Discover Austria: National Parks, Alps and Culture
Accommodation in Austria
Austria can be explored through a wide variety of natural and cultural landscapes. Six national parks, alpine scenery, historic buildings and regional traditions each offer something different. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus mainly on mountain trails, protected natural areas, notable sights or cultural experiences. The following examples showcase the range of these highlights.
Photo: Alesia Belaya
National Parks and Alpine Landscapes
Austria has six national parks. Together, they protect 2,395 km² of important natural areas—equivalent to around three percent of the country’s area. Their landscapes vary. Kalkalpen National Park protects Austria’s largest wilderness forest; Donau-Auen National Park preserves Central Europe’s last large river floodplain landscape. Wilderness forest and river floodplains thus represent two distinctly different natural settings.
The Austrian Alps also alternate between rugged peaks and gentle alpine pastures. Clear mountain streams and trails are ideal for hiking and cycling. Another alpine attraction, the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, is among Europe’s most impressive high mountain roads. Austria’s ski resorts offer modern cable cars and well-groomed slopes amid the mountains. Night skiing is also possible in some regions; availability varies by region and season.
Information about accessible nature experiences can also be important when planning a trip: Austria’s national parks offer accessible hiking trails and all-terrain wheelchair traction devices. The specific facilities available vary from park to park.
Attractions Through History and the Present
The historic centre of Salzburg has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. Schönbrunn Palace offers a different perspective on history: the Baroque palace and its magnificent gardens served as the Habsburgs’ summer residence. The two sites represent different aspects of cultural heritage, from a historic city centre to a former royal residence.
The scale of the Krimml Waterfalls can be precisely described: they have a drop of 380 metres and are considered Europe’s highest waterfalls. Swarovski Crystal Worlds combines art installations, crystal chambers and an expansive garden park to create an immersive experience. In Vienna, Danube Island offers opportunities for swimming, boating, cycling, skating and beach volleyball. The options range from nature and art to a variety of activities on the water.
The performing arts are another possible focus of a trip to Austria: a renowned Viennese opera house presents opera and ballet performances with an international reputation. At Lake Hallstatt, Fuhren, also known as Plätten, are flat wooden transport boats. Their long tradition includes transporting goods and people. Their name and design offer a different way to discover regional history than visiting a palace or museum.
Regional Cuisine and Traditions
The Wachau is a Danube-shaped landscape of villages, vineyards, orchards, forests, castles and abbeys. Apricots are processed there in small workshops, restaurants and traditional inns. The landscape and its regional produce can be seen as two sides of a visit to the Wachau. In Austria’s wine-growing regions, vaulted cellars in castles and abbeys also welcome visitors for guided tours.
If you’d like to combine exercise with a stop for refreshments, Austria has numerous food-focused hikes leading to alpine pastures, along lakes or through wine regions. The destinations described differ, but share this combination of hiking and stopping for refreshments. Another tradition is the Kneipp method: it is practised and passed on in Austrian health resorts and spas, as well as by clubs and associations.
Discover more destinations: Vorarlberg, Vienna, Tyrol, Styria, Salzburg State, Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Carinthia, Burgenland
