For such a small country, Austria has made it big. This is, after all, the land where Mozart was born, Strauss taught the world to waltz and Julie Andrews grabbed the spotlight with her twirling entrance in The Sound of Music. This is where the Habsburgs built their 600-year empire, and where past glories still shine in the resplendent baroque palaces and chandelier-lit coffee houses of Vienna, Innsbruck and Salzburg. This is a perfectionist of a country and whatever it does – mountains, classical music, new media, castles, cake, you name it – it does exceedingly well.
Beyond its grandiose cities, Austria's allure lies outdoors. And whether you're schussing down the legendary slopes of Kitzbühel, climbing high in the Alps of Tyrol or pedalling along the banks of the sprightly Danube, you'll find the kind of inspiring landscapes that no well-orchestrated symphony, camera lens or singing nun could ever quite do justice to.
COUNTRY FACTS
Area 83,871 sq km
Capital Vienna
Country Code 43
Currency Euro (€)
Emergency 112
Language German
Money ATMs widely available; banks open Monday to Friday
Visas Schengen rules apply
ACCOMMODATION
From simple mountain huts to five-star hotels fit for kings – you'll find the lot in Austria. Tourist offices invariably keep lists and details, and some arrange bookings for free or for a nominal fee. Some useful points:
Book ahead for the high seasons: July and August and December to April (in ski resorts).
Some hostels and some rock-bottom digs have an Etagendusche(communal shower).
In mountain resorts, high-season prices can be up to double the prices charged in the low season (May to June and October to November).
Some resorts issue a Gästekarte (guest card) when you stay overnight, offering discounts on things such as cable cars and admission.
Train
Austria has excellent rail connections. The main services in and out of the country from the west normally pass through Bregenz, Innsbruck or Salzburg en route to Vienna. Trains to Eastern Europe leave from Vienna. Express services to Italy go via Innsbruck or Villach; trains to Slovenia are routed through Graz.
Trains from Vienna run to many Eastern European destinations, including Bratislava, Budapest, Prague and Warsaw; there are also connections south to Italy via Klagenfurt and north to Berlin. Salzburg is within sight of the Bavarian border, and there are many trains Munich-bound and beyond from the baroque city. Innsbruck is on the main rail line from Vienna to Switzerland, and two routes also lead to Munich. Look out for the fast, comfortable RailJet services to Germany and Switzerland.
For online timetables and tickets, visit the ÖBB (Österreichische Bundesbahnen; www.oebb.at)website. SparSchiene (discounted tickets) are often available when you book online in advance and can cost as little as a third of the standard train fare.
ESSENTIAL FOOD & DRINK
Make it meaty Go for a classic Wiener schnitzel, Tafelspitz (boiled beef with horseradish sauce) or Schweinebraten (pork roast). The humble Wurst(sausage) comes in various guises.
On the side Lashings of potatoes, either fried (Pommes), roasted(Bratkartoffeln), in a salad (Erdapfelsalat) or boiled in their skins(Quellmänner); or try Knödel (dumplings) and Nudeln (flat egg noodles).
Kaffee und Kuchen Coffee and cake is Austria's sweetest tradition. Must-tries: flaky apple strudel, rich, chocolatey Sacher Torte and Kaiserschmarrn(sweet pancakes with raisins).
Wine at the source Jovial locals gather in rustic Heurigen (wine taverns) in the wine-producing east, identified by an evergreen branch above the door. Sip crisp Grüner Veltliner whites and spicy Blaufränkisch wines.
Cheese fest Dig into gooey Käsnudeln (cheese noodles) in Carinthia,Kaspressknodel (fried cheese dumplings) in Tyrol and Käsekrainer (cheesy sausages) in Vienna. The hilly Bregenzerwald is studded with dairies.
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