Last updated: August 2026
Austria holidays offer one of the most varied and rewarding experiences in Europe — a country where world-class Alpine skiing, imperial grandeur and a café culture are listed by UNESCO in Austria. They all share the same compact and beautiful landscape. Did you know Austria has hosted the Winter Olympics three times and is consistently ranked among the top ski destinations on earth?
Whether you are planning a ski holidays in Austria to Tyrol, or a city break in Vienna or Salzburg, or a summer escape to the lake districts, this guide covers everything you need to choose and book the perfect Austria holiday from the UK.
Austria holidays stand apart because no other country in Europe combines Alpine skiing, imperial architecture, world-class classical music and extraordinary food and wine in such a small and accessible package. The country is roughly the size of Scotland yet contains within it some of the finest ski resorts on earth, two of Europe’s great cities and a lake district that rivals Switzerland at significantly lower prices.
Austria is also one of the safest, best-organised and most visitor-friendly countries in Europe. Public transport is superb, roads are excellent, hotels maintain exceptionally high standards, and the warmth of Austrian hospitality — the famous Gemütlichkeit — makes every visit feel genuinely welcoming rather than transactional.
The country works brilliantly for groups with mixed interests. Skiers and non-skiers, culture-seekers and beach-avoiders, foodies and wine lovers — Austria has something compelling for everyone, and its compact size means that very different experiences are often just an hour or two apart by train or road.
Austria is the undisputed home of Alpine skiing and offers some of the finest resort experiences in the world. The Tyrol region alone contains an extraordinary concentration of world-class resorts: Kitzbühel, famous for its medieval town centre and the legendary Hahnenkamm downhill race; St. Anton am Arlberg, where modern skiing was effectively invented and where the off-piste terrain is still revered by experts; and Ischgl, whose Silvretta Arena pistes and unparalleled après-ski scene attract devoted repeat visitors.
For families and beginners, Mayrhofen in the Zillertal and Söll in the SkiWelt area offer excellent ski schools, gentle nursery slopes and superb value all-inclusive packages. The ski infrastructure throughout Austria is exceptional — modern lifts, immaculately groomed pistes and mountain restaurants of a quality that other countries simply cannot match.
The ski season runs from late November through to early April, with glacier skiing at Stubai and Sölden extending well into summer. Austria’s reliable snowfall and high-altitude resorts make it one of the most snow-secure destinations in the Alps.
Vienna is one of the great cities of the world — a UNESCO World Heritage site of imperial palaces, baroque churches, world-class museums and the finest café culture in Europe. The Hofburg Palace, the Belvedere and Schönbrunn are the headline monuments; the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Belvedere’s Klimt collection are among the finest art galleries on the continent. Vienna also has an extraordinary classical music tradition — the Vienna Philharmonic, the Staatsoper and the Musikverein represent the pinnacle of the form. See our dedicated guide to Vienna holidays for the full picture.
Salzburg, two hours west of Vienna by fast train, is the birthplace of Mozart and one of Europe’s most perfectly preserved baroque cities. Its UNESCO-listed old town, the Hohensalzburg Fortress and the Mirabell Palace gardens are unmissable; the Salzburg Festival each summer is one of the world’s greatest cultural events. See our dedicated guide to Salzburg holidays for the full picture.
Innsbruck, capital of the Tyrol, combines a magnificent medieval old town with immediate Alpine access — you can take a cable car from the city centre to a ski slope above 2,000 metres. It hosted the Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976 and remains one of Europe’s most exhilarating city destinations. Read more in our guide to Innsbruck holidays.
Austria in summer is a revelation for those who associate it purely with snow. The Alpine landscape turns intensely green, carpeted with wildflowers and crossed by outstanding hiking and cycling trails. The mountain huts that serve skiers in winter become welcome stops on summer walking routes, serving cold beer and hot soup with spectacular views at every turn.
The Salzkammergut lake district — centred on the impossibly picturesque village of Hallstatt — is the defining summer landscape of Austria. Swimming, kayaking and cycling around mountain lakes like Wolfgangsee, Attersee and Mondsee provide an idyllic complement to city sightseeing. The region sits conveniently between Salzburg and Linz and is easily combined with either city.
The open-air festival season makes summer especially rewarding in the cities. The Salzburg Festival (late July to August) draws the world’s finest opera singers and conductors; Vienna’s Donauinselfest attracts millions of visitors each June for free outdoor concerts. Both cities are superb in warm weather, with terraced cafés, river promenades and long golden evenings adding enormously to the pleasure of exploring on foot.
Austrian food is one of the great underrated cuisines of Europe. The Viennese classics — Wiener Schnitzel, Tafelspitz, Gulasch — are deeply satisfying dishes executed with care and consistency across the country. The pastry tradition is equally distinguished: Apfelstrudel, Sachertorte and Kaiserschmarrn are world-class in their home country in a way that imported versions rarely match.
Austria’s wine culture is one of its best-kept secrets. The Grüner Veltliner and Riesling whites of the Wachau and Kamptal valleys are among Europe’s finest, and the Blaufränkisch reds of Burgenland have a serious international following. A visit to a traditional Heuriger (wine tavern) in the Vienna suburbs — where new-vintage wine is served in garden settings with cold platters — is one of the quintessential Austrian pleasures.
In the mountains, hearty Tyrolean dishes take over: Tiroler Gröstl, Kasspatzln and a remarkable range of dumplings and soups make the après-ski meal as rewarding as the skiing itself. Mountain restaurant standards in Austria are substantially higher than in comparable resorts elsewhere in the Alps.
The main UK gateways to Austria are Vienna International Airport, Innsbruck Airport and Salzburg Airport. Direct flights from London and major regional UK airports operate year-round on Austrian Airlines, British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair, with journey times of around two hours from London. Charter flights to Innsbruck and Salzburg increase significantly during the ski season.
By rail, Austria is superbly connected. The Eurostar to Paris with onward services to Vienna or Innsbruck is a genuinely enjoyable alternative to flying, and overnight sleeper trains from several European cities make door-to-door journeys comfortable and time-efficient. Within Austria, the fast Railjet network connects Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck with frequent, comfortable services.
| Main airports | Vienna (VIE), Innsbruck (INN), Salzburg (SZG) |
|---|---|
| Key destinations | Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Kitzbühel, St. Anton, Ischgl, Hallstatt |
| Best for | Skiing, city breaks, culture, lakes, hiking, families |
| Highlight | World-class ski resorts combined with imperial city culture |
| Climate | Alpine — cold winters with reliable snow; warm summers (20–28°C) |
| Flight time from London | Approx. 2 hours |
| Currency | Euro (€) |
| Language | German |
Look for ABTA membership, ATOL protection or ABTOT cover — these schemes protect your money if an operator ceases trading before or during your holiday. For a plain-English guide to what each scheme covers, read our holiday protection guide.
For last-minute Austria deals, check LastMinute.com for the latest availability and rates.
Austrian cuisine is substantially more interesting than its Wiener Schnitzel reputation suggests. The schnitzel itself — thin veal or pork, breaded and pan-fried in butter — is genuinely excellent when done well, but Austria’s broader food culture draws on Hungarian, Czech and Italian influences from the former Habsburg Empire. Tafelspitz (boiled beef in broth with horseradish and potatoes) is the Viennese Sunday lunch classic. Käsekrainer, a pork sausage stuffed with cheese, is the essential Viennese street food experience.
Austria’s pastry and coffee house culture is recognised by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage. The Viennese café — marble tables, bentwood chairs, newspapers on wooden poles, unhurried service — is a cultural institution as much as a restaurant. Cake choices are serious: Sachertorte (dense chocolate cake with apricot jam and chocolate icing) and Apfelstrudel (paper-thin pastry encasing spiced apple and raisin) are the most celebrated.
Austria divides neatly into two outdoor holiday seasons. Winter (December to March) brings world-class skiing across hundreds of resorts in Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Salzburg provinces. Kitzbühel, St Anton, Lech and Zell am See attract skiers from across Europe. The ski infrastructure — lifts, pistes, ski schools and après-ski culture — is among the finest on the planet.
Summer (June to September) reveals a completely different Austria. Alpine hiking trails connect valleys, glaciers and mountain huts serving hearty meals to walkers. Lake swimming in the Salzkammergut — the lake district southeast of Salzburg — is a distinctly Austrian summer pleasure. The Danube Valley between Vienna and Linz offers outstanding cycling on flat riverside trails through UNESCO World Heritage vineyard landscapes.
Austria’s rail network is efficient, comfortable and well-priced. The ÖBB Railjet trains connect Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck and Graz at speeds up to 230km/h. The Nightjet overnight train service connects Vienna with Munich, Zurich and other European cities — a sustainable and comfortable alternative to short-haul flying for travellers with time to spare.
Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck all have excellent city public transport. Vienna’s U-Bahn (metro) covers the city comprehensively; a 24-hour or 48-hour travel pass is the most cost-effective option for visitors. In alpine resorts, guest cards issued by accommodation providers typically include free use of local ski buses and lifts during summer.
Austria rewards visitors in every season. The ski season runs from late November to early April, with January and February offering the most reliable snow. Summer (June to August) is ideal for hiking, lakes and city breaks, with warm days and long evenings.
December is magical for Christmas markets in Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck. Spring and autumn offer pleasant weather, excellent value and fewer crowds than the peak ski and summer seasons.
Since Brexit, UK passport holders can visit Austria — an EU and Schengen Area member — for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. Your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay.
The EU’s ETIAS travel authorisation system will require a quick online registration before travel when it launches. It is expected to be inexpensive and valid for multiple trips over three years.
Exceptionally so. Austrian ski resorts are among the best in Europe for family skiing — the ski schools are superb, the nursery slopes are well-managed, and the overall resort infrastructure is very child-friendly. In summer the lake districts, cycling paths and hiking trails suit all ages.
The cities are safe, clean and well-served with family attractions. Vienna’s Natural History Museum, the Prater amusement park and Schönbrunn Palace are perennial favourites, while Salzburg’s hilltop fortress and Hellbrunn’s trick fountains delight children of every age.
Austria sits in the upper-middle range of European destinations. Vienna and Salzburg are comparable to Paris or Amsterdam for city-break costs. Ski resorts are premium — lift passes, hire and mountain dining are significant expenses — but the quality is commensurately high.
Excellent value is available at lunchtime in most restaurants, where two-course menus are very reasonable. Self-catering in the ski resorts and careful planning can bring a ski holiday within reach of most budgets.
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