Scenic view of famous Hallstatt mountain village
Austria is a country in Europe whose economy depends massively on tourism. Every year more than 30 million tourists choose Austria as the destination for their holidays, both in summer and in winter.
Discover sumptuous cities like Vienna and Salzburg, rich in contrast between classic and modern, as well as rich in culture and the beautiful mountainous landscapes that makes this country a fairytale land. For those who love snow and winter sports, Austria is a reference point in Europe by hosting some of most famous resorts in Obertauern, Ischgl, Sölden, Saalbach-Hinterglemm and Sankt Anton am Arlberg, Kitzbühel.
While skiers and snowboarders will enjoy the winter season between November and February, the summer season is the recommended period for cities sightseeing, hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing. Experiencing the winter time in Vienna and Salzburg is also welcomed by many tourist that can enjoy visiting the Christmas markets.
Austria is an heterogeneous country. We suggest to plan your trip to Austria by also considering destinations like the Danube Valley (in particular the Wachau UNESCO heritage site) and the Tirol region, famous for his enchanting mountain landscapes, the many lakes and the small characteristic villages.
How to best experience Austria?
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The country of Austria
| Capital | Vienna |
| Time in Austria |
UTC+1 (CET) Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Language spoken | German (Austrian German) |
| Religion(2018) |
69% Christianity (57% Catholicism, 8,7% Orthodoxy, 3,3% Other Christian) 22% No religion 7,9% Islam 1,1% Others |
| Population | 8.935.112 (October 2020 estimate) |
| Unesco World Heritage Sites | 12 |
Austria is a federal parliamentary republic, member of the European Union since 1 January 1999. The capital and largest city is Vienna with a population of about 2 million inhabitants, followed by Graz (270k inhabitants), Linz (193K), Salzburg (146K) and Innsbruck (124K).
Where is Austria?
Austria is located in Central Europe. It is bordered by Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. Being in the middle of Europe made Austria a strategic country and a gate between sides of Europe.
The mountains
Thanks to the presence of the Alps, Austria’s terrain is highly mountainous and hosts some of the highest peaks in Europe. The enchanting landscapes accompanied by the deep and frozen valleys of the mountains take you into a fairytale world.
The Austrian Central Alps are an irresistible attraction for winter sports enthusiasts. The coolest ski resorts are located in Tyrol (on the route Vienna – Linz – Salzburg), Salzburg (Gastein Valley in SalzburgerLand), or Styria (Dachstein Mountains).
Art and architecture
Austria is a country with a fascinating history and amazing architecture. It’s most known for its contributions to music, especially during the Classical and Romantic periods (Joseph Haydn, Gustav Mahler, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Arnold Shoenberg, Franz Shubert, Johann Strauss), to literature (German Middle Ages), to art (Vienna Secession / Gustav Klimt, Kunstshau / Egon Shiele).
Music festivals
Austria is famous for its traditional and modern music festivals that celebrate the heritage of the country and his musical history. Every year several classical performance take place in beautiful locations like centuries-old castles and parks.
To be mentioned: the Innsbruck Festival of Early Music, the Salzburg Festival, the Castle Grafenegg Music Festival, the Bregenzer Festspiele, the Vienna Festival Weeks and the Ars Electronica Festival in Linz.
Museums
Thanks to positive historical circumstances and particularly to the support of the Habsburg monarchs, Austria had a relevant impact on western culture.
Large collections of works from 18th to 20th century are today on display in the museums of Vienna, Salzburg and Graz. In particular: the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Naturhistorisches Museum, thew Heeresgeschichtliches Museum and the MuseumsQuartier in Vienna, the Mozart’s Birthplace in Salzburg and the Österreichisches Freilichtsmuseum Stübing in Graz.