After about six hours, we reached the Austrian-Italian border and decided to give the Dolomites a visit. Unfortunately the weather was really bad, so we returned to Austria the next day. Tyrol it was then!

From Larger Villages, To Smaller Ones; And From Smaller Ones To Innervillgraten.

Innervillgraten is one of the most traditional and most beautiful mountain villages in Tyrol. Approximately 940 people call it their home and it’s a very typical scattered settlement at around 1402 metres above sea level. The region is one of the most remote regions in Austria and is only accessible throughout the year since 1956. This gives you a hint of what our next couple of days looked like.

Small alpine villages are characteristic for Innervillgraten and while driving along the continually smaller roads, we ended up at exactly one of these…

Welcome To Oberstalleralm.

These alpine huts were built for the summer cattle husbandry. Farmers lived with their animals during the season. That is why these huts are actually quite large with living rooms and a stable. Today, they’re used as holiday cottages for vacationers like us.

The protected alpine village Oberstalleralm consists of only 18 rustic alpine huts, which was perfect for us. This part of Austria is a paradise and a place of refuge for anyone looking for peace and tranquillity. Unspoilt nature is all you’ll get here.

Restaurant Tip.

• Gasthof Badl Alm
• Adress: Kalkstein 160a, 9932 Innervillgraten
• Opening Hours: Daily from 11.30am – 6.00pm

The “Gasthof Badl Alm” in Innervillgraten is the perfect place to start your hike or excursion. Great food and a lovely place to stay at.

Farming is the number one business in Innervillgraten.

Apart from the town centre, Innervillgraten mainly consists of farms spread out across the area.

The landscape around the Innervillgraten valley is one of the most beautiful we’ve come across in Austria.

Oberstalleralm is one if the most serene and peaceful places in Tyrol.

The alpine village Oberstalleralm consists of only 18 rustic alpine huts.

Apart from vacationers renting one of the farm houses at Oberstalleralm, you’ll only come across hikers once in a while.

This August: Celebrating Its 80-Year-Anniversary.

Long stretches of this road were made of cobblestone, an everlasting material that withstands extreme cold and heat. Today, asphalt replaces cobblestones but you’ll still see & feel the history along the road. There are two side trips one can take while driving along the road. One is the drive up to Kaiser Franz Joseph Höhe (In 1856 His Majesty Emperor Franz Josef and Empress Elisabeth (Sissi) came hiking to the spot and that’s where the name originated) from where you have a beautiful panoramic view. Once you get there, you stand right opposite the Grossglockner with a view down to the longest glacier in the Eastern Alps, the Pasterze. The second side road leads to the Edelweisspitze. Both of these are heavily frequented on sunny weekends, so it’s best to get up there early in the day.

If you intend to spend some time hiking in the area, you’ll come across several accommodation options. Most of these are mountain refugees with limited basic rooms, but what do you need beside a bed and a shower when this area is in front of the doorsteps? Be sure to make a reservation by contacting the owners beforehand, otherwise you might have to spend the night outdoors…

Grossglockner High Alpine Road Facts.

Opening Hours:

• Beginning of May until 15 June: 6.00 am – 8.00 pm
• 16 June until 15 September: 5.00 am – 9.30 pm
• 16 September until end of October/beginning of November: 6.00 am – 7.30 pm
• Last admission: 45 minutes before night closure

Rates (day ticket):

• Car 34.50 €
• Motorbike 24.50 €

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is the highest surfaced mountain pass road in Austria. We were there on the first opening day, May 1.

48 kilometres of high alpine road with 36 bends and an altitude ascent to 2.504 metres at the highest point are just a few fact about the Grossglockern High Alpine Road.

The road is named after the Grossglockner, Austria’s highest mountain.

The road up to the Edelweissspitze is a winding one. Up there, you can enjoy a lovely meal at the Edelweisshütte with a fantastic view of the surroundings.

The serpentine curves make the Grossglockner High Alpine Road a popular destination for motor bikers.

In the years 1936 and 1937, 350 men shovelled 250,000 cubic metres of snow in an average of seventy days to keep at least one lane on the Grossglocker High Alprin Road free. Today, modern machinery does the job.

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road connects Bruck in the state of Salzburg with Heiligenblut (seen on the photo) in Carinthia.

The Spanish Riding School in Vienna is the only institution in the world where classical horsemanship according to the Renaissance tradition of the Haute Ecole has been practiced and cultivated for almost half a millennium! The objective of classical horsemanship is to study the natural steps and movements of the horse bringing it to the highest level of Haute Ecole by systematic training. This results in an unparalleled harmony between rider and horse, as only Vienna’s Spanish Riding School is presenting it nowadays.

This Friday, June 26, the world famous Spanish Riding School in Vienna is celebrating its 450 year anniversary.  It’ll be a historic event with a special anniversary gala of the Lipizzaner horses live from the Heldenplatz in Vienna. You’ll get two hours of pure Lippizaner dressage highlights. And I’m stoked to be a part of it, thanks to ServusTV.

Many of you won’t be here to enjoy the show, but you can still follow this event easily via your computer or mobile device. The Austrian TV station will broadcast this event live and for free via web stream.

When And Where.

When: Friday, June 26, 2015

Each horse has its own rider at the Spanish Riding School. Together they built are perfectly trained team. © Spanische Hofreitschule |Stefan Seelig

In the capriole, the horse jumps from a raised position of the forehand straight up into the air, kicks out with the hind legs, and lands more or less on all four legs at the same time. It requires an enormously powerful horse to perform correctly, and is considered the most difficult of all the airs above the ground. © Spanische Hofreitschule | Rene van Bakel

A pas de deux is an equestrian performance using two horses. The horses perform dressage movements, usually mirroring each other, and almost always accompanied by music. Pas de deux are often performed in exhibitions at special events, and are also used by professional acts, particularly the Spanish Riding School. © Spanische Hofreitschule | Michael Rzepa

The performance finishes with the “School Quadrille”, consisting of 8 riders working in formation at the walk, trot, and canter, with flying changes, pirouettes, the half pass and the passage. The ride is performed to classical music. Lasting 20 minutes, the School Quadrille of the Spanish Riding School is the longest and most difficult in the world. © Spanische Hofreitschule | Rene van Bakel

Otto Wagner Church: A Must Visit In Vienna.

If you have enough time and are interested in nice architecture and beautiful parks, the Otto Wagner Church is an absolute must when visiting Vienna. Designed by Otto Wagner, it’s considered one of the most important Art Nouveau churches in the world. The copper-platted gold dome (which looks a bit like half a lemon) is visible from quite a distance.

The reason why this church was built on the highest point of a Psychiatric Hospital was because there were heavy protests back in 1904 when construction started due to it’s simplicity (the baroque style would have been much preferred by the Viennese, and even by the archduke Franz Ferdinand). It would have been impossible to built such a church anywhere else in the city, but since the Steinhof Psychiatric Hospital was the largest and most modern of its kind when it opened in 1907, a modern church was an obvious choice.

Why Visit The Steinhof Grounds?

Well, apart from the Otto Wagner Church, the Steinhof Grounds are a really beautiful and soothing spot in Vienna. Soothing might not be the word that comes into mind when thinking of a park that involves passing a Psychiatric Hospital, but it’s a fact. The Grounds consist of 42.000 square metres of greenery and have long been a popular recreation area among the Viennese.

How To Get To The Otto Wagner Church:

• Address: Baumgartner Höhe 1 , 1140 Wien
• Option 1: Metro Line U4 until Unter St. Veit and then Bus 47A until Psychiatrisches Zentrum
• Option 2: Metro Line U3 until Ottakring (last stop) and then Bus 48A (also starts from the bus station Dr. Karl Renner Ring) until Psychiatrisches Zentrum
  

If you have enough time and are interested in nice architecture, the Otto Wagner Church is an absolute must when visiting Vienna.

The church dedicated to Saint Leopold was built between 1903 and 1907 by the architect Otto Wagner, with mosaics and stained glass by Koloman Moser, and sculptural angels by Othmar Schimkowitz. The great majority of the other smaller details are the work of Otto Wagner himself.

The golden, lemon like, dome of the Otto Wagner Church can be seen almost from any higher spot in Vienna.

The Steinhof Psychiatric Hospital lies in the 14th district of Vienna, Penzing, and was built according to the plans of architect Otto Wagner and opened in 1907.

The Steinhof grounds are a popular excursion spot for Viennese on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Some of the building of the Steinhof Psychiatric Hospital look quite creepy, and if you know the history, it doesn’t get that much better. There is a Holocaust memorial site for the “children of the Spiegelgrund”, since the Steinhof Hospital was a major site of Nazi-euthanasia.

“Sea of the Viennese”.

Due to its location, the lake offers perfect conditions for sailing and windsurfing. But the “Sea of the Viennese” as we like to call it (it’s only about 45 kilometres from the capital city), has more to offer than just water sports. The most western steppe lake in Europe provides a natural habitat for a unique diversity of flora, fauna and wild life. Since 2001, the region around lake Neusiedl is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. All of that makes it a special location worth visiting.

Often Underestimated.

Lake Neusield is very often underestimated. Yes, it’s not surrounded by imposing mountain landscape, it doesn’t offer cute little towns right next to the lake like Hallstatt (even though the town Rust for example is very charming), and some might even find the brown colour of the water disturbing. But as said, don’t underestimate it!

Almost the entire lake is surrounded by reeds, which serve as a habitat for wildlife, making the lake an important resting place for migratory birds. The region is actually known for its bird species-richness and some even say it’s one of the most exciting bird paradises in Europe. Equip yourself with a pair of Swarovski Optik CL Pocket 10 x 25 binoculars, a wind-proof jacket and some hiking boots and you’re pretty much ready to go.

Sailing is one of the main reasons people come to Lake Neusield in Austria.

There are several sailing schools around Lake Neusiedl, for beginners and experts.

Reed around Lake Neusiedl in Austria.

Swarovski CL Pocket 8 x 25 Binoculars.

After an action filled programme, Seerestaurant Katamaran in Rust is a great place to finish off the day.

Seerestaurant Katamaran in Rust is especially beautiful at sunset, sitting on the terrace and enjoying a good meal with a nice glass of wine.

This “Klamm” – or gorge as it’s called in English – is about 1.5 kilometres long with a altitude difference of about 100 meters. The path is well marked with lots of timber stairs to pass. In one section you have to walk through an old gallery where once gold was found. On the way through the gorge, you can watch thrill-seeking climbers going upwards on the steep rocks. If you’re experienced and have the right gear, you could also give it a try. But be aware, it’s definitely only for very advanced climbers. As this Klamm is a bit rocky in certain parts, it’s best to wear shoes with a good grip, so no flip-flops even in summer.

The entire walk takes about 2 – 3 hours, the shorter track only about 1 hour. If you’re in the area or are looking for a fantastic nature walk, be sure to visit the Kitzlochklamm.

Information:

• Entrance fee: 4,50 €
• Opening Hours: Daily  from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm
• Getting there: By car from Salzburg about 1.5 hours (around 100 kilometres) or via train or bus (there are several ones going daily from Salzburg)
• Address: Kitzlochklamm Straße 15, 5660 Taxenbach
• Website: kitzlochklamm.at

High cliffs above, water runs deep in the canyon below, Simply enjoy the sights and sounds at the Kitzlochklamm.

There are about 500 steps to get up to the upper part of the Kitzlochklamm, so take that in consideration. Nevertheless: it’s definitely worth the effort!

There are many gorges in the Austrian mountains, and the Kitzlochklamm is one of the best we’ve been to.

For trill-seeking climbers, the Kitzlochklamm is the perfect spot.

The underground walkway of the Kitzlochklamm is also a pretty cool sight.

The list of my 10 favourite coffeehouses in Vienna is in no particular order. I like all of them equality – it just depends where I am or what mood I’m in.

1. phil

The phil was the first one of its kind in Vienna. Today there are several coffee shops that offer food, drinks, shopping and culture all in one. The phil served as a role model and has become a real institution. Almost everything can be bought and most of the books and magazines here have been put together by the customers themselves. It’s a great place to sit for hours while listening to some great tunes.

• Address: Grumpendorferstrasse 10-12, 1060 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Monday 5.00pm – 1.00am & Tuesday – Sunday 9.00am – 1.00am
• Website

The inside of the phil is a mixture between a café, book shop and vintage furniture shopping. © stadtbekannt

Vintage furniture inside the phil in Vienna. © stadtbekannt

In summer you can also sit outside the phil.

2. burg.ring1

The shabby-chic look of the burg.ring1 might remind you of a coffeehouse in Berlin or London – or even one of the similar looking coffee houses in the 7th district of Vienna, yet the difference is the noble address and the spaciousness. It feels like an extended living room with a house bar. A real feel-good place with yummy breakfast and the best home-made lemonade.

• Address: Burgring 1, 1010 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday 11.00am – 1.00am, Friday 11.00am – 2.00 am, Saturday 9.00am – 2.00am & Sunday 9.00am – 6.00pm
• Website

A cozy atmosphere inside the burg.ring1 in Vienna.

A cozy atmosphere inside the burg.ring1 in Vienna.

3. Kleines Café

Built by the famous Viennese architect Hermann Czech, the Kleines Café is a primary rock of the culture scene. It’s very popular, therefore overcrowded most of the time. But the wait is well worth it because the charm of this tiny café is beguiling. In summer, sit down at the Fransiskanerplatz, which is one of the most picturesque places of the inner city.

• Address: Franziskanerplatz 3, 1010 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday 10.00am – 2.00am & Sunday 1.00pm – 2.00am

Kleines Café in Vienna. © stadtbekannt

Kleines Café on the Franziskanerplatz in Vienna. © stadtbekannt

4. Café Drechsler

The Drechsler has always been an institution in Vienna. In 2007, it was completely refurbish by the British star designer Sir Terence Coran. It’s still one of the most important meeting points in the scene, especially for a great breakfast after a hard night out in the town. Located right next to the Naschmarkt, this café is located in the hot spot of Vienna.

• Address: Linke Wienzeile 22, 1060 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday 8.00am – Midnight, Friday & Saturday 8.00am – 2.00am, Sunday 8.00am – Midnight
• Website

Inside the Café Drechsler in Vienna.

Inside the Café Drechsler in Vienna. © stadtbekannt

Outside the Café Drechsler in Vienna.

5. Halle

One of the two undisputed centrepiece of the Museumsquartier (apart from Café Leopold), the Halle offers lots of seating spaces, high ceilings and designer furniture. But even with all the available room, this place is packed most of the times, so be sure to make a reservation – especially on weekends. In summer, there are approx. 200 additional seats outside in the centre of the MQ.

• Address: MQ, Museumsplatz 1, 1070 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday 10.00am – 2.00am
• Website

The Halle at the MQ in Vienna. © stadtbekannt

The Halle at the MQ in Vienna. © stadtbekannt

The Halle at the MQ in Vienna.

6. Le Bol

French living and dining right here in Vienna? It’s possible! There are a couple of French restaurant in Vienna and the Le Bol is an original. Located in a side street of Vienna’s city centre, you almost feel like in a small French town. A very authentic, small & charming coffeehouse with a great atmosphere – also due to the French speaking waiters.

• Address: Neuer Markt 14, 1010 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Daily from 8.00am, Sunday from 10.00am
• Website

The French café Le Bol in Vienna.

The French café Le Bol in Vienna.

7. Café Sperl

Café Sperl might just be the most typical coffeehouse in Vienna – plus one of the few old-school ones that is not filled with smoke or run-down. Charm, tradition and history is a great priority here. This coffeehouse is a great place to get away from your daily routine: simply sit down, drink your coffee, read the newspaper and let time fly by. The “Herr Ober” (Viennese for waiter) might have to be asked twice, but no one is really stressed here. During summer, you can sit outside and eat one of the best Apfelstrudel in the city.

• Address: Grumpendorferstraße 11, 1060 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday from 7.00am – 11.00pm & Sunday from 11.00am – 8.00pm
• Website

Inside Café Sperl in Vienna.

Inside Café Sperl in Vienna.

Outside Café Sperl in Vienna.

8. Daniel Bakery

From a Florentine bread salad and oriental antipasti, through to American Rib Eye Steak. At the Daniel Bakery you get all of that. But the bakery is not just popular with fans of international cuisine … those who love desserts & those with a sweet tooth will have lots of fun here. Listen to this: Crème brûlée, a great range of cookies, muffins, cupcakes or tasty cakes and gateaux (all homemade)…

• Address: Landstraßer Gürtel 5, 1030 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Daily from 06.30am – 1.00am (food is served until 11.00pm)
• Website

Daniel Bakery inside Hotel Daniel in Vienna.

Daniel Bakery inside Hotel Daniel in Vienna.

The hanging boat on the facade of Hotel Daniel in Vienna, Austria.

9. Café Berg

The Café Berg has been a popular breakfast spot in Vienna for quite some time. It’s also a meeting point for the local gay & lesbian scene (not only though) with the adjoining book shop Löwenherz which offers literature, music and film on the same topic. Customers are easy going and sometimes even glamorous.

• Address: Berggasse 8, 1090 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Daily from 10.00am – Midnight (Kitchen until 11.00pm)
• Website

Café Berg in Vienna.

10. Manameierei

The Manameierei is a wonderful spot in the greenery with high quality, yet simple and light food & drinks. It’s located right next to the Schwarzenbergpark, a stunningly beautiful area in the Northwest of Vienna great for excursions and walks, so make sure to have some spare time to get a seat. What I really appreciate is that the owners set a strong focus on food products, therefore most of them come from farmers in the adjoining area.

• Address: Exelbergstrasse 32, 1170 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Saturday & Sunday 9.00am – 6.00pm
• Website

The Manameierei in Vienna.

The Manameierei in Vienna. © Manameierei

1.) Tell us a little bit about yourself and how your passion for travelling started.

I’m a freelance journalist and social media consultant. I have my own travel blog in German and English www.escape-town.com and I’m part of an awesome group of people the Reiseblogger-Kollektiv.com. Besides traveling a lot and writing, I also do video and commissioned work for tourism destinations, as well as consulting for blogger relations in the tourism industry.

2.) Where is home?

My new home has been Innsbruck for almost a year now.

3.) How did you get there? Have you lived there all your life, moved there because of College or just fell in love with the city/town on one of your trips?

I was born and raised in Vienna and lived there most of my life. At the end of last summer I packed my bags and moved to Innsbruck, a choice I feel was perfect for me. I love being close to the mountains and the small city has made me feel mostly welcome over the last months. I’ve met some great people and I just feel like life won’t ever get boring living there. I do travel a lot for work, so being in Innsbruck means both catching up on work behind my desk and enjoying life at home.

4.) What does your living situation look like? Give us a brief description (city or countryside, apartment or house, messy or neat-freak, roomies, pets, plants etc.)

I live in a great apartment in an old villa just at the bottom of the Nordkette mountain range. I share it with two roommates and it’s the first time I’m living with people I didn’t know before. It’s working out great, definitely an experience everyone should consider.

5.) What’s your favorite spot in your apartment or house & why?

It’s the small garden just in front of our house. We have a picnic table and it’s overlooking the city and the river. Whenever it’s warm I take all my meals outside and enjoy the view.

6.) Do you prefer books or movies (plus what’s your favorite one)?

Movies lately, since I’ve gotten a bit lacy with reading. I like old movies with Lauren Bacall, just as much as girl flics and love dramas, that play in far away places, eg. The Constant Gardener.

7.) Where & how do you write your blog articles? Do you start with a rough draft or get right to it?

That always depends on the story. Usually when I already have a story in mind I start with the photo editing and then get started on the story.

On the plane back from Mauritius.

8.) What does a perfect day in your hometown look like? What season is it? Are you inside or outdoors? Do you hang out with friends or family?

Definite ly outdoors. Breakfast at home, a hiking tour (or if it’s winter a snowboarding trip to one of the surrounding mountains) in the Alps and a barbeque in our garden at night, followed by a night out in the city.

Last Sunday at Seegrube – Flying fox at 2000 metres just above Innsbruck.

9.) Name three spots in your hometown, which you’d probably not find in a guidebook but you could recommend to travellers. Tell us what’s special about them.

1. The “Flüsterbogen” – the door arch on Hofgasse 12 can be used to transport a message from one side to the other. Very romantic ;)
2. One of the events that have recently popped up in Innsbruck: Going Deep, Bonanza or everything that takes place on Birdie – a pop-up stage that was build by students just in front of the Stadtcafe.
3. Apfelstangerl at Bäckerei Ruetz, it’s Innsbruck best hidden secret, that those apple pastries are the best.

I’m also using a hashtag on Twitter and mainly Instagram to show things that are typical for Innsbruck: #onlyinibk – everyone is invited to contribute!

10.) What’s your favorite local dish (if you have one in your country/town, please tell us which one)? Can you cook it & what are the main ingredients?

Recently I really got the hang out of “Graukäse”, it’s an old dry type of cheese and you can eat it with fresh onion rings, vinegar, oil, salt and pepper. Or you make cheese dumplings out of it. The Graukäse cheese gives them a very soft and light texture.

11.) How much does 1 liter (or one gallon) of milk and petrol cost today?

The local milk I buy cost 89cents and petrol I hardly ever get to buy because I don’t own a car. It’s around 1,40 though.

12.) Where are you right now, on which device to you answer this questionnaire and what shoes are you wearing (if possible please add a picture)?

I’m on a plane back to Frankfurt coming from Mauritius and I’m typing this on my much beloved Macbook.

13.) Last but not least: What does “home” mean to you?

When I first read this question before I started to answer the questionnaire this song “Home is when ever I’m with you…” by Edward and the Magnet Zeros came to my mind and it’s been stuck there since. I guess home is a place where I have my friends around and my family is at least within phone reach. It’s also a place where I can truly relax and adapt the surroundings to my likings, eg. I love to put stuff up on the walls, memories, ideas, etc.

Home is where my friends are crazy enough to go snowboarding with me in summer.

Want to be a part of this series?

If you want to be a part of our series, just go to the “Home Sweet Home” article and download the appropriate questionnaire. We’d really like to read your stories :)

Participants so far:

#1: Ulli Maier
#2: Nisa Maier
#3: Shvyia Nath
#4: Rika Huang
#5: Yvonne Zagermann
#6: Dario Endara
#7: Frankie Thompson
#8: Roy van den Bos
#9: Monica Stott
#10: Doris Neubauer
#11: Amanda Slavinsky
#12: Edna
#13: Casper Oppenhuis de Jong
#14: Ashley Abroad
#15: Inma Gregorio
#16: Lea Hajner

Within 24 hours, Vienna and its surrounding was covered in 50cm of white powder. A true paradise for snow lovers and a pain in the butt for everyone else. For me, this only meant one thing: it was time for some hardcore cross-country-skiing!

So I packed my gear and was on my wait out to the Vienna Woods, where you’ll find lots of cross-country skiing slopes. Through to the temperature change the area was totally in fog and the ice crystals on the vegetation brought a real surreal look. It was almost a spooky atmosphere while skiing through the Vienna Woods because such weather phenomenon only occurs very seldom; the whole forest was covered with ice crystals. Everything was frozen, but still very fragile. The right temperature produced ice crystals on all the vegetation and it really looked like a winter wonderland…

Ice Crystals in the Vienna Woods, Austria.

Ice Crystals in the Vienna Woods, Austria.

Ice Crystals in the Vienna Woods, Austria.

Ice Crystals in the Vienna Woods, Austria.

Ice Crystals in the Vienna Woods, Austria.

Cross-Country-Skiing in the Vienna Woods, Austria.

Ice Crystals in the Vienna Woods, Austria.

Me shooting among Giants in the Vienna Woods, Austria.

Health Through Water.

Even though it’s an urban legend that the origin of the word “Spa” comes from the Latin meaning “Sanus per Aquam” (which means “Health through Water”), I like the meaning of it and (I personally think) it hits the nail on the head. A couple of Spa days throughout the year can really get you back on track.

The whole concept of healing through water starts with finding the right hotel. It should be directly connected to the thermal fountain, fitted out with indoor/outdoor pools, Turkish baths, Saunas, Jacuzzis, seating areas with dimmed lightning and various treatment offers like massages, hot stone treatments or Ayurveda cures. Most places specialize in treatments to bring back your inner harmony and physical fitness.

A Typical Spa Day.

A typical day in your chosen weekend retreat could start immediately after a good night sleep, with a quick jump into the pool and a few laps of swimming to really wake up just in time before breakfast. Breakfast in a nice hotel always has the advantage that you can choose from a variety of things; whatever you feel like, it’s there. And the best thing about it: you have no preparation work at all.

During breakfast you can think about what to do during the upcoming day (in case you haven’t already planned it all ahead), and since you’ve booked yourself into a Spa, you’ll most likely put on your swimsuit and hit the wellness area. Thermal water has many benefits for your body, but it’s still advisable to only stay in the water for a certain time, to get the maximum impact. Afterwards maybe a massage, mudpack or wet pack … whatever you desire. This will get you ready for a light lunch followed by a short afternoon snooze.

As you can imagine, getting up after such a relaxing morning can be tough, but your pampering is not over yet: give a Turkish steam bath a go or check out the Finnish sauna for some hot flushes. And after a jump into the cooling pool – this might cost you a bit of overcoming – you’re totally refreshed and ready to do some stretching. Some Spa hotels also provide yoga classes or Shiatsu lessons, which is a great supplemental offer.

Now, after you’ve done lots of activities (that you normally never do), you’re ready to dress up and hit the restaurant for your well-deserved dinner. Try to avoid the heavy stuff, eat light, treat yourself to a glass of champagne and don’t go to bed too late. After all, it’s not called “beauty sleep” for nothing…

On the second day of your stay, you’ll most probably get up totally relaxed, ready for a long walk through the area. Fresh air in your lungs will get you fit again, until you’re ready for another vacation weekend in a Spa village.

Spas in Austria.

In Austria, we have a lot of thermal Spas all over the country. Most villages with a thermal fountain start with the German word “Bad”, which actually means “Spa”. For example Bad Gastein, Bad Waltersdorf, Bad Vöslau, Bad Blumau and so on. There are hundreds of such towns, each one with its own flair. Bad Gastein is one of the most well-known and frequently visited by locals and tourists. It gained early fame because of the Heilstollen’s (“healing tunnel”) spring water. The Swiss physician & biologist Parcelsus studied the spring water to discover its secrets. Marie Curie and Heinrich Mache helped to discover that it contained radon and as a result, radon therapies began in Bad Gastein. Today, you’ll find many resorts that offer all kinds of Spa therapies in Bad Gastein.

Yes, Spa and hotel breaks are a way of refreshing the body & mind and even though you might not think that one single weekend is enough to completely get back onto your feet, don’t underestimate the wonders of “Sanus per Aquam”.

 Some Impressions of Bad Gastein.

Bad Gastein in Salzburg is one of the most well known spa places in Austria.

Bad Gastein is an old health and spa resort in Salzburg with many different hotels to chose from.

The landscape around Bad Gastein, calles “Hohe Tauern” in Salzburg is also well worth a visit.

The “Hohe Tauern” area is a popular spot for hikers, mountain bikers, skiers and thrill-seekers.