Austria

Types of trips: Historical, Scenic & Natural, Hiking, Snowsports, Musical

Best known for: Sigmund Freud, Edelweiss, Mozart, Classical Music, Christian Doppler, Red Bull, Arnold Schwarzenegger, The Sound of Music, Franz Klammer, Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Why Go?: Austria seems like the quiet break mid-Europe between the much bigger countries surrounding it, but don't be fooled by its quaint looks and lush scenery. It is home to a vibrant culture including classical music and literature housed in some stunning architecture both old and new - it's a place to visit if you want to be constantly surprised by what lies around the corner and to learn about the surprising number of Austrian historical icons and events.

Fact File

Population: 8,500,000

Capital: Vienna

Language(s): German

Ties to the UK?: Popular travel destination

Landscape: Mostly mountainous, lower plains in the east

Climate/Seasons: Summers are warm, with a mid-20s temperature the norm, and the winters are reasonably cold with high snow levels, but remain sunny

When to Go: Avoid the December-January months, but early and late winter are good for visiting the snowy regions - otherwise, the summer period has the best weather and host the majority of the public events and festivals. 

Reasons to Visit: Austria is an understated yet culturally rich country, with a fascinating collection of historically important people - a good place to go to see the origins of major movements in psychology, science, music and many more.

How to Get There: A number of good airports for international links, and the country itself has excellent rail and road networks. The capital has its own tramway service.

Places to Go: Salzburg, Vienna, Schloss Schonbrunn, Tiergarten Schonbrunn, 

Famous People: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Joseph Haydn, Sigmund Freud, Ferdinand Porsche, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Christian Doppler

Natural Wonders/Wildlife: Grossglockner, Ice Rinks on the frozen lakes in winter, Pine Forests

History: Involved heavily in WWII

Architecture: Hofburg Palace, Austrian Parliment Building, Rathaus, Millennium Tower, St Stephen's Cathedral

Culture: Art Galleries, Museums, History of Classical Music, Food (Meat Dishes)

Sport: Skiing, Snowboarding, Ski-Jumping, Football, Ice Hockey, Basketball

Events: Salzburg Festival, Weiner Festwochen

Watch Out For: Reasonably formal culture, and the Church is well respected in society - bear it in mind

Medical Issues: No vaccinations currently required, but consult with your doctor for individual concerns when travelling abroad