The Ultimate Travel Guide to Austria: History & Attractions

The Sound of Music come to life — Vienna's imperial grandeur, Salzburg's Mozart legacy, Alpine ski resorts and stunning lake districts make Austria magical.

A Glimpse into History

Austria's place at the heart of Europe — geographically and historically — made it the centre of one of history's most powerful dynasties: the Habsburg Empire, which at its peak in the 16th century under Charles V ruled Spain, the Netherlands, much of Italy, Mexico, and the Americas alongside its Central European heartland. The Habsburgs controlled the Holy Roman Empire for most of its 1,000-year existence (962–1806) and shaped European politics, art, and culture for six centuries. Vienna was besieged twice by Ottoman Turks (1529 and 1683), and the second siege's failure is credited with saving Western Europe from Ottoman conquest — the battle also, legendarily, introduced coffee to Vienna. The Austro-Hungarian Empire (1867–1918) united diverse peoples under Habsburg rule in an extraordinarily creative polyglot civilisation that produced Freud, Klimt, Schiele, Mahler, Brahms, and Wittgenstein in fin-de-siècle Vienna. Austria's responsibility for WWI through the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo and the subsequent ultimatum to Serbia remains one of history's most consequential diplomatic failures. The Anschluss (annexation) by Nazi Germany in 1938 remains a deeply contested historical legacy — Austria was simultaneously Hitler's homeland and a victim of his expansion. Post-WWII Austria rebuilt as a neutral state (since 1955) and joined the European Union in 1995. Today Austria's extraordinary Alpine landscape, imperial heritage, and world-class music culture make it one of Europe's most visited countries.

Top Attractions in Austria

Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna

The summer residence of the Habsburgs — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — contains 1,441 rooms in yellow Baroque splendour, formal gardens stretching to a hilltop Gloriette colonnade, and the world's second-oldest zoo (1752). Mozart performed here at age 6 for Empress Maria Theresa. The Imperial Tour of the state rooms reveals the extraordinary lifestyle of the world's most powerful dynasty.

Hallstatt Village

The most photographed village in Austria — and perhaps Europe — clings to a steep cliff above a glacial lake in the Salzkammergut, its pastel-coloured houses mirrored in still water with the Dachstein glacier gleaming above. The world's oldest salt mine, accessible by funicular, was worked 7,000 years ago and houses an underground salt lake and 2,500-year-old miner's belongings.

Salzburg — Mozart's City

The birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart retains its baroque majesty with the Hohensalzburg Fortress (1077) dominating the skyline, the Mirabell Palace gardens, and the Old Town's UNESCO-listed squares. The Salzburg Festival (July–August) is one of the world's great classical music events, filling the city with performances in palaces, churches, and purpose-built concert halls.

Innsbruck & Tyrol Alps

The capital of the Tyrol region hosted two Winter Olympics (1964 and 1976) and remains one of the world's greatest mountain cities — the Old Town's Golden Roof (1500), Imperial Palace, and Triumphant Arch are directly beneath 2,000-metre peaks accessible by cable car. Nearby Nordkette provides skiing in winter and paragliding in summer above the city.