Salzburg holidays

Salzburg’s Christmas Markets are a huge draw in winter and there are three main markets around the city. But Salzburg is also popular gateway to Austria’s ski regions, many of which are under two hours’ drive away. Stock up on lebkuchen at the market, then in an hour and a half you can reach the ski resort of Kaprun, which sits at the base of the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier. It’s a short drive from here to Zell am See, where many ski runs have fantastic views of the lake below. For an even wider variety of runs, head to the nearby Saalbach-Hinterglemm skicircus. It’s one of the largest ski areas in Austria, comprising 270km of pristine piste.

Three words: lakes and mountains. The Salzhammergut region possesses a natural rare beauty that begs exploration in the warm summer weather. Hire a car and you could reach the beautiful Lake Fuschl in under half an hour. On the clearest lake in the region you’ll find the picture-perfect little town of Fuschl – all wooden balconies and geranium-filled windowboxes. Don’t miss the nearby lakes of Wolfgangsee and Mondsee. A little further south and you hit the charming town of Hallstatt with its deep, dark salt mine. And many people cross into Germany to ascend a dramatic rocky outcrop in Bavaria to Kehlsteinhaus – the Eagle’s Nest – the infamous meeting point of the Nazi Party in the 1940s.