Going Everywhere: Austria

We’re plotting a Big European Adventure of at least one year abroad — and today I’m showcasing a bit from our working list of “must see/do/taste/experience” for where we plan to visit. Toph and I have been adding to this list over the last few months (and will continue to do so until actual said adventure is officially planned and in the works). It’s organized alphabetically by city/region and includes everything from the museums and natural wonders we wanna see, to what we’d like to nibble on (and drink).

Up first: Austria.

Read on and lemme know what you think!

— Hallstatt

• Hallstatt Skywalk, tram and panoramic views of mountains and lakes

• boat ride on Hallstätter See

— Heilingenblut

• drive Grossglockner High Alpine Road, stop along the way for views

— Innsbruck

• Nordkette, cable trams with views for miles

• shop/tour Swarovski Kristallwelten, crystal facility/museum, day trip to Wattens

— Linz

• Grottenbahn, dragon train to a world of dwarves

— Salzburg

• walk Alstadt, old town

• Hangar-7, aviation and motor museum

• Hohensalzburg Fortress

• Festival: Mozart Week (last week of January)

• Salzburg Cathedral, daily noon organ concerts

• Schloss Mirabell & Mirabellgarten, to see some Sound of Music filming locations

• Untersberg, hiking and tram for views of mountains

• day trip to Eisriesenwelt in Werfen, largest ice cave (wear thermals, gets cold even in summer)

— Vienna (capital)

• Belvedere Museum (see Gustav Klimt pieces)

• walk Blutgassenviertel Alley (haunted)

• cruise down the Danube

• Sigmund Freud Museum and former home/office

• Kunsthistorisches Museum (Egyptian relics, art of Dürer, Raphael, and Titian)

• attend Mozart or Vivaldi performance at Musikverein

• Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, gorgeous library at Hofburg Palace

• Schönbrunn Palace

• Spittelberg Christmas Market

• St. Stephen’s Cathedral

• opera performance at the Wiener Staatsoper (theatre)

• Wiener Zentralfriedhof cemetery (Beethoven, Brahms, Schubert, and Strauss buried here)

• TO EAT

  • Cafe Sacher, eat the best/original Sacher-Torte and indulge in Viennese coffee

  • dine and wine at a Heuriger, wine tavern

  • at Vollpension, “gramma made it” bakery and cafe

As you can see, we’re very much into natural beauty, historic landmarks, art and art history, music, and chocolate cake.

The internet has been an invaluable resource, and I’ve linked to some websites (above) as able — but I know there is more knowledge to obtain, and more to add to our list.

Have you been to Austria? Maybe not, but you’ve heard of some random awesome Thing you just know we need to do? Got any advice for us? Can you recommend a book we should read or another website to visit and learn more? I’d love to hear your ideas for this gorgeous and culturally-rich country — drop ‘em in the comments!