Although it may seem sacrilegious to say this, it is possible to get tired of the beauty of the Tuscany region of Italy. After all, one can only enjoy the sight of the soft, rolling, lush green hills brimming with vineyards for so long before realizing that it’s all just tantalizing fantasy; tourists are welcome to visit but not to stay. Owning land in Tuscany is like an ancient birthright passed on through generations; it’s easier to get season tickets on the 50 yard line at Rice Eccles stadium than to find available real estate in this beautiful region.
The good news, however, is that it’s time to move on out of Italy and into the even more spectacular mountain landscape of Austria where it’s just as easy to travel on a budget as it is in Italy. After making a brief stopover in the overrated and overpopulated city of Venice, it’s cheap and easy to take an overnight train into the city of Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart and one of the most beautiful cities in terms of both setting and architecture. An overnight train ticket from Venice to Salzburg is 54 euro in a second class sleeper compartment which saves on a night’s stay in a hotel.
The Yoho International Youth Hostel of Salzburg has beds in a four-room dorm for as little as 24 euro per night. It appeared to be the most popular hostel in the city, based on the non-stop partying and endless showings of “The Sound of Music,” which was filmed in and around the city of Salzburg. This makes the city a magnet for fans and it’s just about impossible to walk around the city without getting mobbed by tour groups.
Salzburg is, however, a jewel that stands on its own merit. The city is nestled between two steep karsts and surrounded by towering mountain ranges with a river dividing the city. The river separates the old city from the new city, with the crown jewesl being the glittering Hohensalzburg Castle and the gorgeous Mirabell Palace. From the classical music played by street musicians to the clattering of horse hoofs on cobblestone pulling carriages full of tourists, it’s easy to imagine you are back in the days of Mozart.
While there is enough to do in Salzburg to keep the average tourist happy for weeks, eventually the wear and tear of dealing with the hordes will leave you hungering for a little peace and quiet. The beautiful and tranquil village of Hallstatt is a perfect place to visit after enjoying the many treasures of Salzburg. For roughly 33 euro you can take a four-hour train ride that will whisk you around the towering peaks of the Austrian Alps while skimming the shoreline of its multitudes of lakes before dropping you off at the lakeside village.
Hallstatt is a beautiful town that will make you gasp upon first glance and then pinch yourself twice to make sure you’re not dreaming. The still, shimmering waters are filled by the crisp winter runoff of the snow-capped mountains that tower over this tiny picturesque village. Nothing quite beats having dinner at one of the many lakeside restaurants with a lake filled with swans eager for you to part with the remains of your dinner. It’s a bit more expensive to stay in Hallstatt, but still affordable, as the Gasthof Pension Hirlatz has single rooms available for as low as 55 euro per night.
After spending a few days in the paradise of Hallstatt and exploring the salt mines and ice caves that make it famous, the classically beautiful city of Vienna patiently awaits your arrival. For as low as 22 euro you can catch a train from Hallstatt to Vienna and stay at one of the many available hostel options in the city, like the Wombat City Hostel at The Naschmarkt which has five bed dorms for as little as 22 euro a night. The city of Vienna is as romantic as Paris with its artistically classic architecture and musical influence from the likes of Mozart and Beethoven. There is much to see and do in this wonderful city that is a perfect way to cap off your tour of the beautiful and diverse country of Austria. So take my free advice and don’t end up like those other unfortunate tourists who waste their time and money going to Switzerland instead. After all, who wouldn’t want to visit a country where the hills are alive with the sound of music?
@ChronyArts