The festive swirl of heartwarming Christmas sights, sounds and smells abound in Austria — the land where the season’s most-loved carol, "Silent Night," was first performed more than 200 years ago.

The Alps might be on many vacation bucket lists, but a journey into the mountains is much more attainable than most think, ...

Music lovers find special delights in Austria. In Salzburg at my favorite hotel, I lie in bed a hundred meters from Mozart’s dad. He’s just outside my window in the graveyard of the St. Sebastian ...

It’s rare that a town’s charm will get me out of bed early. The postcard-pretty, lake-cuddling town of Hallstatt, two hours south of Salzburg, is one of those places. First thing in the morning, I ...

Like a German child’s fantasy, Nurnberg’s fairy-godmother-like teenage angel stretched out her arms and said, “If you’re very, very gentle…you can touch my wings.” I stayed seated while little ...

Three countries with a rich heritage - Germany, Hungary, and Austria - each have a constantly evolving sightseeing scene. Here's the latest: Getting into the Reichstag, Berlin's parliament building ...

A woman stands atop a part of the ruined Ehrenberg Castle, surveying the rest of the ruins and views of the alpine landscape above Reutte, Austria. RICK STEVES, RICK STEVES EUROPE South of Munich in ...