Satisfy Your Appetite While on Walking Holidays in Austria

For those on walking holidays in Austria, the local traditional food is designed to keep energy levels high - which will be good news for energetic travellers! After a day spent hiking through the breathtakingly beautiful landscape, a hearty meal will be just what you need, and the food in this country will give you that. From the rustic to the more refined, tasty and nutritious food is the order of the day.

Where does it come from?

Austrian food is a fusion of influences from different cultures from the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Hapsburg Empire stretched from Imperial Russia to the Adriatic, and more than a dozen different nationalities were within it - including Switzerland, Spain, Holland and Alsace. Most significantly, Hungary, Bohemia, Germany, Italy and the Balkans have all had an impact on the food served today. Viennese cuisine is what is most associated with Austrian food, but this is only part of the story. Viennese coffee houses are world-renowned: these originated from the Turkish occupation when the coffee bean was introduced to the Viennese.

Traditional Dishes

Anyone on walking holidays in Austria will need a hearty breakfast to start the day. Austrian breakfasts tend to be ‘continental’ and usually are made up of bread accompanied with jam, cold meats and cheese. The midday meal used to be the main meal, however with longer working hours this has now changed and often a Jause is eaten at lunchtime - a slice of bread with cheese or ham. More substantially a Brettljausemay be eaten, which is served on a wooden board and is more like a Ploughmans lunch.

Many of the popular dishes are meat-based and include Rindsuppe, which is a beef soup. The Hungarian influence can be seen in Goulash, which is served with bread or dumplings. For those who like to be more adventurous with their food, try Beuschel, which is a ragout made with lungs and heart.

The most popular meats used are beef, chicken and pork; most people on walking holidays in Austria will be familiar with the famous Wiener Schnitzel, which is usually made of veal. Sausages are popular, with the familiar Frankfurter on offer as well as the more unusual Grüne Würstl, which is translated as "green sausages", although the name doesn’t refer to the colour but to the fact that the sausages are raw (they are air dried and then boiled). Bacon is known as speck and is used extensively. The hunting traditions of the country are reflected in the use of game, including deer, pheasant and duck.

The Sweet Course

The cakes here are world famous and anyone on walking holidays in Austria with a sweet tooth will find they are very well catered for! Probably the most famous cake is the Sachertorte, from Vienna’s Hotel Sacher, but there are plenty of other options. Dobostorte is a caramel-flavoured cake and the beautifully layered Esterhazy Torte was named after Prince Esterhazy and, like its namesake, originates from Hungary. Other popular desserts include the ubiquitous Apfelstrudel and Kaiserschmarr’n, which is a thick pancake containing raisins and other fruit. Despite its name the Danish pastry is also said to come from Vienna.

Eating well will definitely not be a problem for those on walking holidays in Austria, and it's not hard to find good, hearty and satisfying cuisine that tastes delicious too.

Tony Maniscalco is the Marketing Manager for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. Join us on a holiday walking holidays in Austria to see the most scenic locations & landscapes at the best value prices. We offer over 140 guided group walking holidays in over 60 different countries.