Falling in Love with the Austrian Alps
- Nov 18, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 11, 2025
If Switzerland is over your budget, Austria is another beautiful destination with more reasonable budget for you to explore.
Railway service provider: OBB - You can book the train ticket 2-month in advance for cheaper price on their website or mobile app.
Vienna
Vienna, the elegant capital of Austria, is renowned for its imperial architecture, classical music heritage, and vibrant café culture. Once the heart of the Habsburg Empire, the city blends historic grandeur with modern sophistication.
To have enough time to enjoy the romantic and artist vibe in Vienna, we recommend you to spend at least 2-3 nights here.
Suggested day trips and activities in Vienna:
Visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Hofburg Palace, Vienna Opera House, Museums (Kunsthistorisches (Art History) and Naturhistorisches (Natural History), Schönbrunn Palace, and Belvedere Palace.
Enjoy the scenic view and tasty wine with Vienna wine hiking-day: the event usually takes place in Mid-Sep.
Day trip to explore Budapest (Hungary) from Vienna central station with a day. The train takes ~2.5hours/trip.
Day trip to visit Graz or Salzburg within a day.
Salzburg
Salzburg, the charming birthplace of Mozart, is a city of baroque beauty set against the backdrop of the Austrian Alps. Its old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, enchants visitors with elegant architecture, classical music, and breathtaking mountain views.
As there could be a lot of day trip options from Salzburg, it's best to spend at least 3 nights here.
Suggested day trips and activities from Salzburg:
Sightseeings in Salzburg: Hohensalzburg Fortress, Mozart's House, Mirabell Palace, DomQuartier Salzburg, Salzburg Cathedral, Hellbrunn Palace and Natural Museum.
Start your early morning for 1-day trip to Hallstatt: Take the train from Salzburg Hbf to Attnang-Puchheim and change to take another train to Hallstatt Bahnhof (~2.5hours). Then from Hallstatt Banhof, take a short ferry to Hallstatt village. You may need at least 2-3hours to explore the place. Don't forget to check the last ferry back to Hallstatt Bahnhof!
Another day trip to visit Kehlsteinhaus (Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest - only opened in Summer time): From Salzburg, take the RVO 840 bus to Berchtesgaden (~45 minutes), then transfer to another bus to Obersalzberg, and followed by a special mountain bus to the Eagle’s Nest.
Day trip to visit Königssee and Obersee: From Salzburg, take the RVO 840 bus to Berchtesgaden (~45 minutes), and then bus 841 to the Schönau am Königssee stop, followed by a boat trip on Königssee to the Salet stop to walk to Obersee.
Day trip from Salzburg to Zell-am-See: Take a 90-minute train from Salzburg Hbf to Zell-am-See where you can explore Kitzsteinhorn Glacier and Gipfelwelt 3000 or wandering around Lake Zell.
If you visit Austria in the summer and want to try skiing, visit Hintertux Glacier (where it has snow 365 days all year long): take the train from Salzburg Hbf to Jenbach Hbf, take the train to Mayrhofen Im Zillertal Hbf, then you can either walk or take bus line 4104 to Hintertux.
Take a short day-trip to Innsbruck by 1.5hour train from Salzburg Hbf.
Innsbruck
Innsbruck (1.5hours train away from Salzburg) nestled in the heart of the Austrian Alps, beautifully blends imperial history with alpine adventure. Known for its stunning mountain scenery and vibrant old town, it offers a perfect mix of culture, sports, and breathtaking views year-round.
Recommended period of stay: minimum 2-3 nights.
Day trips and activities in Innsbruck:
Exploring Innsbruck Old Town, shopping at Maria Theresien Street, taking Nordkettenbahnen lifts and cable cars to enjoy the mountain view, or visiting Alpine Zoo.
Start early day trip hiking to Olpererhütte (only opened in Summer time). For the most convenient transport, it's better to stay in Mayrhofen town.
Take a day trip to Munich by train.
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