Vorarlberg
Austria's gateway to Switzerland and Liechtenstein sometimes feels more Swiss than Austrian, owing in part to the Alemannic dialect of its inhabitants.
Vienna
The former capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire is brimming with impressive architecture, cultural institutions and opportunities to explore the cuisines of Austria and pretty much everywhere else. An imperial and cosmopolitan capital in a small homogeneous country, it forms a marked contrast from the rest of Austria.
Upper Austria
Less touristy and more down-to-earth than some other parts of the country, Upper Austria offers great lakes for swimming, mountains for hiking and affordable skiing as well as Austria's third-largest city, Linz.
Tyrol
High mountains and narrow valleys – the place to go for avid skiers.
Styria
The mining towns in the North may have seen better days, but the area around Austria's second city, Graz, is booming. Southern Styria is famous for its wineries and Mediterranean charm.
Salzburg
Home to the world-famous city of Salzburg and some of Austria's best-known skiing resorts. Motorists might enjoy crossing the Alps to Carinthia via the famous Glockner-Hochalpenstraße.
Lower Austria
The largest state stretches from the Bohemian hills to the peaks of the Alps. The Wachau landscape with the impressive monastery of Melk is a UNESCO world heritage site.
Carinthia
Austria's southernmost state is popular for its many lakes, its traditional cuisine, and the peculiar dialect of its inhabitants.
Burgenland
Sunny plains and countless wineries along the border with Hungary. Austria's largest (albeit very shallow) lake, Neusiedler See, is a good spot for birdwatching.
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is a federal state (Bundesland) in Germany. Its world famous Black Forest and the celebrated, romantic city of Heidelberg are top tourist destinations within Germany and Central Europe, but there is much more to see.