Little did I know that on this trip we were about to see 3 of the most beautiful places in Austria. Either the train was moving slow or the mountain was so enormous that it stayed outside my window for a good few minutes! Whichever was the reason, I was loving the sight and didn’t want that mountain to go anywhere far.
We were on the train from Salzburg to reach Obertraun. It took two trains to arrive at the final destination, Obertraun. I was thrilled to spend our Christmas holidays in Austria. (I know this is coming too late after a Christmas break, or a little too early for the next one ;P) This was our second Christmas in Europe. Last time we travelled to France and the mountains of Grenoble left such a deep impression in our minds that we wanted to stay around them again this year.
Ireland to Austria
Holidays began pretty much in Dublin this time – ha! You know the confusions that arise when, a few weeks before travel, the airline changes your flight schedule from a convenient afternoon flight to early winter morning flight? Yes, I was angry and worried. Winter mornings are tough to deal with on any regular day and 5 times tougher on travel mornings. Think my husband took a smart decision of using his One4All gift card (that he received from his workplace) to book a room night at Carlton Hotel Dublin Airport. So, on the night before our travel, we ate an early dinner and caught on some good sleep at the hotel, and the next morning we headed to the airport without zombie’s eyes!
If you’re anything like me, you will know that the airport times as the best times. There are so many stories and emotions around you but all have a positive thought in them. Watching the world go by, I savoured my breakfast pastry.
And the holiday begins!
It is a good 2.5 hour-long flight from Dublin to Salzburg. Husband mostly slept through his flight and I opened Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol in my phone app. I can read this book every Christmas season! Hope you’ve watched ‘The man who invented Christmas’ – it has been a total joy watching how he shaped the characters.
The beauty of Salzburg is evident as soon as the flight lands. One side of the airport is bordered with mountains. Between all this, mobile data keeps us so connected with the world that when I turned off the flight mode, my phone rang with a video call from my niece. I was filled with love – this surrounding and that darling. Of course, I gave a quick glimpse of the mountain range to her and convinced my sister to plan an Austrian holiday soon!
I am an Indian passport holder, with a residence card of Ireland and spouse to a Portuguese passport holder. Don’t take it as too much of detail but I’m mentioning this because my residence status invites hilarious confusions at European airports immigration counter, always. We will come back to this story some other time. But again, Salzburg airport experience has been the best one so far.
Mountainous Salzburg
We lived the Salzburg winters and landscape for 3 full days. I always felt Dublin is too cold to deal with but Austrian winters fixed my knowledge chart. It was freezing in Salzburg even inside the gloves, shawl, sweater and jacket! My cheeks and eyes (the only exposed parts of me!) wanted a warm warp as well.
For around a month before the trip, I was constantly going through photos of Salzburg on Instagram and on Google. Summer photos are filled with greens and other vibrant colours, winters were soaked in snow white, but we landed to none of the two! However, it was the right mix of those two seasons and it felt surreal.
There is plenty to see and do in Salzburg, even during winters. Whichever season brings you to this beautiful mountainous place in Austria, I’m sure you will have a wonderful time.
Obertraun – The beauty of slow living!
Mountains in Hallstatt are magnificent. They are mesmerising and exhilarating. We reached the cute little station by mid-afternoon. While checking the train tickets, the conductor had told that our station is the last stop. From the huge windows of the train, as we saw the Hallstatt signboard approaching, we pulled our suitcases out from the luggage rack and backpacks from the overhead shelf. It was like 2 minutes after getting off the train that we realised it wasn’t the last stop! The train moved ahead towards the final destination, Obertraun.
Confusion, fear, worry and then a happy solution – things that happen during travel! We looked around for information centre, ticketing office, etc. but no luck. Checked with the ferry conductor who was on the ferry going back to Hallstatt town centre (on the other side of the river) but she couldn’t find a workable option for us. And right when we decided to follow the Google maps and walk the 30 minutes path along the railway tracks to reach our accommodation in Obertraun, we saw the same train returning (with the same conductor!).
Patiently listening to us, he suggested we wait for 20 minutes as the next train will take us to the 5 minutes away Obertraun. Well, the wait time was no punishment as we made some new friends, discussing ‘things to do in Hallstatt’ with a couple.
Off to the glamour of Vienna
Famous for grand operas, bountiful history and its high standard of living – Vienna is a gorgeous city, but I had left my heart in Obertraun. Yes, I’m a mountain lover and coming back to city life is just a little disappointing for me. But for once, let’s leave that part aside and look at Vienna with fresh eyes.
- This city is and feels safe like no other place I have visited before.
- Though no one checks your ticket at the metro stations, the trust brings responsibility in you.
- I started eating apple strudel from the day we landed in Austria but the best apple strudels were waiting in the cafes of Vienna.
- So much love for that coffee! Rich in milk yet strong in flavour, they have delicious coffee in Vienna.
- Spending weekends aren’t tough for travellers in Vienna, because the museums stay open. They are also open till late on weekdays.
- If you are visiting Vienna during Christmas, you can keep hopping from one Christkindlmarket to another, even a few days after Christmas!
For mugful of gluhwein.
Mouthful of yummy apple strudel,
Sitting in an artistic cafe with creamy coffee,
Museums and music,
Taking a slow walk in the city and ending it at a chocolate shop with Mozartkugel,
Lakes, valley, meadows and mountains.
Skiing, snow walks and ferry rides.
Train journeys with sceneries like in a postcard.
For all of this – I will again visit the dreamlike beautiful Austria.
Aaaaw, Salzburg. So beautiful. I am originally from that area about half an hour away. I live in the US now.
I have traveled to many, many places in the world but Salzburg is always very special to me.
You should try to visit when they have the Christmas markets. It is so charming! Not overrun, not over decorated but decorated in an old world charme kind of sense.
Now I am homesick. 🙁
Thank you for the message! Wow, so lucky to be from that region! Your Salzburg is beautiful 🙂
I was there during Christmas last year and it is really charming. Loved it. I’m sure to visit Salzburg again! Hope you too visit home soon 🙂