Culture and natural beauty collide in Austria, where the bucolic countryside really still does look like the landscape The Sound of Music made famous. From craggy peaks to tranquil lakes and alpine meadows strewn with flowers in summer and carpeted in snow come winter, Austria is a bountiful outdoor playground with opportunities for everything from hiking to mountain biking to skiing. And then there is the culture. Whether you’re exploring Salzburg or Vienna, Austria’s vibrant cities shine with baroque architecture, impressive museums, buzzing coffeehouses and of course, plenty of music.