AUSTRIA: A FEW OF OUR FAVOURITE THINGS

Not a Sound of Music fan? Here’s the best of the rest of Austria.

The Danube

At more than 2800 kilometres, this mighty river is the longest in the EU, and the second-longest on the European continent. Starting in Germany’s Black Forest and flowing through to Romania and the Black Sea, the Danube travels through four national capitals — Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Belgrade.

Vienna

Austria’s capital is packed with attractions and you’ll want to spend a few days here at least. Top of your list should be the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the largest art museum in the country. Elsewhere in this beautiful city, make time for the Hofburg Palace, the Spanish Riding School, the State Opera and Unesco-listed Schonbrunn Palace.

Dürnstein

This wine-growing area on the Danube is one of the most-visited tourist destinations in the Wachau region and is a must for riesling drinkers. Check out Durstein Castle, on a hill overlooking the town, which is where Richard the Lionheart was held captive in the early 1100s by Duke Lepold V.

Linz

The third-largest city in Austria, and the capital state of Upper Austria, Linz is famous for the Linzer torte — said to be the oldest cake in the world, dating back to 1653 — and its Baroque Old Town. There are plenty of new attractions here too — the city’s cultural scene saw it named a Unesco City of Media Arts in 2014.

Innsbruck

The capital of Western Austria’s Tyrol region, Innsbruck is a haven for winter sports — twice host to the Winter Olympics (1964 and 1976), the Winter Paralympics (1984 and 1988) and the first host of the Winter Youth Olympics (2012). Anyone inspired by recent feel-good flick Eddie The Eagle could try out their ski-jump skills here — or just have a look at its dizzying heights — at the Bergisel stadium. But it’s not all about the mountains — the Old Town has plenty of castles, museums, churches, galleries, parks and gardens worth checking out too.

Melk Abbey

One of the most famous monasteries in the world, this Benedictine Abbey is perched high on a cliff, overlooking the the Danube. Once a royal castle, the building was gifted to the monks in 1089, who converted it into a fortified abbey. It is now one of the greatest examples of Baroque architecture in the world.