Austria-Österreich
Introduction Page:
Austria, my favorite country in Europe alongside Italy.
Perhaps not everyone’s number 1 destination since there are no beaches here, no interesting nightlife and all the villages die down after dark.
But for those looking for nature, peace and outdoor activities, this is the country for you!
Top that all of with wonderful and unique cities like: Innsbruck, Hallstatt, Salzburg and Vienna and you can see why I am so fond of this place.
Especially Hallstatt is a sight to behold, a small humble village right next to a gorgeous lake, it appears to be straight out of a fairytale!
Close to Hallstatt is also the largest ice cave in the world so make sure to visit that place as well!
- Capital: Vienna
- Population: 8.9 Million
- Currency: Euro
- National Day: 26 October
- Country size rank: 115
As soon as I arrive in Austria my heart fills with joy, my mind turns positive and my eyes go wide open!
I just feel like exploring while I’m there…
Hiking the highest mountains, walking through forests, gazing at the highest waterfalls and so on.
To read all the Austria articles, simply click the button above⬆️
Or scroll down to see my favorite places in Austria and for some personal stories of my time there(+ you’ll get to meet my dog🐶)⬇️
My Top 4 places in Austria:
1: Grossglockner
The most stunning mountain road that you will ever drive on in Europe!
Located in between the cities of Zell am See and Lienz.
I visited this place about 12 years ago and it still feels like yesterday!
Stunning roads with views over the highest mountains Austria has to offer(Grossglockner being the highest at 3,798 meters). And with some luck you’ll also spot the local wildlife, we saw some Capricorns running around and climbing steep cliffs for example!
Or how about getting out of the car and find a heap of snow to stand on or play around in. Yes you are reaching such a height that even while driving around in summer that you can see snow very close to you!
Overall just a really fun road in general, especially for the motorcyclists among us!
Dozens of hairpin turns, open roads and plenty of stops along the way.
There are also plenty of stops where you can behold the amazing scenery, go for a walk or have the best picnic of your life.
Rather stay warm indoors? Then walk into one of the restaurants out there and try out the delicious Apfelstrudels or go for the famous Austrian Schnitzels instead.
2: Achensee
Achensee, one of the most stunning sceneries you’ll find in Austria.
A huge and crystal clear lake, mountains all around and some very charming cities built around it(Pertisau being the best one).
Just a 45min drive from the city of Innsbruck and just a 20min drive from the German border.
This is a place that is easily accessible for everyone and I highly recommend you to visit!
In summer the place offers very chill vibes with the possibility to swim inside the lake, rent out a small boat at Pertisau town or if none of that is to your liking then just put on some good shoes and hike around the region!
There are plenty of hikes around the region offering you some very stunning sights over the lake below!
Done with hiking? Then Pertisau awaits you, a small and charming but kind of busy city right next to the lake.
3: Hallstatt
Hallstatt there is a very big chance you have heard of the place or have seen it on a desktop wallpaper once…
Perhaps the most scenic place in Austria but because of that also one of the busiest!
Tourists come and go to witness this charming village which is truly a Austrian fairytale.
You can get on a boat across the lake and slowly make your way towards the city, slowly catching a glimpse of Hallstatt in the distance. A truly unique experience that unfortunately you have to share with dozens of others😅
Still though, the scenery is incredible and once you start exploring the city itself you can see why it has become so popular!
The city is charming on it’s own with the traditional Austrian houses, a beatiful church and with the extraordinary views all over!
A true paradise for those interested in photography and for people looking to make interesting content!
But there are also other activities to be done, how about visiting the Hallstatt Salt Mine for example?
There’s a cable car and railway available that brings you all the way up to where the place is located.
Located at the same place is the: Hallstatt Skywalk.
A viewing platform that provides you with stunning views over Hallstatt and it’s surroundings, all while you can witness a 350meter drop below!
4: Stuibenfall waterfalls
Europe already has it’s fair share of stunning waterfalls(Iceland and Norway for example) but I think Austria is a great contender as well! Take Stuibenfall for example, one of the tallest waterfalls in Austria with it’s 159m height
And the Austrians wouldn’t be the Austrians if they didn’t provide an amazing hiking trail beside the waterfall.
A well made hike of metal stairs and foothpaths leading all the way to the top of the waterfall!
Providing you with plenty of stops along the way to get really close to the waterfall itself, perfect spots for photography!
(Close enough to get soaking wet also💧😅)
Probably the reason why I prefer Stuibenfall over the Krimmler waterfall(The highest fall in Austria) is because the scenery of Stuibenfall alone makes it worth it!
Huge mountains all around, forests located left and right and the possibility to get real close to the waterfall itself!
Tip: Entrance to the waterfall is completely free! Located 1 hour away from Innsbruck and just 40min south of Imst.
My time in Austria:
Austria my number 1 destination for a very long time!
When I was young I used to join my father on his work towards southern Germany.
I remember going there, getting really close to the Austrian border and seeing those huge mountains in the distance!
At that time I just wanted to go there and keep on driving but since it was his work we couldn’t😓😅
But that all changed when we took our own car one day and drove towards Austria for our first holiday there.
I must have been 10 back then, it feels like ages ago haha.
That first trip fueled my love for the country and for nature and being outdoors in general!
That feeling of starting somewhere far down in a valley and then slowly hiking your way towards the top, I love that sensation!
Also because of the things you see along the way.. the dense forests, the iconic Austrian cows with their clinging bells and grassy fields filled with colourful flowers just to name a few.
Fastforward a bit and I think by now I have visited Austria about 6 times.
Visited their years ago with my grandparents and parents, we all rented a minivan back then and rented ourselfs a 3 stories high building which we all shared.
A building with a fucking creepy basement, especially with the lights going out at night because of a thunderstorm, ohh those memories😅
So anyway, my last time visiting Austria was in 2020. Me, my parents and my younger brother went back and this time taking our dog(Spike) with us for the very first time.
Spike’s first time abroad became Austria and I think he was oh so happy with that😅
So the last time we visited we found a lot of new places that we haven’t been before.
I feel that in Austria you can visit as much as you want but there is always something new and exciting to be found.
But I will end this section before it gets too long, talking about Austria kinda carries me away😅
So to end this section well, take a look at a new place we visited: the Seisenbergklamm.
A stunning gorge filled with waterfalls, fast flowing streams, all easily accessible by wooden walkways!
Here are some pictures I took there:
