View of Lake Zell, the town of Zell am See, and snowy Kitzsteinhorn glacier in Austria, featured in the Austria destination guide

Austria Destinations Guide:
Where to Go and What to See

Choosing where to go is one of the most exciting—and sometimes overwhelming—parts of planning your trip.

This Austria Destinations Guide brings togetherthe country’s most beautiful cities, alpine regions, lakes, and hidden gems, helping you decide what to include in your itinerary.

Whether you’re drawn to historic cities like Vienna and Salzburg, scenic lakeside villages, or dramatic Alpine landscapes, this guide helps you explore the best Austria destinations and understand how they fit together.

Use this Austria Destination Guide as your starting point to discover where to go in Austria, with links to detailed destination guides to help you plan your trip with confidence.

About Me — Your Austria Destination Expert
Hi, I’m Tammy — founder of Wanderlustria and the Austria Travel Planning Facebook group.

I live in Austria and have travelled extensively across the country—from major cities to small alpine villages and lesser-known regions.

I’ve explored Austria in every season and understand not just what to see, but how destinations connect and what they’re really like beyond the highlights.

This guide is designed to help you choose the right Austria destinations for your trip, based on real experience and practical insight—so you can build an itinerary that truly works.

Join our Newsletter

Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the site and allows me to continue creating practical, experience-based Austria travel guides. Read Disclaimer and Terms & Conditions 

Join the Austria Travel Planning Facebook Group

Follow us on:

Explore Austria’s Top Destinations

Austria offers an incredible mix of destinations, from historic cities rich in culture and architecture to alpine villages, lakes, and scenic mountain regions.

Whether you’re planning a city break, a road trip through the Alps, or a mix of both, these are some of the best Austria destinations to include in your itinerary.

View of yellow Schönbrunn Palace gardens in Vienna with visitors walking paths, a must see sight  in the Vienna travel guide

➡️ Vienna Travel Guide

Austria’s elegant capital is known for its imperial palaces, world-class museums, and vibrant café culture. Vienna blends history, music, and modern city life, making it an essential stop on any Austria itinerary.

View of Mirabell Palace gardens in Salzburg with Salzburg Dom and Hohensalzburg in the distance, featured in the Salzburg travel guide.

➡️ Salzburg Travel Guide

Famous as the birthplace of Mozart and the setting for The Sound of Music. 
Salzburg is a charming city of baroque architecture, historic streets, and a stunning alpine backdrop.

View of Hallstatt village, church, and lake from the famous viewpoint with Dachstein mountains, featured in the Hallstatt travel guide

➡️ Hallstatt Travel Guide

One of the most photographed places in Austria, Hallstatt is a picturesque lakeside village surrounded by mountains. Known for its beauty and UNESCO heritage, it’s a must-see—but best experienced at a slower pace.

Spring view of Lake Zell and the snowy Kitzsteinhorn glacier in Austria with spring flowers- discover in the Zell am See Guide

➡️ Zell am See Guide

This alpine region combines a crystal-clear lake with glacier views and year-round outdoor activities. From summer hiking to winter skiing, Zell am See–Kaprun is perfect for nature lovers and scenic adventures.

Free 14-Days Best of Austria Itinerary

14-Day Austria Itinerary PDF on a map with camera and notebook, promoting the 14-day Austria itinerary

Discover the ultimate Austria adventure with this comprehensive 14-day itinerary.
From Vienna’s historic streets to alpine villages, lakes, and mountain resorts, this step-by-step guide shows you the best sights, hidden gems, and travel tips for a full two-week journey.
Perfect for first-time visitors or repeat travellers looking to explore Austria in depth.

    Must See Places in Austria

    Looking for inspiration?
    These curated guides highlight the best places to visit in Austria, from iconic landmarks to unforgettable experiences.

    Winter view of colourful Innsbruck houses along the River Inns, featured in the top 16 best places to visit in Austria

    Top 16 Places to Visit in Austria

    Discover Austria’s most iconic destinations, from historic cities and alpine villages to lakes and cultural highlights—perfect for planning your itinerary.

    Side view of yellow Schönbrunn Palace with garden statue and visitors, featured in Vienna top 30 things to do

    Vienna Bucket List

    Vienna is home to imperial palaces,  coffee houses and world-class museums.

    Explore the Top 30 must-see sights and experiences that define Austria’s capital.

    View of Residenzplatz in Salzburg with fiaker, palaces, sculpture, and Hohensalzburg, featured in the Salzburg travel bucket list.

    Salzburg Bucket List

    Uncover the top things to do and experience in Salzburg, from its charming old town and fortress views to music, culture, and scenic surroundings.

    View of Hallstatt Marktplatz with pastel buildings, flowered balconies, and Holy Trinity statue, highlighting things to do in Hallstatt.

    Hallstatt Bucket List

    Plan your visit to Hallstatt with a guide to its most scenic viewpoints,  sites, and must-do experiences in this beautiful lakeside village.

    Two girls sitting on a pier and two boys jumping in Lake Zell with mountains in the background, for Zell am See summer bucket list.

    Zell am See Summer Bucket List

    Find the best things to do in this alpine region, from lake activities and mountain views to summer outdoor adventures.

    Plan Your Austria Trip with Confidence

    Use these essential guides to help you plan every part of your Austria trip—from building your itinerary and choosing destinations to practical tips, inspiration, and trusted travel resources.

    Austria Travel Plan over Colourful world map with a camera and passport

    Plan your Trip

    Start here for a step-by-step guide to planning your Austria trip, from logistics and timing to building a smooth, well-structured itinerary.
    ➡️ Plan Your Austria Trip

    iew of the Austria Alps with a person holding a notebook that has an Austrian Itinerary in it

    Austria Itineraries

    Discover our Austria itineraries for different trip lengths, with day-by-day routes to help you plan your perfect journey.
    ➡️ Austria Itineraries

    Passport open, camera, glasses and boarding passes on a wooden table using Austria Travel Tips

    Travel Tips

    Get practical advice on transport, money, local customs, and essential information to help your trip run smoothly.
    ➡️ Read Austria Travel Tips

    View of Achensee in Tyrol with flowers in foreground and mountains behind, showcasing Austria travel inspiration

    Austria Inspiration

    Discover ideas for scenic routes, seasonal travel, and unique experiences to help shape your Austria itinerary.

    ➡️ Austria Travel Inspiration

    People using Austria Travel Resources to plan a trip discussing over a map with laptop and cameras

    Austria Travel Resources

    Find trusted tools and services to help you book, organise, and manage your Austria trip with ease.
    ➡️ View Austria Travel Resources

    Tammy founder of Wanderlustria and the Austria Wanderlust website in front of Austrian mountains

    About Me

    Learn more about my experience living and travelling in Austria, and how I help you plan with local insight and practical advice.
    ➡️ Read My Story

    iPhone showing Facebook login with Scrabble tiles spelling ‘social media,’ linking to connect with fellow travelers

    Join the Community

    Connect with other travellers, get tips, and find inspiration through my Austria Travel Planning Facebook group, Austria Travel Planning Substack and Pinterest.

    Wanderlustria's Templates and Guides

    Austria Trip Planner

    Woman holding the Austria Trip Planner PDF with 90+ templates on a white carpet, holding a coffee cup

    90+ page Austria trip planner printable includes customisable templates and checklists to help you research, compare, and organise every detail. From travel inspiration to planning logistics, this downloadable guide is your one-stop toolkit for the perfect Austrian holiday.

    Vienna Christmas Market Itinerary

    Vienna Christmas Market itinerary PDF mockup on a wooden table with Christmas plates and gingerbread figure

    Our 60+ pages Vienna Christmas Markets Itinerary is a printable PDF guide with all the information you need to plan your Vienna Christmas Markets Holiday- from where to stay, to what are the best Christmas Market Foods and Souvenirs.

    Visit our Shop for more information about Wanderlustria's Guides and Templates

    error: Content is protected !!
    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.