This blog series is about five more countries in Europe I loved visiting. I have already covered three countries – Scotland, The UK and Portugal. In this blog, I will share five reasons I love visiting Austria.
Reason #1 – Vienna, the capital of Austria
Vienna is a major European Capital city that is on par with Rome, London, Paris, and Berlin. It has a ton to see and do including museums, cathedrals, and palaces. Vienna has been named one of the best cities to live in in the entire world. Many people have not been there before. It is the best place to start your adventure in Austria.
Reason #2 – Sights
Austria is not a big country yet there is a lot to see and do. What you see pictured below is Salzburg, one of Austria’s best cities which includes the Hohensalzburg Fortress. There are museums, castles, cathedrals, and other picturesque cities and villages. All kinds of things to see and do all over this beautiful country.
Reason #3 – Natural Beauty
Simply put Austria is a picturesque country. It is somewhat similar to Switzerland with the Alps all over this country. As you move around you’ll be blown away by the natural beauty of this country. If you like doing things outdoors and Hiking in Austria it should be on your list.
Reason #4 – Music
Austria is well known for world-class music. Let me mention two specific examples. First and foremost, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Salzburg is his hometown. If you go there and visit there are several sites to see related to him. Be sure to catch a concert of Mozart music when you’re there. Second, the hills are alive with the sound of music. Once again Salzburg is the area to see where they filmed the movie. A word of caution to my fellow Americans. Austrians are not nearly as excited about The Sound of Music as we are. Don’t worry – they do have tours and other things for you to do related to that movie.
Reason #5 – Villages of Austria
If you like getting out in the countryside, then Austria is excellent for that activity. What you see pictured below is Hallstatt which is probably one of the most famous villages in all of Austria due to the movie Frozen. I visited this village back in the ’90s before it became famous. It is beautiful. Nowadays, though, I hear it’s full of tourists and the locals are kind of sick of people taking selfies. If you get an opportunity I recommend getting out in the countryside and exploring beautiful Austrian Villages. They are scattered all over this wonderful country.
Bonus Reason – the location of Austria
Austria is located in Central Europe. It is landlocked, surrounded by several other countries. The good thing is that it’s easy to get there and to go to other places because of its central location.
Extra bonus reason – the language
Good news – many Austrians speak English which is super helpful for my fellow Americans. Their native language is German which is great if you are a German speaker like myself and want to practice your language skills. Yes – some words are different. Overall though all Austrians speak German.
One thing I do not like about Austria
Everything is not picture-perfect in Austria. Here is one thing I don’t like about this Alpine country. It can be expensive. Sure it is not nearly as expensive as its next-door neighbor, Switzerland. However, if you don’t pay attention it can get a bit pricey, especially in popular cities like Vienna and Salzburg.
Three of my favorite things in Austria
- My favorite city – Salzburg.
- My Favorite sight is Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna.
- Cafes – they serve excellent coffee and tasty pastries.
I am Doug Keating and this is my letter to my sons.