Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Austria

10. Melk Abbey

cc by John Menard

Melk Abbey is a Benedictine abbey above the town of Melk, Lower Austria, Austria. Situated high up on cliff, overlooking the calming waters of the Danube river, rests the peaceful Benedictine abbey, adjoining the Wachau valley. The abbey contains the tomb of Saint Coloman of Stockerau and the remains of several members of the House of Babenberg, Austria's first ruling dynasty.

9. Vienna State Opera

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The Vienna State Opera is a stunning architectural structure in the middle of Austria’s capital. It was originally called the Vienna Court Opera (Wiener Hofoper). In 1920, it was renamed the Vienna State Opera. It is one of the top opera addresses in the world – where you can enjoy the very best in first-class productions. This famous stage offers a different program every day, with over 50 operas and ballet works on around 300 days per season.

8. Hohensalzburg Castle

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One of the most spectacular and magnificent castles of Austria, Hohensalzburg Castle sits atop the Festungsberg, a small hill of Salzburg. This castle houses the “Salzburg Bull”, an organ with more than two hundred pipes. A truly stunning piece of medieval architecture, representative of the heart of Salzburg, it is one of the top tourist attractions in Austria.

7. Seefeld, Tyrol

cc by Ștefan Jurcă

Seefeld is a city in the Austrian state of Tyrol, located about 17 km (11 mi) northwest of Innsbruck. Seefeld is the main city of the Olympia Region Seefeld, it is an important cross-country skiing center with terrain that is compatible for beginner and intermediate skiers. It is the perfect spot, not only for cold-weather sports, but for warm-weather strolls and hiking.

6. Hofburg Imperial Palace

cc by Dennis Jarvis

The Hofburg Imperial Palace is a palace located in Vienna. From 1438 to 1583 and from 1612 to 1806, it was the seat of the kings and emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, thereafter the seat of the Emperor of Austria until 1918. It currently serves as the official residence of the President of Austria. It was the Habsburgs' principal winter residence, as the Schönbrunn Palace was their preferred summer residence.

5. Innsbruck Altstadt

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Innsbruck is the fifth-largest city in Austria and the provincial capital of Tyrol, surrounded by snowcapped mountains, Innsbruck makes you feel quite insignificant in the midst of nature’s striking Alpine mountain range. Altstadt, the medieval town of Innsbruck, draws you in with its unique architecture and many shops. The Golden Roof in Altstadt, this house was constructed for the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximilian I, and it was decorated with thousands of gilded copper tiles that create the appearance of pure gold.

4. Grossglockner Alpine Road

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Grossglockner Alpine Road, probably the most famous panoramic road in Europe, Named after the Grossglockner, Austria's highest mountain. The Grossglockner Alpine Road is a toll road, it has over one million visitors annually, which makes it Austria's most visted tourist attraction after Schönbrunn Castle.

3. St Anton am Arlberg

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Sankt Anton am Arlbeg, commonly referred to as St. Anton, is a village and ski resort in the Austrian state of Tyrol. This village offers serious, legendary ski terrain for those who are seeking a challenge. St Anton is frequently listed as one of the world's top skiing resorts both in terms of skiing available, as well as its summer mountaineers.

2. Hallstatt

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Hallstatt, Upper Austria, is a village in the Salzkammergut, a region in Austria. Hallstatt is known for its production of salt, dating back to prehistoric times. Visit Hörnerwerk cavern’s subterranean salt lake and see the prehistoric man preserved in salt. Truly one of the most unique places in Austria, you must experience Hallstatt.

1. Schonbrunn Palace

cc by Dennis Jarvis

Schönbrunn Palace is a former imperial summer residence located in modern Vienna, Austria. The 1,441-room Rococo palace is one of the most important architectural, cultural and historical monuments in the country. It was built between 1696 and 1712 at the request of Emperor Leopold I and turned into the imperial summer palace by Maria Theresa. Since 1960s it has been a major tourist attraction.