All articles related to off the beaten path

Vinatrium Cellars

In the atmospheric cellars of the Vinatrium in Deutschkreutz one finds a nearly inexhaustible supply of wines from Central Burgenland, all of which can be sampled.

Seewinkel National Park

Austria is the only place in the world that produces award winning sweet wines in a national park! Participate in a bird-watching tour of Seewinkel National Park by foot, canoe, or solar boat and then rejuvenate in the Presshaus restaurant in Illmitz with a glass of lusciously sweet “Trockenbeerenauslese” with Kaiserschmarrn (Imperial Pancake) or with a selection of local cheeses.

A futuristic winery with centuries of tradition

Visit the Esterhàzy Palace Wine Museum, regional wine bar and shop, and state-of-the-art winery. Known as philanthropists, builders, and passionate art collectors throughout history, the Esterhàzy dynasty’s tradition with wine is equally great. Empress Maria Theresia, composer Josef Haydn, and even the spoiled privy councillor von Goethe appreciated the fruit-driven wine that was vinified in the Esterhàzy Palace cellar.

Sölden’s Top Culinary Event

Once a year at the beginning of May, Austria’s best chefs and the top vintners form the Burgenland meet in Sölden to provide an extraordinary culinary experience amid the majestic peaks of the Ötz Valley.

Taubenkobel

An award-winning restaurant and the owner is Chef of the Year. When gourmets from all over the world make their pilgrimage to the village of Schützen they have one destination in mind: the Taubenkobel.

Hotel Veltlin: a Wine & Wellness Hideaway

Far from the noise and hectic of a busy lifestyle, yet only a scenic hour’s drive north of Vienna is an idyllic, rural landscape that hugs the border of the Czech Republic. This sleepy corner of Austria features rolling vineyard hills, asparagus plantations, and a sparse few farming villages. Set in this rustic landscape is a peaceful oasis: the 4-star Hotel Veltlin and the Veltlinerland golf course in Poysdorf.

Kloster am Spitz

There are no longer monks living in this refuge, but there is a fine hotel with fabulous views, a country inn with sinfully good food, and outstanding wines that one will not soon forget.

Tour Villages & Vineyards on Draisines

What could be more romantic – or more fun – than pedaling on a discontinued railroad track through fields of poppy, sundrenched vineyards and past quaint villages? Bring your family and friends and enjoy a draisine tour through central Burgenland.

A Cyclist’s Dream – Lake Neusiedl

Cyclists are welcome to Austria’s Burgenland region, where the sun shines 360 days a year and the horizon stretches into the distance for what seems like an eternity. The Lake Neusiedl World Cultural Heritage Site and National Park enchant visitors with vinyards and cherry blossoms, villages and homemade culinary delicacies.

Krimml Waterfalls

Enjoy a spectacular hike to Austria’s highest waterfall. The three stages of the hike, starting in the village of Krimml, take you to ever more spectacular views of the falls and the surrounding countryside. Bring your camera and capture the most beautiful section of the falls!

Astounding views, for all levels of hiker

One of the most dramatic hikes to take in the Austrian Alps happens to be one of the easiest, and most accessible. All ages will enjoy the jaw-dropping views and contemplative pace of the Zirbenweg Trail. Approachable from multiple directions, it offers enough variety to bring hikers back again and again.

Wine Wanderlust in the Pannobile Vineyards

Explore the mystery and romance of the vineyards of Gols on the east side of Lake Neusiedl. On a guided hike you see and learn how a vineyard is planted and cultivated and why it makes such an impact on the way a wine tastes. At the end of the tour enjoy a tasting of a generous selection of premium wines in the Gols cultural center.

Nonseum

A crazy village and a museum for inventions that nobody needs..... quirky rather than certifiable.

Erich Stekovics

Erich Stekovics has scoured the world for tomato seeds in his quest to revive some nearly forgotten flavors. Today more than 3,200 varieties of tomato thrive in his fields near the Neusiedlersee.

Mohndorf

A small village in the Waldviertel has devoted itself totally to the poppy: the inhabitants of Armschlag have even patented the unique Waldviertel grey poppy seed.

Rust, a home for nesting storks

Magnificent white storks nesting on special nests built above the chimneys are a great attraction in the beautiful wine town of Rust. Catch these graceful birds with your camera in flight, or in their nests atop various buildings in town. And, while at it, discover the great food and local wines in this charming lakeside village.

Grossglockner High-Alpine Road

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road makes Austria’s highest mountain accessible for everyone. The famous alpine road leads you right into the heart of the Hohe Tauern National Park, the Grossglockner and its glacier, the Pasterze.

Rustic country charm for city sophisticates

“Südbahn wine” is what the Viennese affectionately call their favorite weekend beverage as they take the 20-minute southbound train from the city to Gumpoldskirchen for recreational enjoyment. The main streets of the sleepy little village come to life in the late afternoon as the local wine farms fling open the doors to over 30 heuriger to invite visitors for hearty country food, full-bodied wines, and folk music.

Be a Winemaker for a Year

Are you passionate about wine? Love to be outdoors? Curious to learn what it takes to produce top-quality wine? Be a winemaker for a year! Rent your own grapevines and take care of them for a full year. A professional producer will help and guide you through the steps – from the grape to the bottle.

Underground salt cave tour

Hidden deep underground, the Salzwelten salt cave in Hallein near Salzburg, one of the oldest in the world, offers a tour that is adventurous, fun and interesting all at the same time! It includes a train ride, boat ride and cross border trek—all underground! Great fun, especially if you are with a small group of friends or family. As long as you’re not claustrophobic!

Retz: Discover A Secret Underground Labyrinth

Discover the colorful history of a city whose wealth and culture is built around the wine trade. Three levels and 14 miles of wine cellar tunnels comprise a complex network under the city.

Open air museum in the Weinviertl

The largest open-air museum of Lower Austria is an entire village: Where 80 historical buildings were disassembled from all over the Weinviertl and rebuilt again true to their original construction at Niedersulz.

King of Wines, Wine of Kings

The historic center of Rust, just one hour south of Vienna in Burgenland, is lined with stately Baroque and Renaissance façades with beautiful portals and heraldic stucco decorations. The source of the city’s wealth is a golden, sweet wine that is so exquisite that it has been sought the world over by kings.

Grafenegg Music Festival

The combination of a historic castle, culinary pleasures, modern architecture, and world-class performances makes the Grafenegg Music Festival a delight for all senses.

Nationalpark Hohe Tauern

„Find your true inner self where nature is at its purest“ is the motto of a lot of people who choose the wildly romantic mountain scenery and the clear lakes of the Nationalpark Hohe Tauern to relax.

How Burgenland became the Land of Castles

Burgenland, the “Land of Castles,” is Austria’s youngest state, which joined the republic after the monarchy’s collapse following WWI. What to name the new territory became the first item of business.

Wein.Sinn: A Multi-media Wine Discovery Tour

The Winzer Krems winery invites you to to discover the fascination of wine. “SANDGRUBE 13 Wein.Sinn” leads you on an 8-station trail to experience wine and gain valuable insights.

Bird View of Natural Wonders

Discover Lake Neusiedl National Park and its steppe bio-diversity that is home to an unusual variety of fauna and flora with Alpine, Pannonic, Asian, Mediterranean, and Nordic influences from pre-historic times. A World Heritage site, located along the Hungarian boarder, this park and lake leave you with a refreshed sense of natural beauty.

The Mint Museum Hall

Discover the birth place of the modern-day Dollar. In the historic town of Hall in Tirol, the ancient Mint Tower is an impressive reminder of a time when currency was literally as hard as the material it was produced from. Have fun exploring the history of money and mint your own coin as a souvenir.

Explore the Horizon Field

A breathtaking landscape installation in the High Alps of Vorarlberg stuns locals and visitors alike

Stay Here: Arlberg Hospizhotel

At this five star Arlberg hotel you reside at 5900 feet above sea level in a great location right next to the ski slopes. Located partially in the historic former residence of the brotherhood of St. Christoph, which was founded in 1386, the Arlberg Hospiz is the perfect example of consciously lived hospitality.

Culinary Camelot on the Styrian Castle Route

The Genusshotel Riegersburg is camouflaged in a vineyard on the Styrian Castle Route just 40 miles east of Graz. The views from the gourmet bistro, the delightful spa and spacious rooms invite exploration of the surrounding orchards of rare, fruits and the mighty Riegersburg Castle. The wild, romantic landscape is home to numerous innovative culinary artisans like the Gölles Schnapps & Vinegar Distillery among others.

Highlights of the Esterházy Palace

The Esterházy family has ruled from their palatial estate in Eisenstadt, capital of Burgenland, for centuries, and since 1622 have been patron of the arts. Today, you can tour the rooms of the palace and the famous Haydn Hall. Admire the façade from your table at the Henrici Restaurant while dining on their famous Esterházy Roast Beef and Esterházy Cream Cake.

A culinary Tour with Fritz Toesch

Barely an hour’s drive from Vienna, Burgenland is a rural, quiet region dotted with innovative vintners, chefs, farmers and artists, determined to both preserve wonderful old traditions, and breathe new life into them. It’s noticeably warmer here than the rest of Austria, hence an array of biking, vineyard touring and interesting gastronomy promises a memorable travel experience.

Zotter Chocolate Factory

Once upon a time - around 1990 - there was a master confectioner who thought that all the existing chocolate creations available were simply… boring. So he started to experiment and came up with the most fantastic creations, such as “hemp-mocha”. People liked them so much that he started his own factory and turned it into his own, very unusual, chocolate empire.

Culinary Hike in Styria

Located in the Southern part of Styria, the Südsteirische Weinstrasse (South Styrian Wine Road) is often compared to Italy’s Tuscany. Almost no other Austrian wine region has undergone such dramatic transformations in the past 20 years as this region, 1 hour south of Graz.

Almdorf Seinerzeit in Carinthia

Let go of everyday stress and rediscover what is truly important, at the Almdorf Seinerzeit, a remote hotel village in the mountains of Carinthia. Enjoy the closeness to nature, pamper yourself with all natural spa treatments, and enjoy a scrumptious breakfast buffet laid out in your own cabin. We promise: You’ll want to come back again and again.

Haut cuisine in the old school house

Carnuntum is a popular excursion destination for lovers of cultural history, wine and delicious gourmet food from the nearby cities Vienna and Bratislava. It is not only the open-air Carnuntum Archaeological Museum which attracts visitors from the metropolises, but grand cuisine at petite prices in a rural setting.

“Silent Night” Chapel in Oberndorf

Nothing beats standing before the „Silent Night, Holy Night“ memorial chapel in Oberndorf on Christmas Eve and joining hundreds from throughout the world in the singing of the world’s most famous Christmas carol.

Burgenland: Multicultural Pannonia

Croatians, Hungarians, Roma, and Austrians all live within the borders of Austria’s small region Burgenland. Get to experience their many customs and traditions at culinary festivals, music events and folk festivals. What a treat!

A Spring Awakening in Burgenland

Every year, the rite of spring causes an explosion of life and color and turns the vineyards of the Leithagebirge and Lake Neusiedl into a lush and deeply satisfying ocean of blossoms. 10,000 blooming cherry trees, with their white-pinkish flowers, transform the villages of Donnerskirchen, Purbach, Breitenbrunn, Winden and Jois.

A Sunset to Remember - Mole West

Burgenland is unlike anywhere else in Austria. Whereas Austria is known for rugged Alps, the central feature of this landlocked region are, wide, open plains and a huge body of water. Burgenland’s life revolves around Neusiedlersee (Lake Neusiedl). The lake gives life to lush vineyards and an average of 300 days of sunshine showcases the wonderfully, mild Pannonian climate of this region.

Art Brut Center Gugging

The cultural centre at the former psychiatric hospital in Gugging offers an impressive and unconventional introduction to “Art Brut”. And part of the Gugging experience is sometimes encountering the very artists who created these works.

A Marvelous Grape, a Marvelous Place to Savor It

“Grüner Veltliner is the last of the great European white wine grapes.” So observed Terry Theise, the esteemed US wine connoisseur and importer. The popular wine is indeed a highlight of its native Niederösterreich -- and nowhere more so than at Nikolaihof.

Luxury Spa Escape in the Vineyards

A luxurious weekend of relaxation and enjoyment is found at the small boutique hotel Wein-Genuss Pössnitzberg. This romantic getaway enjoys a stunning view of the surrounding vineyards in Leutschach, Styria on the southern border of Austria. The award-winning chef of the house will pamper you after a relaxing day with exquisite dishes based on local products paired with rare Styrian wine specialties.

Salzburg Untersberg – a world between myth and heaven

Discover a world of legends and myths and follow the path of Charlemagne into the miles long ice caves under the Untersberg mountain in Salzburg before taking a ride with the cable car up the mountain for some breathtaking views over Salzburg.

Spectacular Eisriesenwelt Ice Caves

The Eisriesenwelt brings you into the largest ice caves in the world. One of the true wonders on earth, the caves are a wondrous underground world of natural ice sculptures and formations. Discover a world of natural beauty.

Rogner Bad Blumau

The Rogner Bad in Blumau is much more than just a spa: this facility, designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, unites therapeutic springs, sauna worlds, a hotel, and a park to create a harmonious total work of art.

Farmers History at the Open Air Museum

Immerse yourself in the historical everyday life of Austrian farmers and discover 400 years of the history of agricultural development and farm management of Salzburg state.

Contemporary Music, Wine, Food and Art

The exciting fusion of a renaissance building with harmoniously integrated modern architectural modules is what meets the eye. “Weinwerk” houses a fusion of the best wines of Burgenland, regional gourmet products, and a lively calendar of fun and engaging cultural events. This initiative of a regional wine marketing association and a cultural club is guarantee for a superlative gourmet and cultural experience!

A Day in Hallstatt

In midst the mystical Salzkammergut Lake Region lies Hallstatt, Austria’s oldest village, who’s culture dates back to the 8th century B.C. Quite possibly the most photographed Austrian village, Hallstatt is visually framed by the Hallstaettersee and the massive Dachstein mountain range.

Open Air Wine Village Museum

Experience the farm life from past centuries in Moschendorf in south Burgenland. Several old authentic houses, some of them with thatched roofs, have been relocated in a village museum and completely equipped with authentic furnishings. The “Weinmuseum Moschendorf” is also a popular venue for wine tasting and many events including concerts, art exhibitions, and folk dance.

Haydn Festival Lights Up Eisenstadt

The imposing Esterházy Palace is the ideal setting for the Haydn Festival, celebrating the music of composer Joseph Haydn. The Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra is the “orchestra-in-residence” at the Haydn Festival. A specific of the orchestra is a so-called “Eisenstadt or Pannonian style”, which gives it a unique sound. With its outstanding acoustics, the Haydn hall is ranked one of the finest in the world.

Explore the medieval Forchteinstein Castle

In the midst of Burgenland’s western hills lies stately Forchtenstein Castle, built as a protective bulwark against invaders in the 13th century. A tour of the fortifications and the castle’s treasury will give you a lively impression of castle life in the Middle Ages.

A paradies for Foodies

The Vinofaktur in Vogau, Styria invites visitors to taste and experience the region’s truly spectacular culinary achievements in a stunning architectural masterpiece. There are plenty of discoveries that will bring even the most experienced foodies to swoon!

The Village of Purbach

Chances are you might be the only American strolling through the village at the time of your visit to Purbach, on the western shores of Lake Neusiedl and a short hour south of Vienna. Don’t let this deter you, but rather be a badge of exploration.

Experiences "off the beaten path"

Looking for great authentic travel experiences? Look no further. We have collected unusual and authentic travel experiences "off the beaten path" that will make your trip even more memorable...

Interactive Map of Austria

Use our interactive map to find "off the beaten path" travel experiences.

Packages

Our trusted partners offer great packages: Whether you are looking for a city break, a hiking vacation in the Austrian Alps, a biking trip or explore Austria's wine country. We got it.

25.05.2012 - 27.05.2012

INNtöne Festival

A jazz festival with an Austrian focus on a farm off the beaten path in Upper Austria's: Diersbach.

28.04.2012 - 05.05.2012

donaufestival

An avant-garde pop festival in Krems - inmidst Austria's wine country - featuring music, performance and installations. This year's theme: Failed Revolutions

22.03.2012 - 25.03.2012

Loisiarte

Cultural spring festival under the theme: "Four Days - Four Points of the Compass".

Lower Austria

The beauty and lifestyle here seem inconceivable in this day and age - areas this pure and authentic in many parts of the world seem to be trading in those very qualities. And locals here have chosen to embrace their heritage gastonomically, viticulturally and agriculturally.

Start planning your next Austria vacation

A vacation in Austria gets you close to nature and allows you to get to know the people and the wonderful traditions. Austria's landscapes are incredibly varied and the options are endless. Be it a relaxing walk or experiencing the great outdoors in the Austrian Alps. Keep in mind that you are never far from historic city centers, cultural events and gourmet restaurant.

Fauna and Flora

Austria's topographic diversity accounts for a great variety of flora and fauna, including endemic species that are under protection.

Walk Austria's Alps

There are numerous ways to explore and experience a destination but none as intimate and personal as taking the time to enjoy your vacation destination on foot. Walking and hiking in Austria will get you close to nature and allow you to get to know the people and the wonderful traditions in Austria.

Plan your trip to the Austrian Wine Country

Austria’s wine regions are both beautiful and easy to visit. In fact, once you step off the plane in Vienna, you have already arrived in one of the world’s most unique wine region. Vienna. Then about one hour south east of Vienna lies the Burgenland, and one hour west of Vienna is the region of Lower Austria with many beautiful valleys. Many of them along the Danube.

Bregenzerwald Cheese Road

The Cheese Route through the Bregenzerwald in Vorarlberg is the ideal way to explore the region and its close ties with cheese-making: from dairy farms to cheese speciality inns, and from alpine pastures to milkmaids. If you’re a cheese connoisseur, this is for you.

Wine tasting in Vienna and Beyond

Walking Tour: Austria's Grüner Veltliner has suddenly become the hottest thing on everybody's list. Until recently, wines made from Grüner Veltliner, the most widely planted grape in Austria, enjoyed only faint praise.

Salzburg & Hallstatt Tour

Visit 2 well-known UNESCO listed-world heritage sites in Austria: the baroque city of Salzburg as well as the picturesque town of Hallstatt.

Königsee to Hochkönig Hiking Tour

Idyllic, mystic and singular, the blue-green lake Königssee is embedded into grand mountain scenery. See the sun rising over the steep rocks of the Stony Sea is really worth the effort.

Cattle procession

The second Saturday of September is the setting of a very traditional event in the Tirolean village Jerzens. After 2 1/2 months the cows come home from the alpine pastures, the cow bells ring and everybody celebrates the return of the cattle.

Salzkammergut Sampler

Lush green pastures, the tinkling of cowbells, crystal clear brooks teeming with trout and villages with intricate murals and wooden balconies. Too much of a cliché to be true? We don't think so. Come and see for yourself!

World Heritage Hiking Tour of the Salzkammergut

Since December 1997 the "Hallstatt Dachstein/Salzkammergut" region in Austria has joined the list of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites. We invite you to discover this great part of Austria with us.

Igls. Austria special

It's no coincidence that Igls is known as the hiking village. Sitting on a glacial plateau at 3,000 feet above sea level and only 2 1/2 miles from Innsbruck, an Igl's visitor has everything available from their hotel door. The area boasts miles and miles of carefully maintained walking and hiking trails, with guests led by certified hiking guides from one of Austria's most prestigious hiking organizations.

7 Resort Hike in the Austrian Alps

Everything you expect from a perfect walking vacation, you will find on this picturesque tour through the Alpbach Valley: beautiful scenery, charming accommodation and walks amid rolling pastures and authentic flower villages.

National Parks in Austria

Austria has six National parks, almost 60 nature preserves and „nature parks“, about 35 „hot spots“ for bird-watching, 20 Alpine gardens and many other opportunities to admire nature in its undisturbed, pristine beauty