9 Best Things to Do in Austria
From sipping Verlängerter in Vienna’s ornate coffee houses, to hiking the Tyrol and skiing around Innsbruck - here are the best activities and things to do in Austria.
Austria’s footprint may be small, but it has the natural and historic wonders of a country ten times its size.
There are rewards to be had year-round, whether you hike the Tyrol or cycle the Danube in summer, or take to the adrenaline-pumping ski resorts in the winter. Add the palaces and coffee houses of Vienna, and the opulent concert halls of Salzberg, and you have a destination that enlivens all the senses.
Here’s our pick of the best things to do in Austria in 2024.
What to do in Austria in 2024
Go Palace Hopping in Vienna
Few cities boast as many opulent places as Vienna. The ostentatious Habsburgs had a habit of building residences that catered to their every eccentric whim, and packed them with all manner of treasures, sculptures, and priceless paintings.
Hofburg is perhaps the most extravagant example - Vienna's Imperial Palace.
Set aside a full day to enjoy the imperial jewels, and consider visiting on Sunday, as this is when the angelic choir boys fill the chandelier-lit chambers with their otherworldly song (September to June). And don't miss Empress Elisabeth's ornate apartments, or the dazzling white Lipizzaner stallions that prance and dance at the Spanish Riding School.
If the Hofburg sounds appealing, you'll be equally enamoured with the UNESCO-listed Schloss Schönbrunn summer palace (with its 1,441 rooms!), and the uber-Baroque Schloss Belvedere, home to Gustav Klimt's Kiss. And the surrounding gardens, exquisitely manicured, are reason enough to visit.
It’s little wonder these palaces are among the most-visited tourist attractions in Austria.
Visit Hallstatt
Storybook Hallstatt is a beguiling clutch of chalets, set beside a spellbinding lake and enveloped by soaring wooded peaks. Among stiff competition, this is arguably the prettiest of the Salzkammergut lake's many villages.
But there's more: hop on the funicular and rise into the Salzwelten, the planet's oldest salt mine. And don't miss the dramatic Skywalk platform, offering views that will leave you dumbfounded.
Summer crowds can detract from a visit, so aim to arrive early. Alternatively, both spring and autumn are much quieter, giving you a chance to enjoy the scenery at a more relaxed pace.
Grossglockner High Alpine Road
Explore some of Austria's most glorious Alpine scenery by taking a rental car along the Grossglockner High Alpine Road.
The twisting road demands constant attention - but so too do the amazing sights: Beginning in Bruck in Salzburgerland, you'll make your way to Heiligenblut, averaging a heart-pumping 9% gradient, covering some 30 miles.
Sapphire-coloured lakes, cascading waterfalls, and snow-topped summits await.
The loftiest viewpoint is Edelweiss Spitze (2571m, 8435ft), offering breathtaking views over the mountains, but the emotional high point is sure to be Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe, where you get to enjoy the majesty of Austria's highest peak, Grossglockner (3798m, 12460ft).
Because it's one of the top Austria tourism places, it can get busy. Beat the crowds by starting early, and be sure to check the weather - as a snowbound road trip here is to be avoided, no matter how romantic it sounds!
Eisriesenwelt Ice Cave
Secreted beneath the limestone spires of the Tennengebirge range in Salzburgerland lies Eisriesenwelt, the planet's most expansive ice cave accessible by humans. We say 'cave', but there are innumerable awe-inspiring chambers - some as high as cathedrals - and many wondrous vaults and passageways.
The centrepiece of any visit is the Eispalast (ice palace) which, when illuminated by a magnesium flare, will glitter an ethereal blue.
Frequent tours can be joined from May to October, where your magical path is lit by carbide lamp. You'll start your exploration in the unfathomably charming town of Werfen, with its precipitous fortress. Minibuses, then cable cars will take you up to the entrance.
Cycle the Danube
Experiencing the Danube is a must while in Austria. It's possible to take the boat, the train, or hire a car down this impossibly beautiful river, but the best way to experience its majesty is from a bike saddle.
Covering some 236 miles, the Danube Cycle Path runs from Passau to Bratislava, and takes you past lofty castles, wooded valleys, and a plethora of vineyards, which seemingly tumble down the hillsides to quaint little villages - inviting regular pit stops for hearty food and life-affirming wine.
The Wachau is the headline act, however - a length of river so overwhelmingly pretty they had to give it UNESCO status. Here you'll witness Stift Melk, a gloriously baroque abbey and the ruins of Dürnstein - a medieval fort where Richard the Lionheart spent some time (again this will).
Tyrol Outdoor Pursuits
The Tyrol presents the opportunity for year-round adventure.
In summer, you might try a gentle walk with a glacier view at the end, or something more challenging, such as a multi-day hike where you sleep in some of the many alpine huts.
For a more intense adrenaline hit, you might try whitewater rafting down the Sanna or the Inn rivers; or book a paragliding experience in the Zillertal.
There's plenty for mountain bikers to enjoy too - assisted by the many cable cars that help you reach the most rewarding trails with ease.
And of course, come winter, skiing and snowboarding are the chief pursuits.
For challenging pistes and dramatic off-piste routes, St Anton am Arlberg is hard to beat. Boarders will be enticed by the black runs of Mayrhofen, or Kitzbühel for those who prefer cruisy runs.
Base yourself in Innsbruck - one of the most visited tourist places in Austria - and you'll be ideally placed to enjoy all these experiences, whether you're visiting in summer or winter.
Explore the Hohe Tauern National Park
Straddling three states - Tyrol, Carinthia and Salzburgerland - the Hohe Tauern National Park covers a whopping 716 square miles. Glimmering glaciers, snow-capped peaks, and turquoise lakes offer a visual intensity that photographs can only hint at.
With the ever-present majesty of the Grossglockner watching over you, head out on foot to get the most from this mesmerising landscape. In summer it's all about hiking, while backcountry skiing is the name of the game in winter.
To get the inside story of these magical locations, consider a guided ranger hike (July to September).
For more high-octane pursuits there are guided ice climbing, ski touring, and Alpine ascent packages.
Experience Mozart's Salzburg
Salzburg beguiles at every turn of the head: the mighty hilltop fortress, the dome-peppered Old Town, and the soaring river cliffs - all of which combine to make an unforgettable visual impact.
The orchestration of these aesthetic features reflects the home of Mozart's main passion: music.
The main event is the Salzburg Festival (19 July - 31 August), an epic classical music extravaganza of unequalled proportions. It was first staged way back in 1920 and has been going strong ever since. Expect city-wide operatic, dramatic, and musical performances, all hosted in the most opulent of concert halls.
If you’re wondering what to do in Austria that doesn’t involve strenuous physical activity, Salzburg has you covered!
Tour Vienna's Opulent Coffee Houses
Ever since the Turks left behind bags of coffee after fleeing the Battle of Vienna (1683), the Viennese have been putting their mark on this fabulous caffeinated imbibe. Order a Verlängerter (Americano), Melange (cappuccino) or Brauner (espresso) in one of the many coffee houses to get a true sense of Gemütlichkeit (the state of warmth, friendliness, and good cheer).
Whether you fancy a trip to a marble-and-silver-bound venue - many of which are unchanged since the 19th century - or a more contemporary, poster-clad coffee shop, you're sure to find somewhere to hit the spot.
It's easy to see why the great and good of Austria found such inspiration in these coffee houses - Klimt, Trotsky, and Freud among them!
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