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As temperatures rise across the pond and a new season of raging wildfires and uncomfortably high temperatures looms, we can’t blame you for considering passing up Greece, Italy, Spain and the like and heading somewhere where it is a bit cooler.
Austria may be best known as a winter destination, thanks to its family-friendly ski resorts and snowy landscapes, but for heat-intolerant tourists who can’t live above 100 degrees and who don’t care much about the beach, it’s simply the perfect summer vacation.
Although it is often the national capital Vienna that steals the show, Queen of the Alps Salzburgerland is the relaxing city trip you were looking for, which offers safety, but also culture and dramatic nature:
A UNESCO-protected Alpine town with a fascinating history
Located at the foot of Europe’s Eastern Alps, a range of towering mountains along which the border between Austria and Germany runs, Salzburg is one of Austria’s cultural capitals and perhaps the second most important city cultural after Vienna.
The entire historic center is one UNESCO world heritagein recognition of its historical significance and eclectic architecture, with buildings dating back to the Holy Roman Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia and the once far-reaching Habsburg Empire.
Unlike other European cities that have slowly succumbed to modernization in recent years, such as London, Paris and Milan, where more skyscrapers are rising every year, Salzburg has remained true to its medieval characterwith a cityscape whose core has remained virtually unchanged for centuries.
If you look at the stone Old Town (or Altstadt) from one of the many elevated lookouts surrounding it, you will see countless church towers, domes, narrow paths flanked by skinny houses in pastel shades, and palatial complexes built in white-gray marble.
Towering above it all, on a prominent mountain in the center, is the Hohensalzburg Fortress real eye-catcher here: It has guarded Salzburg since the Middle Ages and, with a length of 250 meters and a width of 150 meters, is one of the largest medieval castles on the continent.
Salzburg is also a ‘City of music‘ of that ilk: although Vienna is home to the largest number of stately operas and concert halls, Salzburg is the birthplace of the famous composer Mozart, and it is the place where timeless classics The sound of musicstarring Julie Andrews, was filmed.
For die-hard, nostalgic fans, the Original Sound of Music Tour, which takes you past the film’s main sights, is a must-do, with tickets starting from €71.79. Viator––and in case you’ve ever wondered where those green mountains sprinkled with snow in the opening scene are…
Look no further than the majestic peaks which connected Salzburg to the east.
The perfect summer weather
Whether you want to admire the medieval sights, visit art museums or get lost in the surrounding nature, Salzburg is a draw summer paradise for culture lovers and outdoor people, because of the temperate climate:
You’ll get plenty of sunshine and moderate heat, with temperatures typically peaking at 80°F during the day and dropping to a tolerable 57.2°F in the evening, but none of the inhospitable Mediterranean heat of southern Europe: in Seville, Spain, it is already 105°C. F and the season has only just started.
As for outdoor activities, Salzburg offers plenty of hiking trails, including the 8-kilometer Crimean Waterfall Route, which takes you to some of the largest waterfalls in Europe, dropping from a height of 380 meters, and the 11-kilometer Zell am See . circuit, which runs around a picturesque lake.
Even if you stay in the city, you’re never far from the lush alpine greenery: there’s the elegant, fountain-strewn Mirabell Garden and the historic Kapuzinergberg, a popular city walk that takes about 1h25 and offers fantastic views of Hohensalzburg Fortress.
This is one of the safest cities in Europe
Crime has happened to press problem for tourists visiting Europe lately: pickpocketing has become widespread throughout the tourist hotspots, and in cities overwhelmed by irregular migration the general sense of security has dropped significantly.
Luckily for travelers to Salzburg, aside from the postcard-perfect Old Town and dreamy mountain views, it is known for it extremely safe: unlike other European cities with rising crime rates, the so-called Rome of the North has very low crime rates.
According to Numbeoonly a small number of people worry about being attacked or robbed while walking in Salzburg, and almost 90 percent reporting that you feel safe walking alone at night; the same cannot be said for places like Athens, Barcelona, or even the factual Rome.
Salzburg is a transatlantic flight (and train ride) away
Salzburg hosts cheap flights in the summer from numerous European destinations, including Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London and Paris, but unlike Vienna it has yet to open a transatlantic route: for Americans traveling to Salzburg, flying to Munich, Germany, the easiest option instead.
The capital of Bavaria is a short train ride of 1h38 from Salzburgtickets cost just $33 one way on Germany’s national railways Deutsche Bahnand trains depart from Central Station several times a day.
Delta Air Lines offers flights to Munich from Atlanta year-round, and to Detroit and New York (JFK) this summer, while American Airlines operates this route from Charlotte (North Caroline); Meanwhile, United Airlines serves Chicago, Denver, Houston, Newark, San Francisco and Washington.
The German airline Lufthansa serves all of the following US cities this season:
- Boston
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Denver
- Miami
- New York (JFK)
- Newark
- San Diego
- Seattle/Tacoma
- Washington
As you can see, it is sufficient escape options to Munich, and from there Salzburg is just a stone’s throw across the border.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
