​In Spring - Salzburg transforms into a vibrant green oasis post-winter, showcasing the colorful charm of Mirabell Gardens and blooming magnolias at Makartplatz Square. April unfolds with lively events like the Trick Fountains of Schloss Hellbrunn and scenic river tours. Unpredictable March-April weather calls for layered attire and umbrellas. Easter festivities infuse Salzburg with lively traditions. #SalzburgSpring 🌱

​In Summer - Salzburg is buzzing with Festival fever, transforming into a cosmopolitan hub with global artists and visitors. June promises sunshine and mild temperatures, with sporadic rain and swim-friendly days. July and August bring real summer, perfect for outdoor activities. Pack lightweight clothes, an evening jacket, and always bring an umbrella. Planning to attend the Festival? Check the dress code for your event. Explore Salzburg's cultural richness with 25 museums, from Baroque splendor at DomQuartier to 21st-century art at Museum der Moderne Salzburg. 🎭☀️ #SalzburgFestival #SummerExploration
In the fall - Discover Salzburg's autumn charm with jazz, folk culture, and leisurely strolls sans crowds. Embrace the rich beer culture in traditional folk attire or casual wear. As temperatures drop, explore behind-the-scenes brewery tours. Autumn markets showcase harvest abundance, and nature's vibrant colors invite hikes. Musical diversity fills the city during Salzburger Kulturtage and Jazz & The City, turning public spaces into stages. 🎶🍂 #SalzburgAutumn #CulturalVibes
In Winter - Salzburg transforms into a winter wonderland with festive vibes. November and December bring enchanting Christmas markets, a romantic atmosphere, and musical events for all ages. January and February are the coldest months, offering snow-covered landscapes. For a magical escape, Winterfest in the Volksgarten features contemporary circus performances. Don't forget winter clothing and enjoy winter hiking on city mountains. Experience a dazzling New Year's Eve with fireworks and classical concerts, culminating in Mozart Week celebrations around Mozart's birthday on January 27. 🎄❄️ #SalzburgWinterMagic #NewYearCelebration

​While in Vienna, experience a true taste of Austria. It is a treat for the taste buds as much as the senses.

Ingredients
4.5 oz. butter, softened
1/2 cup dark chocolate, melted
12 tbsp. sugar
7 egg yolks
7 egg whites, whipped
7 oz. flour
2 tbsp. apricot Jam


Ganache:
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup dark chocolate
1 stick butter

Preparation Method
Mix butter, sugar, and egg yolks together until creamy. Fold the melted chocolate into the mixture. In a separate bowl, fold the whipped egg whites and fl our together. Combine with the egg yolk and chocolate mixture. Pour into a greased 9” round cake pan. Bake for approximately 45 min. at 370 F°. Let the cake cool and remove from pan. When fully cooled, cut the cake in half horizontally. Fill with apricot jam and glaze top of cake with the ganache.

Makes 8 servings.

​One of the largest Christmas markets in Vienna is the Christkindlmarkt at Rathausplatz, where a towering 30-meter spruce, glitters with lights against the neogothic Rathaus.
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Keeping up with Austrian traditions with a colossal advent calendar and wreath sets the festive scene. Grab a mug of punch or mulled wine before exploring the 150+ stalls offering artisan Christmas decorations, beeswax candles, and unique glass and tin creations. 

​You will find plenty of seasonal snacks like Hungarian langos, crispy and sprinkled with optional garlic sauce, or savor roasted chestnuts and Erdäpfelpuffer (hash browns). Don't miss the sweet treats, including regional Krapfen (donuts), chocolate-dipped fruit skewers, and fresh soft gingerbread.

Explore the new Nativity Scene Path in Rathauspark, featuring 10 to 15 hand-made scenes with contemporary themes. Enjoy live Advent music each evening, including gospel choirs and brass bands, creating a magical atmosphere beneath the towering Christmas tree.
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Experience this market and others when you sail on a Danube cruise between the end of Nov till Christmas Eve.
Christmas in Austria means one thing: Glühwein. This tasty mulled wine is the festive drink of choice in Innsbruck—and it's easy to see why. It's sweet, it's yummy and it's just what you need on a cold and frosty evening.

​Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Ingredients

• 3 cups of white wine (Silvaner or Müller-Thurgau)
• 1 cup apple juice
• 1/4 cup Franconian plum brandy (optional but recommended, as a little of the alcohol cooks out of the wine)
• 4 slices of orange
• 2 slices of lemon
• 1 stick of cinnamon
• 1 star anise
• 5 allspice seeds
• 3 whole cloves
• 1 pinch of aniseed
• 1 tsp. honey (if you prefer it sweeter, add a bit more)

Extra slices of fruit for garnish, if desired

Stollen is thought to have originated in Dresden, Germany in the 1400s. But at that time, the Catholic Church prohibited the consumption of butter milk during Advent as part of the fasting guidelines leading up to Christmas. As a result, the medieval Stollen was a somewhat bland pastry.
Ernst of Saxony and his brother Albrecht petitioned the Pope in 1650 to lift the then-current "butter ban." After performing the "appropriate penance," the Holy Father finally bowed to their demands and said (in what became known as the "Bufferbrief") that milk and butter might be used to bake the stollen with a "clear conscience and with God's blessing.".
This historic decision began a time-honored tradition where Stollen-bakers delivered one or two Christmas Stollen each year with a total weight of 36 pounds to the king of Saxony for the holy celebration. Eight master bakers and eight apprentices carried it in a procession to the castle. In 1730 “August the Strong”, elector Lord of Saxony, commanded the bakery gild of Dresden to make a huge Stollen with a weight of 1.8 tons! To commemorate that event, a similar Stollen is baked every year at the annual Dresden Stollen Festival on the Saturday before the Second Advent.

​Steps to Prepare:
Step 1: Soak the dried fruit in 1/2 cup of hot water. Gently warm the apple juice for a few mins in a pan, then add the yeast and leave to activate for 10-15 mins (it will start to bubble).
Step 2: Put the flour in a bowl. Stir in the yeast and apple juice mixture to form a smooth dough, then cover and leave to prove somewhere warm until roughly doubled in size, about 1-2 hrs. 
Step 3: Drain the fruit and add to the dough along with the nuts, spices and marzipan. Squish everything together, then turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead until the fruit stays in the dough.
Step 4: Shape the dough into a sausage shape and put it on a baking tray lined with baking parchment. Cover with a clean tea towel and leave to proof somewhere warm for 30 mins–1 hr. until the dough has risen by about a quarter.
Step 5: Heat oven to 350F. Bake the stollen for 20 mins, then reduce oven temperature to 300F and bake for 25-30 minutes more until golden-brown and firm to the touch.
Step 6: Remove the stollen from the oven and brush all over with the melted butter. Dust generously with the icing sugar and leave to cool completely before slicing. Store any remaining stollen, well wrapped, in an airtight container.
Best served at a table with loved ones. Enjoy!