TRAVEL SPECIAL...MAKE IT HAPPEN : SALZBURG

MAKE IT HAPPEN : SALZBURG If you’re looking for a destination that is cultured and casual, fastidious and fun, look no further than this Austrian city ESSENTIALS Getting There You can fly into Salzburg’s WA Mozart Airport, after one or two stopovers, from all major Indian cities on most major Asian and European carriers like Austrian Airlines (return fare from 56,500). Alternatively, fly into Zurich Airport (return fare from 41,000) and take a train to Salzburg (raileurope.co.in; return train tickets from 15,700). Getting Around You can walk around Salzburg easily; in fact, it’s the best way to explore the town. Buy a Salzburg Card from the information centre or your hotel — it offers free use of the public transport (including the trolley buses that skirt the pedestrianised Old Town), the fortress funicular and the Salzburg ship service, admission to museums, and discounts on concerts, theatre performances and excursions (salzburg.info; adult: 1,550/ 24 hours, 2,100/ 48 hours, child: 770/ 24 hours, 1,050/ 48 hours; see website for inclusions). Visa Tourist visas have to be applied through Austria Application Centres in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Jalandhar, and take at least 15 days to process (vfsaustria.co.in; 4,140 plus 573 service charge). WAYS TO DO IT...     SLEEP     BUDGET With a huge lobby with food outlets and a bar, Motel 1 is a modern hotel. It has good bus connections and free wi-fi in the lobby (00-43-662-835-020; motel-one.com/en/, salzburgsued@motel-one.com; 92-94, Alpenstrasse; from 5,200).     MID-RANGE Formerly the Austrotel, the Hotel am Mirabellplatz enjoys a great location on Mirabellplatz and is walking distance from everywhere! (00-43-662-881-688; austrotel.at/en/hotel_salzburg/ the_hotel.html, salzburg@austrotel.at; 1 Paris-Lodron-St; from 8,500.)     LUXURY The turn-of-the-century Hotel Sacher Salzburg is known for its hospitality, its bar that stays open far later than most others in the city, and the Sacher torte chocolate cake (00-43-662-889-770; sacher.com, salzburg@sacher.com; 5-7, Schwarzstrasse; from 12,700 with breakfast). Good to Know • Many hotels in Salzburg – indeed in Europe – have no air conditioning and no fans either. Enquire while booking. • You can drink water from the tap – except where contraindicated. • Loos are always scrupulously clean. • It’s better to use public transport than to rent a car, because parking can be a problem. Also, check with your hotel about free parking. Veg Out/ Fancy a Curry? Taj Mahal wins kudos for its food. Try the murg tikka masala and the garlic naan (00-43-662-882-010; restauranttajmahal.com; 13 Bayerhamerstrasse; 11.30 am–2 pm and 5.30 pm–11 pm Tues – Fri & Sun, 5.30 pm–11 pm Sat). Embassy Alert     Embassy of India, Vienna     Kärntnerring 2, 2nd Floor, 1010     Vienna Tel: 00-43-1-505-8666,     indianembassy.at, indemb@indianembassy.at, 9 am–5.30 pm Mon–Fri OTHER CITIES Vienna One of Europe’s most dynamic cities, Vienna also remains wonderfully steeped in history. It has grand imperial palaces, baroque architecture, and the Hofburg Palace, the former home of Habsburg rulers. Other mustvisits include Vienna State Opera House, MuseumsQuartier (an arts space with buzzy bars), Albertina Palace (a graphic arts museum) and MUMOK, the city’s biggest collection of 20th-century art. Innsbruck The capital of the Tyrol region, Innsbruck comes with medieval buildings, such as Goldenes Dachl with its gilded roof, the Hofburg Palace with its Rococo architecture, as well as a slew of old cathedrals. It also has Bergisel ski jump, a sweet little Alpine zoo with some unusual animals, and a chance to swerve around in a bob sled on the Olympic bob-sledding run.

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