The best cities in Austria to visit this year

Why Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck top the list

Which are the best cities to visit in Austria? This is a question I often get, especially from first-time visitors. My short answer is Vienna, Salzburg, and Innsbruck. Read on for the long one.  

Salzburg is one of the best cities to visit in Austria.
The old town of Salzburg across the Salzach River.

Vienna – the imperial city

Why visit Vienna?

There is a reason why Vienna was named the world’s best city to live in for nine consecutive years (2010 to 2018) in Mercer’s annual quality of living survey. Therefore, it’s also not surprising that Vienna ranks among the top 10 most visited cities in Europe. Naturally, it should be on your list of top cities in Austria to visit this year.

Giant Ferris Wheel Vienna.
The Giant Ferris Wheel is a historical landmark in Vienna.

So what attracts people to the city on the banks of the Danube from where the Habsburgs once ruled the mighty Austro-Hungarian empire.

Well, it’s precisely this legacy and remnants of its glorious past that give Vienna its unique character. There are glittering Viennese palaces, fabled art collections, and an exceptional musical heritage. Visitors have an excellent pick of classical music concerts in Vienna to attend.

Then there’s the distinct Viennese way of life – the coffee houses, the concert halls, the horse-drawn carriages. And don’t forget the Vienna Woods (Wiener Wald) and other big green expanses such as the Prater. They all contribute to putting Vienna on top of the list of cities to visit in Austria.

A bonus reason to visit Vienna is that the city is ideally located for day trips to more great Austrian and European cities. Undertaking day trips from Vienna to Bratislava, Salzburg, and Budapest are quick and easy.

Top 10 Vienna attractions

1 Schönbrunn Palace (Schloss Schönbrunn)
2 Imperial Palace (Hofburg)
3 St. Stephen’s Cathedral
4 Belvedere Palace
5 Schönbrunn Zoo
6 The Vienna Prater with giant ferris wheel
7 The Museumsquartier
8 Vienna Ring Road (Ringstraße)
9 Spanish Riding School
10 Natural History Museum

When is the best time to visit Vienna?

As a capital city with a busy events calendar and numerous attractions, Vienna is a year-round destination. The peak tourist season is in the summer holiday months of July and August as well as the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. In November and December, the Christmas markets are a big attraction.

Schönbrunn Palace is one of the places the make Vienna one of the best cities in Austria to visit.
Vienna is beautiful in autumn, as seen here at Schönbrunn Palace.

Good months to visit when it’s not that busy but not too cold either, are April to June and September and October.

Where to stay in Vienna

For 5 star imperial treatment

Experience what it must have been like to be a Habsburg in the Hotel Imperial Vienna, a Luxury Collection Hotel. The hotel was originally built as a royal palace and is ideally located in the heart of Vienna.

For the budget traveller

The Hotel Haydn is a family-run hotel in the Mariahilfer shopping street. It’s not only walking distance from shops, restaurants and some attractions but also easily reached via public transport.

For those who like to self-cater

Best Apartments offer great value for money in a pretty Viennese neighbourhood less than 1 km away from the historic city centre.

Getting to Vienna

By air

Vienna is in the north-east of Austria and easily reached from the rest of the world by air, and also by rail and road from within Europe.

Austrian Airlines and other major airlines such as Lufthansa, British Airways and KLM fly to the Vienna International Airport from various destinations. Budget airlines with regular flights to the Austrian capital include easyJet and eurowings.

Flying to Vienna? Click here to compare prices

Tip: Use the city airport train (CAT) to get from Vienna International Airport to the city centre in 16 minutes.

By train and bus

The main railway route from Zurich to Budapest via Innsbruck and Salzburg passes through Vienna. The city is also reached in under 5 hours from Munich and Prague. You can click here to find connections and compare prices.

Buses travel to Vienna from most big cities in neighbouring countries like Germany, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia. While they are cheaper, they also take longer.

Vienna, one of the most beautiful cities in Austria.
Getting around the historic centre of Vienna, like here in Graben, is easiest on foot.

Getting around Vienna

Like most cities in Austria, Vienna has a well-developed public transport network.  Trains, an underground, trams, and buses take you almost anywhere in the city.

You can buy single tickets which are valid in the core Vienna city zone. They cost €2.20 if you buy them in advance at a ticket machine or any other point of sale.

It’s also possible to buy public transport tickets directly on the bus or tram but it will cost you €0,30 more. Tickets must be validated.

Vienna transport tips

·        If you’re in Vienna for a day or more, it makes better sense to buy the red ” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>Vienna City Card which includes unlimited use of public transport for either 24 hours, 48 hours or 72 hours. Prices range between €17 and €29.

·        The Vienna City Card also comes with a coupon book with discounts to more than 200 attractions. On our last trip, we used these for a discount at the Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel, Time Travel Vienna, and to buy delicious Trzesniewski sandwiches. Read more about these sandwiches in my detailed guide about what to eat in Vienna.

·        There is also a white Vienna City Card. Instead of giving you free use of the public transport system, it gives you unlimited travel on different routes of Big Bus Tours.

·        Kids up to the age of six travel for free on Vienna public transport, while those under 15 don’t pay on Sundays, public holidays, and during the Viennese school holidays. Proof of ID may be requested. This is just one of the reasons why Vienna is also one of the best cities in Austria to visit with kids.

Big Bus Vienna Tours
Listening to the informative audio guide on the Big Bus in Vienna.

Salzburg – the city of music

Why visit Salzburg?

Salzburg is known internationally as the city of both Mozart and The Sound of Music. Within Austria, very few people have watched the movie and couldn’t give a damn about the songs. They do love Mozart, however 🙂 .

The music tradition makes Salzburg one of the best cities to visit in Austria.
If you’re lucky, you’ll see an impromptu concert in the streets of Salzburg.

But Salzburg is about more than music. There are other reasons why it’s among the top 3 cities to visit in Austria. Its historic old town with the Hohensalzburg Fortress guarding over it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The well-preserved medieval and baroque old town provides a glimpse of Salzburg’s economic heyday when salt and gold were mined in the area (Salz means salt in German).

The Salzach River separates the old town from later additions to the city. With around 150,000 residents, Salzburg is also the capital of the Austrian federal state called Salzburger Land.

Top 10 Salzburg attractions

1 Hohensalzburg Fortress
2 Salzburg Cathedral
3 Hellbrunn Palace
4 Mozart Square
5 Mozart’s Birthplace
6 Mirabell Palace & Gardens
7 St. Peter’s Monastery & Cemetary
8 Residenz Palace
9 Getreidegasse (beautiful street)
10 Salzburg Zoo

When is the best time to visit Salzburg?

Salzburg is always pretty to visit despite the time of year. Generally, the temperatures are moderate although the summers can get hot (up to 40 °C) and the winters cold (down to -20 °C).

A weather phenomenon the city is known for is called “Schnürlregen” which roughly translates into “rain in strings”. Salzburg gets about 1,350 mm of rain a year, so take an umbrella!

The trick fountains at Hellbrunn Palace in Salzburg.
A warm sunny day is best for visiting Hellbrunn Palace trick fountains.

The Salzburg Festival, celebrating music and drama, is held each year between July and August. From late November to the end of December, visitors are attracted by the atmospheric Christmas market.

Where to stay in Salzburg

In the heart of the old town

If you want to know what it was like to live in Salzburg during the age of Mozart, there is no better place than the Hotel Goldener Hirsch. The Luxury Collection Hotel is a stone’s throw from the composer’s birthplace in Getreidegasse.

Good value for money

The Altstadt Hotel Hofwirt is excellent value for money at the start of the pedestrian zone in and walking distance from both the train station and the old town. You can also read my review of the Altstadt Hotel Hofwirt

Best self-catering option

Apartments Wolf Dietrich are wonderfully located at the foot of the Kapuziner Mountain and within walking distances of literally everything. You can even have breakfast on site if you don’t want to bother with grocery shopping.

Getting to Salzburg

By air

The Salzburg Airport, also called the W.A. Mozart Airport, is the 2nd largest international airport in Austria. Most major airlines offer direct flights to and from Salzburg from cities like Berlin, Brussels, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Istanbul, London, Split, and Vienna. You can check connections and compare prices here.

The airport is only 4 km from the city centre, with bus lines 2 and 10 running between the two at least every 10 minutes (except on Sundays when no 2 departs every 20 minutes). The journey takes between 15 and 23 minutes. A single ticket costs €2.50 and can be bought in the Newscorner shop in the terminal building, at the ticket machine near the bus stop or directly from the driver.

Tip: You can buy the Salzburg Card at the airport. It not only gives you free access to all the best attractions in and around Salzburg for 24, 48 or 72 hours but also to the public transport network.

Salzburg is one of the most beautiful cities in Austria.
Expect to walk a lot in Salzburg. Fortunately, there’s a funicular that takes you up to the Hohensalzburg Fortress.

By train and bus

Salzburg is one of the most accessible cities in Austria. It’s reached in under 3 hours by train from Munich, Vienna and Innsbruck.

The fastest connection from Vienna takes about 2 h 20 min. Apart from the ÖBB, the Austrian national railway, the private Westbahn rail operator also runs trains on this stretch of railway. Which one is cheapest depends on when you book. Standard Westbahn tickets from Vienna to Salzburg cost €26.90, while last-minute ÖBB tickets can set you back at least €54.

The train from Innsbruck to Salzburg takes just under 2 hours. Take my word for it that you won’t get there faster by car.

Munich and Salzburg are about 1h30min apart by train. Tickets are available for under €20. Click here to search and compare prices for trains to Salzburg. 

Getting around Salzburg

Buses are the main form of public transport in Salzburg. They include regular buses as well as environmentally friendly electrical “Obuses”. Tickets can be bought at tobacconists (called Trafik) or on the bus. 24-hour or weekly tickets are a good idea if you’re spending more time in the city and don’t have the Salzburg Card. All tickets must be validated on the bus (there’s a stamp machine) when used for the first time.

Tip: Of all the cities in Austria, Salzburg is closest to the pretty lakeside town of Hallstatt. So, if you want to do a day trip to Hallstatt, this is where to do it from.

Innsbruck – the city in the mountains

Why visit Innsbruck?

Innsbruck is different from Vienna and Salzburg in that it lies in the heart of the Alps. The Nordkette mountains make an immediate impression as soon as you step out of the plane, train or car. You’ll understand why the locals think Innsbruck is the most beautiful city in Austria.

With its mountain backdrop, Innsbruck is one of the most beautiful cities in Austria.
Walking down Maria Theresa street in Innsbruck.

The mountains keep watch over a historic old town with cobbled streets and a market square with a riverside setting. In the heart of the compact, walkable old town the famous Golden Roof waits to be photographed. There is also a city tower to climb for great views of the mountains and down the valley.

The rich history of the area is evident when visiting the Bergisel Hill (also home to the Olympic ski-jump), Ambras Castle, and the neighbouring medieval town of Hall in Tirol. For a modern touch, the Swarovski Crystal Worlds has something for old and young to marvel at.

Top 10 Innsbruck attractions

1 Nordkette mountains
2 Golden Roof
3 Ambras Castle
4 Bergisel hill with ski jump and Tirol Panorama
5 Swarovski Crystal Worlds
6 Market square with view of colourful houses across the river
7 Imperial Palace
8 Court Church
9 City Tower
10 Alpine Zoo

When is the best time to visit Innsbruck?

If you’re visiting for the sole purpose of sightseeing, Innsbruck is a year-round destination. In winter, the mountain tops are likely to be covered in snow and you can combine sightseeing with visiting the Innsbruck Christmas markets. The latter are generally open from middle November to the end of December.

Innsbruck is one of the best cities in Austria to visit in winter.
A wintry Innsbruck as seen from the market square.

In summer, a day of sightseeing is rounded off perfectly with dinner and drinks at one of the many cafes and restaurants in the historic old town.

Skiing and other winter sports around Innsbruck are best planned from the beginning of December to the end of March. For summer hiking and visiting mountain attractions, the best months are from the end of May to mid-October. Many cable cars stop running for maintenance in spring and autumn, with the Innsbruck cable car the only one that’s open all year.

Where to stay in Innsbruck

In the historic old town

Innsbruck’s historic old town is within easy walking distance from both the train station and the Congress station of the Nordkette cable car. There’s no better place to stay if you’re in the city for sightseeing. A good choice near the Golden Roof in the very heart of the old town is the Hotel Innsbruck. It’s on our list not only for the great location but also because it has an indoor swimming pool and wellness area that guests can use free of charge.

On the edge of the old town, in the shadow of the triumphal arch, is the Hotel Goldene Krone Innsbruck. It’s a 5-minute walk from the train station and close to the Innsbruck Casino if you like a bit of gambling while on vacation ?.

For the budget traveller

For a simple but clean hotel on the banks on the Inn River (including a good breakfast), you can’t go wrong with the Garni-Technikerhaus. Even the shared bathrooms on each floor don’t put people off from staying here.

In a mountain village

There are several quaint villages in the so-called “middle mountains” which are only a 10 to 15-minute drive away from the city. They are also easily reached by public bus or tram. Choose between Igls, Sistrans, Aldrans, Lans, Rinn, and Tulfes. Both Igls and Tulfes are good choices if you want to combine your visit to Innsbruck with some skiing. They are home to the Patscherkofel and Glungezer ski resorts. Hotel options near the slopes are Hotel Gruberhof and B&B Apartments Glungezer.  

Getting to Innsbruck

By air

The approach to Innsbruck is beautiful from the air, with stunning views of the mountains on both sides of the Inn Valley. There are regular flights to Innsbruck from London, Vienna, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam with seasonal flights from various other European cities including Rotterdam and Manchester.

The Innsbruck Airport is only a 10-minute bus ride away from the city or 20 minutes from the main train station. Bus F travels between the airport and the station every 10 minutes. Tickets cost €2,60 if you buy them at a ticket machine before you get on the bus, or €3 on the bus.

If you don’t fancy getting on a bus with big suitcases after a long journey, you’ll find taxis waiting outside the airport building. The average rate for a trip within the city is around €15. You can also book a transfer to most ski resorts.

By train and bus

Innsbruck is centrally located within Europe and a railway hub for trains passing through Austria to Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and Eastern Europe. Munich and Salzburg are about 2 hours away by train, while Venice and Zurich can be reached in under 4 hours.

You can catch a train to Innsbruck from Salzburg or Munich for under €20 if you book a saver ticket in advance. However, this requires careful planning as you are bound to a specific date and time. Standard tickets are closer to €50.

Compare train tickets and connections to Innsbruck

Getting around Innsbruck

Frankly, if you’re staying in the city you only need your own two feet. It’s a pleasure walking around Innsbruck, with the Nordkette mountains always in view.

The Swarvoski Crystal Worlds is one of the top tourist attractions near Innsbruck in Austria.
Visiting the Swarovski Crystal Worlds near Innsbruck is a highlight for many visitors to the city.

If your time allows you to explore outside the city centre, there are several public transport options. One is the hop-on-hop-off Sightseer Bus which stops at top attractions like Ambras Castle and the Bergisel Ski Jump. The bus ticket is included in the Innsbruck Card.

For excursions further afield, an extensive network of buses, trams, and trains connect Innsbruck with the surrounding villages and towns.

Visiting all 3 major cities in Austria

You won’t regret including all 3 top cities in Austria in your itinerary of the country. Thanks to good road and rail connections, it’s easy to visit Vienna, Salzburg, and Innsbruck in one go. You can start in Vienna in the east and make your way to Innsbruck in the west or the other way around. Salzburg lies comfortably in the middle.

While it’s easy and convenient to travel by train between Austrian cities, you can also consider renting a car for more flexibility. This option is ideal for travellers who like exploring off the beaten path, stopping by small villages and attractions along the way.

Joining a small, organized tour is another alternative to seeing the best cities in Austria in one go. This way you are sure not to miss any of the highlights. Plus, you can sit back and enjoy while someone else does all the planning. This one, which includes 3 nights in Vienna and 2 nights each in Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Munich is the perfect length for an introduction to the cities of Austria. It includes transport, hotels, breakfast, and tour guides.

Disclosure: My content is intended to help you plan the best trip to Austria. Where appropriate, I include affiliate links in blog posts or pages to make it easy for you to access relevant services, attractions, and products. I may earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you, to help me maintain the blog if you click through and make a purchase. All support is appreciated!

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About Linda de Beer 91 Articles
Name: Linda de Beer Profession: Travel blogger and freelance writer
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Carol Colborn

Last October we visited all three by train! Now I feel we know Austria!

noel

I did this grand tour of all three cities about 25 years ago, yikes about time for me to revisit all of them. But Vienna my favorite, I have been to 3 times and I love going back again and again. Hope 2019 will be the year to see all three again

Kathleen

Austria is such a beautiful country. I think I would love to see all there cities, with a trip to Hallstatt. I would rent a car though because I am that person, who like to explore off the tourists areas. We actually spent a whole day walking though a little town in England that was not on our list because we took a wrong turn and fell in love. It’s funny that Austrians don’t care about The Sound of Music, since it’s such a big deal other places.

Christopher Rudder

My top pick is Salzburg since I love music. I’d be happy to walk in streets where I will hear and see people dancing and singing wearing native attires!

Mansoureh

I have been to Innsbruck and Vienna but I have to thick Salzburg out on my wishlist. I would like to go to winter sports there. I start learning skiing in Innsbruck. I haven’t been to Munich, so might be a great idea to go to Munich and then go to Salzburg and Innsbruck during the summers

Dorene

What a fabulous post – such thorough and quality information. I appreciate your suggested days to visit each city, but I think it would be impossible to leave Salzburg it seems so magical – home of the sound of music and Mozart after all! You have opened my mind about Innsbruck- it’s stunning – castles, majestic mountains wow!

Indrani

We did a road trip covering Vienna and Salzburg, skipped Innsbruk. Both the cities are charming and done most of the things to do in your lists. Great post… took me back to my trip there.

Marlene Marques

These 3 cities have been forever in my bucket list! My boyfriend has been to Innsbruck and says that is a beautiful city, especially if you enjoy snow sports. Can’t wait to visit it one day.

Claudia

This is a great post to learn more about which cities to visit when in Austria. While I haven’t been to Vienna, it has many of the elements I’d love to see in any European city – great architecture, history, museums and delicious cafes and restaurants. I’ve been to Innsbruck and would love to return to spend more time there and in Austria in general.

Sherianne

I am hoping to visit all three this Fall. Great tip about the transportation cards