Austria map & highlights
As efficient and exquisite as Switzerland, but without the astronomic costs, Austria packs a pretty punch for a small country. Although it is best known for its downhill skiing vacations – hardly surprising, given that Seefeld has hosted the Winter Olympics twice – cross country skiing infrastructures here are second to none, especially in the Tyrol region. Similarly, the country’s trails are all maintained to perfection when the snows melt, revealing Edelweiss filled meadows (and yes it is the national flower, but the Sound of Music is definitely not a national favourite) and valleys that beckon hikers and bikers, climbers and rafters.
Hohe Tauern National Park
1. Hohe Tauern National Park
With Grossglockner at its heart, Austria’s highest mountain at 3,797m, this is alpine arcadia. Summer and winter. In fact, it opens up to a world of high mountain activities in summer, hiking and biking, rafting and canyoning, climbing and alpinism. You don’t have to be a Chris Bonington to enjoy the beauty, however, with plenty of hiking trails to keep walkers of all levels happy here for days on end.
North Austrian Lakes
2. North Austrian Lakes
These are almost stupidly beautiful, with mountains reflected in the water, sailing boats and castles, cafes with cakes the size of castles, and cosy taverns. Cycling or, in winter, cross country skiing around them is the perfect way to see the likes of Attersee, with the small town of St Georgen tucked in between it and the mountains. Or watersport filled Traunsee, with the cobbled market town of Gmunden lining the shore.
Oetz Valley
3. Oetz Valley
In the Austrian Tyrol, with Oetz as the gateway, this is a mecca of mountain activity, summer and winter. Cut through a range of different peaks belonging to the Stubai Alps, it feels like this meadow and woodland filled valley goes on forever. Indeed, your days can be packed with fun forever here, with superb set ups for white water rafting, climbing, hiking, canyoning and mountain biking, making it a family favourite.
River Danube
4. River Danube
Voyaging along the Danube is a tradition that goes back generations. Hikers and cyclists still love to follow the flow of Europe’s second largest river through a variety of landscapes, although Austria’s Wachau Valley is one of the prettiest. Traveling west to east, just like the river, is to travel through history, with ancient castles, ‘heurigen’ or wine taverns, vineyards and monasteries still bordering the shores of this fine, ancient artery.
Seefeld
5. Seefeld
A Tyrolean town but also a region that is made up of five villages that are most well known because they have hosted the Winter Olympics twice. Just 17km from Innsbruck, there are over 300km of cross country skiing trails here, traveling along plateaus that overlook the River Inn valley, with two main mountain areas to play in: Gschwandtkopf and Rosshütte.
Trins
6. Trins
A chocolate box village and gateway to the Gschnitzal and Obernberg Valleys. Even they don’t sound real, but they will feel real as you push those calves up through the ancient Tyrolean forests, in the foothills of Habicht (3,277m high), one of the Stubai Alps. With a magnificent circuit of mountain huts to complete, as well as ancient farmlands and pastures, this is all so easy on the wandering eye. With or without snow.
Our Austria Vacations
Austria yoga & walking vacation
Daily yoga, stunning alpine hiking, delicious food.
From
€980 to €1080
7 days
ex flights
Germany and Austria hiking vacation, self guided
Circular trek around Mount Hochkönig and Königssee
From
US $1014 to US $1059
8 days
ex flights
Prague to Budapest cycling vacation
A wonderfully contrasting ride through the heart of Europe
From
US $4179
11 days
ex flights
Danube cycling vacation, self guided
Discove the compelling history of the Danube
From
US $2290
14 days
ex flights
Austrian walking vacation
Explore Austrian Alps on foot from our remote mountain home
From
€980 to €1080
7 days
ex flights
Germany and Austria self guided walking tours
Circumnavigate Germany's highest mountain!
From
US $1076 to US $1193
7 days
ex flights
Travel Team
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More about Austria
Read more about the best time to visit Austria, from Christmas markets and cross-country skiing to edelweiss-covered hillsides and sublime summer cycling.
Read every section of our Austria travel guide and you’ll no doubt be singing the praises of Mozart much louder than the virtues of Julie Andrews.
Austrians are proud of where they come from, down to their nearest village.
With so much beautiful landscape on the average Austrian’s doorstep, it’s little wonder that walking is the country’s unofficial national pastime.
Inspirational mountain scenery with walking, meditation and steaming bowls of hot choc on the terrace make yoga vacations in Austria one of our favourite things.
Hike along Alpine trails in the shadow of Austria’s highest mountain before white water rafting through the valleys.
East Tyrol is one of the finest destinations for snowshoeing in Austria, a mountainous landscape of spellbinding beauty and tranquillity.
Keep your carbon footprint low at high altitude: go on a walking vacation in the Tyrol that uses local transport and is fuelled by local food.
Sublime, sky-high Alps don’t have to be daunting. We've gathered the best advice we can on Austria from the people who live there and the people who've just got back.
Austria’s magnificent mountains are so pristine they seem untouchable. But your visit, from the money you spend, to the footprints you leave, affects the country.
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