If you’re like me, you’ve always dreamed of visiting Austria to live out your Sound of Music dreams, then this is the guide for you! I recently took a 5 day trip to Austria with stops in Vienna, Salzburg, and Hallstatt. The sights in these locations were stunning and riding the train through the Alps was truly a highlight for me.
When planning this trip, not only did I look at what I wanted to see, but I made sure to do my research about finding safe food in advance. The first thing I always do is make sure to have an Equal Eats translation card in whatever language the country speaks, in this case it was German. This tool alone is such a game changer for me. We went to several restaurants that I had researched in advance, making sure to see if there were menu items that seemed like they could be made safely for me. However, we also dined at many spots that were decided on the fly, and sometimes that was better than others. Of the places we found, I was pleasantly surprised at how well they accommodated my food allergies. On the other hand, we had one night in Vienna where we sat down at 5 restaurants and walked out of each one because they said they couldn’t prepare safe food for me, the 6th spot was a hit thankfully. That is a testament to the importance of researching restaurants and local cuisine in advance. The place we ended up dining at that night was one that I had found beforehand, but it was on the other side of the city and definitely the backup option.
Austrian cuisine is a mix of potato, meat, and fish dishes. Their parsley potatoes were definitely a hit. Schnitzel is their traditional dish that could be found anywhere. I didn’t try it because of the breading on the meat and because I heard that some places cook it in peanut oil. When dining out I usually try to stick to simple dishes, and these menus had just that. Most nights I had salad, vegetables, and fish of some sort. Using my Equal Eats card was so helpful because although everyone’s English was very good, sometimes relaying certain details about my allergies or how I need food to be prepared is difficult with a language barrier. I could simply point to my card and they would completely understand. I had several people compliment it, saying they had never seen a translation card before but how helpful it was for them.
For this trip, I didn’t know what to expect with finding safe food at restaurants, so I packed bagels for lunch, some breakfast foods like granola bars, and other safe snacks to fill in the gaps. I surprisingly returned home with most of the same foods that I packed because each day I found a good lunch and or dinner restaurant that accommodated my allergies.
I definitely recommend going to restaurants in the more touristy areas of these locations because I found people spoke more English and could understand my allergy needs in these places better. The spots that couldn’t accommodate me had more of a language barrier, so it was harder to convey my allergies even if they were understanding. Still always trust your gut with restaurants and don’t be afraid to find a new spot if you feel uncomfortable. The friends I traveled with were so understanding and made sure we found spots that I could eat at, even if it took longer.
Like any trip, I also highly recommend downloading the local language into your Google Translate app, where you can take a picture to translate menus or food labels. I am always shocked with how much I use this app while I’m on a trip.
With flying to destinations, always make sure to ask the airline not to serve nuts if you have a nut allergy. RyanAir has been great with accommodating this need and making an announcement to other passengers as well.
For the third time (I know I can’t stop raving about them), Equal Eats cards are the #1 travel tool that you should have if you have food allergies. They also have an app and printable cards if you plan a last minute trip. You can use my code CATHERINEWALKER for 10% your first Equal Eats order.
Here are the spots we dined at during our trip:
Restaurant Meissl & Schadn, Vienna (also a location in Salzburg)
In terms of touring these stunning spots in Austria, here are the places you absolutely have to visit if you are planning a trip there.
Salzburg:
Take the tram up to see Fortress Hohensalzburg.
Visit Mirabell Palace and Gardens that are straight out of the Sound of Music.
Tour Salzburg Cathedral.
Walk past Mozart’s House
St. Peter’s Abbey also feels straight out of the Sound of Music
Hallstatt:
Take the train here from Salzburg for a day trip and explore the whole town. It is a stunning lake town that you get to via a short boat ride. There are cute shops to explore, beautiful churches, and views of the Alps and town from the top of the cliff. Hallstatt was definitely the highlight of our trip. I highly recommend venturing outside of the main cities to get a better taste of small town Austria and to see views of the Alps. The views from the trains alone were breathtaking.
Vienna:
St. Stephen’s Cathedral is the most magnificent building I’ve ever seen.
The Austrian National Library had my jaw dropped.
Schönbrunn Palace & Gardens was a short metro ride from the city center but it was my favorite stop on the whole trip. The ornate interiors of this palace were brilliant and I never wanted to leave.
Belvedere Palace
Parliament
Schmetterlinghaus (Butterfly Gardens)
The museums in the center of the city include a natural history and art museum and are great stops, but we didn’t have time to explore them.
Get tickets for a show at the Vienna Opera (Ours were €15 each and totally worth it, but make sure to book further in advance and not on the top row-- we couldn't see much of the stage).
All of these recommendations are based on my personal experiences navigating my food allergies to dairy, eggs, peanuts, and tree nuts. Please do your own research when planning a trip and make sure to communicate your allergy needs clearly. Use this article as a guide to help plan your trip because everyone's allergy needs are different. Just because these spots could serve me safe meals, does not always mean they can do the same for everyone. You can also use my Restaurant and Hotel Reach Out Email Templates to guide how to communicate with restaurants in advance of a trip.
© Cook It Up Catherine
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