet → Salzburg Hauptbahnhof 0h 48min, 1 Intermediate stop 20:48 Salzburg Hauptbahnhof (2)

Day6 Berchtesgaden and Eagles Nest Friday 9 June

08:15 Salzburg Hauptbahnhof (G) Regionalbus 840 → Berchtesgaden, Busbahnhof

0h 45min 09:00 Schießstättbrücke and walk to B Bahnoff

ZOB/Hauptbahnhof, Berchtesgaden dep 10:15 Bus 838 Bus Direction: Buchenhöhe, Berchtesgaden

Dokumentation Obersalzberg, Berchtesgaden arr 10:27

walk 5 min. Kehlstein Busabfahrt, Berchtesgaden

Kehlstein Busabfahrt, Berchtesgaden dep 09:45 Bus 849 Bus Direction: Kehlsteinparkplatz, Kreis Berchtesgadener Land

Kehlsteinparkplatz, Kreis Berchtesgadener Land arr 10:00

Day7 Vienna Saturday 10/6 (arrive 11.05)

Visit Hofburg U1,U3 Stephansplatz, U3: Herrengasse, U2,U3 Volkstheater, Tram46,49 Dr Apartments & Treasury Karl Renner Ring, Tram D,1,2 Bus75A Burgring

Walk around old town and see St Michael (crypt) U3 Herrengasse, St Stephen, Vienna Ring tram, Stadtpark (U4) Naschmarkt, Kunsthistorisches Museum

Day8 Schonbrunn Palace

U1 to Karlsplatz (D: Leopoldau) then U4 to Schonbrunn (D: Hutteldorf)

Day9 Melk (EUR 55 from oebb counter)

Travel proposal 08:55 Wien Hauptbahnhof (U1) 18:05 09:30 / 09:36 St. Pölten (change) 17:24 / 17:30 09:57 Melk train station 17:01 individual sightseeing at the Benedictine abbey in Melk 13:45* 13:50** Melk landing station 13:00* 13:20** 15:30* 15:30** Krems landing station 10:10 * 10:15** 16:51 Krems train station 09:14 18:00 Wien Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof 08:04

Day10, 11,12 Innsbruck (arrive 11.44am) buy Innsbruck card 2 days EUR48

Tuesday 13/6 Wednesday 14/6 Thursday 15/6

Take the TS sightseeing bus (TermB) make a loop and then visit Golden Roof, St James Cathedral, Imperial Palace, Court Church, Museum of Tyrolean Folk Art

Nordkettenbahnen (Alpine Zoo,Hungerburg,Seegrube, Hafelekar) Bus H, 502 Congress

Schloss Ambras Bus3, 6

Hall in Tirol Bus 504 at Unterer Stadplatz stop

Patscherkofelbahn Innsbruck Hbf (Südtiroler Platz Steig B) Bus F Innsbruck Sillpark (Amraser Straße) arr 12:34 Operator: Innbus GmbH Direction: Innsbruck Baggersee Innsbruck Sillpark (Amraser Straße) dep 12:37 Bus J Igls Patscherkofelbahn Talstation arr 12:50

Day12 Munich Thursday 15 JUne, arrive at 17.26 from Innsbruck so just walk around

Day13 Nurnberg Friday 16june

Visit Kaiserburg, Old Town, and documentation Centre (tram 9)

Regio-Ticket München-Nürnberg

Valid Mon-Fr from 9 am and from 12 am on Sat, Sun and public holidays. Valid for as many journeys as you like on the day of validity within the area of validity, irrespective of the route you have chosen.

9.01 München Hbf RE 4890 Regional-Express Direction: Ingolstadt Hbf arr 09:52

10:05 Ingolstadt Hbf RE 4012 Regional-Express Direction: Nürnberg Hbf arr 10:48

Day 14 Chiemsee Sat june 17

München Hbf dep 07:55 M 79009

Meridian Direction: Salzburg Hbf

Prien a Chiemsee arr 08:53

You can choose a combi of the steam railway and boat tour to both islands and return

The harbor at Prien/ Stock offers visitors regular connections to the islands Herrenchiemsee and Frauenchiemsee all year round On Fraueninsel Island, Europe’s oldest artists’ colony, the island minster and gatehouse bare testament to Fraueninsel’s Carolingian history.

Herreninsel Island The fairy tale castle of King Ludwig II. the newly opened areas of the palace (Emperor’s room and Garden room) and Museum of the Canon’s Regular mean there is even more to see on the island. In Summer 1948, the Verfassungskonvent (Constitutional Convention) drafted the Grundgesetz (Basic Law) of the Federal Republic of Germany here. The island is also home to the gallery “Maler am Chiemsee”, which showcases a selection of masterpieces by artists who once resided around Chiemsee. The Ludwig II. Museum is located in the new palace and tracks the different stages of Ludwig II.’s life from his birth to his tragic premature death with portraits, busts, historic photographs and original clothes.

Day15 Home
                        Germany / Austria
D1.4/6-Fly from Sing 3am and reach Munich 7am, Hotel Kavun Landwehr, St Peter Church, Marienzplatz, Residenz

D2.5/6-Munich: Fussen : Neuschwanstein Castle, Hohenschwangau Castle, Alpsee Lake

D3.6/6-Salzburg: Yoho Intl Youth Hostel, Festung Hohensalzburg, Mozart birthplace, Panorama museum,  Monchberg elevator, cruise on salzach river

D4.7/6-Salzburg: Untersburg mt, Hellbrunn palace, Mirabell gardens

D5.8/6-Salzburg: Berchtesgaden: Eagles nest, Konigsee

D6.9/6-Salzburg: Hallstatt salt mine

D7.10/6-Vienna: Central Stn Meininger Hotel, Sisi museum, St Stephen cathedral, Augustiner church, St michael's church

D8.11/6-Vienna: Schonbrunn Palace, Prater amusement park

D9.12/6-Vienna: Melk Abbey, cruise on Danube River

D10.13/6-Innsbruck: Pension Stoi Guesthouse,  Nordkette mt 2,300m ht, Alpen Zoo

D11.14/6-Innsbruck: Patscherkofel mt 2,248m ht, Schloss Ambras, Museum Golden Dachl

D12.15/6-Innsbruck: Landesmuseum,  Hofkirche ,train to Munich, Novum Hotel

D13.16/6-Munich: Nuremburg: Old town; Imperial castle, Church of our Lady, Lorenzkirche, St Sebald church, Toy museum

D14.17/6-Munich: Dachau Concentration Camp, Augustiner Beer Garden, Viktualienmarkt


D15.18/6-Home sweet home fly at 1.30pm from Munich & reach Sing 7am 19/6