Austria - goals and achievements by Mark Sukhija

I've now been to Austria several times over a period of many years. I've been to most of the major cities, including Vienna and Salzburg. Here, I outline what I've done most recently in Austria and what I'd like to do - sometimes possibly again.

Recent achievements

  • Vienna - One time imperial capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire - Vienna is resplendid with palaces and architectural gems and museums from the time. Highlights have included the Spanish Riding School and the Schonbrunn Palace. Of the museums, the Art History Museum and Natural History Museums are excellent. Have dinner at the Melker Stiftskeller and round it off with a glass of wine or coffee at the Cafe Central.

  • Salzburg - Famed as one of Europe's most beautiful cities, it's unsurprising that Salzburg is highly tourist as it's also the birthplace of one Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The Hohensalzburg Castle dominates the skyline and provides excellent vistas over the UNESCO listed old town. The Domkirche (Cathedral) is a gorgeous piece of Baroque design while markets are regularlly held outside outside the impressive façade of the Collegial Church.

  • Melk - The old town of Melk is home to one of the most impressive Benedictine monastries in Europe Built in the Baroque style, the monastry dominates the town, towering over it in beige and white colours - a colour scheme used throughout the monastry. The Library, Church and Marble Room - the three main rooms for any visit - are hugely impressive. The Library is an important part of any Benedictine monastry as a centre of theological and secular learning and the library at Melk is of note at 8 stories in height - although only one is open to the public.

  • Bregenz - Often overlooked by people passing between Germany and Switzerland it's easy to dismiss Bregenz as a border town with little to offer. Which isn't strictly true. Sure it's smallish, but it has a charming old town with "Berginsel," a prominent rock formation, protruding from the ground with the bulk of the old town on top. On the shore-front of Lake Constance, the promenade is an enjoyable place to stroll with an ice-cream during the summer months.

Goals

Over time I have already visited other cities in Austria and would like to return to Graz , Innsbruck Klagenfurt

However, my highest priority for a return trip to Austria will be to visit to the Wachau - which will be my first visit to the wine producing parts of this region. Noted for its wine production, the Wachau towns of Krems an der Donau and Melk have been listed UNESCO as a cultural landscape. Krems an der Donau is noted for its old town. Wachau is noted for Reisling wine production and but also produces Grüner Veltliner. More about Wachau wine is available here.

Related Posts

Melk - a day trip to the monastic city Notes from our day visiting the Benedictine Monastry in Melk
Salzburg - great places not to miss Essential things to see and do when visiting the historic city of Salzburg
Austria - recommended places to stay Recommended hotels in Vienna, Salzburg and Bregenz
Glonn - grotto near the Bavarian village of Glonn Grotto on the hill near Glonn in the Bavarian countryside
Vienna - 10 great things to do 10 recommended things to do and visit in Vienna
Munich - Frauenkirche The Frauenkirche in Munich seen from the tower of the Rathaus
Dachau - Schloss Dachau Historical notes on Schloss Dachau near Münich, Germany
Munich - Staatskanzlei Detail of the exterior of the Staatskanzlei in Munich

Map

Further reading

Austria - recommended places to stay - Recommended hotels in Vienna, Salzburg and Bregenz

Salzburg / Bregenz - accomodation summary - Comments on our hotels during a trip to Bregenz and Salzburg

Vienna - recommended hotels - Recommended hotels in and around Vienna

Salzburg - St Sebastiankirche - Brief notes on and about the St Sebastian Kirche in Salzburg

Vienna - Church of Mariahilf - Historical notes on Church of Mariahilf, Vienna, Austria

Vienna - Lazaristenkirche / Vincentian Church Immaculate Conception - Notes on the Lazaristenkirche / Vincentian Church Immaculate Conception in Vienna, Austria

Melk - a day trip to the monastic city - Notes from our day visiting the Benedictine Monastry in Melk

Vienna - an evening in a Heuriger - Notes from our evening in a Vienesse Heuriger

Switzerland - places not to miss - Sixteen places not to miss around Switzerland

Switzerland - sacred destinations - Nine of the finest churchs, cathedrals and monastries in Switzerland

Austria Tourism - Official website of the Austrian National Tourist Office

Salzburg Tourism - Official website of Tourismus Salzburg

Stadt Bregenz - Official website of the City of Bregenz

Vienna Tourism - Official website of Vienna Tourism

About Mark Sukhija

Mark Sukhija is a travel and wine blogger, photographer, tourism researcher, hat-touting, white-shirt-wearing, New Zealand fantatic and eclipse chaser. Aside from at least annual visits to New Zealand, Mark has seen eclipses in South Australia (2002), Libya (2006), China (2009) and Queensland (2012). After twelve years in Switzerland, Mark moved back to London in 2012. You can follow Mark on Twitter or Facebook