The top destinations in the Austrian Alps for travel
This magnificent stretch of Europe's powerful mountains crosses a large portion of Austria from west to east, stopping short of Vienna. There are ranges featuring lush valleys and gentler terrain, as well as those with spectacular glaciers and summits over 3000m (9,843 feet) and rugged granite outcrops. While summer attracts hikers and bikers, or those who just want to twirl in a meadow à la Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music, winter sports are popular in Austria due to its snowy slopes. Everybody for themselves. Travel expert Kate Mann has selected the top destinations in the Austrian Alps.
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| The top destinations in the Austrian Alps for travel |
1. The Innsbruck
The Tyrol capital, which is surrounded by mountains, is an excellent starting point for seeing some of the most breathtaking views of the Austrian Alps. To begin, ride the cable car up to the Nordkette range, which soars above the buildings below in pastel colors. When you're back in the city, make sure to visit the old town with its narrow streets and traditional eateries serving traditional Tyrolean fare. Sample the cozy cheese dumplings called kaspressknödel or the potato, onion, and bacon-topped gröstl with a fried egg.
2. Sölden
For the set-jetters, here's one. Director Sam Mendes selected Sölden, a town in the Ötztal valley, in 2015 to film important scenes for the James Bond film Spectre. If you've seen it, you probably remember scenes where Daniel Craig is wearing glacier sunglasses and Land Rovers are thundering through the snow. At 3,048 meters high, a glass-walled, futuristic building was the focal point of the location selection. During filming, the fictitious medical center was transformed from its original use as an upscale restaurant named Ice Q. It is easily accessible by the Gaislachkoglbahn (mountain lift), and right next door is an installation of the broken plane from Spectre. Additionally, the region is ideal for a variety of outdoor activities, such as skiing in the early months.
3. National Park Gesäuse
This region of the state of Styria is characterized by deep canyons, limestone formations, and white-water rapids. The word "roaring" is aptly used in the park's name, as the area is centered around the Enns River's swift-moving torrents and the channels that branch off in various directions. Johnsbach, a component of the Bergsteigerdörfer (Mountaineering Villages) initiative, is located to the south. The project, which is run by the Austrian Alpine Association, intends to provide alternatives to mass tourism in the Alps and encourage sustainable development.
4. Anton
Often called the birthplace of alpine skiing, several local pioneers put this formerly peaceful community on the map. Among them was Hannes Schneider, a passionate skier who founded the first ski school in the area and created a method that still affects instruction today. These days, St. Anton is well-known worldwide and a part of Austria's largest connected skiing area. Recurring snowfall, a wide range of freeriding opportunities, and bustling après-ski bars are what draw visitors year after year.
5. Werfen
If you feel like singing "The Hills Are Alive" while in Austria, especially in Werfen, you won't face any criticism! This nearby town is home to the spot where the von Trapp children first learned to Do-Re-Mi, with the Hohenwerfen Fortress in the distance, after checking off a number of Sound of Music filming locations in Salzburg. It's accessible via a clearly designated path. Werfen is also the location of Eisriesenwelt, a massive natural ice cave with stalactite-filled passageways that descend deep into the mountain.
6. The High Alpine Road of Grossglockner
This magnificent pass road, which was finished in 1935, passes through the largest nature reserve in the Alps, Hohe Tauern National Park. It links the northern state of SalzburgerLand with the southern region of Carinthia, and is open from May to November, contingent upon weather conditions. On a clear day, the Pasterze Glacier and Grossglockner, Austria's highest peak, are visible. Along with your wallet to get through the toll gates, bring your camera. You also have the option to pay online.
7. Alpbach
Cheese lovers will find paradise in the westernmost and smallest state of Austria. For specialties like the hard mountain cheese Vorarlberger Alpkäse or the uncommon fermented option Montafon Sura Kees, which has experienced a resurgence in recent years, visit a variety of dairies. Explore the Bregenzerwald region for additional examples of regional handicrafts. Here, locally produced timber and other natural materials have long been used by internationally recognized architects to create modern buildings that are both striking and simple, while still blending in with the surrounding environment. This comprises a series of peculiar bus stops.
8. Wörthersee Lake
One of Austria's biggest lakes, Wörthersee is surrounded by wooded foothills and is located near the Slovenian border. Remarkably green-blue in color and with warm summer waters, it's a favorite swimming and vacation spot. There are plenty of public beaches where you can spend the day, even though some of the banks are home to private villas. For the best views of the lake and beyond, climb to the top of the 100-meter-high Pyramidenkogel.
9. Hinterglemm-Saalbach
This sizable resort is primarily a ski destination, though it has recently focused on other seasons. Currently one of the nation's premier mountain biking destinations, riders swarm here in the summer to tame the vast network of trails, many of which are accessible by cable car. In addition, several gravel bike routes leave from Saalbach and wind through nearby valleys. You can replace all the calories you burn with hearty portions of apple strudel from a wooden hut perched on the hillside.