Vienna, Zell am See & Salzburg

About the destination: Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria. It's a beautiful romantic city and it's well-known for its coffee culture and cafes, classical music and concert halls, historical buildings, horse-drawn carriages, and its charming streets. There's a rich cultural diversity in Vienna, and its location right at the heart of Europe makes it a great starting point for travelling around Europe. Vienna is an impressive city to visit, the city is dominated by the Ringstrasse, a four kilometer long boulevard which encircles the city centre. The city is filled with modern conveniences and attractions but also has reminders of a great historical and cultural heritage. Excellent museums, palaces, gardens, architectural triumphs, remnants of ancient inhabitants, statuary, and grand cafes blend with trendy shops, excellent restaurants, accessible musical venues, modern museums and sculpture, and upscale hotels to make Vienna very attractive. The extensive pedestrianised streets of the old city are a delight, lined by beautiful old buildings, populated by the young and old, filled with local shops, boutiques and cafes, and with the unexpected around every corner. The city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Vienna is history and music, poetry and culture, modernism and tradition, nostalgia and grandeur.

About the destination: Zell am See is the administrative capital of the Zell am See District in the Austrian state of Salzburg. Whenever you come to Zell am See it is always a special holiday experience, no matter if it is summer or winter. A place to enjoy the lakes, mountains and everlasting ice at the Kitzsteinhorn glacier. The vast Zell am See-Kaprun skiing area is perfectly suited for professional skiers / snowboarders and beginners alike. The skiing season in Zell am See-Kaprun starts early autumn and extends into early summer. The well-developed cycling paths in the Salzburg holiday region are highly suitable for families and cyclists that enjoy travelling at a comfortable pace. You will find numerous inns and cafes on the wayside to cover your refreshment needs. One of the best places for a relaxing spa day in Zell am See-Kaprun is the modern “Taunern Spa“ located close to mount Kitzsteinhorn or one of many Wellnes & SPA hotels where you can choose from a wide range of beauty and wellness treatments. In Zell am See you can also practice others activities, like hiking, play golf, aviation or shopping. (Note: The text is already in English. Irish English does not differ significantly from other forms of English in terms of vocabulary or grammar. There may be some differences in pronunciation and colloquial language, but these would not be reflected in a written translation.)

About the destination: Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart, is located on the border of Austria and Germany. The Salzach River divides Salzburg's old and new towns. The old town is impressive and compact, centred around the expansive Residenzplatz and is largely a pedestrian zone. The relatively new town is centred around Mirabellplatz and Markartplatz. Salzburg's striking hills rise directly from the old town. The most noticeable hilltop fortification is the Hohensalzburg, built over centuries on an ancient Celtic and Roman site, and is now the largest fully preserved medieval castle in Europe. For a different kind of splendour, visit the Schloss Mirabell and its Gardens, located right next to the Salzach River and the Mozarteum University of Music and Arts. The castle was built by an archbishop for his beloved courtesan. You can wander around extravagant rose and flower gardens and marvel at the stone dwarves in the Zwerglgarten. To learn about Mozart and his life, visit his Geburtshaus, Mozart's birth house. The street itself is worth a look, the guild signs and painted wall decorations are much as they were at the time of Mozart’s birth. The house exhibits pictures, letters, and stage sets for the various operas Mozart wrote. Protected by forested mountains, Salzburg is a city of enchantment whose voice is expressed in some of the world’s most sublime music, composed by favourite son, Mozart. The era that produced the unrivalled musical genius of Mozart also built the beautiful castles and churches of Salzburg, and fostered a love of music that lives on today in Salzburg’s countless concert series and annual summer festival.