A jewel in the heart of Europe, Austria is a land of culture and beauty, from the stunning Alpine landscape to Baroque inspired architecture and fairytale castles. From music of Strauss and Mozart to the immensely welcoming people, Austria has so much to offer visitors.
Grandiose Vienna, Austria's capital is the heart of the country's musical life and is home to the renowned Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and Vienna Boy's Choir. This showpiece of the Hapsburg dynasty is a treasure trove of world-class museums and historic monuments, lining the city center. Most of Vienna's main attraction can be found in the Inner Stadt(Inner City) including the Gothic tower of St Stephans Cathedral, the regal Schonbrunn Palace and the colossal Hofburg Imperial Palace. Vienna is also home to the Spanish Riding School, where visitors can watch the elegant white Lipizzaner stallions.
Salzburg, Mozart's birthplace, is idyllically sheltered by impressive mountains and straddles the Salzach River close to the German border. The old town on the south bank of the river with its churches, courtyards and fountains oozes charm and it's easy to see how Mozart became so inspired. From its quaint old town nestled below the medieval Hohensalzburg Fortress to its baroque palace and trimmed gardens, the city present one magnificent view after another. Salzburg was the setting for The Sound of Music, the movie which captured the hearts of everyone who saw it, due in part to the incredible scenery.
For more adventurous, visitors to Austria can head out of the main cities to explore the Alpine scenery. The impressive mountain ranges offer something for everyone, from gentle walks to year-round skiing on the sun-sheltered glaciers. One of the highlights of any visit to the Alps are the Eisriesenwelt Caves. These are the largest accesible ice caves in the world and they cover more than 40 km of passageways and are made from 30,000 cubic meters of ice.
