Großglockner & the sea

• Sa 22Drive Wien → Virgen (~4¾ h), Hüttentaxi/toll road to the Wetterkreuzhütte, then 1½ h on foot to the Zupalseehütte (2,350 m) at its lake (~4 h / 1,250 hm if you walk the whole way up).
• Su 23Panorama traverse to the Lasörlinghütte (3 h) — out-and-back to the Lasörling, 3,098 m (~4½–5 h, easy scrambling near the top) — our acclimatisation summit, weather permitting.
• Mo 24Past the Bergersee to the Lasnitzenhütte (~5–5¼ h; the Bergerseehütte splits it 3 h + 2¼ h).
• Tu 25Over the Michltalscharte and the Rote Lenke (2,793 m, the day’s high point) to the Neue Reichenberger Hütte (2,586 m) at the Bödensee, descend to Ströden (~7½–8 h — the big day of this trek). Bus back to the car, drive to Heiligenblut — shower, real bed (Nationalpark Lodge or Hotel Kärntnerhof).
• We 26Up the Leitertal to the Salmhütte (~5 h) on the first-ascenders' route.

• Sa 22Drive Wien → Ströden (~5 h), warm-up walk to the Essener-Rostocker Hütte (2,208 m, 2½ h).
• Su 23Over the Türmljoch (2,772 m) to the Johannishütte (2,121 m, ~4 h) under the Großvenediger.
• Mo 24Across the Zopetscharte (2,958 m) to the Eisseehütte (~4½ h; the descent is rope-secured for the first stretch).
• Tu 25Short balcony leg via the Prägratner Höhenweg ("das Fenster") to the Sajathütte (2,600 m, ~2½ h) — real beds, free afternoon.
• We 26The big day: down to Prägraten early (~2½ h), drive to Heiligenblut, up the Leitertal to the Salmhütte (~5 h).

• Sa 22RJ 556 Wien 07:24 → Lienz 12:43 (direct), bus 942 at 12:55 → Iselsberg pass 13:13 (next bus 13:45 if the train is late). The Winklerner Hütte was full as of 6 Jul — sleep at the trailhead instead: Hotel Iselsbergerhof, directly at the bus stop and the trail start (1,204 m). Free afternoon, Dolomites view.
• Su 23Stages 1+2 in one: past the Winklerner Hütte (2½ h — coffee stop on the terrace) and over the Obere Seescharte to the Wangenitzseehütte (2,508 m, ~6½ h and ~1,700 hm total), the highest lake basin in the group.
• Mo 24To the Adolf-Noßberger-Hütte (4 h, grade T3) — the Keeskopf, 3,081 m is right there if legs agree.
• Tu 25Key stage over the Hornscharte to the Elberfelder Hütte (5 h).
• We 26Long finale: over the Kesselkeessattel (2,926 m) and past the Peischlachtörl to the Glorer Hütte (~5 h; the hut stands directly on the Berger Törl), then an easy last leg to the Salmhütte (1½ h — ~7 h total, so start early). One wrinkle: trail 713 on the Peischlachtörl–Glorer stretch is closed after rockfall (since 2024); the signed Eselssteig detour costs no extra time — confirm with the hut wardens.

• Sa 22Free weekend in Vienna — pack properly, sleep in our own bed.
• Su 23Drive Wien → Kals am Großglockner (~5 h), pension night.
• Mo 24Lucknerhaus → Stüdlhütte (2,802 m, 2½ h). Afternoon on the moraine paths.
• Tu 25Day tour above the hut (towards the Fanatkogel, 2,905 m — blocky final metres, easy grade-I hands-on), second night at altitude.
• We 26Over Berger Törl → Glorer Hütte → Salmhütte (~4 h, some wire-secured passages; the direct Pfortscharte route takes ~2–2½ h if you skip the Glorer Hütte).

• Sa 29Descend to Heiligenblut, Bus 100 down the Mölltal (11:50 or 13:50), rail from Mallnitz via Salzburg — Wien 17:32 or 19:32. Own bed, repack.
• Su 30Board the Nightjet, Wien 20:05. 2026 track works reroute it via the Brenner with a morning change in Bologna — Roma ~10:58.
• Mo–TuRome from ~11:00: Pantheon, Trastevere evenings, Sant'Eustachio coffee. Two nights, no museum marathon.
• We 2Frecciarossa Roma → Napoli (1 h 10), ferry to Procida or Ischia.
• Th–FrIsland days: Chiaiolella beach, Ischia's thermal gardens, boat around the coves, granita, books.
• Sa 5Full island day — the direct return night train doesn't run during the track works.
• Su 6Fly Napoli → Wien (~1¾ h, Austrian daily) — or Sa-evening train to Bologna and the Nightjet from there.

• Sa 29Descend, bus + rail via the Mölltal (Wien 17:32/19:32). Own bed, repack.
• Su 30Fly Wien → the island (nonstops below), pick up the rental car, at the base by evening.
• Mo–FrSix nights, one base. Swim, read, taverna, repeat. One boat or cove-hopping day.
• Su 6Fly home — Kefalonia 15:55 (full last day) · Kos 10:00 · Corfu 07:00 Ryanair or 09:25 Austrian.

Kefalonia — closest to the brief

Agia Efimia is a small working harbour with proper coffee and pebble coves in walking distance; Antisamos (10 min) has the green-amphitheatre swim, Myrtos is the photo stop (open again, no shade). Rental car needed; airport → base ~50 min after the 15:05 arrival.

Stay — GreKa Ionian Suites (adult-oriented, sea-view suites, ~€90–150) or Moustakis Hotel (family-run, 80 m from the beach, ~€60–90, cash only).

Fit: beach pebbles + shade · town real harbour village · quiet quietest of the three · coffee on the harbour · flights Sunday-only — book early

Corfu — the cove classic, cheapest

The north-east corner: olive-shaded pebble coves from Kalami to Kassiopi, tavernas at the waterline, Corfu Town (UNESCO) for one evening. Ryanair both ways is ~€170 p.p. — the catch is the 07:00 Sunday return; Austrian's 09:25 fixes it for +€143.

Stay — White House Apartments (above the Durrell taverna, Kalami) or Frosso Apartments (~€90–130, pool in the olives); budget: Nissaki Sea View.

Fit: beach outstanding coves · town Corfu Town evening · quiet NE coast calm · coffee taverna standard · flights cheap, but the 07:00 return

Kos — warmest sea, easiest flights, weakest fit

Mastichari is the one spot where a tamarisk-shaded beach fronts a real port village; Kefalos Bay (30 min) is the calm refuge when the meltemi blows. But it's a sand island — no pebble walks — and the rest of the coast is charter territory.

Stay — Panorama Studios (eight studios over the beach, ~€70–100) or Ilios and Irene (garden aparthotel, ~€55–90).

Fit: beach sand + tamarisk shade · town port village, cafés in Kos Town · quiet charter island, Mastichari excepted · pebbles sand — shells at best · flights most flexible, warmest sea

• Sa 29Descend, bus + rail via the Mölltal → Wien by ~17:30.
• Su 30Fly Wien → Bari (Ryanair 06:10 daily or Austrian Su morning, ~1½ h), local train to Monopoli (30 min).
• Mo–FrCala Porta Vecchia mornings, old-town evenings. One day Polignano a Mare, one day inland (Ostuni or the trulli), rest: beach.
• Su 6Fly home.

• Sa 29Descend to the car, drive south, sleep around Verona/Bologna.
• Su 30On to Piombino, ferry to Portoferraio, settle on the west coast (Marciana Marina side).
• Mo–FrA different cove every day — Paolina, Sansone, Fetovaia — plus one Monte Capanne cable-car evening for the full-circle mountain view of the sea.
• Sa 5Ferry back, drive to South Tyrol, last mountain dinner.
• Su 6Home over the Brenner.

• Sa 29Descend, drive south — optional night in Trieste (you loved it).
• Su 30Arrive at the villa; family trickles in; first grill.
• Mo–FrBeach mornings under the pines (Zlatni Rt park in Rovinj, Vrsar coves), pool afternoons for the baby rhythm, Rovinj/Vrsar evenings, one Motovun-and-truffles day.
• Su 6Drive home (~6 h).

• Sa 29Descend, drive via Villach and Ljubljana (~4½ h).
• Su–SaBeach + promenade rhythm; one boat day to Krk or Rab; grilled fish evenings.
• Su 6Home (~5½ h).