I don't know about you, but the very mention of Austria immediately takes me back to school, where one of our teachers would wheel on a screen, put on The Sound of Music, and for the next couple of hours we'd all be moved to a place filled with beautiful green hills, pretty mountains and landscapes that looked perfect. Long before I knew where Salzburg was on a map, the place had already found a place in my imagination…
Years later, not much has changed. While The Sound of Music may have introduced many of us to Austria, the country has so much more to offer beyond what fits into a movie. So if you're wondering about the best things to do in Austria, these are the experiences I'd personally put near the top of that list.
Walk Through Vienna’s Past at Schönbrunn and Hofburg
Austria has entire eras of European history sitting in the middle of its capital. Schönbrunn Palace was once the summer residence of the Habsburgs and remains one of Vienna's most visited attractions. The palace itself is impressive, but the gardens, fountains and hilltop Gloriette are just as beautiful…
Meanwhile, the Hofburg offers a glimpse into the daily lives of one of Europe's most powerful royal families, with imperial apartments, museums and courtyards spread across the city centre. What I love is how these places help explain Vienna itself. The obsession with boulevards, architecture and culture will start making sense once you realise the city spent centuries at the centre of an empire. For first-time visitors looking for things to do in Vienna, there are few better introductions.
Do Absolutely Nothing in a Viennese Coffee House
Austria's coffee houses are UNESCO-recognised cultural institutions, which feels like a very Austrian thing. Find a traditional café, order a Wiener Melange, add a slice of Apfelstrudel or Sachertorte and settle in for the sitting. Around you, locals will be reading newspapers, having meetings, catching up with friends or simply watching the world go by. Places like Café Central, Café Sperl and Café Landtmann have been doing this for generations. In a world that constantly tells you to move faster, Vienna’s probably telling you “It’s alright”.
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Lose Track of Time in Salzburg's Old Town
A 10 minute walk through Salburg’s Old Town will be the best 2 hours of your trip. Read that again…
The UNESCO-listed Old Town is filled with Baroque architecture, hidden courtyards, church domes and narrow lanes, where you'll pass Mozart's Geburtshaus, Salzburg Cathedral and countless historic squares before eventually finding yourself looking up at the imposing Hohensalzburg Fortress.
If you're willing to climb up to Kapuzinerberg or the fortress viewpoints, you'll also get some of the best views in the country. See that’s how you’ll lose track of that 10 minutes. Among all the things to do in Salzburg, simply exploring the city on foot remains one of the most wholesome experiences.
Cycle Through the Wachau Valley Along the Danube
The Danube shapes some of Austria’s most beautiful landscapes. One of the best ways to experience this is by cycling through the Wachau Valley between Melk and Krems. The route passes vineyards, apricot orchards, medieval villages and riverside towns that seem largely untouched by tourism.
Stop in Dürnstein, famous for its blue church tower and castle ruins, or take a break at a local wine tavern overlooking the river. WOW? Rental shops are available throughout the valley, allowing visitors to pick up a bike and explore at their own pace. Prefer to travel your own way?
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Spend a Day Exploring the Salzkammergut Region
If somebody asked me what the most scenic part of Austria was, I'd probably point them towards the Salzkammergut.
This lake district includes Hallstatt, St. Wolfgang, St. Gilgen and dozens of smaller villages surrounded by mountains and crystal-clear water. Here, even a simple train ride or boat journey becomes the best part of your day.
Hallstatt gets most of the attention though, but I'd strongly encourage exploring beyond it. Taking a boat across Lake Wolfgang, wandering through St. Gilgen or simply sitting beside the water with mountain views can be just as memorable.
Take the Nordkette Cable Car Above Innsbruck
There aren't many cities where you can finish breakfast in a historic old town and find yourself standing on a mountain ridge before lunch.
Well, then there’s Innsbruck. The Nordkette cable car here carries visitors from the city into the Alps in a matter of minutes, giving panoramic views across the Inn Valley and surrounding peaks. On clear days, the contrast between the colourful city below and the rugged mountains above is a sight to see. Among the many things to do in Innsbruck, this is the one experience I'd prioritise every time.
Experience the Alps Properly, Whether Through Hiking or Skiing
I can't imagine coming all the way to Austria and not spending proper time in the mountains.
During summer, thousands of kilometres of hiking trails open across Tyrol, Salzburg and Vorarlberg. Routes range from gentle walks through Alpine meadows to challenging mountain ascents leading to lakes, ridges and spectacular viewpoints, which means you have to try something…
Winter now, transforms many of the same regions into some of Europe's best skiing destinations. Resorts such as St. Anton, Kitzbühel and Ischgl attract visitors from around the world, while smaller villages often provide a more traditional Alpine atmosphere.
Eat, Drink and Discover What Austria Actually Tastes Like
You can admire the mountains, photograph the palaces and explore the cities, but sooner or later Austria will pull you into a coffee house, wine tavern or local restaurant.
Start in Vienna with a slice of Sachertorte, the city's famous chocolate cake layered with apricot jam. Then move on to classics like Wiener Schnitzel, Tafelspitz and Käsespätzle, each a glimpse into Austria's culinary traditions.
Then there's the wine. Austria's wine regions may not receive the same global attention as those in France or Italy, but they produce some of Europe's finest whites. Regions such as Wachau, Burgenland and Styria are known for award-winning wines…
And if you're lucky enough to enjoy a glass overlooking vineyard-covered hills, the Danube Valley or the Austrian Alps, you'll understand why food and wine deserve a place on any list of the best things to do in Austria.
Drive the Grossglockner High Alpine Road
Austria has plenty of beautiful drives. I mean pretty much all of them are beautiful ones. Oh, but this one is a little different…
The Grossglockner High Alpine Road climbs deep into the Austrian Alps, passing glaciers, waterfalls, mountain passes, hairpins, and viewpoints overlooking Grossglockner, the country's highest peak. There are plenty of places to stop along the route, but one of the highlights is the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe viewpoint, where you can admire the Pasterze Glacier and surrounding peaks. The road is typically open from late spring until autumn, depending on snowfall, and I'd strongly recommend setting aside at least half a day for it.
Lose Yourself in Libraries
For a country that gave the world Mozart, Freud and a long list of influential writers and thinkers, it probably shouldn't be surprising that Austria takes its libraries rather seriously.
Across Austria, you'll find magnificent halls lined from floor to ceiling with centuries-old collections, elaborate frescoes overhead and architecture so grand that many visitors arrive with no intention of reading a single page. Places like the Austrian National Library in Vienna and the stunning Admont Abbey Library have become attractions in their own right, drawing travellers for their beauty as much as their literary significance. The experience of walking through them is the reason they belong on a list of the best things to do in Austria.
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