Top 10 Destinations in Austria

Modern vibrant city life paired with unparalleled natural beauty, that pretty much sums up Austria. Its charm is one of a kind. While tourists usually just go to Vienna or squeeze it in as just one stop to their Europe trip, Austria is a country worthy of a trip of its own. 

Here are our top 10 favorite destinations in Austria that you just can’t miss.

Bad Gastein

Located just by the south of Salzburg, Badgastein is a mountainous town known for both its thermal spa and skiing spots. The town is adorned with beautiful gothic frescoes and wonderful museums that unravel the steep history of the town. Vogue calls Bad Gastein as a town that seems to be straight out of a Wes Anderson film. 

If that doesn’t convince you to go to Austria and come visit this town, we don’t know what will. Add this to the list of skiing destinations for your next ski adventure. 

Graz 

As the second-largest city in Austria that is often outshined by smaller Austria cities, Graz certainly holds its own charms. This medieval old town is filled with beautiful narrow streets. Its streets are adorned with a blend of Renaissance and Baroque architecture that feels both quaint and relaxed. This city will instantly steal your heart. 

Worthersee 

Worthersee is Austria’s top tourist destination every summer. There is just something about this sapphire lake that makes you want to take a long dip. Despite its popularity, you would be surprised to know that the lake is incredibly clean that it is even safe to drink! Still, we wouldn’t recommend intentionally drinking from it during its peak season. 

Grossglockner Alpine Road

Located between green mountain pastures, dotted with flowers, ice, and snow, this beautiful road is just breathtaking from every angle. It is said that this road has been crossed for more than 3,500 years. From Celts to Romans, this high alpine road is a joy for car rides, bus rides, motorbikes, and bicycles. 

Wachau

Known for three things: rolling hills, vineyards, and Richard the Lionheart, this valley is an understated treasure. The town is beautiful and filled with history.   It is said that people began living in this village as early as the Neolithic period. It is impressive how much they have managed to preserve. 

Filled with legends and castles that seem to be built out of fairy tales, this medieval time will prove to be an unforgettable experience.

Zell Am See 

A deep blue lake surrounded by lush snow-capped mountains. That’s all you pretty much need to know about Zell am See. You can do just about anything here from hiking, cycling, skiing, to diving. Zell am See encapsulates everything we love about a holiday in Austria: beautiful and laid back. 

Innsbruck  

Innsbruck is just a sight to behold. Too beautiful that your camera will probably not do it much justice. Imagine a beautiful colorful city (literally) with the snow-capped Alps in the back. It is like a scene straight out of photoshop — you probably won’t believe your eyes. For the best view, climb the town center. 

Salzkammergut

Another unbelievably picturesque place is Salzkammergut. Much of its region is actually wilderness. This provides limitless opportunities for adventurers to go boating, swimming, fishing, and hiking. Or you can just stay at the center where you can stay in a good resort and enjoy a good thermal spa. 

Salzburg

Bordering Germany, the city of Salzburg is an old city that boasts of its view of the alps and of its medieval and baroque buildings. It is just a lovely city all around and we will definitely recommend staying more than a day or two in it. 

Of course, a trip to Salzburg is not complete without anything Mozart, so be sure to drop by Mozart’s Geburtshaus. 

Vienna 

Whether you are just about to start or end your trip to Vienna, spending at least one full day around Vienna is a must. This city has plenty to offer from its culture, art, opera houses, and cafes. Of course, the non-negotiables are the St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Museum of Fine Arts, and Schonbrunn Palance. 

With just one day to explore Vienna, there will be a lot of running. Just be sure to wear comfortable shoes!