Austria vacations

Mozart may have played his last note, but the hills of this Austrian town are still alive with music. Say hello to Salzburg.

A city of classical music, historic artworks and a revered coffee culture, Vienna is a celebration of cultural credentials, soul-warming food and roving greenery.

With its Baroque churches, twisting streets and snow-covered peaks, this Alpine city looks as if it were plucked straight from a snow globe. Get an insider’s view of Innsbruck.

No matter the season, one of the best things to do in Austria is explore the great outdoors. In the warmer months, hike or cycle the ‘Adlerweg’ (Eagle Walk), a long-distance trail through Tyrol. Or take your pick from hundreds of dive sites in the lakes of the Salzkammergut and Salzburg regions. Love winter sports? Hit the slopes at St. Anton am Arlberg, Kitzbühel or Innsbruck.

Once a major 19th-century empire, Austria has a staggering amount of history to explore. Vienna’s Baroque Schönbrunn Palace draws millions of visitors annually. And classical music enthusiasts flock to Mozart’s birthplace in Salzburg. Austria also boasts dozens of castles, with Burg Hohenwerfen in the Salzach River Valley and Schloss Ort in Gmunden being two of the most beautiful.

Austria’s wine production has boomed in the last few decades. Best known for crisp Grüner Veltliner and Riesling, the country’s wine production is focused around ‘Niederösterreich’ (Lower Austria), Burgenland, Styria and Vienna. To make the most of Austria’s great grapes, travel along the ‘Weinstraße’ (Wine Road), a 515-mile route through eight growing regions and more than 150 wine villages.

While you won’t find many traditional sandy beaches in landlocked Austria, the country is known for its scenic lakes and rivers that invite you to swim in their pristine waters. The Salzkammergut region alone has 76 lakes, including Fuschlsee and Mondsee. And Zell am See’s Lake Zell has beaches and outdoor pools, as well as plenty of opportunities for water sports like kayaking and paddleboarding.

Waterfalls, mountains and rolling hills — Austria is brimming with natural wonders. Visit Salzburg’s Nationalpark Hohe Tauern with its Krimml Waterfalls, the tallest in the nation. Between May and October, venture into Werfen’s Eisriesenwelt, the world’s largest ice cave. Throw in Innsbruck’s Nordkette mountains and breathtaking lakes like the Grüner See in Tragöß, and Austria is a nature lover’s dream.

Traditional restaurants in Austria showcase local favorites like ‘wiener schnitzel’ (breaded veal cutlet) and ‘tafelspitz’ (boiled veal or beef in broth). It’s also a country big on desserts, with ‘apfelstrudel’ (apple strudel) and ‘sachertorte’ (chocolate and apricot jam cake) as some of the most popular treats. Visiting Vienna? Sample the capital’s coffee house culture at Café Central and Café Sacher.

Vienna’s world-class Kunsthistorisches Museum is one of the most famous museums in Austria. It’s housed in a palatial building and showcases works spanning five millennia. But the country’s culture isn’t confined to galleries and museums. From fairy-tale castles like Leobendorf’s Burg Kreuzenstein to celebrations of the arts like the annual Salzburg Festival, Austria’s offerings are as diverse as they are impressive.

For pleasant weather and fewer crowds, travel between April and early May or from September to October. Summer is the best time to visit Austria for lakeside getaways and hiking excursions. Or if you’ve got your sights on winter sports, visit between mid-December and early April for the best snow conditions.

It may not seem like a budget travel destination, but cheap trips to Austria are definitely possible. Find an affordable meal for 15 euros (€) and a coffee or local beer for under €5. The average short taxi ride is €9, but trams, buses and city bikes are cheaper in most major cities.