Austria travel guide
Fresh air, fresh air and more fresh air – Austria is the ultimate destination for outdoor enthusiasts
Fresh air, fresh air and more fresh air – Austria is the ultimate destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
But Austria isn’t just about the Alps. The wooded foothills, gently rolling farmland and flowering meadows in Austria’s lowlands provide equally enchanting vistas. And when your feet grow weary from all that walking, chill out in Salzkammergut and Carinthia’s sparkling lakes. Or head to Vienna for Hapsburg heritage, Salzburg for baroque splendour or the Unesco-listed Wachau valley for medieval monasteries and castles galore.
Wanderlust recommends
Take a hike the luxury way – Combine walking in the Alps south of Salzburg with stays in cosy, family-run hotels
Head to the Wachau region – You won't be able to walk a mile along the Danube without bumping into a charmingly crumbling abbey or castle
Treat your taste buds on the Käsetrasse – A trail of traditional dairy farms running through Bregenzerwald’s mountain forests
Go boating or fishing in Carinthia – ‘Austria’s Alpine Riviera’ boasts over 1,000 lakes and pools
Take the train to Vienna – Belle époque cafés and winery walks in the suburbs
Unwind in Bad Radkersburg – Thermal waters sooth sore muscles after a day’s cycling in the surrounding countryside
Wanderlust tip
If you’re planning on regularly hiking Austria’s mountains, join the Österreichischer Alpenverein (the Austrian Alpine Club), which has a branch in Britain. Members get a 50% discount on the ÖAV’s 500-plus mountain huts dotted across the Alps.