Austria

Although Austria is largely mountainous – that rugged Alpine landscape which we are all familiar with – about a quarter of the country is low lying and this is where some of the most famous Austrian cities, such as Vienna, Linz and Salzburg, are located.

Vienna, the capital of Austria, is one of the most sophisticated cities in Europe. A walk around the historic centre takes the visitor back to the glory days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with stately palaces, tree lined streets, wide open spaces and rows of historic buildings.

The opulent Hofburg Palace (above) is the perfect place to start a tour of Vienna, then why not have a drink and a cake in one of the stylish art nouveau coffee houses, before wandering through the medieval quarter or down to the banks of the Danube?

The fantastic collection of Gustav Klimt art, including his most well-known painting "The Kiss", at the Belvedere Palace (above) is definitely worth a visit, as is the spectacular Schoenbrunn Palace, the former imperial summer residence.

In the evening, why not take in a performance of the "dancing horses" at the Spanish Riding School, visit the opera, or waltz the night away at one of Vienna's renowned winter balls?

Salzburg is equally picturesque, famous as the birthplace of the world's greatest composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, as well the setting for The Sound of Music, one of the most popular films of all time. Salzburg's medieval Old Town is a World Heritage Site and here you can visit the Mozart Geburtshaus (birthplace) Museum, one of Europe's most frequently visited museums, to find out about the composer's early childhood.

The Austrian Alps are of course most popular for the winter sports they offer and they are the ideal destination for anyone who wants to put on their skis. However, the Alps are beautiful all year round and what better way to spend a warm spring day than hiking up to a high Alpine meadow or wandering the quiet lanes of a romantic mountain village? The city of Innsbruck is a great base for exploring the Alpine region.

Positioned as it is in the centre of Europe, Austria is conveniently placed for a tour which also takes in the spellbinding towns and cities of many other countries, such as Munich in Germany, Budapest in Hungary, Bratislava in Slovakia or Prague in the Czech Republic, which are all less than a day away.