This January, I went to Austria and stayed in Vienna and Salzburg. It was an upmarket place to visit, however, it wasn’t a trip that broke the bank, because of the time of year that I went.
January is not during peak season, meaning the price of airplane tickets and accommodation were lower than during the summer or the Christmas markets. The price of tickets, accommodation, and the train journey from Vienna to Salzburg came in at under £400 for me and my friend.
Due to the time of year some things were closed that I would have loved to see, like the giant Ferris wheel in Vienna, and most fountains were covered as they would have frozen over. It was also colder than Scotland, weather for jumpers and coats, but you do forget about it while you are exploring the city.
While in Vienna, I went to the city’s famous coffee shops – that you have probably seen on Instagram – such as Café Central and Café Gernster. I explored the beautiful city centre, walked through palace courtyards and visited the Austrian Parliament. I went to Austria’s most visited tourist attraction – the magnificent Schonbrunn Palace, which was Marie Antoniette’s childhood summer home, and Napoleon’s headquarters under French occupation from 1805 to 1809. The Palace is colossal, with 1,441 rooms and the oldest operating zoo in the world in their 435-acre grounds.
There were churches to explore, and many museums in the city centre. When it was too cold, there were many sites to see indoors. One of my favourites, and most anticipated, was the Austrian National Library. It is full of old books in bookcases that reach to the ceiling, which are painted in gorgeous gold and pastels. It is memorising to be in and look at, and truly one of the prettiest places I have been.
One of the most memorable experiences in Vienna was attending a classical music concert in a palace. Austria is where Mozart is from, and classical music has a rich history there. This was an amazing experience that sounds expensive, but I bought the tickets the day before the concert from a ticket seller. When I got to the concert and heard people talking about the price they had paid – 60 euros each – I realised even more how I had got a good deal at less than half price.
During the train ride from Vienna to Salzburg, lots of snow began to appear. That was part of being there in January that I loved.
I had two full days in the picturesque city of Salzburg. I decided to spend the first day exploring the sites in the city, and the second exploring the sound of music filming locations. After getting breakfast, I saw that the Salzburg Cathedral were doing an organ recital, for 9 euros. An organ recital does not sound particularly exciting, but Salzburg is where Mozart grew up, and he used to play those organs. We were going to see the Cathedral anyway, which does have a fee, and after the organ concert you can stay in the Cathedral and have a look around.
In Salzburg, I visited the Fortress Hohensalzburg, a castle that overlooks the city and has a great view of the Alps. I discovered a Christmas market that was still open in January and was able to experience the magical feel of an Austrian Christmas market, and got to ice skate with views of landmarks, despite not going before Christmas.
The next day I found a lot of the Sound of music filming locations through public transport, but I did then end up on the Sound of music tour. It was worth it to drive through the Austrian lake district and see the stunning views there, which I wouldn’t have otherwise seen. If you are a fan of the film or musical, it is amazing to see where it was set in real life and in the film. Beware though, you will discover some facts that will affect how you see it, for example the Von Trapp house from the film does not exist, the front and back of the house are two different buildings in Salzburg, and the interior of the house is a Hollywood set.
This was a holiday that I will remember for a long time and had a lot of fun while I was there. I love travelling, and the option to visit amazing places while not spending as much is a great one. Booking a holiday in January is a great way to save money and have new experiences, could it be the way to go for student holidays?
Featured Image credit : Rae Archibald
Arts Editor - get in touch via arts@brignews.com
Journalism and English student.
