Choose from 151 Fun Things to Do in Austria
Votivkirche (Votive Church)
Practical Info
Swarovski Crystal Worlds
- This crystal-themed attraction is a must for lovers of sparkle.
- Free Wi-Fi is available at the site.
- The attraction is home to Daniels Café and Restaurant and a store selling crystal creations.
- All interior exhibition spaces and most of the grounds, with the exception of the Alpine Garden, are accessible to wheelchair users.
St Rupert's Church
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Salzburg Salt Mines (Salzkammergut)
- The salt mines can only be visited on guided tours, and it’s best to book in advance, especially during high season in July and August.
- Wear warm clothes and comfortable shoes, as it can be chilly underground. Overalls and protective clothing are provided for most tours.
- Some parts of the salt mine tours are wheelchair accessible, but it’s best to check with your tour operator in advance.
Salzburg Zoo
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Salzburg Fortress (Festung Hohensalzburg)
Perched on its craggy mountain lookout, Salzburg’s famous castle, Festung Hohensalzburg, dominates the city and its Old Town. Surrounded by walls and dotted with towers and battlements, Festung Hohensalzburg is one of the largest and best preserved castles in Europe.
The fortified castle was built in 1077, from its lofty position protecting Salzburg, with cracking views of the surrounding countryside.
Take a guided tour around the palatial state rooms, Gothic torture chambers, lookouts and museum collections. Keep an eye out for more than 50 examples of the castle’s symbol, a regal lion holding a beetroot – or is it a turnip?
Practical Info
The Hohensalzburg Fortress is a 15-minute walk south of Salzburg’s Old Town, or a quick trip on the funicular railway.
Wachau Valley
The Basics
The Wachau Valley (Danube Valley) is most commonly visited on a day-trip from Vienna. Wine tasting is regularly at the top of Wachau Valley tours' itineraries, as is Melk Abbey, an 11th-century Benedictine monastery adorned with bright frescoes. The valley is also a popular place for a bike tour thanks to its flat paths and stunning scenery.
Full-day tours typically combine visits to the castle ruins of Burgruine Durnstein, the village of Spitz, and the medieval town of Krems with a Danube River cruise. Energetic sightseers can also add Salzburg — the birthplace of Mozart and setting for 'The Sound of Music' to their schedule on an excursion that covers the Salzkammergut Valley and Salzburg's Mirabell Palace and Gardens. Lower Austria's close proximity to Bratislava and Budapest, the respective capitals of Slovakia and Hungary, make the region an ideal launchpad for exploring more of Europe.
- History buffs and wine lovers are spoiled for choice of things to do in Wachau Valley.
- The region can be explored by car, coach bus, or bike.
- Most tours include hotel pickup and dropoff in Vienna.
How to Get to the Wachau Valley
From Wien Westbahnhof in central Vienna, catch the REX train to Melk Bahnof (a one-hour journey) or to Krems, which requires changing trains at St. Polten. If visiting from Salzburg, you should also change trains at St. Polten for the REX line destined for Melk. Although catching the train to Melk is a breeze (especially from Vienna), it's best to explore the valley with a tour guide as part of a sightseeing or biking tour. With more than 5,000 historic landmarks, it's tough to see the best independently.
When to Get There
The spring months of March to May are undoubtedly the best time to visit the Wachau Valley, when wine and food festivals such as the Wachau Gourmet Festival and Wachau Weinfr¸hling take place. In late March and early April, the area's landscapes are awash with the pastel-pink blossoms of apricot trees.
St. Peter's Abbey (Stift Sankt Peter)
In the heart of Salzburg’s Old Town, St. Peter’s Abbey (or Stift Sankt Peter) is known for its cemetery and ancient lineage, dating back to the 800s. The Benedictine monastery’s abbey church has a Romanesque structure and lavish rococo interior.
The abbey library is a treasure trove of musical manuscripts, and the abbey also houses a prized collection of artworks, musical instruments and treasures. In the abbey cemetery lie the tombs of Mozart’s beloved sister and the brother of Haydn.
While you’re here, visit the Stiftskeller St. Peter restaurant, in the abbey cellars. Mentioned in a document from the year 803, it is thought to be one of the oldest hostelries in Europe and is an atmospheric choice for a night out in Salzburg.
Practical Info
St. Peter’s is a 10 minute walk from the River Salzach, on the southern edge of the Old Town.
Come along to hear choral vespers on Sundays, musical concerts on Saturdays or services in the Marienkapelle on weekdays.
Salzburg Cathedral (Dom)
Salzburg’s Cathedral, or Dom, is a restrained exercise in classic Italian Baroque, topped with green bronze domes. Mozart was baptized here, and the building was completed in 1628.
Highlights include the light-filled atrium and dome, the crypt with its Romanesque foundations and tombs, and the statues of angels surrounding the altar.
The Cathedral Museum tells the history of the Cathedral’s construction and artworks.
Practical Info
The Cathedral is in the Old Town on the southern bank of the River Salzach. The Domplatz is the site of Salzburg’s famous Christmas Market.
St. Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom)
- Entrance to the cathedral is free, but there is an admission fee to climb the tower.
- The main building is wheelchair accessible, but there is no wheelchair access to the towers or catacombs.
Stadtturm
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Schloss Ambras
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St Wolfgang
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Salzburg Residence Gallery (Residenzgalerie Salzburg)
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Styrian Armory (Landeszeughaus)
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Stiegl Brauwelt (Stiegl World of Beer)
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Vienna State Opera (Wiener Staatsoper)
- The dress code for concerts is smart evening attire; individuals wearing informal clothing such as short pants or leisurewear may be refused admission. Coats, jackets, and larger bags must be checked into the cloakroom.
- The use of cameras and smartphones is prohibited during performances.
- Children under 5 are not permitted at evening performances, but special matinée concerts for kids are held.
- The Vienna State Opera is wheelchair accessible, but wheelchair seating must be booked in advance.
Vienna Woods (Wienerwald)
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Vienna Prater Park
The Prater also houses a planetarium and the Prater Museum, a little disappointing as museums go although the antique slot machines are worthwhile.
Practical Info
Catch U1 to Praterstern.
Salzburg Old Town (Aldstadt)
- Most of Salzburg’s Old Town is pedestrianized.
- There are free Wi-Fi spots located around the Altstadt.
- Most of the attractions in Salzburg’s Old Town are wheelchair accessible, but some of the narrow cobbled streets might be tricky to navigate.