7 reasons why Austria is the perfect holiday destination for the whole family

1. Fast (and environmentally friendly) arrival

It is about 600 kilometers from the center of Germany to the center of Austria. Means: The journey to the destination is comparatively short in most cases. And if you think about the environment and your CO2 footprint, there are 39 direct train connections from Germany to the Alpine country every day – by ICE, Eurocity and ÖBB Railjet. With night ICE or ÖBB Nightjet, the already exciting train journey becomes a real overnight adventure.

Another advantage: there are no traffic jams on the rails and the children have a lot of freedom to distract themselves. While the older ones might be watching a film on their tablet, the little ones can play and romp in extra compartments. On holiday weekends, there are even childcare workers on some routes to keep them entertained. For the little ones there are also changing tables and enough space for prams. Perhaps the first acquaintances are already being made in the family area?

And even without a car you are mobile after arrival. Because Austria has built up a modern network of regional trains, regional buses, pick-up services, hiking buses and rental bikes. So that you don’t have to struggle with your luggage on the go, Deutsche Bahn offers its own transport service.

2. One speaks German

It sounds banal, but it is a great relief: In Austria they speak German. Even if we may not understand “Piefke” from the north straight away, some locals who speak one of the numerous and charming dialects – from Viennese, Carinthian, Upper Austrian and Burgenland to Vorarlberg. The advantages are obvious: not only mum and dad can easily communicate. Even the little ones find their way around as a matter of course – and can make friends without language barriers.

3. Lots of accommodation especially for families

Many places and hosts specialize in welcoming families with children of all ages. This ranges from child-friendly accommodation with a cot, diaper pail and secure sockets to age-appropriate leisure activities with playgrounds, themed days, exciting workshops and accompanied excursions to child-friendly catering with delicacies that will delight even the most discerning eater. But parents will also find plenty of opportunities to have a good time in the wellness areas with massage, hay bath, sauna and salt grotto as well as beer, wine or cheese tasting – when the children are asleep or being looked after by someone else .

The right location of the accommodation is important: with older children, a mountain tour lasting several days is also possible, spending the night in a cozy mountain hut. The seal “With children on huts” indicates that the operation is geared towards families. With smaller children, a base camp in the valley is more suitable. There are also numerous family hotels, guesthouses and farms here.

The great thing about farms: There is a lot to discover here! The children can ride ponies, milk cows, pet goats, drink fresh buttermilk, look for eggs in the stable and much more. In addition, much of the food that ends up on the plate comes directly from the farm.

4. An impressive landscape and nature

Herb meadows, mountain streams, forests, peaks, lakes – Austria has a really impressive and varied landscape. It is no coincidence that the national anthem begins: “Land of mountains, land on the river, land of fields, land of cathedrals”. Every season has its own charm. And the healing mountain air is particularly good for allergy sufferers.

Almost half (43 percent) of Austria is covered by forest and a third (31 percent) by the Alps. There are over 40 natural, larger bathing lakes and over 2,000 standing bodies of water covering over one hectare (10,000 square meters). Most lakes, rivers and streams in the country are of drinking water quality. In the Alps alone there are 30,000 different animal species and 13,000 plant species.

Nature is a fantastic playground. Here the little ones have room for discoveries and adventures: they can climb trees, balance over a trunk, cross a stream from stone to stone, walk over moss, listen to birds or discover an anthill along the way. In this way they get to know and respect the habitats of animals and plants. And for us grown-ups, too, it’s a welcome change from everyday life. Because such a fabulous sunset over the peaks is exciting for the children – and romantic for the parents.

5. Optimal conditions for a winter vacation

Pull lengths in the snow and let the sun shine on your nose with a wonderful view – or simply have a snow angel or a snowball fight and enjoy the thrill of speed while tobogganing: Austria is a paradise for winter holidays. Many ski areas are open at least 100 days a year with at least 30 centimeters of snow and are therefore considered to have snow.

If you can already ski safely, endless kilometers of slopes await you. There are courses for everyone else – including the little ones. Numerous ski areas have offers for children or even specialize in them. Those who don’t want to go skiing will be looked after so that their parents can enjoy one or the other descent. Some of the family accommodation is located directly on the slopes, so that there is no unnecessary whining on the way. But a winter holiday also has its attractions for non-skiers – with beautiful walks, tobogganing and the cute Advent markets.

6. There is sooooo much to experience

Children want to move and experience something, discover new things, try things out, test their strength and explore their limits. This goes well with Austria’s No. 2 popular sport: hiking. That makes you happy, as a study shows. In general, outdoor activities feed our mental immune system. When hiking, it is important that children experience it differently than adults. The summit is not the goal, rather everything to the left and right of the path is of interest. So don’t overdo it on the route and first of all arouse the desire. The alpine clubs have worked out special tours for families and trained guides so that they know what makes children’s eyes grow bigger. Waterfalls and a gorge hike are highlights.

The (snow-free) landscape can also be explored by bike instead of on foot. You can climb on the slopes and in high ropes courses, build dams on streams, swim and dive in rivers and lakes. On the water you can try stand-up paddling or rafting – or play ice skating or ice hockey in winter. In addition to the summer toboggan run, archery and carriage rides await.

The small, rustic villages alone are an attraction, as some seem to have stayed in the old days. Show mines and handicraft businesses show how it was done back then – for example, the little ones can learn in a dairy how cheese is made from milk. There is much to discover on nature trails, cave and grotto excursions, and geocaching where “treasures” are to be found.

Many places offer family cards. With them, admission to attractions or a ride on the lift – which is already an attraction in its own right – or other means of transport is reduced or free. There are numerous possibilities for day trips, for example castle and palace tours especially for children, zoos and amusement parks, water parks and a ride in the panorama train.

7. Excellent food & drink

Delicious cheese spaetzle and sweets such as curd pancakes, Kaiserschmarrn and apricot dumplings delight most children – and are a good incentive to hold out until the next inn. But Austrian cuisine has much more to offer between hearty meat dishes and sweet pastries: Wiener schnitzel, goulash, semolina dumpling soup, lots of cheese, Gugelhupf, Mozartkugeln, apple strudel and Sachertorte – plus fresh apple juice and, for the grown-ups, a melange, a beer or a good wine.

Eating and drinking traditionally have a high priority in Austria. It’s relaxed, informal and warm in the coffee house, in the Heuriger or in the Buschenschank, where farmers offer their products. The products here are regional, organic and sustainable. Austria is the European leader in organic farming. You can tell by the taste – and it will convince many a little eater to try something new!