Austria Tours & Trips

The Alps truly mix up different experiences, from relaxing train rides through Switzerland's mountain passes to active outdoor sports in Slovenia's valleys. Our customers love combining the GoldenPass and Glacier Express routes, where guides share local stories and point out interesting features as the landscapes roll by. The Soca Valley has turned into quite a hotspot for those wanting some real action - you can go rafting through rapids and canyoning down gorges, with nice comfortable hotels waiting at day's end. If you head to the Mediterranean side, you can blend coastal walks in the Italian Riviera with time exploring Nice, Monaco and also Barcelona. We've noticed many travelers wish they had more time around Lake Como and Venice when doing Swiss-Italian tours, but they do appreciate how the trips balance mountain views with cultural stops. Summer visitors generally find June through August best for hiking, while September's quieter trails and soft light make photographers happy. For winter sports, December through March sees the slopes at their best, and our travelers often mention how mountain villages feel extra special under a blanket of snow.

Discover the ideal tour package for you through Western Austria. On TourRadar you'll find trips starting from 3 days in length, and the longest tour is 10 days. The most popular month to go is August, which has the most tour departures.

The trek from Garmisch to Innsbruck stands out as Tyrol's premier self-guided hiking experience, and our travelers keep telling us why they love it. You get really solid trail notes and excellent organization that make independent hiking feel natural and doable. The route takes you through some seriously dramatic Austrian mountains, with clear markers and detailed briefing materials that help you stay on track without second-guessing your navigation. Recent customers mention how well the path balances challenging sections with truly earned mountain views - exactly what you want on a proper alpine trek. The sweet spot for hiking this route falls between June and September when the mountain huts are running full service and trails are snow-free. If you're looking to dodge the crowds though, September brings lighter traffic on the trails and also beautiful autumn landscapes.

River cruising along the Danube opens up some of Europe's finest cultural moments, from walking through Habsburg palaces in Vienna to soaking in Budapest's thermal baths and exploring the winding medieval streets of Bratislava. Our customers routinely tell us how much they love life onboard - the river-view cabins are nicely sized and the regional dishes served in the dining rooms really capture local flavors. Something that makes a big difference is the quality of the guided tours, especially when local experts share stories that make each city's past come alive. We keep hearing from guests about how well they're looked after by the crew, particularly during special moments like attending classical concerts in Vienna's historic halls or visiting the beautiful churches along the river. The whole experience feels extra special in spring and fall when the weather's just right and you're not dealing with peak season crowds at the UNESCO sites and those lovely Wachau Valley wine regions.

The Danube Valley sections work beautifully by boat, and we've found the sweet spot is combining land tours with strategic river segments. The stretch between Spitz and Dürnstein is particularly good - you get views of hillside vineyards and medieval castles you'd completely miss from the road. Our travelers really like booking summer sailings when they can spend time up on the top deck watching the Austrian countryside roll by. It creates a nice rhythm when you mix walking tours through historic towns with these river segments.

Austria's Alpine trails open up a world of varied hiking for all skill levels. The Dachstein High Altitude Circular Path takes you through distinct climate zones - you'll walk past angular reddish limestone and into cool glacier areas. Our customers love starting early here, watching the morning mist lift off the peaks as the sun comes up. If you prefer moderate walking with comfortable stays, the Salzburg's Peaks & Kitzbühel Alps route delivers nicely. The path winds through the raw beauty of Steinerne Meer and follows old pilgrimage routes, with plenty of genuine mountain huts serving local treats like Buchteln pastries. For those seeking real Alpine challenges, the Gschnitztal valley offers technical sections and cable-assisted climbing paths that put your skills to the test.

If you like cycling, Austria's river valleys and lakes offer some excellent routes. The Drau River path from Lienz is particularly good - you'll pedal through sunny valleys past old Roman trade routes and medieval castles. Another route our cyclists enjoy circles the Dachstein region, linking cultural spots like Bad Ischl with the natural areas around Lake Hallstatt. Daily distances run 13 to 19 kilometers on these tours, mostly on dedicated cycle paths and quiet country roads. Your luggage gets moved between hotels and you'll get detailed maps for the routes. There's usually time to stop at local wine taverns called 'Buschenschenken' where you can try proper farm food and also local wines.

Austria's best tours start with 48 hours in Vienna where you can use included city passes to explore Schönbrunn Palace, Hofburg Imperial Palace and other city highlights. From there, the routes take you through Salzburg's old town and onto the village of Hallstatt - a place our customers keep telling us is the real highlight of their trip. Many tours include time at Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Wattens where you'll find the "Crystal Cloud" with its 800,000 hand-mounted crystals. What works really well about these routes is how they mix guided parts with free time, so you get the background when you need it but plenty of time to explore Austrian towns on your own terms.