The Best Places to Visit in Austria in 2025

If you have the opportunity to go to Austria, whether you've been there before or not, there are many great towns and cities to choose from.

Different types of travelers might enjoy different cities for what they have to offer. If you are an avid skier, a trip to Innsbruck might be interesting to you. If you're interested in larger cities, on the other hand, Vienna might be a good option.

This list gives you the need-to-know information about some of the best places to visit in Austria so you can decide which one (or ones!) you might want to add to your itinerary.

Vienna, Austria

The capital and largest city in Austria, Vienna, is probably the most famous city on this list, which is why we are starting here.

The birthplace/home of Beethoven, Freud, and even Marie Antoinette (before she left for France), Vienna is filled with a long line of notable people and rich history.

If you're the type of traveler who likes doing things non-stop, Vienna might be a good place for you to go to. With tons of places like the Schönbrunn Palace, the Vienna Opera House, the Prater amusement park, and anything to do with coffee, you can pack your schedule as tightly as you'd like. You won't run out of things, promise!

If you love history lessons while traveling, classical music and art, and chocolate cake and coffee, Vienna is for you. Oh, their Christmas markets are also world-famous!

There is an airport just outside of the city, Vienna International Airport, only 11 miles (18km) away, making it very easy to travel to and from.

Innsbruck, Austria

In the Alps, Innsbruck is a dream for anyone who loves snowy winter activities.

Innsbruck has a cable car that goes straight from its city center into the mountains. That means you can be in your hotel room to the slopes in under half an hour, no need to drive.

If you're a skier, snowboarder, or just love building snowmen, you'll want to head to Innsbruck between December and March. If you're more keen on hiking, June through September are probably better options.

There are other things to do in Innsbruck, too. There's the Golden Roof, Imperial Palace, and nearby Swarovski Crystal Worlds.

Plus, they have an airport close by, only 2 and a half miles outside the city.

Salzburg, Austria

Salzburg is located near the German border and looks straight out of a fairytale.

Some popular things to do are a visit to the Hohensalzburg Fortress, Mirabell Gardens, and the famous Salzburg Cathedral. Mozart was born here, so if you like classical music, you'll love learning more about where he was from. If you like the Sound of Music (the movie and play), you'll be really happy to know that it was filmed here!

Salzburg has an airport, the Salzburg airport, that's only 2 and a half miles (4 km) from the city.

Hallstatt, Austria

Hallstatt is located in upper Austria and is a lakeside village, meaning whether you like lake activities or simply the views, this might be the perfect place for you.

Hallstatt is an extremely old village and has one of the world's oldest salt mines. It's also so photogenic that China built an exact replica of the town.

If you like the balance between Instagrammable places with boat rides and great food mixed with peaceful, natural landscapes, this town gives you both.

While there isn't an airport right outside town, Salzburg Airport is only an hour and 15 minutes away.

Graz, Austria

Graz is a small, artsy town in the southeastern part of the country (not far from Slovenia and Hungary) with a UNESCO Heritage Old Town.

Random, but interesting, Arnold Schwarzenegger grew up nearby in Thal, and Graz has a museum dedicated to him.

That's just one of the things you can do there. There's also the Schlossberg hill and funicular, Kunsthaus, Murinsel floating platform, and the Styrian Armoury. On top of that, beneath the local hill is a WWII-era labyrinth of tunnels, now used as a museum and horror-themed escape rooms.

Graz is beautiful, charming, and has some quirky things to do. Plus, there's a nearby airport just 6-ish miles from the city.

Linz, Austria

In the Northern part of the country, off the Danube River, Linz is a small town that blends the old and the new.

The city has river views, modern museums, and an industrial vibe, and it's home to possibly the oldest named cake recipe in the world (the Linzertorte). There's also a poetry-writing robot at the Ars Electronica Center. See? The old and the new.

In Linz, travelers can enjoy the Ars Electronica Center, Lentos Art Museum, Pöstlingberg tram ride, boat tours on the Danube, and delicious cake from old recipes.

There's even an airport just 9 miles away.

Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Austria

Klagenfurt is a small lakeside town with a relaxed, almost Mediterranean feel. With swimming spots (in the summer), sunshine, and Baroque architecture, it's the perfect place for a relaxing summer getaway.

If your kind of travel is more about the lazy, lakeside days, Klagenfurt provides.

That doesn't mean there aren't things to see, though. Some of the popular things to do include visiting Minimundus miniature park, Lake Wörthersee for swimming and boating, the Dragon Fountain (Lindwurmbrunnen), and Europapark.

The city's mascot is actually a dragon, based on a fossil discovered here that locals once believed to be a real dragon’s skull.

There's an airport just 3 miles from the city center (Klagenfurt Airport).

Villach, Austria

Near the Italian and Slovenian borders, Villach is famous for its mountains, thermal baths, and Christmas markets.

Even though it's a small town, it has a very multicultural vibe because of its proximity to other countries.

Like Klagenfurt, Villach offers a relaxed vibe for travelers, with spas, lakeside activities, and mountains for hiking. The Dobratsch Nature Park is a popular place for both locals and tourists to visit.

While there isn't an airport in town, the Klagenfurt Airport is only 45 minutes away.

Steyr, Austria

Situated at the Enns and Steyr rivers, Steyr is a small medieval town. Anyone who is looking for a place to visit that has old-world, European charm might want to add this one to the list.

Some of the things that you can do in town are visit the Steyr Castle, explore the old town’s medieval buildings, go to the Museum of Steyr Arms, and hike along the river. It actually runs right through the city center.

The Linz Airport is only 19 miles away.

Feldkirch, Austria

Feldkirch is a quiet, mountainside town with medieval architecture and a ton of natural areas. Because it was once a strategic stronghold in the Habsburg Empire, a medieval castle (Schattenburg) still exists there today.

Castle and nature lovers will love a sleepy visit to Feldkirch as you can visit the Schattenburg Castle, Stadtmuseum, and go hiking in the surrounding hills and valleys.

Fun fact, Feldkirch has a “ghost train” that's said to appear on the tracks during certain nights, but it disappears before reaching the station.

A bit more off the beaten path than other cities on the list, the nearest airport is the Friedrichshafen Airport in Germany, about 37 miles, or 60 km away.