3 Amazing Cities to Visit in Austria (Photos & Itinerary)

Visiting Austria is worth its weight in gold and that is why I am presenting you with 3 amazing cities to visit in Austria.  Since the start of our trip around the world, Austria is our absolute favorite destination ! If Iceland wins the award for most beautiful landscapes and France for the best food, Austria certainly merits an award for elegance, harmony, splendor, culture, well-being and happiness. According to the global firm Mercer, its capital, Vienna, ranked first in the list of most liveable cities for the 9th time in a row in 2018!

The Amazing Cities to Visit in Austria

Vienna

The Austrian National Library in Vienna features amongst the most beautiful libraries in the world. Founded in the Middle Ages by the Habsburg, its great ceremonial hall is of infinite splendor. When you’re standing in the center of the 80m long and 20m high room, it’s difficult not to be amazed.

State Hall of the Austrian National Library

Vienna, an imperial capital, is an architectural jewel rich in history and art. I’ve rarely found a city that has fascinated me so much. When roaming the streets, you can imagine treading in the footsteps of Beethoven, Mozart, Strauss and Schubert, the great composers who have marked this city indelibly. At the Belvedere Palace, you can admire the legendary “Kiss” by Gustav Klimt, the darling of Vienna. The Hofburg and the Schönbrunn palace are vestiges of a glorious past, when the House of Habsburg dominated the Holy Roman Empire.

Shonbrunn Palace

Salzburg

The prestigious Salzburg was the birthplace and home of the illustrious Mozart. We wander its streets whilst humming songs from The Sound of Music.

Salzburg

Hallstatt

Hallstatt is a small village on the side of a lake – so photogenic, but so touristy! To fully admire and appreciate this magnificent place, we decided to go on a boat tour around the lake which left us with a memorable impression of this UNESCO listed hamlet.

Hallstatt

I’ll take a moment to mention that the historic centre of Salzburg, Schönbrunn palace, the historical centre of Vienna and the region of Hallstatt are 4 of the 10 Austrian World Heritage sites listed by UNESCO.

For a better preparation

Itinerary

We went to in Salzburg, Mozart’s hometown, from the German region of Bavaria. We then made our way to the photogenic Hallstatt, then Linz, and finally Vienna before heading to Bratislava in Slovakia.

Transportation

We traveled across Austria with the little Opel Corsa which we rented in Germany.

Opel Corsa

Accomodation

We spent 6 nights in Austria in 3 different hotels.

Thanks to the 40,000 Best Western points which we collected as a result of the bonus of 2 MBNA Best Western credit cards which we ordered especially for this trip, I was able to reserve 2 nights in the most beautiful suite in the Best Western Plus Amedia Art in Salzburg. The base rate for a room was 950,00 EUR (1,000.45 USD)! We can therefore claim to have saved 1.900,00 EUR (2,000.89 USD) although I don’t think the room was worth that price.

Best Western Salzburg

In Linz, we stayed in the Courtyard Marriott Linz. Because of the heat wave, we were very happy to be offered a myriad of refreshments upon our arrival. This is another advantage of our Gold Elite status with Marriott which we get with our Amex Platinum card! The hotel room wasn’t expensive and I preferred not to use my points on this occasion.

In Vienne, on the contrary, I didn’t hesitate to use my Marriott points for 3 nights at the Courtyard Marriott Schönbrunn, a category 3 hotel. Our Gold Elite status rewarded us with an upgraded room and a great service.

Courtyard Marriott Shonbrunn

Food

It seems that when you are in Vienna, you have to order a Wiener Schnitzel, a breaded veal escalope. A bit like poutine in Quebec: it’s not amazing the first time, but with time I can imagine liking it. I won’t miss Austria because of it, just like poutine in Quebec.

Wiener Schnitzel

Expenses

Seeing as we rented the car to travel across Germany, Liechtenstein, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic, I calculated our expenses as a fraction of our time spent in Austria.

In terms of accommodation, I only had to pay for one night in Linz and overnight parking, the other rooms having been paid for using our points.

Our 6 day visit to Austria for our family of 4 cost us:

• 655,00 EUR (689.78 USD)
• 109,17 EUR (114.97 USD) per day
• 27,29 EUR (28.74 USD) per person per day.

In detail :

In a nutshell

Conclusion

Austria, the 11th country of our trip around the world, has left a lasting impression on us, filled with memorable moments. We will certainly come back if we have the chance. Our next destinations: Slovakia, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic.

==> Download all our photos of Austria for free!

Photos

Mozart’s Birthplace, Salzburg

Salzburg Cathedral

Salzburg Castle

Mozart’s House Salzburg

Mirabell Garden, Salzburg

Mirabell Garden, Salzburg

Lake Wolfgang

Boat Tour on Hallstatt Lake

Hallstatt from the Lake

Downtown Linz

Shonbrunn

State Hall of the Austrian National Library

Austrian National Library, Vienna

Statue at Hofburg, Vienna

St Peter Church, Vienna

Upper Belvedere, Vienna

The Kiss from Gustav Klimt, Vienna

Johann Strauss Statue in StadtPark, Vienna

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