Austria

Austria is a unique and exciting country which offers an abundance of choices for every interest: Imperial cities and Alpine hamlets, history and the arts, music in all its forms, and last but not least a pristine Alpine environment with crystal clear lakes, imposing mountain ranges and soft, rolling pastures.

All this is available within only short distances, which is one of the reasons why veteran travelers report about their Austria experiences in glowing terms. Shaped by a turbulent past, the fascinating and sometimes rough nature surrounding us, and the influence of many other European cultures, we Austrians have nevertheless tried to maintain our unique identity. We have succeeded by preserving our unique characteristics: We Austrians are generally a very hospitable people, proud of our beautiful country and cherishing our traditions while striving for innovation and change. At times we can be a bit stubborn or just a touch irritable, but even then, our most amiable characteristic is not lost: Austrians have charm! It may vary, and it may not be obvious at first glance, but that is exactly what makes it so endearing.

Walking

There are numerous ways to experience a destination, but none as intimate and personal as taking the time to enjoy it on foot. Walking is not only an ideal way to improve your physical well-being, it also broadens your horizon by allowing you to deeply explore local cultures and traditions. And in the Austrian Alps, there is a lot to discover. Breathe the fresh air of the mountains while walking the countryside, and enjoy the bustling cultural life of the cities by night. The different pace of a walking vacation enables you to see places you would never have come by otherwise, and allows you to connect with locals and get to know their way of life.

The Alps are a most fascinating region and dominate Austria’s geography. Majestic mountain ranges, lush meadows, crystal clear lakes and unparalleled flora and fauna provide the ideal backdrop for a walking tour. Austria is a paradise for leisurely walkers, and you will find more than 31,000 miles of trails for outdoor enthusiasts of all proficiency levels. Chair lifts and cable cars take you up to higher elevations where you can enjoy terrific views from sunny plateaus. Let your senses take in all the different smells, sights and sounds as you wander along hillsides splashed with the colors of wildflowers.

The Alps also have a profound influence on the Austrian character. The imposing, but sometimes harsh landscape has shaped the people living here for centuries. A healthy respect for the environment and a deep appreciation of long standing traditions are part of our personality. So it is not by accident that many families have lived in a particular village or town for centuries, Alpine Huthotels and guesthouses are run by the third or fourth generations of innkeepers and businesses have served the needs of the local community for a very long time.

Great walking regions in the Austrian Alps are: Lake Constance Region and Bregenzerwald in Vorarlberg, Innsbruck and its Holiday Villages, Alpbach Valley in Tirol, Seefeld in Tirol as well as Salzburger Land.

Skiing

Austria is the land of the perfect winter trip. For many, this means skiing, snowboarding and enjoying Austria’s magnificent winter landscape in world-class winter resorts. In most Austrian ski areas, you carve your turns in wide-open terrain above the tree line. Groomed runs are extra spacious with plenty of untouched powder or mogul runs right along the sides. And most ski towns in the Austrian Alps have more than one mountain for you to play on. Vertical drops of up to 5,500 feet provide runs that are much longer than any North American ski area can offer. But here you can experience more than skiing, in fact, expect more.

Our ski resorts are lively places with an intact village life, and centuries of local traditions, family-run hotels and a bustling nightlife. A fairytale ride in a horse-drawn sleigh is as much part of the experience, as the camaraderie and fun in a ski hut or late night bar visit. In fact, most visitors take plenty of time off from skiing and snowboarding to explore the many diversions a resort visit in Austria offers. Ski trips to Austria are best arranged as weeklong ski packages which are offered by a host of experienced tour companies. Low winter airfares, bargain lift ticket prices and affordable hotels often make ski trips to Austria less expensive than a domestic vacation.

Our Top Winter Resorts include “The Arlberg” region, which includes the twin resorts of Lech and he Vorarlberg province, and St. Anton in Tirol; Innsbruck, the capital of skiing; Stubai Valley/Neustift; Kitzbühel as well as Zell am See.

Culture

One of the fascinating aspects about Austria is that it combines its rich cultural heritage and a drive for innovation with unparalleled ease and elegance. This is especially true when it comes to art and architecture, where past masterpieces influence modern works and they in turn accentuate the other. New museums and the influx of creative ideas from both Eastern and Western Europe have made Austria one of the top destinations for art enthusiasts. Throughout Austria, there is art everywhere you turn.

In Vienna you will find some of the finest museums in Europe, including the Museum of Fine Arts with priceless art collections of the Habsburgs, the Albertina with the world’s largest collection of graphic arts, the Museums Quarter (MQ) which features modern art in the former imperial stables and in modern structures such as the Leopold Museum, the Liechtenstein Museum which displays works of old masters such as Rubens, van Dyck and Rembrandt, and the Belvedere Palace, where you can admire Gustav Klimt’s painting “The Kiss”. Outside of Vienna, visit the Lentos Museum Linz with its international collection of modern and contemporary art. In Graz, the Johanneum shows collections of paintings, coins and archeological finds in historic and modern locations.

The Salzburg Museum of Modern Art on the Mönchsberg offers national and international exhibitions featuring classical modern art, post-World War II art and contemporary art. Austria’s castles are visual reminders of the country’s 1,000-year history.

At their best, Austria’s modern architects create new landmarks and emphasize innovative design, while at the same time managing to accentuate the older, traditional buildings that surround them. One of the greatest examples of the harmony between old and new in Austrian architecture is the Haas House in Vienna, which replaces a warehouse destroyed in WWII, and now reflects the neighboring St. Stephen’s Cathedral in its curved glass and amazonite façade. Another architectural landmark that adds a modern accent to a historic setting is the Kunsthaus Graz. With its bubble-like exterior it forms an exciting contrast to the historic Clock Tower, the prominent landmark of the city.

The town of Langenlois, known for its magnificent wine-vault system, opened the stunning Loisium wine center, designed by US architect Steven Holl. And the new Berg Isel Ski Jump Tower, designed by famous architect Zaha Hadid, has received much praise for its design as a sweeping, geometric run that fits in perfectly with the towering Alps surrounding it. Studying Austrian art and architecture is perhaps one of the best ways to become familiar with the country’s history and to identify yourself with its people. Austrians are inseparable from their history and their art, which means that wherever you stay, your time spent in Austria will be full of cultural experiences big and small.

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