Austria is a country full of stunning natural landscapes, vibrant cities, and fascinating history. From the majestic Austrian Alps to the charming Old Towns, there is something for everyone in Austria. The country is known for its impressive architecture, including beautiful palaces and castles, as well as its musical heritage, with Vienna being a particular highlight for music lovers. Beyond the cities, Austria offers a range of outdoor activities, from hiking and skiing in the mountains to swimming and watersports in the lakes. The country also has a rich culinary tradition, with delicious regional specialities to discover. Whether you're looking for cultural experiences, outdoor adventures, or a taste of traditional Austrian life, Austria has something to offer.
Characteristics | Values |
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Country | Austria |
Attractions | Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Graz, Wachau Valley, Lake Constance, Eisriesenwelt Cave, Hallstatt, Krimml Waterfalls, Grossglockner High Alpine Road, Hohe Tauern National Park, Krimml Falls, St. Stephen's Cathedral, Schönbrunn Palace, Belvedere Palace, Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, Tiergarten Schoenbrunn - Zoo Vienna, Melk Abbey, Eagle's Nest, St. Peter's Church, Kursalon Vienna, Hohensalzburg Fortress, Salzkammergut, Worthersee, Bad Gastein, Bregenz, Zell Am See, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, Salzkammergut, 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What You'll Learn
Explore Vienna's coffeehouse culture
Vienna's coffeehouse culture is steeped in history and tradition, and exploring it is a must when visiting Austria. Here is some information to help you explore and immerse yourself in this unique aspect of Viennese culture:
History
Vienna was not the first city in history to have a coffee house. However, over the centuries, it has established a coffee house tradition like no other city in the world. The story of Viennese coffeehouse culture began near the end of the 17th century, closely tied to the end of the Siege of Vienna in 1683. Legend has it that the first coffee house was opened by an Armenian businessman and spy named Johannes Theodat (aka Johannes Diodato or Deodat and Owanes Astouatzatur). Another account suggests that the first coffee house licence was granted to Viennese citizen Georg Franz Kolschitzky, who obtained coffee beans left behind by the Turks following his heroic actions during the siege.
Atmosphere and Traditions
The Viennese coffee house is characterised by its unique atmosphere and traditions. It is described as a place "where time and space are consumed, but only the coffee is found on the bill". Typical elements include small marble-topped tables, Thonet chairs, newspaper tables, and interior design details in the style of Historicism. It is customary for waiters to serve a glass of cold tap water with every cup of coffee and to offer refills without being asked, exemplifying the sense of attention given to guests.
Coffee and Food
Viennese coffeehouses entice with a wide variety of coffee drinks and pastry creations. They also offer small food dishes like sausages, cakes, and tarts, such as Apfelstrudel, Millirahmstrudel, Punschkrapfen, and Linzer torte.
Social and Cultural Significance
The Viennese coffee house played an important role in shaping Viennese culture and served as a meeting place for writers, artists, musicians, intellectuals, and their patrons. It became a place of transnational literary communication and political discussion, giving rise to the term "coffee house literature". Notable figures associated with Viennese coffeehouse culture include Stefan Zweig, Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Karl Kraus, Arthur Schnitzler, Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt, Sigmund Freud, and Leon Trotsky.
Preservation and Recognition
In the 1950s, traditional Viennese coffee houses faced a decline due to the popularity of television and the emergence of modern espresso bars. However, many of these classic coffee houses still exist today, and there has been a revival of interest in their tradition. In 2011, Viennese coffee house culture was recognised by UNESCO as an "Intangible Cultural Heritage" in the Austrian inventory, highlighting its social practices, rituals, and elegance.
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Visit Hallstatt, one of the most beautiful villages in Austria
Hallstatt is a small town in the district of Gmunden, in the Austrian state of Upper Austria. It is located between the southwestern shore of Hallstätter See and the steep slopes of the Dachstein massif, in the Salzkammergut region, on the national road linking Salzburg and Graz.
A brief history of Hallstatt
Hallstatt is known for its salt production, which dates back to prehistoric times. The town gave its name to the Hallstatt culture, an archaeological culture linked to Proto-Celtic and early Celtic people of the Early Iron Age in Europe, c. 800–450 BC.
During the Bronze Age, salt production became a day-to-day commercial activity in Hallstatt. The wealth generated is on display in the prehistoric cemeteries in the town.
In 1846, Johann Georg Ramsauer discovered a large prehistoric cemetery at the Salzberg mines near Hallstatt, which he excavated during the second half of the 19th century. The excavation yielded 1,045 burials, although no settlement has yet been found.
Tourism in Hallstatt
Hallstatt is a popular tourist destination, known for its beautiful scenery and unique culture. The town is part of the Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
Hallstatt's tourism began in the 19th century but greatly increased after it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It became especially popular among East Asian tourists in 2006 when it was featured on a South Korean television show.
Today, Hallstatt receives an estimated 10,000 to nearly 30,000 tourists per day, primarily via bus tours. The town has become a prime example of overtourism in Austria, with locals protesting against the large number of day-visitors.
Things to do and see in Hallstatt
- Hallstatt Skywalk: A platform located 360 meters above Hallstatt, offering a panoramic view of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Hallstatt Ossuary: A small chapel located in St. Michael's Chapel, containing over 1,200 human skulls, 600 of which are artistically painted with symbols, names, and dates.
- Hallstatt Museum: A museum covering the ancient history of the region, featuring artifacts from the Hallstatt culture, including tools, weapons, and burial objects.
- Salzwelten Hallstatt: A salt mine located within the Upper Permian to Lower Triassic Haselgebirge Formation of the Northern Limestone Alps. The mine comprises 21 levels and several smaller shafts.
- Central Square Marktplatz: A popular tourist attraction in Hallstatt.
- Waldbachstrub Waterfall: A natural monument located in the Hallstatt Echern valley, close to the parish of the Assumption.
- Parish of the Assumption: A religious site in Hallstatt.
- Badestrand Hallstatt: A popular bathing spot in Hallstatt.
- Hallstatt Lutheran Church: A church in Hallstatt.
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Marvel at the Krimml Falls
The Krimml Waterfalls are the highest waterfall in Austria, with a total height of 380 metres (1,247 feet). The falls are on the Krimmler Ache river and are located near the village of Krimml in the High Tauern National Park in Salzburg state. The Krimmler Ache is a glacial stream whose flow varies greatly with the season. The greatest measured flow was on 25 August 1987, when it was 166.7 cubic metres per second.
The waterfall is tiered, with the upper stage having a drop of 140 metres, the middle 100 metres, and the lowest 140 metres. The highest point of the waterfall is 1,470 metres above sea level.
The falls are a spectacular natural sight, often kissed by a rainbow, and are best seen from the Wasserfallweg (Waterfall Trail), a path that zigzags up through woods to viewpoints commanding photogenic close-ups of the three-tiered falls. The return walk takes around two hours.
For a longer hike, you can continue your trek up to the Krimmler Achental, a wild Alpine valley where you can stop for lunch at the rustic mountain hut, Hölzlahneralm. This is around a four-hour return walk from the trailhead of the falls.
About 400,000 people visit the falls annually. The misty spray of the waterfall creates ideal growth conditions for hundreds of mosses, lichens and ferns, and the surroundings are the habitat for 62 bird species.
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Tour the Eisriesenwelt ice cave
Eisriesenwelt, the world's largest ice cave, is a must-see attraction in Austria. Located in the limestone spires and turrets of the Tennengebirge range in Salzburgerland, the cave is accessible from the picturesque town of Werfen, which is an easy day trip from Salzburg. The journey to the cave itself is an adventure, involving a 5km drive from Werfen along a toll-free asphalt road to the visitor centre, followed by a short cable car ride and a 20-minute walk to the cave entrance.
The cave is a frozen underworld of sparkling ice passageways, vaults, and chambers, with huge cavernous rooms and mystical ice formations. The highlight is the ethereal blue Eispalast (ice palace), where frost crystals glitter under magnesium flare illumination. The cave can be explored by joining a regular guided tour, which runs from May to October and lasts for around 70 minutes.
The tour involves climbing 1400 steps and can be physically demanding, so it is not recommended for those with mobility issues. Visitors are advised to wear sturdy shoes and warm clothing, as the temperature inside the cave is below zero even in summer.
The Eisriesenwelt ice cave is a unique and memorable experience, offering a glimpse of a hidden, frozen world high in the Austrian mountains.
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Take a drive on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road
The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is a scenic route and the highest surfaced mountain pass road in Austria. It connects Bruck in the state of Salzburg with Heiligenblut in Carinthia. The road is named after the Grossglockner, Austria's highest mountain.
The road is a smooth one with turns and is very well maintained. The full road distance is only 1-1.5 hours long, making it a perfect day out. The road leads to the highest mountain in Austria, the Grossglockner, and the Kaprun high-altitude reservoir lake.
The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is situated within the Hohe Tauern Natural Park, the biggest nature reserve in the Alps with a total area of 1800 sq km. The area is protected by UNESCO World Heritage and is almost virgin and untouched in appearance. Numerous plant varieties grow only in these heights and are native to the area. Animals such as ibex, marmots, eagles, and vultures call these mountains home.
The Grossglockner mountain range was an important passage in older times when people would travel far to cross the Alps. The Romans used the passage frequently as these were the only ways to cross the mighty Alps. After the First World War, the idea of the Grossglockner road was introduced to deal with the aftermath of losing the war and to overcome high unemployment rates.
The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is normally open from early May to late October. The road is busiest in the summertime. It is a little pricey but worth every penny. A day ticket costs 36.50 Euros for private cars and 26.50 Euros for bikes from 6 am to 6 pm; 26.50 Euros for cars and 20 Euros for bikes after 6 p.m. The return trip on the same day comes free of cost.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria has many cities that are worth visiting, including Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Graz, and Linz.
Austria is known for its natural beauty, including the Austrian Alps, Lake Constance, Krimml Waterfalls, and the Danube River.
Austria has a rich cultural history, with many museums, palaces, and concert halls. Some notable cultural attractions include the Schönbrunn Palace, the Belvedere Palace, the Kunsthistorisches Museum, and the Vienna State Opera.
Austria offers a range of unique experiences, such as visiting the Eisriesenwelt ice cave, taking a ride on the Giant Ferris Wheel in Vienna, ice skating on a frozen lake, or taking a cooking class to learn how to make traditional Austrian dishes like apple strudel.