Austria
The best attractions in Austria showcase a unique blend of imperial history, cultural landmarks, and breathtaking natural landscapes. The capital city Vienna is a cultural highlight, famous for classical music, elegant architecture, and historic sites such as Schönbrunn Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage
General information
Austria is a small, spectacular Alpine country in the heart of Central Europe, the former centre of the Habsburg Empire and a land synonymous with mountains, music and imperial grandeur. From the palaces and concert halls of Vienna to the baroque streets of Salzburg and the snow-capped peaks of Tyrol, it blends high culture with world-class skiing and hiking. Crystal lakes, storybook villages and the blue Danube complete a country celebrated for its quality of life and scenery. German is the language, English is widely understood in tourist areas, and Austria's mix of elegance and outdoors makes it a year-round destination.
Transport and how to get there
The main gateway is Vienna International Airport (VIE), with further international airports at Salzburg (SZG) and Innsbruck (INN) handling alpine traffic. Austria's excellent OBB railway links the cities and mountain resorts punctually and scenically, and the country sits at the crossroads of Europe with fast trains to Germany, Switzerland, Italy and the Czech Republic. A car is handy for exploring the lakes and alpine valleys, though the rail network reaches most highlights.
Prices
Austria is mid-to-upper priced for Western Europe, with Vienna and the ski resorts the dearest. Expect roughly 90-180 EUR per night for a mid-range hotel, with hostels from about 25 EUR. A casual meal runs around 14-25 EUR, a coffee in a traditional cafe 4-5 EUR and a beer 4-5 EUR. City transport day passes are around 6-8 EUR, and palaces such as Schonbrunn cost roughly 20-30 EUR. Prices are approximate and vary by region and season, rising sharply in the ski months.
Main attractions
Vienna leads with the vast Schonbrunn Palace, the imperial Hofburg, St Stephen's Cathedral and its famous opera and coffee houses. Salzburg enchants with Mozart's birthplace, a hilltop fortress and Sound of Music scenery, while Innsbruck sits ringed by the Tyrolean Alps. Beyond the cities, the lakeside village of Hallstatt is impossibly pretty, the Wachau Valley terraces vineyards along the Danube, and the Grossglockner High Alpine Road climbs to glaciers. In winter, the whole country becomes one of Europe's premier ski destinations.