Whether you’re after a laid-back retreat or a fast-paced action holiday, Austria certainly ticks a lot of boxes.
In the Tirol you’ll be surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks, green valleys and mountain streams. The Salzburgerland provides you with unspoilt mountain villages, cascading waterfalls such as Krimml, and lively lake resorts, while the Salzkammergut is a feast for your eyes, with pretty towns dotted along scenic lake shores. Make time to visit at least one of the wonderful cities of Austria - choose from the imperial capital, Vienna with its famous café culture, the musical city of Salzburg and its impressive fortress or, surrounded by mountain peaks, the Olympic city of Innsbruck.
If you love walking, Austria should definitely be one destination to cross off your list. As one of Europe’s premiere walking destinations there’s an extensive range of trails covering mountain terrain, lake shores, valleys and woods. Walking is not the only activity you can get stuck into though – take a dip in crystal clear lakes, spend a day mountain biking, tame the wild waters on a rafting trip or even try out summer glacial skiing. Golf also features highly on the radar, with over 20 courses to choose from in the Tirol alone.
You’d be missing out if you didn’t capture some of Austria’s wonderful local culture too. Music, arts and traditional festivals are held all over throughout the summer months. Tuck in at St Johann’s annual Dumpling Festival or perhaps sit out at a street café and admire local lederhosen-adorned troupes performing live music and dancing in the picturesque town squares.
Don’t forget to sample some of the national dishes either. For the sweet-toothed there’s a fine range of mouth-watering pastries – such as kaiserschmarren, strudel and creamy gateaux. Alternatively if you prefer something more savoury - try out Tiroler gröstl, Wiener schnitzel and käsespätzl. Local breweries produce some of Europe’s finest beers - and wine lovers, you’re covered too. The native wines, mostly from the East, are also really yummy. And you can’t leave without sampling, Austria’s finest export – schnapps.
VIENNA
