Good afternoon, today I will tell you what it consists of and how much a trip to Austria costs. About how much you can expect when planning your travel budget and how you can cut costs. I'll show you our budget report (you can see the route). Based on our report, you can calculate your budget and plan your trip.

Any trip consists of costs:

• for an air ticket
• to pay for housing
• to purchase a visa to the country
• for insurance
• for food
• for excursions and entertainment
• car rent

The first thing to remember is that in large countries there are several airports. That airports are located in different cities. That the cost of air tickets in Austria by city can vary greatly.

Much depends on the season and time of purchase (the earlier you buy, the cheaper the ticket will be). I am showing a screenshot of prices for mid-April 2020.

Here are the major cities in Austria that have airports: Vienna, Salzburg, Graz, Innsbruck, Linz, Klagenfurt.

Here is a screenshot where you can see the price difference:

As you can see, the most profitable ticket in terms of price - this is an air ticket to Vienna, from 106 € round trip.

True, not all cities on this list can be reached from Russia by direct flight. It will be faster and easier to get to Vienna with a direct flight with Austrian Airlines. To other cities there are flights with transfers in Berlin, Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Helsinki and other European cities.

For us it's important information. If desired, we can choose a flight from long transfer(+ 1 day), get off at the airport, see another city, and then continue your journey.

Important : Sometimes airlines have ticket sales or discounts. To buy a profitable and convenient ticket you need monitor proposals. As soon as you see something good, check the conditions and buy immediately. Such offers fly away instantly.

How much does a visa cost?

Austria is part of the Schengen union. For us (Russians) this means that purchasing a visa is mandatory. To obtain a visa to Austria, you must submit correctly completed documents.

note: Many companies offer visa processing services. This means you will give them everything. Required documents, take them to the visa center, and they undertake to deliver the documents to you. Such a service can cost 5 or 6 thousand rubles. At the same time, you must understand that you prepare, collect, deliver and correctly complete the documents yourself. They also tell you the requirements. And the requirements are clearly stated on the official websites of visa centers.

Those. in fact, you pay for the delivery of documents from visa center. Whether it's worth doing is up to you to decide.

Applying for a visa to Austria yourself costs 35 €, plus a service fee of 20 €. The expiration date of the passport must be at least 6 months.

One of the rules for obtaining a visa implies that you must have a certain amount of funds (money) in your account. Many countries specify this amount in their visa requirements. Some countries do not specify a clear amount.

But the calculation is approximately this: 50 - 65 euros for each day of stay in the country. Your bank account statement shows your level of financial security.

When calculating your travel budget, you should take into account that this is the “average daily norm”. You can spend more, or you can cut costs and spend less money. No one can force you to spend 50 euros a day)

The Austrian Visa Service Center in Moscow is located at Dubininskaya 35. There are also visa centers in Kazan, Krasnodar, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Samara, Rostoy-on-Don, Krasnoyarsk and others major cities Russia. The entire list can be viewed at website Austria Visa Application Center.

Important news: From September 14, 2015, Russians will be required to be present in person when applying for a visa to provide biometric data (fingerprints and digital photographs). This applies to tourists who request short-term visas for up to 90 days per six months. You only need to provide biometric data once. After this, your fingerprints will be stored in a database.

How much does it cost to stay

In Austria, as in other European countries, there is a huge selection of housing. Bed in an eight-bed room in a hostel, single or Double Room in 2-5 star hotels, apartments and apartments with kitchens, luxury rooms with a swimming pool. It's all there. Choose according to your budget. Our accommodation booking service will help you with this. roomguru. We use this service.

Vienna has a well-developed metro and other types of public transport, so you don’t have to worry about finding housing in the very center of the capital. You can find options in other areas. Vienna's main attractions can be reached in 15 minutes. The cost of the metro will be cheaper than living in the center. We stayed at the hotel Sommerhotel Wieden. It was convenient to get to it from there. Train Station Wien Hauptbahnhof was 5 minutes on foot.

By the way, you can also find very good deals in the center. Mostly they are from “private traders” - people running their own micro-businesses. As a rule, this is not a hotel, but a room in the apartment of a local resident or separate room in the house.

There are such offers on the service AirBnb, which we have been using often lately and have not yet encountered any drawbacks. We find options cheaper than hotels. For example, in Vienna there are offers for 35-40 € for an apartment with a full kitchen. Agree this is better than a hotel room. The amount of accommodation is divided into two - this is also profitable. You don’t have to change your daily routine (to be on time for breakfast). And we buy food in the store, and for breakfast we eat the same fruits, scrambled eggs, coffee, cheese, only much cheaper than at the hotel. Having your own kitchen is a convenient solution for people with stomach diseases and digestive disorders - you can eat familiar food, carefully adding something new to your diet.

Friends, we are now on Telegram: our channel about Europe, our channel about Asia. Welcome)

How much does food cost

If you are in Austria, be sure to try the national cuisine. And this is a huge selection of pies - the most famous apple pie Strudel, delicious types of stewed meat and fish, potato casseroles, dumplings and much more. We especially recommend trying the famous Wiener Schnitzel. For drinks, we recommend trying Austrian wines - there are a lot of them in the country and they are varied in taste.

Austrian coffee shops. In our opinion, they are a must-see. Drinking one of the 30 types of coffee with Viennese strudel is not to be missed.

Try all these delights national cuisine the restaurant will not be cheap for Russian tourist to date. The euro is not getting cheaper, unfortunately.

The portion in a restaurant is usually large (not like in Moscow), they serve, as they say, “from the heart,” so you can take one main course for two. If we took 2 servings out of greed, we asked to take it with us. This is fine. Anything you can’t handle will be neatly put in a plastic bag.

As an example, I consider the cost of dinner for two in a restaurant:

• Side dish: potato salad – 5-6 €. They bring a large dish. You can absolutely calmly ask for another clean plate and utensils to be brought to you so that you can divide one large portion into two plates.
• Main course: Wiener schnitzel – 12-15 € (as I wrote above, you can take a portion for two).
• Dessert: strudel – 5 €.
• Coffee 5-7 €.
• Austrian wine - 2-3 € per glass of 150 ml, champagne is more expensive - about 4.5 €.

The result is 36 € for two. But it seems to me that Alla and I would not be able to cope with all this in one dinner. Usually they took less. It came out to about 20-25 € for two.

We didn't go to restaurants every day. We usually had breakfast at the hotel, and for lunch we snacked on a burger or Vienna sausages on the street. It came out to about 5 €.

In Graz we rented a room in an apartment. We had a kitchen. We went to the store and bought groceries there. It turned out, of course, much cheaper than restaurant prices.

Stores in Austria are open from 9.00 to 18.00 (18.30). On Saturdays, stores close an hour earlier.

Important: On Sunday, grocery stores are usually closed. Therefore, take care of breakfast in the evening or go to the station.

At the stations, shops are open daily from 7 to 22:30.

How much do excursions cost?

Popular in Austria combined tickets. With this ticket you can see several attractions at once. For example, on the territory of Schönbrunn Palace there are about 12 attractions. At the box office you can purchase a ticket for each of them, or a combined one. The second option is usually cheaper.

Examples of prices for attractions:

Vienna Zoo– 20 euros
Amusement park Prater – 7 euros
Combined ticket to Belvedere (lower and upper, Winter Palace, greenhouse, 21 houses) – 31 euros
Mozart's House in Vienna - 10 euros
in Graz – 11.50 euros. Buy a day ticket to the Joanneum Museum for 13 euros. It gives you the right to visit all parts of the museum within 24 hours
Hohenwerfen Castle – 11 euros.

If you want to get to know Austria better and learn its history, we recommend taking unusual excursions from local residents.

Better yet, buy a Vienna Card. This is a travel card and a discount card at the same time. Invented specifically for tourists. With it you can buy entrance tickets to the museum, castle, and other attractions at a discount. Plus enjoy public transport for free.

Detailed budget for our trip

We were in Austria for 8 days. This country was only part of our trip to Europe. During the 27 days of the trip we visited 4 countries: Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. A detailed budget report is written in .

Budget for a trip to Austria for two (all prices are for two):

Vienna – (3 nights) = 138 €
Graz – (2 nights) = 68 €
Salzburg – (3 nights) = 165 €

Tickets were purchased through the Austrian railway website in advance (3-3.5 weeks in advance), so they were eligible for discounts and promotions. On the day of the trip they already cost 2 times more.

Vienna – Graz = 28 €
Graz – Salzburg= 38 €
Salzburg – Zurich= 158 €

Bought in Vienna and Salzburg tourist map cities for 3 days. In Vienna Vienna Card 20 €, in Salzburg Zalzburg Card 31 €. With these cards when visiting museums, etc. The savings were considerable. In Vienna one and a half times, in Salzburg 2 times.

Total: for two people for 8 days including everything except trains booked and purchased in advance (accommodation, food, maps, etc.) it came out to 708.23 €. 708.23 € + trains 224 € = 932 €.

Those. per person - 466 €.

Conclusions:

1. Traveling to Austria is quite expensive
2. The “average rate of accommodation” per day corresponds to the visa requirements (50 – 65 euros per day).
3. We walked around the cities all day and saw quite a lot of sights, ate reasonably (we didn’t skimp on food, we didn’t dine in expensive restaurants).
4. If you are focused on walking around the city (without sightseeing), then the trip will be cheaper.
5. If you are not planning to move to different cities, then deduct the cost of train expenses from our final cost amount.

Sincerely,

03.07.2017

Holidays in Austria in summer

Summer in Austria– this is still an unusual and new phenomenon for us. Everyone perceives Austria exclusively as a country for ski holidays, but there is also something to do in the summer.

Summer in Austria you can have a bright and eventful relaxation: in the mountains, go diving or mountain biking; visit , Graz or Salzburg and many more interesting towns and villages. Do active sports and even fishing. If you don’t like sweltering heat and crowds of tourists on the beaches and in the water, then come here to summer Austria. Austrians are obsessed with ecology and nature conservation. There are many national parks, waterfalls, rivers and lakes, with untouched nature.

Holidays on lakes in Austria

In Austria great amount the cleanest and most picturesque lakes, they are so clean that you can even drink water from them, can you imagine how cool it is to swim in drinking water?))

The southernmost and warmest lake region is Carinthia, there are more than 1200 lakes. The water warms up to 28 degrees, while the air remains at a comfortable temperature without heat. Due to the fact that Carinthia is surrounded by the Alps, the climate is very mild and comfortable. Right there on the border with the state of Salzburg is the highest mountain in Austria - with huge glacier and (peak height 3796 m)

The warmest lake in Austria — , Carinthia

Temperature up to +28°С , Moreover, it is also the purest water that you can drink straight from the lake. The coastline is very shallow, so it is ideal to relax here with children. The lake has one drawback: it is very small and high season there may be too many vacationers here. There are tennis courts, a golf course, 3 surf schools, a diving school, and plenty of entertainment for children.

Lake Wörthersee Wörthersee is the largest lake in Carinthia

The length of the lake is more than 17 kilometers. The water temperature here warms up to 27 degrees; on the shores of the lake there is a Mediterranean climate. Since the 19th century, it has been one of the most elite resorts in Austria, it is called the “Alpine Riviera” and there is a casino, golf course, tennis, and expensive restaurants. Here you can rent a yacht or electric boat (diesel engines are prohibited). The water from the lake is safe to drink. The largest and most charming city on the lake - Velden, this is the ideal place for lovers of both glamor and active rest.

Lake Weißensee

Although not the warmest lake (up to +24°C in summer), it is the most pristine, for which it received the European Award for Environment and Tourism. Weissensee is considered one of the most picturesque high-altitude (930 m a.s.l.) European lakes with untouched nature. The lake is framed by the deep green color of coniferous forests and against their background the piercing turquoise of the water seems even brighter. Weiss in German is white, White Lake Thanks to the chalk deposits in the coastline, it is thanks to him that the water in the lake is of such unreal beauty.

The transparency of the water reaches 30 meters, and the depth of the lake is 99 meters, which is why this place is considered ideal for snorkelers and divers. There are no roads around the lake, and 2/3 of the coast is a protected area of ​​the natural park.

Salzkammergut (Salzkammergut) – summer holidays in Austria

The second most important lake district is Salzkammergut (Salzkammergut), it is located in three federal states: Upper Austria, Styria And Salzburg. Salzkammergut translates as “Salt Pantry”; salt mining in the Salzkammergut salt mines began in the second century BC.

Hallstatt

On the shore of the lake is the town of Hallstatt with the same name, with the oldest salt mine in the world. The town and lake are so picturesque that the Chinese even reproduced a complete copy of Hallstatt in their Guangdong province. It also leads to the city scenic road, which ends in a tunnel carved into the mountain. And the city reveals itself only at the very end. This region is protected by UNESCO. The water temperature in the lake rises to 24 degrees in summer. On the outskirts of the town there is a shallow beach with children's slides, swings and an artificial island. The lake is located in the ground Salzburg.

Lake Mondsee (Mondsee)

The warmest lake in Salzkammergut is the lake Mondsee, in summer the water temperature warms up to 26 degrees. More than 100 km are laid around the lake hiking trails through the most picturesque regions of Salzkammergut.

The largest surfing and sailing center in all of Austria, Germany and Switzerland is located here. Of course there is golf, tennis, cycling routes. This is a fishermen's paradise. The length of the lake is 10 kilometers. The lake is located on the border Upper Austria and Salzburg and is protected by UNESCO.

Lake Traunsee (Traunsee)

Traunsee (Salzburg)- a picturesque lake with ancient castleOrt (Schloss Ort) on the island, it was built in the 12th century, now a picturesque wooden bridge leads to it. The entrance to the castle is through the clock tower, then you find yourself in a cozy, well-kept courtyard of the castle. On the other side of the bridge there is a magnificent view of the main town of the lake - Gmunden (Gmunden), cozy, with classic Austrian houses and churches. The city is famous for its ceramics and earthenware, even the hands on the town hall clock were made of earthenware back in the 18th century. The lake is home to tame swans and ducks; they boldly swim up to tourists in the clear water and demand treats))) The water temperature in August can rise to 22 degrees, the depth is 191 meters!

You can ride along the Traunsee on a paddle steamer; it was launched in 1871, and you can look at the lake from above by taking a funicular up to the mountains.

Active recreation in Austria.

Paragliding, surfing, golf, caving, mountaineering, rafting, hiking and cycling routes, green tourism, yachting, glacier hiking, panoramic roads, skiing(yes, even in August) - this is all summer in Austria. Diving, yes even that is here, in the clear and warm waters of the lakes of Carinthia and Salzkammergut you can dive, explore and receive a PADY certificate.

In summer, Austria has everything and a little more. If you want peace and quiet, then you are in thermal complexes(about them a little later), and if you want Adventure, then you will definitely get it)))) Let's start with walking and cycling routes

Walking (trekking) and cycling routes in Austria

Trekking routes are located throughout Austria, more than 15,000 km of marked, well-groomed, and most importantly safe routes. These are separate paths laid with gravel or asphalt; they rarely intersect with highways. Here you can enjoy the silence, beauty and unforgettable panoramas of Austria and the Alps.

The most picturesque of them are located in national parks or ski resorts, where people go skiing in winter and walk or drive in summer. Using the working summer ski lifts, you can climb high into the mountains without much effort, but then everything depends on your preparedness.

High Tauern(Nationalpark Hohe Tauern)

Biggest national park Austria Nature Reserve Hohe Tauern (Hohe Tauern) There are more than 260 peaks of three thousand meters in the park. This is the highest mountain range in Austria. Here is the highest mountain in Austria - there is a walking route to its peak (it is recommended to go through it with an instructor). The most spectacular panoramic road along the city is also located here.

And there are many cycling and walking routes: for example to Krimmlsky (Krimml) waterfall or around a picturesque lake and ski resort

Best route for cyclists

The classic cycle route (also known as a pedestrian route) from “Passau to Vienna” goes along a picturesque valley Wachau (Wachau) , past the most picturesque loop of the Danube bend, where castles are located on the high banks, and apricot orchards in the valleys. Dodina Wachau is protected by UNESCO, it is a very beautiful, untouched place, you will get true pleasure from traveling around these parts.

Alpine-Adriatic road

The route that can take you from Austria to Italy via Slovenia is the Alpine-Adriatic Road. The length of the route is 700 km, it is divided into segments of 20 km, and is designed even for inexperienced travelers, the elevation changes are small, and you will definitely find where to spend the night along the way. The route begins again at the foot of the mountain Grossglockner and ends at Italian city Trieste on the shore Mediterranean Sea, the entire road has special markings, making it almost impossible to stray from the route. But along the way the road crosses beautiful valleys, turbulent rivers and lakes.

Camping holidays in Austria

In the summer, it seems that everyone has moved out of their city apartments, taken their campervans out of the garages and gone to drive around the Alps. In Austria, there is actually no such thing as a dacha, and if someone from the city wants to relax in nature, they go to campsites. Campsites have their own star rating, just like hotels. Campings with big amount stars have swimming pools, restaurants, saunas, animators for children and other delights of hotel life. If there are two or three stars, then there will be just a lawn for a campervan or tent and harsh showers and toilets.

Camping prices in Austria

There are several accommodation options available, all of which are much cheaper than staying in guesthouses or hotels in the Alps.

1. Tents: from 6 euros per seat plus from 2 euros per person
2. Camper: from 20 euros
3. Bungalow, trailer with kitchen and shower: from 40 euros

Camping sites are scattered throughout Austria; you can stay in cities and even in national parks. Many of them are located on the shores of lakes.

SPA and thermal baths in summer in Austria

A separate and rich topic is relaxation at thermal resorts. If you've already walked around the mountains and lakes of Austria, it's time to relax in thermal complexes. There are a great many of them in Austria: near Vienna and in the Alps, and at ski resorts. There is a whole cult of thermal and spa holidays here; Austrians even buy annual passes to the thermal baths.

Traveling through Austrian national parks

In Austria, vast territories are given over to National Parks, nature here is truly preserved and protected, in many reservoirs it is allowed to use only electric vehicles, it is forbidden to park cars near reservoirs, and of course there is no need to talk about deforestation at all. National parks are an ideal place for families with children.

Therefore, you can drink water here directly from rivers and lakes, the forests are in pristine condition, and the animals live their own lives and do not pay any attention to people.

Hohe Tauern National Park (Hohe Tauern)

We have already written about it above in this article in walking routes, but it’s so big and cool that it wouldn’t hurt to tell a little more about it)))

The largest national park in all of Europe, Hohe Tauern (Hohe Tauern): it has everything: the highest mountain in Austria Grossglockner, the largest three-cascade waterfall Krimml, 4500 km of routes combined into 60 thematic routes. And beautiful narrow mountain gorge Lichtensteinklamm (Liechtensteinklamm) with a waterfall and 60 peaks with a height of more than 3000 meters and snow caps all year round.

Thayatal National Park (Thayatal)

The park is located on the border with the Czech Republic and protects the nature of the green canyon of Austria, which was carved by the Thaya River, which goes around the mountain that has grown in the middle of the valley. The canyon is up to 40 meters deep.

Neusiedl am See, Seewinkel (Burgenland)

A national park with the second largest (after the Danube Delta) reed zone, a paradise for rare species of birds and animals and very harmonious lowland landscapes. If you appreciate the charm of restraint and asceticism of steppe nature, you will really like it here. There are many vineyards on the territory, with tasting rooms…

Gezoise National Park (Gesäuse)

The youngest national park in Austria, founded only in 2002, is located in federal state Styria, not far from the border with Switzerland and Liechtenstein, this park has the largest elevation difference, almost 1000 meters, so there is a very diverse nature and landscapes, and there is also the most vibrant rafting in Austria on the stormy waters of the Enns River. They plan to further expand the park's territory, but even now you will get a lot of impressions here.

Gastronomic tours: wine and cheeses of Austria

We are accustomed to wine and cheese roads in all sorts of Italy and France. Austria does not seem to be one of the world leaders in delicious cuisine. But, wines produced in Burgenland and Southern Styria are highly valued, and IceWine, an ice wine, is a particular source of pride.

Austrian wine road

Weinviertel not only offers excellent wine, but also amazing picturesque views. You can just move from one winery house/basement to another. Leisurely tasting sweet white wines, and of course IceWine ( Ice wine), the grapes for this wine are harvested after the first frost, the berries release more sugar .

Austrian Cheese Road

Bregenzerwalde, Voralberg Bregenzerwald Cheese Road , near the border with Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Here, 160 local cheese producers from 22 villages united and created their own Alpine cheese road. There are many cheese factories here. Tours are held at the cheese factories, you can get acquainted with the technology of cheese making, this is a whole philosophy.

Restaurants, of course, serve a variety of cheese dishes: cheese soup, Kezknepfle cheese balls and Kezsperzle cheese sticks. They also serve a cheese drink here, it is hot and they drink it instead of tea, it has a sour-cheese taste, unusual, but tasty.

You also need to be sure to get into damp basements in Lingenau (Lingenau) where it ripens most of all cheeses from the Bregenzenwald region.

If you want to relax and refresh yourself in a slightly different way, you can go to.

Fishing in Austria

In Austria, you cannot come to a river and just cast a fishing rod; to fish you need to get a license, it is issued in each of the federal states separately, and with a Tyrolean license you cannot fish in Styria. In addition, permission is required from the owner of the land where you intend to fish. The cost of a license is from 20 to 25 euros. You can usually buy it either in hotels near lakes or tourist centers, usually permission from the land owner is also obtained there. Fishing can only be done during daylight hours, from morning to evening; fishing is prohibited at night and you cannot simply stop and spend the night on the shore, only in specially designated camping areas; the fines are colossally high, both for fishing without a license and for unauthorized overnight stays.

The most popular fishing regions in Austria are:

Grosse Mugle River ( Grossmugl) – right tributary of the Danube, located in Upper Austria, trout and grayling are caught here

River Gail(Gail) - most picturesque place in the very southern region country - Carinthia. This is the left tributary of the Drava, grayling, rainbow and brown trout are caught here.

Coppertraun ) — in the Salzkammergut region it is one of the six best trout spots in Europe.

Stans Fishing Center in Tyrol , built in places where princes used to fish. Importantly, you don’t need to pay for a license here. Pay only for the weight of the catch. Your loot will be prepared for you right there in the center’s restaurant.

You can also fish in a nature reserve with untouched nature. Hager-Angel park (Hager-Angel Park) Tyrol in Kössen here in the lake Hagersee There are trout, carp or sturgeon etc.

Glaciers and ski resorts in summer in Austria

And yes, there is no escape from skiing in Austria, ski resorts are open all year round, and skiing in swimsuits will be provided for you on glaciers above 3000 m above sea level. Most of them are located in Tyrol.

Zell am See And Kaprun.Kitzsteinhorn glacier. State of Salzburg

very popular lately ski resort. At an altitude of 3029 meters you will find glacier descents, a Panorama 3000 cinema, and views of the most high mountain Austria - Grossglockner. And after riding, you can go down and soak in the new thermal complex TAUERN SPA Zell am See-Kaprun

Sölden (Solden). Tyrol. Rettenbach Glacier

Probably the most popular ski resort in Austria, located in a narrow valley Otztal(Otztal) , surrounded by three-thousand-meter mountains on all sides, here in summer you can ski on the glacier Rettenbach (Rettenbach) at an altitude of 3340 meters above sea level! Plus, even in summer you can do freeride here. Well, there is an undeniable additional bonus here - the thermal complex Aqua House (AquaDome). Before the appearance of the baths in Kaprun, it was the largest thermal complex in the Alps. They spent 72 million euros on its installation

Stubai Glacier

This is the largest glacier in Austria, equipped for ski slopes - 110 km of slopes. There are even trails for cross-country skiing and sledding. This is an ideal resort for families with children; there are trails of any complexity.

Hintertux Glacier

100% guarantee of snow all year round, lifts operate all year round without interruption even for one day. The glacier is huge, with gorgeous views of the peaks around. 10 km of summer pistes will give those who can’t wait for winter the opportunity to enjoy the slopes.

Pitztal

Pittstal cannot be called year-round, but in July there is still every chance to go skiing, you just have to fill up the highest cable car in Astria Pitz-Panoramabahn, along the way, you will be blown away by the views of 50 three-thousanders and the highest peak of Tyrol Wildspitze(3774 m). Even if you don't plan to ski, you should definitely climb here to admire the breathtaking alpine views. The slopes of this resort have been awarded many times as the most ideal.

Styria. Dachstein Glacier (
)

A glacier on which you can forget that you climbed here for skiing. Icy and Mammoth caves, which can be accessed directly from the ski lifts. There is an observation deck not for the faint of heart, from 5 observation decks palm-shaped and with a transparent floor. The Dachstein Glacier is protected by UNESCO and is a protected area that can be admired all year round.

Come to Austria in the summer, it’s cool here! You are sure to find entertainment and adventure just for you. And believe me, this will be one of the best summer vacations of your life!

Good afternoon We thank the DEVISU company for the excellent organization of the “Armenia in all its glory” tour from July 6 to July 12, 2019! Many thanks to our guide Lia, who opened up for us the history, culture and traditions of ancient and modern Armenia at the highest professional level! Her love for Armenia, talent, delicacy, subtlety, and intelligence won our hearts! The trip was amazing and unforgettable! We wish the company further success and prosperity!

Fully

Tatiana and Andrey Nechaev, Moscow

Ekaterina, good afternoon! Thank you, I had a great trip, the room was what I wanted (with a view of the park and a bathroom). I was very pleased. Thank you.

The only thing is that the transfer, in addition to me, met other women who were brought to Karlovy Vary and I had to travel instead of 2 hours from Prague to Marianske Lazne for 3 hours. This, of course, was not convenient; they brought me there in the evening. Of course, it would be more convenient to fly to Karlovy Vary.

Larisa, Perm

Hello, Ekaterina. Our trip was a success.

The hotel is good. Repair, furniture, plumbing, bed linen - in excellent condition, no comments. Very clean and comfortable.

Breakfast was the same every day, but with a good variety - so you could diversify your menu simply by choosing different dishes.

There is a kettle, tea, coffee, sugar, cream in the room. We used it. Tea was added daily. Linen and towels were changed twice a week.

The hotel is located in a quiet area, there is no noisy crowd. There are several direct tram routes to the center (both to the railway station and to shopping centers, and to the main attractions).

The drive is less than half an hour. 2 stops near the hotel: one right under the windows, the other a 5-minute walk at a walking pace.

Lyubov Leonidovna, Moscow

Ekaterina, hello! I apologize for not dropping you a couple of lines earlier: I was sorting out my affairs, sorting out my suitcase - or vice versa.

We really enjoyed our holiday in Armenia, organized with your help, everything went smoothly, without a single hiccup. Thank you very much for organizing the tour!

Special thanks and low bow to the host - "Armenia Travel". The drivers are beyond praise, the guide Liya Bakhshinyan is a true professional and a very sincere, sincere person. Over the course of a week of close communication, we became almost family.

Austria is landlocked but has stunning bodies of water. There are many lakes here that are popular not only with tourists, but also with local residents. We will show you the most beautiful lakes Austria. If you're traveling to Austria, plan to visit at least one of these places!

Lake Plan is located in the Tyrol region of Austria. It is connected by a canal to another lake called Heiterwang. This popular place for boating, because the lakes can be reached via several rivers. The lake is great place for lovers of active recreation. There are paths for jogging and cycling around it. In winter you can go ice skating. Surrounded by the Lechtal Alps, you can go scuba diving or go trout and perch fishing. Passenger ferries also operate on the lake.

Traunsee is located in the Salzkammergut region. This vast lake is popular with outdoor enthusiasts. But his greatest fame was brought to him by a mythical underwater creature, which is compared to the monster in the Scottish Loch Ness lake. There is also something to see on the banks of the reservoir. These are the villages of Altmunster and Traunkirchen, as well as the amazing medieval castle Ort.

Lake Millstätter See is located in the Austrian region of Carinthia. Cool coastline makes it look like a fjord with an incredible surrounding landscape created by the Nok mountains and the Drava valley, to the south is the Hochgosch region, covered with lush greenery. The mountains protect the lake from cold winter winds, and the water temperature is quite suitable for swimming in summer. Near the lake is the village of Millstatt, which contains a surprisingly well-preserved 11th-century abbey.

In the Geilthaler Alps lies the Weissensee or White Lake, which is very popular. The ban on motorized boats means that the environment and wild nature. In summer you can go boating and canoeing, trout fishing or hiking along the banks. IN winter time the surrounding area of ​​the lake becomes a ski area, and some areas of the frozen lake host speed skating competitions.

In the Austrian region of Carinthia is the stunning lake Wörthersee. Back in the 19th century, the Austrian aristocracy loved to spend the summer here. This lake has the warmest water in Austria, making it ideal place for swimming in summer. IN small town In Pörtschach you can rent a bicycle to tour the region. During the summer, seasonal ferries operate to take passengers to various destinations.

Mondsee is one of the largest private lakes in Austria. Relaxing here allows you to escape from the hustle and bustle Everyday life. The picturesque lake is mentioned in the James Bond novel. From various points along the coast you can see the Northern Limestone Alps and the Northern Sandy Alps. On the shore of the lake is the city of the same name, from which you can admire the mountain known as the Dragon Wall.

I am often asked the question, where, if not at sea, can I relax in the summer with children? Now I know exactly the answer to this question, so for those who are too lazy to read the entire article, I will answer in the very first lines of the material: so, if you are tired of noisy seaside resorts and want country comfort, swimming in the cleanest lakes, walks through coniferous forests and healing mountain air, which normalizes the sleep of even parents who are very tortured by the inevitable stress of the capital, then great option for relaxation with the whole family - Austrian region Carinthia.

But, before talking directly about the region, first of all, I will list the important points relating specifically to holidays with children. Firstly, even in comparison with neighboring Italy in Carinthia very safe, that is, the level of care that nothing happens to your child is extremely high here, and the crime rate is one of the lowest in Europe; As a telling example, there is only one fact - newspapers and magazines are sold here in the following way: newspapers are simply placed in plastic bags on city poles, under them there is a box indicating the price, you put the required amount in a transparent box, pick up the newspaper and go on about your business , in Italy, especially in the south, 10 minutes after the appearance of such a “kiosk”, there would be neither a box nor newspapers left on the street.

The second one is quite a lot important point — excellent ecology, for example, another fact that is very indicative is that the water in all local lakes is suitable for drinking. The third important point is excellent infrastructure specifically for family vacation : the vast majority of hotels have game rooms and playgrounds, and on buffet There is always a children's menu.

In the photo: tourist complex Naturel Village

Yes, which is important, many hotel complexes in Carinthia operate on an all-inclusive or HB system, which is also extremely convenient if you are vacationing with kids.

FIVE MAGICAL LAKES OF THE REGION

Many Russians certainly associate Austria with winter ski holiday, but Carinthia in this sense is an exception to the rule, since the region is more focused specifically on summer rest on the lakes. As Tomas Michor (head of Region Villach Tourismus) told me, there are three times more tourists in Carinthia in summer than in winter.

In the photo: viewing the beauty from the top of the Dobratsch Gipfelhaus mountain

The fact is that the region is optimal for those who cannot stand the heat, and in the summer there is no heat in the mountains, but, most importantly, Carinthia is not just mountains, it is lakes surrounded by the Alps. There are, indeed, an unimaginable number of lakes here by the standards of a small region - one thousand two hundred, but the most famous are five.

In the photo: view of the valley of lakes from the top of the Austrian Alps

First - Wörthersee, an azure lake, on the shores of which there is a full-fledged resort. It will appeal not only to parents who decide to spend a summer holiday with their children in Austria, but also to young people who love classic resort leisure. There are numerous bars on the shore of the lake, serving local wine, beer and hugo spritz - a type of Aperol spritz, although the wine in this case is diluted mineral water, where a leaf of fresh mint is added, and sometimes syrup (you won’t believe it!) from elder flowers. There are sun loungers on wooden decks along the lake, discos are open right there, and there is even a casino.

However, the main local attraction is Werzer's Badehaus baths. The fact is that the bathhouse building was built in 1895, and although the last reconstruction of the building was carried out in the very recent past, more precisely, in 2013, it has retained its historical appearance. The bathhouse is equipped not only with the obligatory saunas and spas, but also with an outdoor heated pool, which automatically makes swimming possible at any time of the year.

Pictured: Werzer's Badehaus baths, photo courtesy of the council

However, in summer you are unlikely to need a heated pool, because the water in Wörthersee warms up to 26 degrees. Other popular types local leisure activities: stand-up paddle boarding for active vacationers and trips to motor boat for those who prefer to relax and dreamily contemplate the blue surface of the lake surrounded majestic mountains. By the way, the nature of Carinthia really does fully encourage a poetic perception of the world, and it is not without reason that such famous composers as Brahms and Mahler loved to create in the vicinity of Wörthersee. Yes, as I wrote above, the water in all the lakes of Carinthia is drinkable, so swimming here is a real pleasure.

In the photo: cafe on the shore of Lake Wörthersee

Second famous resort Carinthia is located on the shore of a lake, this place is worth considering for those who are passionate about fitness tours. The fact is that a center with the self-explanatory name “Carinthian Lake Fitness” has been opened here, visiting which is free for all guests of the region. The center's trainers conduct swimming lessons, organize walking and cycling tours in the surrounding area and other useful activities.

Pictured: Lake Klopeiner See, photo courtesy of the council
Tourism Carinthia/Kärnten Werbung.

Lake Faaker See — favorite place for relaxing with kids. On its shore is located where we stayed during our trip to Carinthia.

In the photo: azure lake Facker See

Naturel Village is designed like an alpine-style village: cozy wooden houses, each room has adult and children's bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room and a balcony, where it is so pleasant to while away the evenings, watching the rosy moon emerge from behind the mountain peaks.

The complex has two restaurants and a bar, next to it there is a swimming pool with a spa center and several playgrounds where children play under the supervision of teachers while parents relax in the summer cafe. As for food, Naturel Village offers both all-inclusive and half-board accommodation; you won’t be disappointed in both cases.

In the photo: restaurant in Naturel Village

The buffet here is excellent, for breakfast they always serve fresh pastries, local cheeses and the famous Austrian apple juice, for dinner - fish from Lake Faaker See, which is prepared in the most incredible ways; I was personally very impressed with the trout baked in bacon. For the hotel's younger guests, of course, there is a children's table.

In the photo: Naturel Village built in the forest

The complex is located in a real forest, for example, we even had a nest with chicks on our balcony, and on the territory of Naturel Village there was a “living corner” where goats and rabbits live, in a word, a kind of ideal village village, just like in the movie “Dirty Dancing”, remember, there in a similar village the handsome Patrick Swayze gave dance lessons to vacationers?

In the photo: on the balcony of our house there was a nest with chicks

The main feature of Naturel Village is peace and sweetness, here you can’t help but feel the idea that happiness should be sought in the little things, and if you don’t fixate on problems, they will dissipate on their own, like morning fog over a lake.

Photo: Naturel Village goes to bed early

By the way, about the lake, Faaker See is also called a turquoise or azure lake because of the unique color of the water. A popular leisure activity besides swimming and catamaran rides is hiking through the local coniferous forests, as well as canoe tours through the marshy areas, accompanied of course by guides.

Pictured: Walking paths around Faaker See

Cost of living in Naturel Village: from 80 to 120 euros (per room for four), link to the official website of the complex:.

In the photo: while walking around the Faaker See areaconstantly
you meet either rabbits, hedgehogs, or goats grazing nearby

A worthy alternative to Naturel Village, located on Faaker See, is resorts Lake Weissensee. The peculiarity of Weissensee is that, despite the fact that the lake is located very high in the Alps, the water in it warms up to 22 degrees. For children, in addition to swimming, other leisure options are provided, such as rafting or visiting national park Robert Roebl, where kids can go on an underwater excursion with a ranger.

Another lake on the shores of which lovers of all things active and sports should stop is, where, among other things, the Carinthian Summer music festival is held. Because the winds always blow freely in this area, Ozziacher See is popular among windsurfers; paragliders train on the neighboring Gerlitzen mountain range, and cyclists master the local cycling trails, which are about 27 kilometers long. In a word, the lake is for those who consider summer vacation as another opportunity to do some sports.

The last lake in today's review is Millstätter See, it will appeal not only to young parents, but also to couples in love, or young parents who want to feel like they have just fallen in love again. The fact is that the lake is surrounded by romantic bays, from the wooden decking of which it is so pleasant to dive into the warm water, plus on the shore of the lake there is a swimming pool with saunas and massages, and in addition, boat rides are often organized here at dawn so that guests can admire the how the morning fog first gently, like a veil, caresses the blue surface of the lake, and then dissipates without a trace under the transparent, pink rays of the rising sun.

WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN CARINTHIA?

This may not sound entirely correct, but, in my opinion, during a holiday in Karitnia, you should not specifically travel around Austrian towns in search of attractions. While on vacation in this region of the country, it is better to remember Vysotsky’s words about “pull the guy into the mountains” and go along one of the hiking routes - to conquer the mountain peaks.

In the photo: a walk in the Alps, on the observation deck

I immediately hasten to reassure the alarmists and non-sportsmen: for walking tours Special training and special uniforms are not needed; it is enough to get trekking boots, comfortable sportswear and a backpack. There are many routes for hiking in Carithinia, maps with detailed descriptions you can get them at any hotel in the region; they are given out here, like city maps in Rome or Paris - one for each tourist. Personally, during a trip to the region, I hiked to the Dobratsch Gipfelhaus ski peak, which is also famous for the Alpine Herb Garden located at its foot, and a church built at the very top of the mountain at an altitude of 2143 meters above sea level.

In the photo: the church on top of the Dobratsch Gipfelhaus

I must warn you that climbing the mountains is not an activity for the weak in spirit and delicate in body. Even though the process only takes 1.5 hours, during this time the muscles of the whole body receive such a complex load that you understand that regular exercises in gym- not a universal way to develop endurance. But when you find yourself at the top of the mountain, you settle into local restaurant, where they serve delicious sausages, and you begin to admire the view of the neighboring mountains from the top, you are overcome by a feeling of delight, mixed with a feeling of victory over yourself.

In the photo: the Austrian Alps are beautiful

Beauty alpine meadows you already enjoy the descent and the next day you seriously think: “Shouldn’t I repeat the experience of climbing?”, but somehow you don’t pay attention to the fact that your muscles are still aching after yesterday.

If you are not ready for hiking on foot, but the mountains still beckon and call you, then you can get to the peaks with the help of funiculars, of which there are many in Carinthia. The most famous cable cars- Bergbahnen and Mayrhofner. Another option for a relaxed program is boat cruises on the lakes of the region or along the river to the city of Villach.

In the photo: these are the views that open during a river cruise

There are restaurants on the boats, so during the trip you just sip wine or beer, watch the lives of swans nesting in the reeds, and at the same time remember the song from the film “Three in a Boat, Not Counting the Dog” about “a gentle, quiet and kind river "

In the photo: a street with numerous umbrellas in the center of Klagenfurt

If from natural beauty If you still feel drawn to the cities, you can visit the towns of Villach and Klagenfurt for one day. Both are small, cute, as they say, gingerbread. Here it makes sense to walk around the center, eat strudel or sacher torte in a local cafe and, of course, go shopping; the fact is that luxury clothes and shoes in Austria are cheaper than even in neighboring Italy.

In the photo: a fountain in the shape of a brewer in the center of Klagenfurt

Well, for lovers of castles and the dark Middle Ages, I recommend going up to mountainous region Finkenstein, where on the top of a one hundred and fifty meter cliff flaunts famous castle Hochosterwitz. Although the first mention of the fortress dates back to 860 AD, the modern castle building was erected in the sixteenth century. By the way, the castle in those days was not just a fortification or the dwelling of a wealthy landowner, but a city in miniature, as you can easily see while walking around Hochosterwitz.

In the photo: Hochosterwitz Castle on top of a cliff

Behind the fortress walls are once residential buildings hidden, there are museums and a restaurant right there, and in Hochosterwitz reenactors often organize historical shows, plus music festivals from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance are also held here.

CARINTHIAN CUISINE: WHAT TO TRY?

Of course, the main gastronomic specialty of the region is lake fish, more precisely, the Carinthian “laksn” - a local variety of trout. It is prepared in a variety of ways: from simply grilled or baked in foil to options seasoned with herbs from alpine meadows. What’s especially nice is that the fish in Carinthian restaurants is served exactly from the lake on the shores of which you decided to dine. Among the gourmet places, I would like to recommend the coastal area of ​​Lake Wörthersee: all 27 restaurants open on the shore are included in the Gault Millau restaurant rating, and therefore the quality of the dishes here is above the “excellent” mark.

Photo courtesy of the council
Carinthian Tourism/Kärnten Werbung.

For drinks, we recommend discovering Austrian wines. The fact is that Carinthia borders Italian region Friuli Venezia Giulia, which is famous for producing excellent Sauvignon Blanc, as well as the famous Friulano. The traditions of Carinthian winemakers generally share common roots with the winemaking traditions of Friuli Venezia Giulia, but although both white and red Carinthian wines are worthy of tasting, for my personal taste the white Carinthian wine wins over the red. Locally produced Riesling and Chardonnay are dry wines with a delicate, tart taste and bright aroma, and, importantly, they are very good in combination with lake fish. And, of course, we can’t help but mention the classic Austrian beer and apple and pear cider.

HOW TO GET TO CARINTHIA?

You can get to Carinthia as follows: fly to Vienna, and then fly to Klagenfurt; the second option is to fly to Ljubljana airport in neighboring Slovenia, then rent a car (travel time is about an hour), the third option is to fly to Venice (Italy), and then again by car, the travel time will take about two hours, Italy from Austria is connected by a highway, the fare is 15 euros.