Austria (Interrail Countries)

Vienna is the elegant capital of one Europe's most popular destinations for a city trip. And although Austria is not a very big country, the landscape of this mountainous country is incredibly varied. Think of ancient glacial lakes, dense forests or old spas bordered by acres of vineyards. And of course the magnificent Alps, who’s soaring peaks and panoramic views might just be the most breathtaking in the world. In the 18th and 19th centuries Austria was a great and powerful empire, and it still shows in the graceful cities and towns where the past is integrated with the present. Sublime baroque architecture, unspoiled medieval old towns and epic monuments tell the tale of Austria’s glorious past.

Major cities

Vienna
Music, art, literature, theater, food and drink all contribute to Vienna’s friendly atmosphere. Vienna had a long period of great power and wealth under the reign of the Habsburg dynasty, and many of the sights can be traced back to that time. Like the Hofburg Palace Complex, the winter residence for the Habsburgs in the heart of the city and Schloss Schönbrunn the summer palace with 1440 rooms. Don’t miss the MuseumsQuartier, where all sorts of wonderful museums are jumbled together. But don’t be fooled by it’s regal veneer: Vienna is also a dynamic, young city, famous for its (electronic) music scene.
Vienna Tourism website

Salzburg
The birthplace of Mozart, renowned for it’s 17th- and 18th-century architecture and setting of the film ‘The Sound of Music’. The tranquil city of Salzburg straddles the River Salzach and most of the old town (Altstadt), an UNESCO World Heritage site, with it’s narrow streets is on the southern side. The medieval fortress Hohensalzburg rises above the city. Also visit the Salzburg Cathedral (Dom) and have a drink at one of the outdoor café’s that line the Mozartplatz and larger Residentsplatz.
Salzburg Tourism website

Innsbruck
Innsbruck, meaning ‘bridge over the river Inn’, is the capital of Tirol, one of the worlds greatest Alpine playgrounds. The main street of the town is the Maria-Theresien-Strasse and is lined with 17th- and 18th-century houses that characterize the architecture of the region. One of the best things to do is just wander around and soak up the medieval atmosphere of this city. You could start at the famous Goldenes Dachl (Golden Roof), a 16th century display of wealth by Emperor Maximilian I, it is a roof made of 2657 gilded copper tiles. Another main attraction is the Hofkirche which contains Maximilians tomb.
Innsbruck Tourism website

Regions

The Danube Valley
The valley of the Danube river is dotted with ruined castles and medieval towns and terraced vineyards stretch as far as the eye can see. The most beautiful stretch is between the towns of Krems and Melk. Melk’s Benedictine monastery, featured in Umberto Eco’s novel ‘In the Name of the Rose’, is an impressive landmark.

The South: Styria and Carinthia
The south of Austria, made up of the states Styria (Steiermark) and Carinthia (Kärnten), is quite different from the rest of Austria. Elements of Italian, Slovenian and Hungarian culture are everywhere. The rolling green hills and soaring mountains are definitely easy on the eyes.   The capital of Styria, Graz, is one of the country’s most beautiful cities with it’s unique blend of Mediterranean and medieval atmosphere.

Tirol
The landscape of Tirol is what most people envision when they think of the Alps. Picture perfect, snowy mountain ranges converge here. In the northeast and southwest are superb ski resorts and in the west Innsbruck is the region’s jewel. The highest peak of the country, Grossglockner (3797 meters) can be found in the Hohe Tauern National Park in the southeast of the region.

Top ten attractions in Austria

• European Football Championships 2008
  This exciting football tournament will be held in Austria and Switzerland in the summer. Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Salzburg and Vienna will all be hosting matches.
• MuseumsQuartier, Vienna
  Lot’s of different kinds of art very close together. For instance the Leopold Museum (Austrian art), the ZOOM Children’s Museum and the Tanzquartier Wien (the New Centre for Contemporary Dance).
• The KunstHausWien, Vienna
  This building, completed in 1991, upstages the art inside. The walls twist, floors undulate and trees grow out of third-storey windows.
• Eisriesenwelt caves
  These caves have over 40 kilometers of frozen waterfalls and ice-sculptures. They are located near the town of Werfen (south of Salzburg) and the temperature always hovers around freezing, so bring a sweater.
• A Sound of Music tour
  Follow in the footsteps of the musical Von Trapp family and you may start to feel like Fräulein Maria herself.
• Cycling routes
  Though Austria is a mountainous country, cycle routes along rivers are flat or gently downhill and therefore suitable for cyclists. The most famous route is the Danube cycle path from Passau to Vienna, one of the most popular cycle paths in Europe.
• Viennese coffee
  Vienna is famous for its coffee culture. Visit one of the countless traditional coffee houses, but don’t order just coffee, for Vienna prides itself on its dozens of varieties. Enjoy yours with a slice of traditional tasty chocolate ‘Sachertorte’.
• The Wörthersee
  The Wörthersee is one of Austria's top tourist attractions in summer. The setting is visually stunning though the only way to truly experience it is to take a dip, as the water temperature averages between 21-23 degrees Celsius.
• Salzburg Festival
  This classical music festival lasts for five days. Besides Mozart, the many international stars do perform other works. The festival takes place at the end of July.
• Spectacular skiing
  Austria offers a high density of ski resorts. Most of them are smaller and a little cheaper than the ones in France and Switzerland. The ski season lasts from early December to late March.
• Source http://www.interrailnet.com/