Thinking of a Holiday in Austria? 10 Useful Planning Tips

Think of Austria and possibly the movie "TheSalzburg, dance the waltz in a traditional Viennese
Sound of Music" is likely to be uppermost in yourball in or boogie the night away in a disco or
thoughts. Certainly, the country's beautiful lakesnightclub in cities across Austria.
and mountains are among its most beguilingFood:
attractions, but they are just part of its appeal.Austria has many culinary delights. Must-try dishes
Here are 10 tips to help kick-start your holidayinclude the traditional wiener schnitzel - fried and
planning, with some suggestions and reasons tobreadcrumbed veal - as well as apfelstrudel
visit the land of music maestros such as Mozart(apple-based pudding), palatschinken (Austrian
and Haydn.pancakes) and mehlspeisen (cakes and puddings).
Austria is a country of vivid greens, from the firMusic:
tree forests and lush alpine meadows of itsAustria has produced legendary composers,
jagged-peaked mountain ranges to lowland areasincluding Mozart, Haydn and Schubert. Salzburg and
of verdant fields, river valleys, diverse woodlandsVienna are the best places to catch a concert,
and vineyards. Austria is also the brilliant white ofoften in historic settings.
freshly-groomed ski slopes and thick snowNature:
carpeting village rooftops, and it is the deep blueThe breathtaking mountain scenery of the Alps
of its lakes and endless summer days strolling thecontrasts with the flatter River Danube basin in
cobblestoned streets of historic cities or sitting onthe east. Nature parks spread throughout Austria
a shaded cafe terrace with a coffee and torte.include the Hohe Tauern National Park, Central
Mountains:Europe's largest area of protected landscape.
Austria's Alps are renowned for their beauty. InHistory:
winter they are criss-crossed by pistes cateringThe Hapsburgs (also known as Habsburgs) ruled
to everyone from beginner to budding Olympicover Austria for six centuries until Charles I fled
champions, with Kitzbuhel's Hannenkham theinto exile at the end of World War I. The empire
toughest race on the World Cup ski calendar.spanned as far as Spain for a time and built
When the snow melts the mountains are a havencastles and palaces across Austria, many of which
for hiking, climbing, hang gliding and many otherstill stand.
pursuits.Shopping:
Lakes:Specialist shops selling quality goods such as
The Salzkammergut area is Austria's Lake Districtleatherware are a feature of Austria's cities. The
and is where the Sound of Music was set.longest shopping streets are Vienna's Mariahilfer
Picture-postcard lakes such as Fuschlsee andStrasse, known by locals as Mahu, and Linzer
Mondsee are edged by chocolate-box villages andLandstrasse in Linz.
towns, among them St Gilgen, St Wolfgang,Touring:
Hallstatt, Gmunden and the town of Mondsee.Rent a car from one of Austria's gateway cities
Cities:and explore exquisite lakes and mountain scenery
Take in the baroque splendour of capital Vienna,dotted with timeless towns and villages, or tour
with architectural treasures including the ornatewine-growing regions such as Lower Austria,
Opera House and Hofburg Palace, and the charmSouthern Styria and Burgenland. Austria has over
of Mozart's birthplace, Salzburg. Other gems30,000 wineries.
include Linz, European Capital of Culture in 2009,There we have them - 10 excellent reasons for a
Styrian capital Graz and alpine beauty Innsbruck.holiday in Austria, where quality is part of the
Nightlife:holiday experience and the hills are certainly alive
Listen to a classical concert in a cliff-top castle into great holiday memories.