Austria — Introduction

Alluring Austria retains its time-honoured charm and beauty the whole year round. The traditional view is of scenic snowy mountain peaks, ski resorts and astonishing alpine meadows, helping to make it one of the premier European winter sports destinations.

While the Austrian Alps cover three quarters of the country, Austria amounts to more than its mountains. It enjoys a mix of landscapes with glaciers, meadows, alpine valleys, wooded foothills, rolling farmland, vineyards, river gorges and cities like Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck.

There is a special ambiance about the cultured capital Vienna which has delightfully blended the traditional with the modern. Here old coffee houses and rustic wine taverns sit neatly alongside quality contemporary restaurants and chic shops.

Austria also has an array of luxurious spas offering alpine, thermal and medical treatments allowing you to relax and ensure your well being.

The Austrian Alps
Throughout the Alps there are mountains and glittering glacier lakes, magnificent churches, castles and museums. While in its crystal-clear lakes you can swim, surf, and sail.

The unforgettable city of Innsbruck, twice home to the Winter Olympics, has many delights including the Tyrolean Folk Art Museum, the Old Town’s golden-roofed buildings, and Swarovski Crystal Worlds. It is also a fantastic base for people that enjoy the great outdoors as you can go rafting, trekking, hang-gliding, take guided tours of the glaciers and horse-drawn carriage rides.

The Austrian Alps were also the setting for one of the world’s biggest musicals, the Sound of Music and Salzburg abounds with reminders of the film.

It is also the place to take in the music of Mozart, one of the world’s most prodigious composers.