Austria is a federal parliamentary republic with a chancellor who is the head of government and a president who is the head of state. The country consists of 9 states (Bundesländer). The country is bordered to the north by the Czech Republic, to the northeast by Slovakia, to the east by Hungary, to the south by Slovenia, to the southwest by Italy, to the west by Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and the northwest by Germany. It extends roughly 580 km from east to west.

Ethnic Austrians constitute the vast majority of the population. Small but significant groups of German-speaking Swiss and ethnic Germans also reside in the country.

Capital Vienna is the largest city in Austria. The city lies in the area where the Danube emerges from between the mountains into the drier plains. Its artistic and intellectual legacy was shaped by residents including Mozart, Beethoven and Sigmund Freud. The city is also known for its Imperial palaces, including Schönbrunn, the Habsburgs’ summer residence. In the Museums Quartier district, historic and contemporary buildings display works by Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt and other artists.
Austria's second-largest city is Graz: the gateway to the Balkans. Linz is an important industrial centre. Innsbruck, situated just north of Brenner Pass, is the rail centre through which all the mainline rail traffic of western Austria passes, north-south and east-west. Salzburg is a centre of music and Baroque architecture. Klagenfurt lies astride routes that provide access to both Italy and the Balkans.

Mountains and forests give the Austrian landscape its character, although in the northeastern part of the country the Danube River winds between the eastern edge of the Alps and the hills of Bohemia and Moravia in its journey toward the Alföld, or Hungarian Plain. 

The wooded slopes of the Alps and the small portion of the plains of southeastern Europe are characterized by differing climatic zones. The prevailing wind is from the west, and, therefore, humidity is highest in the west, diminishing toward the east. The wetter western regions of Austria have an Atlantic climate with a yearly rainfall of about 40 inches and the drier eastern regions, under the influence of the more continental type of climate, have less precipitation. In the lowlands and the hilly eastern regions, the median temperature ranges from about −1 °C in January to about 20 °C in July.  

The mountains, water, energetic places, and cultural treasures make Austria one of the most attractive travel destinations in the world. 

 Austria is the freedom of an open-air festival and the cosiness of a wine tavern. All places and moments, that make it easy to clear your head, to be amazed, to feel the vitality. The spark is quickly ignited. Anyone who is a guest here becomes part of this very special attitude to life.

Austria's museums and galleries are exciting: from world-famous historical paintings to the avant-garde, from magnificent imperial halls to centuries-old farmhouses.

Music is a tradition that Austrians uphold and continue with great enthusiasm. The magical locations regularly attract the best musicians in the world.

Austrian cuisine consists of many different local or regional cuisines. In addition to Viennese cuisine, which is predominantly based on the cooking traditions of the Habsburg Empire, there are independent regional traditions in all the states of Austria.

Austrian cuisine is internationally known above all for its pastries such as the Kaiserschmarrn, the Apple strudel, as well as for the Tafelspitz and the Wiener schnitzel. When enjoying local cuisine at Austria's alpine huts and restaurants, there is always something for the eye as well: the view of the surrounding mountains is at least as delightful as the local tasty food.

Also, Austria is famous for its best-kept wine secrets in Europe. Its wealth of Indigenous grapes and quality-conscious, small-family producers make it a treasure trove for those wanting to expand their wine horizons with delicious, food-friendly bottles. Austrian wines are mostly dry white wines, though some sweeter white wines are also produced. About 30% of the wines are red, made from Blaufränkisch, Pinot noir and locally bred varieties such as Zweigelt.