Small but perfectly-formed, Austria is heaven for outdoor enthusiasts, with skiing in the Alps and the Salzburgerland, wonderful hiking in the summer months, and some world-class thermal spas. There are more urban pleasures too; cities such as Vienna, Innsbruck and Salzburg boast elegant Hapsburg-era architecture, world-class art galleries and musical heritage that encompasses everything from Mozart to the Sound of Music.
As a non-natural skier, if I'm going to hurtle down a mountain at speed, it has to be Austrian. Nowhere in the Alps offers the same levels of hospitality, with many hotels owned by the same families for generations. A post-piste gluhwein and plate of kasepsatzl (Austrian macaroni cheese) in a mountain hut is one of my favourite things on a ski holiday, while in the summer months, a night at the alfresco Bregenz Festival, with its stunning lake stage, is an annual treat.
4 holidays match your criteria.
We return to Austria for opera combined with walks in an Alpine setting. This new tour focuses on the states of Tyrol and Vorarlberg and their respective capitals, Innsbruck and Bregenz. Amongst the tour’s highlights will be walks in the hills above Innsbruck and von Weber's Der Freischutz set on the floating stage on Lake Constance.
A musical voyage through Habsburg heartland via Europe’s most sublime waterway.
Trams & Trains of Austria from Rail Holidays of the World is an exhilarating holiday in Austria. Available from 6 Sep 2024 to 6 Sep 2024 this 11 day trip costs from £2,530.
Already a firm favourite with our crew, this beautiful ride links the striking cities of Vienna and Prague. There’s not much actual flat, but the gently rolling roads have enviably smooth tarmac and very little traffic – a gift for cyclists of all experience levels!
