Book holiday homes in Austria – something for everyone!

This country provides a wide variety of self catering rental properties, from rustic countryside farmhouses to spacious and luxurious chalets, where you can snuggle up with that special someone or even relax in your private sauna at night after a strenuous adventure-filled day exploring this stunning alpine country. Whether you're searching for hiking holidays, a romantic city break to Vienna or a ski trip to Tirol, you'll be sure to find something to suit your needs.

Austria Weather

The average weather and climate in Austria is typical of central Europe, although it is changeable depending on where you are in the country, as the altitude and positioning of each region affects the climate. The Alps cover more than half of Austria, so the alpine temperatures are the main ones to focus on. Here, it is much cooler than in the rest of the country, even more so in the West, and rain is common, as well as temperatures of around 0°C and below as you get higher up into the mountains. In the more northerly parts of the country, there tends to be a lot less rain throughout the year because there is not as much moisture available in the air. Here, the temperatures in summer tends to get up to around 20°C, but it remains very cold, often below 0, for quite long periods during winter. If you venture further into the eastern parts of Lower Austria, for example Vienna, Styria and Carinthia, the temperatures are warmer, making these areas perfect for experiencing nature and the great outdoors. Average temperatures are unpredictable and vary a lot throughout all of Austria, with averages in summer between 20°C and 35°C and winters between 1°C and 4°C.

Visit Austria During the Summer

Austria houses some of the best destinations for an outdoors, active vacation. This is an extremely popular location for Austria walking holidays, as there are so many walks available for walkers with all sorts of different abilities, and the views of the beautiful alpine landscapes, greenery, rivers and lakes are bound to leave you feeling healthier before you've even started walking! There are many options for walks in Austria; you can choose to stroll at your own pace to enjoy the view, do self guided or guided hikes for all abilities, or even go walking during the night in the winter to look down on the magical towns which are lit-up and sparkling in the valleys below. A popular walk suitable for ramblers is one which follows the streams and rivers, or you could test out your stamina and do a long distance hike through Carinthia and look across all the way to Lower Styria in Slovenia. Of course walking is not the only thing to do here - there are plenty of other summer activities available, such as cycling. Austria is ideal for cycling as there are so many cycle-paths which follow alongside sparkling rivers and lakes. This would be a perfect activity to do with children, or perhaps for that special romantic break, as there are lots of pretty spots along the pathways where you can stop off, appreciate the views and the fresh air, and maybe even have a picnic! Fishing isn't associated with Austria as often as things like skiing, but this is the ideal pursuit for a quiet, relaxing summer where you'll see clear waters, tumbling rock waterfalls, rapids and large pools, surrounded by lush green fields. The water of the River Gail, in the Lesachtal Valley, is so clean that you can actually drink it! Another nice area to stay in, especially if you have children, is in the district of Zell am See, famous for its glacier Kitzsteinhorn. Rent an Austria holiday apartment in Kaprun, a town located in this area, which houses a large spa complex as well as a beautiful gorge where you can see the swirliing waters of the river called the Kapruner Ache. There are also some wonderful mountain reservoirs which are as high up as 2,000 m!

Your Austria Ski Holiday

People booking a holiday home in Austria probably know it best for being a much-loved destination for skiers and snowboarders alike, thanks to it's great mountainous terrain. It houses one of the oldest mountain resorts in the world which was founded in the 14th century, Arlberg, where you will find some of the best ski schools around. Rent a chalet in the village of Stuben, a small, cosy village which is very welcoming to those who want to test out the pistes. This village is in an ideal location for skiers as it is nestled up high, offering easy access to the slopes. Another popular ski area is Lech Zürs, where you will find the only 2 slopes in Austria which offer heli-skiing, as well as day spas and shops for those who have had their fill of skiing for a day! These areas are both perfect for a family skiing holiday, as the schools and instructors are well equipped with knowledge to teach skiers from absolute beginners to those who are much more advanced. Don't forget to stop off at one of the little chalets and ski huts when you get peckish to sample some of the excellent Austrian cuisine.

Salzburg

The city of Salzburg, on the border of Germany where it meets the state of Bavaria, is an amazing city filled with beautiful architecture, as many of the buildings are historic and very impressive. This is of course the city where Mozart was born and also where The Sound of Music was filmed and therefore music is very popular here. You can visit Mozart's house where you can see artefacts from his life, such as his first violin. There are also many pretty squares, for example Residenzbrunnen in the Old Town with its stunning Baroque water fountain, and buildings of interest such as the cathedral, St. Peter's Abbey and Church and Hohensalzburg Castle. If you rent Austria holiday apartments in Salzburg, not only will you have access to Austria's ski slopes; you'll also be able to take day trips and travel to nearby destinations, for example the small village of Werfen, where you'll be astounded by the World of the Ice Giants, the largest system of ice caves which extends thousands of square metres.

Innsbruck and Tirol

Innsbruck is also great location to book your holiday home in Austria. It is the capital of the beloved region of Tirol, and it is especially loved amongst those who appreciate architecture, be it old or new, as there are numerous impressive buildings, churches and castles here from different historic periods, as well as more modern creations such as the Bergisel Ski Jump Stadium. Two lots of Olympic Winter Games have been held in Innsbruck already. Enjoy a city walking tour or a bike tour and take in all of the sights, such as the Golden Roof and the Imperial Palace. Innsbruck is a good spot to start off in if you're planning a ski-trip to Austria, or you can rent apartments in Innsbruck if you're simply planning on travelling around a bit, as you can easily travel to other cities within Austria, and within the beautiful region of Tirol itself. Book holiday homes in Tirol to experience the region's stunning scenery, such as the views of Achen Lake and Grossglockner, the highest mountain in the country. It is also possible to cross the border and go to other countries thanks to Austria's central European location. Visit Neuschwanstein Castle, Munich in Germany, Verona or even Venice for a day trip.

Vienna

The capital city of Austria really is a sight to see, and also a great place to stop and have a coffee! The coffee shops and cafés here are renowned as being some of the best around the globe, not to mention the Viennese Ice Cream parlours that are a must while you're here. You can see the main sights of the city from a boat whilst travelling in style along the Danube, go to some of the infamous baroque palaces such as Schönbrunn and discover some of its less known pretty, hidden-away courtyards. Vienna has a large green belt which almost completely surrounds the city, and there are many green spaces and trees here too. You'll soon see why the city centre was not only named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but was also voted as the world's most livable city in 2005.