Austria what to see

Austria - the land of green meadows and cable cars in the Alps

Travelling to Austria was a revelation - not only sea countries can be delightfully beautiful) Alpine lakes are "pictures from the Internet" for a screensaver)

Austria what you need to know:

•     Austria is a lake and mountainous country. Therefore, holidays here are possible at any time of year. In spring, summer and autumn there is swimming in lakes and hiking, in winter Austria turns into a ski resort. As elsewhere, there are ski resorts and due to the development of cable cars and slopes for downhill.
•     IMPORTANT! Vignette in Austria, bought online through the website, comes into force only after 14 days ... Therefore, it is easier to buy a vignette at the first gas station, after crossing the conditional border with any other country (Czech Republic, Germany). In addition to the vignette, there are quite a lot of toll roads and tunnels in Austria, which are paid additionally...
•     Parking in Austria is not a problem. Local housing is located at a distance from each other, so there is always parking space. Most people park right on the street, just near the house. Safety and accuracy in the country is at a high level. No one exceeds the speed limit even by 5 units, no scratched cars, etc. As such cops were seen only a couple of times in 2 weeks, and they caught those who exceeded the speed limit when entering the village from the woods)
•     Internet and mobile communications in Austria are available everywhere, even in the mountains! You can buy a SIM card of mobile operator A1 in any supermarket. Calls within the country are free, the Internet according to the tariff package. You can buy them with a passport (if you get them at a service center) or without, but you will have to activate them yourself. Tariff package B.free - virtual operator A1, 20 euros - 5GB or 5000 minutes or 5000 sms. The package gives you 5000 virtual units, which you can spend on internet, calls and sms. Activation through the site https://www.a1.net/handys-tarife/wertkartentarife/wertkartenregistrierung, if from the phone you can activate it in 10 minutes. You will need a passport and a face photo for activation.
•     The water in Austria comes out of the taps crystal clear! It is also believed that "the water in the lakes is almost potable.
•     Austria is an expensive country! Public transport for travel here is not suitable, and it is not developed. Travel here can only be by car. Cable cars are very expensive - 30-60 euros per person there / back. Lodging normal (shower, kitchen in the room), but the easiest (small square footage and no design frills, no views out the window) is from 100 euros per day.
•     Austria is solid green lawns with cows and horses. From this and the corresponding smell - very often in many places, "smells" of manure).
•     The locals are quite positive about the dogs. You will have to pay for an entrance fee, accommodation, but most importantly, many places are allowed with dogs, including restaurants and all the elevators. The main rule is to have a muzzle and a leash.
•     In Austria, there are no high-rise buildings, the exception is a 5-storey and slightly higher in Innsbruck. Salzburg and Innsbruck - the major cities in the Alpine Austria, with developed infrastructure. The other towns are "villages".
•     Weather in Austria in October - a great time to travel around Austria. All the cable cars are working, but there are no queues and traffic jams, parking lots are free. The weather can be overcast, but not for long. Mostly sunny and windless. It often rains a lot, but for one day. The next day is already without rain.
•     The language in the country is German and very often the locals do not know English! Translator in the phone helps.
•     Payment is almost everywhere by card through the terminal. The exception, the restaurants on the panoramic grounds! Note, everywhere payment for cash is euros...
•     Alpaca and llama are favorite pets of Austrians and Germans. Without going to the zoo, you can enjoy their company in many farms in Austria. Alpacas and llamas differ in the size of muzzle, body and ears, alpacas have short and pointed ears, llamas are twice as big as alpacas. They are bred solely because of the high quality wool and tactile pleasure in communicating)))
•     Homeopathy is here in almost every pharmacy and many allopathic medicines are sold without a prescription, which is very convenient, unlike most countries in Europe.

Itinerary of Austria by car for 2 weeks:

To the Salzburg region - Salzkammergut allocate from 3-4 days⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

•     Salzburg ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - The best attraction and view of the whole city is Hohensalzburg Castle.
•     Traunze lake ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Gmunden promenade, Feuerkogel cable car Ebensee - cable car in the village of Ebensee to the mountain with the viewing platform Feuerkogel. You can not go around the lake in a circle, the road is only on one side.
•     Attersee lake ⭐ - the best views are in the village Untereh am Attersee, but there is not much to do here. We drove around the lake in a circle, which we do not recommend, as the most beautiful views are only in the above mentioned village.
•     Lake Mondse ⭐ - repeated views from other lakes, not much to see. There is a ring road around the lake.
•     Wolfgangsee Lake ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ is the best attraction in the Salzburg region. You can't go around the lake in a circle here. On one side there is a cable car to the Zwölferhorn with two viewing platforms that are located on opposite sides of the cable car: Aussichtsplattform Zwölferhorn and Seeblick / Seehöhe. On the other side there is the Schafberg Cog Railway, which leads to the opposite mountain with the viewing platform Himmelspforte Schafberg. Here we spend the night all these days, i.e. there will be 2-3 overnights.

Hallstatt deserves attention for at least 3-4 days, including visits to the ski resort Zell am See and the Großglockner Hochalpenstraße. These locations are a must-visit ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

•     Hallstatt ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - viewing platform 5 fingers at Krippenstein + World Heritage Spiral (Welterbespirale), there is a cave between two elevators, Dachstein Krippenstein elevator (via two cable cars), Hallstatt Skywalk "Welterbeblick" Aussichtsplattform on the Salzbergbahn cable car, walk around the village + Viewpoint Hallstatt. In this region we take 1-3 overnight stays.
•     Dachstein Glacier ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - suspension bridge Dachstein Hängebrücke + viewpoints Dachstein Skywalk + Treppe ins Nichts.
•     Bad Heistan and Zell am See ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ are two chic ski resorts that can be visited by passing through to admire the views) Both resorts are convenient to visit after Hallstatt and before visiting the Großglockner high mountain road.
•     The Grosglockner mountain road ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ deserves special attention) Visiting this attraction in Austria is a separate article.

Zell am See is an Austrian ski resort on Lake Zeller. We visited it by passing through on our way to the high-mountain ski run Grossglockner. You can go around the entire lake in a circle, but it's not worth it - nothing special) But you should take the Schmittenhöhebahn AG cable car - it's a trass express. There are a lot of other funiculars in the city, but it is necessary for the panoramic view of the lake. Note that the elevators are open until 4 pm... To admire the village and the lake is possible without the elevator) There is a great location near the hotel "Berghotel Jaga Alm", coordinates 47 ° 19' 50.19" N, 12 ° 46' 38.68" E. From here you have a great view and do not have to pay for the elevator)

Tyrol ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐ - picturesque places in Austria, we allocate 3-4 days, or even more) There are places to walk and you can ride the ropes.

After the high mountain trail we go to the Innsbruck region, namely we visit (on the map is the optimal route)

•     Alpbach ski resort ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - excellent hiking in the mountains
•     Aachense Lake ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - the best relaxing promenade and rest by the water
•     Innsbruck ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - still has a provincial charm of Austria, but fully developed civilization)

Overnight accommodation is possible in any of the above locations. We spent the night in Alpbach and we really enjoyed walking around the village!

Austria is expensive and perfectly beautiful) Travelers should definitely come here - in 2 weeks see everything galloping... Would rather come here for 1 month or more!!!