Meet Chuchu, our travel aficionado! Join her as she uncovers the hidden gems of Austria and the Czech Republic. From the majestic landscapes of Salzburg to the charming streets of Český Krumlov, each destination has its own story to tell. Follow along as Chuchu shares her favorite spots, local cuisine, and travel tips to make the most of your journey. Let’s embark on this adventure together and experience the magic of these beautiful countries!
I stayed in Salzburg for just one night. After visiting Mozart's Residence and the Mirabell Gardens in the morning, I left Salzburg and headed to Germany!
Königssee is known as the cleanest and most beautiful lake in Germany. It is located in the small Bavarian town of Berchtesgaden, close to the German-Austrian border. In fact, it’s less than an hour’s drive from Salzburg, much quicker than the three-hour trip from Munich! That’s why I decided to include it in my Austria-Czech itinerary—it turned out to be a delightful surprise, like a bonus experience, and perhaps a perfect start to future travels in Germany.
Itinerary: Salzburg → Königssee → Český Krumlov (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Morning: Visit Mozart’s Residence and Mirabell Gardens in Salzburg
Travel: 40-minute drive to Königssee
Afternoon: Three-hour drive to Český Krumlov
Meals:
Lunch: Traditional Old Town schnitzel
Dinner: Roasted duck leg at a cellar restaurant
Accommodation: DVORAK CESKY KRUMLOV (4★)
Königssee
We arrived at Königssee around noon. At that time, the sun was perfectly aligned over the mountains, making it super bright when looking toward the lake—there’s no way to manage without sunglasses! It was also tricky to take good photos. All I got with my phone were pitch-black shots, haha! Luckily, I had Xiao Ke with me—phew, having a photographer around makes everything easier. No matter how challenging the scenery, I don't need to worry! (Well, that’s one way to put it, haha!)
We strolled around near the pier, but a question kept popping up in my mind: Why does this scenery look so different from the photos I saw when I Googled “Königssee”?<br data-mce-fragment="1"><br data-mce-fragment="1">It turns out that the truly stunning scenery is on the upper lake, and you can only get there by purchasing a boat ticket. The area around the pier isn’t the same—only a boat ride can take you to those breathtaking views!
Official Ticket Prices and Schedule
Route: Königssee Seelände (pier) → St. Bartholomä Church → Salet Obersee (Upper Lake)
Price:
Königssee ⇋ St. Bartholomä: €16
Königssee ⇋ Upper Lake: €19.5
In summer, the boats stop at both St. Bartholomä Church and the Upper Lake. However, in winter, boats only go as far as St. Bartholomä because the Upper Lake freezes and remains closed to visitors.
Even if we had time for the boat ride, we wouldn’t have been able to see the Upper Lake on this trip. And that, unfortunately, is my biggest regret! Looks like I’ll have to come back again someday. 😭😭😭
Missing out on the breathtaking Upper Lake was such a shame—it’s probably the biggest regret of this trip! All I can do is remind myself that regrets mean there’s always a next time.
Since we couldn’t take the boat, we just strolled along the lakeside near the pier. The weather was great, and basking in the sun was quite relaxing. There were so many ducks by the lake! They all looked exactly the same—it was hilarious! We kept joking that it was like they had been copy-pasted. If I Photoshopped the lake full of them, no one would probably be able to tell which ones were real, haha! XD
Even though we couldn’t make it to the Upper Lake, we still got some amazing photos—thanks to Xiao Ke! So grateful and impressed! Time to update my desktop wallpaper with a new favorite. ❤️
In my Austria-Czech outfit tips, I mentioned that as long as you have a thick coat on the outside, you can wear short sleeves underneath—and it’s true!
This guy was out there taking photos by Königssee in near-freezing weather, dressed like that! I even had to tell him to drape a scarf over his shoulders, or else he’d look totally mismatched next to me. Only then did he put it on! 😂 As soon as we finished taking pictures, he threw his coat back on right away. Thankfully, the sun gave us a little warmth for a bit—otherwise, he would’ve frozen solid in no time!
This is the most beautiful photo we got at Königssee on this trip. Until I get the chance to see the Upper Lake with my own eyes, this will remain my most cherished memory of the place. I hope I can return one day to add more memories to it.
On the way back from the pier, there was a whole row of souvenir shops to explore. I also picked up a souvenir magnet here!
We had lunch at a restaurant near the Königssee pier. The restaurant's architecture was quite unique; it looked like it had been built in stages, extending outward into additional spaces. It had a layered design, resembling a collection of little houses connected together.
Schnitzel is a common main dish in Central Europe, originating from Vienna, Austria, in the 19th century. However, it's even more prevalent in Germany than in Vienna!
Compared to Japanese tonkatsu, this schnitzel is thinner and larger. The breading seems to be seasoned, giving it a strong flavor—it's quite salty! Be sure to drink plenty of water, or else you’ll definitely feel bloated, haha!
Typically, a Western three-course meal consists of a salad or soup, a main course, and a dessert. For guys, this might not be filling enough, while it’s usually just right for girls. Friends who are used to having rice or noodles will need to adjust a bit. I can accept meat as the main dish, but there really isn't much in the way of vegetables—I'm mostly surviving on fruits!
Desserts are about 90% likely to be super sweet. Below is a cinnamon apple pie drizzled with a sauce that tastes like condensed milk. I took one bite and threw in the towel! Our travel buddy, Ah Bei, is like a reincarnated ant; he devoured two or three pieces of everyone’s desserts!
Český Krumlov
After finishing lunch, we set off for Český Krumlov in the Czech Republic. Today, we traveled from Austria to Germany and then on to the Czech Republic—visiting three countries in one day!
We'll be staying in Český Krumlov for one night, so let's save the historical stories for the next post. For now, let's explore this UNESCO World Heritage site and take a look at the town of CK before it gets dark.
This place looks just like a scene from a video game, where characters would run back and forth through these arches. As I walked around and looked up, I suddenly noticed this view and couldn’t help but exclaim, “Wow!”
The sky had a lovely pastel pink hue, but the weather forecast said it would rain the next day, which would give the scenery a different vibe. We had to make the most of it and quickly take in all this beauty before it got dark.
The landmark building here is the Painted Tower, which you can climb to get a panoramic view of the entire town of CK. It’s about 150 steps, which isn’t too many! If you're traveling independently and have the time, it’s definitely worth a visit!
For dinner, we went to a cellar restaurant. You enter from ground level and walk down a slope to get in—it really feels like you're underground!
It felt like dining in a cave. Although the ceiling was quite low, it wasn't oppressive. However, being underground with the indoor heating made it really stuffy—I felt like I was going to suffocate! I once again advise everyone traveling to Europe in winter to wear just a thin long-sleeve shirt indoors.
The main course was roasted duck leg, and I thought it tasted pretty good! I finished the whole thing and felt about 80% full. The portion size was just right, especially since eating too much meat can get heavy. We ended the meal at a satisfying point because any more would have been too rich to handle.
The side dishes were quite interesting. The red one had the taste of sauerkraut, while the light yellow dumplings were a traditional Czech staple. They reminded me of a type of rice cake—super similar to moist bread but with a bit more elasticity, almost like a mix of steamed cake and mantou. Plus, they had no seasoning, so chewing them felt like eating dough. I took one bite and couldn’t go on! It was probably the Czech dish I found the hardest to enjoy.
After dinner, we went to the "best spot for night views" to take some photos. However, Český Krumlov was pitch dark at night, without the sparkling lights that give off a starry feeling. Plus, the observation platform wasn’t that high! Still, we could feel the tranquility of the town at night. Even though it was only around seven or eight o'clock, if you stayed quiet, it felt eerily similar to the quiet of Taiwan at three or four in the morning—almost like you could fall asleep right there (hee hee~~).
In the darkness, we stumbled upon a small shop where we could buy water, snacks, or souvenirs. I definitely seized the opportunity to buy a magnet—no putting it off until "tomorrow"; when you have the chance, you buy it now!!!
(Sure enough, the next day we were on a guided tour and didn’t have much time to browse. Thank goodness I bought the magnet when I had the chance!)
The Old Town Square (also known as Concord Square) at night looks lovely. Let’s come back to explore it properly during the day!
Checked into DVORAK CESKY KRUMLOV.
Since Český Krumlov is a UNESCO World Heritage site, I was a bit worried that the hotels here would be quite old. I braced myself as I entered the room, but I was pleasantly surprised—it was really cute! The environment and the bathroom were quite new. However, you could tell the building had some age to it in the lobby and stairway. But hey, as long as the room is nice, that's what matters! At least it’s comfortable to stay in.
I’m really afraid of encountering old, dirty bathrooms that make you want to rush through using the toilet or shower. However, the hotels I've stayed in during this European trip have left a great impression. Their practice is not to provide all the usual amenities! This includes toothbrushes, toothpaste, shower caps, and razors—those familiar hotel supplies are just not available in European hotels! They don’t even provide complimentary coffee or tea bags!
Basically, they only provide towels and a 2-in-1 shampoo and body wash. Not every hotel has a kettle (but I recommend bringing your own; in winter, you'll inevitably want hot water or to make instant noodles). Friends who are used to staying in Asian hotels might need to adjust to this.
