Austria’s Top Sights

The Habsburgs’ summer residence is Austria’s most popular tourist attraction. Take a guided tour through the Imperial ceremonial rooms or stroll through the freely accessible gardens. Nearby, you can visit Schönbrunn Zoo, the oldest zoo in the world.

Vienna’s Ringstrasse (ring road) circles the city’s first district and is home to some of the most grandiose buildings Austria’s capital has to offer. The State Opera, Parliament, City Hall, the university and more can all be seen by taking a stroll along Ringstrasse or boarding a tram.

First built in 1077, Hohensalzburg Fortress stands high above the city of Salzburg, a short (but steep) walk from the city centre. Inside, you will find the Princes’ Chambers with furnishing that have not been changed since the early 1500s, as well as a museum showcasing ancient suits of armour and a historic marionette museum.

When you walk through Salzburg’s Getreidegasse, a quaint, cobble-stoned shopping street that is reminiscent of centuries past, you won’t be able to miss Mozart’s birthplace at no. 9. After all, it’s one of the most popular museums in the world nowadays, showcasing the original rooms and Mozart’s musical instruments.

A must-do for every first-time visitor to Graz is climbing Schlossberg hill and seeing the city’s famous clocktower up close. If you don’t feel up to climbing the 260 stairs, simply take the lift (located inside the actual hill) or the Schlossbergbahn funicular. Up top, you can treat yourself to a coffee with fantastic views over the city.

The Kunsthaus in Austria’s second city, Graz, attracts visitors not just with its modern art exhibitions, but with its unusual architecture: Opened in 2003, it is said to look like a “friendly alien” in the midst of Baroque architecture. With its large, tube-like "nozzles" for windows that stick out from the curved roof and its computerized lighting system, it’s a true eye-catcher in Graz’s city centre.

Located in the midst of the old town, Innsbruck’s Golden Roof is perhaps the city’s most famous landmark. Built in the 15th century at the behest of Kaiser Maximilian I, its 2,657 gilded shingles shine as bright as ever.

25 minutes outside of Innsbruck, a world of crystals awaits that has to be seen to be believed: There are 17 separate “crystal chambers”, including a giant crystal dome and an “infinity mirror room” featuring a revolving chandelier. There are stunning crystal exhibits and installations by the likes of Andy Warhol, Jean-Paul Gaultier, and Keith Haring. And outside, a cloud made out of 800,000 crystal rivals the starry night sky.