Dating back to the 15th century, the Imperial Palace (Hofburg) was among the lavish imperial residences of the Hapsburg dynasty. Redesigned by Empress Maria Theresa in the 18th century, it’s a feast of baroque and rococo style, adorned with gleaming marble, glittering gold, and elaborate frescoes.
Much of the Lake District landscape around St. Gilgen (Sankt Gilgen) found its way into the opening shots of The Sound of Music, and the village center itself is chocolate-box perfection, where wooden chalets with steeply pitched roofs stand side by side with softly colored baroque townhouses overlooking Wolfgangsee lake.
Mozartplatz is Salzburg’s main city square, named after its most famous son, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The square, lined with cafés and restaurants, draws visitors from around the world who come to pay homage to the composer.
Opened in 1913, the Salzburg Marionette Theater is one of the world’s oldest marionette theaters and celebrates the city’s long tradition of puppetry. The theater stages a range of productions using a cast of around 500 wooden puppets, from operas and fairy tales toThe Sound of Music—the 1959 movie that showcased the city and its puppetry.
Built by Ferdinand I in 1553 and part of the grand Hofburg Imperial Palace, the magnificent Court Church (Hofkirche) is among the highlights of Innsbruck Old Town. The star attraction of the church, an impressive example of Gothic architecture, is the elaborate cenotaph of Maximilian I, which dominates the main aisle.
Beneath the glittering lakes and snow-dusted mountains of Austria’s Lake District, the subterranean world of the Salzburg salt mines (Salzbergwerk) spreads out in a network of underground mines and tunnels. Used to mine “white gold” since the Bronze Age, the historic salt mines at Hallstatt and Berchtesgaden are now popular attractions. Here you’ll find fascinating insights into the region’s salt-mining heritage, as well as fun activities such as slides, train rides, and boat cruises.
History abounds at the Hauptplatz (main square), where architecture dates to the Middle Ages. Set in Graz Old Town, the square today remains the city’s core, linking every street worth seeing and every tram. Architecture enthusiasts and people-watchers come to linger, enjoying markets and events that add buzz to the elegant backdrop.
One of the world’s largest ice caves, this network of frosty caverns and tunnels extends for more than 25 miles (40 kilometers) through the Tennen Mountains in the Austrian Alps. Discovered in 1879, this subterranean wonderland encompasses vast blue-tinged chambers, sculptural ice formations, and frozen waterfalls.
Straddling the border between Austria and Germany, Untersberg is the highest peak above Salzburg and offers sweeping views of the city, the Rositten Valley; and the Salzburg, Bavarian, and Tyrolean mountain ranges. This flat-topped peak in the Berchtesgaden Alps is a popular destination for hikers in the summer and skiers in the winter.
Perched on a rocky outcrop in the Austrian Alps south of the city of Salzburg, the ancient Hohenwerfen Fortress offers a unique look at almost a thousand years of history in the region.
An architectural landmark, legendary sporting venue, and tourist attraction all rolled into one, the Bergisel Ski Jump is one of Innsbruck’s most visited sites. As well as hosting international winter sports events, the ski-jump tower affords a spectacular panoramic view of Innsbruck and the surrounding Tyrolean mountains.
The Hallein Salt Mine (Salzwelten Hallein) is an ancient salt mine carved into Mt. Dürrnberg, just south of Salzburg, in Austria’s Salzkammergut region. Perched above the town of Hallein, the mine is around 2,500 years old and open to visitors who explore the tunnels and learn how “white gold” contributed to medieval Salzburg’s wealth.
Few will go to Graz and fail to spot the Schlossberg, the mountain in the middle of the city. This densely wooded peak boasts a park with cafes and views, a curious 16th-century clock tower, and a huge underground slide that shoots braver visitors from the top to the old town in the blink of an eye.
Named for the much-revered Empress Maria Theresa, Maria Theresien Street (Maria-Theresien-Strasse) is Innsbruck’s pedestrianized main street, running through the heart of the Old Town. Lined with architectural treasures, a stroll down the street reveals pastel-painted facades, elaborately carved balconies, and beautiful baroque palaces.
The state-of-the-art Hungerburg Railway (Hungerburgbahn) is a hybrid funicular connecting Innsbruck to the mountain suburb of Hungerburg. More than just a transport link, it’s also an architectural landmark—the Zaha Hadid–designed stations are space-age masterpieces that draw as many visitors as the railway itself.
A gleaming steel and glass structure, shaped like the wing of a plane with two cylindrical towers, Hangar-7 shimmers over Salzburg Airport. It’s the home of Red Bull’s aerobatics team, and houses the brand’s eclectic collection of aircraft, Red Bull racing team cars, and other high-adrenaline memorabilia, plus drinking and dining venues.
Towering 167 feet (51 meters) over the northern mouth of Maria Theresien Strasse, Innsbruck City Tower (Stadtturm) is one of the city’s most recognizable monuments. Built in 1450 and topped with a striking green dome, the historic clock tower is best known for its open-air observation deck, affording views over the Old Town.
Salzburg’s Alter Markt, or Old Market Square, has been a feature of the city since the 13th century. In its heyday the square was a destination for town dances, the midsummer festival, and other civic events. Curiosities on the square include Number 10, the smallest house in Salzburg at just 4.6-feet (1.4-meters) wide. For a taste of some of the local produce that would once have been sold at the market, join a guided foodie tour of the city.
Constructed in the late 1950s, this massive concert hall was designed specifically to host the annual Salzburg Festival, and is still the venue for that major summer event as well as performances throughout the year. As the name suggests, the Festival Hall is huge, with a round stage that measures 328 feet (100 meters) wide, and seating for 2,179 guests.
Graz Art Museum—aka Kunsthaus Graz, the Friendly Alien, or the Spacelab—sparks as much interest for its striking exterior as its collections inside. Designed by British architects Peter Cook and Colin Fournier for the city’s 2003 European Capital of Culture title, the site features changing art exhibitions, often themed around political and social issues.
Perched in the foothills of the Alps just south of Innsbruck, the 16th-century Ambras Palace (Schloss Ambras) was the onetime residence of Archduke Ferdinand II. Today, the striking Renaissance palace and impeccably manicured gardens play host to one of Innsbruck’s most impressive museums and portrait galleries.
Historical weapons abound in the Styrian Armoury, home to some 32,000 objects, making it the largest collection of weaponry in Austria—if not in the world. Covering the period between the 15th and 18th centuries, the exhibits are spread over four floors with knights’ armor, mortars, muskets, swords, and sabers among the finds.
Setting off from the village of Bruck, the 30-mile (48-kilometer Grossglockner High Alpine Road is considered one of the most exciting mountain drives in the world. The route zigzags through 36 hairpin bends while climbing 8,215 feet (2,504 meters past alpine meadows and forests and alongside waterfalls and the Pasterze Glacier.
Established in 1492, Salzburg’s Stiegl Brewery (Stiegl Brauwelt is Austria’s largest private brewery and one of the city’s most popular attractions. Beer-lovers—and anyone interested in Salzburg’s beer culture—come to immerse themselves in the world of Stiegl, one of the country’s most popular beer brands.
The historic heart of Graz, the second-largest city in Austria, Graz Old Town (Grazer Aldstadt) offers red-roofed baroque homes, exuberant fountains, and a castle-topped mount, set around a rushing river. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the area is home to museums, state buildings, the cathedral, the Clock Tower, and the Glockenspiel performing clock.
Silent Night (Stille Nacht in German is one of the world’s favorite Christmas carols. And priest Joseph Mohr and organist Franz Xaver Gruber composed it in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, a little town near Salzburg. The Silent Night Chapel (Stille Nacht Kapelle, built on the spot where the magic happened, commemorates their work.
Framing the northern horizon of Innsbruck, the jagged peaks of the North Chain (Nordkette) range are a natural playground for hikers, climbers, and adventurers. The central Hafelekar Mountain (Hafelekarspitze), accessible by cable car, is the gateway to the mountains, with views that expand over the Innsbruck valley and the surrounding Austrian Alps.
Climbing 60 meters (197 feet) in just 30 seconds, this elevator makes getting to the Mönchsberg Plateau and the Mönchsberg branch of the city's Modern Art Museum a breeze. Even if you don't plan to visit the museum, it's worth taking the ride up to the viewing terrace, a great place to photograph Salzburg's skyline.
The historic spa town of St. Wolfgang im Salzkammergut is considered one of the prettiest villages in Austria’s Salzkammergut (Lake District. It is perched on the northern shore of the Wolfgangsee lake and is backed by the alpine foothills of Mount Schafberg, making it a paradise for hikers in the summer and skiers in the winter.
Just south of Salzburg in Austria’s Hohe Tauern National Park, the 10,508-foot (3,203-meter) Kitzsteinhorn mountain and glacier dominates the Zell am See and Kaprun region. With glacier snow until summer and spectacular scenery all year, the Kitzsteinhorn is a magnet for skiers, hikers, outdoor enthusiasts, and sightseers.
