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Austria Travel Guide

INTRODUCTION

Austria is a great place to go to participate in winter athletics such as skiing or to see one of the classiest cities in the world, Vienna. You can also try out your best Juile Andrews impression by imitating The Sound of Music, which was set in Salzburg.

Major cities include:

Salzburg

Vienna

Innsbruck

Graz

HISTORY

Settled in prehistoric times, the central European land that is now Austria was overrun in pre-Roman times by various tribes, including the Celts. After the fall of the Roman Empire, of which Austria was part, the area was invaded by Bavarians and Slavic Avars.

Charlemagne conquered the area in 788, and encouraged colonization and Christianity. In 1252, Ottokar, king of Bohemia, gained possession of the area, only to lose the territories to Rudolf of Hapsburg in 1278. From then on, up until World War I, Austria's history was largely that of its ruling house, the Hapsburgs.

Austria emerged from the Congress of Vienna in 1815, as the continent's dominant power. The Ausgleich of 1867, provided for a dual sovereignty, the empire of Austria and the kingdom of Hungary, under Franz Joseph I, who ruled until his death on November 21, 1916.

The Austrian-Hungarian minority rule of this immensely diverse empire, which included German, Czech, Romanian, Serbian, and other lands, became increasingly difficult to manage in an age of emerging nationalist movements. When Archduke Francis Ferdinand was assassinated by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo in 1914, World War I, as well as the destruction of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, began.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Capital: Vienna

Careful: Austria observes Daylight Savings Time from March-October.

Climate: The winters are especially cold, with frequent rain and some snow. The summers enjoy a nice temperature, with occassional rain.

Currency: Euro

Health: No vaccinations are needed for visiting Austria.

Pack carefully: Austrian weather is not the most reliable so make sure to bring clothing that is suitable for all weather types.

Passport and visa requirements: Passport required. Visa not required for tourist stays of up to 90 days. Embassy of Austria, 202-895-6700

Power- 220 V, 50 Hz

Time zone: 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Medium Time (+1 GMT)

ATTRACTIONS

Haus Der Musik

Liechtenstein Museum

Tirol, Innsbruck

Hiking

RESTAURANTS

Dorf pizzeria: As the name suggests, pizza is on the menu here.

Hotel Bischofsmütze: Roast pork, roast beef, and a fantastic range of organic foods are on the table at this restaurant.

Gasthof Krahlehenhof: This restaurant offers a wide range of foods including venison, pork, and beef.

LODGING

Hotel Sonnenhof: This is a beautiful 3 star hotel located a short distance from Andelsbuch, close enough to walk in fact, in the beautiful area of Bregenzerwald.

Hotel Adler: This beautiful old Royal Post Officer has been converted into a wonderful hotel of 4 star quality. It has an inhouse restaurant and is set in the heart of Oberstaufen.

Altstadthotel Amadeus: This beautiful hotel is located in the heart of Salzburg and is of 3 star quality.

Hotel Kristiania: In the hillside town of Lech, Austria one of the best skiing resorts in the world awaits you. This authentic alpine resort tries to maintain the authenticity of the town to better the experience of the guests. Quality is not sacrified in order to become touristy and cater to all budgets.

29 rooms are available with decor that provides the kind of warmth travelers and skiiers need after a day in the Alps. Also, if you find it hard to part with your dog, you can bring him along for a daily fee.

Hotel Kristiania is obviously known for skiing and other winter activities. Other forms of entertainment include cooking classes, visiting the spa, and checking out the expansive art collection of well known and up-coming artists. If for any reason you don't know how you should plan your day, have a chat with the activities consultant to get a few ideas.