Why stay in one place when you can take in the sights around a country? Driving enthusiast Pierre Vella sets off on a road trip combining city with country.

Being a full-time petrol head, my travels take me from neighbouring Sicily to faraway places such as Singapore, with always the same objective: cars.

Last year I was fortunate to take a small road trip to Austria, giving me the opportunity to explore its culture, history and some wonderful locations.

While making plans for the road trip, Munich airport had to be my port of call.

During my out-of-Europe journeys, I tend to stress the opportunity to travel in and out of Germany’s second largest airport, as it’s so passenger friendly.

Salzburg is a gem to walk around, either taking a guided walk or else picking up a good guide book and doing it on your own

With just two terminals all on one level, there is a sense of tranquillity that soothes both arrivals and departures.

However, it is also an excellent starting location to drive off to neighbouring Austria.

My first port of call was Salzburg, a pleasant, two-hour drive avoiding the motorway, through incredible countryside.

If you prefer not to drive, there is a train from Munich.

Salzburg is just magical and a gem to walk around, by either taking a guided walk or else picking up a good guide book and do it on your own.

For sure the city embodies the sound of music, from the famous film by that name to Mozart’s birthplace.

Winter does bring temperatures down and good clothing is recommended for strolling around the city.

During the colder months, Salzburg’s fountains are covered to avoid frost damage.

To warm up, head for traditional taverns for the opportunity to get closer to the roots of the city. Most menus are in German so don’t be afraid to ask if you need help with the menu, but everything is so tasty you can’t really go wrong.

The fortress overlooking the city is a must-see as the medieval stronghold looks down on 900 years of architectural history.

I opted to visit at night and the view was just incredible.

My next destination was Bad Ischl, an hour’s drive away, but before leaving I paid a quick visit to a chocolate shop for some souvenirs to enjoy along the route.

It was another great drive to the spa town situated along the rivers Ischl and Traun.

Bad Ischl is famous for its hiking trails, great scenery and the Austrian Alps.

Poor weather prevented me from putting on my hiking boots but I did tour this enchanting town.

Best of all was my hotel view of the river and mountains, which unfortunately at the time were still snowless.

A must-do was a visit to the Eurothermen Resort, at a walking distance from my hotel, to indulge myself.

Thermal baths offer salt water pools with a temperature of around 34 degrees, coupled with underwater massage jets.

It was simply great to unwind while enjoying a well-deserved thermal hydro massage.

One thing that Austria is not short of is coffee and cake shops.

Bad Ischl is home to Zauner Cafe and Cake Shop, one of the most renowned in the country, which was founded in 1832.

I stopped off at St Wolfgang, where the smell of burning wood and mulled wine at a festive market tempted me to have a shot to take away the bitter cold

In the times of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, the Zauner was given the honour of being appointed k.u.k. Hoflieferant (Imperial and Royal Purveyor to the Court) and has been recently given permission to use the National Coat of Arms by the Republic of Austria, an award for excellence in business.

After enjoying a traditional cake in Bad Ischl, I began the journey back to Munich.

Leaving the enchanting town behind, the road took me towards Lake Wolfgangsee, which is lined with numerous small villages.

I stopped off at St Wolfgang in central Austria, where the smell of burning wood and mulled wine at a festive market tempted me to have a shot to take away the bitter cold.

Luckily, I was able to hold on to my mug, concealing the number of wines I consumed.

Each building has its own identity, which makes these villages rather special, particularly with the mountains reflecting their grandeur on the calm lake water.

It was time to move on, but on the way there was time to stop at the picturesque lakeside towns of St Gilgen and Strobl.

After just under two hours, we were back in one of my favourite cities.

Munich is an excellent place to stop over with its cheerful Bavarian attitude, numerous beer houses and good restaurants. I even managed to indulge my motor-loving side with a visit to the BMW museum and BMW Weld.

Charting the history of the German manufacturer through its glorious times on the roads and on the race tracks, this flowing museum explains how the brand evolved, arriving at its latest creation, the hybrid BMW i8.

My road trip was over, but I’ll be back to visit again. Maybe I’ll even fit in the Austrian F1 race into my next itinerary.