studentsineurope

Cool Winter Destinations: Austria

Hallstatt, an idyllic winter village in Upper Austria

One very cool, sometimes overlooked winter destination is Austria.  Great skiing, hearty winter food, fantastic beer and beautiful mountainous scenery – what more could you want in a cold weather vacation? Plus, Austria is ground zero during the winter classical music season, and why not? After all, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Strauss and Brahms all composed and played in Austria, and Vienna is known as the ‘Capital of Classical Music’. None of these amazing aspects of Austria can be experienced during the summer.

The first stop on your Austrian winter adventure should, therefore, be Vienna, the country’s elegant capital city. Take in a symphony or a performance of the world renowned Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Explore the massive labyrinth that is the Hofburg, a 16th century royal palace. Watch classical horses dance to Baroque music at the Spanish Riding School of Vienna. Attend a Christmas Mass at the massive gothic Stephansdom. The world is literally your winter oyster in Vienna.

A quick 3 hour train from Vienna lands you in Austria’s other famous city, Salzburg. Unlike sprawling Vienna, Salzburg is a compact city set along the gentle Salzach River and tucked in below the Bavarian Mountains, where snow-capped peaks provide a charming atmosphere in the winter. It is easy to walk around Salzburg, with most of the old city attractions on the south side of the river, and the newer upscale and boutique shopping areas on to the north. The Bavarian Mountains provide lots of winter outdoor sports in Salzburg, like snowshoeing, hiking, skiing and tobogganing.

If its winter sports you are interested in, there is some stellar skiing in Austria, with the Tyrol alpine region providing the most famous skiing, and other lesser known resorts offering great snow and fewer crowds. Zell am See is a beloved ski resort near Salzburg, which boasts great powder for skiing and snowboarding, as well as cross-country skiing. If you are a beginner skier, don’t worry – most ski resorts have in-house ski and snowboard schools so you can take a lesson from a pro!

And if it’s basic winter scenery you’re after, Austria can’t be beat. There are dozens of small villages, such as Hallstatt, a World Heritage region in the state of Upper Austria, which offer that idyllic view of old world Austria. Tiny church steeples rise out of icy lakes, surrounded by snowy mountain peaks, while little windows glow from inside with the warmth of a winter fire. Perfection.