Austria is world-renowned for its majestic Alps, imperial history, and rich classical music heritage, featuring top destinations like the Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna State Opera, and the historic center of Salzburg. Key highlights include coffeehouse culture, winter sports, pristine lakes like Hallstatt, and cultural icons such as Mozart and Swarovski crystal.
Vienna is a city which is full of grandeur and culture. Further, Austria is also popularly known as the city of grand museums and palaces and is the home of Beethoven and Opera. To explore Vienna even better, take a walk down the city lined with royal buildings and beautiful parks.
No guide to Austrian cuisine would be complete without mentioning the legendary Wiener Schnitzel. Definitely one of the famous Austrian dishes. This breaded and fried veal cutlet is the culinary equivalent of Mozart's Symphony No. 40 – absolutely classic, deeply satisfying, and unmistakably Austrian.
While it varies by location, the most sold souvenir globally is often cited as the Eiffel Tower keychain from France, though other top contenders include general items like fridge magnets, mugs, and local sweets or crafts (like amber in the Baltics or Blue Mountain coffee in Jamaica), reflecting affordable, iconic, and practical keepsakes.
Austria's most beautiful places vary by interest, but popular choices include the fairytale village of Hallstatt, the imperial cities of Vienna and Salzburg, the Alpine charm of Alpbach, the stunning scenery of the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, and the unique emerald waters of Grüner See (Green Lake), offering a mix of culture, history, and breathtaking natural beauty.
The best month to visit Austria depends on your interests: Spring (May-June) offers blooming scenery and fewer crowds for city/nature trips; Summer (July-August) is ideal for warm weather hiking and festivals (but busy); Autumn (September-October) provides stunning fall foliage, harvest festivals, and pleasant hiking before winter; while Winter (Dec-Feb) is perfect for skiing and magical Christmas markets. Shoulder seasons (May, June, September, October) generally offer a great balance of good weather, fewer tourists, and lower costs.
The major export commodity in Austria is the automobile and its components, machinery and paper products. Austria's largest exports markets are European Union, United Sates and Switzerland.
Popular items to buy in Vienna include Mozartkugeln (chocolate pralines), Sachertorte (famous chocolate cake), and Austrian wines. Traditional Viennese porcelain, Gustav Klimt-inspired souvenirs, and handmade crystal glassware also make great gifts.
The name PEZ comes from the German word for peppermint, "Pfefferminz" taking the P from the first letter, E from the middle letter and Z from the last letter to form the now iconic brand name PEZ. The original shape of PEZ candy was round and called 'PEZ drops.
In Vienna, you must try classics like Wiener Schnitzel, Tafelspitz (boiled beef), and rich desserts like Sachertorte, Apfelstrudel, or Kaiserschmarrn, washed down with a Wiener Melange coffee in a historic café; don't miss street sausages (Würstel) like the Käsekrainer, potato salad (Erdäpfelsalat), and the famous Manner Wafers for a true taste of Viennese cuisine.
The "3 Gift Rule" is a minimalist gifting strategy, often for Christmas, inspired by the Magi's gifts to Jesus, focusing on quality over quantity by giving each person three purposeful presents: Something They Want, Something They Need, and Something to Read (or Do), reducing clutter and increasing thoughtfulness in gift-giving. It shifts focus from excessive consumerism to meaningful connection by encouraging deliberate choices for each category, leading to greater appreciation and less holiday stress.
Enter the “five senses gift” concept, where you curate or craft presents that engage the fundamental senses of the human body: sound, touch, taste, smell, and sight.
Do you tip in Austria? It's normal to tip for good service in restaurants, bars and cafes in Austria - especially in touristy or business areas. Tips are also appreciated in hotels and serviced apartments - and other places where staff may not be so well rewarded, like spas or salons.
Austria's national dish is the iconic Wiener Schnitzel, a thinly pounded, breaded, and pan-fried veal cutlet, famously served with a lemon wedge and traditional potato salad or parsley potatoes, though variations use pork or turkey. While Wiener Schnitzel is the definitive national choice, other popular Austrian foods include Tafelspitz (boiled beef) and sweet treats like Apfelstrudel.
