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Austria Overview

Austria’s location to the far East of Europe tends to make it a destination for those who enjoy either a journey of discovery by car, or a fly-drive holiday via Munich airport. In either case, you will find that your journey is richly rewarded by the alpine splendour that awaits you here.

Austrians really embrace the open air life, so you will find that all of our parcs are close to a range of superb hiking, cycling and horse-riding routes, with all sorts of outdoor activities also available, from climbing to kayaking. In fact, even in mid summer you will find skiing available on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier at Zell Am See.

The Eastern Alps are no less stunning though, and the Katschtal Valley of Bella Austria has to be one of the finest hidden gems on the continent, with gorgeous views wherever you look.

Innsbruck, the regional capital is endlessly charming, with street after street of perfectly preserved Tyrolean buildings, including the famous Golden Roof, which remains almost as perfectly preserved as it was on its completion in 1500.

Salzburg is another must-see attraction, the baroque architecture of its old town is absolutely breathtaking. It also enjoys a magnificent alpine setting, and of course, lovers of classical music will definitely want to visit the birthplace of Mozart, the city’s most famous son.

Tyrolean cuisine, as in all mountainous regions tends to be hearty and plentiful, with lots of frites, sausages and Wiener Schnitzel. Though for those with a sweet tooth, Austria’s coffee houses, with their superb pastries and wonderful ‘Apfelstrudel mitt schlag’, or apple strudel with cream, are a must.

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Places to visit - Sightseeing

With some lovely cities and incomparable countryside, camping in Austria offers you a great deal to explore and to discover:

Innsbruck
At the heart of the Austrian Tirol, Innsbruck is a beautiful city with gorgeous buildings everywhere, including such famous landmarks as the Ambras Palace and the Golden Roof. The gondola to the top of the Seegrube is also very enjoyable.

Vienna
The Austrian capital offers a wealth of museums and galleries, together with famous buildings such as the Schloss Schonbrunn, the former Summer Palace; and the huge Hofburg Palace. There are also many historic coffee houses to enjoy here.

Salzburg
As famous for its role in the Sound of Music as for being home to Mozart, the beautiful city of Salzburg revels in its musical past, with a host of tributes to Mozart, and even the chance to visit the actual home of the Von Trapp family.

The Hofburg, Vienna
The centrepiece of the Hapsburg Empire until 1918. the Hofburg is one of the most imperious buildings you will ever see. Still the official seat of the Austrian President, the Imperial Apartments here are well worth visiting.

Museum of the Golden Roof, Salzburg
The Golden Roof is one of Salzburg’s, and indeed Europe’s most arresting sights. So this museum exploring its 15th century origins and construction is well worth a visit.

Spanish Riding School
One of Vienna’s most famous attractions, watching these beautiful horses perform their Lipizzan ballet within the Imperial Palace really is a once in a lifetime experience.

Museum of Modern Art, Salzburg
Enjoying a dramatic situation on the face of the Mönchsberg above the historic old town, the Museum of Modern Art offers more than 3000 square metres of the finest 20th and 21st century art and photography.

Gunster Waterfall
This spectacular, 65m high waterfall has 300 litres per second cascading from its lofty heights, a sight that is made even more spectacular thanks to the presence of a network of walkways that give you the best possible view.

Great for younger kids

Ferleiten Animal Park
This beautiful alpine animal park offers you the chance to see more than 200 native alpine creatures in their natural habitat, and also offers a number of small rides and activities suitable for younger children.

Great for older kids

Zell am See - Kaprun
With the chance of glacier skiing even in summer, plus a host of lakeside activities including sailing, water-skiing, canyoning, swimming and kayaking in the crystal waters, this is a great place for older children and teens.

Places to visit - Activities & events

Skiing
There are few places on earth where you can ski on your summer camping holiday, but the Kitzsteinhorn glacier at Zell am See has snow all year round, with skiing and snowboarding virtually guaranteed for 10 months of the year.

Lake Swimming
Once you’ve played in the snow of the Kitzsteinhorn, lots of people head back down the valley to top their afternoon off with a swim in the clear waters of the lake. Where else on earth could you do that?

Hiking
When the last snows of spring have melted, the mountains and valleys of Austria become a hiker’s paradise, with mile after mile of marked rails right across the Tirol and the Alps.

Paragliding
Almost every mountain here has a gondola or chairlift to its peak, where in summer you will often find opportunities to learn paragliding over the high hills and green pastures.

Unmissable events in Austria

Salzburg Festival – Every August
Starting at the end of July and running throughout August, this is one of the great events in the musical calendar, with a host of classical and operatic events, including tributes to Mozart and the Sound of Music.

Haydn Festival, Eisenstadt
Joseph Haydn is revered only slightly less than Mozart here, so you will find a number of concerts in his honour throughout the summer in Eisenstadt, at venues including the Haydn Hall and Esterházy Palace.

Innsbruck Festival Weeks – August
Held at both the Ambras Palace and the Landestheater, this series of concerts is the highpoint of the year for fans of early music music in Austria.

Tirolean Festival, Erl
Usually held for three weeks in July, the Tirolean Festival celebrates the great works of composers such as Wagner, Neethoven, Bruckner, Orff, Haydn and Puccini, in a series of spectacular concerts.

Places to visit - Eating out

As with many mountainous areas, the Austrians love hearty food, with plenty of fresh meat and some calorific but wonderful cakes and desserts:

• Wiener Schnitzel – breaded, fried escalopes of veal, often served with a potato dish called Erdäpfel Salat.
• Tafelspitz – boiled brisket served with potatoes and a garnish of celery and pickled gherkins.
• Apfelstrudel – delicious strudel made with apples and raisins, best enjoyed in a coffee shop with a healthy dollop of ‘schlag’ or whipped cream.
• Schnaps – the authentic spirit of Austria can be made from everything from cereal to fermented fruit, though Pear Schnaps is perhaps the most popular type in Austria.

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