Austria Travellers Guide: Places To Visit

Music, Mountains, adventure sports and a dramatic and long history, Austria has something to offer to most people.

Click on a region for a detailled guide or check out our list of highlights:

Vienna                            Lower Austria                        Upper Austria
Burgenland                   Carinthia                                  Hohe Tauern National park
Salzburgerland            Styria                                        Tyrol 
Vorarlberg

The Alps

Define the nature of Austria.  Indeed the first line of the National anthem translates to "Land of Mountains".    The Alps provide not only the splendid backdrop to the country but are also the countries main financial provider.  In that the booming tourism industry is largely funded by them through ski runs and hiking.

Winter Sports
Austria offers over 800 resorts with 22,000km of downhill si runs and over 16,000km of cross country runs. The season runs from early December through to late March and many resorts have artificial snow generation. Over christmas is the busiest time of year. 

For in depth ski information try the folowing sites:
http://www.ski-austria.com/
http://www.ifyouski.com/resorts/country/Austria/

Summer Sports & Activities

Many people think hiking here would be primarily for the very fit and dedicated walker, due t the mountains and altitude.  However Lower Austria in the north east is an area of rolling foothills suitable for all.  Plus many lakes have walking (and cycling) tracks around them which are suitable for all including children. 

Check the following sites for more information: http://www.slackpacker.com/map_austria.html
Austrian Alpine Club (AAC) 

Cycling is also very poular and again flat and easy rides are available as well as harder and more mountainous trails.

For more information, try the following sites:
http://www.hookedoncycling.co.uk/Austria/austria.html

Vienna

Is a compact and fascinating city, often overlooked by visitors to Europe in favour of the "big" capitals, London, pari sand berlin, Venice has much to offer visitors.  From wonderful baroque architecture to the Grand Palaces of the Habsburg empire and the gothic Stephansdom cathedral.

The new museum quarter has over 20 museums and cultural organisations within the combination of old and new buildings in the area.  the three most prominent are:
Kunsthalle Wien
Leopold Museum
Museum of Modern art

Lippizzaner Stallions

A unique and world famous horse show.   The pure white Lipizzaner stallions perform  at the winter riding school in the Imperial Hofsburg Palace. 

Schönbrunn Palace

Wealth and opulence in its finest form.
One of the cities primary attractions. 40 rooms of this 1440 room mansion are open to the public, guided tours are available. in the grounds of the palace are landscaped gardens, a maze, labyrthine and zoo.  Plus some good views back over the city.
Schonbrunn Gold Pass - Vienna's Schonbrunn Palace and Zoo

Sound of Music Tour

Cheesy but fun.