Austria tours bring amazing sightseeing opportunities, especially when driving through the mountainous and forest-filled countryside. Travelers go to Austria not only to enjoy vistas of the Danube River and the Eastern Alps, but also to revel in the cultural opportunities here. Many famous classical music composers were born in this European country, and opera, ballet and concert performances abound. Another highlight for visitors: sampling traditional Austrian foods, such as Weiner Schnitzel, Goulash, and potatoes and dumplings (Knodel).
There's no better place to try Austria's delectable sweet treats than in Vienna, home of Sachertorte, a delicious chocolate cake born in Austria's largest city in the early 19th century. Vienna is a great place to relax in an old-fashioned coffeehouse and take in not only tasty cakes and pastries, but also the local scene during your Austria vacation. Other highlights of Vienna include Prater Park, with its giant Ferris wheel; Hofburg, with the imperial jewels of the Habsburg dynasty; and gothic St. Stephen's Cathedral. Beautiful Schonbrunn Palace is the former residence of the Habsburg emperors; it boasts more than 1,400 rooms set among lovely gardens.
Most Austria tours include overnight visits to two other top cities: Salzburg and Innsbruck. In Salzburg, you can visit the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart on one of the city's most romantic and scenic streets, as well as the massive Salzburg Cathedral, the "High Salzburg Fortress," one of the largest medieval castles in Europe. Innsbruck is a major winter sports center, hosting the Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976. In the heart of the Alps, Innsbruck affords spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and the Inn valley.
