Austria travel guide
Austria is most definitely about mountains and music. Just like a symphony, it has everything thrown into its musical mix: Alpine peaks, with Grossglockner the highest in Hohe Tauern National Park, boom out like a rousing brass section. The serene lakes of the north are the strings section, a series of soothing, tranquil movements that you can walk or cycle through in total awe of their purity and pitch perfect beauty.
Download lots of Mozart before you come hiking here on your MP3. He does rousing well, as do his beloved native landscapes
The wind section is Seefeld, with its Olympian action filled winter sports history, but each village and valley proffering its own perfect concerto, but plenty of places to grab solo moments, cross country skiing away from the crowds. The Tyrol is percussion, quirky and independent, but totally unmissable. And the Danube is like the composer, weaving through it all masterfully, bringing together the most harmonious holiday.
Our Austria Holidays
Austrian Lakes cycling holiday, self guided
Spectacular scenic views, gentle shoreline routes and swimming
From
£1797 to £1909
11 days
inc UK flights
Austria yoga & walking holiday
Experience morning yoga combined with stunning alpine hikes.
From
€1120 to €1230
7 days
ex flights
Walking holiday in the Austrian Tyrol
Beautiful mountain scenery and attractive Tyrolean villages
From
£1179 to £1229
8 days
inc UK flights
Austria family activity holiday
A fantastic range of activities in the beautiful Oetz Valley
From
£505
8 days
ex flights
Austrian walking holiday
Explore Austria Alps on foot from our remote mountain home
From
€1120 to €1230
7 days
ex flights
Winter walking holiday in Austria
Venture into three different valleys in the heart of the Tyrol
From
£999 to £1459
8 days
inc UK flights
Central European tours
A fascinating and varied journey through the heart of Europe
From
£1749 to £1849
14 days
inc UK flights
Germany and Austria walking holiday, self guided
Circular trek around Mount Hochkönig and Königssee
From
£679 to £724
8 days
ex flights
Prague to Budapest cycling holiday
A wonderfully contrasting ride through the heart of Europe
From
£2079 to £2249
11 days
inc UK flights
Germany and Austria self guided walking tours
Circumnavigate Germany's highest mountain!
From
£699 to £759
7 days
ex flights
Austria yoga & meditation retreat
Relax completely with yoga and meditation in the mountains
From
€1300
7 days
ex flights
Cross country skiing in Austria
Tuition is provided by Eric Woolley, a Snowsport England Coach
From
£1199 to £1349
8 days
inc UK flights
Danube cycling holiday, self guided
Discove the compelling history of the Danube
From
£1295
14 days
ex flights
Austria activity holiday, Climb the Grossglockner
Outdoor holiday, Mountaineering course & Grossglockner climb
From
€1500
7 days
ex flights
Cycling holiday in the Netherlands, Germany & Austria
European cycling at its best
From
£1995
17 days
ex flights
Danube self guided walking holiday in Austria
Walk along the Blue Danube in the Wachau
From
£764 to £814
8 days
ex flights
Europe by train, 4 week tour
Whole European bucket list in one interrail adventure!
From
£1149 to £1999
4 weeks
inc Eurostar
Ski touring and splitboard course in Austria
The area around our house, MoaAlm, is a ski tour paradise!
From
€1500
7 days
ex flights
Vienna to Budapest cycle ride, self guided
Enjoy rides along the Danube from Austria to Hungary
From
£609
8 days
ex flights
Austria snow shoeing holiday
Enjoy guided hikes & snowshoe tours in East Tirol, Austria
From
€1200 to €1500
7 days
ex flights
Danube cycling holiday, Germany and Austria
Follow the winding route of the Danube
From
£670
8 days
ex flights
Short break hiking holiday in Austria
Small group hiking and cultural tour in Tirol
From
£475
4 days
ex flights
Mindfulness & nature holiday in Austria
Mindfulness & nature awareness course in beautiful Austria
From
€1230
7 days
ex flights
Austria, Czech Republic & Slovakia cycling holiday
Self-Guided Cycling in Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria
From
€639
7 days
ex flights
Austria activity holiday, hiking, snowshoeing & yoga
Relaxingly active snowshoe & yoga in the Austrian mountains.
From
€1200 to €1500
7 days
ex flights
Central Europe by rail in a week
Explore four of Central Europe's most fascinating capitals!
From
£599 to £719
8 days
ex flights
European rail tour, 29 days
4 week small group tour inc. trains, hostels & activities.
From
£2619 to £3169
4 weeks
inc Eurostar
Passau to Vienna cycling holiday in Austria and Germany
One of the most popular cycle paths in Europe
From
£1979
11 days
inc UK flights
Highlights of Central Europe tour
Experience the incredible highlights of Central Europe
From
£1430 to £1635
9 days
ex flights
Austria self guided walking holiday
A glorious mix of spectacular scenic views.
From
£1569 to £1689
9 days
inc UK flights
Austria is/isn't...
Austria is…
like the Swarovski Crystals that are made here. Pure, dazzling, clear and simply beautiful.
Austria isn’t…..
just for winter holidays. It has one of the most superb hiking and cycling networks in Europe.
Our top Austria Holiday
Walking holiday in the Austrian Tyrol
Beautiful mountain scenery and attractive Tyrolean villages
From
£1179 to £1229
8 days
inc UK flights
Small group travel:
2019: 15 Jun, 22 Jun, 29 Jun, 6 Jul, 13 Jul, 27 Jul, 3 Aug, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, 31 Aug, 7 Sep, 14 Sep
2020: 6 Jun, 13 Jun, 20 Jun, 27 Jun, 4 Jul, 11 Jul, 18 Jul, 25 Jul, 1 Aug, 8 Aug, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, 29 Aug, 5 Sep, 12 Sep, 19 Sep
2019: 15 Jun, 22 Jun, 29 Jun, 6 Jul, 13 Jul, 27 Jul, 3 Aug, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, 31 Aug, 7 Sep, 14 Sep
2020: 6 Jun, 13 Jun, 20 Jun, 27 Jun, 4 Jul, 11 Jul, 18 Jul, 25 Jul, 1 Aug, 8 Aug, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, 29 Aug, 5 Sep, 12 Sep, 19 Sep
Helpdesk
Hello. If you'd like to chat about Austria or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help. Rosy & team.
Austria map & highlights
As efficient and exquisite as Switzerland, but without the astronomic costs, Austria packs a pretty punch for a small country. Although it is best known for its downhill skiing holidays – hardly surprising, given that Seefeld has hosted the Winter Olympics twice – cross country skiing infrastructures here are also second to known, especially in the Tyrol region. Similarly, the country’s trails are all maintained to perfection when the snows melt, revealing Edelweiss filled meadows (and yes it is the national flower, but the Sound of Music is definitely not a national favourite) and valleys that beckon hikers and bikers, climbers and rafters.
1. Hohe Tauern National Park
2. North Austrian Lakes
3. Oetz Valley
4. River Danube
5. Seefeld
6. Trins
2. North Austrian Lakes
3. Oetz Valley
4. River Danube
5. Seefeld
6. Trins
Hohe Tauern National Park
1. Hohe Tauern National Park
With Grossglockner at its heart, Austria’s highest mountain at 3,797m, this is alpine arcadia. Summer and winter. In fact, it opens up to a world of high mountain activities in summer, hiking and biking, rafting and canyoning, climbing and alpinism. You don’t have to be a Bonnington to enjoy the beauty, however, with plenty of hiking trails to keep walkers of all levels happy here for days on end.
North Austrian Lakes
2. North Austrian Lakes
These are almost stupidly beautiful, with mountains reflected in the water, sailing boats and castles, cafes with cakes the size of castles, and cosy taverns. Cycling or, in winter, cross country skiing around them is the perfect way to see the likes of Attersee, with the small town of St Georgen tucked in between it and the mountains. Or watersport filled Traunsee, with the cobbled market town of Gmunden lining the shore.
Oetz Valley
3. Oetz Valley
In the Austrian Tyrol, with Oetz as the gateway, this is a mecca of mountain activity, summer and winter. Cut through a range of different peaks belonging to the Stubai Alps, it feels like this meadow and woodland filled valley goes on forever. Indeed, your days can be packed with fun forever here, with superb set ups for white water rafting, climbing, hiking, canyoning and mountain biking, making it a family favourite.
River Danube
4. River Danube
Voyaging along the Danube is a tradition that goes back generations. Hikers and cyclists still love to follow the flow of Europe’s second largest river through a variety of landscapes, although Austria’s Wachau Valley is one of the prettiest. Travelling west to east, just like the river, is to travel through history, with ancient castles, ‘heurigen’ or wine taverns, vineyards and monasteries still bordering the shores of this fine, ancient artery.
Seefeld
5. Seefeld
A Tyrolean town but also a region that is made up of five villages that are most well known because they have hosted the Winter Olympics twice. Just 17km from Innsbruck, there are over 300km of cross country skiing trails here, travelling along plateaus that overlook the River Inn valley, with two main mountain areas to play in: Gschwandtkopf and Rosshütte.
Trins
6. Trins
A chocolate box village and gateway to the Gschnitzal and Obernberg Valleys. Even they don’t sound real, but they will feel real as you push those calves up through the ancient Tyrolean forests, in the foothills of Habicht (3,277m high), one of the Stubai Alps. With a magnificent circuit of mountain huts to complete, as well as ancient farmlands and pastures, this is all so easy on the wandering eye. With or without snow.
More about Austria
Read more about the best time to visit Austria, from Christmas markets and cross-country skiing to edelweiss-covered hillsides and sublime summer cycling.
Inspirational mountain scenery with walking, meditation and steaming bowls of hot choc on the terrace make yoga holidays in Austria one of our favourite things.
Why book with Responsible Travel
Photo credits: [Page banner: Robert J Heath] [Is/isnt: François Philipp]
[Durnstein town: jay8085]
[Seefeld: ?tefan Jurc?]
[North Austrian Lakes: Schloss Litzlberg]
[Trins: NH53]
[River Danube: Gary Bembridge]
[Oetz Valley: Bede735]
[Hohe Tauern National Park: Tadas Balciunas]
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