Austria is a country with so much natural beauty, you may forget that its cities are also well worth discovering.  Famous Vienna is in a class by itself, so take a look at these smaller cities that are Austria’s hidden treasures:  Salzburg, Graz and Innsbruck.

Salzburg, known as the home of Mozart, offers culture galore. We loved the cobbled streets lined with little cafe’s and shops to say nothing of the wonderful historical sights such as the fortress above the town that you can reach by hiking or by funicular. If modern art is your thing, be sure to visit Salzburg’s  Museum of Modern Art. And, the Salzburg Foundation has commissioned a number of distinguished contemporary artists to execute installations in outdoor public spaces throughout the city.

Graz is Austria’s southernmost city. Its roots go back to Roman times, so here you will find history as well as gastronomy. Yes, Graz is the place to visit if you love good food and drink! Explore the medieval town’s center where you will find countless bars, coffee houses, wine bars, inns and restaurants.

Innsbruck, set beside the River Inn, offers plenty of outdoor activities as well as museums and castles to visit.  We loved the feeling of being surrounded by the lush beauty of Austria’s mountains.

The Austrian Tourist Office has commissioned travel writer and adventurer Matt Carroll to put together some videos highlighting the hidden treasures of Austria. We will be posting our favorites over the next several weeks. Today we are showing City Cool.

Matt Carroll is based in London and has traveled throughout the world. He is writing a book for Punk Publishing  about amazing cycle rides throughout England where he will offer his own itineraries. He also provides reviews of  Bed & Breakfasts, country houses and proper pubs  to enjoy along the way. When asked what he liked most about Austria, he responded “The scenery, its staggering.”  He was smitten by Innsbruck  which “has it all – You can ski in the summer on a glacier then be on the river in the afternoon.” He also loved the very modernistic metro stops designed by Zaha Hadid. You can follow Matt on Twitter: twitter.com/mattravel