Cheap flights to Austria from L1,353*

Oh, Austria. The country that gave us Mozart, Haydn and Schubert still strikes all the right notes. Grand palaces and Baroque abbeys, edgy architecture and rustic charm. Alpine peaks, glassy mountain lakes and lyrical riverscapes. Vienna, the world’s most liveable city. The Sound of Music. Art, old and new. Plus decadent cakes in old-world coffee houses, clinking steins of beer and plate-sized schnitzels. And a nation that has got the sights and smells of the Christmas market down to a tee. Austria is everything you’ve heard, and more.

Fly to Austria to:

• Experience imperial elegance at its best in Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck, from architecture to music, fine arts to cuisine.
• Hop from museum to museum in the capital of Austria, boasting some of the world’s greatest collections of art, including most of Gustav Klimt’s work.
• Cosy up with a Kaffee in a traditional Viennese coffee house and indulge in a slice of rich Sachertorte, the city’s iconic chocolate cake.
• See the Habsburgs’ extravagant summer palace, Schönbrunn – leave plenty of time to roam the magnificent gardens and visit the world’s oldest zoo.
• Marvel at the meandering Danube in the World Heritage Wachau valley, lined by steep vineyards, centuries-old castles and wonderful Benedictine abbeys.
• Discover Salzburg, Mozart's birthplace and the film set for The Sound of Music, where splendid Baroque architecture and jagged alpine peaks create the perfect symphony.
• Hike through varied landscapes in the Alps, including glaciers and rocky peaks, lush valleys and wildflower meadows, waterfalls and tranquil lakes.
• Hit the slopes in St Anton, Kitzbühel, Saalbach or on the Hintertux Glacier (the list could go on and on), then join a schnapps-fuelled après-ski party.

A waltz through imperial and alpine splendour

At the height of their power, the Habsburgs reigned over ‘“an empire on which the sun never set’”, stretching from South America to Asia. As one of the wealthiest and longest-ruling houses in Europe, they spared no expense when it came to building lavish palaces and collecting artwork from near and far. You will find traces of Austria’s imperial heritage wherever you go, be it in the form of Baroque architecture, glamorous winter balls, classical music festivals or the treasures on display in one of the country’s world-class museums. But for all that, this is a land where nature has always reigned supreme. The Alps cover nearly two-thirds of the country, offering rugged peaks and deep valleys, divine glaciers, waterfalls and lakes of all shapes and sizes. Hike, rock climb or take to the mountains on a bike, go kayaking or white-water rafting on a glacial-fed river, try canyoning or paragliding... The options are endless. If all this sounds a bit much, head to the sparkling lakes of Salzkammergut or Carinthia for a long soak and just breathe in the beauty around you.

Palace envy and fairy-tale dreams

For a royal welcome, kick off your Viennese city break in the Hofburg, the sumptuous home of the Habsburgs from the first emperor to the last. Follow in the footsteps of Franz Josef I and Empress Elisabeth, or Sisi, in the chandelier-lit Imperial Apartments and admire the glittering crown jewels at the Schatzkammer. Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna’s answer to Versailles, is perhaps even more impressive. After you’ve roamed the rooms open to the public (40 out of 1,441 in total), take time to explore the spectacular gardens, dotted with fountains, sculptures and other attractions. Innsbruck in western Austria used to be another regal favourite – and with good reason. Towering peaks rise literally from the edge of this Baroque city, providing a stunning backdrop to Innsbruck’s dazzling imperial palaces and Gothic Court Church (be sure to go inside to see the ornate mausoleum of Emperor Maximilian). Once ruled by prince-archbishops, Salzburg also exudes Baroque splendour in a fairy-tale setting, with mountains beckoning in the distance. And then there’s Hallstatt. The brightest jewel of the Salzkammergut is impossibly picturesque, set on the shores of a pristine lake that reflects the lofty mountains soaring up wherever you look.

Varied cultural repertoire

For more than six centuries, Vienna was the stamping ground of emperors and empresses, who cemented the city’s place in the world as a centre for everything art and culture. Start with the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where you can ogle masterpieces by Dürer, Raphael and Bruegel, courtesy of the Habsburgs. If Art Noveau is your thing, don’t miss the grand Belvedere Palace, which harbours the world’s largest collection of Klimt, including The Kiss. You’ll be spoilt for choice in the MuseumsQuartier, an ambitious imperial stables-turned-museum hub, where tradition meets the 21st century. Choose the Leopold Museum for works by Expressionist Egon Schiele, the eye-catching MUMOK for pop and modernist art or AzW for architecture. Ready to face the music? Grab a last-minute standing room ticket for a performance at the magnificent Vienna Opera House or perhaps the Wiener Musikverein, home of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Mozart fans should also pencil in a visit to Salzburg, the 18th-century composer’s birthplace and home for 25 years. For a full-on cultural fiesta, schedule your city break to coincide with the world-famous Salzburg Festival in July and August.

Majestic scenery, hiking and skiing

Austria packs in so much natural beauty that would be the envy of a country twice its size. The Alps dominate much of the landscape, home to hundreds of 3000-metre-plus summits, fast-flowing rivers and sparkling lakes. Countless hiking trails and via ferrata routes criss-cross the mountains, offering options for all levels of fitness, experience and courage. If you wouldn’t mind a little assistance with getting up the slopes, there are also plenty of chairlifts, cable cars and even cogwheel trains available. The country’s largest national park is Hohe Tauern, which stretches across 1,786 square kilometres, straddling Tyrol, Carinthia and Salzburgerland. No words do this place justice, so here are some numbers instead: there are more than 300 peaks that soar above 3,000 metres (including Grossglockner, Austria’s highest mountain at 3,798 metres), 342 glaciers, 551 lakes and 26 large waterfalls. In winter, swap your hiking boots for skis – popular resorts include St Anton, Kitzbühel and Saalbach, though you can’t really go wrong anywhere. If green foothills are more your thing, explore the banks of the winding Danube, west of Vienna. Cycle along the UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley, taking in Melk’s majestic Baroque abbey and the charming towns of Dürnstein and Krems, or follow the trails in the Jauerling Wachau Nature Park.