Austria

My adventures in Austria took me from the Opera House in Vienna, to the scenic town of Salzburg, swimming in spring fed lakes, hiking in the mountains, and skiing on a glacier in the Alps.

GETTING THERE

Most visitors arrive in Austria at Vienna International Airport VIE on direct flights from the USA, Asia, and Europe, or into Salzburg Airport SZG. Many people also come by train, car, and even by riverboats, from across Europe.

AMAZING EXCURSIONS

Vienna was very clean, organized, and efficient. The Danube River ran through it, connecting it to other European capitals. Vienna had high-rises and historic palaces, and the world renowned Vienna State Opera house. The UNESCO World Heritage Site was a majestic building, topped with an oxidized green copper roof. I scored a ticket to see a performance, which wasn't that difficult because there were budget friendly options.

I jumped on a train to Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart. The city paid homage to him in many ways, with his name on streets, hotels, and restaurants. In the middle of the city, the massive white Hohensalzburg Fortress was perched on a rocky mountain, surrounded by green trees. It was truly stunning. I managed to get a ticket for a music performance at the castle, so I rode a big cable car up the mountain, walked the grounds and admired the medieval fortress.

In Bischofshofen, outside Salzburg, I swam in small spring fed swimming holes, and hiked high up in the hills, past paragliders launching off cliffs, and cows grazing on the fertile green grass. I stopped at several traditional huts called alms, they were mini mom and pop restaurants, offering delicious homemade cheeses, fresh sausages, lsavory soups and more. On one hike, I stumbled upon a tiny charming wooden church in the middle of a forest, it could only fit maybe six people.

I hopped on a train to Sell Am See, a picturesque village on a lake in the Austrian Alps. I skiied in nearby Kaprun, on Kitzsteinhorn Glacier. It was end of season, so slushy, but the experience of skiing in the Alps was worth the trip.

Austria offered a perfect mix of culture and adventure, filled with opera singing, Mozart's music, and castles, but also with impressive natural wonders with panoramic views.