Austria's Best Attractions
The essentials: Vienna's Schönbrunn Palace and Hofburg (the Habsburgs' summer and winter residences), St. Stephen's Cathedral, and the Belvedere for Klimt's 'The Kiss'; the Wachau Valley's Melk Abbey, a Baroque monastery perched above the Danube; and Salzburg's Sound of Music filming locations. Most major sights run €12–44 for adults; book Schönbrunn's timed-entry tickets online for June–September visits to avoid a long line.
Austria doesn't lack for grand buildings — six centuries of Habsburg rule left behind more palaces, monasteries, and cathedrals than any one trip can cover. Here's the honest, curated version: what earns a slot in a short itinerary, what to book ahead, and one detour most first-timers skip that genuinely shouldn't be skipped.
Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna
The Habsburgs' summer residence — 1,441 rooms (only a fraction open to visitors), sprawling formal gardens, a maze, and the Gloriette viewpoint overlooking the whole property. The Imperial Tour (22 rooms) runs about €22; the fuller Palace Ticket with gardens access runs up to about €44. Arrive at opening or book timed entry online in summer, when lines can stretch well past an hour without a pre-booked slot.
The Belvedere, Vienna
A Baroque palace complex split into Upper and Lower Belvedere, with a garden between them offering one of the best skyline views in the city. The Upper Belvedere holds Gustav Klimt's 'The Kiss' and the world's largest Klimt collection — worth the visit for that alone, even if you're not usually a museum person.
The Hofburg, Vienna
The winter residence of the Habsburgs for over six centuries, now home to the Sisi Museum (on Empress Elisabeth), the Imperial Apartments, and the Spanish Riding School, famous for its Lipizzaner horses. Budget half a day if you want to see more than one of its sub-attractions properly.
St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna
The Gothic cathedral at the literal center of Vienna, its tiled roof visible across the city. Entry to the main nave is free; climbing the south tower (343 spiral steps, no elevator) costs a small fee and rewards you with the best rooftop view in town — not for anyone with knee trouble.
Melk Abbey and the Wachau Valley
Melk Abbey is a working Benedictine monastery perched dramatically above the Danube, about 1.5 hours west of Vienna by train — its library and marble hall alone justify the trip. It sits at the entrance to the Wachau Valley, a UNESCO-listed stretch of vineyards, medieval towns, and Danube river scenery that's an easy half-day or full-day add-on (train, bike path, or a river cruise between Melk and Krems) most Vienna-only itineraries skip entirely, and shouldn't.
Sound of Music sites, Salzburg
Mirabell Gardens, Leopoldskron Palace, and several Salzkammergut lake locations were used in the 1965 film. See our Salzburg destination guide for the details on the tour that covers them.
What to skip
- Overpriced 'skip-the-line' add-ons sold by street touts outside Schönbrunn or the Hofburg — buy directly from the official ticket counter or website instead.
- Cramming both the Hofburg's Sisi Museum and Imperial Apartments and the Spanish Riding School into one rushed morning — pick two of the three, not all of them, unless you have a full day.
- Visiting Melk Abbey as a rushed 2-hour round trip from Vienna without the Wachau Valley — the valley itself is most of the reason to make the trip.