| Are you planning to make a trip to Europe soon? If | | | | There are also many charming villages you can visit |
| so, here are just five of dozens of great reasons to | | | | where you can learn yodelling from the locals, and |
| visit Austria, a country overflowing with culture and | | | | don't forget to make a stop in the Tirol Valley, |
| spectacular scenery. | | | | particularly Innsbruck, one of the most attractive |
| 1. The Capital of Classical Music | | | | cities in Austria. |
| Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Strauss, Beethoven - these | | | | 3. Architectural Gems |
| are just some of the famous classical composers | | | | Aside from its natural attractions, you will see many |
| who were born or lived in Austria, particularly Vienna, | | | | man-made wonders when you visit Austria, which |
| which is why it comes as no surprise that Vienna has | | | | include medieval grand palaces like the Hofburg |
| earned the designation of being the world's Capital of | | | | Imperial Palace and Schonbrunn Palace, where the |
| Classical Music. Here, you can listen to their | | | | Habsburgs once lived, the Belvedere Palace and |
| compositions played by one of the world's best | | | | Arstetten Castle, as well as cutting-edge modern |
| orchestras, the Vienna Philharmonic, the same | | | | architecture like the Kunsthaus Graz and the stations |
| orchestra they once collaborated with, or easily | | | | on the Tirol railway. You will also find many interesting |
| watch a world-class opera. | | | | monasteries, like the St. Peter Abbey in Salzburg. In |
| Aside from Vienna's concert halls, you can also listen | | | | fact, Salzburg has many fascinating examples of |
| to classical music while watching the Lipizzaner horses | | | | Baroque architecture for you to enjoy. |
| from the Spanish Riding School perform dressage at | | | | 4. The Sound of Music |
| one of the halls of the Hofburg Palace when you visit | | | | The Baroque gems in its World Heritage Old Town |
| Austria, or attend mass at its medieval chapel on a | | | | are not the only reason why tourists come to |
| Sunday to hear the angelic voices of the famous | | | | Salzburg, though. In fact, a large percentage of |
| Vienna Boys' Choir. There are many classical music | | | | tourists visit Austria and Salzburg, in particular, to |
| festivals all over Austria, too, like the Mozart Festival | | | | retrace the steps of the Von Trapp family from the |
| in Salzburg, the Bregenz Festival and the Schubert | | | | well-loved Sound of Music film and musical. Take a |
| Festival in Voralberg. | | | | picture in front of the Mirabell Gardens where the |
| Indeed, you won't find a shortage of classical music in | | | | famous Do-re-mi scene was filmed, take a stroll on |
| Vienna or anywhere in Austria when you come visit. | | | | the banks of the lake of Leopoldskron Castle, then |
| You can hear other types of music, though, especially | | | | visit the Nonnberg Abbey, one of the oldest abbeys |
| if you attend one of the sparkling balls held during the | | | | in Austria where Maria was a novice. Don't forget to |
| months of January and February. These months are | | | | drop by the Mondsee Church as well, where Maria |
| considered Austria's ball season so dress up, put on | | | | and Captain von Trapp got married in the film, or the |
| your dancing shoes and have a ball. Don't worry | | | | village of St. Gilgen where Maria sings her first lines. |
| about having to go home at midnight since the balls | | | | 5. Austrian Cuisine |
| last until dawn and don't fret, too, if you don't know | | | | Crisp apple strudel is an Austrian delicacy mentioned |
| how to dance. There is no shortage of dancing | | | | in 'The Sound of Music', and is easy to find in |
| schools in Austria, either. After all, Austria is not just | | | | restaurants once you visit Austria. Indeed, Austrian |
| the cradle of classical music, but also the birthplace of | | | | cuisine may not be one of the most popular in the |
| the waltz. | | | | world, but it definitely has its own distinct great taste |
| 2. The Austrian Alps | | | | with Italian, German and Hungarian influences. Aside |
| Austria also has its share of natural attractions, mainly | | | | from apple strudel, other notable Austrian specialties |
| the Austrian Alps. Located in upper Austria, this | | | | include tafelspitz (boiled beef served with apple |
| sparkling mountain range offers breathtaking views | | | | sauce), kaiserschmarrn (fluffy pancakes), sachertorte |
| of diverse natural landscapes from snow-capped | | | | (chocolate cake with apricot filling) and Linzertorte |
| mountains to sweeping valleys and glittering lakes, | | | | (red currant pie), considered the oldest cake in the |
| and is also a great spot for various sports and | | | | world. For drinks, enjoy a glass of excellent Austrian |
| recreational activities such as hiking, hang-gliding, | | | | wine or a cup of Viennese coffee or hot chocolate. |
| cycling and kayaking in summer and skiing in winter. | | | | |