Exchange rate
£1 =€1.22 EUR EuroAustria
Austria is a country of startling contrasts, from the soaring Alps to the verdant swathes of the Danube Valley. This European beauty is noted as much for its historical buildings, awe-inspiring museums and galleries, as for its world-class skiing conditions and breathtaking mountain scenery. Groundbreaking cultural figures pepper the country's history, from the composing geniuses of Mozart and Schubert, to the great mind of psychologist Sigmund Freud.
Glorious architectural riches include reminders of the once-powerful Habsburgs, who dominated central Europe for seven centuries; the capital, Vienna, is magnificent with its ornate Opera House and the imperial Hofburg, while many other cities are similarly infused with historical magic, notably Mozart's birthplace, Salzburg, with stunning baroque churches set before a backdrop of snow-covered peaks.
Top destinations
Encircled by mountains and straddling the river of Salzach, the beautiful Austrian city of... | Saalbach Hinterglemm is in the Austrian Alps, an easy drive from the city of Salzburg. |
Vienna will surprise you: the strains of Mozart and hip-hop music co-exist, while a stone's... | Seefeld is 25km (16 miles) northwest of Innsbruck, on a plateau above and to the north of the... |