Austria

[salty]

Im heading over to Europe in July, looking at heading to Austria, got my route pretty much planned to get there however I don't know Austria or what to do when I get there. I don't want to use a central base, I like to move on to new pastures most days, stopping in hotels and B&B's, always take a tent just incase though. What and where would you guys recommend to go see and do for around a week if you were staying in and around Austria.

Like I said its a country I don't know much about, I have read a lot of the lonely planet guides and looked at the internet but nothing is really jumping out at me, I don't believe its telling me something that I'm ignoring so looking for help as to what to do and see, Im more than happy planning my routes if I get ideas but if anything does jump out at you reference a route I shouldn't miss please feel free to share it with me. It would be greatly appreciated. Failing that I will probably head to slovakia or slovenia or somewhere different.

All thoughts and ideas or abuse are appreciated hugely. Many thanks in advance

 

[Ronno]

Wapping!!!

 

[salty]

Wapping!!!

Yeah, I thought that man might be mentioned. Ive looked on the travel threads and couldn't see much, is it a country most people miss out ? Bizarre to be fair with the exception of everyone heading to Grossglockner.

 

[Wapping]

They make great cakes, have some mountains along with some reasonable lakes, gave birth to Hitler and did not recognise the genius of Mozart in his lifetime. What more do you want to know?

For feck's sake Salty, you tell us that you like to move about, all seat of the pants, devil may care, free spirit like.... And now want to know the ins'n'out of a country that occupies 32,000 square miles of the globe's surface..... Which is about the same size as Jockland, though more vertical in the pointy bits.

As always, arm yourself with a couple of decent maps and that American bloke's bible on riding an (adventure) motorcycle in the Alps. You have got the guide book, have you read it? Have you really looked at any websites? The Austrian tourist board site? The trip reports on UKGSer? In short, have you done anything at all?

PS There is a sticky of all the routes you are ever likely to need. Some nob created it; feck knows why.

 

[Wapping]

How about:

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g190410-Activities-Austria.html

http://www.bestbikingroads.com/moto...es-in-austria-/western-austria--___12864.html

http://www.ischgl.com/en/motorcycling-tyrol-alps

http://www.south-tirol.com/motorcyclists

PS You are not going until July.

 

[The Grey One]

I would have thought if you have your route planned you might know where you are going to end up in Austria. There is quite a lot of it certainly more to see and more great roads than anyone could possible see in a week.

Firstly climate, Austria in July can be hot 35 C plus is not unusual although it will be much cooler on the high roads. Certainly in our region, Carinthia, July is usually full of hot days, occasional thunderstorms and cool nights.

There are good roads everywhere, you mention the Grossglockner and it certainly is spectacular. Problem with your moving around every day could be that the day you are in the area is a bad weather day. High roads like the 'Glockner are liable to closure even in high summer. We have been here for six summers now and on average the road is closed by snow at least one day a month throughout the summer.

Have a look at our website www.hochalmspitze.com for some idea of the variety of things on offer in just one region of Austria and just over the borders into both Italy and Slovenia.

Even if you do move on every day you will end up seeing more if you stay roughly within one region. Trying to "do" Austria in a week is worse than trying to do the whole of the UK in the same period. There are far more good biking roads here than the UK has to offer.

Wherever you end up enjoy this wonderful country and if you get to Carnithia drop in for a beer at least.

John

 

[salty]

For feck's sake Salty, you tell us that you like to move about, all seat of the pants, devil may care, free spirit like.... And now want to know the ins'n'out of a country that occupies 32,000 square miles of the globe's surface..... Which is about the same size as Jockland, though more vertical in the pointy bits.

lol, deserved I imagine !!! Like I said lads, I'm not after routes, more than happy to get my own, was only asking for some points of interest, even a Jock knows that I can't cover the distance or the whole country in a space of seven days. I have route planned down to as far as Berchestgaden but not further on into Austria as I thought I would ask the question of anything that is a must do or see, what is best to miss out and the likes.

As for the websites that I have looked at, like I said, nothing is jumping out at me to say 'come see me', I will go away and have another look, I appreciate I am not away until July which is why I also have asked this question now and not until two weeks before departure. Ride reports for Austria I could not see, i typed in at the top a search for Austria but I couldn't see anything, maybe I am doing something wrong ?

Anyway, I will go away and do more 'research' and come back with what I have found.

Appreciated guys, thanks.

 

[Wapping]

Now, that's the way to do it.

My only advice for the mountains (or near enough anywhere) is to try to find yourself somewhere:

(A) On a crossroads or T-junction. Why? Well particularly in the mountains, bloody great lumps of rock get in the way. On a crossroads, you get the choice of several directions... It's why rampaging armies seek to occupy them and why defenders work so hard to retain them.

(B) With at least a half decent bus or local rail connection. Sometimes it's nice just to have a day off your bike and mooch about. Bus and rail travel is cheap.

(C) Near to hand to offer you the chance just to get a coffee or a bun, without a walk of three miles.

 

[Two wheels good]

Well, if you're as far as the Eagle's Nest you should definitely go on to Malta and stay with John for a few days. It's only a few hours away
There are fabulous riding routes in every direction - many right on the doorstep! Mountains, lakes, sleepy back roads, fast sweepers, alpine passes.. You can even enjoy the novelty of Italy or Slovenia on a day trip.
Cast off the luggage for a few days and enjoy the bike unladen. Take the B99 south , even getting there will be a treat.
If you want a few research topics: Halstatt, (lake scenery, ice caves, salt caves) Salzburg, Nochalmstrasse, Triglav National Park (SLO), WWI history, Porsche Museum Gmund, swimming in the lakes.

 

[bobr1200]

Aside from great roads,scenery food beer etc there is a plenty to see and do,here are a few ideas for starters
Eisreisenvelt,largest ice caves in Europe involves good ride walk and cable car plus around 2hrs in caves with a miners tilly lamp(guided)
werfen castle,in same place,used in film where eagles dare,fine castle and large birds of prey displays
kaprun,high dams,free to park bikes,bus and giant lift to get there,great views and a glacier
krimmel,highest falls in Europe,free bike park and lockers,long walk to top but worth it
koenigsee,purest lake in Austria,only electric tour boats on it ,very popular trip,this is near berchesgarten which also has a salt mine with slides in it which is how the miners got down to work
all these are close to zell am see which is worth a visit too as it is close to the Grossglockner,there is a lot more but that should do for a start

 

[wessie]

Austria is one of my favourite countries to visit.

When going there on the bike I am there to ride great roads with great views. There are still large parts of the country, especially in the east that I have yet to explore and I've visited at least 5 times on the bike.

This year I am staying for a 3 days in one place (grey one's place as listed above) to explore that part of the country as I have only been there when passing through on the way to other parts. As wapping says, if you pick somewhere where two or more valleys meet you can easily explore in multiple directions.

I don't think anyone has mentioned www.alpineroads.com yet which describes many of the passes. Easy to string a few together, maybe crossing into neighbouring countries to complete a circuit.

Austria has a lot of cultural interest too, but I'm not seeing many of those sights on a bike trip - go back on a city break and spend a week in Salzburg or Vienna, or spend a week walking in the Wildschonau near Worgl.

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

If you are using a sat nav, remember Austria begins with O

Otherwise there's a risk you could end up drinking Foster's

 

[Gazzabart]

We did have a base we stayed at the Enzian great place to stay great accomadation great food breakfast and evening and spent ten days going from one country to another
Wappings maps made out holiday
But take your HIDs out

 

[The Grey One]

If you are using a sat nav, remember Austria begins with O

Otherwise there's a risk you could end up drinking Foster's

Actually it begins with a Ö. There is an old German joke about why it is that when its called Österreich the country identifier plate has the letter is an A and not an Ö . Answer is because you can't spell Arsehole with an Ö!

John