Things to see and do on your trip to Austria?

Austria is a country of many contrasts, with a rich history and a cultural heritage that one can only envy. It’s got everything: from medieval old towns and monumental cathedrals to the beautiful landscapes of Carinthia and the Tyrol. Things to do on your trip to Austria are breathtaking and an experience to fall in love with. In this article we will tell you about all the cities and sights that await you, so read on and we’ll take you along for the ride.

Cities to see in Austria

1. Vienna, the capital of Austria

The only right way to start (in our opinion!) is discovering some interesting facts about Vienna, the capital of this country, a place full of culture and history.

Among all the cities to visit in Austria, Vienna stands out for the monumental castles hosted by its streets. One of them is the Hofburg Palace.

It is a world-famous palace because the Empress Sisi lived there. It was also the home of the Hamburg family as well as the president’s office and the national library.

We recommend you to visit the Prater, an amusement park that was built in the late 19th century, making it the oldest amusement park in the world.

Another attraction of this city are its museums, among them the house museum of Mozart and that of Freud. There are other interesting museums such as the Weltmuseum, the museum of archeology, as well as the Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Art History… In short, there is something for everyone, so we recommend that you do not fail to visit them.

If you enjoy this type of activities, you can not leave without visiting the Vienna Opera House. It’s one of the most famous opera houses in the world. It was inaugurated in 1862, starting its activity with a work by Mozart. In addition, its building is also beautiful on the outside.

Read more about Vienna in our article

2. Linz

On the banks of the Danube you can find the capital of Upper Austria: Linz. This city is full of monuments and it’s brimming with culture in every street.

Start your adventure at Hauptplatz, the city’s main square and the largest enclosed square in all of Europe. This is a perfect spot to begin your adventure in the city of Linz. Enjoy the atmosphere of the capital of Upper Austria discovering new things to do in Linz.

Visit one of most memorable buildings of the city, the Linz Castle. It long served as a home for the country’s emperors and nobility and has its origins in the 13th century.

Another important monument is the Old Cathedral of Linz. It has a clear Baroque influence in its design, with rose-colored columns. A beautiful organ that occupies the main hall of the church will also impress you.

Of course, there are also museums of great interest in Linz. One of them is the Lentos Kuntsmuseum, a museum of Modern Art that you may come across while walking along the Danube River.

Don’t miss anything about Linz

3. Steyr

Steyr is different from other cities in Austria: its beautiful old town is a place where time has stopped.

It’s quite an experience to get lost in the old streets of downtown Steyr. It’s buildings with beautifully detailed and colourful facades will leave you speechless. Visit the Stadtplatz, the center of the town, and enjoy a drink in the heart of the village.

If you go a little further away from Stadtplatz, you will find Christkindl Church. This monument is one of the most important pieces of architecture in Steyr. The Baroque style of its façade really stands out, along with the two towers topped by domes, so you won’t miss it.

And not only it’s beautiful but it is also home to some valuable and interesting paintings. All of it makes Christkindl a must-see on your list of things to do in Austria.

Steyr is crossed by two rivers, the Steyr River and the Enns. And the bridges of Zwischenbrucken are another of the town’s hallmarks. You’ll see people gathering there and it is a perfect place to stroll around. Make sure to take a photo of your visit to the city here.

And don’t forget to visit the Schloss Lamberg, a spectacular baroque-style castle. It will enchant you not only with its design, but with everything that it has inside.

Everything about Steyr is here

4. Villach

In the beautiful region of Carinthia, you will find one of the most charming places of Austria, little Villach.

Start your tour of Villach at Hauptplatz, the nerve center of the town, where you’ll find charming streets and buildings.

Another landmark of great importance is the Landskron Castle. Members of the nobility owned it for several centuries. But it fell into ruins in the 19th century.

Of course, we also recommend a trip to Lake Ossiach, a perfect spot for windsurfers, swimmers and curious travellers.

Here we will tell you about everything that awaits you in Villach

5. Krems

Krems an der Donau, a town with streets paved with stone paths and beautiful buildings reminiscent of the Medieval Ages.

In fact, if you walk around the city you’ll come across the Steiner Tor gate. This a gate has been in the city for centuries and is part of the old medieval city wall.

If you continue walking along Obere Landstrasse, you will discover the essence of the most traditional and authentic Krems. You’ll definitely enjoy the beautiful facades that decorate the cityscape.

Of course, don’t forget to try the famous Topfengolatschen. You’ll find this delicious apple pie in various stores along the street.

There’s much more to discover about Krems in our post

6. Bregenz, a city full of culture in Austria

One of Austria’s most culturally rich cities, Bregenz is located on the shores of Lake Constance, making it a natural paradise.

Bregenz is fortunate because it’s not as touristy as other cities in the country. And the beauty of Lake Constance is something that astonishes both locals and tourists. On this lake, you will find many options for enjoying water activities.

Discover all about Bregenz

The upper town of Bregenz is also a beautiful area that you should visit. There are monuments on every corner of this city. In its streets you’ll find the old town hall, the Capuchin monastery and the baroque St. Gallus Parish Church.

And of course, be sure to visit the Pfänder Mountain. There you can enjoy plenty of hiking trails and disconnect from the noise of daily life.

7. Graz

In the region of Styria, you will find the fourth largest city in the country. Graz is the capital of this region and it mixes modernity with the traditional Austrian essence.

As usual, the city’s Hauptplatz is where all the action is taking place. And it is also a perfect spot where to start your tour.

One of the most recommended places is the Eggenberg Castle, a beautiful enclave surrounded by gardens. This castle was built by Prince Hans Ulrich von Eggenber in the 17th century. And now it is also a World Cultural Heritage Site.

A beautifully designed Renaissance clock watches over the entire city from the heights of the Schlossberg mountain. This clock is the Uhrturm, part of an old fortress that once served to defend the entire city from invaders.

So that you do not miss anything about Graz, Austria, you can continue reading about this city in our article.

8. Klagenfurt

Further south, you’ll find the capital of one of the most beautiful regions of the country, the region of Carinthia.

The squares are wonderful to visit, in particular the Neuer Platz. This square has a statue in tribute to one of the emblems of the city: the Dragon Fountain.

When walking along the huge and busy street of Alter Platz, you can also see another iconic building of the city, the Landhaus. This impressive building, formerly home to the Dukes of Klagenfurt, stands out for its magnificent towers crowned with domes.

And of course, you should visit the Wörthersee, the most spectacular lake in the area. It stretches for miles in its glory and will leave you impressed.

Everything about Klagenfurt in our post

9. Innsbruck

For nature lovers, we have saved the best for last. Innsbruck is the capital of the Tyrol region.

This hidden gem is marked by its imperial history. The old town is full of buildings with colorful facades, which contrast with the white mountains of the Innsbruck skyline.

Innsbruck is also home to several castles, the Ambras and the Hofburg. They are open every day and are full of interesting exhibitions. Entrance fees are around 9€.

Do not miss the Innsbrucker Nordkettenbahnen cable car. It leaves from the center and climbs up to 2,300 meters with a stop at 1,905 meters in the village of Hungerburg.

But if you don’t want to miss any of the things to do and in Innsbruck, we recommend you to read the article we have prepared for you.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

What to see and do in Austria in 7 days

There is a lot to see in Austria and in one week it’s hard to see everything this beautiful country has to offer.

Our recommendation is to visit Vienna on your first day. You will probably fly there if you are coming from abroad. It is the capital and one of the most memorable places in the country.

After that, you will have to decide in what area you are going to spend the rest of your holidays. If you opt for Upper Austria, we recommend that you visit Linz, Steyr and Krems. On the other hand, you can head for Graz, Klagenfurt and Villach in Lower Austria.

Innsbruck and Bregenz are much farther away, but you can start your tour there and finish your trip in Vienna.

Tips about a trip to Austria

• The official currency of Austria is the euro, so you won’t have to worry about exchanging money.
• As European citizens you don’t need a visa to enter the country, your ID card and/or passport is enough.
• If you are traveling from a country with another currency, we recommend that you exchange the money in advance.
• The best time to travel to Austria is in spring and autumn, when there are not yet so many tourists and temperatures are mild.
• Buy museum tickets in advance to avoid queues.
• There is no roaming in Austria, so you can use the internet on your cell phone without any problems.
• The city is safe, but as at any tourist spot, you’d better be careful with your belongings.
• Cover yourself against possible medical emergencies: travel insured.

How to organize what to see in Austria

Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by the experiences of other travelers.
• Create your own itinerary and add the suggestions from the app to it.
• Add the stops you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
• Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes presented in the post)
• Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make any modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travelers what to see in Steyr Austria

If you have doubts on how to do it, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.

Frequently asked questions about a trip to Austria