Austria

It’s difficult to dispute Austria’s Old World charm – think intricate palaces of the bygone Habsburg era and fanciful society waltzes to a soundtrack of Mozart or Strauss. The predominantly-German speaking Alpine country also holds modern appeal for those who love the great outdoors and adrenaline sports, beckoned by the siren call of jaw-dropping natural landscapes that are dramatically marked with diamond-like glaciers, ice caves and jagged mountain crags. Whatever time of year, Austria is magical. Ski the snowy peaks of Harakiri in winter or visit a Christmas market that serves up steaming mulled wine and a bowl of boiled dumplings. As the weather warms up, take a dip or a canoe ride in the Salzkammergut lake district, or channel your inner Fraulein Maria on a Sound of Music tour, stopping at each of the now-famous movie sites on a sing-along bus. Austria’s capital, Vienna, is home to a number of historic palaces – Schönbrunn, Belvedere and Helbrunn – along with noteworthy museums, cozy cafes and its celebrated opera house. Salzburg is another crucial stop, where baroque architecture, music and art collide. Or visit Innsbruck, a medieval city dwarfed by snow-capped mountains and dotted with postcard-perfect cathedrals and castles.