Austria
Austria blends imperial cities, Alpine landscapes, world-class skiing, and charming Christmas markets.
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Austria is one of Europe’s most elegant and scenic holiday destinations, located in the heart of Central Europe and reached from the UK in around 2 to 2.5 hours by direct flight. Renowned for its breathtaking Alpine landscapes, imperial heritage and world-famous musical legacy, Austria offers a perfect blend of culture, history and outdoor adventure. Visitors can explore the grand palaces, historic cafés and classical concert halls of Vienna, discover the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Salzburg, or experience the stunning mountain scenery of Innsbruck and the Austrian Alps. From picturesque lakes and charming villages to world-class ski resorts and vibrant Christmas markets, Austria offers year-round appeal for every type of traveller. Whether enjoying winter sports, exploring historic landmarks or experiencing its rich musical traditions, Austria combines natural beauty with cultural sophistication. Ideal for ski holidays, city breaks, family holidays, luxury holidays and Alpine escapes, Johnson Holidays offers ATOL-protected Austria holidays, Austria package holidays and great-value deals from multiple UK airports.
✨ Why Visit Austria
- Europe's leading Alpine ski region — Austria holds 400+ ski resorts including St Anton, Lech, Ischgl, Sölden and Mayrhofen, with the Arlberg ski area covering 305km of pistes.
- 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites — including the historic centres of Vienna, Salzburg and Graz, the Schönbrunn Palace and the Wachau Valley wine region.
- The world's classical-music capital — Vienna's Musikverein hosts the famous New Year's Day Concert, and the Vienna State Opera runs 350 performances a year.
- A Christmas-market heritage — Vienna's Christkindlmarkt (since 1296), Salzburg's Christkindlmarkt and Innsbruck's Old Town markets draw millions of UK visitors every December.
- Year-round Alpine activity — winter skiing November to April, summer hiking and lake-swimming May to October, with the Salzkammergut and Carinthian lakes warm enough to swim in July and August.
- Direct UK flights from over 15 airports — easyJet, Jet2, British Airways, Austrian Airlines and Ryanair into Vienna (VIE), Salzburg (SZG) or Innsbruck (INN), 2hr 15min from London.
? What Makes Austria Special
Unlike Switzerland — Europe's other major Alpine country — Austria delivers comparable ski quality and Alpine scenery at noticeably lower prices, with pints from €4, pizza dinners from €15pp and ski-week packages from £499pp shoulder season. Unlike Germany, Austria pairs its imperial heritage with a more concentrated ski-and-lake tourism offer — Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck and Hallstatt all sit within a 3-hour drive of each other. And unlike anywhere else in Europe, Austria pairs world-class winter skiing with summer Alpine hiking, classical-music culture (Mozart, Strauss and the Vienna Philharmonic), Habsburg imperial architecture and a Christmas-market heritage that runs from late November to early January in every major city. The combination of 400+ ski resorts, 12 UNESCO sites, summer-lake tourism and imperial heritage makes Austria Europe's most rounded year-round destination.
? Key Areas to Explore
- Vienna (Wien) — The capital and former Habsburg imperial seat, with the UNESCO-listed historic centre, Schönbrunn Palace, the Vienna State Opera and the Musikverein concert hall.
- Salzburg — Mozart's birthplace and the setting for The Sound of Music, with the UNESCO old town, the Hohensalzburg Fortress and the annual Salzburg Festival.
- Innsbruck (Tyrol) — The Alpine capital of Tyrol, twice host of the Winter Olympics, with the Goldenes Dachl (Golden Roof) and the Nordkette mountain cable car.
- Tyrol (the Alpine heartland) — The western Alpine state, with the Arlberg ski area, Ischgl, Sölden, Mayrhofen and the Kitzbühel ski resort.
- Salzkammergut Lakes District — The UNESCO-listed lake region near Salzburg, with Hallstatt, Wolfgangsee and the Dachstein ice caves.
- Vorarlberg — Austria's westernmost state, home to Lech, Zürs and the rest of the Arlberg ski area on the Swiss-German border.
- Carinthia (Kärnten) — The southern lakes region, with Wörthersee (the country's warmest lake), Klagenfurt and the Großglockner High Alpine Road.
- Styria (Steiermark) — The "green heart" of Austria, with Graz (UNESCO old town), the Schilcher wine region and the Loipersdorf thermal spas.
- The Wachau Valley — The UNESCO-listed Danube wine region between Melk and Krems, with vineyards, baroque abbeys and the Melk Benedictine Monastery.
A 9-state Alpine country that pairs 400+ ski resorts with Habsburg palaces, Mozart's Salzburg, the Salzkammergut Lakes and Christmas markets — broken down by category below.
?️ Nature & Outdoor Activities
- Ski the 305km Arlberg area linking St Anton, Lech, Zürs and Stuben
- Drive the 48km Großglockner High Alpine Road (Carinthia/Salzburg)
- Hike the Dachstein Skywalk and Five Fingers viewing platform (Salzkammergut)
- Swim in Wolfgangsee or Wörthersee (Austria's two warmest summer lakes)
- Cycle the 365km Danube Cycle Path from Passau to Vienna
?️ Ski Resorts
- St Anton am Arlberg — Austria's headline ski resort, 305km of pistes on the Arlberg circuit
- Ischgl (Paznaun Valley) — 239km Silvretta Arena pistes and Europe's headline après-ski strip
- Sölden (Ötztal) — Tirol's highest skiing at 3,340m, with three James Bond filming-location glaciers
- Mayrhofen (Zillertal) — the wider Zillertal Arena covers 535km of pistes across four valleys
- Kitzbühel — host of the world's most famous downhill race (Hahnenkamm, every January)
?️ Food & Drink
- Order Wiener Schnitzel (veal escalope, the Vienna original) at Figlmüller (Vienna, since 1905)
- Try Tafelspitz (boiled beef in horseradish) at Plachutta (Vienna)
- Sample Sachertorte chocolate cake at Hotel Sacher Café (Vienna, the original since 1832)
- Order Kaiserschmarrn (shredded sweet pancake) at Café Konditorei Fürst (Salzburg)
- Wine flight at Weingut Domäne Wachau (Dürnstein) with Wachau Grüner Veltliner
? Nightlife & Entertainment
- Vienna State Opera or Musikverein concert (Vienna's 1842 concert hall)
- Mooserwirt and Krazy Kanguruh après-ski bars at St Anton
- Vienna's Bermuda Triangle bar district (Schwedenplatz, central Vienna)
- Salzburg Festival classical-music programme (July to August)
- Live music at Porgy & Bess jazz club (Vienna, since 1993)
? Instagram-Worthy Spots
- The pastel-house lakefront of Hallstatt at golden hour
- Schönbrunn Palace's yellow façade from the Gloriette terrace
- The Salzburg Cathedral and Hohensalzburg Fortress from the Mönchsberg
- The Großglockner peak from the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe viewpoint
- Vienna's Rathausplatz Christkindlmarkt under snow
Best Value Deals
? All-Inclusive Holidays
Austria's AI market is small — the country leans toward half-board mountain hotels, B&B city stays and ski-package inventory rather than mass-market AI. Wellness & Spa Hotel Ermitage (Bad Gastein), Hotel Salzburgerhof (Zell am See, Forbes recognition) and Aldiana Club Hochkönig lead the polished half-board ski rankings. Robinson Club Ampflwang adds the family club option. Shoulder-season weeks with UK flights typically open from £449pp in May-October summer or January, climbing to £1,099pp at February half-term and Christmas-market weekends.
???? Family Holidays
Austria is one of Europe's strongest family-holiday regions. Winter delivers family ski resorts at Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Zell am See-Kaprun and the Wilder Kaiser area, with kids' ski schools standard at every resort. Summer brings the Salzkammergut and Carinthian lakes — Wolfgangsee, Wörthersee and Mondsee are warm enough to swim in July and August. The headline family attractions include the Swarovski Crystal Worlds (Wattens), the Vienna Prater amusement park (with the 1897 Riesenrad Ferris wheel) and the Hellbrunn trick fountains in Salzburg.
? Luxury Holidays
Austria holds Europe's strongest spa-and-ski luxury inventory. Hotel Sacher Wien (Vienna, since 1876, the home of the original Sachertorte) and Park Hyatt Vienna are the headline city five-stars. In the Alps, Hotel Trofana Royal (Ischgl), Schloss Elmau (Bavaria but a short drive across the German border) and the Aurelio Lech (Arlberg) deliver the headline ski-luxury inventory. Bürgenstock Resort and the Almdorf Seinerzeit (Carinthia) add the boutique mountain alternatives. Vienna's Hotel Imperial (since 1873, where Queen Elizabeth II stayed on state visits) is the most distinctive Habsburg-era heritage option.
⏰ Last-Minute Deals
Austria carries solid late-availability stock outside the February-half-term and Christmas-market peaks. The strongest discounts surface in mid-January (after the New Year holiday) and from mid-March to early April (late-season ski deals), with summer deals available throughout June and September — discounts of 20–30% inside three weeks of departure are realistic on Austrian Airlines, Aldiana Club and Robinson Club properties. Unlike Mediterranean destinations, Austria works year-round — winter skiing, spring hiking, summer lake-swimming and autumn wine tourism all keep the inventory open through the calendar.
Why book with us:
? Low deposits from £49pp
? Flexible payment plans with balance due 6 weeks before travel
?️ ATOL Protected — your money and flights are safeguarded
✅ Free amendment window on selected packages
? UK-based customer support, 8am–11pm every day
? Best Time to Visit Austria
Austria runs three distinct seasons. December to early April is the peak ski-and-Christmas-market window, with snow above 1,500m from late November to mid-April; the Christmas markets run late November to 26 December, peaking the second weekend of December. May to mid-October is the summer hiking-and-lakes season, with daytime highs of 18–28°C in the lowlands and the Salzkammergut and Carinthian lakes warm enough for swimming from mid-June to early September. The shoulder months of late April-May and late September-October are the value-strong windows for city breaks (Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck) at 14–20°C with cheaper hotel rates and the wine-region harvest at its best. February brings the Vienna Opera Ball season (always the last Thursday before Lent).
? Where to Stay
- Families: Aldiana Club Hochkönig (Salzburg ski region), Robinson Club Ampflwang (Upper Austria summer), Hotel Salzburgerhof (Zell am See)
- Couples: Hotel Sacher Wien (Vienna, since 1876), Hotel Goldener Hirsch (Salzburg, Marriott Luxury Collection)
- Luxury travellers: Park Hyatt Vienna, Hotel Sacher Wien, Hotel Trofana Royal (Ischgl), Aurelio Lech, Schloss Fuschl (Salzburg lakes)
- Skiers & winter-sport travellers: Hotel Trofana Royal (Ischgl), Aurelio Lech (Arlberg), Hotel Berghof (Lech), Hotel Hochfirst (Obergurgl)
- City-break first-timers & culture lovers: Hotel Sacher Wien, Hotel Imperial Vienna, Hotel Goldener Hirsch Salzburg
? Getting Around
Austria's rail network is one of Europe's best — ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways) connects Vienna to Salzburg in 2hr 30min (from €30), Vienna to Innsbruck in 4hr 15min (from €40), and Salzburg to Innsbruck in 1hr 50min. The Railjet high-speed service runs every 1–2 hours on the main routes. Within Vienna, the metro (U-Bahn) and tram network covers the whole city for €2.40 single; Salzburg and Innsbruck are walkable. For ski resorts, package transfers from Salzburg (SZG) or Innsbruck (INN) airports to the major resorts run 60–120 minutes for €40–80pp. Hertz, Sixt and Europcar rent cars from VIE, SZG and INN from €30 a day. Note that Austria charges a road tax (Vignette) for motorway use — €11.50 for a 10-day sticker, sold at petrol stations near the border.
? Travel Tips
- Austria runs Central European Time — one hour ahead of the UK year-round.
- The currency is the Euro (€).
- Austria's standard VAT is 20%, included in displayed prices; reduced 10% on hotel accommodation.
- Plug type is European C/F at 230V — bring a UK adapter.
- Tap water is excellent quality — Vienna's tap water comes direct from Alpine springs in the Rax mountains.
- Restaurants in Austria typically open earlier than in southern Europe — lunch from 11.30am, dinner from 6pm; kitchens close by 10pm.
- Tipping is expected at 5–10% in restaurants — round up the bill verbally to the waiter, not by leaving cash on the table.
- The Austria Vignette motorway sticker (€11.50 for 10 days) is required on all hire-cars using motorways — buy at petrol stations near the border.
- Vienna State Opera €10 standing-room tickets are sold 80 minutes before each performance — queue at the side entrance on Operngasse from 90 minutes before curtain.
Map Of Austria
Top Experiences
Ski the Arlberg at St Anton or Lech
Austria’s largest ski area, offering 305km of pistes, reliable snow, legendary après-ski, and spectacular Alpine scenery.
Visit Schönbrunn Palace and Vienna State Opera
Explore imperial Habsburg grandeur, magnificent gardens, and world-class opera performances in Austria’s elegant capital city.
Day in Hallstatt’s UNESCO Village
Discover lakeside beauty, historic salt mines, mountain views, and Austria’s most photographed village in the Salzkammergut region.
Christmas Market Crawl in Vienna and Salzburg
Enjoy festive stalls, traditional treats, sparkling lights, and magical seasonal atmosphere in Austria’s historic cities.
Drive the Großglockner High Alpine Road
Experience breathtaking mountain panoramas, glacier viewpoints, winding roads, and Austria’s highest peak on this scenic drive.
Wachau Valley Wine Cruise
Sail along the Danube past vineyards, medieval towns, and abbeys while tasting Austria’s celebrated Riesling and Grüner Veltliner wines.
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