Austria

▲▲▲ Vienna Austria's regal capital city, rich with swirling architecture and world-class museums; towering St. Stepheb's Cathedral; impressive Habsburg sights (Schönbrunn Palace, in-city royal apartments, treasury, crypt, and Lipizzaner stallions); and a grand classical-music tradition, from the Vienna State Opera to the famed Boys' Choir.

▲▲▲ Salzburg Musical mecca for fans of Mozart and The Sound of Music, offering a stout castle, Baroque churches, near-nightly concerts, and an old town full of winding lanes. And just across the border is the German resort of Berchtesgaden, soaked in alpine scenery and Nazi history.

▲▲▲ Bavarian Alps Mountainous region boasting sights on both sides of the Austria/Germany border, including the fairy-tale castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau; inviting villages such as Füssen and Oberammergau; the towering Zugspitze and its high-altitude lifts; and hiking, luge, and other mountain activities.

▲▲ Hallstatt and the Salzkammergut Scenic lake district, home to the pristine — if touristy — village of Hallstatt, with its medieval town center, fun salt mine, plentiful hiking opportunities, and placid swan-filled lake.

▲▲ South Tirol Historically Austrian region of the Italian Alps, featuring charming little Kastelruth, bustling Bolzano (home of Ötzi the Iceman), and lifts linking to the alpine meadows of the Seiser Alm.

▲ Danube Valley Romantic, bikeable valley west of Vienna, dotted with ruined castles, adorable villages and vineyards, and highlighted by the beautiful Wachau stretch between Melk (with its glorious abbey) and the riverside town of Krems. Farther west is the powerful Mauthausen concentration-camp memorial.

▲ Innsbruck Winter-sports mecca in Austria's panhandle, home to the Golden Roof and other Habsburg sights, a famous ski jump, and lifts to mountaintop views.

▲ Bratislava, Slovakia Thriving and forward-looking capital city just down the Danube from Vienna, bustling with colorfully restored historic buildings, a strollable old town, and a modern people-friendly riverbank.

• Austria: Recommended Itinerary
• When to Go to Austria
• Upcoming Holidays and Festivals in Austria
• Guidebook Updates for Austria
• Austria Rail Passes and Train Tips
• Austria: Recommended Books and Movies