Holiday houses & apartments in Austria

Heavenly skiing and Mozart await at holiday apartments in Austria

Picturesque to almost unsettlingly perfect levels, Austria's cities are as pristine as its famous mountain peaks. Symphonic performances of Mozart, Strauss, Haydn and Schubert in Salzburg's glittering concert halls await. Alpine adventures in summer or winter are just as mood-elevating as the high culture on offer at the festivals in Salzburg and Bregenzer. Tremble at moving performances in concert halls that once heard Mozart in person, and enjoy cakes and ski runs that continue to pique the fancy of royalty. Austria is one of the most elegant countries in Europe, and that's saying something. Cruise or cycle its famous Danube, ski its heavenly slopes and sip coffee in its chandeliered coffee houses.

Austrian adventures

Austria's sporting and cultural attractions are so numerous, especially for such a small country, that it can be difficult to know where to begin. Here are some ideas to help you decide where to base your holiday apartment in Austria:

Venture into Vienna with holiday apartments in Austria

Begin your day at one of Vienna's famed coffee houses. Beneath opulent chandeliers, help yourself to some Sachertorte, an iced chocolate cake enjoyed by Emperor Franz Josef. Maintain your chandelier-lit experience at an equestrian show performed by the world-famous Lipizzaner stallions at the equally illustrious Spanish Riding School. Next, wander through Baroque streets to revel in the Egon Schiele collection at the Leopold Museum before tuning in to the City of Music's world-class classical heritage (Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert and Strauss are just the beginning). While the Musikverein is the stomping ground of the Philharmonic, you can also bask in sonic glory at the Staatsoper, Konzerthaus and MuTh. Finally, relax at your luxurious holiday apartment in Austria's vibrant Viennese capital.

Ski the Austrian Alps around your holiday home

Clouds tumble into snowy mountaintops in the Arlberg region of the Swiss Alps. Hanging onto the western edge of the country near Liechtenstein, the Arlberg comprises seven ski resorts connected by the sky-scraping Flexenbahn cableway. Experienced powder hounds can unleash their speed-freakery on over 300 kilometres of pistes. Among them is the Run of Fame, a 65-kilometre run that links all the resorts in the region. This run is rarely challenging, though there are some niftier red enclaves near St Anton. Brad Pitt and Princess Diana have numbered among the fans of the Mohnenfluh massif, which glides into the upmarket village of Lech. Meanwhile, in St Anton, you'll find more rugged and raucous après-ski options.

Foray into the outdoors from your holiday apartment in Austria

Breathtaking as the Alps are, the Danube Cycle Path also unfolds new wonders around every curve. Flights of sheer fantasy reveal valleys adorned with orchards, rural villages and sublime Lake Constance. Don't miss the alpine spectacles that skirt the Hohe Tauern National Park. Running for nearly 400 kilometres between Passau and Bratislava, Europe's favourite river makes for an unforgettable cycling excursion. A steam train rolls ineluctably through the lush mountains of the Zillertal, a Tyrolean mountain masterpiece. The silver Ziller River bisects the valley, which affords supreme hiking and climbing. In winter, a Zillertaler Superskipass grants access to the valley's 500 kilometres of slopes. There's so much to explore near your holiday apartment in Austria.

Be awed by Austrian castles outside your holiday home

Surprise fountains, a mechanical theatre and the shell-encrusted Neptune Grotto are among the rewards for visitors to Hellbrunn Castle's eccentric environs. Look out for the oriental Chinese Room and come face to face with patron Archbishop Sittikus's Germaul mask, tongue protruding. It is here that The Sound of Music's 'Sixteen Going on Seventeen' was filmed. Velasquez, Titian and Van Dyke fill the central Spanish Hall of Schloss Ambras, near Innsbruck. The hill-topping Renaissance palace is set in gardens shrill with peacocks. Look out for the preserved shark and guest-trapping chair in the Wunderkammer Cabinet. The crown jewel of Swiss castles is the Hofburg, the Hapsburg home palace from 1273 to 1918. It now houses a clutch of museums – check out the Baroque Leopold Wing and Gothic chapel.

Discover more of Austria from your holiday apartment in Tyrol, Salzburgerland or Carinthia

With world-class skiing, countless fairytale castles and the historic city of Innsbruck, Tyrol is a rich and varied region. Roman heritage and the legacy of wealthy patrons of the arts await visitors to this famed segment of Switzerland. Visit Mozart's birthplace, Salzburgerland, in time for the annual music festival. Escape to the Edenic Kitzsteinhorn Glacier, or ski in sublime Saalbach. Lake-splashed Carinthia in the south blends into the Bavarian culture. It's the perfect place to unwind at a Swiss spa, while picturesque Schlossvilla Miralago and Klagenfurt are romantic in the extreme.

Getting to your holiday home in Austria

Naturally, flying is the swiftest mode of conveyance for those travelling between major cities. From London, a flight will take you to one of Austria's major cities in about two and a half hours. There are a wealth of other ways to get to Austria, with perhaps the most sophisticated among them being by train. Rapid and inexpensive, arriving by train is certainly more scenic and arguably more leisurely than flying or driving.

When to stay in holiday homes in Austria

June until August is the sunniest and also the most expensive time to visit Austria. Many prefer spring and autumn when the weather is still superb for outdoor experiences, but the crowds more dispersed. Music fans may want to build a trip around the Vienna Festival in June or the Salzburg Festival and the Bregenzer Festspiele in July. The Christmas markets in Austria are some of the most appealing in Europe, and Austrian architecture looks all the more attractive when dusted with snow in the winter months. Anticipate tolls for using the Austrian autobahn, and be sure to purchase and display a vignette on your vehicle before entering Austria.

Useful information for breaks at holiday homes in Austria

It is easy for European visitors to enter Austria, as a visa is not required. If travelling with your pet, a pet passport, microchip and proof of up-to-date vaccinations will be required for entry into Austria. The currency is the euro, making currency exchange easy and conversion rates uncomplicated to figure out. You'll hear a combination of German, Austrian German, Hungarian and Slovenian spoken in the country, though Austrians also speak excellent English.

Neighbouring countries Austria

• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Switzerland
• Czech Republic
• Germany
• Croatia
• Hungary
• Italy
• Luxembourg
• Slovenia
• Slovakia