5 Must See Places To Visit In Austria

Many people instantly think of Vienna when someone mentions Austria. It is the capital city and usually gets most of the credit and thought when people think about the country. Then their second thoughts are usually about Vienna being a city of music. However, Vienna is also a city of wine. Yes, Vienna is a beautiful city, however, there are several other interesting places in Austria. Here are five beautiful places in Austria that should be on your list of places to go in Austria. These Austria destinations have been recommended by travel writers.

Innsbruck, Austria

Written by Rishabh Shahof Gypsycouple. Follow Rishabh on Instagram here.

Innsbruck, the capital of the state of Tyrol is an all-year destination in Western Austria. It is one of many places to visit in Austria that won’t disappoint. Summers bring great weather along with numerous trekking options in the mountains surrounding the city. We would recommend a walking tour at Patscherkofel Mountains which is run by professionals, easy enough to enjoy the sights and just challenging enough to present a sense of accomplishment.

If you want a little more adventure you can bobsleigh down the mountains at 115 km/h.  If you want a little more peace, Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Wattens is another wonderful attraction for all ages. The museum approachable via a shuttle transfer from Innsbruck displays a large number a huge number of art pieces, gigantic displays, and sculptures made using Swarovski crystals.

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In winters the place gets covered with snow and takes on a different hue. It becomes a haven for winter sports enthusiasts with enough opportunities for skiing and snowboarding. Don’t take our word for it, the slopes are so good that it has been host to two Winter Olympics in the past. It is both an adventure destination and a romantic destination depending upon who is going and should be a part of your trip t Austria.

Read more from Rishabh about Austria here.

 

Vienna, Austria

Written by Lavina Dsouza from Continent Shop. Follow Lavina on Instagram here.

Vienna, the capital of Austria, home to numerous palaces and concert halls is one of the classiest cities you’ll come across! It’s one of the best places to visit in Austria. Some may believe that being the capital, the city may not have much to offer. However, to enthusiasts of art, culture, history, and music, the city has so much to offer! It is also home to several Austrian landmarks.

One should start off by taking a walk down The Ringstrasse or the Ring road where most of the iconic monuments are located.

The State opera is where some of the best concerts are held, and you can be sure to hear pieces by Mozart, Beethoven here. It is one of the most popular Vienna attractions. However, there are many other concerts held at other opera houses too, and they’re just as mesmerizing.

The Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Natural history museum are also great places to visit in Vienna. Both are located on the ring road as is the town hall, Rathaus.

During autumn, numerous festivals are held at the Rathaus, and once you’ve admired all the paintings and sculptures, you should head here to enjoy some street food or coffee!

Vienna is also popular for coffee and has some very elegant coffee houses that also serve some great cakes! Cafe Central is a must-visit when in Vienna as is hotel Sacher for its Sacher Torte!

Read more from Lavina on her blog here.

 

Looking for the best place to stay in Vienna? 

I stayed at the Arkadenhof Hotel near the city center. Read about it here.  

I also stayed at the Hotel Kärntnerhof in the city center. Read about it here. 

 

Graz, Austria

Written by Michael Turtle from Time Travel Turtle. Follow Michael on Facebook here.

Graz may be Austria’s second-largest city, but it doesn’t seem to get the attention from tourists it deserves. That’s a pity because Graz city has so much to offer.

The main attraction of Graz is certainly its historic center, which has been listed as a World Heritage Site. With a beautiful clock tower on a hill, down to the town hall and the charming square around it, there’s plenty to see. The range of architecture in the historic center – with stunning facades on many of the buildings – is worth noting.

On the outskirts of Graz city center is Eggenberg Palace – part of the World Heritage Site and definitely worth a visit. There’s a large park to explore around the main building and you can get a guided tour of the staterooms. There are also a few small museums housed in the palace.

 

In fact, the museums of Graz are another attraction that shouldn’t be missed. In the city center, the Styrian Armoury has an incredible collection of tens of thousands of pieces of military equipment. There are also impressive art museums, including the Kunsthaus Graz with its striking modern design.

As well as the sights, Graz is also a wonderful city for eating and drinking. Although the locals are proud Austrians, they have adopted a more Mediterranean attitude from their southern neighbors. The streets are full of outside seating where people take their time over a meal or a few glasses of local wine. I recommend joining them as often as possible! Be sure to stay in Graz city for a couple of nights when you visit Austria.

Read more from Michael about Graz, Austria here.

 

Mondsee, Austria

Written by Melissa from Parenthood and Passports. Follow Melissa on Instagram here.

Mondsee, Austria is a charming lakeside village just outside of Salzburg. It is a popular Austria sightseeing stop along “The Sound of Music” tour, but the town is worth more than a brief visit. Most guests to Mondsee come to see the Mondsee Abbey, the prominent church in the heart of the small town. The wedding of Maria and Baron von Trapp in “The Sound of Music” was filmed inside the beautiful yellow church.

Beyond the ornate church and its pop culture relevance, there are plenty of other things to do in Mondsee, Austria especially if you are looking for a little rest and relaxation. Mondsee is a great place to have lunch or a cup of coffee or tea on a beautiful afternoon. Colorful buildings with a neoclassical design line the pedestrian streets. Cafes and restaurants offer outdoor seating with stunning views of the abbey and the surrounding mountains.

After lunch, take a stroll down a tree-lined path and spend a few hours at the lake. Swim in the calm waters, watch the swans and sailboats go by, or let the kids play in the splash fountain while you bask in the sun or sit in the cool grass under a shady tree. Mondsee is truly a town where you can’t help but unwind and forget about the stresses of life.

Read more from Melissa about things to do in Mondsee here.

 

Salzburg, Austria

Written by Gizelle Marie Khan from Our Travels. Follow Gizelle on Facebook here.

Salzburg, Austria’s fourth-largest city, may be known for “The Sound of Music” or as Mozart’s birthplace but it’s more than just that. Touring it, you will experience history with all the exciting and surprising factors.  A visit to some of the best places in Salzburg will give you the ideal insight into the UNESCO World Cultural City. It is also a joy to walk around, as many of these places could be reached on foot.

For those who want to relive the Sound of Music, the Mirabell Gardens is a must. Several scenes of the von Trapp family and Maria were filmed in the courtyard and gardens of the Mirabell Palace, you can sing to Do-Re-Mi as you explore the area. Conveniently, the Mirabell grounds is just a 12-minute walking distance away from Salzburg’s main train station, on a street named in honor of it: Mirabellplatz.

Going across the Salzach river, one can find Salzburg’s Old Town. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is an architectural wonder, preserved and known for its baroque features. The shopping street Getreidegasse can be found here – although narrow that no vehicles could pass through, the whole stretch is full of clothing and food shops, and trinket stores, the wrought-iron guild signs give this area its historical characteristics.

Mozart’s birthplace is famously on Getreidegasse at no.9, the whole building has been dedicated as a museum for the genius musician. Salzburg has numerous open plazas which hold food stalls throughout the seasons. It is a wonderful experience to come by in winter and have a taste of the local food offering and also see their displays of locally crafted products.

Lastly, visit the Hohensalzburg Fortress, one of Europe’s largest medieval castles situated on the Austrian hill, Festungsberg.  The medieval fortress has a courtyard which is the first accessible area from the funicular railway. Going up the fortress takes a lot of energy, it’s situated at an altitude of 506 m after all. There are many rooms within the fortress and some could either be creepy or interesting: a torture chamber, a medieval museum, and a marionette museum.  Going up the Hohensalzburg Fortress at any time of the day would give you a wonderful view of Salzburg (but I prefer to see the night lights).

Read more from Gizelle on her website here.

 

I hope you are able to get to some of these cities when you are making your Austria travel plans. These are some of the best places to see in Austria according to travel writers. To find out more about what to do in Austria and Austria attractions check out the Austria Tourism Board website here.

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