The ‘Venice of Bavaria’ was long considered a sleepy little backwater. But thanks to its student population – and the Main-Danube Canal – Passau is now an up-and-coming, thriving little city. One of its highlights is Saint Stephen’s Cathedral, with its impressive nave. This is one of the largest baroque cathedrals north of the Alps.

Around 80 kilometres west of Vienna is the Wachau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This valley is lined with steep slopes on which some of Europe’s best grape varieties grow. In the midst of all this, you’ll keep spotting castles, palaces and Romantic ruins on the hills, which bear witness to a distant past. With such an enchanted landscape, it’s not surprising that there are many legends about the Wachau, dealing with both mythical phenomena and real-life events, including the Napoleonic Wars. Authors such as Josef Wichner and Hans Plöckinger published collections of these legends – the ideal thing to read while you are visiting the area.

Slovakia’s capital is situated exactly at the point where the country meets Austria and Hungary. This makes it the only capital city in the world that borders more than one neighbouring country. Due to its location, Bratislava has been an ethnic melting pot since ancient times. This influence can be seen in every corner of the city. Cultures meet and merge together. The streets of the old town – lined with well-preserved baroque and rococo city palaces – are filled with the sound of people speaking different languages. And it almost seems as though the music of the Habsburg era still echoes through the city.

Around 80 kilometres west of Vienna is the Wachau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This valley is lined with steep slopes on which some of Europe’s best grape varieties grow. In the midst of all this, you’ll keep spotting castles, palaces and Romantic ruins on the hills, which bear witness to a distant past. With such an enchanted landscape, it’s not surprising that there are many legends about the Wachau, dealing with both mythical phenomena and real-life events, including the Napoleonic Wars. Authors such as Josef Wichner and Hans Plöckinger published collections of these legends – the ideal thing to read while you are visiting the area.

Baroque facades, numerous churches and, at the centre, the river. As you can see, it’s possible to describe Linz, Austria’s largest port city, in a single sentence. But that would be doing it an injustice, since there’s a whole lot more to Linz than buildings and water. In recent years, this former industrial hub has morphed into a European cultural stronghold. No matter whether it’s theatre, cinema, art or music, there’s both great demand and great support for culture here. The city also provides magnificent views – particularly in the evening – from the pilgrimage church on the Pöstlingberg hill.

The ‘Venice of Bavaria’ was long considered a sleepy little backwater. But thanks to its student population – and the Main-Danube Canal – Passau is now an up-and-coming, thriving little city. One of its highlights is Saint Stephen’s Cathedral, with its impressive nave. This is one of the largest baroque cathedrals north of the Alps.