Exploring Austria: A Comprehensive Travel Guide

Austria is a small but scenically diverse country, with plenty to offer visitors. The country's public transport network makes it easy to get around and see the sights, but for those who want to explore at their own pace, it's also possible to rent a car. Vienna is a must-see for anyone interested in Austrian culture, with its museums, historic buildings, and celebrated cafes. For those who enjoy the outdoors, there's the glacier-capped Kitzsteinhorn mountain, the Hohe Tauern National Park, and the Pinzgauer Spaziergang hiking trail. Austria is also known for its wine, with the vineyard-draped roads of southern Styria being particularly scenic.

Vienna's coffee houses and palaces

Vienna's coffee houses are a typical institution of the city, playing an important role in shaping its culture. The coffee houses are described as a place "where time and space are consumed, but only the coffee is found on the bill". The Austrian writer Stefan Zweig described the Viennese coffee house as a "democratic club, open to everyone for the price of a cheap cup of coffee". He could sit for hours, talking, writing, playing cards, and consuming a vast number of newspapers and journals.

The coffee houses of Vienna have a long history, dating back to the 17th century. Legend has it that following the failed Siege of Vienna in 1683, the Turks left behind a sack of coffee beans, and an Armenian spy, Johannes Theodat (aka Johannes Diodato or Deodat and Owanes Astouatzatur), who knew about the art of preparing coffee, created Vienna's first coffee house.

The coffee house culture then spread throughout Central Europe, creating a multicultural climate. Writers, artists, musicians, intellectuals, and financiers met and socialised in these coffee houses.

Today, some of the most famous traditional coffee houses in Vienna include Café Jelinek, known for its wrought iron wood burner, excellent coffee, and homemade guglhupf cake; Café Sperl, where little has changed since it opened in 1880; Café Schwarzenberg, one of the most popular places to meet; and Café Friedlich, located on the same premises as the Hundertwasser Museum.

In addition to its famous coffee houses, Vienna is also home to stunning palaces. One of the most notable is the Belvedere Palace, which houses "The Kiss", Austrian-born Gustav Klimt’s most famous work. The Vienna State Opera House is another must-see, renowned as one of the most famous opera houses worldwide.

Salzburg's music, culture and sights

Salzburg is a city brimming with culture, art, music, and history. Known as the City of Mozart, Salzburg was where the famous composer spent his early years and composed some of his most famous works. The city is filled with concert halls, churches, museums, galleries, and castles.

The Mozart Week in January is a great time to visit for music lovers, with the renowned Mozarteum music school hosting several events. The city also hosts the Salzburg Festival, which includes the Jazz and the City Festival in autumn, and the Siemens Festival Nights on the Kapitalplatz, where concerts are shown on a big screen for free. The Rockhouse and ARGEkultur host regular pop and rock concerts, while the Marble Hall hosts atmospheric concerts such as the Salzburg Palace Concerts.

Salzburg has a thriving alternative art and music scene, with the Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance and small bars and stages where local musicians perform. The city also has several galleries showcasing contemporary art, such as the Fotohof Gallery, Gallery 5020, the Leica Gallery, and the City Gallery Lehen, most of which are free to visit. The Museum of Modern Art on Mönchsberg mountain is also a must-visit, especially on Sundays, when students can get a combined mountain and downhill ticket, including admission to the museum, for just 3.70 Euros.

Salzburg has a rich history, with the old town, dating back to 1628, being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Getreidegasse, where Mozart was born, is a great place to start exploring the city's history and architecture. The Hohensalzburg Fortress, Mozart museums, and Hellbrunn Palace are also among the city's most popular historical attractions. The Stiegl Museum offers daily brewery tours with beer tasting, and the Salzburg Card provides free or discounted admission to many attractions, along with free public transportation.

Graz's old town and culinary delights

Graz, Austria's culinary capital, is a city for gourmets, gastronomes and grazers. The city is packed with speciality shops, local producers, traditional foods, and innovative culinary creativity.

Graz's old town is separated from the bohemian district of Lend by the river Mur, which cuts through the city. The charming old town boasts stunning architecture, including the baroque dome of the Graz cathedral, the gothic cathedral, and the Uhrturm clock tower. The city centre bans tall buildings, favouring historic ones, so the food stores and boutiques have great local charm.

Graz is also home to several popular markets, including daily farmers' markets, where fresh produce, local meats, and other products can be found. The oldest market is Kaiser-Josef-Platz Markt near the opera house, where over 350 local farmers sell everything from indigenous fruits, vegetables, and wines to prepared wursts, breads, pastries, and cheeses. Here, you can find local specialities such as Kernöl pumpkin seed oil and local beers like Reininghaus Edel Pils and Puntigamer Lager.

For traditional Austrian food, Glöcklbräu in Glockenspielplatz is located in the heart of the old town and serves popular 18th-century dishes like Backhendl (deep-fried chicken) and Käsespätzle, a vegetarian dish similar to mac 'n' cheese with crispy onions on top. The restaurant Aiola im Schloss, located next to a small castle with gardens and fountains, also serves excellent regional specialties.

Graz also offers culinary walking tours, foodie workshops, and annual food festivals, such as the Graz Food Festival and the Graz Truffle Festival, celebrating the seven varieties of truffles found in the city's forests.

Whether you're a foodie or just looking to explore the charming old town, Graz's culinary delights and rich cultural history will surely leave a lasting impression.

Innsbruck's mountains and culture

Innsbruck is a city in the heart of Tyrol, in western Austria, and is known as the 'Capital of the Alps'. Surrounded by high mountains, including the Karwendel and the Central Alpine chain, Innsbruck is an ideal place for skiing in winter and ski-jumping, mountaineering and hiking in summer. The city is filled with eight centuries of history, defined by the peaks and alpine forest slopes that hug it.

Innsbruck is an internationally renowned winter sports centre, having hosted the Winter Olympics twice, as well as the Winter Paralympics and the first Winter Youth Olympics. The city is in a broad valley between the North Chain in the Karwendel Alps to the north, and Patscherkofel and Serles to the south. The Inn River runs through Innsbruck, and the Wipp Valley provides access to the Brenner Pass.

Innsbruck's Old Town is a great place to start exploring the city. The Triumphal Arch, built in 1765, faces the mountainous backdrop of the city and is located on Maria-Theresien-Straße, the main thoroughfare from which to enter the cobbled streets and alleyways of late-Gothic architecture. The Old Town is also home to the Goldenes Dachl, the Hofburg Palace, and the Hofkirche. The Imperial State Apartments of the Hofburg Palace are particularly impressive.

Innsbruck offers a unique combination of city and slopes, with a funicular designed by Zaha Hadid that can whisk you up to the Alpine heights of 2334m (7657ft) at Hafelekar in just a few minutes. The city also has plenty of museums where you can learn about its history and culture. The Innsbruck Card provides free admission to sights and museums, free rides on the mountain railways, and other discounts, which can be useful for intensive sightseeing.

Zell am See's wilderness and sports

Zell am See is a charming mountain town situated at the foot of the Schmittenhöhe mountain and on the shores of Lake Zell. The town is surrounded by a horseshoe-shaped range of mountains, mostly forested or covered with Alpine pastures. The area offers a wide range of outdoor activities and sports all year round, from skiing and other winter sports to hiking, swimming, and water sports.

Winter Sports

During the winter months, Zell am See is a popular destination for skiing and other winter sports. The town's local mountain, the 2,000-metre-high Schmittenhöhe, offers 77 kilometres of ski slopes and 6 downhill runs suitable for skiers of all levels, from beginners to advanced. The ski area covers around 138 square kilometres, including the pistes on the Kitzsteinhorn and Kaprun Maiskogel. The Zell am See Express gondola provides easy access to the slopes, and the ski pass covers transport to and from the glacier, which is open most of the year. Notable ski pistes in the resort include the Trassabfahrt, the steepest piste in the region with an incline gradient of up to 75%, and the Standardabfahrt, a valley run with a 60% incline.

In addition to skiing, visitors can enjoy a variety of off-piste winter sports and activities. Cross-country skiing, ski touring, snowshoeing, and winter hiking are great ways to explore the pristine wilderness and improve fitness and stamina. For a more relaxed pace, ice skating and tobogganing are also popular activities, offering a nostalgic winter experience.

Summer Activities

When the snow melts, Zell am See transforms into a hub for summer sports and activities. The crystal-clear waters of Lake Zell become a focal point for swimming, sailing, stand-up paddling, and surfing. The lake is also ideal for a leisurely stroll along the shore. For those who prefer dry land, the surrounding mountains provide ample opportunities for hiking and cycling. The Schmittenhöhe mountain, in particular, offers beautiful hiking trails suitable for nature lovers and families, such as the "Sisi Trail", dedicated to Austria's former Empress.

Zell am See also offers a variety of other summer activities to suit different interests. Golf enthusiasts can enjoy the Zell am See-Kaprun Golf Club, which features a 36-hole championship course nestled between the Kitzsteinhorn and Schmittenhöhe mountains. The town itself is a great place to shop, with elegant boutiques, traditional souvenir shops, and department stores. Foodies will also find a diverse culinary scene, blending modern restaurants with traditional hospitality and internationally inspired dishes with local specialities.

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