What makes Austria such a great destination? What are the reasons to visit Austria? Is it the beautiful scenery or the friendly locals? Or maybe it’s the delicious food and wine? Whatever it is, Austria has something for everyone.
Austria is located in Central Europe and borders Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Slovenia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. The country is home to some of the world’s most famous landmarks and world heritage sights, including the Alps, the Danube, the village of Hallstatt, and the city of Salzburg.
Austria is known for its rich culture, history, and architecture. From castles to cathedrals, Austria has many attractions to offer. Whether you want to hike, ski, or just relax in a spa, Austria has something for every traveler. Let’s explore some of the reasons to visit Austria in more detail!
1. See The City Named Best for Quality Of Life
Austria’s beautiful capital Vienna is one of the best reasons to visit Austria. Vienna is not only famous for its history and architecture but has also been named the city with the best quality of life several years in a row. There are many reasons for this, including the excellent infrastructure, the well-developed public transport system and the wide range of cultural and leisure activities. Here is a detailed breakdown of why Vienna has the best quality of life.
When visiting Vienna, you can sense this quality of life and you should visit Vienna when visiting Austria. Vienna could not only be a reason to visit Austria but also be the reason to visit Austria.
2. Alpine Summits are Dramatic in Austria
Austria, a small country with approximately 9 million people, has 240 Alpine summits above 3000 meters. Mountains and nature are a great reason to visit Austria. From experienced mountaineers to first-time hikers, there is something for everyone. Großglockner, the highest peak in Austria is even accessible by car. Not quite to the summit but the Großglockner high alpine road brings you within sight of the summit plus the area is full of marmots. Here are the best mountains to climb in Austria.
3. The awe-inspiring Views of Austria
Awe-inspiring views accompany the dramatic summits of the mountains. These are yet another reason to visit Austria. However, you do not have to climb to the top of the mountain by yourself. Many of Austria’s mountain tops are reachable by cable car. In fact, there is no need to head into the countryside because cities like Innsbruck have the Alps and cable cars right in the city center while other cities like Salzburg have smaller city mountains with a funicular and elevator for an effortless ascent.
4. Culture and music abound in Austria
Classical art and music lovers will find Austria an ideal destination. Austria has historically given the world such talents as Mozart, Franz Liszt, Johann Strauss II, and Joseph Haydn and some of the biggest names in classical music, including Beethoven, came to Vienna to visit and play there. Due to the Habsburg emperor, Vienna was fertile ground for compositions, concert halls, paintings, and more.
Wien’s concert tradition lives on at the Wiener Konzerthaus, the Burgtheater, the Vienna State Opera, or the Wiener Musikverein, where the world-famous New Year’s Concert is held. Vienna hosts free concerts as well as affordable paid concerts. You can attend a live classical performance for as little as five euros if you’re willing to stand. Mozart was born in Salzburg, which offers fewer concerts but hosts the biggest classical music festival in the world.
Furthermore, traditional Austrian folk music and yodeling can be heard in the mountains on a regular basis still today.
Culture in Austria also includes a lot of literature. Austria in history has produced a large number of poets, writers, and novelists such as Stefan Zweig for example, whose books in the 1930s were translated into more than 30 languages.
5. Austrian sweet Treats and Coffee
Vienna in the 19th century was home to more than 600 coffee houses. In fact, the Viennese coffee house culture is part of the immaterial UNESCO world heritage with many coffee houses still following the tradition of the 19th century. It evolved together with the artist and intellectual culture of the past. These artists were often living modest material lives and, therefore, used coffee houses as their extended living rooms for discussions and creation. Here is an article about the Austrian Coffee house culture.
Cafés such as Cafe Tomaselli and Cafe Bazar in Salzburg or Cafe Hawelka or Cafe Frauenhuber are like time machines. Authentic and reminiscent of bygone days. However, Austrian coffee shops are not only known for their coffee and atmosphere, but also for the sweets they serve. The cakes and other pastries at Austrian coffee houses are another reason to visit.
6. Exploring Austria is easy
Public transport in Austria is very efficient with stations everywhere, even in small villages with less than 5,000 inhabitants. Trains are punctual and leisurely plus from the window seat, you get to see the entire country. Train connections such as the Semmering railroad, which is part of the UNESCO world heritage sites, are considered one of the most beautiful train routes in the world.
7. Austria is a Winter Sports Paradise
Austria is a mountainous country with wonderful skiing and snowboarding resorts. There are winter sports activities for everyone from beginner to pro. You can hire a skiing instructor if you have never tried skiing before. The best time to visit Austria’s ski resorts is between December and March since that’s it’s most likely that the country receives snow. Innsbruck and Salzburg attract the largest crowds due to their proximity to popular resorts, but there are skiing places all over the country.
Even if you don’t like winter sports, I recommend exploring Austria during the winter. You’ll find that it’s a special place where a visit to the Christmas markets and a warm cozy atmosphere of a winter vacation will guarantee to make your stay an unforgettable experience.
8. Austria is known for its rich History
The castles, palaces, and historic sites that dot the country are a testament to a rich and varied past with the city of Vienna bearing witness to centuries of Habsburg rule over Europe. From medieval times to the Habsburg empire and modern times, Austria is full of history. Among the most well-known landmarks are Schönbrunn Palace, Hallstatt’s world-oldest salt mine, and the Salzburg fortress, one of the best-preserved fortresses in Europe.
9. Beautiful Villages
While cities with their architecture and histories are a great reason to visit Austria, to see the real Austria, you might have to explore the countryside. Fortunately, there are plenty of small villages, some of which are often referred to as the most beautiful villages in the world. Perhaps you’ve heard of Hallstatt. Although Hallstatt is the most popular Austrian village, and one of the most places to visit in Austria overall, there are countless other mountain villages and lakes to choose from.
10. Austria’s great location
There is a great variety of landscapes and climates in Austria, a landlocked country. Austria borders seven other European countries and is, therefore, a must-see destination on travelers’ trips across Europe. From East to West, it’s on the route to or from Munich, Budapest, Prague, as well as to or from Italy or the Balkans. Aside from the largest lake in Europe (Lake Constance or Bodensee), it is home to some of the highest mountain ranges in the Alps, extensive plains, and Lake Neusiedler See, a large steppe lake.
