The ‘awe-inspiring’ Austria
Visit this incredible land of marvels with Dook’s Austria Tour Packages

Picture the flower-freckled lush meadows, sparkling lakes, snow-covered Alps, dainty mountain villages and a horse-drawn carriage making its way through the cobblestone streets. Sounds much like the background of a dreamy fairytale! Well, in the real world, that’s the outstandingly beautiful country of Austria for you! This landlocked country may not be as big as the other European countries, but it surely is one of the most popular holiday destinations, attracting tourists year-round with places ideal to visit both in winters and summers. While in winters, you will have a chance to see the slopes of the Alps buzzing with skiers and boarders, the summers in Austria will invite the adventure and peace seekers to the country’s glacial rivers and lakes and the lyrical landscapes that will convince them to leap on a bicycle or lace up the hiking boots.
 
Here stands no doubt that no other country waltzes so perfectly between the urban ambiance and lush outdoors as Austria. One day you’re hiking the pinnacles of alpine peaks breathing in the crisp mountain air, the next you’re strolling around the impressive cities of Vienna and Salzburg while dining inside the cosy restaurants. The country with its classic combination of nature and culture, art and innovation, makes for a top bucket list destination. As you walk through its impressive cities of Vienna, Salzburg, and Innsbruck, you won’t stop yourself from flattering about the beauty of the hills wrapping around them and the exceptionally romantic facades.

Not to forget, Austria is home to several small, charming towns and off-beat treasures like Zell am See, Alpbach and Hallstatt that are truly worth your effort and time. On the arty front, the country is abundantly blessed as it is the country that gave the world the most renowned Mozart and is known to be a source of inspiration for those looking up to of course the fine art, music and loads of literature. When it comes to food and drinks, the Austrians like to enjoy them with pure refinement and for that reason, there is no wonder that the country serves the best traditional Austrian cuisines along with a wide variety of fresh white wines to rich reds and if you a beer fan, they have the pools for you to dip in. Additionally, the brief visits to museums and galleries, concerts, coffee houses, palaces and abbeys are just some of the many things you can include in your Austria Tour itinerary.
 
Step into the fairy-tale land packed with stunning scenery, great food, spectacular art scenes and cultural gems by planning a trip to Austria. Dook offers you an extensive range of Austria Tour Packages from India that is truly experiential. Get in touch with our tour experts to know more about these Austria Packages.

Capital: Vienna
Languages: German, English
Currency: Euro
Driving Side: Right
Best Time to Travel: Round-the-year destination. The preferable time is between April to August & mid-September to November

2. Salzburg: Stage of the world

Unique in every regard, musically gifted and one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, Salzburg feels just like a dream! Imagine being surrounded by the fast-flowing Salzach River, raising your gaze to elegant domes and spires, the formidable clifftop fortress and the mountains beyond. Dreamy! Known popularly as the City of Mozart, Salzburg with its harmonious relationship of landscapes and architecture, art and culture, as well as conventional and modern, all within a surprisingly small area, merely adds to the unique charm of this place. One compelling reason to visit this city is obviously its fondness for music as it is common to see Salzburg’s streets filled with buskers, opera singers and all manner of harmonic performers, continuing to serve with melodies. Annually, the city hosts over 4,000 cultural events, including the internationally renowned Salzburg Festival. It’s no wonder why Salzburg justifies its tagline “Stage of the World” because there’s a lot of performance to pack into a tiny city.

Aside from its world-famous cultural and musical highlights, Salzburg offers many other exciting reasons to make a trip here. It is also considered a great place to wander and absorb history. To start with, you can visit the Palace of Schloss Leopoldskron, which is the epitome of Salzburg, a landmark building boasting a shimmering blue lake, manicured gardens and a mountainous backdrop. Add the romantic Old Town (Altstadt) to the itinerary and be awed with the magnificence flowing out of its narrow medieval streets and arcaded courtyards that are fun to explore. You can also visit several churches and palaces that are sprinkled across the city and even the loveliest shopping streets like the Getreidegasse which is worth exploring with its decorated façades, snaking inside the traditional passageways.

3. Innsbruck: The driving force of Austria’s tourism

Quaint and trendy, on the rhythm of nature and city vibes, Innsbruck, the refreshing corner of Austria lies at the heart of a dramatic alpine landscape. Known to be the thriving heart of Austria and one of the prime tourist destinations, the city exudes a vibrant charm and extreme contrasts that are hard to discover anywhere else in the country. While here you can jump between the culture and nature highlights, high peaks and low valleys, exploring the old town and the city centre familiarizing you with the traditions and trends and delightful cafes alike.

You can travel to the major highlights like the Golden Roof, The Ambras Castle, the Arsenal Museum, The Imperial Palace, Hofkirche, Wilten square nestled at the heart of the city centre as well as take a cable car up to the high peaks of the Nordkette mountain range which is a gem tucked away from the city’s bustle, surprising you with remarkable views. Here, you can also find a few famous ski resorts and a designated ski area for winter sports experience. Another major tourist attraction is Innsbruck’s Old Town which is a magnet for lovers of the arts and culture, connoisseurs and all who value shopping in a special ambiance. Don’t forget to stroll along the bustling Maria Theresien Street and stop off at Das Schindler, a Gault Millau-awarded restaurant, for a delicious meal.

4. Graz: The cultural ‘capital of delight’

Even though this city is not as popular as Vienna or Innsbruck, Graz is quirky, unique and beautiful. Austria’s second-largest city after Vienna, Graz is full of great things to experience, food being one of them. Its reputation of being a lively, modern cultural place earned it the title of Cultural Capital of Europe 2003 and its beautiful historical centre, which is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, is a colourful assortment of various influences, from the Baroque to the Renaissance, Art Deco and Medieval. Therefore, from its famous clock tower to the town hall and the beautiful Schloss Eggenberg (Eggenberg Palace) to its late-gothic cathedral and the Murinsel, the city’s key highlights that are delightfully immersed in history and culture are well worth exploring.

Thanks to the Grazer “Krauthäuptel”, crisp specialty lettuce, Graz itself is one of these culinary regions. In no other Austrian city are chefs in restaurants able to obtain such fine ingredients so easily and therefore, the food you find in Graz is quite different from other regions of Austria. So, even if you are grabbing the seasonal highlights, the regional favorites, or just the staples, in Graz, good food and good food always go along well. Once you go on a gourmet journey here, you will be forced to agree on why the city has earned a reputation of ‘Capital of Delight’.