Cowbells, castles, cable cars and spectacular mountain trails. Travel journalist Sarah Tucker finds a few of her favourite things in Saalbach Hinterglemm.
Sarah's Austrian StayDiscover exclusive interior design and contemporary art combined with organic gourmet food and spectacular spa facilities at the Theresia Gartenhotel****Superior. And, best of all, the ski lifts are right on the door.
Visit Theresia GartenhotelPlanning a ski holiday with kids is more difficult than you might think. That's because there are so many family-friendly winter offers in Austria that it's hard to make a decision where to go.
Top ChoiceIn Hochpustertal there are three skiing areas ideally suited for families, the largest of which is the Thurntaler near Sillian with its 45km runs of all levels, going up to 2407m of sun-flooded slopes with views of the Dolomites and no waiting at the lifts.
Hochpustertal in East TirolHandlebar and saddle remain, but the wheels are replaced by skis on the snowbike, and the pedals are simply not needed for your swift ride down the mountain.
Snowbiking in AchenseeJust bring a good mood and the love of snow - fitness levels and experience can stay at home when you head to the "NTC Blue Day" Fun Park in Carinthia's Nassfeld.
Ultimate Trend SportsHave you ever dreamed of seeing the snow-capped peaks through the eyes of a bird, without motor, without noise? Winter paragliding can offer you just that.
Schladming-Dachstein HighsAn Austrian winter promises not only hours of fun with classic cross-country skiing or even freeriding, but there are also plenty of less known adventures such as snowbiking or airboarding to be had.
Top Winter ActivitiesThe day is not enough. That is why the fun continues by night at Austrian winter destinations, with the world's longest toboggan run, nighttime sleigh rides, snowmobile sessions and plenty more.
Slopes by NightWhat could possibly motivate a reasonable human being to tramp up a mountain on shoes resembling tennis rackets? The answer is easy: the promise of an unforgettable exerience in the wild that can only be had by moving beyond the flurry on the ski slopes.
Activities beyond the SlopesEnjoy a stunning winter walk, learn how to cross-country ski, or simply take in the beautiful surroundings on a horse-drawn sleigh ride. Including a guided tour of Innsbruck, this is a fantastic alternative to your conventional winter holiday.
For those of us who struggle with going to the gym, this outdoor playground in the south-west corner of Vorarlberg is a recreational dream come true.
Outdoor Fitness CentreThe Eagle’s Walk is easily accessible from several holiday regions across Tirol. An incredible hiking experience whether you sample a few days or feast on the full 280km!
Walking in the SkyWhen the stars come out, the Wildkogel sledding arena in Salzburger Land is just starting to heat up.
Nighttime SleddingNot only skiers can have all the fun after dark. Here is a selection of floodlit parks for snowboarders.
Floodlit FunFrom the lush pastures of the Zillertal valley to your plate! The region known for healthy cuisine using organic herbs, naturally reared beef and award-winning dairy products.
Nature's Dinner TableVisit Austria this summer and you may never set foot inside a gym again. Discover Montafon in Vorarlberg, one of nature's adventure playgrounds. Or find beauty at great heights along the Eagle's Walk in Tirol.
Regional HighlightsExperience the living museum of the Alpbach Valley Tirol where life has remained the same for centuries. Or visit the foodie's veritable promised land of Zillertal, renowned for its cuisine and natural ingredients.
Regional HighlightsAustria is your desination for city breaks with a twist: Salzburg presents its Baroque face, Graz is a real paradise for foodies and Innsbruck couples sightseeing with outdoor adventure.
Regional HighlightsThe best routes and excursions for your Austrian trip, through magnificent mountain passes, past spectacular lakes and through beautiful old towns. Here the journey itself is the reward!
On the RoadExperience unforgettable moments and discover Austria this summer with SWAROVSKI OPTIK.
Find out More“The legend lives on!” – that’s the motto of the Karwendel Mountain Walk from the village of Scharnitz, through the Karwendel mountain range to Pertisau on the shores of Achensee lake. This year's legendary hike through one of the Alps' most stunning landscape conservation areas is being held on 25th August.
Read MoreWelcome to our virtual photo exhibition of Summer in Austria: Fresh Sights and Enchanting Surprises. With audio podcasts and story cards for each picture, prepare to be enchanted by Austria's Hidden Treasures.
Visit the Online GalleryBregenzerwald Tourism offers packages that take guests on a culinary trail throughout the region. Stay in a tasteful, typical Bregenzerwald hotel providing comfort and elegant meals based around the creative-regional award-winning cuisine.
Read MoreThe opportunities for a physical workout are almost inexhaustible, and are not just restricted to sport in the narrower sense. Apart from sports grounds, hiking trails, etc., Europatreppe (4,ooo steps) in Partenen offers the ultimate fitness kick, with its sporting highlight the Treppencup.
Read MoreA climbing park is a high ropes course with various exercises in which the visitor moves from tree to tree. The Waldseilpark Golm is the largest climbing park in Vorarlberg. Children have their own special courses with simple exercises at a lower height. Fun, adventure and physical exercise in the open air are guaranteed for all.
Read MoreThe Zillertal is renowned for its cuisine and especially its haymilk products, thanks to the Zillertal Tuxer cattle. We speak to two local haymilk workers to find out about life in this beautiful region.
Meet the LocalsExperience a lofty view of Austria from the Dachstein Skywalk, travel to the National Park Hohe Tauern where the eagles roam, or follow the banks of the famous Danube River along the Donausteig.
What's on in AustriaThe Tirol is where you’ll find one of Europe’s greatest long distance hiking trails. The Eagle Walk runs 280km across Tirol’s most scenic regions from St. Johann to St. Anton am Arlberg, tracing a route in the shape of an eagle in flight and taking you over mountain peaks and along glacier edges. We meet two of the people who know this route best.
Meet the LocalsClimbing the Wilder Kaiser Mountain, cycling the Danube Bike Path, sailing on Lake Traun...Austria is every outdoor fan's wonderland.
What's on in AustriaMontafon has 500 kilometres of walking trails and 800 kilometres of cycling routes, providing year round outdoor fun for its locals. We find out what a Montafon priest and a local hiking guide have to say about their home region.
Meet the LocalsAustria is home to six unique national parks, offering a stunning variety of animals, plants and landscapes. When visiting Austria make sure you spend some time exploring one of these natural havens.
Read MoreGet to know Georg, the feather quill embroiderer from Tirol, and Ander who runs the Unterberghof farm. Meet the locals that make the Austrian region of Alpbachtal so special.
Meet the LocalsThe world's biggest gym, bounded not by walls but by mountains. 4 nights with Montafon-Silvretta-Card, giving access to cablecars and hiking tours.
Get an overview of Innsbruck from 2000m with this package. Includes one night at a 4-star hotel, guided hike and return trip on the Nordkettenbahnen cable car.
Hectic city life is a distant memory in Tirol's Alpbachtal. 7 nights in a 3-star hotel with Alpbachtal Seenland Card.
"On your bike! Ready, steady, go!" Travel through outstanding landscapes in pure mountain air with a well-signposted network of cycle paths. Choose Austria for its unrivalled cycling and mountain bike routes, and accommodation which offers the full service – from repairs, to cycle sheds and deliciously healthy meals – a cyclist must experience Austria!
On your bike!Beautiful valleys, quaint farmhouses and baroque monasteries provide a fantastically scenic backdrop for a tour of Austria by bike. Discover the classic route, the Danube Cycle Path, for a truly breathtaking experience of Austria's great outdoors.
The Danube Cycle PathThis fantastic Inghams offer gives you 7 nights at 4* Hotel Hochfilzer in Tirol's beautiful Ellmau with return flights, resort transfers and a welcome drink.
Despite being a land-locked country, there is certainly no shortage of lakes in Austria to make a splash in. Take a refreshing dip or have a go at diving, sailing or one of the other water sports on offer. In Austria you can always be sure that the water is so good you could even drink it!
Make a Splash01.07.2012
Europe's largest triathlon, the Ironman, will take place in Austria on 1st July 2012. Once again the beautiful region of Carinthia will provide the backdrop for this ultimate sporting challenge.
Read MoreImmerse yourself into the pulsating lifestyle of Austria's cities. Discover the mighty moutain summits, the far ranging fields, the crystal-clear waters. Enjoy the delicious specialities of each region. Compile your personal round trip of Austria here.
Top SuggestionsSkiing and hiking chalets in the Austrian Alps come in all sizes and all standards, with some including extra facilities such as saunas. Whatever your taste there is a chalet for you.
Our advice to save time and money on bike rental is to reserve online! Intersport Rent offers at least 5% discount when booking online, and they'll have the bike ready to go as soon as you get there.
Reserve NowThere's nothing more precious than spending time with the kids on holiday. With Kinderhotels you can choose from a collection of family-orientated, marvellously situated hotels in glorious alpine settings at all-inclusive, affordable rates.
In addition to being a popular sport, Nordic Walking is now seen as an essential part of the wellness industry. More and more fitness centers, health resorts and hotels are offering Nordic Walking as part of their programme, and there could be no better backdrop for this beneficial activity than Austria. So why not make it part of your next holiday?
Our Recommended RegionsThe beautiful long-distance hiking trail the Eagle Walk is the longest hiking path in Europe. Its main route winds through Tirol’s most gorgeous regions from St. Johann to St. Anton am Arlberg and is divided into 23 segments.
Europe's Longest Hiking Path17.07.2012 - 22.07.2012
Klagenfurt hosts the Beach Volleyball Grand Slam, one of the premium beach volleyball events in Europe. Renowned for its friendly party atmosphere, the event attracts thousands of fans every year to the Strandbad beside the stunning Worthersee lake.
Read More15.04.2012
Vienna City Marathon draws cheering crowds and thousands of runners to the city's streets. It leaves Wagramer Strasse along a scenic, but physically challenging, route to Heldenplatz. If 42km is too much, try the mini-marathon, fun run or junior marathon.
Read MoreIn the Nock mountains, located in Carinthia, you will find a world-renowned medicinal plant. Its distinct scent and exceptional healing powers are there to be discovered by hikers strolling in the mountains.
More on the Speik„Find your true inner self where nature is at its purest“ is the motto of a lot of people who choose the wildly romantic mountain scenery and clear lakes of the Nationalpark Hohe Tauern to relax.
More on Nationalpark Hohe TauernHigh up in the Karwendel mountains outdoor lovers can discover one of the most beautiful places in the Alps: a lovely valley with thousands of maple trees, offering nature at its most impressive throughout the whole year.
Go to AhornbodenAn exceptional hotel for Spa lovers, people looking for relaxation, night owls and those in search of adventure. At the Mühlviertel you can experience indulgence and culture with heart and soul.
More on MühltalhofAntony Gormley's Horizon Field consists of 100 life-size, solid cast iron figures of the human body spread over an area of 150km² in the High Alps of Vorarlberg. Horizon Field is the first art project of its kind in the mountains, and the largest landscape intervention in Austria to date, forming a horizontal line at 2,039m above sea level.
Antony Gormley: Horizon FieldChoose Naturidyll Hotels and relax in beautiful surroundings where attention to the environment is paramount. Several properties have even been awarded the Austrian Environmental Seal for exemplary practices in sustainability.
About Naturidyll HotelsFor many city-dwellers, farmstay holidays are a great way to escape the hectic pace of city life for a while and for many children a great opportunity to come into close contact with animals they have only seen on TV.
All the Fun of the FarmThe 'eco-hotel' label guarantees guests environmentally-friendly holidays. The hotels try to minimise the consumption of energy, electricity, water, materials, and waste, and the restaurants serve organic food.
Go Bio this SummerGOLF IN AUSTRIA is a unique marketing alliance of 75 dedicated golf hotels and most of the leading golf courses in Austria. With over 20 years of experience, make it your first point of call when planning your Austrian golf holiday.
Golf Holidays in AustriaWith the Styria Golf Card you are invited to “tee” time on 23 diverse and exciting courses between alpine panoramas and luscious vineyards in the Green Heart of Austria.
It's "Tee" TimeThe breathtaking alpine panorama of the Kitzsteinhorn and Schmittenhöhe can sometimes make it difficult for golfers to keep their eye on the ball in Zell am See-Kaprun!
Golf with a ViewGolfland Niederoesterreich provides golf enthusiasts with a choice of 26 first-class golf courses and 18 top hotels for golf holidays in Lower Austria, all within distance of buzzing Vienna.
Golf and City Break in OneTeeing off at the centre of a winning centrifugal force, woods and irons with an instinct for the right trajectory, putting to perfection – Kitzbühel is the stuff of golfers’ dreams.
The Kitzbühel Golf ExperienceA variety a UK-based tour operators can help you tailormake your next Austrian golf holiday. Take a look at our list of recommendations.
Our Top TipsThose who have experienced the Austrian Alps will no doubt say that there is magic in the mountains. Discover the magic for yourself within our Walk & Nordic Walking pages, filled with all the information you need to start planning your walking holiday in Austria.
Take a HikeFore! Austria has established itself as having some of the best golfing in Europe. With alpine golf, greens surrounded by vineyards, and courses attached to luxurious spa resorts, it is hard to overlook Austria’s rise as a veritable destination for golfing holidays.
Hole in OneCarinthia is not known as Austria's Riviera without reason. This South Eastern corner of Austria is blissfully warm in summer, providing excellent swimming and tanning oppurtunties at its many beautiful lakes.
Bathing Lakes in CarinthiaThe Heart of the Alps, where some 10,000 clean springs bubble up to the surface, offers a wonderful combination of majestic mountains and glittering lakes which are up to 27°C warm.
Bathing Lakes in Tirol185 lakes adorn the landscape across the Salzkammergut region, through mountain valleys and on mountain tops. SalzburgerLand's lakes all have one thing in common: the extraordinary quality of their water.
Often overshadowed by better known destinations, Burgenland is decidedly different. There are no high mountains here and very little snow, but 300 days of annual sunshine with a very mild climate.
Bathing Lakes in BurgenlandThese sky blue lakes are large enough for boat trips, although the warm shores are never far away. Relax and enjoy the summer in Styria, the Green Heart of Austria.
Bathing Lakes in StyriaAlongside the "Salzkammergutweg" the most famous Upper Austrian lakes and warm thermal springs of drinking water quality line up like beautiful pearls on a string, surrounded by a stunning mountain backdrop.
Take in an opera on Lake Constance, or kick back on the sandy shores and allow the gentle waves of one of Vorarlberg's lesser known aqua beauties to trickle over your toes.
Bathing Lakes in VorarlbergVienna is known around the world as the city on the Danube, but it is also home to wetlands, streams, ponds and lakes. In short, there are plenty of opportunities to take a dip when visiting the capital.
Bathing Lakes in ViennaSeveral lakes serve as backdrop for regional festivals in Lower Austria. Take Lunzer See, for example, which hosts the annual "Wellenklänge". Or the Herrensee and its "Schrammel.Klang.Festival".
Bathing Lakes in Lower AustriaAustria is located in a temperate climatic zone with a Central European climate influenced by the Atlantic climate. The four seasons all have typical temperatures and climatic characters.
Climatic Regions and Today's WeatherAustria's topographic diversity accounts for a great variety of flora and fauna, including endemic species that are under preservation.
All Creatures Great and SmallGet heaps of family holiday ideas from the Kinderhotels' official English website, so that you can relax this year while your youngsters have mountains of fun. All-inclusive packages, no hidden extras, the highest levels of service and first class facilities.
Family Holidays at KinderhotelsCaring for the environment is just plain common sense at Austria’s ultra-family-friendly Kinderhotels, where sustainable family holidays don’t come at a premium price.
Austria's Green HabitTranquillity, simple pleasures, the fragrance of flower-strewn meadows and new mown hay, starry skies that city dwellers can only dream of. Discover the true luxuries of our time at an altitude of 1,400 metres in the mountain valley of Villgratental.
More on VillgratentalTo visit Austria is to experience brilliant architecture in dramatic landscapes. Whether you travel through Austria's picture perfect countryside or stay in its imperial cities - architectural masterpieces are to be found everywhere.
Some of the HighlightsEnjoy the luxuries of the good life – simply live in beautiful surroundings, eat and drink well, and savour the landscape. A recipe for total relaxation within Pure Living accommodation.
More on Pure LivingThe gardens of the Kamptal have been especially blessed by nature and 19 unique oases of green can be visited in one of the most beautiful valleys in Lower Austria.
More on the Kamptal GardensThis valley, once completely covered by forest, lies between Lake Constance and the Arlberg and is the ideal destination for gourmet holidays amidst pristine nature.
More on the BregenzerwaldIn this short video clip, writer and photographer Vicky How presents the pleasure of walking through the raw, untouched nature of the Wilder Kaiser range.
MoreIn this short video clip, writer and photographer Vicky How introduces us to the beautiful lake and mountain landscape that Carinthia is best known for.
MoreAustria offers an almost unlimited choice of cycle and mountain bike paths and tours for all ages and interests. Whether you are looking for a challenge, or would prefer a gentler adventure such as E-Biking, you are sure to find the perfect route within the Austrian realms.
On Your BikeAustria's National Parks offer visitors the chance to discover nature in its original, unpolluted state. The perfect opportunity to come face to face with Austria’s scenic beauty at its most imposing.
Austria's Nature at its FinestAustria is now more accessible than ever before with the new iAlps Austria application offering the latest weather reports, many summer resort maps and much more.
Download HereApproximately 650km of marked hiking, mountain climbing and fixed rope climbing routes hold the quality seal for mountain and hiking paths in Seefeld. Check out just a few of the options.
Olympiaregion SeefeldA 50-page walking guide and an online platform where guests can decide upon a route on their computer at home are fantastic initiatives by Zell am See-Kaprun, making for stress-free holiday planning.
Zell am See-Kaprun Walking PortalEstablished in 1991, the High Mountain National Park of the Zillertal Alps offers grand views and unforgettable mountaineering adventures.
Time to ExploreExplore two of the region's most majestic peaks - the 3,000m Kitzsteinhorn and the 2,000m Schmittenhöhe.
Visit Zell am See-KaprunThe Run & Walk Park in the popular resort of Mayrhofen offers both an enjoyable outdoor experience and the right physical challenge for everyone.
Outdoor Fun for AllFrom Vienna, drive along the Danube westward towards Lower Austria. Just past the city of Krems, you’ll encounter the idyllic, terraced vineyards of the Wachau valley. Walking along a path through these ancient Weingärten may lead you to Langenlois, with the richest, most intensely flavored wines of the region.
Visit LangenloisBurgenland is unlike anywhere else in Austria. Whereas Austria is known for rugged Alps, pirouette-inducing meadows or the excitement of Vienna, Burgenland sits on the edge of Central Europe’s vast Pannonian plain.
Wines from Burgenland
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