Long heralded as a classic winter sports destination, Austria is a wonderfully diverse country with so much more than just skiing and picture-postcard alpine villages to offer. Our top ten attractions listwill help you to come to appreciate just how much more Austria has to bestow as a year-round holiday destination.
10. Belvedere Palace and Museum
flickr/Isabella Tabacchi
Situated in the Austrian capital Vienna, the Belvedere Palace and Museum is actually two separate buildings – The Lower and Upper Palaces which were built from 1714-1716 and 1720 -1723 respectively, were built on land purchased by Prince Eugene of Savoy. The Lower Palace is a long single storey building with 2 wings and 2 corner pavilions, and has a beautiful marble hall.
The Upper Palace is considerably more elaborate and together with the beautiful gardens, designed by Bavarian garden engineer R D Girard, the Belvedere Palace in its entirety is considered one of the greatest examples of Baroque architecture from the 18th century. Probably the Palaces’ most famous former resident was Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria –whose assassination ultimately led to the First World War. If you’re visiting Vienna then these beautiful Palaces are a must-see destination.
9. (Vienna) State Opera House
flickr/Robert Körner
This imposing 65m high building in central Vienna was originally called the Vienna Court Opera until 1920, when the replacement of the Austrian ruling family – the Habsburgs, by the new Austrian Republic, resulted in the name being changed to the State Opera House. This wonderful opera house is considered one of the greatest in all Europe and an evening visit to see the beautifully illuminated building, followed by a night at the opera, must surely be top of any classical music-lover’s list of things to do in Vienna. The opera house proudly boasts that it hosts the largest repertoires of operatic and classical music events in the world, and as one might expect from such an elite venue, formal dress is mandatory when visiting here.
8. St. Anton
flickr/kruhme
St. Anton, in the Arlberg region of Austria, is for many visitors the epitome of all things alpine. The region known as St Anton also includes the Tyrolean villages of St Christoph, St Jacob, Pettneu, Schnann, Flirsch and Strengen, all of which provide an extremely popular destination for skiers, snowboarders and fanatics of winter sports with the Austrian Alps providing a wonderful white playground for all to enjoy – yet the area is so much more. For it is equally popular in the spring and summer when hikers, walkers and photographers enjoy the areas natural charm and beautiful alpine meadows, and the scenic Tyrolean chalets dotted and nestling on the mountain slopes.
Together with the temperate climate and wonderful Austrian hospitality, the area known as St Anton has a well-deserved reputation as a premier holiday destination. The Austrian’s are an efficient, well-organised people and they cater for all ages, tastes and requirements. If your idea of heaven is a winter wonderland with a romantic sleigh-ride through snow-clad pine forests, then the St Anton region is for you. Hotels in the region are very comfortable, the food is excellent and of course Austrian beer and après-ski is also legendary too.
7. Melk Abbey
flickr/Larry Myhre
Set on a rocky outcrop overlooking the town of Melk on the Lower Danube River to the west of Vienna, Melk Abbey is one of the world’s great monasteries. Originally built as a castle by the Babenberg family, a Benedictine monastery was founded on the site in 1089 AD. In the 12th century a school was added to the Abbey and has been there ever since. In the 15th century the Melk monastery was the starting place for monastic reforms which profoundly influenced what came to be known as the Humanist Movement in Vienna.
In the years 1702 – 1736 the monastery had magnificent buildings in the Baroque style added to its already imposing structure and these beautiful additions remain today, though currently undergoing renovations. The monastery also has a museum which contains a look through its 910 years of history and shows how many of the religious articles still on display today were used in everyday life and for worship purposes during these times.
6. Ischgl-Samnaum Ski Area
flickr/hatschiputh
Another Austrian gem for the winter sports enthusiast, the Ischgl-Samnaum ski area has a reputation for reliable snowfall and constantly good skiing conditions due to its position, high in the western Tyrol region. Ischgl is set at an altitude of 1377 m above sea level and is connected via the Silvretta Arena to the Swiss duty-free zone of Samnaum, (so you’ll need your passport if skiing both areas) with the main skiing area enjoying altitudes ranging between 2000m and 2872 m.
This ski area has an enviably long skiing season due to its mainly north facing slopes – which results in less melting of the snow due to direct sunshine. The area has 41 different lifts and cable cars and over 288 kilometres of prepared pistes. Enough for the most avid skier or would-be Franz Klammer – now remember… bend zee knees… and snowplough!
5. Kunsthistoriches Museum, Vienna
flickr/Jordan McAlister
Facing its identically constructed palatial counter-part – the Naturehistoriches Museum across the Maria Theresien Platz, the Kunsthistoriches Museum or – to translate – The Museum of Art History, in Vienna, is another museum well worth the entrance fee. Both museums were constructed at the same time – from 1872 – 1891 and were opened the same year by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria-Hungary.
The Kunsthistoriches Museum was built specifically to contain the large art collection of the Habsburgs as well the armor and portrait collection of Ferdinand of Tirol. Other collections on display in the museum today include: The Egyptian and near Eastern Collection, The collection of Greek and Roman Antiquities, Collection of Sculpture and Decorative Arts, The Coin Cabinet and The Library.
4. Salzburg’s Old Town
flickr/mbell1975
Now declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, the magnificent old town of Salzburg, is a city that seems frozen in time, so beautifully preserved are so many of its wonderful old buildings from the mediaeval, Romanesque, Baroque and Renaissance period. With the Salzach river splitting the old town in half, and the Monchsberg Mountain and the Capuchin Mountain towering above, the city is in a most beautiful setting.
Visitors to Salzburg old town are constantly stunned by how inspiring the surroundings are. Take a leisurely walk through its mainly pedestrianized, narrow streets to best view the stunning architecture which is all around. Visit Mozart Square, Residential Square with its wonderful fountain or the Mirable Palace and its gardens. The choice is yours and in Salzburg old town you’ll be spoilt for choice!
3. Kitzsteinhorn Glacier
flickr/Nate Atwood
The Kitzsteinhorn Mountain at 3023m altitude offers visitors to Austria a unique opportunity – to ski on the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier in the middle of summer. Located near Zel Am See–Kaprun, this towering Mountain is covered in snow for ten months of the year. Take an incredible hike across the glacier to enjoy the spectacular views at the top of the viewing platform or visit the Gipfelwelt 3000 exhibition at the top cable-car station and see how nature works in harmony with modern Austrian mechanics.
You can even take a walk inside the mountain to learn more about the flora and fauna of this awe-inspiring region. If after hiking up and down you’re left feeling a little bit tense and stiff, why not pop along to nearby Zel-Am See for a well deserved trip to the spa to unwind?
2. Historic centre of Vienna
flickr/Matilda Diamant
The historic centre of Vienna, the capital of Austria, dates back to Celtic and Roman times and these were the first settlements established there. In later years the city of Vienna developed into a Mediaeval and Baroque city and much evidence of these architectural styles and influences still abound today.
The city is regarded as the ‘City of Music’ because of such influential musicians as Haydn, Schubert, Mozart and Beethoven. The Viennese Waltz is still an instantly recognised name today, but the city is also known as the ‘City of Dreams’ as it was also the home of psycho-analyst Sigmund Freud. Vienna is a beautiful city to visit and it consistently ranks near the top of all cities in the world as a harmonious and healthy place to live. It should come as no surprise therefore that more business conventions and international congress meetings take place there than any other city in the world.
1. Schonbrunn Palace (Schloss Schonbrunn)
flickr/-Reji
The Schonbrunn Palace is yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is Austria’s most visited sight-seeing destination. The former home of The Habsburg Family – the former Royal Family of Austria until it became a Republic in 1918, this Baroque Palace and ornamental gardens in Vienna has been a building of political and cultural importance since the end of the 17th century when Baroque architect Bernhard Fischer Von Erlach was commissioned by Emperor Leopold I to build a palatial hunting lodge for the heir to the throne.
Today this impressive building still hosts political conferences and also allows daily sight-seeing tours through the Palace. The gardens outside are also equally impressive and are certainly worth a stroll around too. Admission costs are a little pricey but include either an audio guide or a tour guide accompanying you as you go around and there are 2 types of tour – The Imperial Tour – which covers 22 rooms in 35 minutes or The Grand Tour which encompasses a staggering 40 rooms in 50 minutes.
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