Winter holiday without skiing? Salzburg will not disappoint you

Winter months, low temperatures, and piles of snow attract enthusiastic skiers to mountain resorts. But what if you are not a passionate cross-country or downhill skier? You can still go on a winter holiday – for example, to the surroundings of the beautiful Austrian city of Salzburg. Salzburg is the fourth largest city in Austria, located near the border with Germany and about a four-hour drive from Prague. You can stay directly in Salzburg in one of the many hotels or, like us, choose a small hotel in a slightly more remote location. Even in the winter months, most roads are passable and carefully maintained. So, feel free to enjoy the beautiful views, amazing nature, and perfect service that higher-altitude hotels offer. Many of them are also pet-friendly, so the whole family can truly travel together.

What can you see and experience directly in Salzburg?

Since 1996, the entire Old Town has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. You will find many beautiful churches and monasteries here, as well as vast gardens and parks. The magnificent Mirabell Palace with its perfectly manicured garden is definitely worth a visit. When exploring the historical part of the city, you should definitely not miss the Hohensalzburg Fortress. You certainly won't miss it; it stands on top of the Festungsberg hill and you can reach it by cable car. In the winter months, the cable car operation may be limited by weather, but you can also reach the fortress on foot. Salzburg is also the birthplace of the famous Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. His birthplace is now a museum, which is one of the most visited museums in Austria. You can find it on the street (Getreidegasse) number 9. The museum combines a modern presentation style with period room furnishings. In the past, Salzburg was known for its salt production. There are several salt mines in the vicinity of the city, most of which are still functional. At Salzbergwerk Berchtesgaden, there is even a prepared tour route where you can learn about the process of mining Alpine salt. First, they dress you in stylish overalls and you board a modified mining train. In the underground areas, two wooden slides and a boat trip across a mirror lake await you. The entire route is complemented by beautiful video effects projected onto the shaft walls. For tourists, an audio guide is available in several languages, so you will have a truly perfect experience from the tour. Both adults and children will enjoy it. At the end, you can buy two photos, one from the train and the other from the first wooden slide. So don't forget to smile! :-) The salt mines are open even in winter, but it is better to book the tour via the online reservation system.

Explore the surroundings

If you get overwhelmed by the amount of information from city tours or the salt mine, a walk will be an ideal way to relax. An easy hike is offered by the surroundings of the beautiful mountain lake Konigssee. The lake is surrounded by beautiful mountains, and in good weather, it is possible to take a boat trip on its surface. On one of the shores of the lake, there is also a specialized sports facility, Eisarena Konigssee, where bobsleigh and skeleton races are held. You can see the bobsleigh track live, and if you hit the right date, you will also experience the atmosphere of the races. The organizers allow brave enthusiasts to try riding in the ice channel themselves. We simply couldn't miss this opportunity! They put a sturdy helmet on your head and fit you into the small space of the bobsleigh. In the front, there is always an experienced pilot who takes two brave souls for a ride. You rush through the ice channel at nearly 100 km/h, your muscles are tense, and yet you can barely control your own body. In the corners, you feel strong G-forces, and on the straights, you hit the walls of the channel. For adrenaline lovers, it is a truly great experience. We can highly recommend the Salzburg region as an ideal place for a relaxing holiday. It combines the culture of Austria and Bavarian Germany, which is noticeable especially in restaurants where stylishly dressed staff serve local specialties. And if you still crave skiing fun, perfectly groomed slopes and comfortable cable cars of nearby ski resorts are fully at your disposal. And how do you spend your winter holiday? Mountains and skiing or walks and unconventional experiences? Let us know in the comments! Source of the introductory photo: salzburg.info