Austria has long been a popular tourism European destination due to the art, culture and winter sports.
From exploring historical and pretty cities like Vienna to going skiing or snowboarding on some of the best slopes in the world, Austria offers something for everyone.
It is also a pretty cheap country to travel in, an added bonus is you are going backpacking in Europe on a budget.
Austria Travel Booking Resources
These are my favourite companies to use when I travel.
• Search cheap flights with Skyscanner.
• Find the best deals on hotels on Booking.com.
• Browse small group adventure tours with G Adventures or Contiki.
Reasons to Visit Austria
If you are planning a trip to Europe, Austria probably isn’t the first country you’ll want to visit. Okay Austria doesn’t scream exciting, but it might surprise you if you do go as there are so many things to do all year round.
Here are some reasons why I think you will love Austria more than you might think.
Landscapes and Outdoors
Carved valleys, alpine meadows, views of rocky flanks of tall mountains and lakes with pristine waters – these are what will welcome you upon arriving in Austria.
If you are more of the outdoorsy type of traveler, then you will most certainly enjoy hiking or biking towards the beautiful alpine meadows. However, if you are the type that simply wants to enjoy the sights, then definitely hop on to the chair lifts or cable cars.
Out there, you’ll get to see the beauty the region has to offer – slopes and lakes and wide stretches of greenery.
Great Food and Wine
Austria’s food is so diverse, it’s as though you can taste different countries in them. Vienna’s traditional coffee houses, in particular, provide such a homely feel, it’s perfect for just breathing in dark coffee aromas. Also, bistro pubs or Traditional Beisln can be found all over the place. They’re fairly easy to spot, being laced with aromatic smells of goulash and traditional dishes.
Explore out of Vienna and head to regions such as southern Styria, Danube Valley and the Waldviertel. These are places where you can enjoy rustic food and wine experience before picturesque landscapes. You might also want to head to wine taverns or Traditional Heurigen, which are almost everywhere, to check out local specialties.
Culture
Moving on to the more elegant side of Austria, do head on to the Kunthistorisches Museum and there you can admire gorgeous displays of art masterpieces. There’s also the option of enjoying a performance of the Lipizzaner stallions.
Other than the great historical face though, Austria has so much more to offer.
Mozart-inspired works of Arnold Schonberg echo atonally throughout the country; music festivals such as the Bregenzer Festspiele stage against mountain backdrops or lakesides; and artists such as Schiele, radical Actionists and Klimt feature in Vienna’s unique Museums Quartier.
Top Things to See and Do in Austria
What makes Austria a great destination for travellers is that it offers the best of two worlds: adventure with its natural landscapes and comfort with its elegant urban sleeves.
One day you may be enjoying a relaxing plunge into a nearby alpine lake and the next, you’ll find yourself out exploring the interesting backstreets of Vienna.
Here are some places you need to add to your Austria travel itinerary.
Take in the Culture of Vienna
Vienna is class, basically – all architecture, high-society cafés and hotels, orchestras and pastries. Quite different from sloshing beer in a field in Munich.
There’s the Schönbrunn palace (a UNESCO world heritage site), the oldest amusement park in the world, art galleries, wacky architecture, some really good museums. On the free day you can do whatever you want. You might even have the chance to see the Wiener Residenz Orchestra perform in the evening.
View my Vienna travel tips for recommendations.
Cycle through Salzburg
Re-enact the famous Sound of Music scenes and cycle through the Salzburg sights such as Residence Square (as seen in “I Have Confidence”), Mirabell Gardens (from “Do Re Mi”), and Nonnberg Abbey (“How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria”). A must for any fan!
Innsbruck
Sometimes, you want to just take a nice weekend city break, so why not enjoy the charming delights of Austria? The capital city of Tyrol, Innsbruck has more castles, palaces, museums, cathedrals and galleries than you can shake a stick at, and as it slowly emerges out of winter, there is no better time to explore this picturesque city.
Go Skiing or Snowboarding
Austria is one of the best countries for skiing in the world! Some of the best ski resorts in Austria to check out include St Anton, Mayrhofen, Kitzbuhel, Lech, Solden, Soll, Ischgl and Zell am See. If you want to combine experience you could plan a city break, to Innsbruck for example, and then head to the Axamer Lizum resort which is just 20 km from Innsbruck and is the city’s closest large ski resort.
Festivals
If you visit Austria in March, you’ll also be rewarded with the fantastic Altitude Festival. Taking place in Mayrhofen, which is only 40 miles to the east of Innsbruck, this brilliant event will bring a slice of home to your travels.
Some of the best comedians from the UK, Ireland and Europe usually make audiences chuckle in popular ski resorts, usually in March.
To top all of this, the winter period is renowned all over Austria for being the Glorious Ball Season, with an extensive programme of dazzling balls, dances and musical performances. The season traditionally concludes in the middle of March, so you may be able to catch it while you still can!
Plan a Trip to Austria
If you have an interest in art, culture or winter sports, Austria will definitely appeal to you. Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Hungary are all popular nearby countries to visit if you fancy exploring more of the region as part of the same trip.