Sightseeing

Salzburg is one of the most beautiful natural sites in the world. It is famous for its famous lakes on the eastern side (Hallstatt, St. Wolfgang, Mondsee …), Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle Nest) and Salzbergwerk (Salt Mind) in Berchtesgaden, Eisriesenwelt Werfen, and Dachstein 5 Fingers. Also, there is the famous Grossglockner road to the highest the mountains in Kitzsteinhorn Austria with the possibility of skiing during the summer and the Krimml Waterfalls, the Neuschwanstein Castle and many other interesting places to visit.

Unique places like Sound of Music movie are in Salzburg and around. Also, don’t forget Salzburg is Birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Nestled between the edge of Hallstätter See and the towering Dachstein mountains, Austria’s oldest and possibly most photographed village is something like a mirage in the Salzkammergut Lake Region.

There are a few options for arriving in the spectacular Alpine village of Hallstatt, but the best way to experience this famous location is with a ferry ride across the lake. As the arresting scenery of a tiny village tucked between mountains and water comes into view, you’ll immediately want to know more about this destination. What could be the secret to Hallstatt’s wealth? For centuries, villagers have traded a very sought-after commodity that lies deep below the surface: salt. Explore the Hallstatt Mines and slide deep into the world’s oldest salt mines. Discover a subterranean salt lake and the mummy of a prehistoric miner – preserved in salt. The local museum depicts the history with 7,000-year-old artifacts, several tours are available to reveal more about how Hallstatt came to be.

Take a short walk from the market square to take your very own snapshot of one of the most photographed points in the world. Capture the delightful houses built into the mountain, the glass-like lake, and the amazing mountains in the background. For more beautiful shots, take a nature walk through the Echerntal trail and discover landscapes that have attracted mountain climbers, explorers, romantic poets, and painters.

More at www.austria.info

Not for the faint-hearted! The 5fingers viewing platform offers an adrenaline rush at the highest level. This is probably the most spectacular viewing platform in the Alps and reaches out like a hand over the 400 m drop.

Over 5 platforms (the 5fingers), each in a different design, you can put your head for heights to the test and enjoy unique views down over Hallstatt, the Hallstättersee lake and the inner Salzkammergut region.

The 5 different levels, each 4 x 1 m in size, offer spectacular insight and views. One of the platforms is made entirely from glass and another enables visitors to gain their own personal view of the Hallstatt World Heritage site through a large Baroque picture frame. The ‘5fingers’ are illuminated until midnight and can be seen from far and wide, even at night.

On the way to the 5fingers, you learn on information boards much about Fauna, Flora and the Geology at Dachstein Krippenstein.

More at dachstein-salzkammergut.com

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road makes Austria’s highest mountain accessible for everyone. The famous alpine road leads you right into the heart of the Hohe Tauern National Park, the Grossglockner and its glacier, the Pasterze.

At 12,460 feet, the pyramid-shaped Grossglockner is not only the highest mountain in Austria, it also counts among the highest peaks in the Alps. It is the epitome of an impressive natural experience!

Drive up to the base of the mountain, the Kaiser-Franz Josephs Höhe, and you literally feel the size and power of these majestic peaks, the massive glaciers and the elemental force of nature. Start your adventure in Heiligenblut, a picturesque little village with its picture-perfect Gothic pilgrimage church. As you wind your way up the 30-mile long road, you find that with each bend, the views become more enticing. Stop at one of the multiple lookout-points to take pictures of this unique world of blossoming alpine meadows, fragrant mountain forests, massive cliffs and glaciers. On your way to the top, you’ll pass through all vegetation zones, from cornfields in the valley to the eternal ice. At 8,200 feet, you will have reached the foot of the Grossglockner, the “Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe”, from where you can explore various hiking routes: Take a 30-minute walk directly to the massive Pasterze glacier on a safe, well-marked trail, or take part in one of the guided tours with a national park ranger.

If you choose to continue your drive over the mountain pass to Salzburg, you’ll find yourself following ancient trails. Finds like pre-Celtic bronze knives, Celtic gold jewelry, a Roman Hercules statue, and medieval pack-animal bridles are proof that this road was already well traveled 200 years B.C. Until the highpoint of trade in the 17th century, the Hochtor was the third most important trade route over the eastern Alps.

More at www.austria.info

Experience the complete activity programme of the Alps from winter sports to views, from hiking and mountain biking to sightseeing in Gipfelwelt 3000 on 365 days a year.

Families and beginners find the perfect ski resort at the Maiskogel in the center of Kaprun. The “Maisiflitzer“ alpine roller coaster at the lower terminus promises fun and action all year round.

More at kitzsteinhorn.at

Enjoy a spectacular hike to Austria’s highest waterfalls. The three stages of the hike, starting in the village of Krimml, take you to ever more spectacular views of the falls and the surrounding countryside. Bring your camera and capture the most beautiful section of the falls!

The gorgeous scenery of the Hohe Tauern National Park is your backdrop when hiking from the little village of Krimml, in the province of Salzburg, to Central Europe’s tallest waterfalls: the “Krimml Waterfalls.” From a height of 380 meters, the mountain waters of the Krimmler Ache, a glacial creek, plunge over three tiers to the valley below.

Walk for about 30 minutes from the southern end of the village, high above the Salzach valley, along the path to the first view point, the Lower Falls. The Riemannkanzel and the third view point are only about 5 minutes apart. Further along, the Regenkanzel takes you to the Middle Falls where you can literally feel the power of the water.

If you feel like taking a break, the Schoenangerl restaurant at 4,216 ft. is the perfect place to do so. Of course, you’ll find the finest view at the Bergerblick, the top of the falls. Expect to spend 1 ½ hours to hike to the top. Tectonic shifts pushed the earth up to create the high distance to the bottom of the falls. Don’t miss the Krimmler Ache, which is the source of the waterfall!

Immediately adjacent to the falls, find the WasserWunderWelt, an aquatic theme park that depicts water in its countless forms.

More at www.austria.info

Seven weeks after the death of King Ludwig II in 1886, Neuschwanstein was opened to the public. The shy king had built the castle in order to withdraw from public life – now vast numbers of people came to view his private refuge.

Today Neuschwanstein is one of the most popular of all the palaces and castles in Europe. Every year 1.4 million people visit “the castle of the fairy-tale king”. In the summer around 6,000 visitors a day stream through rooms that were intended for a single inhabitant.

The setting of Neuschwanstein could not be more idyllic. However, movement in the foundation area has to be continuously monitored, and the sheer rock walls must be repeatedly secured. The harsh climate also has a detrimental effect on the limestone façades, which will have to be renovated section by section over the next few years.

More at www.neuschwanstein.de