Vienna & Bratislava – Kilometres Yet Poles Apart

Separated in purely geographical terms by a mere 80 kilometres if travelling by road (perhaps around 55 kilometres “as the crow flies”) the 2 great European capital cities of Vienna and Bratislava offer the visitor 2 equally exciting and worthwhile tastes of European life that are perhaps to be considered “unashamedly” different to each other.  As a British backpacker taking the opportunity to spend a couple of days in each of these cities (divided by a brief yet exhilarating trip via a high speed boat along the river Danube - that I guarantee will surely beat any bus or train journey) I could not help but feel that somehow this was almost an unofficial “watershed” point between Eastern and Western Europe.

     The lasting memory of Austria’s capital Vienna for me was the sheer grandeur architectural styling of its “museum quarter” – during the day time a site to behold in itself from the area’s exterior, even if you were not to explore the many cultural and historical treasures that lay within the Modern Art or Leopold museum interiors. At night the museum quarter becomes a trendy place for local students to hang out and for backpackers to enjoy a local wheat beer in glamorous surroundings.

     Slovakia’s capital Bratislava while different in many ways to Vienne was none the less exciting to visit. The great attraction of the city is undoubtedly its old town area – for me one of the best (although not the largest) in Central and Eastern Europe. Packed with relaxed bars and restaurants all offering great drinks and food at extremely affordable prices, a visit to Bratislava’s Old Town is one that should not be overshadowed by more famous Old Town centres in Europe. Bratislava too holds an excellent castle –a must for any visitor – which towers on a hill above the Danube. Aside from offering a good visitor experience in itself, scaling the hill to reach the castle will provide an awesome view of the city.

Top Winter Travel Destinations in Europe

Winter is a beautiful season for travel and some of the best holidays in Europe are during the colder season. Whether you’re interested in living abroad during the winter, or you just want a short weekend break, here are some of the most beautiful winter travel destinations...


1. Austria – the city of Vienna is a stunning centre of architectural beauty, and in the winter it is a treat for all of those who appreciate the romance of a cold winter’s day. Austria also offers various skiing locations with luxury chalets and cottages.

2. Finland – home to Lapland, Finland is truly one of the most beautiful winter holiday destinations in the world. It is also one of the few places on the globe where you can catch the breathtaking sights of the Northern Lights.

 
Source: Creative Commons
 
3. Germany – Frankfurt is home to the original Frankfurt Christmas markets. Here you can enjoy the sights of the annual giant Christmas tree and a variety of interesting market stalls. Enjoy a mulled wine as you watch the world go by or shop around for unique gifts and crafts which have been handmade by locals.


4. Iceland – Reykjavik is one of the strangest cities in the world, surrounded by landscapes which are just out of this world.

 
Source: Creative Commons

Skiing Holidays in Austria

Austria is justly famous for its excellent skiing. What makes Austria particularly appealing for skiing holidays it that restrictive planning laws mean that any Austrian ski holiday is not going to be marred by the sorts of concrete developments that often get in the way of the breathtaking mountainous scenery in other countries. The Austrian landscape has been maintained to remain pure and beautiful, providing a wonderful backdrop to any ski holiday.

Of course, no skiing holiday is complete without a buzzing apres ski scene, and that’s another area that Austrian ski resorts really deliver in. With great beer, wine and simple but delicious food, Austrians really know how to show their guests a good time. Mayrhofen in particular is famous for a great night life, and the annual Snowbombing music festival which puts a world-class music festival right in the middle of the mountains.

As many of you will have recognised, the further east in Europe you go, the cheaper things tend to be, and Austria is no exception. By no means as cheap as genuinely Eastern European countries, ski holidays in Austria certainly won’t break the bank in the same way a group ski holiday to France or Switzerland may do.

If you’re after pristine scenery, deliciously simple food, great beer, great skiing and a great time at a reasonable price: Austria could well be your perfect ski destination.