Austria mixes quaint Alpine charm with abundant opportunities for culture—all set against sweeping landscapes straight from The Sound of Music. Fans of classical music and architecture will find plenty of things to do in Austria, especially in the capital city of Vienna. Here, you can follow the footsteps of great minds like Beethoven and Freud, while viewing art nouveau masterpieces (preferably with a hot chocolate in hand). Salzburg is another wonderful city for music lovers—it is the birthplace of Mozart, after all—while the imposing Austrian Alps feature beautiful lakes and idyllic villages.
Although it’s generally cold and dark in Austria’s winter, the season does bring with it two of the country’s pastimes visitors can’t get enough of—skiing and Christmas markets. The ski season in the Alps generally runs from December to April, while Christmas markets have a much smaller window, beginning to pop up in mid-November. As for general sightseeing, waiting to visit until spring allows for much nicer outdoor conditions and for some attractions to reopen.
ÖBB is the national railway of Austria. Its trains run to most major destinations—save for places high in the mountains (e.g., Hallstatt)—and they are convenient. There is also private rail company Westbahn that runs services from Vienna’s Westbahnhof station to Salzburg and Innsbruck. However, the country’s mountains can lead to meandering, indirect routes at times, which is when going by bus or driving can be the faster approach.
Travelers who have their eyes set on trying a genuine Wiener schnitzel should know to prepare for a large veal cutlet served with potato salad and vinaigrette and either lemon or cranberry sauce. Wiener schnitzel vom schwein made from pork is a common and still authentic alternative. For a refreshing drink to accompany your meal in summer, do as locals do and order a radler—a shandy of beer and Austrian soft drink Almdudler.
Local Currency Euro (€) | Time Zone CEST (UTC +1) | Country Code +43 | Language(s) German | Attractions 175 | Tours 1,531 | Reviews 45,227 |
The Sound of Music almost perfectly summed up what Austria is known for with the line “the hills are alive with the sound of music.” Other Austrian staples include skiing, schnitzel, and fairytale-looking castles.
...MorePicking the most beautiful part of Austria is like picking a favorite child, but many would say that the popular, picturesque alpine lake town of Hallstatt with its epic mountain backdrop deserves the title.
...MoreChoosing between Austria or Switzerland will depend on a number of things. Both countries have the Alps for you to explore, but they also have their differences. Austria has musical and imperial heritage, while Switzerland has diverse regions and a fondness for cheese.
...MoreSchönbrunn Palace in Vienna is Austria’s most popular tourist attraction, receiving around 4 million visitors in 2019. Once the summer residence of the Habsburg monarchs, the baroque palace is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
...MoreNo, Austria is not part of Germany and has been an independent country since 1955. Austria was a part of Germany from 1938 to 1945.
...MoreYes, tourists generally find Austria an easy country to visit thanks to its modern transportation networks, established tourism industry, and widespread use of English. However, Austria has ranked low on surveys of the most welcoming countries, possibly because of the residents’ typically reserved and formal demeanor.
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