Best Places to Visit in Austria

Also not to be missed is the towering mountain of Schafberg overlooking the lake. Whether you hike up or take the special rack railway to the top, you’ll be amazed at the 360-degree views of the region’s many other lakes and mountains.

When you visit Wolfgangsee, you have your pick of towns – including St. Gilgen, St. Wolfgang im Salzkammergut, and Strobl – each one home to charming traditional buildings. You also have plenty of ways to enjoy the lake, whether you want to cycle along its banks, swim in its crystal-clear waters, or rent a boat for the day.

While you can spend your time here soaking in the local hot springs, whose waters are rich in minerals and radon, Bad Gastein is also a base for various outdoor sports, including hiking and biking in summer and skiing in winter. Don’t forget the mighty Bad Gastein Waterfall, which you can visit by following the Wasserfallweg (Waterfall Trail). It’s said that the mist from this waterfall even gives the town’s air a healing quality.

The other things to do in Zell am See depend on when you’re there. In the winter, you can ice-skate on Lake Zell and take lifts up to the Schmittenhöhe ski slopes. Come summer, you can go swimming or boating out on the lake, or follow one of the many hiking trails up into the mountains above town.

With its lovely lakeside scenery and ski slopes, Zell am See is a popular year-round destination and one of the best towns in Austria for outdoor activities. Here you have both the lake and mountains at your disposal. The best way to start your visit, though, is to explore the town and walk along the beautiful Zell am See Esplanade.

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road starts in Bruck and follows the Fusch Valley up to the village of Heiligenblut, heading back down into Carinthia and Tyrol. You’ll make your way through 36 bends and reach altitudes of over 2,500 meters – which is why this route is popular with motorcyclists. If you’re looking for one of the most beautiful pass roads in Europe, this is the drive for you.

If it’s a scenic drive you’re after, put the Grossglockner High Alpine Road on your itinerary. Grossglockner, the tallest peak in the country, is one of the must-sees in Austria, and you’ll enjoy a fantastic view of it on this drive. In fact, you’ll be surrounded by incredible Alpine scenery on this windy drive that takes you over the highest paved mountain pass in Austria.

On the hillside above town, you’ll find the Hallstatt Skywalk, an observation deck that offers incredible views of the Hallstätter See and the nearby Dachstein Mountains. After exploring the town and finding its iconic viewpoint, you’ll agree that Hallstatt is one of the best things to see in Austria.

Few places are as famous in Austria as the fairy-tale village of Hallstatt. Sitting among lakes and mountains in the Salzkammergut region, Hallstatt is adored for its enchanting scenery. As you walk through the village, you’ll see swans swimming around a pristine lake on one side and quaint Alpine houses on the other.

Another major city in Austria that you won’t want to miss is Innsbruck, out in the west of the country. Surrounded by the Alps, this destination combines winter sports with distinguished imperial architecture.