AT Austria · 9 regions · 50 places

Explore Austria

Plan Vienna, Salzburg, historic towns, lakes and mountain days with practical routes and traveller-first guidance.

Austria rewards trips that combine compact cultural cities with slower regional days. Vienna, Salzburg, Graz and Innsbruck are strong rail anchors, while the Wachau, Salzkammergut, national parks and high-alpine roads add scenery that needs more weather and seasonal flexibility.

  • Museums & culture 24 places
  • Castles & palaces 15 places
  • Alpine views 15 places
  • Family friendly 14 places

Ready-made Austria trips

Choose a route, then make it yours. Every day is already in a sensible order.

3 days

Vienna Essentials

Vienna historic centre · Schönbrunn and Belvedere · Museums, opera and Prater

A three-day first visit linking Vienna’s imperial core, major art museums and a lighter Prater finish without excessive cross-city backtracking.

  • 8 stops
  • Walking, public transport
  • City break, culture
4 days

Wachau and Lower Austria

Melk · Dürnstein and Krems · Semmering · Marchfeld finish

A four-day sampler moving from the Wachau’s abbey and Danube towns to the Semmering railway landscape and Schloss Hof. A car simplifies the final two days; rail remains strong for Melk, Krems and Semmering.

  • 5 stops
  • Rail, bus, driving
  • Heritage, scenery
4 days

Salzburg City and Waterfalls

Salzburg fortress and cathedral · Mozart and Mirabell · Werfen ice cave · Krimml waterfalls

Two city days followed by two mountain excursions, giving Salzburg’s Baroque and musical heritage room before more weather-dependent alpine experiences.

  • 6 stops
  • Walking, public transport, driving
  • City break, music
5 days

Salzkammergut and Upper Austria

Linz · Bad Ischl · Hallstatt · Krippenstein · +1

A five-day arc from Linz through imperial Bad Ischl to Hallstatt, a high-alpine Krippenstein day and the gentler lakefront at Gmunden.

  • 5 stops
  • Rail, bus, driving, cable car
  • Lakes, culture

Top places in Austria

Browse everything worth seeing. Nothing here changes your trip until you add it.

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ViennaVienna

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ViennaVienna

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ViennaVienna

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ViennaVienna

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ViennaVienna

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ViennaVienna

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ViennaVienna

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ViennaVienna

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Lower AustriaLower Austria

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Lower AustriaLower Austria

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Lower AustriaLower Austria

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Lower AustriaLower Austria

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Lower AustriaLower Austria

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Lower AustriaLower Austria

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BurgenlandBurgenland

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BurgenlandBurgenland

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BurgenlandBurgenland

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StyriaStyria

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Upper AustriaUpper Austria

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Upper AustriaUpper Austria

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Upper AustriaUpper Austria

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Upper AustriaUpper Austria

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Upper AustriaUpper Austria

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Upper AustriaUpper Austria

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SalzburgSalzburg

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SalzburgSalzburg

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TyrolTyrol

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VorarlbergVorarlberg

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VorarlbergVorarlberg

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CarinthiaCarinthia

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CarinthiaCarinthia

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CarinthiaCarinthia

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CarinthiaCarinthia

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Travelling in Austria

How the days actually work here — seasons, transport, pace and what to do when the weather turns.

Rail between major cities

  • Austria’s intercity rail network is usually the easiest way to link Vienna, Salzburg, Linz, Graz and Innsbruck.
  • Check ÖBB for the current timetable, engineering work and reservation advice before travel.
  • Regional valleys and small towns may need a bus connection after the main rail leg.

City transport

  • Vienna, Graz, Linz, Salzburg and Innsbruck have useful local public transport, but ticket systems differ by city.
  • For central sightseeing, walking plus local trams, buses or urban rail often avoids parking stress.
  • Keep hotel location and the final evening journey in mind when planning late performances or meals.

Cable cars and mountain access

  • Cable cars, funiculars and mountain roads can close for maintenance, wind, snow or seasonal breaks.
  • Valley weather is not a reliable guide to conditions at high viewpoints; carry warmer and waterproof layers.
  • Do not treat a lift-served viewpoint as proof that every surrounding trail is suitable for ordinary walking shoes.

Driving and alpine roads

  • A car is most useful for rural castles, protected areas and scenic-road days rather than for the centres of major cities.
  • Some high-alpine roads operate seasonally and can require tolls; check the official operator before committing to the route.
  • Allow extra margin on mountain roads and avoid building a day around a precise driving time.

Lakes and rural areas

  • Boat services, local buses and tourist shuttles around lakes can be strongly seasonal.
  • Popular lakeside villages can have limited parking and heavy daytime crowds, so rail, bus or early arrival may be easier.
  • Rural trailheads can have fewer facilities than city attractions; carry water and confirm the return connection.

Weather and seasonal planning

  • Austrian city trips work year-round, but high-alpine attractions need more seasonal flexibility.
  • Thunderstorms, snow, strong wind and low cloud can make exposed viewpoints poor or unsafe choices even when cities remain comfortable.
  • Keep one museum, palace or lower-level alternative ready for every mountain-heavy day.

Where to arrive

Vienna International Airport

Salzburg Hauptbahnhof · Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof

Best time to visit

Austria works year-round: late spring to early autumn suits mixed city, lake and hiking trips, while winter is strongest for snow-focused mountain travel and seasonal city atmosphere.

High-alpine roads, cable cars, caves and mountain paths can have seasonal closures or weather interruptions even when lowland cities are fully accessible.

Suggested duration

3 to 14 days

10 ready-made routes

Getting around

Rail between major cities, with walking and local public transport in city centres, walking, tram

Also cable car, funicular, seasonal boat and high alpine toll road

Regions

9 regions

Vienna