Last checked: October 2026
The best places to visit in Austria are Vienna for palaces and music, Salzburg for its baroque old town, Hallstatt and the Salzkammergut for lakes, the Wachau for Danube scenery, and Innsbruck for the Alps. Most are linked by fast trains, so you can reach several in a week without a car.
Best cities in Austria
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and has a UNESCO-listed historic centre, inscribed in 2001, plus Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens, inscribed in 1996. Allow two to three days for the palace, the old town, a coffee house and an evening of music. Vienna’s population is about 2 million, according to Statistics Austria.
Salzburg
Salzburg’s historic centre has been UNESCO-listed since 1996. It sits below Hohensalzburg Fortress and is known as Mozart’s birthplace. The old town is compact, so one full day is enough for the main sights, and two days adds the fortress and a market visit. The Grünmarkt on Universitätsplatz is a good place to see local produce.
Innsbruck and Graz
Innsbruck is an Alpine city where cable cars take you up to mountain viewpoints, and it is under two hours from Salzburg by Railjet, according to ÖBB. Graz is a historic city in Styria with a UNESCO-listed centre and Schloss Eggenberg, inscribed in 1999. Vienna to Graz takes about 2.5 hours by train.
Best places for history and heritage
- Wachau Valley: the stretch of the Danube between Melk and Krems, UNESCO-listed in 2000, with terraced vineyards, small villages and abbeys.
- Semmering Railway: a mountain railway line listed in 1998, reached on the route from Vienna towards the south.
- Baden near Vienna: part of the Great Spa Towns of Europe, listed in 2021.
Best places for nature and viewpoints
Hallstatt and the Salzkammergut
The Hallstatt-Dachstein Salzkammergut cultural landscape has been UNESCO-listed since 1997. Hallstatt itself has only around 700 to 800 residents but can see up to 10,000 visitors a day in peak season, according to news reports and Lonely Planet. Arrive early or late, avoid mid-morning to mid-afternoon in summer, or stay overnight to see it when the day-trip buses have left. The train from Salzburg takes roughly two to two and a half hours, including a ferry hop across the lake.
Lakes and quieter alternatives
Lake Wörthersee in Carinthia is popular for swimming and boat trips, according to the Austrian National Tourist Office. Bad Ischl is a small historic spa town about 25 minutes by train from Hallstatt. Lake Neusiedl on the Hungarian border is another UNESCO-listed landscape.
Mountains
Tyrol and the western Alps have the most dramatic scenery for hiking from June to August and skiing from December to March. Weather can change quickly in the mountains, so check local forecasts and avalanche reports before you go out.
Food and local life
Try a Viennese coffee house for cake and a slow coffee, and look for Wiener Schnitzel, Tafelspitz and Kaiserschmarrn on local menus. Salzburg and Vienna also have daily or weekly food markets. Christmas markets run from November, and the Salzburg Christkindlmarkt is scheduled for 19 November 2026 to 1 January 2027.
How long to spend at each place
| Place | Best for | Time to allow | Planning note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vienna | Palaces, music, cafes | 2 to 3 days | Book popular palace visits ahead |
| Salzburg | Old town, Mozart, views | 1 to 2 days | Under 2.5 hours from Vienna by train |
| Hallstatt | Lake village, salt history | Half a day, or overnight | Go early or late to avoid crowds |
| Wachau | Wine, abbeys, Danube views | 1 day | Day trip from Vienna |
| Innsbruck | Alps, cable cars | 1 to 2 days | Under 2 hours from Salzburg |
| Graz | Old town, food | 1 day | About 2.5 hours from Vienna |
These times are planning estimates, not official figures.
Which place should you choose?
- Choose Vienna if you want culture, museums and cafes in one city.
- Choose Salzburg if you want a walkable old town and classical music.
- Choose Hallstatt if you want lake views, but plan around the crowds.
- Choose Innsbruck if you want mountains close to a city.
- Choose the Wachau if you want a relaxed river day with wine.
Common mistakes
- Trying to fit Vienna, Salzburg and Hallstatt into one day.
- Arriving in Hallstatt at midday on a summer weekend.
- Skipping advance booking for palace tours in peak months.
Passes and tickets
We have not confirmed any single national sightseeing pass, so we do not recommend one. Entry fees and opening hours change by season, so check each attraction’s official website before you go.
FAQs
Is Hallstatt worth visiting in summer?
It can be, if you plan around the crowds. Go early in the morning or late afternoon, or stay overnight, and consider quieter lakeside towns such as Bad Ischl or Obertraun for a calmer day.
Can I visit the Wachau without a car?
Yes. The Danube valley is served by trains and river boats, and abbeys and villages are connected by regional transport. Check the ÖBB timetable and boat schedules for the season you travel.
Which Austrian city is best for a short stay?
Vienna works best for two to three days because the main sights are concentrated and well connected. Salzburg is the better choice for one night if you prefer a smaller, walkable old town.
To plan a trip around these places, follow the day-by-day Austria itineraries, check the best time to visit Austria for seasonal closures, and read the getting around Austria guide for train and bus times.