Things to do in  The Alps

Built in the early 17th century, Hellbrunn Palace (Schloss Hellbrunn) served as a summer retreat for the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg. Its baroque exterior conceals an exuberant interior made for entertaining, though the real draws are the whimsical trick fountains (Wasserspiele) in the gardens, which spew water from unexpected places.

Part of Salzburg’s UNESCO World Heritage–listed historic center, Mirabell Palace (Schloss Mirabell) enjoys a rich royal history, as well as a place in movie legend: it was one of the filming sites forThe Sound of Music. Built by Prince Archbishop Wolf Dietrich in 1606, the palace is most famous for its magnificent baroque gardens.

One of several alpine attractions that make up the Jungfraujoch’s Top of Europe complex, the Jungfraujoch Sphinx Observatory is actually one of the world’s highest observatories at a dizzying 11,716 feet (3,571 meters) in altitude. Geologists and astrologists visit it for research purposes, while most travelers visit its lookout platform for vistas that sweep the mountain terrain around the Altesch Glacier.

Salzburg Old Town (Salzburger Aldstadt) is the historic heart of the city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This atmospheric area stretches along the banks of the Salzach river, and consists of a maze of medieval streets, elegant squares, and beautifully preserved baroque architecture. It’s famous for being the birthplace of Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and it's filled with cafés, boutique shops, churches, and lively plazas.

Built in 1077, Hohensalzburg Fortress towers above Salzburg’s Old Town and offers some of the best views of the city. As one of the largest fully preserved castles in Central Europe, it beckons with medieval courtyards, historic state rooms, and lookout towers. Visitors can also explore the museum collections and interactive displays, helping you learn about the lives of prince-archbishops, as well as armor and weaponry.

For a touch of classic Italian baroque in Austria, head to Salzburg Cathedral, known locally as the Dom. The cathedral’s twin towers and a facade made of Untersberg marble, along with its light-filled interior and huge dome, are sure to impress.

Themed around one of Austria’s best-known exports, Swarovski Crystal Worlds (Swarovski Kristallwelten) is a dazzling attraction devoted to sparkling crystals. Twinkling exhibitions created by contemporary artists and designers, together with a playground, play tower, and hand-shaped hedge maze, make for a family-friendly day out.

Known by serious mountaineers as one to conquer, or to chocolate eaters as the former face of Toblerone, the Matterhorn is one of the most famous European mountains. Its pyramid-like peak may look perfect, but it's a place that only mountaineers or serious climbers can scale. However, everyday sightseers, skiers, and hikers can revel in its magnificence from the surrounding mountainsides, which straddle both Switzerland and Italy.

Dating back to 1898, Switzerland’s Gornergrat Railway (Gornergrat Bahn) continues today as Europe’s highest open-air rack railway. Its train whisks sightseers and skiers from the resort town of Zermatt to the Gornergrat’s 10,134-foot (3,089-meter) station, while providing views of Alpine hamlets, colossal glaciers, and the iconic Matterhorn. You can even treat yourself to a journey in a retro “nostalchic” carriage.

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.

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.

Amid the brightly painted buildings and historic monuments of Innsbruck’s Old Town, one landmark shines brighter than all the others. Standing proud over Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse, the Golden Roof (Goldenes Dachl) is the dramatic focal point of the 15th-century New Court (Neuhof) building and glitters with 2,657 gilded copper tiles.

Europe’s highest aerial cableway leads to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, beneath the north face of the mighty triangular peak made famous by the Toblerone logo. At an altitude of 12,740 feet (3,883 meters), the glacial wonderland offers incredible views over the Alps and thrilling activities year-round.

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.

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.