Ruqayyah Snyder
Austria is a beautiful country with incredible scenery, charming villages, vibrant cities, and delicious food. With its central location in Europe, it shares borders with eight countries, making it a great base to explore the continent with your Interrail pass. The country is home to picturesque lakes, snow-capped mountains, and first-class resorts where you can hike in the summer and ski in the winter. The capital, Vienna, is known as the city of music due to the many classical musicians born there, including Beethoven and Mozart. The city is steeped in history and offers something for every traveller, from museums and theatres to gourmet delights and stunning nature. Salzburg, Graz, Innsbruck, and Hallstatt are also popular destinations for interrailers, offering everything from Baroque architecture and music history to romantic lakeside villages and ski slopes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Capital | Vienna |
| Cities | Salzburg, Graz, Innsbruck, Hallstatt, Linz, Munich, Venice, Prague, Budapest |
| Attractions | Hohensalzburg Castle, Mirabell Gardens, Old Town, Mozart's birthplace, St. Stephen's Cathedral, Christmas markets |
| Transport | ÖBB, Regiojet, Westbahn, Gysev, Microtra, S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams, buses, Wiener Lokalbahn, City Airport Train (CAT) |
| Food | Wiener schnitzel, Sacher cake, apple strudel, Kaiserschmarren, Vanilla Kipferl, Käsespätzl |
| Activities | Hiking, skiing, amusement parks, boat cruises |
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Vienna
If you're interested in history, you won't want to miss St Stephen's Cathedral. This awe-inspiring Gothic cathedral features unique multi-coloured tiles and jaw-dropping spires. Another historic site is the Hohensalzburg Castle, which dominates the city of Salzburg and offers stunning views.
Foodies will enjoy sampling traditional Austrian dishes such as Käsespätzl, and there are also many picturesque markets and restaurants in the Old Town. Vienna is also known for its vibrant coffeehouse culture, so be sure to indulge in a pastry and a coffee during your visit.
For nature lovers, Vienna is a great base for exploring the surrounding area. The Semmering line, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers a gorgeous train journey of less than 3 hours to Graz, a city in the southern region of Austria. Along the way, you'll be treated to views of mountain tops, forests, and deep valleys. Alternatively, you can take a day trip to the Zauberberg ski resort or explore the rolling hills and countryside of southern Germany.
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Salzburg
One of the most famous attractions in Salzburg is the extraordinary Fortress Hohensalzburg, which dominates the city and was built in 1077. A 20-minute walk from the city centre, this historic fortress is a must-see for anyone visiting. At the eastern end of the city, you'll find the Old Market, where you can explore the 13th-century Court Pharmacy and the 17th-century St Florian's Fountain.
For fans of the classic film, The Sound of Music, a trip to the Mirabell Gardens is a must. The gardens were featured in the song 'Do-Re-Mi', and the palace, the Hohensalzburg Fortress, and the Salzburger Dom (cathedral) create a fairy-tale backdrop. The gardens feature a Pegasus fountain, a Salzburg Dwarf Garden with an assortment of carved-stone dwarfs, a rose garden, and an orangery.
As the birthplace of Mozart, Salzburg offers plenty of opportunities to pay tribute to the composer, including concerts and summer events. The city also boasts a UNESCO-listed Old Town, with grand merchant houses in various pastel shades and the Salzburger Dom, or cathedral.
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Graz
The city has a well-heeled commercial centre, with a harmonious blend of historic architecture, ranging from Franciscan simplicity to Habsburgian grandeur. The old town lies on the east bank of the River Mur, under the tree-covered Schlossberg hill, which was once a medieval fortress until Napoleon demanded its walls be destroyed. The east bank has its own market, Lendplatz, and its own green space, Volksgarten.
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Innsbruck
If you are travelling by train, the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) offer ideal rail connections to Innsbruck. The Nightjet service, for instance, runs daily between Innsbruck and Hamburg. With an Interrail Pass, you can travel on as many trains as you like each day and you won’t have to take a physical ticket with you; instead, you’ll have a mobile pass. If you arrive at Innsbruck Central Station, you will receive a 10% discount on an Innsbruck Card for 48 hours.
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Hallstatt
If you are visiting Hallstatt by train, you will arrive on the opposite side of the lake. To reach the town centre, you can take a ferry that runs almost hourly between the station and the centre. The crossing takes about 15 minutes.
There are several attractions and activities to enjoy in Hallstatt. A trip to the salt mine is one of the most popular things to do, where you can also experience Europe's longest wooden slide and take in dramatic views from the Skywalk viewing platform. The village is also a great starting point for short walks and longer hikes, where you can enjoy the surrounding mountains and fresh mountain air, and explore the less touristy side of the region. The small Hallstatt Museum is worth a visit to learn about the 7000-year history of the village.
For accommodation, Hallstatt offers a range of options, from elegant 5-star luxury hotels to comfortable guesthouses, family-friendly apartments, or traditional farms.
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Frequently asked questions
Three of the best cities to visit in Austria are Vienna, Salzburg, and Graz. Vienna, the capital, is known as the city of music due to the numerous classical musicians that were born there, from Beethoven to Mozart. Salzburg is filled with Baroque architecture and music history, including Mozart and The Sound of Music. Graz is the second-largest city in Austria and one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe.
Austria has a wide range of amusement parks, theme parks, and water parks. The most famous of these is Prater Vienna. If you want to enjoy the Alps, you can try the Alpine coaster in Imst. Austria also has world-famous food specialties, including Wiener schnitzel, Sacher cake, apple strudel, and Kaiserschmarren.
The Austrian train network is mostly operated by ÖBB (Österreichische Bundesbahnen). You can use ÖBB S-Bahn services to get around Vienna and other cities that have S-Bahn networks. Your Interrail pass is also valid on ÖBB IC Bus routes (Klagenfurt – Graz and Klagenfurt – Venice).
