Austria can be a great destination for families travelling with children, as there have been numerous attractions developed with children in mind, particularly in Vienna. In addition, the beautiful countryside lends itself to outdoor activities that even the youngest children can join in, such as biking.

Ars Electronica
Located in Linz, this ‘Museum of the Future’ is a favourite with children, and it’s easy to understand why. Five levels of technological wizardry are featured here, all with the objective of facilitating the integration of art and technology. It’s the collaborative effort between the two disciplines that makes this such a fascinating attraction to visit – for parents as well as their children. Phone: +43732 72720; website: www.aec.at/en.

Biking
Austria is famous for its scenic countryside, and provides many miles of equally scenic routes for cycling along its rivers. Even though the country is largely mountainous, most routes that follow the rivers are flat or gently sloped, making them suitable for cyclists of all ages and ability levels. One of Europe’s most popular cycling routes follows the Danube from Passau to Vienna. Summertime sees enthusiasts from around the world coming here to cycle this route. Other rivers that boast popular cycle paths include the Drau, Inn, Moell and Mur. Biking along any of these rivers is a suitable family activity, even with young children.

Diana-Tropicana Erlebnisbad 
At the edge of the old centre of Vienna in Lilienbrunngasse, this experiential water attraction features plenty of fun for kids and the whole family. The swimming pool and sauna should keep parents occupied while children enjoy the extra-long slide and play with the dinosaur toys and pirate ship. Phone: +43 1 219 8181.

KunstHausWien
This Vienna art gallery is an out-of-the-ordinary attraction that is worth taking the kids to when in Vienna. Created by the cutting-edge Friedensreich Hundertwasser, the gallery is more like an experience that Alice would have had in Alice in Wonderland than a visit to a traditional art gallery. Colour is as much a part of the gallery décor as it is a part of the art on display, making for a unique and stimulating experience. The gallery is located adjacent to the even more unusual Hundertwasser House, which is also worth checking out. Phone: +43 1 712 0491; website: www.kunsthauswien.com .

Riesenrad
This is a giant Ferris wheel that’s located in the Prater, which is Vienna’s vast wooded park. The Riesenrad is one of the country’s best-loved attractions. Construction of the wheel was completed near the end of the 19^th century, in celebration of the 50^th jubilee of Emperor Franz Joseph I, after similar Ferris wheels had already been built in London and Paris. It’s the only Ferris wheel from this period that still survives. At night, the wheel is illuminated and acts as a clock by flashing its lights to mark each hour. Phone: +43 1 729 5430;

Zoom Kindermuseum
A new feature to Vienna’s array of attractions for kids, the Zoom Children's Museum is quite similar to the century-old Children's Museum of New York. Its goal is to bring cultural experiences to children in a manner comprehensible to young minds. Parents usually find this to be a great way to spend time with their children in a stimulating environment. The museum can be found at Museumsplatz, in Vienna. Phone: +43 1 524 7908; website: www.kindermuseum.at

There’s an enormous range of cultural activities to choose from on a visit to Austria – such a range that it’s likely you’ll only experience a small part of what’s on offer. Some of the most popular choices include Vienna’s museums and galleries, the Swarovski Crystal Museum in Innsbruck, and music and film at venues throughout the country. You’ll find a number of excellent cultural displays in the Belvedere Palace, Hofburg Palace, Kunsthistorisches Museum and the recently redeveloped cultural complex known as the Museumsquartier.

Kunsthistorisches Museum
This Vienna museum of fine art was first opened in 1891 with the purpose of housing the vast art collection belonging to the imperial family.It was designed by Karl Hasenauer and Gottfreid von Semper in the Italian Renaissance style. The museum today boasts one of the world’s most important art collections. The painting gallery features works by Dürer, Rembrandt, Rubens, Titian, Vermeer and the largest Brueghel collection anywhere in the world.Phone: +43 1 525 240. Website: www.khm.at

Belvedere Palace
Located in the centre of Vienna, Belvedere Palace ranks as Austria’s pre-eminent art gallery and is home to Gustav Klimt’s famous painting, The Kiss. Two permanent collections are featured in the palace: the Oberes Belvedere is home to the Austrian Gallery and the Unteres Belvedere houses the Baroque Museum. In all, the two galleries contain an impressive representation of Austrian art dating from the Middle Ages to the modern day.The palace was designed by Lukas von Hildebrandt and built from 1714 to 1723. It was originally the summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy.Phone: +43 1 7955 7134.

Swarovski Crystal Museum
The remarkable Swarovski Kristallwelten is located in Innsbruck, and houses the most expensive crystal in the world. The building and the displays are literally dazzling, with everything from chandeliers to fashionable jewellery on display. The Swarovski name has been associated with the highest quality in crystal in the world for more than a century. The museum opened in the late 1990s, and boasts works of art by such names as Salvador Dali and Andy Warhol in addition to its crystal collections. Phone: +43 5224 51080; website: www.swarovski.com

Haus der Musik
The ‘House of Music’ is an interactive museum in Vienna dedicated to sound and music. Its exhibits cover several floors of a former palace, and are set up so that visitors can experiment making various sounds and creating music. The museum was the recipient of the prize for innovative design awarded by the Austrian Museum. The palace housing the ‘House of Music’ was the residence of Otto Nicolai during the first half of the 19th century: Nicolai was the composer of the opera, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and the founder of the Vienna Philharmonic. Phone: +43 1 516 48; website: www.hdm.at

Summer Music Festivals
Many tourists visit Austria for its music festivals, held in many parts of the country in the summertime. In particular, both Salzburg and Vienna offer opera, jazz and classical music performances. The most famous of the summer festivals is the avant-garde Salzburg Festival, which is so popular with tourists that ticket prices are high. In fact, it’s often difficult to get tickets at all. Austrian folk music is an important part of rural Austrian culture, and has significantly influenced the country’s major composers. If you visit the Alps, you’re likely to find a brass band or choir in most villages and see friends singing together in local pubs. Traditional folk instruments include the accordion and the zither. 

Austrian Cinema
There’s a saying in Austria that’s often used to describe the status of Austrian filmmaking: ‘those declared dead live longer.’ This is an industry that’s long been declared irrelevant and financially unviable, yet continues to surprise critics with quality productions. The country’s cinematic form and the culture around it are unique, and worth taking note of when visiting. Film stars are often noted cabaret singers and performers, and most of the films of this type tend to be cynical and bizarre, portraying segments of lower, middle class life. Outstanding actors include Alfred Dorfer, Roland Düringer, Josef Hader and Reinhard Nowak. The classic film called The Third Man was shot in 1949 in Vienna and can be seen regularly at the Burg Kino.

Austrian food is hearty fare, traditionally of the meat-and-dumplings variety. Wiener schnitzel is a favourite here, as it is in many countries of the world - veal that is covered in breadcrumbs and fried. Knödel, another favourite, are dumplings that can be savory or sweet. Tafelspitz, or boiled beef served with potatoes and horseradish,is a Viennese specialty that’s served on Sundays. It’s typically accompanied by herbed dumplings.

Austria is also known for desserts and pastries, the most well-known being apple strudel (apfelstrudel). Breads are an important part of most meals, and you’ll find bakeries everywhere, offering up a wide variety of breads and rolls from early in the morning. Rye bread, known locally as bauernbrot or vollkornbrot, is a dense type of bread that is a rural staple. If you find this too heavy for your taste, you might try white flour rolls called semmel. Some of the country’s best breads are found in smaller villages, where bread is still made by hand.  

Sachertorte is a Viennese specialty known around the world, and is a creation of the city’s Café Sacher. This is a chocolate torte that’s filled with apricot jam, and covered with chocolate icing. It’s best served very fresh and topped with sweetened cream, or schlagobers. Other Viennese cafés features cakes that are similar.  

Shoppers will delight in the availability of high-quality items such as china, glassware, handbags and winter sports equipment in specialty and department stores throughout the country. You should be aware that a value added tax of 20 to 32 per cent is included in the price of various items.

Across the country, you’ll find a large number of shopping malls and smaller handicraft and souvenir shops as well as entire streets dedicated to shopping. There are markets where you can enjoy bargain hunting and upscale areas filled with boutiques in all urban areas. You’ll even find shops in the Alps at 1,000 metres.

In Vienna city centre most of the shops are upscale, so there won’t be any problem finding designer wear. Two well-known and popular top-end destinations are Steffl and Ringstrassen Galerien, both of which are located along Kartnerstrasse.

For antiques and books there’s a market held at Am Hof square, on Fridays and Saturdays. The farmer's market in Freyung is an interesting place to browse for handicrafts, particularly in the weeks before Christmas. A flea market featuring all sorts of weird and wonderful items is the Naschmarkt, held every Saturday. In addition to Vienna’s outstanding shopping options, tourist destinations such as Innsbruck and Salzburg have their own appeal, particularly in local, high-quality handicrafts.

Most Austrians love the outdoors and sports. Skiing is clearly a national obsession, but there are outdoor activities popular during other seasons as well. From hot-air ballooning to fishing, golfing to mountaineering, there’s an excellent range of activities to choose from.

Ballooning
Austria’s dramatic landscapes provide the perfect scenery for hot-air balloon rides. In the Alpine regions in particular, the ride can be the treat of a lifetime. The Vorarlberg region in the west of Austria is one of the best areas for ballooning. Weather permitting, operators in the area take passengers up on a daily basis from April to September.

Fishing
Fishing is popular with Austrians and many visitors, who head to the nation’s picturesque lakes, clear streams and deep rivers in search of char, pike, pikeperch, sheatfish and trout. In the autumn, it’s possible to catch land-locked salmon in some Danube tributaries. This fish puts up an excellent fight and is a delicious treat. Tourist offices in the various provinces can provide information on fishing conditions and recommended outfitters. Two permits are usually required: a local licence issued by the government and a permit granted by the local landowner. 

Golf
Austria’s premier golf course is the outstanding 18-hole course at Murhof, located near Frohnleiten, in Styria. Other well-known and popular courses include the Igls/Rinn course located near Innsbruck; Seefeld-Wildmoos, in Seefeld; Dallach, situated on the banks of the Wörther See, in Corinthia; Enzefeld and Wiener Neustadt-Foehrenwald, both located in Lower Austria; and the century-old Vienna-Freudenau. A number of nine-hole golf courses can be found throughout the country as well. The golfing season runs from April to October, sometimes extending into November.

Mountaineering
Almost three-fourths of Austria’s land is covered by hills and mountains, and the rugged Alpine regions draw many visitors in search of adventure. There’s plenty on offer for walkers, hikers and mountain climbers in the Alps, including glaciers that are sure to provide an unforgettable experience. In many places, trails are clearly marked and secure, and maps or guides are available. Shelter in the form of huts is also provided in most climbing areas. Ski areas typically keep their chairlifts and cable cars running in the summer months to take visitors to the top of the slopes.

Skiing
The country is known around the world for its top downhill skiers and skiing facilities. In all, there are more than 3,500 lifts that take skiers to the top of thousands of miles of marked ski runs. Skiing is a family affair in Austria, and ski centres feature bunny slopes staffed with instructors for young ones. For the youngest of all, babysitting services are also on offer. Long before it became popular as a ski resort, the Valley of Gastein was drawing visitors to its thermal mineral waters. In many parts of Austria, cross-country skiing is very popular as well, and can provide a great workout. Instructors and equipment hire are usually on offer.

Water Sports
From Lake Constance in the west of Austria to Lake Neusiedl in the east, Austria’s landscape is dotted with lakes. Most summer resorts have lake-side swimming facilities, particularly those in Carinthia, where the waters are warm and swimming is possible from May to October. Sailing is also popular during the same months, particularly on the Attersee, located in the Salzkammergut, on Lake Constance, near Bregenz and on Lake Neusiedl, outside Vienna. Most lake resorts have begun to promote windsurfing, offering equipment hire and instruction. In warmer areas such as Carinthia, at the Wörther See, windsurfing is rapidly gaining in popularity.