What to See in Austria
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Location

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Austria has 8 (main) sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list:

The East

Natural Heritage

The West - Tyrol

Natural Heritage

Must-see & highly recommended

Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens
★★★★ Austria’s "Versailles" is one of the country’s most visited sites. Built in the Rococo style in the 17th century, it is a…
Hohe Tauern National Park
★★★★ This vast alpine park extending into Italy is home to numerous peaks over 3,000 m, valleys, gorges, glaciers, and the famous Krimml…
Salzburg
★★★★ Mozart’s city offers a stunning centre with notably Baroque architecture, earning it UNESCO status. Several castles and palaces lie…
Salzkammergut
★★★★ This stunning region of 80 pre-Alpine lakes and around fifty villages east of Salzburg is highly tourist-oriented and a UNESCO World…
Vienna
★★★★ With its architecture, UNESCO-listed historic centre, museums, and lively atmosphere, Austria’s capital is a must-see. Vienna is also…

Recommended

Melk Abbey
★★★ This is a stunning Baroque abbey overlooking the Danube and the town of the same name. It is one of the most visited sites in the region.
Graz
★★★ A lively university city and the country's second-largest urban area, Graz boasts a stunning historic centre, which is also a UNESCO World…
Grossglockner High Alpine Road
★★★ This stunning mountain road in the Austrian Alps has become one of the country's top tourist attractions, despite being a toll road with…
Hallstatt
★★★ This charming lakeside village is the most famous in the Salzkammergut region. A replica of it has even been built... in China.
Innsbruck
★★★ The charming capital of Tyrol, surrounded by mountains, is also, in a way due to its location, Austria’s main winter sports resort…
Dachstein Massif
★★★ A beautiful mountain range in the heart of Austria. You can hike, climb, ski, or explore caves here.
Wachau Valley
★★★ This valley, which runs along the Danube for around forty kilometres between Krems and Melk, is a major tourist destination and a UNESCO…

Worth a look / Other

St. Florian Abbey
★★ A beautiful Baroque abbey located in the municipality of the same name, near Linz.
Bregenz
★★ The small capital of Vorarlberg is located on the shores of Lake Constance, from which it derives its tourist appeal.
Krimml Waterfalls
★★ Located in the village of the same name in the Hohe Tauern range, the Krimml Waterfalls are among Europe's highest at 380 metres.
Graz Historic Centre
★★ One of Austria's most beautiful old towns. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its architecture, which reflects the various influences…
Historic Centre of Salzburg
★★ Salzburg's old town has preserved its flamboyant Gothic and Baroque character, thanks in particular to its many architect-designed…
Historic Centre of Vienna
★★ Vienna’s old quarters offer a wide variety of buildings and architectural features (notably Baroque) that reflect the city’s…
Hochosterwitz Castle
★★ One of the country's most impressive medieval castles, if only for its dramatic hilltop setting.
Rosenburg Castle
★★ This Renaissance-style castle, begun in the 12th century, is among the most visited in its category.
Eisriesenwelt
★★ This ice cave, south of Salzburg, is the largest in the world at 42 km long and attracts around 200,000 visitors each year.
Salzburg Amadé Sport World
★★ This name refers to Europe's largest ski domain, combining 28 resorts with over 1,500 km of downhill and cross-country trails and nearly…
Feldkirch
★★ On the border with Liechtenstein, the town has preserved its medieval character, making it quite touristy.
Kleinwalsertal
★★ This is a stunning dead-end valley in Vorarlberg, renowned for its hiking, skiing, and mountaineering opportunities. It is uniquely…
Lake Constance
★★ Straddling Switzerland, Germany and Austria, it is one of Europe’s largest lakes. Visitors come for boating, ferry rides, or cycling…
Lake Neusiedl
★★ This large lake, shared by Hungary but primarily Austrian, is home to numerous bird species and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is also…
Lake Wörthersee
★★ A popular summer destination, this large lake attracts a more or less upscale crowd to the small villages along its shores, such as Velden.
Liechtensteinklamm Gorge
★★ These are narrow and deep gorges about fifty kilometres from Salzburg. They are among the longest in the Alps.
Semmering Railway
★★ This was once the first mountain railway in Europe. It is now a tourist line, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, connecting Vienna…
Linz
★★ Austria's third-largest city, Linz offers a charming old town, several museums, and Danube river cruises.
Gesäuse National Park
★★ A small mountainous national park in Styria, between Graz and Linz.
Castle Route (Austria)
★★ This tourist route of about 100 km runs along the Hungarian border, from southern Burgenland to the outskirts of Graz. It offers visits to…
Velden
★★ Built on the shores of Lake Wörthersee, this small town is a rather upscale summer destination, much like the other municipalities around…
Stams Abbey
★ A charming Cistercian abbey in the village of the same name in Tyrol.
Bad Ischl
★ This is a fairly touristy spa town in Upper Austria, in the Salzkammergut region, a few kilometres east of Salzburg.
Mariazell Basilica
★ This 17th-century basilica in the eponymous village is one of Europe’s most important pilgrimage sites.
Bludenz
★ This large town on the route to Liechtenstein has an old centre and is a great base for hiking, mountain biking, and skiing in the…
Riegersburg Castle
★ This is a medieval fortress perched on a 482 m-high volcanic rock in the municipality of Riegersburg.
Eisenstadt
★ The capital of Burgenland offers visitors a few churches, museums, and the small Esterházy Palace.
Freistadt
★ Close to the Czech border, this large town has a medieval old centre.
Friesach
★ A small town north of Klagenfurt that still retains its medieval character.
Fucking
★ Like Condom in the Gers, the village attracts many English-speaking visitors who come to have their photo taken in front of the…
Gmünd
★ This is a small "historic" town in Carinthia. In addition to its old town centre, Gmünd is home to the Porsche Museum; the engineer spent…
Kitzbühel
★ It is one of the largest and most renowned winter sports resorts in Austria.
Klagenfurt
★ The largest urban area in Carinthia, near Slovenia, featuring an old town center and several museums.
Krems
★ This small town in the Wachau Valley has a beautiful old centre. Surrounded by vineyards and the Danube, it’s ideal for cycling trips.
Lake Millstatt
★ This Carinthian lake surrounded by mountains is popular for water sports, swimming, and hiking in the area.
Lech-Zürs
★ This is a well-known and upscale ski resort combining two municipalities. The area is also popular in summer for its mountain hiking…
Mayerling
★ This village near Vienna is world-famous as the site of the deaths of Prince Rudolf and Baroness Vetsera in 1889. A museum commemorates the…
Pinswang
★ A charming Tyrolean village on the German border with plenty of hiking trails in the surrounding area.
Rust
★ On the shores of Lake Neusiedl, in a wine-growing area, the small town has a well-preserved old centre.
St Anton
★ This ski resort is widely regarded as offering one of the most beautiful ski areas in the Alps.
Sankt Johann
★ It's one of the Tyrol's most renowned ski resorts in terms of ski area.
Sankt Pölten
★ A city often considered merely a possible stopover on the way from Salzburg to Vienna.
Schärding
★ A border town with Germany, Schärding offers beautiful architecture and an old town centre.
Seefeld
★ This village is one of the Tyrol’s top tourist destinations, offering skiing (including cross-country) in winter and hiking in summer.
Semmering
★ This village is the closest ski resort to Vienna. But it is best known for its small UNESCO-listed railway line, with its bridges and…
Steyr
★ A charming small medieval town in Upper Austria, between Salzburg and Vienna.
Sölden
★ It’s one of the many popular Tyrolean ski resorts.
Villach
★ The city, on the Slovenian and Italian borders, is primarily a base for exploring the nearby mountains, where you can go hiking, swimming…
Wels
★ One of the many towns in Upper Austria with an old town center and various historical monuments.
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