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Eisriesenwelt Caves
The caves were first entered in 1879, but it was one Alexander von Mork who pioneered the most extensive exploration: when he signed off, his ashes were placed in an urn in the 'cathedral' cave. Be sure to wear warm clothes when you visit because the passageways are as close as you'll ever come to feeling you've been trapped in your Westinghouse icebox. The caves are open between May and early October and are located near Werfen. You can get there by train from Salzburg (50 minutes) or via Hwy 10. Allow 3-4 hours for the whole visit, which includes getting to the caves from Werfen.
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Grossglockner RoadFor a fantastic 50km (30mi) mountain tour, load up the car and head for the Grossglockner Road, Austria's premier panorama drama. Most of the juicy bits are in the Hohe Tauern National Park where there are dramatic views of numerous unpronounceable peaks, including the mighty Grossglockner. The road was built between 1930 and 1935, but the course it follows has been an important trading route between Germany and Italy since the Middle Ages. The Grossglockner looms across the vast tongue of the Pasterze Glacier and looks every centimetre of its 3797m (12454ft).
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SalzburgSalzburg's Altstadt (old town), on the south bank of the river, is a Baroque fiesta of churches, plazas, courtyards and fountains, oozing the waves of charm that you would expect from this Mozart Mecca. Museums, houses, squares, chocolate bars and liqueurs are all part of one giant homage to Wolfgang. Salzburg is picturesquely sheltered by surrounding mountains and straddles the Salzach River near the border with Germany. From its quaint old town nestled below the medieval Hohensalzburg Fortress to its baroque palace and manicured gardens, the city presents one perfect view after another. more...
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St Anton
St Anton has good, medium-to-advanced runs as well as nursery slopes on Gampen and Kapall. The resort went down in skiing history as the place where Hannes Schneider pioneered the 'Arlberg method' (basically just having your legs glued together) in the early 20th century. Graz
Travel over the hills to the home of the famous white horses of the Spanish Riding School - the Lipizzaner Stud in West Styria. This afternoon trip is not only for horse fanciers. It is for anyone who has a taste for the play of the light on the hills; or the gleam in the glass of a unique Schilcher wine, that glows with the color of onion skins; or the dark glint of pumpkin seed oil; or St. Barbara's Church in Bärnbach, with multicolored decorations by Friedensreich Hundertwasser. Whatever your taste, it is sure to become even more refined as you enjoy a tour that captures not only the beauty of Austria, but it's heart as well.
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CarinthiaCarinthia (Kärtnen), with Austria’s highest mountain, the Grossglockner (3798m/12,457ft) to the west and the Karawanken Mountains in the south, has a mild climate. The famous lakes reach temperatures of 28°C (82°F), and earned Carinthia the European Environment Award for their superb water quality. From the Wörther See to the Hohe Tauern National Park (which extends into Tirol and Salzburg provinces), Carinthia offers a wide variety of excursions even in winter, when the lakes become skating rinks and the 10 ski resorts with 1000km (625-miles) of pistes open their doors to the public. Klagenfurt Klagenfurt - Klagenfurt, the most southerly state capital of Austria with a population of 92,000, nestles in an enchantingly picturesque landscape, surrounded by green meadows, high mountain peaks and the warmest Alpine lake in Europe, the Wörthersee. The Provincial capital lies on the western edge of the Wörthersee, the largest lake in the region. The town is full of tradition, with more than 50 restored baroque arcades now housing shops and coffee houses. It is worth visiting the Dom (Cathedral), the museums and at least some of the 23 castles which encircle the town, now offering restaurants, cultural performances and even an animal sanctuary. The Naturpark Kreuzbergl overlooking the town offers trails, lakes and a way to see the Austrian hills without too much effort.
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Mate Dependance Hotel Vienna
Hofwirt Hotel Salzburg
The Arlberg region comprises several linked resorts and offers some of
the best skiing in Austria. St Anton is the largest and least elitist of
these resorts, but even here budget travellers can kiss their savings
goodbye amid the easy-going atmosphere and vigorous nightlife.
The
Uhrturm (Watchtower) is not only beautiful to look at, but it is home to one
of the oldest bells in the country. And, it doesn't just stop at that. It
serves a practical function. The hands of the clock work the other way
round; the small hand shows the minutes and the big one the hours, making it
much easier to read. The Uhrturm was constructed in 1560 and the bell rung
to announce impending executions; later it indicated the closing hour for
pubs and cafes.
Weitzer
Hotel Graz