Yodeling and electronic music. Rustic farm-house museums and glittering skyscrapers. In Austria, beloved traditions and innovation happily coexist, each nurturing the other. Here, we’d like to focus on the centuries old, uniquely Austrian customs that were passed on from generation to generation, such as the intricate traditional costumes from the Bregenzerwald, or the art of mask-carving in Tirol.
Find out about beloved Austrian TraditionsIn the Renaissance and Baroque, Innsbruck was one of Europe’s most important centers of music. The Innsbruck Festival, the oldest existing festival for early music, carries on this tradition each August.
Learn more about the Festival of Early Music in InnsbruckThe familiar and the unknown, the innovative and the traditional meet at the Carinthian Summer, a festival for new music.
Learn more about Carinthian SummerEach year a huge celebration in front of City Hall kicks off this festival, which combines cultural experiences of the highest order with socially relevant themes and objectives.
Learn more about Wiener Festwochen in ViennaWhether it is a mushrooming trip with contemporary composers or the traditional “pilgrimage” that in the course of one day leads to the various performance venues: each September this festival of contemporary music follows unconventional paths.
Learn more about Klangspuren in SchwazThe combination of culinary pleasures, the historic castle and landscape gardens, the modern architecture, and a world-class concert program makes the Grafenegg Music Festival a delight for all the senses.
Learn more about the Music Festival in GrafeneggThis celebration of the “Vienna sound”, which takes place each May, is not concerned with the stubborn preservation of the typical “Wienerlied”, but with its continuing evolution.
Learn more about wean hean in ViennaWhen for two weeks during the summer the stalls and boxes fill with exuberant music lovers, the annual Jazz Fest Wien has once again taken over the venerable Vienna State Opera.
Learn more about Jazz Fest in ViennaEvery Tuesday evening from the end of July to the end of August the combination of a picturesque village backdrop and urban, cosmopolitan music awaits visitors to Bezau Beatz, the festival of the Bregenzerwald town of Bezau.
Learn more about Bezau Beatz in BezauWorld Music from the Waldviertel: Litschau, Austria’s northernmost city, is the birthplace of the traditional “Schrammel” music. In July, the area surrounding the Herrensee and the Herrensee theatre serves as the location for three days of Austrian folk music, sometimes conventional and occasionally eccentric.
Learn more about Schrammel.Klang.Festival in LitschauA Festival of Flights of Fancy: the donaufestival Krems, held each April, is regarded as t h e festival for current artistic positions at the interface of performance and acoustic art, experimentation, pop, and subculture.
Learn more about Donaufestival in KremsFrom the center of the vineyards rises the aluminium-clad cube of the Visitors’ Centre Loisium, a symbol of how adept the winegrowing town of Langenlois is at linking the modern and the traditional. This theme is also taken up each year in March by the Loisiarte music and literature festival.
Learn more about Loisiarte in LangenloisThe crystal-clear waters of Lake Lunz and the forests and mountains of Lower Austria’s Voralpen region provide the backdrop for a July festival that devotes itself to transcending all borders between styles and genres.
Learn more about Wellenklaenge in Lunz am SeeThe imposing Alps, deep-green mountain pastures, and a lovely lake form the backdrop for Europe’s most important festival for contemporary jazz.
Learn more about International Jazz Festival in SaalfeldenA step toward overcoming barriers: every summer at the beginning of August, Graz becomes one huge stage for a festival of street and puppet theater.
Learn more about La Strada in GrazElectronic music is the most important thing on earth. This, in any case, is the point of departure for Graz springfestival, Austria’s largest festival for new electronic music, which is held each year over one long weekend in June.
Learn more about Springfestival in GrazOn October 23, 2011, the musical “The Sound of Music” celebrated its premiere at the Salzburger Landestheater. Due to its amazing success, the musical will again be presented in 2013/2014 as it enters its third season: from Sept 28, 2013 until May 25,2014, the curtain will again be raised for 15 more performances.
Get tickets now....In the Renaissance and Baroque, Innsbruck was one of Europe’s most important centres of music. The Innsbruck Festival, the oldest existing festival for early music, carries on this tradition each August.
Festival of Early Music in InnsbruckSummer after summer Nikolaus Harnoncourt’s styriarte festival in Graz is the place to be when it comes to new interpretations of old masters.
Styriarte festival in GrazFrom the small village of Oberndorf near Salzburg, the world’s most famous Christmas carol has spread around the globe. Learn about the humble and most charming story of its creation.
At the Bregenz Festival, held in July and August, an evening of opera begins long before the conductor lifts his baton; guests often arrive by boat directly to the immense floating stage– and thus become part of the spectacle themselves.
A legendary conductor in a legendary setting brings to life the legendary Early Music movement. This is the quintessence of the styriarte. Enjoy this delightful classical music festival in Austria’s southern beauty, the city of Graz, just two hours by car south of Vienna.
The combination of a historic castle, culinary pleasures, modern architecture, and world-class performances makes the Grafenegg Music Festival a delight for all senses.
A dining experience of a different kind awaits you in Europe’s oldest restaurant paired with traditionally influenced contemporary music and a delicious three-course-dinner. The only thing that’s missing is you.
Learn more about St. Peter's Stiftskeller...Every year since 1997 artists from all over the world have been coming to Krems and vicinity to explore their own musical roots in an innovative, off-beat, and often surprising manner.
Learn more about Glatt & Verkehrt...Discover the fascinating world of the Salzburg Marionette Theater and see for yourself how the master puppeteers bring to life the expertly carved puppets, captivating their audience with performances of The Sound of Music, Mozart Operas or Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Make a reservation now...Your name interpreted by...Mozart? Leave it to Haus der Musik, Vienna's endlessly creative discovery museum, to make it happen. In "NAMADEUS," visitors can play an interactive computer program based on the composer's famed musical game, KV 516f. The system can be applied to any combination of letters, allowing for great melodic variety -- and surely your first personalized Mozart tune.
Meet Franz Liszt, Wunderkind, piano virtuoso, playboy and abbé, citizen of the world, and self-proclaimed “gypsy musician,” in the hills of Central Burgenland, Austria’s eastern-most region.
One, two, three… dance in the rhythm of the Viennese waltz at one of the famous Viennese balls and enjoy a delicious night at the Confectioners’ Ball. Stunning ball gowns, sweet surprises and a glamorous atmosphere await you.
Learn more about the Confectioners' BallThe Vienna Boy’s Choir is one of the oldest boys' choirs in the world and an enduring symbol of Austria for more than 500 years.
Ever wondered what it's like to conduct an orchestra? Wonder no more, thanks to a remarkable interactive feature at Vienna's beloved House of Music. For music lovers it's a dream within a dream, guiding your own all-start ensemble within the world capital of classical music.
The gothic spires of Vienna’s City Hall are an enchanting backdrop for two summer months of culinary and music delicacies that delight visitors and locals alike. The world class musical performances are broadcast on a gigantic screen and are free to enjoy. Food vendors from some of Vienna’s best restaurants provide an unmatched culinary experience in the heart of the city.
Learn more about the Vienna Music Film Festival...Since 1997 Krems and sourrounding is the home for artists from all over the globe who deal with their musical roots in humorous and witty ways.
Glatt & Verkehrt FestivalFranz Liszt’s musical career took him to various European countries that were to influence his work. His open-mindedness and cosmopolitan outlook made him a “true” European. It is thus no wonder that today he remains a prominent figure in numerous countries in different ways.
Learn more...Of all classical composers, Franz Liszt's was the most colourful: an eccentric and heartthrob, a virtuoso pianist, an intellectual, cosmopolitan and globetrotter. And above all, he composed incessantly. His musical oeuvre comprises 123 piano works, 77 lieder, 25 orchestral works, 65 sacred & 28 secular choral pieces, and numerous arrangements and compositions for organ and other instruments.
Learn more...Franz Liszt is regarded as the creator of an entirely new genre of piano music and a groundbreaking compositional style. As a pianist, as well, he broke with all the conventions of the time, often drawing on one or more themes from familiar operas and using them as the basis for brilliant piano fantasies.
Learn more...Known for its exceptionally high level of service, its comfortable business class and an on-board chef preparing an award-winning six course meal. Be sure to hold on to your boarding pass, which also offers reduced or free entry to museums, discounts on shopping, entertainment and culinary experiences in Austria and around the world.
More information on Austrian AirlinesSince 1876, when the Hotel Sacher Vienna was founded, the Sacher Hotels have combined tradition, luxury, style and Austrian charm with comfort and highest quality service. After more than 120 years, the Sacher Hotels and Cafes have almost become an Austrian landmark and are an integral part of Austrian culture.
Learn more about the Hotel SacherWhen the Viennese Waltz emerged in the second half of the 18th century in Austria, it was as controversial as it was popular. Today, it is so much part of Austrian culture that Austrians waltz into each New Year to the sound of the Blue Danube Waltz broadcast on public radio.
Learn more about the Viennese WaltzDuring the time of Fasching (carnival) there are hundreds of balls staged throughout Austria. Some of the most well-known are the Opera ball, held at the State Opera and the Imperial Ball held on December 31 at the Imperial Palace in Vienna.
Read more about Austria's ball seasonA trip to Austria would not be the same without a visit to the opera or a concert. Get tickets ahead of time to ensure entry to the concert or festival of your dreams
Get your tickets nowWhat happens when you combine wonderful wines with live music, nature, fashion shows, and fantastic food? You get the Carnuntum Experience! Wine expert and co-organizer Dorli Muhr gives us the low-down about this two-week long festival in Lower Austria that is sure to be fun for the entire family
Listen to the podcast20.01.2013 - 24.03.2013 - Mürzzuschlag
Johannes Brahms compositions are partly influenced by Haydn’s music.
MoreAustria is a combination of pristine landscapes and bustling cities, historic towns and cutting-edge architecture, love of tradition and thirst for the new. What keeps travelers coming back to Austria is the sense of "Gemuetlichkeit": a lifestyle that celebrates the finer moments in life.
Austria’s capital offers a unique blend of imperial traditions and stunning modern architecture. It is famous for its cultural events, imperial sights, coffee houses, cozy wine taverns, and the very special Viennese charm.
Find out more about ViennaSalzburg, the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, is dominated by churches, castles and palaces. Its picturesque old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Find out more about SalzburgThe Styrian capital Graz, whose roots date back to the Roman age, lies on both sides of the River Mur, and is well-known for its medieval city center and modern architectural highlights.
Find out more about GrazVorarlberg’s capital is beautifully located at Lake Constance, Central Europe’s third largest lake. It offers a dense cultural program coupled with a wide range of outdoor activities.
Find out more about BregenzA must-stay for all Sound of Music fans! The former Salzburg home of the real Von Trapp family has opened its doors for overnight stays.
More information on Villa TrappIn Austria you can expect a first-class musical experience, whether it's a concert in the rooms of a Baroque palace, at the Opera House or at one of the many festivals.
Learn more about music in AustriaThe Vienna Boys' Choir is one of the oldest boys' choirs in the world. For nearly 500 years it has been an enduring symbol of Austria.
More on the Vienna Boys ChoirThe Viennese singer songwriter scene comes together every year with international guests to perform at a small but highly acclaimed festival.
More on the festivalTo visit Austria is to experience brilliant architecture amid historic settings. As is the case in the city of Graz, a Renaissance jewel two hours south of Vienna, also a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site and European Capital of Culture.
Learn more about GrazWhile parts of Salzburg remain much the same as they were when Mozart spent his childhood here, the city is full of exciting contrasts between the old and the new. Its picturesque streets are packed with modern-art galleries, music clubs, and theaters.
Learn more about SalzburgThe Hotel Imperial presents a special offer for those who enjoy the higher worlds of classical music. The stately palace on the magnificant Ring Boulevard was transformed into the Hotel Imperial for the universal exhibition in 1873.
Learn more about this offerClassic Vacations presents this special package in Vienna’s sophisticated 5* Grand Hotel Wien. Enjoy Vienna with its elegant and modern flair.
Experience the sophisticated Grand Hotel WienCraving the thrill of heli-skiing in the Austrian Alps? Dreamed of attending the New Year's concert in Vienna or the worldfamous Salzburg Festival? Or are you intersted in experiencing the many high-end restaurants you can find throughout Austria? You can have it all...
Get your luxury experienceMusic is a tradtition that Austrians uphold and continue with great enthusiasm. No other country can claim such an impressive history of major composers who either come from or made their mark in Austria. The following is a list of world-class festivals that celebrate this musical heritage with staggering modern or traditional performances.
List of Austria's Top 11 Music FestivalsHaus der Musik is a modern interactive experimental museum in the historic city center of Vienna as well as the location where the Vienna Philharmonic was founded. Six floors are dedicated to the presentation of the fascinating world of music and sound. Send your ears on a discovery trip!
Learn more about the House of SoundThe hills are still alive when you travel through Austria's countryside. Follow the footsteps of the van Trapp family and experience "The Sound of Music". We suggest taking a tour and visiting the movie locations.
Learn more about the Sound of MusicViennese cuisine – the new trend in the culinary world. This Cuisine is based on different national influences going back to the days of the Habsburg monarchy. A well balanced combination of culinary flavors! One finds it everywhere in Austria – from the pub around the corner to the elegant Haute-cuisine restaurants of leading chefs.
Learn more about this packageOur long time favorite classical music tour "The Sound of Austrian Music" tour focused over the years on Mozart, Liszt, Schubert and Bruckner,the greats of Austrian classical music. For 2013 we have not only chosen Franz Josef Haydn as the star of this tour- a musical great of the Classical period- but have added the great composer Richard Wagner who adored Papa Haydn.
Learn more about this packageDeluxe Touring by Private Car to Salzburg, Vienna & Prague - 10 Days
Learn more about this packageSalzburg: 3 days / 2 nights / daily arrivals
Vienna: 4 days / 3 nights / daily arrivals
Learn more about this packageJEWISH Interest Tour - Exclusive Program Limited to 20 Passengers, Guaranteed Departures
Locally Hosted Group Tours
Vienna*Salzburg*Budapest*Prague
13 days/12 nights/Monday Arrivals Guaranteed Departures
7 days / 6 nights: Friday arivals - Escorted Guaranteed Departure Group Tour
Learn more about this package7 days / 6 nights: Friday arivals - Escorted Guaranteed Departure Group Tour
Learn more about this packageExperience the original three scenes of the film and the historic old town of Salzburg. Following the city trip you will spend relaxing days on Wolfgangsee Lake.
Learn more about this packageA must for every true 'The Sound of Music' - fan: visit the famous shooting locations on a comfortable tour bus while you hear the famous melodies. Make your reservation right here
Book the Sound of Music tourLooking for music by Austria's musical genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart? We have selected some CD's for your listening pleasure...
Buy now...Following the enormous success of the stage musical "Sound of Music" Robert Wise produced and directed the film of the same name, which stared Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer.
Learn more about the cast membersThe story of the Trapp family, which was first seen in the movies in 1965, and was awarded five Oscars, still remains one of the three most repeatedly screened films in history.
Learn more about the movie locationsInnsbruck and it's surrounding offers great sites and cultural events. Pay a visit to the famed Swarovski Crystal Worlds or just simply stroll around the old town.
Learn more about events & attractions in InnsbruckYou know Vienna for it's music and culture, for the coffee houses (yes, we did have coffee houses 300 years before Starbucks, or at least that’s what tradition tells us), for the Opera and for the Imperial history that the city still showcases everywhere.
Learn more about Vienna