Typically, the first stop on your trip to the European country of Austria is Vienna, capital of the country. Vienna conjures up images of romance and intrigue and spending time in Austria’s largest city is recommended. Vienna is blessed with overall mild weather, unique architecture and a vast amount of culture. This metropolis of 1.6 million people is the transport hub that provides clean, modern modes of transportation into the rest of the country. The train system is very reliable and provides an easy way to move around the country. And the scenery while travelling by train is guaranteed to take your breath away.

The Alps are the predominant feature of the landscape here as they cover roughly two thirds of the country. The Alps are famous for ski resorts and mountaineering. Ski areas such as St. Anton and Kitbahel are world class resorts that host many world cup ski and snowboard events. Hiking trails are everywhere throughout the Alps and you could find yourself hiking the very site of the famous movie “The Sound of Music” featuring Julie Andrews. After a day of hiking, skiing or boarding you will find the locals enjoying schnapps, a favorite Austrian drink. Happy afternoons often turn into festive parties that go well into the night. Many bars and discos add to the overall party atmosphere of the ski resorts. Soll is another alpine area that is more family-oriented but still offers all the amenities that one would desire.

Austria is home to many of the world’s most famous classical composers including Mozart, Hayden, Schubert and Strauss. It is a country that has blessed the world with a cultural and musical gift for the ages. Many locations through the country play homage to these artists and you can tour them in the various cities. Another famous export of Austria is none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger, Hollywood movie star turned politician. Wiener Schnitzel and Pez Candy are also by-products of this central European country.

While visiting Austria you may want to stop in and test your abilities in the many world class sports facilities that are available anytime of the year. The city of Innsbruck, which literally means bridge over the river inn, hosted the Winter Olympic Games in 1964 and 1976 and the numerous world class facilities are by-products of hosting these games. While in Innsbruck you can try your talents on the Olympic bobsled run or toboggan down the Olympic slopes. After a day of outdoor activity you may want to pop into a wine pub, which is unique to Austria, and try out a few of the many quality wines.

Some would say that to really experience everything this beautiful country has to offer you must visit some of the other smaller cities. Salzburg is a must-see for the architectural lovers. It has many narrow alley ways, beautiful palaces and fortes to explore. There is a heavy baroque style of architecture that stands as a reminder of the deep history of this landlocked country of mountains. Because of its mountains and high elevation, the weather can be unpredictable and can change at a moment’s notice. Obviously the winter is cold and long but there are many days of clear blue skies. There is a constant westerly wind that can add to the chill but nothing a warm winter jacket cannot circumvent. The summers are surprisingly warm with temperatures running from 20° to 35° celsius. You will definitely need sunscreen as the higher elevation combined with the reflection of sun off the snow means sunburns can easily occur.