Green Innovations in Austria

You’ll spend the first day in Austria’s capital, Vienna. After landing, you’ll be whisked away to your hotel where you will check in and then take a tour of the city. Vienna has been called a “City for the Gods” because of its broad open spaces and intimidating architecture, and you’ll experience that firsthand when you walk around the Volksgarten, the Heldenplatz, and the Burggarten.

Marvel at these huge open areas and keep your camera ready. There are scenic views all around this area, and monuments and museums dominate these spaces. Your group will meet up with a tour guide here that will take you to two of the most popular museums in Vienna. 

The Museum of Natural History is the best of its kind in Austria, and the Kunsthistorisches Museum is a must-see. Kunsthistorisches is the largest art museum in the country, and it houses the Habsburgs’ impressive art collection. The tour guide will tell you about the background of the Habsburg Dynasty during the tour of the latter museum and the indelible impact they left on Austrian culture.

There are six biosphere reserves in Austria, and you’ll spend today at one of them. Wienerwald Biosphere Reserve is located just outside of Vienna, and it the only UNESCO-recognized biosphere reserve on the outskirts of a major city. 

Your group will learn about the reserve’s sustainability efforts. There are very diverse habitats this reserve is trying to protect, and you’ll help in these endeavors following a brief overview. 

Vienna was one of the centers for classical music during the 18th and 19th centuries. The city produced many of the composers associated with this era, and the patronage of the Habsburgs attracted the most famous composers of this period to Vienna. Explore some of the famous Vienna opera houses with your tour guide and learn about the city’s relationship with classical music.

After the tour, experience Viennese coffeehouse culture with a stop at Cafe Frauenhuber. Beethoven and Mozart both frequented this establishment, so order a coffee and a snack and enjoy the ambiance.

Austria has the cleanest water in the world, and its tap water is the envy of every other country. You’ll spend today learning about the efforts that Austria has taken in this regard, and what it takes to keep the country’s water supply so pristine. Clean water is one of the linchpins in Vienna’s sustainability efforts. While listening to an expert in this field, think about what you can do to help when you return home. What could your city learn from Austria and its efforts in this field?

It’s time to leave Vienna and head to Austria’s other well-known city, Salzburg. Take the train to Salzburg, and prepare yourself for some of the most beautiful scenery you have ever seen. This city is where “The Sound of Music” was filmed, and you will notice some of the places highlighted in that movie while you walk around Salzburg.

After a tour of the downtown, your group will head to the place you have been gawking at since your arrival in Salzburg, Hohensalzburg Fortress. Perched at the top of a hill, this fortress dominates the surrounding landscape. During your tour, you will discover how this fort was built and rebuilt over the last 940 years. Before descending, take time to admire the Alps and take pictures of the city below.

Most travelers don’t take the time to stop in Linz, seeing it as just a place to switch trains between Salzburg and Vienna. Your group won’t make that mistake.

Linz is home to the Ars Electronica Center. This cutting-edge museum focuses on technological innovations from the last two decades, and your group will explore these technologies in hands-on exhibits.

In the Main Gallery and Geo City, you will learn about biotechnology, the local impact of global developments, and more. Think about what this means for the future and the implications it will have for subsequent generations.

You’ll head back to Vienna in the morning where you will have one last adventure before returning home. If you travel to Vienna, you have to go to one of the three palaces, so you’ll spend the morning and early afternoon at Schonbrunn Palace. Admire the acres of beautiful gardens, and become entranced with the lavish interior. Don’t become too lost in its beauty though. You don’t want to miss your flight home!