Austria, one of Europe’s smallest countries, is dominated by its Eastern Alps, which cover over 60% of the country’s total area. In the north, the Danube River flows around 350 kilometres from west to east, contributing to the country’s appeal as a vacation place.
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The Vienna Hofburg
The magnificent Hofburg Palace in Vienna was the official residence of the Habsburg emperors of Austria for hundreds of years. The President now uses the offices that originally belonged to Emperor Joseph II for official state affairs. Since 1275, nearly every Austrian ruler has ordered renovations or expansions, resulting in a wide range of styles from the Gothic and Renaissance to the Baroque, Rococo, and Classical periods.
The overall Hofburg complex covers 59 acres and includes 19 courtyards and 2,600 rooms in addition to its numerous beautiful squares and gardens. The Imperial Silver Collection and the various dining settings on display give visitors a feel for the magnificent imperial meals that were once held in this same room.
The Imperial Apartments, a suite of 19 rooms originally occupied by Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife, and the Sisi Museum, dedicated to the life and times of Empress Elisabeth, are both must-sees.
Salzburg Altstadt
As the abode of Prince Archbishops, Salzburg was a spiritual centre from the earliest days of Christianity in Europe. In the middle of Altstadt (Old Town), St. Rupert erected the Benedictine Abbey of St. Peter in AD 690. It was the official residence of the Archbishops until the early 1100s.
Although many of the buildings in the ancient city centre have been “updated” to reflect the aesthetic preferences of the centuries that followed, the combination of mediaeval and Baroque structures still makes for a lovely area to visit.
Highlights are St. Peter’s Abbey and its cathedral, coupled with the stunning cemetery and its catacombs, instantly identifiable as a movie site for The Sound of Music.
The cathedral is close by, and you may explore the area’s magnificent Baroque burgher buildings and charming squares, where you may visit the museum housed in Mozart’s birthplace. Salzburg’s Hohensalzburg Castle, which may be accessed via a funicular, towers over the city’s picturesque spires and cupolas.
The Spanish Riding School
The legendary Lipizzaner horses were first brought to Austria by Emperor Maximilian II in 1562, marking the beginning of the Spanish Riding School.
One of the few remaining strongholds of the aristocracy’s chosen classical style of riding. One of the best things to do in Vienna is to watch the world-famous equestrian shows conducted annually at the Baroque Winter Riding School since the reign of Charles VI.
This majestic hall dates back to 1735, when it was constructed specifically for the elite to display their equestrian prowess. Booking online in advance is recommended if you want to see these wonderful animals perform their ballet.
Schonbrunn Palace
The Baroque Schönbrunn Palace on the outskirts of Vienna was completed in the early 1700s and later transformed into a summer palace by Empress Maria Theresa.
The Royal suites, Great Gallery with its ceiling paintings, Million Room, and Maria Theresa’s salon with its carved and gilded rosewood panels are among the highlights of a walk through the palace’s 40 public rooms. The Hall of Mirrors, framed in gilded Rococo style, is another highlight. The palace has 1,441 rooms and 500 acres of gardens and parks, all designed in the Baroque style of the 18th century.
The grounds of Schönbrunn are filled with sights worth seeing, including formal gardens, a labyrinth, the Palm House with its exotic plants and butterflies, an Alpine garden complete with a farmhouse, Europe’s oldest zoo, and the Classical Gloriette, a grand marble structure perched atop a hill above the gardens.
Dozens of state coaches and sleighs from the past are on show at the carriage museum in the former Winter Riding School. UNESCO has designated the complete palace and garden complex as a World Heritage Site.
Melk Benedictine Abbey
The magnificent buildings that make up Melk Abbey, one of the most well-known monasteries in the world, are spread out across seven courtyards. The west end of the 325-meter-long complex is the most eye-catching, thanks to the twin-towered church that rises above a semicircular terrace range.
The abbey offers stunning views of the Danube and the surrounding countryside from its perch on a rocky ledge above the town of Melk. The magnificent 196-meter-long Imperial Corridor features portraits of Austria’s emperors, notably those of Empress Maria Theresa, as well as the grave of Saint Coloman of Stockerau and the remains of Austria’s first reigning family, the House of Babenberg.
Belvedere Palace
The magnificent Belvedere Palace is another of Austria’s most-visited palaces and a must-see on any trip to Vienna (Schloss Belvedere). Commonly known as “The Belvedere,” this historical landmark is really comprised of two distinct palaces: the Oberes (or “Upper”) and Unteres (or “Lower”) Palaces.
Make the Upper Palace your priority if you can only visit one. To see one of the country’s best preserved architectural marvels and the bulk of the attraction’s renowned art collection, come here. The two-story Marble Hall features numerous sculptures and paintings, while the grand Sala Terrena is noteworthy for its statues and stucco vaulted ceiling.
The Lower Palace is just as fascinating as the Upper Palace. There is a remarkable ceiling fresco in the second Marble Hall, a collection of statues in the Marble Gallery, and several outstanding wall paintings throughout the Grotesque Hall.
If you’re in town for the day (and you totally should be), the palace has a fantastic café and restaurant, three stores, and a fantastic Christmas Market for visitors in the winter.
Medieval Burg Hochosterwitz
Located about a mile and a half east of St. Veit, on a crag rising some 160 metres above the valley, stands Burg Hochosterwitz, the largest and most significant mediaeval fortress in all of Austria. The Khevenhüllers seized the fortress in 860 AD after it had a tumultuous past, and in 1570, in the face of Turkish invasion, they had it expanded. The castle has been in the Khevenhüller family for generations and has never been taken by an enemy.
The steep Burgweg leads to the castle’s 14 defensive gates and the gorgeous arcaded courtyard, where you’ll discover the small chapel with wall and ceiling paintings from 1570 and the church at the castle’s southwest end with a high altar from 1729.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral
Located in the heart of Vienna’s historic district, the majestic Gothic cathedral of St. Stephen’s (Stephansdom) is a must-see. Both the enormous gate and the Heathen Towers (Heidentürme) are remnants of the 13th-century Late Romanesque church that replaced the old Romanesque structure in the same location in the 12th century.
The later Gothic rebuilding in the 14th century added the choir and the Chapels of St. Eligius, St. Tirna, and St. Catherine, and in the next century, the famed 137-meter-high South Tower (Steffl) was completed. The church was extensively damaged during WWII, but it was reconstructed afterward.
Climbing the 343 steps to the Watch Room at the top of the Steffl is well worth it, but if you’d rather take the elevator, you can also reach the viewing platform atop the North Tower, where the giant Pummerin Bell is located. The cathedral treasury and the cathedral’s 14th-century catacombs house some of the cathedral’s most precious things and are not to be missed.
Maria Saal Cathedral
The Maria Saal Church, also known as Maria Saal Cathedral, is a major pilgrimage site in the southern Austrian state of Carinthia, located on a hill above the Zollfeld. Around the year 750 AD, Bishop Modestus came to this location and dedicated a church, from which the local populace was gradually converted to Christianity.
The current Gothic-style, twin-towered church was constructed in the first half of the 15th century on the site of a Roman basilica and later renovated in the Renaissance and Baroque styles.
The twin towers on the west side and the beautiful antique headstones are the highlights. The Roman stone relief from approximately the year AD 300 and the Keutschach Epitaph, both of which portray the Coronation of Our Lady, are of particular significance.
Krimmler Ache
From the nearby town of Krimml, you can take a pleasant day trip to the Krimmler Ache, which drops 380 metres in three massive cascades. At an altitude of 1,076 metres, Krimml-perched high above the Salzachtal in a wooded valley-is a good place to stop for a few days if you’re into hiking.
In addition to many fantastic excursions to the waterfalls, there’s a gratifying climb to the Schettbrücke and continuing to the majestic Krimmler Tauernhaus. From here, expert climbers can attempt the 2,911-meter-high Glockenkarkopf on the Italian frontier.