A unique winter experience in Austria

A champion of après-ski, convivial evenings and comfort food, Austria is the perfect destination for a snow holiday! Austrian villages, with their wooden chalets and Baroque churches, are a magical place to be when winter arrives. The Christmas markets are renowned and the resorts are modern and well-maintained, at a slightly lower price than in France. All in a breathtaking Alpine setting!

Discover the tour to Vienna

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26 fun audioguides

See the route

See also the Austria guide :

• Visit Vienna in 1 day: 26 things to do and see on foot
• The 16 most beautiful places to visit in Austria
• Visiting Austria
• Top 10 culinary specialities in Vienna
• Top 10 culinary specialities in Salzburg
• Top 6 things to do in Vienna

The Salzburg Christmas Market

Visiting Salzburg during the festive season means taking part in one of the most beautiful and oldest Christmas markets in the world! The market on Cathedral Square dates back to the end of the 15th century. Then, in the 17th century, it was dedicated to Saint Nicholas and the sale of toys and sweets for children began around 6 December, his feast day. Today, the market boasts around a hundred magnificent stalls, as well as a daily cultural programme featuring children’s stories, parades of Krampus (a kind of bogeyman), choirs and more.

Open: late November to early January
More info: Salzburg Christmas Market

Skiing (and more) in Innsbruck

The capital of the Tyrol is definitely the perfect place for a snow holiday! If you’re travelling with a group of friends or family and everyone likes different things, you’ll all find something to suit you! The city, which has twice hosted the Winter Olympics, offers a perfect balance of sports, culture, traditions, heritage and nightlife. What’s more, finding accommodation is much easier and cheaper in the city than in the resort.

1/ A paradise for winter sports fans:

Skiers can choose from a range of quality resorts, easily accessible by free shuttle bus (20-60min depending on the resort chosen), and enjoy a variety of different ski areas.

The main areas around Innsbruck

• Nordkette: The easiest to get to, accessible directly from the town centre by funicular and cable car! This area, renowned for freeride and popular with good skiers, also offers spectacular views over the city.
• Axamer Lizum: Around 20 minutes from the town, you can take to the slopes that hosted the 1964 and 1976 Olympic Games. The slopes are varied and suitable for all levels. Great for freeride and freestyle.
• Stubai Glacier: Around 45 minutes away, this is Austria’s largest skiable glacier. Guaranteed snow! Its wide slopes are particularly popular with families.
• Patscherkofel: Innsbruck’s iconic mountain, with its rounded summit and radio antenna, has runs suitable for beginners and intermediate skiers, and a friendly atmosphere.
• Schlick 2000: Located in the Stubai valley, this is the resort to go to for panoramic slopes and fun in the snowpark.

The Ski + City Pass
The city of Innsbruck has put together a unique combined pass, including access to the 12 ski areas around the city, as well as a number of the city’s leading cultural attractions. An ideal way to save money and combine sport and culture!

2/ A city full of heritage

Those who don’t like winter sports can enjoy Innsbruck’s beautiful historic centre! It’s the ideal place for a group holiday combining skiers and non-skiers. Here are a few sites not to be missed!

• The Golden Roof (Goldenes Dachl): The ultimate symbol of Innsbruck! A magnificent corbelled balcony covered with 2,657 golden tiles, built for Emperor Maximilian I in the 16th century.
• The Hofkirche: The imperial church, where you’ll find the symbolic tomb of Maximilian I surrounded by 28 life-size bronze statues.
• Saint-Jacques Cathedral: A Baroque church worth seeing for its frescoes and remarkable organ.
• The Arc de Triomphe (Triumphpforte): a must-see in the city, it has dominated the main street since it was built for the wedding of Leopold II and Marie-Louise of Spain.
• Maria-Theresien-Straße: a lively street for strolling, shopping and admiring the colourful facades.
• The Imperial Palace (Hofburg): a superb Baroque and Rococo palace that bears witness to the influence of the powerful Habsburg dynasty.
• The Tyrol Museum: discover an interesting collection of local art and culture.
• Ambras Castle: overlooking Innsbruck, this Renaissance castle houses collections of art, armour and historical objects recounting the destiny of the people who lived there.

3/ Incredible surroundings to explore

But there’s more to discover than the city centre! Don’t hesitate to explore the region a little further during your stay.

Must-sees around Innsbruck

• Wilten Basilica: Simply one of the most beautiful Baroque churches in Austria
• The Markthalle Innsbruck market: Ideal for discovering local produce and sampling Tyrolean specialities.
• The Bergisel: Climbing to the top of this famous ski jump to feel like a champion can make you dizzy, but above all it offers an exceptional view!
• Hungerburgbahn funicular: for those who don’t go to the top of the slopes, the funicular will give you a breathtaking panoramic view of the Alps.

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Waltzing in Vienna during the ball season

Vienna, the Empress of Austria, is already magical all year round, but it becomes downright enchanting in winter! With enchanting Christmas markets, open-air skating rinks and sumptuously decorated cafés to warm up in, the city lends itself perfectly to winter delights.

The dance season

On 11 November, at 11.11am, the Viennese ball season officially opened! More than 450 balls are held in Vienna every year from November to March, offering over 2,000 hours of dancing! Don’t panic if you don’t know how to dance, you can take waltz lessons all over the city. Each trade organises its own ball, including the Lawyers’ Ball, the Hunters’ Ball, the Industry and Technology Ball, the Confectioners’ Ball and so on. The first is traditionally the chimney sweepers’ ball, and as you know, the most famous are the opera and philharmonic balls. The famous opera ball begins with a debutante ball, the women in white evening dresses and the men in tails. The other dancers then join them on the dance floor.

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How can I attend?

If you’re dreaming of waltzing around in an evening gown and/or three-piece suit in the midst of fantastic historic settings, here’s how you should go about it.

1/ Choose the ball that suits you best (read the description of the evening, the theme and the atmosphere). You can consult the ball calendar on the Tourist Office website to find the one that suits you best.

2/Take an intensive waltz class to feel confident!

3/ Buy a ticket! Available online, ticket prices vary enormously from one ball to another, as well as depending on whether you want to be a dancer or a spectator.

4/ Table tickets: Please note that if you want to sit at a table, you will need to buy an additional ticket.

5/ Respect the dress code! Etiquette can be very strict at a Viennese ball, especially at the most prestigious ones. You could be refused entry if you don’t respect the dress code, even with a valid ticket. You can hire an evening gown or suit, and even jewellery, from certain specialist boutiques.

Alles Walzer! (Let’s all waltz!), it’s time to hit the dancefloor and let yourself go to the heady rhythm of the famous Viennese waltzes.

Traditions to know

1/ The Quadrille: At midnight, the atmosphere changes with the famous quadrille, a lively and joyful dance generally performed by groups of eight people made up of four couples forming a square. Instructions are often given, so it’s time to mingle with the crowd and have some fun!

2/ Damenwahl: the ladies’ choice! If you hear this word at any point during the evening, it means that now only women can ask a date to dance! This can happen several times during the evening to add an element of conviviality and surprise. The men are obliged to accept, as it’s a much-appreciated moment of meeting and humour.

3/ Tombolas: Virtually every Viennese ball holds a tombola in aid of charity. Tickets can be bought on the spot and the prizes are often very attractive (trip, cruise, car, etc.).

4/ The Damenspende: The ball present for ladies. Traditionally, women are given a small gift as a souvenir on arrival or on leaving the ball. In the 19th century, this was a beautifully decorated notebook in which to record the dances; today, you can receive a fan, a piece of costume jewellery, sweets, etc.

5/ The End: the end of the ball usually comes around 5am. The musicians play Johann Strauss’s Radetzky March. It’s customary to clap your hands to the rhythm of the famous refrain, which you’ll recognise in a thousand words!