Austria is a destination that doesn’t just show itself to you; it imprints itself on you. From the centuries-old traditions you’ll experience in Salzburg City to the outdoor adventures you’ll have in Upper Austria I have been lucky enough to experience this myself and can tell you first-hand what a special place Austria is. And while Austria shines year-round, spring, summer and autumn are when this feeling is perhaps most vivid. Here is our edit of the places you need on your bucket list…
Salzburg City: History, Heights and Hidden Calm
Salzburg is one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, elegant and intimate, cultural yet surrounded by nature. Wander through the baroque old town and you’ll feel history everywhere, but it’s the city’s elevated escapes that truly stay with you. The Mönchsberg, accessible by lift, rising gently above the historic centre, offers leafy walking paths, contemporary art spaces and some of the best panoramic views in the city (and is famous for being the backdrop to The Sound Of Music). For a more dramatic ascent, hop aboard the Festungsbahn cable car, which carries you smoothly up to the mighty Hohensalzburg Fortress. From here, the rooftops of Salzburg unfold beneath you, framed by mountains that shift colour with the seasons; lush green in spring, sun-warmed in summer, golden and copper-toned in autumn. Promenade through the cobblestoned historic centre, a UNESCO heritage site, then explore the old town’s five breathtakingly beautiful squares Residenzplatz, Domplatz, Mozartplatz, Kapitelplatz and Alter Markt. A fan of musicals? Visit all the Sound of Music shooting locations around town and the brand new Sound of Music Museum in nearby Hellbrunn (opening this 2026). Salzburg is also incredibly easy to reach, with direct flights from the UK, making it perfect for a cultured city break with a restorative edge. City break anyone? This is the place.
Upper Austria: Culture Along the Danube
Northeast of Salzburg lies Upper Austria, a region that beautifully blends creativity, nature and slow travel. The city of Linz, perched on the banks of the Danube, is a cultural powerhouse, modern, forward-thinking and unexpectedly cool. Think cutting-edge museums, music festivals and riverside cafés where time seems to stretch, not to mention it’s home to over ten farmers markets plus an incredible Michelin starred restaurant, called Rossbarth where food has a modern take on the traditional as well as a distinctly Austrian pub culture with must visit inns such as Keintzel or Wia z’Haus Lehner . Beyond the city, the Danube becomes a lifeline of calm, inviting scenic cycling routes, riverside walks and boat journeys that encourage you to slow right down. Be sure to take a picture at the overwhelmingly beautiful Schloegener Schlinge oxbow, the bend in the Danube that offers a panoramic viewpoint. You can also stay here at Riverresort Donauschlinge – the perfect place to enjoy fresh fish from the Danube on the water’s-edge terrace with panoramic views. Head further into the countryside and you’ll find rolling hills, forests and spa towns, a reminder that Austria’s wellness culture is deeply woven into everyday life. Even surfers will get their fix here as Upper Austria is also home to the world’s largest river surfing wave! Upper Austria is also served by direct flights to Linz, making it another effortlessly accessible gateway into this gentler side of Europe.
Salzkammergut: The Lake District That Steals Hearts
If there’s one place that encapsulates Austria’s transformative power, it’s the Salzkammergut; the country’s breathtaking lake district, stretching between Salzburg and Upper Austria. Here, mirror-like waters sit beneath dramatic alpine backdrops, and each lake has its own personality. Lake Wolfgang is a standout, best explored via the Lake Wolfgang Ferries, which glide between charming lakeside villages. From nearby St. Wolfgang, the historic Schafbergbahn cog railway climbs steeply up the mountain, revealing ever-changing views that feel almost unreal, particularly in late spring or early autumn when the air is crisp and clear. Plus, you’ll be able to drink in the World-famous cultural heritage, from Mozart and baroque architecture to museums and festivals, not to mention the modern Café & Restaurant EQ located in the newly opened ErlebnisQuartier – where you can have a bite to eat looking out to beautiful lake views.
Elsewhere, Bad Ischl offers imperial spa-town elegance, while Lake Traunsee and Attersee deliver a quieter, moodier beauty and the perfect place for swimming, paddleboarding, hiking or simply sitting still and soaking it all in. These are places where time slows, senses sharpen and memories quietly settle in.
Just a short distance further south lies the Hallstatt Dachstein Salzkammergut region, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site that combines breathtaking Alpine scenery with one of Europe’s oldest and richest cultural histories. The region’s links to salt mining stretch back more than 7,000 years, with the prehistoric Hallstatt salt mines among the oldest known in the world and mining here shaped local life, trade and culture from the Bronze Age right through to the 20th century.
Above this ancient landscape, the 5fingers viewing platform perches at 2,108m above sea level on the Dachstein Krippenstein massif. Named for its dramatic hand-like shape jutting over a cliff edge, the platform offers visitors spectacular panoramic views of the World Heritage region, glacial landscapes and the valleys below.
Austria isn’t about ticking sights off a list. It’s about how places make you feel. You’ll bring back inspiration, new perspectives and that unmistakable Austrian Lebensgefühl – a memory that stays with you long after the journey ends.
Discover more and start planning your Austrian escape at austria.info
