25 Best Places to Visit in Austria

Best Places to Visit in Austria! Austria has a beauty and charm all its own, and it has become very commonplace for people to travel on vacation. This country is the winter sports capital of the world, but there is an endless number of other tourist attractions for you to enjoy.

If you want to go somewhere truly memorable for your next trip, Austria is certainly a good choice. The tall mountains, historic sites and incredible food are just a few of the reasons why this country has become so popular with tourists. With almost 30 million of tourists each year, Austria is one of the most visited countries in the world!

Best Places to Visit in Austria

1. Schonbrunn Palace

Schonbrunn Palace is one of the most popular attractions for tourists in Vienna. The grand architecture of this palace, which has been inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage Site List since 1996, is truly awe-inspiring.

You will find that the Palace Park has plenty of different attractions for you to enjoy, including Privy Garden, where you will find all sorts of exotic flora. There is also a large zoo in this area with all kinds of animals to see. For more great places to visit in Vienna, read this: 25 Best Places to Visit in Vienna

Did you know you can even stay at Schonbrunn Palace?!

Schloß Schönbrunn Grand Suite, Vienna

Book a room at Schloß Schönbrunn Grand Suite and feel like a royal (regardless of your blood’s colour).

Most visitors come to Schonbrunn Palace usually for a day only! Give yourself an adventure of a lifetime and stay here for a night!

2. Hallstatt

Hallstatt is a small village that can be found in the Salzkammergut region, and it is well-known for its massive salt production. Because of the extremely high demand for salt, this entire area has a reputation for being very wealthy.

If you want a unique experience while visiting Austria, you should consider going into Hornerwerk cavern’s subterranean salt lake. Although it has less than a thousand inhabitants, it is one of the most interesting places in Austria for tourists. Together with the Dachstein mountain range and Inneres Sallzkammergut historic area, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

3. Grossglockner Apline Road

Grossglockner Alpine Road will take you all the way up to the Kaiser Franz Josefs Hohe Visitor Center. You will get a uniquely beautiful view of the majestic mountainous landscape.

Here you will find the Grossglockner, which is, with its elevation of 3,798 meters, the highest mountain in the entire country. The road is typically open from May until later October, and it’s an experience you will never forget.

4. St. Anton am Arlberg

St. Anton Arlberg is a famous ski resort area that is perfect for those who are itching to hit the slopes while on vacation in Austria. A lot of younger people come here for some outdoor action and adventure, but it is certainly a great place for all ages.

If you plan on coming to this country in the winter months, you will definitely want to look into coming here. There are 200 km of deep-snow runs and 340 km of groomed pistes serviced with 94 cable cars and ski lifts.

5. Altstadt Innsbruck

Altstadt Innsbruck can be found among the towering snow-covered mountain peaks, and it is a truly beautiful place to visit for the day. This medieval town has some of the more uniquely designed buildings in the entire region, including the Golden Roof, which was originally built for the Holy Emperor Maximilian I.

There are all kinds of interesting history and culture here for you to discover and the place will certainly take your breath away! Its location in the mountains predestined it for sports, especially in the winter months. The Olympic Winter Games were held twice here.

6. Hofburg Imperial Palace

When you are looking for truly epic attractions to visit in Australia, the Hofburg Imperial Palace should definitely be near the top of your list. This complex was the official residence of the royal Habsburgs until the early 1900s.

You will be able to take a tour of numerous museums here, which have lots of fascinating historical artifacts on display. You can find it in the center of Vienna!

7. Hohensalzburg Castle

While it’s true that there are lots of castles in Austria that you can visit, Hohensalzburg is certainly among the more famous and striking. This is one of the most well-preserved castles in the whole of Europe.

This castle can be found at the apex of the Festungsberg Mountain, which overlooks the city of Salzburg. This is one of the most remarkable pieces of medieval architecture in the country.

8. Seefeld in Tirol

Seefeld in Tirol was home to the winter Olympics twice, and it is one of the most popular destinations in the country for cross-country skiing.

The incredible nature reserve that this ski center is located on only adds to the overall experience. You will find some of the most luxurious accommodations here, so it is certainly worth looking into.

9. Melk Abbey

Melk Abbey is among the grandest and majestic monasteries in the entire world. It can be found on a tall cliff looking down on the Danube River.

The sheer architecture of this place is absolutely stunning, and it’s definitely worth the trip. This building’s Baroque architecture is a truly amazing sight, especially when you see it in person for the first time.

10. Zell am See

Zell am See is a truly picturesque place, and one of the more popular tourist areas in Austria. The lake that surrounds this city has blue crystal clear waters that are perfect for swimming and fishing.

If you love to hike, this is the perfect place to go. The best time to visit this area is in the spring or summer when the weather is warm and the sun is shining.

11. Hohenwerfen Castle

Hohenwerfen Castle dates back to medieval times and is still in extremely good condition due to the efforts that have been made to maintain it over the years.

If you want to get a real sense of what medieval life was like many years ago, this is certainly the place to go. There are dungeons in this castle that still have the original instruments that were used so long ago.

12. Schafberg

Schafberg is a tall peak with a mountain hut on its top that can be found in the Salzkammergut Mountains. This mountain is part of the Limestone Alps, and it is truly a uniquely beautiful place to visit.

Despite the remote location, you can easily get to these mountains on a steam railway, which is quite a trip all by itself. If you want a real adventure while in Austria, this is definitely one place to consider.

13. Mirabell Palace

Mirabell Palace, which is located in Salzburg, is an old structure that dates back to the 16th century. There have been a lot of renovations done on this building over the years, and its aesthetics are breathtaking to say the least.

The interior of the building is just as luxurious as the outside, and there are tours you can take to see it for yourself.

14. Vienna State Opera

The Vienna State Opera, which can be found off Ring Road, is the perfect place to go when you are seeking a dose of culture and art. The marble staircases and gorgeous painted ceilings inside this building make it a stunning sight.

You can choose to take a tour of this building, but it’s highly recommended that you catch a musical here before going back home.

15. Eisriesenwelt Cave

Eisriesenwelt Cave is the ideal place for nature lovers. This intricate complex of caves offers some of the best natural sights in all of Austria.

You will first need to go down several hundred steps to really get into the caves, but it’s well worth the trek. These caves offer a unique beauty that you have never seen before, and it’s a fairly cheap way to have fun while on vacation. Since the temperature inside the cave is usually just below 0°C, it is recommended to wear warm clothes and wear hiking boots for an hour’s visit.

16. Krems an der Donau

Krems is a wonderful historic city where you can learn more about Austria as a whole while having a lot of fun. This place is known for its booming wine industry, and there is even a museum that is dedicated completely to wine.

There are some really beautiful nature and architecture throughout this city, so it’s well worth a visit.

17. Hochosterwitz Castle

This medieval castle is the kind of thing you have only seen in fairy tales, and it actually inspired the story of Sleeping Beauty. Here you will find all sorts of 14th-century weapons, and there are regular tours that you can take.

When you visit this castle you will learn about local history and folklore while exploring the dark hallways of this magnificent castle.

18. Graz

Graz is the second-largest city in Austria with less than 290,000 inhabitants. The local architecture is a combination of Renaissance and Baroque buildings reminiscent of nearby Italy and modern buildings.

It is a rather busy city, partly due to the fact that four universities operate in Graz. There are many nice places here, as well as countless museums and galleries. The cultural and historical monuments of Graz are listed on UNESCO’s list.

19. Wörthersee

Warm fresh and clean water, Austria’s largest beach, the world’s highest wooden lookout tower, great sporting events and the South Carinthian character make vacationing at the Wörthersee a similar one as in the Caribbean.

Lake Wörthersee is one of the largest and warmest Alpine lakes and is incredibly rich in historical castles and manor houses. In addition to Klagenfurt with its numerous monuments, Minimundus – the “Small World on Lake Wörthersee” with more than 160 models of renowned buildings from many countries at a scale of 1:25 is also interesting.

20. Wachau Valley

Wachau is one of the most beautiful river valleys in Europe. The part of the Danube riverside between Melk and Krems an der Donau, which has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2000, is famous for its wine. But the reasons for visiting the valley are a lot more here.

If you reserve a week in this place, you should try everything that the region offers.

21. Lake Constance

Lake Constance is considered to be the hidden pearl of Europe. The picturesque piece of land lying on the territory of three states offers visitors unprecedented natural and cultural diversity. You can go to Lake Constance at any time – the countryside under the Alps is beautiful in every season.

In summer, you can start your hiking or cycling adventure here at countless trails all around. Do you need some windsurfing, diving or yachting courses? No problem here! The colourful autumn is then designed for romantic dreamers. And winter, of course, nearby Alps are a guarantee of the perfect skiing opportunities.

22. Linz

Linz is a tranquil metropolis that combines historical sights with modern art. It is the capital city of Upper Austria. An industrial city and also a major cultural metropolis.

There are many wonderful and valuable historical monuments in the city itself. The most representative building being the Linz Castle, towering above the Danube river. There is a beautiful view of the Danube and the whole surroundings.

23. Lake Wolfgang

Lake Wolfgang (Wolfgangsee) welcomes its visitors with turquoise blue colour and warm water. The idyllic panorama, the well-known “Weißes Rössl” inn (the “White Horse”) and the sky-topping mountain peak Schafberg (1,783 m).

As one of the most beautiful alpine lakes, Wolfgangsee is also popular among divers. Crystal clear water allows a particularly good view below the lake’s surface.

24. Traunsee

Lake Traunsee is one of the largest in the Salzkammergut region. It is situated between the rocky massif of Traunstein (1,691 m) and the limestone mountain range of Höllengebirge. The lake reaches a length of 12 km, it is up to 3 km wide and 191 meters deep.

The centre of tourism is the larger town of Gmunden lying entirely at the northern end of the lake. And it is a real historical jewel. Tourism in the Lake Traunsee region is alive especially during the summer months. The water temperature in August reaches around 20 °C. Diving, yachting, water skiing or windsurfing are some of the water sports you can try here in summer.

25. Lake Faaker See

Lake Faaker See in Austrian Carinthia, in the so-called triangle (Austria, Slovenia, Italy), is a holiday paradise for lovers of summer vacation by water. Cycling, hiking in the mountains, water sports and many other activities are a guarantee of unforgettable vacations.

Alps, Karawan and their peaks Dobratsch and Mittagskogel are the closest and highest peaks near the lake. One day trip will take you to the highest mountains of Slovenia and Austria, Triglav and Grossglockner. And the Mediterranean microclimate allows you to enjoy summer comfort until the end of September.

These were just a few of countless amazing Places to Visit in Austria! We’ll add much more later so please stay in touch with us and in case you know some amazing places to visit in Austria suggest them below in the comments and we will add them too! And if you travel to Vienna, check this article: 25 Best Places to Visit in Vienna