Austria’s easternmost region of Burgenland on the border of Hungary is just a couple of hours from the capital, but you might as well be in another world. This is a place for countryside lovers where most things to do are centered around Lake Neusiedl, the region’s star attraction. Swimming and ice skating takes place on the lake, cycling and hiking take place around it, and the sunny vine-clad landscapes beyond it are known for producing Austria’s punchiest red wine.
Burgenland claims to be sunny 300 days a year, promising long balmy summers and short but mild winters. If swimming in Lake Neusiedl sounds good, the summer is the best time to visit. Wine lovers may be tempted to visit in fall when wine festivals are among the Burgenland events, while winter visitors can look forward to ice skating on the frozen lake—although only when authorities give it the green light.
While key towns are easy to access by trains from Vienna, Graz, and Bratislava, once inside the region, the car is the best way to cover more ground. For eco-friendly transport, a nice way to get around is by bike. Burgenland is famously as flat as a pancake, and it’s popular with cyclists on bike vacations and as a means of getting around. Some 40 cycle paths surround Lake Neusiedl alone.
Years of shared history with its Hungarian neighbor means Burgenland’s cuisine differs from the classic Habsburg Austrian fare. Known as Pannonian cuisine, traditional dishes here are prepared minimally with local, seasonal ingredients and heavily influenced by Hungarian recipes. Meat dishes like goulash, mangalica pork, goose, and game reign supreme in the cozy village inns, along with carp and other fish caught fresh from the lake.
