The mighty Alps span eight countries, but did you know that they’re also home to a number of…
Times visited: 5
Cities visited: Salzburg, Vienna and Innsbruck
Villages visited: Hinterriß, Eng-Alm, Jungholz, Riezlern, Hirschegg, Mittelberg, Baad, Sesselebene, See, Kitzbühel, St Johann in Tirol, Kappl, Ischgl and Nauders
UNESCO sites visited: 1/12
When I was eight, my family and I took a summer trip to Salzburg – a journey that remains one of my most vivid childhood memories. I remember feeling tiny beneath the towering mountains, the thrill of exploring a salt mine, the charm of the quaint Austrian cottages, and the pride of capturing my very first travel photo – a hilariously blurry waterfall shot! 😂
Ever since then, I’d dreamed of returning to Austria. So, when my parents planned a roadtrip to Croatia in the summer of 2013, I eagerly suggested a stopover in Vienna. I was excited to discover a new side of Austria, though Vienna didn’t quite match the scenic magic I’d experienced in Salzburg.
Fast forward to summer 2020 – I finally made it back to the Austrian Alps and the landscapes I’d fallen for as a child. During a two-week roadtrip mainly through Germany, I explored Austria’s three pene-exclaves – regions accessible only from Germany, tucked behind the Alps. I wandered through the lush Eng-Alm valley in Hinterriß-Eng, climbed a special mountain in Jungholz, and enjoyed a serene, post-rain hike in the Kleinwalsertal Valley. I even briefly stepped into Austria while hiking around Lake Alatsee.
The following summer, I returned with my parents and grandmother for a week in the beautiful Paznaun Valley. From our cozy village base, we explored Innsbruck, followed in the footsteps of my grandmother’s hero Hansi Hinterseer in Kitzbühel, took scenic cable rides, and even drove to Liechtenstein for a day trip. On our last day, my mum and I took a chairlift up to a hiking paradise near Nauders, and spent five hours trekking to Dreiländergrenzstein – the very point where Austria, Switzerland, and Italy meet.
A few months later, I stopped in Vienna for two days on my way from Serbia to Berlin. This time, I truly enjoyed the city and wished I had more time to soak up its beauty.