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Austria

No country waltzes so effortlessly between urban and outdoors as Austria. One day you're cresting alpine summits, the next you're swanning around imperial Vienna.

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Best Places to Visit

Attractions

Must-see attractions for your itinerary

Schloss Ambras
Innsbruck
Picturesquely perched on a hill and set among beautiful gardens, this Renaissance pile was acquired in 1564 by Archduke Ferdinand II, then ruler of Tyrol,…
Staatsoper
Vienna
Vienna's foremost opera and ballet venue, the neo-Renaissance Staatsoper, is one of the finest concert halls in the world. Even if you can't get tickets…
Schloss Hellbrunn
Salzburg
A prince-archbishop with a wicked sense of humour, Markus Sittikus, built Schloss Hellbrunn in the early 17th century as a summer palace and an escape…
Stephansdom
Vienna
Vienna’s Gothic masterpiece Stephansdom – or Steffl (Little Stephan), as it’s ironically nicknamed – is Vienna's pride and joy. A church has stood here…
Festung Hohensalzburg
Salzburg
Salzburg's most visible icon is this mighty, 900-year-old clifftop fortress, one of the biggest and best preserved in Europe. It's easy to spend half a…
Eisriesenwelt
Salzburg & Salzburgerland
Billed as the world’s largest accessible ice caves, Eisriesenwelt is a glittering ice empire spanning 30,000 sq metres and 42km of narrow passages…
MuseumsQuartier
Vienna
The MuseumsQuartier is a remarkable ensemble of museums, cafes, restaurants and bars inside former imperial stables designed by Fischer von Erlach. This…
Kaiserliche Schatzkammer
Vienna
The Hofburg's Kaiserliche Schatzkammer contains secular and ecclesiastical treasures (including devotional images and altars, particularly from the…

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Attractions

Top picks from our travel experts

From palace to peak: the 10 best things to do in Austria

Curated by Kerry Walker

Stift Melk
The Danube Valley
Of the many abbeys in Austria, Stift Melk is the most famous. Possibly Lower Austria's finest, the monastery church dominates the complex with its twin…
Silvretta Mountain Bike Arena
Tyrol
Few Austrian resorts can match Ischgl for mountain biking. The mammoth Silvretta Mountain Bike Arena features 1000km of bikeable territory, ranging from…
Schloss Mirabell
Salzburg
Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich built this splendid palace in 1606 to impress his beloved mistress, Salome Alt. It must have done the trick because she…
Café Central
Vienna
Coffee-house legend alert: Trotsky came here to play chess, and turn-of-the-century literary greats like Karl Kraus and Hermann Bahr regularly met here…
Café Sacher
Vienna
With a battalion of waiters and an air of nobility, this grand cafe is celebrated for its Sacher Torte, a wonderfully rich iced-chocolate cake with…
Schloss Belvedere
Schloss Belvedere to the Canal
A masterpiece of total art, Schloss Belvedere is one of the world’s finest baroque palaces. Designed by Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt (1668–1745), it was…
Krimmler Wasserfälle
Hohe Tauern National Park
Enshrouded in mist, arched by a rainbow, frozen solid – this waterfall always looks extraordinary, no matter what time of year. The Wasserfallweg …
Bergführer Kals
Hohe Tauern National Park
If you're seriously considering a two-day ascent to Austria's highest of the high, Grossglockner (3798m) or Grossvenediger (3666m), this team of mountain…
Kuenringerburg
The Danube Valley
Kuenringerburg, the castle high on the hill above the town, is where Richard the Lionheart was incarcerated from 1192 to 1193. His crime was insulting…
Kaiserliche Schatzkammer
Vienna
The Hofburg's Kaiserliche Schatzkammer contains secular and ecclesiastical treasures (including devotional images and altars, particularly from the…
Grossglockner Road
Hohe Tauern National Park
A stupendous feat of 1930s engineering, the 48km Grossglockner Road swings giddily around 36 switchbacks, passing jewel-coloured lakes, forested slopes…
Spanish Riding School
Vienna
Vienna's world-famous Spanish Riding School is truly reminiscent of the imperial Habsburg era. This equestrian show is performed by Lipizzaner stallions…
Salzwelten
Hallstatt
The fascinating Salzbergwerk (salt mine) is situated high above Hallstatt on Salzberg (Salt Mountain) and is the lake's major cultural attraction. The…
Café Sperl
Vienna
With its gorgeous Jugendstil fittings, grand dimensions, cosy booths and unhurried air, 1880-opened Sperl is one of the finest coffee houses in Vienna…
National Park Worlds
Hohe Tauern National Park
For the inside scoop on all things Hohe Tauern National Park, factor in a stop at this terrific visitor centre. The museum side of it showcases the park…
Ranger Walks
Hohe Tauern National Park
To get the most out of Hohe Tauern National Park, consider signing up for one of the guided walks led by well-informed rangers. On weekdays from July to…
Fräulein Maria’s Bicycle Tours
Salzburg
Belt out The Sound of Music faves as you pedal along on one of these jolly 3½-hour bike tours, taking in locations from the film, including Schloss…
Eisriesenwelt
Salzburg & Salzburgerland
Billed as the world’s largest accessible ice caves, Eisriesenwelt is a glittering ice empire spanning 30,000 sq metres and 42km of narrow passages…
Schloss Schönbrunn
Vienna
The Habsburgs' opulent summer palace is now a Unesco World Heritage site. Of its 1441 rooms, 40 are open to the public; the Imperial Tour takes you into…
Hofburg
Vienna
Nothing symbolises Austria's resplendent cultural heritage more than its Hofburg, home base of the Habsburgs from 1273 to 1918. The oldest section is the…

Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Things to Do

Mountain drives, epic slopes, cozy coffee houses, dramatic palaces – read on for our take on the 10 best things to do in Austria.

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Transportation

Austria is served by an excellent rail network and buses cover most places you’ll want to get to beyond the tracks. Here are the best ways to get around.

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Visa Requirements

From mountain peaks to cultured cities, Austria offers activities galore for nature, sports and art lovers. Here's all you need to know about getting a visa.

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Money and Costs

Majestic mountains, crystal-clear lakes, cultural festivals and famous sights make exploring Austria worthwhile at all times of year.

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Best Road Trips

Road-trips in Austria are all about the freedom of the open road and landscapes that will leave you breathless. Here's a guide to Austria's best road trips.

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