Austria

With its snow-capped peaks, rolling hills and gingerbread-house countryside, Austria possesses an almost fairy-tale like atmosphere, from the Alps to the capital city of Vienna.

Once the crown jewel of the Habsburg Empire, today Austria continues to be a playground for the international jet set, as well as adventurers looking for extraordinary experiences. Austria’s famous Alps, part of a vast mountain range that also extends through Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland, covers ¾ths of the country and provides year-round hiking, as well as world-class skiing from Lech am Arlberg to Ötztal. Snowboarding and oodles of mountain culture is also found at Lake Contance, right across to Bad Gastein and Pongau in Salzburgerland.

But Austria offers more than just nature. The Viennese capital beckons with its stunning Baroque architecture, cool intellect, creative vibe and signature coffee house scene. Vienna, known colloquially as “Freud’s City”, allows visitors the chance to plumb the depths of their artistic psyche with world-class museums, shops and galleries, before a relaxing respite at a local Beisln (bistro pub) or modernist cafe. Second city, Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart, boasts a still-thriving classical music culture set against the backdrop of papal splendour, medieval twists and Belle Époque architecture.