Located in the Heart of Europe, Austria - a Schengen state - is a small country with a population of 8,4 million that has great treasures to offer any visitor.
It encompasses both the Eastern Alps, which cover almost two-thirds of its territory, and the Danube region. Because of its location, the country has always been a crossroads between the great economic and cultural regions of Europe.
Contrary to popular perceptions, Austria is not all about mountains. A diverse mix of landscapes is packed into a relatively small area of size: glaciers, meadows, alpine valleys, wooded foothills, gently rolling farmland, vineyards, river gorges, plains and even semi-arid steppes.