Austria is blessed with a wide array of amazing places. Here are my favorites:
View of the Salzburg fortress from Mirabell.
Salzburg- This candidate for Europe’s most delightful city offers more than just Mozart and The Sound of Music—but there’s plenty of each of these for interested visitors. Distinctive onion-domed churches dot central Salzburg, which is split between old and ‘new’ town by the Salzach River. On the new side, Mirabell Gardens show off Instagram-able views of the old town and fortress. That fortress, Festung Hohensalzburg, looms over the old town with medieval grandeur, while below, the old town’s Getreidegasse and neighboring streets sport maze of shops, eats, and sights. Peruse traditional Austrian garb at Trachtenstadl or check out the Red Bull store or ancient schnapps purveyor Sporer for uniquely Austrian souvenirs. Hellbrun Palace sits just a quick bus ride (or bike ride along the river) out of town; it’s not much of a palace, but its trick fountains—and the iconic gazebo from The Sound Of Music—are worth the scenic trip.
Hofburg Palace—one of Vienna’s imperial sights.
Vienna- Combine Paris’ architecture with Munich’s gemütlichkeit,give it a past as a former imperial capital and a setting bordered by the Danube and rolling, forested hills, and you’ve got Vienna. The city’s inner ring contains the world-famous (and tour-able) opera house, the Graben shopping area, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral, with its distinctive tiled roof. Nearby, still inside the ring, are Hofburg Palace, home to the Lipizzaner stallions, and the varied collections of Albertina Museum. Further out, find the Belvedere Palaces, now art museums, and the show-stopper Schönbrunn Palace, a Viennese Versailles. A stop for ‘Kaffee und Kuche’ from one of the city’s dozens of café’s and a ginormous schnitzel from Figlmüller complete the experience.
Hallstatt’s central plaza, steps from the lake.
The Salzkammergut Lake District- To the east of Salzburg, Alps mingle with lakes in this sparkling region. Lake Wolfgang, aka the Wolfgangsee, is a quick car or bus ride from Salzburg. Cross it by boat or hike around its shores, visiting one of the villages that surround it. Best of this lot is St. Wolfgang—tiny, picturesque, and made for wandering. But the real gem of the area is Hallstatt: wedged in between the Alps and its own lake, this is perhaps Austria’s most stunning scene at dawn or sunset. Explore its pre-historic and Roman heritage, or wander farther afield to the nearby ice caves, or the salt mine, which put the town on the map.
The Grossglockener is Austria’s highest peak and a sight best seen by car. Visit via the Grossglockener High Alpine Road (or Hochalpenstrasse), which snakes up one side and down the other. Pull off to the side to breathe the brisk mountain air, enjoy the views, and spot a waterfall or mountain goat. From the top, visitors are rewarded with a 360º panorama of snow-topped Alps.
The Grossglockener road.
The German/Austrian border near Reutte and Ludwig’s castles.
Reutte/Füssen- North of Innsbruck, these two small towns sit opposite each other across the Austrian/German border. Hidden between the two is one of Europe’s top sights, the marvelous Neuschwanstein Castle, which inspired Walt Disney’s castle, and its older sibling, Hohenschwangau. Feeling adventurous? Park at Gutshof zum Schluxen (or take a taxi to it), and follow the trail behind it up through the woods and over the border (stop for a pic) to the castles. Takes about an hour and a half each way. Tour one or both, and taxi or hoof it back. Back in Reutte, hike to and explore one of several older castle ruins, or take a gondola up a mountain peak for a view of Tyrolean splendor. Side trip to nearby Oberammergau or check out an even better castle interior at Linderhof, both in Germany. Finish the day with a dessert of Kaiserschmarrn, an Austrian bread pudding with apple or plum sauce. Heavenly.
Want to create your own list of favorite places in Austria, Germany, or Switzerland? I’m a travel advisor specializing in Europe and European river cruises. Shoot me an e-mail, and I’ll help you make it happen.
Neuschwanstein, ‘mad’ King Ludwig’s masterpiece.
Beau Black is an English professor, writer, and the head traveler at RediscoverEurope.com.
