Amazing Austria holidays & tours
The land of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johann Strauss and Gustav Klimt, Austria entrances visitors with its extraordinary cultural heritage, its elegant cities and its magnificent Alpine landscapes. You could fill a string of Austria holidays in the cities alone, especially the capital Vienna, with its majestic Hapsburg palaces, stylish coffee houses and treasure-filled museums and galleries. With art, architecture, opera and one of the most breathtaking skylines in Europe, this city at the heart of Europe will capture your own.
To the west, the Baroque splendour of Salzburg is equally unmissable. With its UNESCO-listed old town, half the charm of a visit is wandering the historic streets, strolling in the footsteps of Mozart, who was born in the city and spent his early life here. For fans of The Sound of Music, the city was also used for filming the classic movie.
But there’s more to the country than cities. Take a river cruise along the ‘Blue Danube’, immortalised in Strauss’s famous waltz, through some of Europe’s loveliest scenery, dotted with hillside villages and historic castles. Or from the unspoilt scenery of the picturesque Tyrol to the highest mountain peaks, the Austrian Alps are a walker’s dream in summer and a winter wonderland for skiers during the coldest months.
Alison Porter
Destination expert
What our experts love about Austria
My lasting memory of beautiful Zell am See is gazing down to the lake from the top of the Schmittenhöhe mountain and feeling so tiny against the backdrop of so many snow-capped mountain peaks that were zigzagging around me. Just stunning.
What are the best places to visit in Austria?
From Austria’s culture-filled capital Vienna to the historic streets of Salzburg, the romance of the Danube river and the soaring peaks of the Austrian Alps, there’s always something to tempt, from scenery and relaxation to an art and music-filled city break.
Vienna
Vienna, the capital city of Austria, is a feast for the eyes with its eclectic mix of architectural styles and world-class galleries. Enjoy everything from high Baroque castles and gardens to Rococo palaces and 19th-century imperial grandeur, along with the incomparable music of the State Opera. See Klimt in the Belvedere Gallery, enjoy a slice of Sachertorte in an elegant café or look out across the city from the famous Riesenrad ferris wheel at the Prater. There’s something to discover year-round, whether you’re stopping by on an Austria touring holiday or a river cruise, including the famous Christmas markets.
Vienna, the capital city of Austria, is a feast for the eyes with its eclectic mix of architectural styles and world-class galleries. Enjoy everything from high Baroque castles and gardens to Rococo palaces and 19th-century imperial grandeur, along with the incomparable music of the State Opera. See Klimt in the Belvedere Gallery, enjoy a slice of Sachertorte in an elegant café or look out across the city from the famous Riesenrad ferris wheel at the Prater. There’s something to discover year-round, whether you’re stopping by on an Austria touring holiday or a river cruise, including the famous Christmas markets.
Salzburg
From Mozart to The Sound of Music, Salzburg is steeped in cultural heritage, perfect for art and music aficionados. In the shadow of the Alps, it’s easy to while away the hours strolling through the UNESCO-listed historical centre with its winding lanes and colourful buildings, or wandering along the banks of the Salzach River. Learn more about Mozart’s life, see filming locations made famous by the Von Trapps, or explore one of the oldest medieval castles in Europe, the imposing Hohensalzburg Fortress, and the beautiful Mirabell gardens.
From Mozart to The Sound of Music, Salzburg is steeped in cultural heritage, perfect for art and music aficionados. In the shadow of the Alps, it’s easy to while away the hours strolling through the UNESCO-listed historical centre with its winding lanes and colourful buildings, or wandering along the banks of the Salzach River. Learn more about Mozart’s life, see filming locations made famous by the Von Trapps, or explore one of the oldest medieval castles in Europe, the imposing Hohensalzburg Fortress, and the beautiful Mirabell gardens.
The Danube River
The second-longest river in Europe, a cruise along the Danube takes you through centuries of history and some of the continent’s loveliest scenery. With a backdrop that includes the Austrian Alps, lush vineyards, elegant cities, ancient castles and hilltop villages, this river has been the inspiration for countless musicians, artists and poets over the centuries. Waltz your way along the Danube on a river cruise, soaking up highlights including Austria’s spectacular Wachau Valley, past charming villages and captivating cities, or add a festive touch with a special Christmas cruise along the Danube.
The second-longest river in Europe, a cruise along the Danube takes you through centuries of history and some of the continent’s loveliest scenery. With a backdrop that includes the Austrian Alps, lush vineyards, elegant cities, ancient castles and hilltop villages, this river has been the inspiration for countless musicians, artists and poets over the centuries. Waltz your way along the Danube on a river cruise, soaking up highlights including Austria’s spectacular Wachau Valley, past charming villages and captivating cities, or add a festive touch with a special Christmas cruise along the Danube.
Austrian Alps
Stretching across Austria, the Central Alps are crammed with some of the country’s most dramatic scenery as well as picturesque valleys, waterfalls, lakes, meadows and glaciers. Home to Austria’s highest mountain, the Grossglockner, the Alpine road curves around 36 hairpin bends, taking you to Tauren, the country’s largest National Park, and a viewpoint named for a Habsburg emperor who once gazed out from this spot. Or explore the pretty Tyrol region, dotted with chocolate-box chalets, before visiting Rattenberg, Austria’s smallest town. Along with skiing and snow sports in winter, there’s some great hiking in summer.
Stretching across Austria, the Central Alps are crammed with some of the country’s most dramatic scenery as well as picturesque valleys, waterfalls, lakes, meadows and glaciers. Home to Austria’s highest mountain, the Grossglockner, the Alpine road curves around 36 hairpin bends, taking you to Tauren, the country’s largest National Park, and a viewpoint named for a Habsburg emperor who once gazed out from this spot. Or explore the pretty Tyrol region, dotted with chocolate-box chalets, before visiting Rattenberg, Austria’s smallest town. Along with skiing and snow sports in winter, there’s some great hiking in summer.
Krimml Waterfalls
The fifth highest waterfalls in the world, and the highest in Europe, the thundering spectacle of the Krimml Waterfalls is unmissable when you’re planning your Austria holidays. Dropping 380 metres, you can experience the whole of this impressive force of nature as you follow the trail from the lowest falls to the highest point of the cascades. Along the way, there are viewpoints to soak up the sight of pine-clad slopes through fairytale drifts of mist as you listen to the roar of the crashing torrents of water.
The fifth highest waterfalls in the world, and the highest in Europe, the thundering spectacle of the Krimml Waterfalls is unmissable when you’re planning your Austria holidays. Dropping 380 metres, you can experience the whole of this impressive force of nature as you follow the trail from the lowest falls to the highest point of the cascades. Along the way, there are viewpoints to soak up the sight of pine-clad slopes through fairytale drifts of mist as you listen to the roar of the crashing torrents of water.
More information about Austria
Austria uses the Euro. Major credit and debit cards are also widely accepted and ATMs are easy to find in urban areas.
Currently, UK citizens don’t need a visa to travel to Austria for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Requirements can change, though – for the most up-to-date information on visas, please use the quick-check tool on our visa requirements page.
The best time to visit Austria depends very much on what you’re planning to do on your Austria holidays. If you’re planning to sightsee in the cities, including Vienna, or to go hiking, May/June and September/October tend to be warm and dry without being too hot. The peak summer months of July and August can be oppressively hot, so it’s best to avoid the cities but it’s often cooler in the mountains and a perfect time to swim in the country’s lakes and rivers. If you’re hoping to make the most of the winter snow in the mountains, January to mid-March has perfect conditions, while if you’re planning to enjoy the Christmas markets or a Christmas cruise on the Danube, December is the best month – some markets start as early as mid-November, and Salzburg’s market continues into early January as well.
Austria uses two types of plug, type C and F. Type C has two round pins, while type F is the same but with two earth clips on the side. You’ll need a standard European adaptor to use UK plugs on your tours of Austria. The country operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz, the same as the UK.
German is the official language of Austria, although there are some differences in accent and dialect words. Croatian, Slovenian and Hungarian are also recognised as official languages in some regions, and English is widely spoken.
Yes, English is widely spoken, especially in cities, tourist areas and among the younger generation, where it is usually taught as the country’s first foreign language. However, if you’re heading to more rural areas on your Austria holidays, it may be less common.
Yes, tipping is expected in Austria, and it’s usual to tip around 10% of the bill in restaurants, more if you’ve had very good service. In cafes and bars, it’s normal to round the total up. Tour guides and drivers will appreciate a small tip (we include recommended amounts for tour managers, drivers and guides in our useful information packs, which you’ll receive after booking). Remember that porterage is included in our Austria escorted tours, so there’s no need to tip for bags.
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