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.
With inviting footpaths leading into the mountains in all directions, Pertisau is a real walker's paradise.
Explore the wonderful Danube Valley, cycling beneath magnificent castles and imposing abbeys, and enjoying swimming, water parks and boat trips.
Cycle through Germany, Switzerland and Austria and explore beautiful Lake Constance & the dramatic Rhine Falls at your own pace
Explore the wonderful Danube Valley, passing beneath magnificent castles and imposing abbeys, as you cycle from one four-star hotel to the next.
Discover the beauty of the famous Danube cycle path from Passau to Vienna at your own pace on this self-guided biking holiday
Gentle walks reveal an enchanting fusion of lake and mountain, as well as handsome Hallstatt at the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Everything about this discovery of the Tyrolean Alps is easy and relaxed – the walking, the travelling and the ambience – yet the scenery is utterly sublime.
Discover the high passes and glistening lakes of Salzburg's Ten Lakes region on foot at your own pace
Enjoy a sense of adventure as you explore the beautiful Leutasch Valley on foot and on two wheels, staying in hotels with pools and spas.
A first-rate hotel with cuisine and a spa to match, is complemented by wonderful walks around Lake Achensee and into the surrounding mountains.
