Austria
When you think of Austria you will more than likely imagine snow capped mountains, alpine meadows and sunny skies, but there is more to this distinctive country than meets the eye. Avant-garde and contemporary buildings contrasted with classical architecture, modern art and spectacular spas give Austria an exciting and intriguing edge.
Bordered by eight countries including Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Switzerland and Italy, Austria benefits from a rich and diverse terrain, lead by the mountainous peaks of the Austrian Alps. A mecca for sports and nature lovers, the entire country is dotted with ski resorts, snowboarder’s havens, forests, national parks and woodlands. The powerful River Danube also offers adventure trails and bike trails along with providing the perfect location for a plethera of water sports.
Austria is also well known for its healing thermal mineral water spas and has many spa locations set in stunning mountain settings, as well as in the heart of its cities. These ‘eco-chic’ sancutaries provide a welcoming break for many adventurers fresh from the slopes to soothe their aching limbs. If you are really into your skiing Austria truely is paradise, with extreme on and off-piste terrains for the experts amongst you at Innsbruck, St Anton am Arlberg and Krippenstein. For adventurous beginners venturing onto the slopes for the first time, there are also a host of beginners resorts, the most popular being Mutters, Kaprun and Stubai Glacier.
Vienna
Something else that Vienna is well known for is its food. Viennese favourites such as Wiener Schnitzel and Tafelspitz are a must, along with sampling some of Vienna’s finest cakes and desserts. Visiting the city without indulging in some hot apple strudel (Apfelstrudel), sweet pancakes (Palatschinken) or dumplings (Knödel) really would be a sin!
