I am going to be studying abroad in Salzburg, Austria for the month of June. I will be allowed a few “free days.” The longest time I have free is 5 days, and I have the afternoon after classes end (about 5?) to start my trip.
I would love to go to Greece, but I don’t know if I will have enough time to get there and enjoy my time there. How long would it take to get there? and will I have time to relax and hit the beaches?
I would also like to climb the Alps, but is it safe to be an unfamiliar climber on the Alps? I have climbing experience, but I’m not sure how much the Alps will beat me up.
I am also thinking about going to France/Italy.
I am really not entirely positive what exactly I would like to do…I could use a few ideas.
Also, this is the first time I’ve traveled abroad, and I’ve never flown before. Any tips?
A lot of questions, but even if you answer just one, I would appreciate it! 
thanks!
5 days is definitely not enough time to go to Greece. Not even if you are flying there. You would essentially have only 3 days for a country that needs at least 2 weeks.
What would be possible to do from Salzburg is to hit Slovenia, Hungary and Italy.
Venice is not too far away from Salzburg, there is a night train that goes that way. You could even do it as a weekend trip if you take the night train both ways. A cheap place to stay would be Alba di Oro Camping (see).
The problem with hitting the beach in June is that the water of the Mediterreanean Sea is still a bit too cold for a swim at that time. You could only sunbathe. A place where this is different is the Balaton lake in Hungary. The lake is very flat and the water can get warm earlier if the weather is right. The Balaton is not too far away from the border to Austria, lots of Viennese students party there during the summer.
Another possible destination would be Spain. Ryanair has flights from Linz to Girona, if you can get cheap flights for the dates you need you could easily spent some time in Barcelona (beautiful city) and maybe hit the beach there. North of Barcelona is a never-ending strip of hotels hugging every spot of the coast line, I am sure you will be able to find a cheap place to stay and a beach to sunbathe at.
Note that with Ryanair you need to go super-light, they charge you a lot extra for checked luggage.
The Alps are definitely not for beginners. Even hill-walking from hut to hut can take serious mountain experience. You should easily be able to hike in the lower regions, but leave the passes and the summits well alone. It it not uncommon to encounter snow in June in the Alps. You should contact the “Alpenverein” in Salzburg for advice, they can hitch you up with a group that is being led by a guide. You might need to become a member.