Austria is a great European destination that is particularly popular during the winter months. If you love skiing and other winter sports you will find plenty to keep you occupied. There is also a lot more to be found in the country than just snow. Here are a few of the best places to visit in Austria.

Vienna is one of the most visited cities in Europe and most visitors fall in love with the place. It is situated on the river Danube and all around the city is the most beautiful Wachau region and the Vienna woods. The city is packed with historical buildings and museums. It has been the birth place of some important figures including Sigmund Freud and even Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Innsbruck is most popular during the winter months, but it also attracts many people during the summer months as well.  It was the host of the winter Olympics twice, and is due to host the first youth winter Olympics in 2012. Tourism is the most important source of income for the locals and it has been their charm and friendliness that has been a big reason why so many people keeping on returning here for holidays. The city itself is full of attractive buildings.

Salzburg is known as the city of churches, and is the fourth largest urban area in Austria. It is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, and this was the home of Mozart. The city is located in the middle of the Alpine region. If you have seen the film The Sound of Music then quite a few of the scenes took part in this city. It is no surprise because this is a city that will pull at your heart strings because of its beauty.

Eisriesenwelt Caves is located about 40 km away from Salzburg and here you will see a natural limestone ice cave. This is actually the largest ice cave in the world, and is 42 km in length. The cave is only open between May and October and you are not allowed to take photographs inside. The trip around the caves takes over an hour and be sure to dress warmly because it gets cold.

Graz in another UNESCO world heritage site and is also a university city. It is considered the cultural capital of Europe in 2003 and for this reason alone it is worth a visit. As you can imagine with it being a cultural capital there are plenty of artistic delights to be had. The old town has over a 1,000 historical buildings and if you bring your camera you are sure to soon have a sore clicking finger. The city has been influenced by many of the surrounding culture so you will see Italian, Balkan, and central Europe influences.

Grossglockner Alpine Road is a journey that will completely take your breath away, and this is a road used by 50 million people each year as they admire the spectacular view available.