Are you looking for the best places to visit in Austria but can’t find the popular ones? Don’t worry; this blog covers some of Austria’s most popular tourist destinations.
It is a landlocked country in the Alps, surrounded by Switzerland, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, and the Czech Republic. The beautiful scenery, medieval towns, and cities around Austria make it one of the most beautiful countries in Europe. You can also book a nice place to stay at one of the many hotels in the area.
Top Places To Visit In Austria In 2024
This article tells you about the best places to visit in Austria for a wonderful vacation. Let’s see in detail.
1. Vienna: Take A Glamorous Tour of Its Past
Vienna is a city full of culture and grandeur. It is home to opera and Beethoven and has many beautiful buildings and museums. Vienna’s Ringstrasse Boulevard, which has many beautiful parks and royal buildings like the Hofburg Imperial Palace, is a great place to let the city’s magic grow on you. Vienna is a famous place to visit in Austria that many people enjoy. On a calm evening, you can enjoy great coffee in Vienna’s bars.
The luxurious Schonbrunn and Belvedere Palaces and the ornate St. Stephen’s Cathedral are building masterpieces that art and history lovers must see. Before leaving one of the best places to visit in Vienna, Austria, don’t forget to drink some of the city’s famous coffee in a cozy coffee shop and take in the sights of the famous Vienna Opera House.
- Perfect for: Culture, History, and Architecture
- Vienna attractions include The Schönbrunn Palace, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and the Hofburg Imperial Palace.
- Places to Stay: Vienna Marriott Hotel, Hotel Ambassador
- Top Dining Options: Rote Bar Restaurant and Ariston Hellenic Restaurant
- Best Time To Go: September–October, April–May
- How to Get There: Flights from New Delhi and other major international cities can take you to Vienna.
2. Salzburg – A Mozart Date
Salzburg is a popular destination in Austria, known for its picturesque cityscape, rolling green meadows, towering historical buildings, and Mozart. Salzburg, the birthplace of the genius composer and the location of the renowned film The Sound of Music, is at the top of the list of must-see attractions in Austria.
The ancient town of Aldsten, with its exquisite baroque structures, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the majestic Hohensalzburg stronghold is Europe’s last surviving castle. The Salzburger Festspiele is an unforgettable event, a vast extravaganza of culture, music, and the arts held over the summer. So, if you’re looking for top attractions in Austria this summer, include Salzburg.
- Perfect for: Nature, Architecture, Photography, and Music
- Destinations: Salzburg Castles, Nonnberg Abbey, Salzburg Cathedral, and Hellbrunn Palace
- Accommodations: Salzburg villas, Sheraton Grand Salzburg, and Radisson Blu Hotel Altstadt
- Best Restaurants: The Taj Mahal Indian Restaurant and Das Restaurant Wasserfall
- Best Time To Go: September–October
- How to Get There: Taking the train is one of the finest methods of transportation because many direct trains are running between Salzburg and Vienna.
3. Innsbruck: The Picture-Postcard Town
There are many things to do in Austria, this beautiful mountain town, that will make your stay worthwhile. You could stroll through the old town and be amazed by the Goldenes Dachl, which has over 2500 shiny tiles covering it. You could also visit the Tyrolean Folk Art Museum, which is one of the best museums in Europe for regional history.
A popular tourist place throughout the year, Innsbruck is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Austria in the winter. In the winter, you can enjoy the city’s world-famous ski resorts. People who like to try new things can go hiking in the beautiful fields, bungee jumping off of the Europa Bridge, riding the funicular up the Nordkette mountain range, or even going out at night in Innsbruck.
- Perfect for: Culture, Architecture, Adventure
- Top Places to Visit in Innsbruck: Goldenes Dachl, Hofburg, and Triumphal Arch
- Accommodations: Hotel Central, Hotel Grauer Bär
- Best Restaurants: Lichtblick and Himal Nepali Kitchen.
- Best Time To Go: December through April
- How to Get There: From Vienna, the best way to get to Innsbruck is via rail, which takes four to five hours.
4. Salzkammergut: Calm and Energize
This beautiful tourist area near Salzburg has 76 sparkling blue lakes, stunning mountain ranges, quaint villages, and fancy spa towns. It’s the perfect place to experience what it means to be Austrian. Hallstatt is a fairy tale town on the shore of Lake Hallstatt, on UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites.
It is one of the top tourist places to visit in Austria. Hallstatt is, without a doubt, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Austria. The pastel-colored houses, the underground salt lake Salzwelten, and the Ice Cave on Dachstein Mountain will take your breath away. Tourists also love the spa town of Bad Ischl and the beautiful town of St. Wolfgang.
- Perfect for: Adventure, Spas, Culture, and Nature
- Destinations: Mirabell Palace, Hohenzolzburg Fortress
- Accommodation Options: Hotel Gasthof Weißer Bär, Mühlradl Apartments
- Best Restaurants: Ledererhaus and Restaurant Hubertuskeller
- Best Time To Go: September–October
- How to Get There: Take a guided bus tour to see the most fascinating locations in the Salzkammergut.
5. Graz: Indulge in Cuisine, Culture, and History
Graz is the second-biggest and cheapest city in Austria. It has six universities and one of the best-preserved old towns in Europe. It has a lot to offer travelers. There are many museums, beautiful Baroque and Renaissance buildings, and a unique hill in the middle of the city with views that go on for miles. This is everything you need for a great vacation.
Also, because Graz will tempt you with its many tasty treats, people who like to cook can bring pumpkin seed oil to improve their meals. People say that Graz is one of Austria’s strangest places to visit.
- Perfect for Education, Food, and History
- Sites to See: Kunsthaus, Eggenberg Palace, Altstadt von Graz
- Accommodation Options: Hotel Weitzer Graz, NH Graz City
- Top Dining Options: Vina’s Caylend Restaurant
- Suitable Time to Go: April to September
- How to Get There: Graz is reachable by direct train from Vienna. By rail, it takes roughly two hours to reach here.
6. Worthersee: A Summer to Remember
You can spend a few days at Austria’s favorite summer spot because you can go canoeing and spelunking, see pretty buildings, and visit Porsche’s hometown. You can swim, boat, and raft during the summer on the beautiful Worthersee Lake.
You can enjoy and learn new things by visiting the colorful Griffen Stalactite cave. Along with seeing the 12th-century Cathedral of Gurk and Gmund, the home of Porsche, this is one of Austria’s best places to visit.
- Perfect for Nature, Adventure
- Locations to Visit: Casino Velden, Wörthersee Lake
- Accommodations: Hotel Sandwirth, Seepark Hotel – Congress & Spa
- Top Dining Options: See restaurant Rosé and Restaurant Maria Loretto
- Best Time to Visit: April, November, and December
- How to Get There: It takes approximately five hours to get from Vienna to Worthersee via rail.
7. Wachau: Best Wines with a Dose of History
With its rich landscape and beautiful Danube River, this valley is one of the best places to visit in South Austria. Wachau Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage site because of its cultural importance and unmatched natural beauty.
Wine experts love it because it has some of the best white wines in the world.
Wachau Valley has many beautiful monasteries, castles, and fortresses, including the Baroque Melk monastery. It is full of history and architectural delights and should be on the list of the most popular tourist places to visit in Austria.
- Perfect for: History, Architecture, and Wines
- Destinations: Aggstein Castle
- Accommodations: Weingut Pfeffel Dürnstein, Gartenhotel, and Hotel Klinglhuber
- Top Restaurants: Heinzle Restaurant and Hotel Restaurant Donauwirt.
- Best Time to Visit: March to June
- How to Get There: From Vienna, take the train to Melk, and from there, take a bus to Wachau.
8. Zell am See: Magnificent Alpine Destinations
Zell am See is one of the most beautiful places in Austria to relax and enjoy nature. It has world-class ski hills, the clear blue waters of Zell Am See Lake, and the beautiful Salzburg Mountains. If you are going to Austria in March, visit this spot.
Some of the most refreshing things to do in this beautiful mountain town are to ride a bike along the dreamy lake or swim in the water that looks too blue to be real. You can also enjoy the view while drinking coffee at one of the city center’s many shops or walking along the raised path at St. Hippolyte’s Church for some of the best views.
- Perfect for: Nature
- Destinations: Lake Zell
- Accommodations: Hotel Latini, Superior Hotel Tirolerhof
- Best Restaurants: The Burger Factory and Seewirt Das Restaurant
- Best Time to Visit: June–August
- How to Get There: Zell Am See is best reached by train from Salzburg, which takes around two hours.
The Bottom Line
To sum up, going to Austria is like going to a place that came straight out of a storybook. The beautiful scenery, cute shops, castles, and historic sites are all well cared for. There is a lovely charm that you will feel when you go there. This article above tells you about the 8 best places to visit in Austria that you should not miss on your trip there.
September, October, April, and May are the ideal months to travel to Austria.
Austrian beer glasses and Mozart balls are the finest souvenirs to bring home from Austria.
Yes, you can see a lot of Vienna on foot if you enjoy walking. Thus, remember to bring along a good pair of shoes.
From late December to early March, snowfall is expected in Vienna.
Austria is renowned for its historic buildings, castles, palaces, and other distinctive landmarks that reflect its illustrious past.
