Austria Travel

Small yet beautiful, Austria has unrivaled Alpine scenery, some of Europe's finest baroque architecture, and a long musical and cultural tradition. The Austrian people also are known for their warmth and hospitality toward visitors. The grandeur of the mountains draws visitors from all over the world, while the combination of efficiency and charm makes Austria one of Europe's most beguiling tourist destinations. Austria is the most mountainous country in Europe, with more than 70 percent of the land occupied by the Alps and Alpine valleys. This section of the eastern Alps is characterized by massive mountain chains with sheer rock faces and jagged ridges broken by deep valleys. The Tyrol region, bordering the Swiss and Italian Alps in western Austria, is renowned for its stunning scenery and is a popular skiing and hiking area. Below the tree line the mountains are heavily forested, giving way to lush Alpine meadows, grazed in summer by gentle faced cattle and carpeted with vivid wildflowers.

Picturesque villages sit amid the pastures and along the valley bottoms, each with distinctive churches, clusters of traditional shuttered houses and wooden farm buildings. The Danube (Donau) river dominates northeastern Austria, and most of the country's people inhabit the rolling terrain around the river. The flat fields of the Vienna basin are intensely cultivated, producing grain, fruit and vines.

Few direct flights are available from USA. A much wider range of departure points, and lower fares, is available on airlines that stop in third countries en route: Air France via Paris, British Airways via London and Lufthansa via Frankfurt. Lauda Air operates direct flights from Australia to Vienna. Getting to Austria by road is simple as there are fast and well-maintained motorways through all surrounding countries. For tailer-made tours, see your travel agent. Various packages are available with a musical theme. There are also bus tours based on hotel or camping accommodation. Rail passes can be purchased from travel agents or through online. Grand Hotel Wien, Le Meridien, Hotel Imperial, Academia Hotel, Am Augarten Rosen, Mate Dependance and Am Sachsengang are few of the Luxury hotels located in Vienna.