Overview
Austria has it all—urban sophistication and rustic simplicity, excellent restaurants and music festivals, towering mountains and green valleys, and, of course, world-famous snow during the winter.The Alps cut a curved swath across the country, sparing only sections in the southern and eastern regions. Lush valleys flank the river courses, the most famous being the Danube, Europe's longest. Austria's other rivers—the Inn, the Ill, and the Drau—as well as its many lakes are all extremely scenic.
A paradise for people who enjoy the outdoors, Austria is synonymous with skiing, both downhill and cross-country. There is also the choice, during winter, of ice-skating, curling, and tobogganing or the romance of a horse-drawn sleigh ride. In summer, residents and visitors alike stroll, hike, or ride on horseback or mountain bikes. Challenging mountaineering treks are offered near all the major peaks, and almost every town and hamlet provides guided hikes and alpine tours. Golf and tennis are also popular, as are trout fishing and water sports—such as swimming, sailing, and wind surfing—in the lake districts.
Away from the capital of Vienna and other major towns, daily life has preserved its old-world rhythms and customs. Natural geologic barriers have divided the country into distinct regions where the local population has evolved in relative isolation and fostered its own cultural traditions. These unique flavors are still in evidence today.