Five Reasons to Visit Austria

By Isabella_Olsen

Are you planning to make a trip to Europe soon? If so, here are just five of dozens of great reasons to visit Austria, a country overflowing with culture and spectacular scenery.




1. The Capital of Classical Music



Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Strauss, Beethoven - these are just some of the famous classical composers who were born or lived in Austria, particularly Vienna, which is why it comes as no surprise that Vienna has earned the designation of being the world's Capital of Classical Music. Here, you can listen to their compositions played by one of the world's best orchestras, the Vienna Philharmonic, the same orchestra they once collaborated with, or easily watch a world-class opera.



Aside from Vienna's concert halls, you can also listen to classical music while watching the Lipizzaner horses from the Spanish Riding School perform dressage at one of the halls of the Hofburg Palace when you visit Austria, or attend mass at its medieval chapel on a Sunday to hear the angelic voices of the famous Vienna Boys' Choir. There are many classical music festivals all over Austria, too, like the Mozart Festival in Salzburg, the Bregenz Festival and the Schubert Festival in Voralberg.



Indeed, you won't find a shortage of classical music in Vienna or anywhere in Austria when you come visit. You can hear other types of music, though, especially if you attend one of the sparkling balls held during the months of January and February. These months are considered Austria's ball season so dress up, put on your dancing shoes and have a ball. Don't worry about having to go home at midnight since the balls last until dawn and don't fret, too, if you don't know how to dance. There is no shortage of dancing schools in Austria, either. After all, Austria is not just the cradle of classical music, but also the birthplace of the waltz.



2. The Austrian Alps



Austria also has its share of natural attractions, mainly the Austrian Alps. Located in upper Austria, this sparkling mountain range offers breathtaking views of diverse natural landscapes from snow-capped mountains to sweeping valleys and glittering lakes, and is also a great spot for various sports and recreational activities such as hiking, hang-gliding, cycling and kayaking in summer and skiing in winter. There are also many charming villages you can visit where you can learn yodelling from the locals, and don't forget to make a stop in the Tirol Valley, particularly Innsbruck, one of the most attractive cities in Austria.



3. Architectural Gems



Aside from its natural attractions, you will see many man-made wonders when you visit Austria, which include medieval grand palaces like the Hofburg Imperial Palace and Schonbrunn Palace, where the Habsburgs once lived, the Belvedere Palace and Arstetten Castle, as well as cutting-edge modern architecture like the Kunsthaus Graz and the stations on the Tirol railway. You will also find many interesting monasteries, like the St. Peter Abbey in Salzburg. In fact, Salzburg has many fascinating examples of Baroque architecture for you to enjoy.



4. The Sound of Music



The Baroque gems in its World Heritage Old Town are not the only reason why tourists come to Salzburg, though. In fact, a large percentage of tourists visit Austria and Salzburg, in particular, to retrace the steps of the Von Trapp family from the well-loved Sound of Music film and musical. Take a picture in front of the Mirabell Gardens where the famous Do-re-mi scene was filmed, take a stroll on the banks of the lake of Leopoldskron Castle, then visit the Nonnberg Abbey, one of the oldest abbeys in Austria where Maria was a novice. Don't forget to drop by the Mondsee Church as well, where Maria and Captain von Trapp got married in the film, or the village of St. Gilgen where Maria sings her first lines.



5. Austrian Cuisine



Crisp apple strudel is an Austrian delicacy mentioned in 'The Sound of Music', and is easy to find in restaurants once you visit Austria. Indeed, Austrian cuisine may not be one of the most popular in the world, but it definitely has its own distinct great taste with Italian, German and Hungarian influences. Aside from apple strudel, other notable Austrian specialties include tafelspitz (boiled beef served with apple sauce), kaiserschmarrn (fluffy pancakes), sachertorte (chocolate cake with apricot filling) and Linzertorte (red currant pie), considered the oldest cake in the world. For drinks, enjoy a glass of excellent Austrian wine or a cup of Viennese coffee or hot chocolate.



Isabella Olsen is a travel writer who has toured major destinations worldwide, including Austria. Isabelle lives in Nerja Spain and runs a Nerja apartment rental website. Why not visit Nerja-Holiday-Rentals.net and check out the great deals on Nerja apartments and Nerja Villas today.



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