Austria. Media News.

Dear friends of Austria and fellow travelers,

This week, we would like to introduce you to a new itinerary we've put together for touring Austria by train - one of the most fun ways of getting to know the country, whether you are on your own or with your family. Read on to learn all about Austria's amazing trains and how to go about planning, then click the link for the detailed route. 

Now that summer is around the corner, we are putting the spotlight on Vienna's green side. As the city's wine taverns and Gastgärten (the term for garden-like spaces with seating areas at restaurants) are frequented again by locals and visitors alike, city planners are working on transitioning the green metropolis to carbon neutral by 2040.

With warmest regards,
Sigrid Pichler

Manager of Public Relations
Austrian Tourist Office New York City
sigrid.pichler@austria.info
tel 212 575 7723 x 119

www.austria.info 

Did you know that all of Austria’s cities are connected by train? That reaching the next big city, on average, takes just two to three hours? That Austria has one of the cleanest, safest and most comfortable rail services out there? That you can conveniently tour the entire country by train in just two weeks? Read on and we’ll show you how:

Imagine sitting in a spacious rail car with enormous windows that afford unimpeded views of the scenery around you. Imagine it is late afternoon, and the low sun basks the surrounding mountain tops in a warm glow as the train passes over historic viaducts that have made train travel possible here for 180 years.  

The Semmering Railway, a UNESCO World heritage site, is just one of many stretches in Austria’s rail network, where the train tracks diverge from the highways and afford views that you would not be able to enjoy otherwise. There are many other advantages to exploring by train: You can use the train's wifi to look up the history of the region or chat with your seat neighbor about the best restaurants to try at your next destination. And once you arrive, you know that the entire region is at your fingertips, the next attractions just a bus or tram ride away.

Austrians have always loved using the train as an alternative to taking the car. Students enjoy train trips to nearby ski destinations, seniors take advantage of reduced fares, families love the adventure and the extra time to play board games or just watch the varying landscape roll by. And for vacationers, train travel is a sustainable, affordable and surprisingly luxurious means of exploring this scenic country.

Over the last few years, infrastructure improvements (Vienna’s new Hauptbahnhof, new rail cars, new first-class lounges, direct connection to Vienna’s International Airport) and programs such as the Sparschiene, which offers affordable fares when reserving in advance, have enhanced the experience even more. A punctuality rate of 91% makes planning itineraries a breeze. There is ample space in the cars for your luggage, a restaurant car provides Austrian fare for those who are hungry and first-class passengers can even have their food brought to their seats. And did we mention that you don’t have to look for parking spots?

To give you a sense for the distances between Austria’s major cities and help with planning, we’ve put together an itinerary that takes you from Vienna in the East to Bregenz in the West in roughly 14 days, with stops in must-see locations such as Graz, Salzburg, and Innsbruck, as well as a few excursions along the way. The itinerary is easily adaptable, and you can start or end it at any point that is convenient. How much time you spend in each location is entirely up to you, but we’ve outlined suggestions for the most important sights and attractions in each location for some guidance.

Now imagine yourself back on that train, this time on your way past picturesque lakes to the Baroque city of Salzburg. You’ve just spent the day touring modern art museums in Linz, and, relaxing in your comfortable seat, you are planning out two days exploring the historic architecture of Mozart’s birthplace. In the distance, you discern the first Alpine peaks and you feel a rush of anticipation. What will you discover next?

Vienna has many superlatives attached to its name. The World’s Most Liveable city has also been voted the World’s Greenest, and with good reason. More than half of its total area is green space, from recreational areas to protected wetlands and agricultural land. Always striving to improve its quality of life further, the city is not only committed to maintaining this wonderful balance, but has outlined plans for becoming carbon neutral by 2040.

Part of Vienna’s charm is that even with all its cultural attractions and its international atmosphere, it has retained the feel of a very livable city where nothing is rushed. This is largely due to the vast amounts of green space distributed throughout the city: Just under 1000 parks, gardens and waterways define its look and feel. Historic palace gardens, such as the grounds surrounding Schönbrunn Palace, compete for popularity with the pleasure grounds of the Prater or the wetlands of the Donauauen National Park. Vienna’s vineyards are a favorite destination for locals and visitors alike, and their wines are exported all over the world. The city’s farms grow more cucumbers and chilli peppers than the rest of Austria combined, and much of the produce is sold at Vienna's very popular farmers markets.

Not only does this greatly improve Vienna’s attraction as a travel destination, it also inspires ideas for innovative living and sustainable planning. In 2020, Vienna committed to going carbon neutral by 2040. It has recently revealed an updated strategy, Smart KLIMA City Wien, which focuses on improving its already outstanding public transportation infrastructure, buildings and energy management.

Travelers can already enjoy a very walkable historic city center, stay at eco-friendly designer hotels, take advantage of the safe and well-connected public transportation system and a farm-to-table philosophy which makes restaurant visits a delightful experience. Local creatives and entrepreneurs have started their own sustainable clothing brands and several restaurateurs embraced a vegan philosophy, enriching the meat-heavy Viennese diet with additional options.

In short, while Vienna has always been aware that you can't have a high quality of life without taking the environment into account, now a new enthusiasm for green development is making this already vibrant capital even more livable, diverse and exciting.