Wendy Palmer

Austria as a holiday destination

Austria has much more to offer tourists than its dramatically beautiful scenery.

Austria in general

Austria is a totally land-locked country, that shares its border with eight other countries. These are; the tiny Principality of Liechtenstein, Germany, the Czech republic, Slovak republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy and Switzerland. The nation is made up of nine provinces: Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Vienna, Vorarlberg and Upper Austria. The official language is German and the vast majority of its 8 million inhabitants are Germanic.

Austria is an Alpine country with mountainous terrain covering its western and southern area. This creates a spectacular landscape of verdant green valleys, beautiful lakes and fairy-tale forests. There are also numerous, fast-flowing rivers, including Europe’s biggest; the Danube.

Holidaying in AustriaAustria has much more to offer tourists than its dramatically beautiful scenery.

Its cities offer culture, history, magnificent architecture plus entertainment and a vibrant night life.

Vienna is the capital and little more than a century ago it was the imperial seat of government for the mighty Austro-Hungarian empire. It is famous for both its musical tradition and stunning architecture.

Then there is Salzburg, the birth place of Mozart and the location of Europe’s largest and best preserved fortress, the Hohensalzburg. Below this mighty castle, Salzburg’s baroque OldTown is a delight to explore at any time.

Everywhere you go in Austria you are reminded of why the nation is renowned for its rich cultural inheritance. For the real culture buffs, concerts, operas and museums are always beckoning and demanding attention.

Despite the many other things that this relatively small country has to offer the tourist, the majority of holidaymakers are attracted to it by the mountains. Whether it’s a summer holiday relaxing by the side of one of the many lakes, a hiking holiday in the spring time, or a winter sports holiday, the Alpine regions are where most people head for.

Austria’s climate is favourable to outdoor activities although it can be quite changeable. Summers are generally warm and pleasant but fairly heavy rain showers are common.  Austria's winters usually provide dependable snowfalls but in recent years some ski resorts have suffered at the beginning and towards the end of their season. Winter sunshine levels are usually good making a day on the ski slopes attractive scenically as well as being an exhilarating experience. Austria really is a country that offers something for everyone. Use our Best Travel Tip articles to help you to decide which of the many activities and sights are your personal priorities.

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