September, The Perfect Time To Visit Austria
The perfect time to visit Austria is in September. The air is cool and crisp, hotel rates are usually lower and popular destinations like Vienna and Salzburg aren’t as crowded. In the countryside, picturesque villages are decorated and hold festivals to celebrate the year’s plentiful harvest.
The crowds of summer are gone from Europe in September making Austria, with its old world charm and incredible scenic beauty, a delightful travel destination. Although weekends can still be busy, you will have an easier time getting into tourist sights and popular restaurants. Temperatures are usually in the 60’s or 70’s in the day and 50’s at night, and it is a great time to experience the best of fall before it gets too chilly. In the valleys, leaves on the trees are starting to change to bright autumn colors.
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Vienna and Salzburg, famous for their history, wonderful architecture, and classical music, are on everyones “must see list” and they shouldn’t be missed. However, don’t forget the other regions of the country. You will find palaces and monasteries throughout Austria that are gorgeous along with pretty rural towns with houses decorated with flowers and beautiful little parish churches. This is where you get a real feel for the local life, and yes it does feel like it is straight out of a storybook.
This is the time of year for the annual “Almabtrieb“, when cattle are are decorated with flowers and herded from their alpine summer grazing pastures to the valley for the winter. It is also the harvest season “Bauernherbstfest”. Once the harvest has been completed, locals celebrate with traditional festivals where specialties from the local region are sold, There is music, folk dancing, eating and drinking of local beers and wine. What could be better than visiting a picturesque town surrounded by alpine peaks on a crisp and sunny fall day, eating some local food and being part of traditions that have been happening for hundreds of years,
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If you enjoy the outdoors, temperatures in September are pleasant during the day and there is plenty to keep you busy with activities such as rock climbing, mountain biking, and hiking. Make plans to hike up to a mountain hut for a lunch of alpine cheese, smoked meats and a slice of hearty homemade bread. If you don’t want to hike, you can often take a cable car to the top of a mountain for some incredible views. You can also simply stroll around a picturesque town then sit down in one of the many cafés and enjoy a good cup of coffee and a slice of apple strudel.
While Austria has a wonderful transportation system, my husband and I enjoy driving the back roads through the scenic countryside and believe a car is best for discovering the out of the way spots that are what make a trip special. The country is small and we usually don’t have to drive more than a couple hours to reach our destination.
Austria has lots of inns and hotels that are family run, many for several generations. They are known not only for a comfortable place to sleep but for their highly rated restaurants serving innovative Austrian food with ingredients sourced locally. We usually spend 3 or 4 days at one of these hotels and make day trips to visit the many highlights of the area before driving to our next destination.
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My husband and I return to Austria over and over again because it has so much to offer and we will again this year. It’s a traveler’s dream destination with snow topped mountains, charming villages and world famous cities. There is beautiful scenery, outdoor activities throughout all four seasons, outstanding cultural events, wonderful hotels and award winning food. We especially love the majestic mountains and small towns and villages where Austrians seem to live a slower pace, hold on to their customs and culture and graciously welcome guests to their beautiful country.
I was there at the end of September and it was perfect! I love Austria.
Beautiful pictures, as usual and you are right. September (and April) are the best months to go on holiday in Europe, outside of the summer season and without the crowds.
Stunning photos. I hope you have another exceptional vacation.
It is on my bucket list! Thanks for sharing the countries loveliness with me.
Austria sounds dreamy. Temperatures I can only dream about here! Europe sounds like a madhouse right now, I think you are looking forward to fall?
Your photos are so stunning I can only imagine the incredible and breathtaking beauty in such a gorgeous country. The hotel experience you describe is destination plenty! But added all together, what wonderful vacations you’ve enjoyed in previous Septembers! Hope there will be another return, Karen.
What a beautiful country! We have traveled and hiked through the alps of Switzerland and it looks very similar but Austria is more beautiful! Thank you for sharing your experience and travel expertise!
Hi Karen,
I think the Austrian tourism authority should employ you. What a magnificent description.
Austria has so much to offer, beautiful mountains and lakes, Vienna, and let’s not forget Sacher torte and apricot dumplings.
You guys do so good in visiting Europe. Our only visit to Austria was driving from Garmish Germany into northern Italy but we did stop at a closed restaurant and the owner who was painting agreed to make us schnitzel for lunch. What a treat and great adventure.
Such a beautiful country!
angiesrecipes
http://angiesrecipes.blogspot.com
Such gorgeous photos you have shared with us. I know you will have a wonderful time.
Beautiful photos, Karen. We will be going to Austria in September. Thank you for the gorgeous photos!
You have some wonderful photos Karen. Hope you have a great trip again this year!
I love to travel “with” you Karen, you always share such fabulous places! That first photo is breathtaking, Austria sounds like such a beautiful and amazing country to visit. You and your husband know how to enjoy these trips to the max, I am so glad you are getting to go back!
Jenna
It all sounds wonderful Karen!
I can see why you continue to visit Austria, it is lovely! Have a wonderful holiday, Karen! I look forward to hearing about your journey.
Salzburg and Vienna are some of our favourite European cities. I love visiting Europe in low season but lately, we have been going for the sun in February and March which would make Austria Winter, and that is what we are trying to escape!
we spent time in Austria in the autumn years ago. So beautiful! We did go to Vienna and Salzburg. A must for every traveller.
I agree — September is a perfect time; October, too! We made the mistake of a July visit and nearly perished from the heat and humidity!
September in Austria sounds like a traveler’s paradise! Your vivid description paints a picturesque image of the country at this time of year. I have been there several times but not on a September mostly late July and early August to escape the winter here in New Zealand, cant agree more, it is one of the most prettiest countries I had seen.
Wow….I can see why you travel to this beautiful spot. I will keep this in mind when I travel again especially in September.