Apart from the enormous Ferris Wheel in the Prater, Vienna’s skyline’s dominated by the graceful spires of gothic St. Stephen’s Cathedral which really says all you need to know about the city. It’s graceful and lovely, elegant beyond reason, packed with famous museums, galleries, monuments and sights and officially the best place in the world to live. No surprise that families want to raise kids here and Vienna’s a fantastic city to visit with children.

• Vienna isn’t a budget city and hotels are expensive, Airbnb is good for families, exceptional quality and often in historic properties – especially in the city centre.
• Don’t miss: Wiener Prater (the world’s oldest funfair), ZOOM Children’s Museum, ice rinks in parks, gardens and in front of the City Hall all winter, best-ever hot chocolate in traditional Viennese cafés, the Spanish Riding School, kids’ tours of the Schönbrunn Palace, sailing on the Danube and exploring the city’s Museum Quarter.
• Teenagers will love the citywide flea markets, vintage shopping round about Naschtmarkt and the Wieden district’s cool atmosphere.

The capital of Austrian Tyrol is justifiably world famous for skiing. It’s hosted the Winter Olympics twice, owns the Stubai Glacier and has the Bergisel Ski Jump – designed by Zaha Hadid. But even when there’s no snow, this lovely city works a family holiday beautifully with no end of outdoor activities, pretty weather and fun festivals and kids’ events.

• Within easy reach of Karwandel Alpine Park and the Zirbenweg trail.
• Part of Austria’s major ski region and one of the first areas in Europe to open lifts in winter.
• Tyrol is famous for skiing but equally good for cycling, mountain biking, paragliding, sailing, hiking, walking, climbing and driving.
• Home to mighty Seegrube Mountain and the place to take a gondola ride to 2000m at any time of year and stare out over the entire spectacular Inn Valley.
• Renowned for its Christmas celebrations, fabulous decorations and very traditional festive markets.
• Don’t miss: the Imperial Palace, historic Baroque city centre, the golden roofed Imperial Church, Rathaus Galerien and winter ice skating.

Towered over by the immense Hohensalzburg Fortress, Salzburg is one of Europe’s loveliest cities, the birthplace of Mozart, setting for the Sound of Music and near neighbour to Austria’s best family-friendly skiing in SalzburgerLand. It’s also the Baroque capital of the world and the entire historic centre is a World Heritage site.

• Just over an hour from SalzburgerLand’s ski resorts and the enchanting World Heritage village of Halstatt on Lake Halstatter.
• Close to the Bavarian border and skiing in the Wasserburg Am Inn region.
• Salzburg’s Christkindlmarkt is the oldest in Europe, the first to open and the only one with its own angels – magical for young kids and always snowy.
• Don’t miss: the Hellbrunn Palace, Hohensalzburg Fortress, Salzburg Dom, the medieval Glockenspiel, Mirabell Palace and gardens, the Wasserspiele trick fountains and Mozart’s Geburthaus.