One of the biggest attractions of Vienna is the exquisite architecture that you can sample in so many areas of the city. It’s easy to just take a stroll and enjoy the thrill of discovering yet another beautiful building. Or, you can grab a map and set out to find some of the historic buildings that are considered the finest in Vienna.
The Belvedere is a good place to start. It was originally Prince Eugene’s summer palace, and was originally built on the southern outskirts of Vienna. Nowadays the Belvedere houses a number of important museums of Austrian art, so you can get a dose of culture once you’ve finished admiring the building itself. Another summer palace, the Sch
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Vienna is an incredibly beautiful city, with architectural and cultural delights that can enthrall you for days, if not weeks. But what if you’re traveling to Vienna with children? The last thing you want, when you’re admiring a particularly delightful building, is the dreaded words - ‘I’m bored’.
There’s a great deal in Vienna for children too, giving you the opportunity to sample this city’s delights without boring your kids. One of the best is the wonderful Prater amusement park. This funfair contains playgrounds, ponds, sandpits and plenty of room to run around, as well as the more traditional attractions of a funfair. These include the big wheel that will be familiar to James Bond fans.
Vienna contains many parks and gardens, but you need to be a little careful if you’re taking children to one of these. Many are designed to be attractive to walk through, rather than fun play areas. Keep an eye out for signs saying ‘Bitte nicht betreten’, which translates to the familiar phrase ‘Please don’t walk on the grass’.
Many hotels offer a babysitting service, so talk to the concierge and find out what can be arranged if you want a night out on the town without your kids. Check what time you need to return, as you may find you need to pay the babysitter’s taxi fare home if you get back any later.
Restaurants vary in their attitudes to children. Many will tolerate them if they are quite and well behaved, which doesn’t help much if your children don’t co-operate! So check first to see if the restaurant is happy to have children as guests, and whether they offer children’s portions. Some of the bigger hotels offer special meal deals for children on Sundays, which can be a good way to save some money. In the warmer months, the many informal street cafes, or Heurige, are also good places for families to eat.
Like all major cities, Vienna also has its share of zoos, museums and sporting events. This means you are sure to find activities that will appeal to your children’s interests and ages. Traveling with children can be a wonderful experience, giving you the opportunity to experience the world through their eyes, and Vienna is no different.
If you want to find out more about traveling in Austria with kids, click over to Gordon’s site at http://www.travelaustriainfozone.com.
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When you mention Austria, many Americans automatically think of Arnold Schwarzenegger. After all, it’s his home country. But even though Austria may have some sort of ’spiritual’ link with California thanks to one of their most famous modern-day sons, the reality is that Austria is nothing like the west coast of the USA. And thank goodness for that - why travel so far just to find something the same as you left behind?
Austria is very much a country of mountains and snow. If you’re looking for sunny beaches, forget it - Austria is an inland country of Europe. It’s also a wonderful way to get a feel for culture and traditions that have long since ceased to exist in many other parts of the world. And, of course, who can resist the wonderful tastes of schnitzel and apple strudel?
Although it’s the historic and natural beauty of Austria that attracts visitors, the reality is that there are also many modern elements in the Austria of today. That’s what makes it such an interesting mixture. The best place to start is undoubtedly Vienna, with its amazing legacy of the Habsburg dynasty. There are galleries and museums, gorgeous architecture and amazing palaces. It’s also full of creative energy. If you only have a couple of days to spend in Austria, then you may find that spending it all in Vienna is the best option.
With a little more time, you can branch out and explore some other parts of Austria. Of course, all ‘Sound of Music’ fans will want to check out Salzburg. You can go on a tour of the numerous locations used in the movie. Salzburg is also famous as the birthplace of Mozart, so there’s plenty here for fans of the more classical side of music.
A visit to the mountains of Austria is something you will never forget. Innsbruck is the center of a large skiing area throughout the Tirol region, and is guaranteed to warm the heart of any mountain and snow enthusiast. The best ski season is from Christmas to late February, with good snow available on either side of those months. If you want to see the glory of the mountains in the warmth of summer, then visit in May or June. It will certainly be a lot quieter then.
Visiting Austria for a day or two during a whistle stop tour of Europe really doesn’t do it justice. Although I’ve mentioned a few highlights, there are so many more wonderful places to visit if you really want to get a true feeling for this stunning country. So give yourself plenty of time to explore, and you’ll be well rewarded.
If you want to read more about travelling to Austria, click over to Gordon’s site at http://www.travelaustriainfozone.com
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