Our Top 5 Picks For Where To Go In Austria

There’s much more to Austria than meets the eye, with some of the best cultural and nature-based experiences found outside the major cities.

Many of Austria’s most beautiful villages, towns and landscapes lie within easy reach of the major cities. To escape the crowds and see another side of Austria, take a day trip – or stay longer – to regions where the pace is slower but the experience no less exhilarating.

1. Salzkammergut

Road trip: 45 minutes from Salzburg/four hours from Vienna

Set between the alps and the foothills, Salzkammergut is a place of striking limestone mountains and calm blue lakes – 76 of them – and is known for its natural beauty and outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling and water sports. You’ll have seen some of it in The Sound of Music, and it is a popular destination for sommerfrische (summer holidays in the countryside).

Loser Panoramastraße scenic road in Salzkammergut area — Adventure through the mountain roads, hiking trails and crilliant lakes of Salzkammergut.

The lakeside village of Hallstatt, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, is often considered the most beautiful in Europe (just ask any Instagrammer). Wander its cobblestone streets, take the three-minute near-vertical funicular ride 838 metres up the mountain behind the village and then a guided underground tour into the world’s oldest salt mine, where the “man in the salt" was found in 1734.

At Lake Altaussee, climb aboard a traditional wooden platte (boat) for a perfect view of the mountains and lake from the calm, shimmering and astonishingly blue waters. It’s easy to see why so many writers have found inspiration here.

The elegant spa town of Bad Ischl, once the summer residence of Emperor Franz Joseph, (together with 22 other municipalities) has been named as a European Capital of Culture for 2024, with a calendar of events running all year.

Lake Altaussee, Salzkammergut, where to go in Austria — Climb aboard a traditional wooden boat at Lake Altaussee. (Image: Harald Eisenberger)

2. Wachau/Danube Valley

Road trip: one hour from Vienna/two hours from Salzburg

The Danube winds through the Wachau Valley, between the towns of Melk and Krems, in a landscape that has been inspiring artists for centuries and is now a World Cultural Heritage Region. Find a spot overlooking the river, sip a glass of local Riesling or Gruner Veltliner wine, add fresh bread and cheese from local farmers and watch the world go by.

If you are energetic, hit the Danube Bike Trail, which covers 317km, following the river through the villages, vineyards and orchards of the Wachau region – mostly traffic-free. Don’t miss a visit to the magnificent 16^th-century Benedictine monastery Melk Abbey, with its Baroque frescos and terraced vineyards overlooking the Danube.

Other must-see stops include the ruins and Abbey Church of Dürnstein, where the English king Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned on his way back from the Crusades, and the 1000-year-old town of Krems, known for its lively arts scene. Check out the Kunstmeile Krems gallery, Austria’s only caricature museum and the wine museum.

Wachau, Ruins of Duernstein, where to go in Austria — View the ruins and Abbey Church of Dürnstein

3. Arlberg

Road trip: 2.5 hours from Innsbruck (or one hour by train)

Summer or winter, the Arlberg region is a favourite with the sporty set. Famed for its skiing, it is also a popular hiking region in the summer months. The timeless panorama of alpine scenery has long made this a favourite ski resort region, and the full effect can be enjoyed from St Anton’s Valluga Platform, at 2,811 metres above sea level, where you are at the exact point where the regions of Vorarlberg and Tyrol meet.

St Anton, Arlberg, where to go in Austria — Head to Arlberg in winter for a skiing adventure. (Image: Patrick Baetz)

A new long-distance hiking trail loop connects the five Arlberg resorts – Lech, Zürs, Stuben, St Christoph and Anton – with 40km of trails and 10km of cable car connections. The best way to tackle the Arlberg Trail is from St Anton, Lech or Stuben, in a clockwise direction. You can choose to hike only certain stages or do the entire loop.

Arlberg is also a cultural hub, with the Arlberg 1800 resort in St. Christoph being home to a contemporary art gallery and a well-used 200-seat concert hall hosting regular jazz and classical music concerts.

hiking Lech, where to go in Austria — Hike the stunning mountains of Lech. (Image: Christoph Schoech)

4. The Bregenzerwald

Road trip: one hour from Bregenz/two hours from Innsbruck

Twenty-three villages make up the Bregenzerwald region, known for its traditional woodwork, handcraft and music. From the ornate traditional wooden houses to the tasty alpine cheese from local farms, it’s easy to feel you are truly part of the Austrian countryside. The people of the Bregenzerwald – called Wälder – are proud of their heritage and it shows.

Cow in Bregenzerwald — Be greeted by friendly locals.

Time your visit for the annual Schubertiade Schwarzenberg Festival, which celebrates the music of Schubert and other composers, with about 50 events to choose from in June and late August/early September. Shuttle buses transport festival-goers between the villages. Another big event is the Bregenz Festival, which runs for a month in July/August, featuring opera on the world’s largest lakeside stage.

For a quirky twist to your visit, jump on a bus in the village of Krumbach to see the town’s seven bus stops, each one a contemporary design by an architect from a different country and built by the town’s craftsmen. They are works of art.

Bus stop Glatzegg Krumbach — Be sure to check out on the beautofully designed bus stops. (Image: Felix Friedmann)

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

5. South Styrian Wine Road

Road trip: 2.5 hours from Vienna

Wandering the wineries of South Styria is one of the most pleasant ways to explore this region, with its rolling vineyards, orchards and pumpkin patches. Take the 70km South Styrian Wine Road to meander through the countryside sometimes called “the Tuscany of Austria" for its mild climate and viticulture.

Schloss Kapfenstein Restaurant — Work up an appetite then stop to soak in the serenity of the South Styrian Wine Road.

The South Styrian Wine Road links lovely villages and the towns of Ehrenhausen and Leutschach as it winds through the Slovene Hills, near the border with Slovenia. Work up an appetite on some of the hiking or cycling trails, and stop off at one of the many welcoming Buschenschanken (wine taverns) along the way, to taste the Sauvignon blanc the region is famed for and nibble on platters of cold meat. Don’t leave without also sampling (and buying) some of the delicious pumpkin seed oil Styria produces. Sweet tooths will also want to stop off at the Zotter Chocolate factory for some handmade goodies.

For those still needing a city fix, a 40-minute drive will take you to Styria’s medieval capital, Graz, Austria’s second-largest city, on the River Mur.

winery along South Styrian Wine Road — Explore lovely villages, towns and wineries.

Where to Stay

Austria’s regions have a host of charming hotels, resorts and family-run properties to choose from. Check out the Austria Hotel Collection to find the perfect match for your travels.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

5 places in Austria you need to visit outside the main cities