Austria Vacations

Overview

Austria is made up of nine different federal states: Carinthia, Lower and Upper Austria, Salzburg, Burgenland, Styria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, and Vienna. Each state has its own government. The national laws are handled by a national council and the Upper House of Parliament that make up the two branches of Austrian Parliament. Austria is a member of both the United Nations and the European Union.

Austria is home to about eight million people. The predominant language spoken in the country is German. Three quarters of Austrians are Roman Catholic. Ethnic minorities in Austria usually live in the east and south areas and include Croatians, Czechs, Hungarians, Slovenians, Roma, and Slovaks. Austria, like most European countries, has a rich history and has been the birth place of some of the famous people worldwide. Some noteworthy names include Sigmund Freud, artist Gustav Klimt, and famous classical composers like Joseph Haydn, Franz Schubert, Johann Strauss, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Activities & Attractions

Austria's capital, Vienna, is an ancient city that dates back to the century after Christ's death. The Schloss Schönbrunn Palace is an important cultural monument that attracts thousands of tourists each year. It also includes sculpted gardens and a zoo within its premises. Palaces, museums, and coffee houses fill the city. In fact, Vienna has been running coffee houses for almost 400 years. Stephan's Cathedral is one of the oldest buildings in the city and the Ringstrasse is a circular border of the center of the city that one can walk down to enjoy the central city sights. There are many theaters and cinemas, and the city is home to the world famous Vienna Boys' Choir.

The Austrian Alps offers skiing facilities during the winter. You can enjoy the scenic beauty of the mountains during the summertime. There are several walking and hiking tours through various parts of the country that you can opt for to get a true feel of the country.

Cheese making has long been a tradition in Bregenzerwald in Vararlberg, and you can walk the Cheese Street to see real milkmaids, pastures, and specialty cheese inns.

Lodging

Austria offers a range of accommodation facilities, from budget hotels to specialized theme hotels like those designed for seniors or the ones designed for couples out for an intimate vacation. Rooms for standard hotels generally start at about EUR 55. There are hostels available too that offer a much cheaper lodging option. For those really looking for a historic stay, there are ancient castles that have been converted into hotels across Austria.

Transportation

Walking tours are popular in Austria, as many of the popular tourist sites are best viewed on foot. But the Austria railway system is one of the top rail systems in the world and can take you almost anywhere you want to go, including through the Austrian Alps. You can take a bus between points that don't offer the railway service. Bicycle rentals are also popular during the summertime. There are Danube River cruises available for a leisurely travel and boats to rent for pure transportation. Rental cars are available too.