discover the best of austria.

© ANTO/Niederstrasser A.
Zell am See Spanish Riding School Hiking in the Alps near Kitzbühel Opera performance, Vienna
The Classics
Just as visitors to Dubai can’t leave without seeing Burj Al Arab, travellers
to Austria have a checklist of sights and experiences that are a must. Both
Vienna and Salzburg City, Mozart’s two home towns, are alive with music
and you’re never more than a metronome-beat away from a concert in
either city. Attending a classical concert in one of the theatres is highly recommended.
Beyond the cities, the Alpine scenery in Tirol, SalzburgerLand
and Carinthia are teeming with leisure options, catering for those looking
for either an active or relaxing holiday. Finally, you can’t go home without
tasting a slice of the famous Sacher Torte cake – it’s the perfect topping for
your holiday!
Top tips
• The 430-year-old Spanish Riding School in Vienna studies the way the
horse naturally moves and aims to cultivate the highest levels of elegance and
harmony between rider and horse. You can sample the equine experience first-
© Stefan Oláh © ANTO/Lammerhuber L.
Centenar at Swarovski Crystal Worlds
hand and attend the High School lessons. (www.spanische-reitschule.com)
• Fans of The Sound of Music can visit locations in and around Salzburg
City where the cult movie was filmed, including the Benedictine Convent
on Nonnberg, Mirabell Gardens and Residenz Square and Fountain. The
Sound of Music Gazebo can be found at Hellbrunn Palace. (www2.salzburg.
info/soundofmusic.html)
• Zell am See is THE classic destination for visitors from the Gulf: Its
combination of Lake Zell and the panoramic views from the peaks of
Kitzsteinhorn and Schmittenhöhe attracts hundreds of locals every year.
Visitors love the idea of skiing (at the Glacier of Kitzsteinhorn) and bathing
in Lake Zell on the very same day. (www.europasportregion.info)
• The Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Wattens is a fascinating excursion
for passionate fans as well as non-collectors, who will be captivated by the
glittering Crystal Store. Opened in 1995, it has become the third most
visited sight in Austria today. (www.swarovski.com/crystalworlds)
Insider Tips
It’s inevitable that every visitor to Austria will pass through Vienna or
Salzburg, but as impressive as these cities are, the savvy visitor will also
make time to visit the beautiful regions with their different characters and
varied attractions. Visiting Austria and not seeing the Alpine region is like
visiting the Gulf and not taking a desert safari.
Top tips
• Kitzbühel is considered the ‘Pearl of the Alps’ and the most renowned
holiday resort in the Austrian Tirol. It’s the great outdoors where Kitzbühel
excels, with its 500-kilometre network of safe hiking trails, many of which
have free guides who will help you explore the lush meadows and forests.
(www.kitzbuehel.com/en)
• Experience the ‘highs and glows’ at the WaterGold experience at the
foot of Austria’s highest mountain, the Grossglockner in Carinthia. The main
attraction is the gold diggers’ village in Heiligenblut, which has been
reconstructed in the original style of the 16th century and gives you the
chance to find your fortune. (www.wasserreich.at)
• The Olympic ski jump on the Bergisel in Innsbruck has a strong
Middle Eastern link as it was designed by Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid. The
most up-to-date ski sports complex in the world can accommodate over
28,000 spectators and features a cabin lift, tower lift, panoramic café and
viewing terrace on the jump tower. (www.bergisel.info)
• Vienna is a city of charming contradictions – hot and cold, loud and
soft, expected and unexpected. The musical scene is just as varied, with
electronic DJs as important a part of the cultural fabric as the Vienna State
Opera. The best-known club is Flex at the Danube Canal.
• The Magic Mountain of Semmering, 90km from Vienna, welcomes
wintersport enthusiasts any time of the day or night – its night piste is the
largest in Europe and the “toboggan runs” are perfect for adventure-seekers.
(www.semmering.at)
Austria. You’ve arrived! Austria. You’ve arrived!
© ANTO/Niederstrasser A.
© Innsbruck tourismus © ANTO/Weinhaeupl W.
© ANTO/BTV/Zeininger
Heiligenblut, Carinthia
Olympic ski jump at Bergisel