5. Show Your Moves at a Ball
Between November and April, Austria holds almost 500 balls – most of which happen in Vienna in January and February. The Viennese Ball is a centuries-old tradition that preserves a very strict ceremonial program of fancy dress code, waltzing, fine cuisine, and the exclamation «Alles Walzer!» to get the celebration started.
Getting tickets to a Viennese Ball is no easy task, and they don’t come cheap either. The Ball of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, held at the Vienna Musikverein concert hall, is the highlight of the season, but the Physicians’ Ball at the Imperial Palace is equally stunning and equally hard to get into.
In Graz, the ball to attend is the one held at the Opera House, where the city’s philharmonic orchestra, the official ballet, and the opera ensemble all come together for the opening act.
If you don’t know how to waltz, don’t worry. Many dance schools around the country offer last-minute classes and workshops to teach you the basics so you can gracefully swirl around the dance floor.
6. Wander through Alpine Villages
Austrian Alpine villages are some of the best places to visit yearlong, but they are particularly magical when it snows. There’s a unique charm to cobblestone streets covered in powdery white as you make your way around centuries-old buildings decorated for the holidays.
Hallstatt is one of Austria’s most famous mountain villages. It sits between the shores of Lake Hallstatt and the Salzkammergut Mountains, surrounded by glaciers and near an ancient salt mine.
Mountain villages in Tyrol are particularly easy to explore in winter, as many have a train station right in town. Try stopping in Kufstein to see the medieval Kufstein Fortress and traditional wooden houses, or visit Seefeld, which sits in a valley surrounded by the Wetterstein and Karwendel mountains.
For an even better winter in the mountains, pick a mountain resort. You’ll have the snowcapped mountains right outside your door plus most likely a Kachelofen (traditional tiled fireplace) to sit next to at the end of the day.
