Featured Destination - Austria

If you’re looking for a year-round holiday destination, why not stay in one of our fantastic Austrian hotels. Universally renowned for its music and synonymous with Mozart, Austria also boasts plenty of Alpine winter sports, hiking and impressive architecture throughout its adoring cities. The country’s capital Vienna is the focal point of Austria’s musical life, a showpiece city dominated by beautiful art nouveau facades. Spend some unforgettable days sightseeing, shopping or enjoying the museums and performances in spectacular concert halls. A stunning town, Salzburg lies on the Salzach River with a delightful mountain backdrop. Near the border of Germany, its ‘old town’ features the medieval Hohensalzburg Fortress. Simply enjoy the Baroque extravaganza of churches, plazas, courtyards and fountains. Get into the countryside and explore the Eisriesenwelt Caves - the largest accessible ice caves in the world. Open between May and early October, the immense caverns contain elaborate ice formations and frozen waterfalls.

Most popular Sightseeing Tours in Vienna

With its beautiful mountain ranges, rich culture and great food Austria is an ideal destination. But of course that is not to mention the fantastic skiing! Starting in Innsbruck, one of Europe’s most lively and beautiful cities and also named the unofficial snowboarding capital of Europe. Not only a centre for winter sports and host to the Winter Olympics twice, there are other great sights such as the Landestheater and Ambras Castle, not to mention Innsbruck’s exciting nightlife, parties and much more! North east of Innsbruck, you will find Salzburg - home to Mozart and the Sound of Music. With a strong culture, there are many great sights to see such as the Hellbrunn Palace, Hohensalzburg Fortress, Mozart’s birthplace and residence, St Peter’s Abbey and many attractions seen in the Sound of Music. Of course you cannot forget the skiing too, with tracks up to 200km and around 60 lifts, Salzburg will provide you with plenty to keep busy. Last but not least, Austria’s capital Vienna. This is where everything meets; ski nearby at Hohe Wand Wiese or Ötscher, visit the Hofburg (Imperial Palace), wander through the Kunsthistorisches Museum (of fine arts), or dine in the multitude of beautiful cafes and restaurants.

Re-opened in December 2003, the Swarovski Crystal Museum, in Wattens near Innsbruck, is a must see for all travellers visiting Austria. This place has a little something for everyone and will definitely entertain adults and kids. The entrance to the museum is perhaps its most iconic feature. The face of a giant covered in grass welcomes you, with sparkling crystals for eyes and a waterfall coming from its mouth. It is an impressive entry and sets the standard for what is inside the museum.

The museum holds an impressive collection of crystal themed artworks including famous names such as Andy Warhol and Marc Chagall. There is also a ‘Crystal Forest’ that you can walk through; this is also a work of art. Children can enjoy a room made just for them, which houses the giant’s ‘belongings’ and tells the story of his journey to the museum. The story outlines that the giant wandered the world from New York and decided to rest forever on the hills in Wattens, where he was then covered in grass as he slept. A crystal dome that you can step into will also impress visitors, and there is also a floating crystal poem that displays the work Hans Mangus Enzensberger. The museum also features a crystal wall that stretches 42 meters long and 11 meters high. This wall is filled with 12 tons of crystal, enough crystal to make your head spin.

Last but not least is the Swarovski gift shop where you will find more crystals than you know what to do with. All purchases made over € 75 will be tax-free and any visitor making a purchase over € 8 will receive a € 2 cash back refund. The museum will also offer shipping options for all customers. There is also a café at the museum for those who plan to arrive at lunch or want to have an afternoon snack after all their shopping.

The museum is open from 9-6 from Monday to Saturday and is closed five days a year. Children under the age of 12 are free of charge to enter the museum and adult entry is € 8. When bookings are made for ten persons or more entry is only € 7 per person. Getting to and from the museum is simple. A shuttle bus runs to and from Innsbruck and Watten every two hours from 9am to 5pm. The service is free for anyone who has a valid Innsbruck card, otherwise the shuttle costs € 8.50 for an adult and is free for children under 12.

The crystal gallery is also equipped to cater for persons in wheelchairs, with a lift and separate toilet facility.