Most people know Austria as the land of Mozart, one of the most famous classical composers of all time. However, Austria is also a country which boasts of a wealth of culture, history and natural scenery. Whether you’re a student of classical music, architecture or film, a historian, or simply a tourist looking forward to a memorable vacation with your loved ones, you’ll find plenty of reasons to spend your family holidays in Austria.

Indeed, lending your ears to the atmosphere of classical music in Austria is just the tip of the iceberg, though, of course, it still is an important part of your trip to Austria. Watch an opera in one of the many opera houses in Vienna and Salzburg or in St. Martinstrum, the world’s largest floating opera stage. Listen to the Vienna Boy’s Choir sing the Sunday mass at the Hofburg Chapel as they have since 1498, or simply see an orchestra concert.

You can even listen to the classical pieces of Mozart, Haydn, Schubert and other Austrian composers while watching the famous Lipizzaner horses perform dressage at its finest at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna or at a farm in Piber. If you’re not a musical person, though, you can simply visit the houses where Mozart and his colleagues once lived. These places are now considered must-see attractions in Austria, particularly the Figaro House, where Mozart composed “The Marriage of Figaro”.

Is “The Sound of Music” your family’s favorite movie? If so, make sure you don’t miss out on “The Sound of Music” Tour in Salzburg during your family holidays in Austria. You won’t just get to see the Mirabell Gardens, Leopoldskron Castle and the Nonnberg Abbey where some of the movie’s scenes were filmed. You’re bound to learn something new about the movie, too.

Afterwards, your next stop on your trip to Austria should be to get your fill of the country’s breathtaking natural scenery. Take a hiking trip on one of the trails of the Austrian Alps, or, if you’re a thrillseeker, climb one of its peaks and go hang-gliding. You can explore the crystal-clear mountain lakes and quaint alpine villages in the Tirol province, too.

Cycling should also be on your list of things to do while spending your family holidays in Austria. After all, Austria is also popular for its many cycling routes, especially the Danube path from Passau to Vienna.

Last but not the least, you should also take some time to take in the romantic ambience of Austria by taking a stroll through the baroque gardens in Salzburg and Vienna. Don’t forget that Austria has some beautiful castles that are worth touring, too, especially the Schonbrunn Palace, which used to be the summer home of the Habsburg royal family and later on, Napoleon’s headquarters.

Once you’ve done all these, you’re sure to leave Austria happy, although a part of you is guaranteed to be left behind. You’ll want to come back and have another round of family holidays in Austria, too, so you can relive the sights, sounds and memories that make Austria one of the best travel destinations in the world.

Isabella Olsen is a travel writer who has toured major destinations worldwide, including Austria, by car. To book your car hire in Austria or learn more about car hire worldwide, visit www.zencarhire.com