Tour Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna€26
The Habsburgs' summer residence, with 1,441 rooms, manicured gardens, and a zoo that's been operating on the grounds since 1752.
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Central Europe
Things to do in Austria
Imperial palaces and coffeehouse culture in Vienna, Alpine peaks and lakes further west, and a classical music heritage that still shapes how the country presents itself to visitors.
Explore Austria on the map →Budget$$
Best for6-9 days
CapitalVienna
VisaSchengen visa-free up to 90 days in any 180-day period for US/UK/Canada/Australia passport holders; ETIAS pre-registration is expected for visa-exempt visitors but was not yet live as of mid-2026.
CurrencyEuro (EUR)
LanguagesGerman
InternetExcellent
Typical lodging$40–$110/night
Driving sideRight
Power & voltage230V / 50Hz (Type C/F plug)
Time zoneUTC+1
Emergency number112
Dialing code+43
★★★★★ Culture★★★★★ Photography★★★★★ Adventure
Visa rules and emergency numbers can change without notice. Confirm the specifics for your nationality and dates before you travel.
Travel smart
Tap water is safe to drink. 5–10% is customary, often rounded to the nearest note.
Vienna was the seat of the Habsburg Empire for centuries and remains one of the world's great classical music capitals, home to Mozart, Beethoven, and Strauss at various points and still hosting world-class opera nightly. Beyond the capital, Austria packs some of the Alps' most dramatic scenery, the Hallstatt lake region and Tyrolean peaks, into a country roughly the size of Maine.
When to go
SpringMarch–May
Mild temperatures and blooming parks in Vienna, with Alpine trails still snow-covered at higher elevations into May.
SummerJune–August
Warm, long days, and peak hiking season in the Alps, plus outdoor opera and music festivals in Vienna and Salzburg.
AutumnSeptember–October
Comfortable temperatures, wine harvest around Vienna, and the start of a proper coffeehouse-and-pastry season.
WinterNovember–March
Cold with reliable snow: ski season across the Tyrol runs into March, and Vienna's Christmas markets are among Europe's best.
20 things to do
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Culture & history
8Explore Salzburg's old town and Hohensalzburg Fortress
Mozart's birthplace and one of Europe's largest fully preserved medieval castles, towering over a baroque old town.
Tour the Belvedere Palace and see Klimt's The Kiss€26
A baroque palace complex housing Austria's largest collection of Gustav Klimt's work, including his most famous painting.
Ride the Golden Roof and old town lanes of Innsbruck
A compact, mountain-ringed old town centered on a 15th-century balcony covered in 2,657 gilded copper tiles.
Visit Melk Abbey overlooking the Danube
A working Benedictine monastery with an opulent baroque library and church, perched above the Danube in the Wachau Valley.
Visit Vienna's Christmas markets
Rathausplatz and Schönbrunn both host large, well-established markets with mulled wine (Glühwein) and roasted chestnuts through December.
Tour the Hallstatt salt mine, among the world's oldest
Salt has been mined here for over 7,000 years, with a slide down between mine levels and a walkway back out over the valley.
Walk the Sound of Music filming locations near Salzburg
Mirabell Gardens, Leopoldskron Palace, and the surrounding lake district, still recognizable from the 1965 film's most iconic scenes.
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Adventure & outdoors
4Ski or hike in the Tyrolean Alps near Innsbruck
Twice an Olympic host city, ringed by peaks reachable by cable car directly from the city center for both winter skiing and summer hiking.
Hike the Grossglockner High Alpine Road
Austria's highest paved mountain pass, winding past glaciers with viewpoints and short trails at nearly every turnout.
Cycle the Wachau Valley wine region
A UNESCO-listed stretch of the Danube lined with terraced vineyards, apricot orchards, and small wine towns connected by a flat riverside path.
Explore the Eisriesenwelt ice caves near Salzburg
The largest ice cave system in the world, with frozen formations reachable by cable car and a guided lantern-lit tour inside.
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Nightlife
1Attend a standing-room opera performance at the Vienna State Opera
Same-day standing tickets cost a fraction of seated prices and are a genuine Viennese tradition, arrive early to queue for a good spot.
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Nature & scenery
3Swim in Hallstatt's alpine lake
A postcard village on Lake Hallstatt ringed by mountains, best seen early morning before the day-trip tour buses from Salzburg arrive.
Explore the Salzkammergut lake district
Dozens of alpine lakes beyond Hallstatt, Wolfgangsee and Attersee offer the same scenery with far fewer crowds.
Hike to the Krimml Waterfalls in Hohe Tauern National Park
Austria's tallest waterfall system, dropping nearly 400 metres in three tiers, with a well-graded trail alongside the full cascade.
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Food & drink
4Eat Wiener schnitzel at a traditional Viennese restaurant
A pounded, breaded veal cutlet fried to order: Figlmüller is the famous choice, though many neighborhood beisls do it just as well.
Visit a Viennese coffeehouse
UNESCO-recognized as intangible cultural heritage, these century-old cafés are meant for lingering over a single coffee with a newspaper for hours.
Browse Vienna's Naschmarkt
The city's largest and liveliest market, stalls of Middle Eastern, Balkan, and Austrian food running alongside a Saturday flea market.
Sample Sachertorte at Café Sacher in Vienna
The dense chocolate cake at the center of a decades-long rivalry over the 'original' recipe, best with unsweetened whipped cream and a coffee.
Common questions
▾Do I need a visa for Austria?
US, UK, Canadian, and Australian passport holders can enter visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period under Schengen rules. The EU's planned ETIAS system has faced repeated delays, so check current status before booking.
▾Is Vienna or Salzburg better for a short trip?
Vienna has the greater depth: imperial palaces, world-class museums, and an unmatched music scene. Salzburg is smaller and more compact, ideal for a 1-2 day add-on centered on its old town and Sound of Music-era sights.
▾Is skiing in Austria worth it compared to other Alpine countries?
Yes. Austria has some of the most developed and affordable ski infrastructure in the Alps, with resorts like St. Anton and Kitzbühel drawing serious skiers from across Europe.
▾Do I need to dress up for the opera in Vienna?
Formal dress isn't strictly required except for premieres and galas, but smart casual is expected, and standing-room tickets (sold same-day, very cheap) are a genuine Vienna tradition worth trying.
▾Is Austria expensive?
Comparable to Germany, cheaper than Switzerland, Vienna offers strong value for its museum and music scene relative to other major European capitals.
▾How much does it cost to visit Schönbrunn Palace?
A basic tour of the imperial apartments runs about €26, with more comprehensive tickets that add the gardens, maze and gloriette costing more, closer to €40. The palace grounds themselves are free to walk if you skip the interior tour.