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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.
Attractions
Must-see attractions for your itinerary
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Vienna
The MuseumsQuartier is a remarkable ensemble of museums, cafes, restaurants and bars inside former imperial stables designed by Fischer von Erlach. This…
Vienna
The Hofburg's Kaiserliche Schatzkammer contains secular and ecclesiastical treasures (including devotional images and altars, particularly from the…
Attractions
Top picks from our travel experts
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…
Tyrol
Few Austrian resorts can match Ischgl for mountain biking. The mammoth Silvretta Mountain Bike Arena features 1000km of bikeable territory, ranging from…
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…
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…
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 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…
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 …
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…
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…
Vienna
The Hofburg's Kaiserliche Schatzkammer contains secular and ecclesiastical treasures (including devotional images and altars, particularly from the…
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…
Vienna
Vienna's world-famous Spanish Riding School is truly reminiscent of the imperial Habsburg era. This equestrian show is performed by Lipizzaner stallions…
Hallstatt
The fascinating Salzbergwerk (salt mine) is situated high above Hallstatt on Salzberg (Salt Mountain) and is the lake's major cultural attraction. The…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.
Read articleTransportation
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.
Read articleVisa 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.
Read articleMoney and Costs
Majestic mountains, crystal-clear lakes, cultural festivals and famous sights make exploring Austria worthwhile at all times of year.
Read articleBest 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.
Read articleArticles
Latest stories from Austria
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Sustainable Travel
Sleeping pods and cocktail bars: Europe's night trains aim to lure more solo travelersNov 1, 2023 • 4 min read
- HikingWhy taking the train from Vienna to Saalfelden Leogang is food for the soul
Oct 4, 2023 • 4 min read
COVID-19Austria to impose quarantine on UK travelers with exemptions - here's who can bypass itDec 22, 2021 • 3 min read
- Tips & AdviceDanube deep, mountain high: The 12 best places to visit in Austria
Nov 2, 2021 • 12 min read
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