City of music, cafes, waltzes, parks, pastries, and wine - that's Vienna in a nutshell. Vienna doesn't hurry, and, as you saunter through its stately streets, marveling at its Baroque palaces, neither should you. Explore churches filled with statues of golden saints and pink-cheeked cherubs, wander through treasure-packed museums, or while away an afternoon in one of those countless meccas of mocha (the inevitable cafés), you will feel lapped in lashings of rich, delicious, whipped cream - the beloved Schlagobers that garnishes most Viennese pastries.

Art lovers call Salzburg the Golden City of High Baroque; historians refer to it as the Florence of the North, or the German Rome; and music lovers know it as the Festival City - birthplace of Mozart and home of the world-famous Mozart Festival. Several beautiful castles and palaces dot the city. While Salzburg is a visual pageant of Baroque motifs, music is the element that shapes the life of the city. It is heard everywhere: in churches,castles, palaces, and, of course, concert halls.

Founded by monks in 740, Zell am See is nested between the Schmittenhöhe and the waterfront of one of the cleanest European swimming lakes, Lake Zell. It has a charming old center that creates a calm, rustic, and adorned atmosphere - somewhat typically Austrian. The resort has a fascinating and fairly priced program of sportive, cultural, and just simply entertaining offerings throughout the year which include skiing, snowboarding, cross country, snow hiking, ice sailing, ice skating, hockey, sleigh rides and many others. The town makes an attractive base for holidaymakers who enjoy traveling around Saalbach - Hinterglemm, Bad Gastein -Bad Hofgastein, Wagrain, Schladming and Obertauern.

Graz is the second largest Austrian city with plentyful night-time diversions, lots of cultural events. It blends modern life and historical architecture in a wonderful mix of past and present. Graz's "Old Town" is one of the best-preserved city centers in Central Europe. In 1999, it was added to the UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage Sites, due to the harmonious co-existence of typical buildings from different epochs and in different architectural styles. The most important sights in the old town are: Schloßberg, site of demolished fortress, Uhrturm clocktower, symbol of Graz, Schloßbergbahn, a funicular railway up the Schloßberg, The Landhaus, the building where the federal state parliament of Styria resides

Innsbruck is one of Europe's oldest and most beautiful ski centers. Nestled in the Tyrolean Alps, the area has some 200 trails covering 500 kilometers (310 miles) and is perfect for beginner and intermediate-level skiers. It is a winter sports center with modern facilities. The world-famous Air and Style Competition at the Olympic Ski Jump stadium attracts over 25,000 visitors in early December and is a must-see for the ski lovers. Non-skiers and summer visitors can enjoy the sights of the medieval Old Town, the shops with Tyrolean specialties, and the many other outdoor activities that Tyrol offers. Culture seekers will be happy with world-class opera, gorgeous architecture, and superb museums.

Located about halfway between Vienna and Salzburg, Linz is Austria's third-largest city. It is an elegant city with an interesting historic Old Town Quarter with many nice patrician houses and a large pedestrian zone. Start exploring the city on the Main Square and then work your way to the Old Town Quarter. There is much to discover here, from original Roman foundations to vaults dating from medieval times. The city is now home to a vibrant music and arts scene. Between the Lentos Art Museum and the "Brucknerhaus", is the "Donaulände", which is also referred to as "Kulturmeile" ("culture mile"). This is a park alongside the river, where the Ars Electronica Festival and the "Linz Fest" take place.

The highest Bavarian town stands in the foothills of the Alps, marking the end of the "Romantic Road". Füssen's landmark is the 15th century Hohes Schloss (High Castle), an impressive gothic complex; very well preserved, it hosts nowadays an art gallery focused on Renaissance and late gothic masterpieces. It is also the starting point in visiting the romantically situated castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. Füssen is best reachable by railway (100 km from Münich).

Big-city style and rural charm, Alpine character and Mediterranean verve, art treasures and the Oktoberfest, traditional customs and high technology, beer gardens and haute cuisine, operas and in bars; these are all ingredients that makes Bavaria's state capital so endlessly fascinating, and so popular with visitors from all over the world. Sprawling Munich is one of Germany's major cultural centers, second only to Berlin in terms of museums and theaters. It's also one of Germany's most festive cities, and its location, at the foot of the Alps, is idyllic. Munich's self-imposed image is that of a fun-loving and festival-addicted city - typified by its Oktoberfest.