Get creative
Organize your art supplies and get to crafting. Consider painting the Alps, playing schnapsen (card game), or learning Beethoven’s Für Elise.
Need more inspiration? Check out these virtual tours of Austrian museums and more.
Pick a film
Watch a movie that relates to your destination. Some ideas for Austria include:
- The Sound of Music (1965)
- Quantum of Solace (2008)
- Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation (2015)
Study some history
Dive deep into the history of specific sites you’ll visit on tour. Study the Habsburg Empire, their summer residence at Schönbrunn Palace, or the life and work of Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Choose a book
Read and discuss a book that takes place in your destination or describes the local culture. Pick from titles like:
- The World of Yesterday by Stefan Zweig
- The Third Man by Graham Greene
- A Sailor of Austria: In Which, Without Really Intending to, Otto Prohaska Becomes Official War Hero No. 27 of the Habsburg by John Biggins
Fill up your plate
Arrange a potluck and encourage your friends to bring a traditional dish from your destination. Know a chef? Hold a virtual cooking class with your travel group, or support a local restaurant that offers delivery/take-out of your destination’s cuisine. Try käsespätzle (traditional Vorarlberg mac and cheese), kaiserschmarrn (fluffy pancakes), or knödel (boiled dumplings).
Learn the language
Call up a friend or set up a group video chat and practice your language skills. It helps to make flashcards with common sayings to use on the phone or throughout your travels (think about ordering at restaurants, buying souvenirs, and chatting with locals). German is the official language of Austria, but many locals speak an Austro-Bavarian dialect.
Did you know?
Snow globes were invented in Austria! Check out this DIY snow globe you can make at home.
Meet Your Partner in Travel
Laura has traveled to Austria three times in different seasons, spending most of her time in Vienna, Innsbruck, and on train rides through the countryside. She fell in love with the gorgeous views of the Alps, the local passion for music, the Baroque architecture, and the friendly people. Now back in the U.S., Laura relives her time in Austria by recreating the beauty of the landscape and architecture through watercolor paintings.