Austria ✓ VISITEDAustriaROAMSUN

Austria✨ 10 best things to do in Austria

Things to do in Austria

1. Tour Schönbrunn PalaceWander the Habsburgs' summer palace and climb through its formal gardens to the Gloriette for a view over Vienna.
2. Linger in a Viennese coffee houseOrder a melange and a slice of cake, then read the papers for hours in a marble-tabled café where nobody rushes you.
3. Hear a concert in ViennaCatch an orchestra, opera or choir performance in the city that gave the world the waltz and the symphony.
4. Cycle the Wachau valleyPedal along the Danube past terraced vineyards, apricot orchards and the golden abbey of Melk.
5. Photograph HallstattArrive early to see the pastel village mirrored in its lake before the day-trippers arrive.
6. Ski or snowboard in TyrolCarve groomed slopes in resorts like St Anton or Kitzbühel, then warm up with hearty après-ski food.
7. Hike hut to hut in the AlpsWalk between staffed mountain huts serving dumplings and strudel above flower-filled summer meadows.
8. Drive the Grossglockner High Alpine RoadWind up hairpin bends to glacier views beneath Austria's highest peak.
9. Explore Salzburg's old townStroll baroque squares and narrow lanes beneath the hilltop fortress where Mozart grew up.
10. Sip new wine at a HeurigerJoin locals at a rustic vineyard tavern on Vienna's edge for young white wine and cold cuts.

Austria🗺️ Where to visit in Austria

Where to go in Austria

• 
  ViennaCapital · imperial cityGrand palaces, world-class museums, opera and coffee-house culture make the capital a must. Its public transport and parks make it easy to enjoy.
• 
  SalzburgWestern Austria · baroque & musicMozart's birthplace is a compact baroque gem crowned by Hohensalzburg Fortress, with the Alps right on the horizon.
• 
  HallstattSalzkammergut · lakeside villageA postcard village wedged between mountain and lake, with ancient salt mines above it.
• 
  InnsbruckTyrol · alpine cityA lively university town where cable cars rise straight from the centre to high mountain trails and ski runs.
• 
  Wachau ValleyLower Austria · Danube & wineA UNESCO-listed stretch of river lined with vineyards, castles and Melk Abbey, perfect for cycling and wine tasting.
• 📍
  Hohe Tauern National ParkCentral Alps · glaciers & peaksAustria's largest national park surrounds the Grossglockner, with glaciers, waterfalls and marmots on high trails.
• 📍
  GrazStyria · old town & foodAustria's second city pairs a red-roofed old town with bold modern architecture and a strong food scene.
• 
  Zell am SeeSalzburg state · lake & mountainsA lakeside resort offering swimming and boating in summer and nearby glacier skiing almost year-round.

Austria🌦️ Weather & best time to visit Austria

Best time to visit Austria

Austria has a central European climate with warm summers and cold winters, and the eastern lowlands around Vienna are drier and sunnier than the Alps. Mountain weather changes quickly, with afternoon thunderstorms common in summer and reliable snow at altitude from December to April.

Typical daytime highs and rain in Vienna (approximate averages).

Austria🎉 Festivals & events in Austria

• January–February
  Vienna Ball SeasonHundreds of formal balls fill the capital's palaces and halls with waltzing guests in evening dress.
• July–August
  Salzburg FestivalOne of the world's leading classical music and drama festivals takes over Mozart's home town every summer.
• September
  Almabtrieb (cattle drive)Cows decorated with flowers and bells are led down from alpine pastures, accompanied by village festivities.
• Late November–December
  Christmas marketsSquares across the country fill with wooden stalls selling mulled wine, roasted chestnuts and handmade decorations.
• Early December
  Krampus runsAlpine towns stage parades of horned, furry Krampus figures who accompany St Nicholas through the streets.

Austria🧭 Austria itinerary ideas

How many days in Austria?

Austria🎒 Backpacking Austria – tips & hacks

Backpacker budget: about $70–100 a day

• Trains are excellent; book early on the national rail network for discounted saver fares, and look at regional climate tickets if you are staying a while.
• Vienna has plenty of hostels near the main train stations, and Salzburg and Innsbruck also have good budget options.
• Eat cheaply at sausage stands, supermarket bakeries and lunchtime set menus (Mittagsmenü), which are good value on weekdays.
• Tap water is excellent – often straight from alpine springs – so refill a bottle everywhere.
• Many cities offer a guest card that includes free or discounted public transport and museum entry when you stay overnight.

Austria🛡️ Safety & money in Austria

Emergency: 112 · 133 police · 144 ambulance · 122 fire

Austria🛬 Getting to Austria

Vienna International Airport is the main gateway, with Salzburg and Innsbruck airports serving the Alps; fast trains link Austria with Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Czechia and Hungary.

✈️ Cheap flights to Austria: airports, flight times & best time to fly →

Austria💡 Did you know? 5 facts about Austria

• Vienna is one of the few capitals with commercial vineyards inside its city limits.
• Austria's national anthem is one of the few that has been officially revised to include women.
• The Vienna Zoo at Schönbrunn, founded in 1752, is the world's oldest zoo still operating.
• The world's oldest known salt mine has operated at Hallstatt for around 7,000 years.
• More than half of Austria's land area is covered by the Alps.

Austria❓ Austria travel FAQ

Austria travel questions