Five best places to visit in Austria

Once part of a vast European empire, Austria today still mirrors the richness of its past glories. Vienna has long shined as a beacon of classical music, architecture, art… and pastries. Salzburg was the birthplace of Mozart and is home to a whole lot of beautiful buildings. And even though it’s a big part of what makes Austria genuinely great, this landlocked country is much more than history and pretty architecture.

Thanks to being mostly situated in the Alps, it is a very popular place with skiers and hikers with a whole lot of stunning scenery to soak up in. Charming towns tucked in sweeping green hillsides topped by craggy peaks lie in wait. Pure mountain air and alpine resorts beckon. Austria is a showcase for just how beautiful mountain scenery, valleys and lakes can be. Here’s a look at the best places to visit in Austria:

1. Vienna

Elegant waltzes and Johann Strauss immediately come to mind when one thinks of Vienna, the capital of Austria and its largest city; the city still holds more than 200 balls each year. But the city also is known for other classical composers such as Mozart, Brahms, Beethoven and Schubert.

Most of the main architectural sights are contained within the Ringstrasse, a circular road that marks where walls once enclosed the ancient city. The city’s architecture ranges from Gothic cathedrals to Art Nouveau exhibition centers, from Baroque palaces to modern art museums. Standouts include the 1400-room Schönbrunn Palace, the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Belvedere Palace, which features works by the city’s most famous painter, Gustav Klimt.

The city’s musical culture is just as varied. Visitors can watch the world-renowned Vienna Philharmonic perform at the awe-inspiring State Opera House or explore the new Vienna sound being pioneered by local DJs in the city’s hottest night clubs. From sausage and schnitzel to chocolate and cakes, culinary pleasures in Vienna are plentiful too.

Coffee houses are abundant in Vienna as well. Some have been in operation for hundreds of years. They not only offer some of the best coffee concoctions in the world but also provide places in which to pause, relax and take in the many sights of this scenic city on the Danube River.

2. Salzburg

Situated in central Austria, near the German border, Salzburg is probably best known as the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Travelers come to Austria’s fourth-largest city to view the sights that inspired such unforgettable music. With its hill-topped medieval fortress, picturesque Altstadt old town and breath-taking Alpine scenery, Salzburg’s beauty is sure to enchant visitors in every season of the year.

Stretching along the banks of the Salzach River, Salzburg is a historic city that looks as if it was lifted out of a storybook. For those seeking to relive scenes from the 1965 movie “The Sound of Music”, must-see attractions include the 17th-century Baroque Mirabell Palace and Gardens, the gazebo in the Schloss Hellbrunn’s gardens and the actual von Trapp family home, which is now a hotel. Mozart aficionados can visit his birthplace as well as a reconstruction of his home, complete with period instruments, portraits and musical scores.

Rising 120 meters (400 feet) above the city, the Festung Hohensalzbury is a 900-year-old fortress built more for show than defense. Although most of the medieval castle’s artifacts were taken during the Napoleonic Wars, vistas from the fortress are its real treasures. Visitors can reach the castle by foot or by a quick ride in a 19th century funicular.

3. Salzkammergut

Stretching from the city of Salzburg to the prominent peaks of the Dachstein Mountains, Salzkammergut is one of the most beautiful parts of Austria. Within its loosely defined confines are glimmering lakes, rolling hills, alpine valleys, and dramatic mountain ranges. Travelers who have seen the movie The Sound Of Music will know what this lake region looks like, because that movie was filmed in and around the city of Salzburg and the neighboring Salzkammergut region.

Wonderfully wild and untouched for the most part, Salzkammergut is a mecca for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, with hiking and mountain biking both popular pastimes. Many holidaymakers also come to enjoy swimming, fishing, and boating on reflective lakes such as Hallstatter See, Mondsee, and Wolgangsee – all of which are set amidst some stunning scenery.

While the region is sparsely populated, it boasts a long history dating back to Neolithic times and is named after the salt mines that dot the area. Pockets of civilisation can be found here and there. Charming lakeside towns such as St Wolfgang and the picture-perfect St Hallstatt are well worth a visit. Its spellbinding setting often sees the latter referred to as ‘the pearl of Austria.’

4. Innsbruck

Located in one of the most visually arresting settings imaginable, Innsbruck lies on the banks of the Inn River, with 2000-meter-high mountains rearing up around it. While the awe-inspiring scenery and landscapes are what many people come for, the city itself offers an intriguing mix of history, culture, and architecture.

Innsbruck’s strategic location among the Alps saw it become an influential centre of European politics and culture under the Counts of Tyrol and Emperor Maximilian I. As such, beautiful buildings such as the Baroque Saint Jacob Cathedral, Renaissance-style Hapsburg Imperial Palace, and 16th century Schloss Ambras can be found scattered around its medieval old town.

The ‘Capital of the Alps,’ as it is also known, has lots of brilliant hiking trails for visitors to explore, and skiing is a must in wintertime. From the center of the city, you can take the Nordkettenbahnen cable car to the top of Nordkette mountain, which offers phenomenal views of the city below and the breathtaking scenery around it.

5. Zell am See

Tucked away in an idyllic valley among the majestic Kitzbuhel Alps, the alpine city of Zell am See is as picture-perfect as they come. The small city is set on the shores of a vividly blue lake, from which it draws its name, with cosy chalets and flower-filled meadows coating the slopes.

While hiking, cycling, and watersports are popular in the summer, the winter months see skiers and snowboarders descend upon the town due to the marvellous mountains and ski resorts nearby. Although it is small, its quaint centre is well worth exploring at any time of year for its cosy alpine look and feel. One of its most famous attractions is the Romanesque St. Hippolyte’s Church, with an elevated walkway that dates back to the early 16th century.

Due to its stunning setting, Zell am See is a popular tourist destination. It’s also an important transport hub for the rest of the Salzburg region. The towering Mount Grossglockner – the tallest mountain in Austria – lies nearby. From the town, many people drive along the spellbinding High Alpine Road running below it.