Plan your Austria travel itinerary with our expert

The Hohensalzburg Fortress holds a place of honor among Europe's old castles not only due to the maximal preservation of the building but also thanks to its overwhelming dimensions. This is why medieval history lovers are so fond of visiting these walls. This castle is the heart of Old Salzburg; its history dates back 9 centuries. The building, however, has managed to maintain its original exterior.

What could possibly attract tourists more than an imperial family home? In Vienna, people take care of the Hofburg, the winter residence of the Habsburg dynasty. This is a medieval castle with many centuries' worth of history. The residence was first cited in 1279.

The Hohenwerfen Castle is one of the most beautiful fortifications of the country – not so much due to the architecture but due to the head-spinning, magical views of the surrounding area. It is situated on a 155m rise surrounded by mountains overgrown with dense forests. The castle towers over the Salzach River valley.

The provincial town of Melk is the western gate of the Wahau Valley included into the list of World Heritage sites. The town is famous for the abbey founded here in 1089. This Benedictine monastery is the hallmark of the place. It is known for its marble hall with frescoes and its library with one hundred thousand books.

Finkenberg is a traditional Tyrol town: from all sides, it is surrounded by the snowy peaks of Zillertal Valley and the wide margin of Austrian fir trees, shining green in summer and covered with snow caps in winter. The mighty Hintertux Glacier seems to watch over the local nature; today, this is one of the most popular ski resorts.

Even if you are not going to Alpbach to ski, rest assured: any traveler will find what to amuse themselves with in this medieval village with wooden Alpine houses and paved streets. In winter, these slopes are covered with a layer of shining white snow while in summer, photographers from all over Europe head to Alpbach for the lush florescence of rosebay and bougainvillea.

Sankt Wolfgang im Salzkammergut is a true pilgrimage site both for operetta lovers and for Christian followers of Saint Wolfgang who used to live near this charming Austrian town in the Salzkammergut Mountains. This place became well-known in 1052 when the Church canonized Saint Wolfgang, the town's namesake, founder, and patron saint.

The tour itself has a very interesting arrangement. At the entrance, you will be offered mining apparel to fit perfectly into the atmosphere. Then, you will take your seats in minecarts and head off to the center of the Earth. Are you ready to experience enraptured horror or horrible rapture? The descent into the very heart of the salt mines will leave you with a wide range of impressions from fright to unbelievable fun: the minecarts run fast, and the low ceilings affect the psyche of untrained people in their own way.

Every young citizen of Vienna knows this museum with the short, self-explanatory name "Zoom". And it's no wonder: the huge children's amusement center of 1,600 square kilometers regularly swaps its most interesting expositions. You can find the Zoom Children's Museum near the very center of the Austrian capital, in the famous Museumsplatz.

Spacious indoor and open-air heated pools with underwater massage will help you relax while the large water slide for children and adults will boost your mood. After swimming, you can settle down on a comfortable chaise-longue and enjoy the massage.

Fairies, goblins, ghosts, and Ellmi the Magic Frog will gladly welcome your whole family in the magical country of Elmau. "The Magic Express" will transport you to Hartkaiser Mountain full of mystery and riddles, within 7 minutes.

The "Haus der Natur" Museum situated in Museumsplatz, Salzburg, is a special source of pride for the local citizens. It has been recognized as one of Europe's most interesting museums for natural science. "Haus der Natur" has a rich history and is notable for its considerable age: Eduard Tratz, a famous zoologist, founded the museum back in 1924.

Before starting on the Mittersill National Park Museum, we should mention the town where it is located. Mittersill is a small settlement near the town of Zell am See, populated by a bit less than 5.5 thousand people. The settlement is situated on the very edge of The Hohe Tauern National Park, the largest national park in Austria and one of the largest in Europe.

Mittersill is a small settlement near the town of Zell am See, populated by a bit less than 5.5 thousand people. The settlement is situated on the very edge of The Hohe Tauern National Park, the largest national park in Austria and one of the largest in Europe. Its territory spans three Austrian provinces: Tyrol, Salzburg, and Carinthia.

If in the musical capital of Europe you feel drawn to the sublime and the beautiful (which makes perfect sense), we recommend going straight for "Haus der Musik". The museum was opened in a restored building which had once belonged to Archduke Charles himself. Today, the museum is always full of excited visitors. And the majority of them are children.