Trembling musical compositions, rich and glistening Sachertorte, snow-topped peaks and alpine meadows… whatever preconceptions you have about Austria, prepare to fall deeper in love with this friendly little nation than you ever thought you might.

Known for the spectacular peaks and valleys of the Alps, Austria is a popular destination for winter pursuits such as skiing. In summer, these same vistas flood with green grass and mountain flowers, providing hikers with the prettiest views imaginable.

The cities of Austria also welcome visitors throughout the year with promises of high culture, beautiful architecture, amazing cakes and festive markets… and they do not disappoint.

Read on to find out where to find your ideal accommodation in Austria and then use the TravelSupermarket search tool to compare hotel prices in your chosen destination. You can search for cheap flights to Austria, or take advantage of our price-comparison knowhow to find low-cost deals on car hire in Austria.

Vienna, Austria’s capital, is known as the “City of Dreams” – mostly because it was home to Sigmund Freud. You are likely to get a wonderful night’s sleep when you book a break here, though. The central area of Innerstadt is a good place to stay to be close to major attractions such as the Hofburg Imperial Palace (home to the Spanish Riding School) and the Museum Quarter.

Graz is Austria’s second-largest city. It features a striking blend of ancient and modern architecture (take the Graz Art Museum, AKA the “Friendly Alien”, as evidence). See it all when you take the funicular railway up to the peak of Schlossberg.

Linz is another Austrian city worth a visit, even though it doesn’t have the same amount of attractions as destinations such as Vienna and Salzburg. It takes just 90 minutes to drive between Linz and Salzburg, so it would be easy to see both during a short break. However, if you only have time for one city, it has to be Salzburg. The birthplace of Mozart and setting for “The Sound of Music”, Salzburg dazzles with baroque grandeur, mountain vistas and a spectacular cultural calendar.

When it comes to finding luxury hotels, Austria’s cities are ideal places to look. For small budgets, there is also a reasonable collection of cheap and mid-range accommodation options.  You might need to stay slightly outside of the very heart of the city if you want to keep the budget under control, as the palace-style hotels of the city centre can command premium prices.

To get to grips with the natural panoramas of Austria, consider staying in the city of Innsbruck, which is tucked away in a valley in the west and offers easy access to nearby slopes.

Popular mountain resorts in Austria include Ischgl, St Anton, Soll, and Obergurgl, while lake holidays can be taken at the edge of Attersee and Hallstatt, among others.

Whether you are looking for basic rooms near the slopes, traditional lodging on the lakes or five-star hotels in the city, use the TravelSupermarket search tool to find and book your dream Austria hotel.

Top five attractions

Melk Abbey

Set on a cliff overlooking the Danube, Melk Abbey is one of the world’s greatest monasteries. The Benedictine abbey was once the elaborate castle of Leopold II before being handed over to the monks almost a thousand years ago. It’s worth visiting for the stunning baroque architecture alone.

Innsbruck

Embraced by an imposing Alpine mountain range, Innsbruck is a wonderful place of quirk, curiosity, wonder and style, all wrapped up in a beautiful medieval town that offers visitors both a glimpse into the past and a vision of Austria’s future. The old town, or Altstadt, is where you need to be for quaint little museums and taverns, but the sophisticated streets of the surrounding areas deliver chic shopping too.

Hofburg Imperial Palace

It was once the mighty home of the Emperor of Austria. These days, part of this Vienna palace is the official residence of the President. With a history stretching back to 1438, much of the rest of this stunning example of European architecture has its doors thrown wide open to the public.

The Vienna State Opera

One of the world’s most famous opera houses stands proudly in the centre of Vienna. But don’t just think this gem is a sight purely for opera enthusiasts – it’s open during the day for any visitor keen to appreciate Austrian architecture at its finest.

Grossglockner Alpine Road

If you’ve got a hire car and you’re comfortable on winding great lanes with roadside drops that would terrify a Hollywood stunt driver, then a day trip on the twists and turns of the Grossglockner Alpine Road is an absolute must. From various vantage points you’ll enjoy some of the finest panoramic views in Europe. Heading up to the Kaiser Franz Josefs Hohe Visitors’ Centre your day will be topped off by views of the country’s tallest mountain - the Grossglockner.

The Rudolfina-Redoute; February: One of Austria’s most celebrated events, this annual masked ball is full of mystery and intrigue. Plenty of spin-off masked balls can be found around Vienna.

Easter Festival; March/April: A series of world-renowned classical concerts are staged at most major towns with the main events being held in Vienna, Salzburg and Tirol.

Schafberg Run; May: If there’s one annual event that sums up Austria’s occasional need to step away from endless classical music concerts then this is it. Each year competitors run up the Schafberg Mountain trying (often in vain) to beat the cogwheel train that sets off 9.30am, arriving at the peak at about 10.15am. It’s a huge event crowned by an equally monumental beer festival to toast the winner.