Alpine tradition and the great outdoors mark one half of Austria’s quintessential image. The other half — and almost antidotal to my homeland’s rural beauty — is its grand, liveable cities. As a whole, it’s as spectacular as you can get.
Editor’s note: These spots are all taken directly from travelstoke®, a new app from Matador that connects you with fellow travelers and locals, and helps you build trip itineraries with spots that integrate seamlessly into Google Maps and Uber. Download the app to add any of the spots below directly to your future trips.
Naschmarkt, Vienna
When in Vienna, stock up on fresh produce before grabbing lunch at Neni.
Tucked away in the Ziller Valley, Schlegeis and a walk up Olperer Hut make for an ideal day trip before heading over to Aqua Dome (one of Europe’s best spas) or Innsbruck (Tyrol’s capital city).
Beat the crowds and go for an early morning stroll through Innsbruck’s old town. As you near the Inn river with its colourful townhouses facing you, head left and grab a snack at the farmer’s markets (weekends only).
With a total height of 380m, the Krimmler Wasserfälle make for Europe’s largest waterfalls. There are three stages (the photo shows stage 1) to the 4km waterfall trail. (Open from April to October.)
A visit to Vienna is incomplete without a handful of strolls at the many museums. Start with a browse through the Albertina before continuing on to Museums Quartier.
Easily accessible from Salzburg, a trip to the world’s largest ice cave is worth the roadside views alone. Book your tickets online and pack plenty of warm clothing.
