Leisure and tourism
Upper Austria - Landscapes for passion
The family-friendly cycling track along the Danube river is the most beloved river cycling path of Europe and shows jewels of the countryside and cultural highlights.
The hospitality of the people, the impressive landscapes and the cultural jewels characterize Upper Austria. More than two million people are spending their holidays in Upper Austria because of its lakes having drinkingwater quality, hot thermals, majestic mountains, a lot of very good-developed cycling and foot paths and the high quantity of sports opportunities and cultural events.
Upper Austria offers an impressive diversity of landscapes: From the fruitful culture landscape of the "Alpenvorland" up to the national park "Kalkalpen". From the mighty "Böhmerwald"in the north over the historical Danube valley up to the brusque "Dachsteinmassiv" in the south. The possibilities to explore Upper Austria are just as diverse as the country itself.
Due to its more than 2,000 kilometers of perfectly signed cycling paths, Upper Austria is a true paradise for those, who like to ride their bikes. Next to the most popular river cycling track of Europe - the family-friendly "Donauradweg" - there are many beautiful landscapes and cultural highlights.
Next to the cycle tracks along the rivers Enns and Inn are beautiful natural resources, while along the "Salzkammergutweg" the most famous Upper Austrian lakes are just lining up like pearls on a string.
The beautiful landscape of Upper Austria is also a pleasant health and wellness-paradise. In the fruitful areas of the "Innviertel" and the "Hausruckviertel" are many hot thermals located, for example the thermal site "Geinberg" and the "Eurotherme Bad Schallerbach". Besides very traditional health resorts - from the imperial village of Bad Ischl to Bad Hall with the strongest iodine spring in Central Europe - many innovative wellness specialists invite you to relax.
Majestic mountains, huge valleys, gentle hills and an intact nature are the ideal ingredients which are needed to have a beautiful, relaxing hiking vacation in Upper Austria. The landscape offers every taste and every altitude - from the forests in the "Böhmerwald" up to the peaks of the "Dachstein" mountain. From the mysterious castles in the "Mühlviertel" passing the historical places at the Danube valley to the nearly unaffected world of the national park "Kalkalpen" - you can go hiking in every corner of our country.
Variety is also on the programme for sports freaks in Upper Austria. Wild river courses and crystal clear lakes provide fun and action on the water. Breathtaking landscapes can be explored either by horse or by playing golf. And at the time the winter spreads its white covers over the country, it´s the ideal season for any kind of winter sports.
It´s the mixture of moving history trendsetting progress which characterizes the cultural image of Upper Austria. On the one hand there is the oldest salt mine of the world in Hallstatt and on the other hand there is the "Ars Electronica Center" in Linz the museum of the future.
Besides many different museums, historical town ensembles - like Wels or Steyr - and very lively traditions, the Upper Austrian culture scene is strongly influenced by traditional festivals and events - for example the "Linzer Brucknerfest" or the "Bad Ischler Operettenfestspiele".