SeefeldA wonderful world of water - Austrian National Tourist Office

Innsbruck City centre is
only 20 minutes away from
the mountains
The famous Giant Ferris
Wheel in the Prater
Amusement Park
Area 47 offers fun and
adventure for the whole
family
Austrian Views Around 70% of Austria is made up of
mountainous Alpine terrain which is one reason for the country’s popularity as a
holiday destination. Tourists from all over the world are attracted to the unspoilt
nature and landscapes that are often protected as national parks. And then, of
course, there are the views…
A hot air balloon ride is one of many ways to enjoy stunning panoramic views in Kitzbühel
© Kitzbühel/Albin Niederstrasser; Innsbruck Tourismus; MAXUM; Ötztal Tourismus/R. Wyhlidal
From city shops to mountain tops
Innsbruck, the capital of the Tirol province, is famous for its location
in the heart of the Alps and only 90 minutes‘ drive from Munich.
It is the only place in the world where you can be shopping in
an historic medieval city centre one moment and, just 20 minutes
later, be in a mountain restaurant at 2,000 metres altitude. All you
need to do is take the futuristic Nordketten cable cars designed by
star architect Zaha Hadid. You‘ll soon be enjoying a leisurely afternoon
coffee in the Alps and, as Innsbruck is the only place on Earth
to have hosted the Olympic Winter Games twice, you can imagine
just how truly breathtaking the panoramic views over the Alps are.
www.innsbruck.info
Ten ways to the top
Enjoying a 360° vista from a mountaintop is an overwhelming
experience that can literally broaden your horizon. But how do you
get there in the first place? Trekking is a great option for anyone
who likes outdoor exercise, but it‘s certainly not everybody’s cup of
tea. Not a problem for tourists in Kitzbühel, as the popular Alpine
destination offers plenty of choices to reach the top. If you do not
want to walk (and there are plenty of marvellous hiking trails if you
do), why not take a cable car? 29 of them operate during summer,
and a lot more in winter. Many panoramic spots in and around
Kitzbühel can also easily be reached by car, taxi or public bus; there
are even horse-drawn carriages available. And, for a spectacular trip
back down, you couldn‘t wish for anything more exciting or more
beautiful than paragliding – several companies offer tandem flights
for beginners. For those who like to go even higher, there is also the
chance to admire the Kitzbühel Alps from a hot air balloon starting
in nearby St. Johann.
Whichever way you choose, the view is bound to be stunning!
www.kitzbuehel.com
Higher and higher in Area 47
It helps to not be afraid of heights when you visit Area 47, an
outdoor adventure and water park that opened in the Ötz Valley in
2010. Covering an area of 700,000 square feet, Area 47 offers fun
and adventure for the whole family: the water area has a swimming
lake, a thrilling water slide park, a diving platform and many more
attractions; in the climbing area, real daredevils can clamber and
balance 27 metres above the ground on the high rope course, or
test their physical limits on Austria’s highest climbing wall. There
are also a couple of choices for an exciting descent: either ride more
than 350 metres down the „Flying Fox“ or swing your way to the
ground on the „Mega Swing”.
www.area47.at
Panoramic views in the city
In Austria, you don‘t always have to climb up a mountain to get a
good view. In fact, the city of Vienna offers some of the best panoramic
views in the whole country. A ride on Vienna’s iconic Giant
Ferris Wheel is probably the most traditional, and also romantic,
option. Located in the Prater Amusement Park, it takes visitors up
to 60 meters. From there, they can look over the city and notice
that 50% of Vienna’s metropolitan area is covered by green parks,
gardens, woods and vineyards. One of the biggest green spots is actually
the Prater Park itself. Spread out over 65 million square feet,
it is bigger than New York’s Central Park and is home to ponds,
alleyways lined with horse chestnut trees, and an amusement park
with thrilling rides, roller coasters, a Madame Tussauds wax museum
and, of course, the Giant Ferris Wheel.
www.vienna.info (search for “Prater Park”)
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