Kuenringerburg
High up on a hill, where it commands a marvellous view of a curve of Danube River, is the ruined castle of Künringerburg, where King Richard I (the Lionheart) was imprisoned from 1192 to 1193 for the heinous crime of insulting Leopold V.
Eisriesenwelt Höhle
The world's largest accessible ice caves are in the mountains near Salzburg. These Eisriesenwelt Höhle (Giant Ice Caves) house elaborate and beautiful ice formations. Take warm clothes because - surprise, surprise - it gets cold inside. The tour lasts 75 minutes, so you need to be reasonably fit.
Schloss Hellbrunn
Built in the 17th century by bishop Markus Sittikus, this castle is mainly known for its ingenious trick fountains and water-powered figures. When the tour guides set them off, expect to get wet! Admission includes a tour of the baroque palace. Other parts of the garden (without fountains) are open year-round and free to visit.
Attractions
Vienna
Grandiose Vienna was the showpiece of the all-conquering Habsburg Dynasty. Monumental edifices line the city centre, world-class museums burst with treasures, white stallions strut their way down mirrored halls, and renowned orchestras and angelic choirboys perform in lavish concert halls.
Vienna has plenty of lower-brow pleasures too - walks in the woods, splish-splashing high jinks on the river, slap-up indulgent evenings in its renowned wine taverns, bar-hopping till dawn. If you can't find something to please you in this generous, opulent, open-armed city, you're ready for the grave.
Cultureheads of every stripe will swoon over Vienna, but music lovers in particular will be in ecstacy. This is the city that nurtured the works of Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Brahms and Mahler, among others. This heritage has an almost physical presence, and music is still a driving force in today's city.
Salzburg
Salzburg's Altstadt (old town), on the south bank of the river, is a Baroque fiesta of churches, plazas, courtyards and fountains, oozing the waves of charm that you would expect from this Mozart Mecca. Museums, houses, squares, chocolate bars and liqueurs are all part of one giant homage to Wolfgang.
The Salzburg that everyone knows and loves was largely built by three bishop-princes between the late-16th and early-17th centuries, which is what gives the city its Italian flavour and its skyline punctuated by countless medieval spires, domes, belfries and turrets.
Getting there
Overview
Most travellers arriving in Austria by air will find themselves touching down in Vienna, though there are five other international airports in the country. If you're on a tight budget, consider crossing into Austria by bus. But if speed and comfort are your priorities, spend a few more euros on a train ticket or hiring a car. It's possible to arrive in Austria by boat, but this is an endeavour only suitable for those with time and money.
Plane
Vienna is Austria's main air transport hub, but there are international airports at Linz, Graz, Salzburg, Innsbruck and Klagenfurt. If you're visiting Austria from outside Europe, it may be cheaper to fly to a European 'gateway' city and travel overland from there. Munich, for example, is only two hours by train from Salzburg. Technically there's no departure tax when flying out of Austria, instead you cop a 'passenger service charge' of around 15
Bus
Buses are generally slower and less comfortable than trains, but they are cheaper and they go to all major European countries.
Train
Austria has excellent rail connections to all major European destinations. They are probably the most comfortable and environmentally responsible way to travel overland.
Car
Getting to Austria by road is simple, and there are fast, well-maintained Autobahnen (motorways) to all surrounding countries. Major border crossing points are open 24 hours a day.
Boat
Fast hydrofoils skim along the Danube between Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest during spring and summer but they're not exactly cheap. Steamers ply the Danube between Vienna and the German border town of Passau from May to September. Generally speaking, boat services along the Danube are slow and expensive and geared to scenic excursions rather than functional transport.
Getting around
Overview
Domestic carriers Austrian Airlines and Tyrolean Airways and an ultramodern network of trains zoom between key cities, while smaller locales are serviced by Bundesbus. It's not uncommon for travellers to eschew organised transport or hire cars in favour of cycling around Austria. High-altitude destinations are reached via gondolas, cable cars or similar devices.
Plane
Austrian Airlines, and its subsidiary Tyrolean Airways are the main domestic carriers and operate several flights a day between Austria's larger cities. However, in a country as small as Austria there is little reason to fly.
Train
Transport systems in Austria are highly developed and very efficient. Austrian trains are comfortable, clean and reasonably frequent.
Bus
The Bundesbus (federal bus) network supplements the rail service, and is used for local trips or to get to out-of-the-way places rather than for long-distance travel. Some ski resorts in Tyrol and Vorarlberg can only be reached by Bundesbus or private transport.
Car
Rental car companies have branches in main cities. Roads are generally good, but sufficient respect should be given to difficult mountain routes. Austrians drive on the right, so you should seriously consider doing likewise. Trams are a common feature in Austrian cities; so take care if you've never driven amongst these mechanical creatures before.
Bicycle
Most major cities and towns have bike rental shops. Separate bike tracks are common and the Danube cycling trail, which runs from the Black Forest in Germany to Vienna and beyond, is something of a Holy Grail for cyclists.
Funicular
Mountain transport falls into five main categories: funicular (Standseilbahn), cable car (Luftseilbahn), gondola (Gondelbahn), cable chair (Sesselbahn) and ski lift (Schlepplift).