Beyond Vienna: must-visit cities to explore in Austria

Becki Enright

Becki Enright

Each of Austria's nine Federal States has a regional capital, so it's fair to say there are plenty of metropolis-bound sights to choose from outside Vienna.

From arts-and-culture-filled UNESCO-listed cities to heritage-stacked urban hotspots, from Mediterranean atmospheres to mountain heights, here are some cities to consider for a cross-country trip through Austria.

Getting there: find breaks to Austria for all budgets with Love Holidays*, which offers affordable flights and accommodation bundled into one.

Vienna: The Green Capital

There may be plenty beyond it, but we still have to start with Vienna*; the capital that's home of the breaded veal Wiener Schnitzel, a UNESCO-cited coffee house culture, and a historical cache spanning from Roman Vindobona to the 600-year-long and Sisi-famous Habsburg stronghold.

Its central sites, stretching from St Stephen's Cathedral and the Hofburg Palace to the outer city Schönbrunn Palace, are undoubtedly where to go for a deep dive into the imperial legacy.

Yet, contemporary artistry and curiosities fill over 100 museums and funky neighbourhoods, such as the 4th district Freihausviertel, craft a modern spin on this classically typecast European capital, where nature is the new ruler.

In palace gardens and former imperial parks, the acres of Prater Park with its permanent fairground to the Lainzer Tiergarten biosphere, a ring of vineyards and 14 hiking trails, half of the city is designated green space.

Climate in Vienna

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C
2°C maximum daytime temperature in January in Vienna2
4°C maximum daytime temperature in February in Vienna4
10°C maximum daytime temperature in March in Vienna10
16°C maximum daytime temperature in April in Vienna16
20°C maximum daytime temperature in May in Vienna20
23°C maximum daytime temperature in June in Vienna23
26°C maximum daytime temperature in July in Vienna26
25°C maximum daytime temperature in August in Vienna25
21°C maximum daytime temperature in September in Vienna21
15°C maximum daytime temperature in October in Vienna15
8°C maximum daytime temperature in November in Vienna8
3°C maximum daytime temperature in December in Vienna3
Hours of sunshine (daily)
Days with some rainfall
14 days with some rainfall in January in Vienna14
13 days with some rainfall in February in Vienna13
13 days with some rainfall in March in Vienna13
12 days with some rainfall in April in Vienna12
13 days with some rainfall in May in Vienna13
14 days with some rainfall in June in Vienna14
13 days with some rainfall in July in Vienna13
12 days with some rainfall in August in Vienna12
10 days with some rainfall in September in Vienna10
9 days with some rainfall in October in Vienna9
13 days with some rainfall in November in Vienna13
14 days with some rainfall in December in Vienna14

Find out more about the climate in Vienna.

Linz: The Visual Arts City

Linz* is the urban underdog between Vienna and Salzburg, often bypassed in favour of the two heritage big hitters. The city's history follows a similar timeline, from Roman fortification to Habsburg Emperor home base (Frederick III), but its persona became overshadowed by its status as a steel producer.

There are the candy-coloured streets of the Old Town, the chance to sample the homegrown jammy, almond Linzertorte cake (Jindrak Café claims to have baked the original, whose recipe dates to 1653), and a historic railway line that trundles up the castle-topped Pöstlingberg Mountain overlooking the city.

Beyond the Old Town, Linz is a bastion of future-gazing artistic enterprise, education, and research; a designated UNESCO Media Arts City. There are funky van cafés and gastropubs on boats along the Danube, street art boat tours covering the muralled Linz Harbour, and the public art space of the OÖ Kulturquartier.

Even the Mariendom, the biggest church in Austria, has modern motif stained glass windows. Make time for the city's two centrepiece museums: the glass box Lentos Kunstmuseum with its 16,000-piece depository of European contemporary art, including paintings, sculptures, photography and graphics and the Ars Electronica Centre, a visual media and tech powerhouse that debates digital issues and is home to a world-leading media laboratory.

Climate in Linz

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C
2°C maximum daytime temperature in January in Linz2
4°C maximum daytime temperature in February in Linz4
9°C maximum daytime temperature in March in Linz9
14°C maximum daytime temperature in April in Linz14
19°C maximum daytime temperature in May in Linz19
23°C maximum daytime temperature in June in Linz23
24°C maximum daytime temperature in July in Linz24
23°C maximum daytime temperature in August in Linz23
20°C maximum daytime temperature in September in Linz20
14°C maximum daytime temperature in October in Linz14
7°C maximum daytime temperature in November in Linz7
2°C maximum daytime temperature in December in Linz2
Hours of sunshine (daily)
Days with some rainfall
13 days with some rainfall in January in Linz13
13 days with some rainfall in February in Linz13
13 days with some rainfall in March in Linz13
13 days with some rainfall in April in Linz13
15 days with some rainfall in May in Linz15
16 days with some rainfall in June in Linz16
15 days with some rainfall in July in Linz15
14 days with some rainfall in August in Linz14
11 days with some rainfall in September in Linz11
10 days with some rainfall in October in Linz10
13 days with some rainfall in November in Linz13
14 days with some rainfall in December in Linz14

Find out more about the climate in Linz.

Graz: The Mediterranean Metropolis

Graz's Mediterranean vibes will make you feel like you are in a different country, not some 200 km south of Vienna.

A UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, its Historic Centre melds Renaissance, Gothic and Baroque architecture in romantic courtyards, cobbled alleys, squares, and arcades. Ornate Italian styling is most prominent in the landmark palazzo-style tiered arcade of the Landhaus Courtyard and the imperial Mausoleum and Cathedral.

The River Mur cuts Graz* in two, with its trendy, edgy Lend district on the other side of the 900-year-Old Town centre.

Its contemporary blue, bulbous, tentacled-looking Kunsthaus modern art museum (dubbed the 'Friendly Alien') is one of the creative hubs forming the city's UNESCO City of Design accolade. Behind is a trendy cluster of eco-design stores, restaurants, bars, and a daily farmers' market.

Climb 260 cliff-set stairs to reach the hilltop Clock Tower city icon (or take the easier route with the funicular) and view it all in a panoramic sweep from the grounds of the 473-metre-high Schlossberg fortress grounds.

Climate in Graz

|
  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C
0°C maximum daytime temperature in January in Graz0
4°C maximum daytime temperature in February in Graz4
9°C maximum daytime temperature in March in Graz9
14°C maximum daytime temperature in April in Graz14
19°C maximum daytime temperature in May in Graz19
22°C maximum daytime temperature in June in Graz22
24°C maximum daytime temperature in July in Graz24
23°C maximum daytime temperature in August in Graz23
20°C maximum daytime temperature in September in Graz20
14°C maximum daytime temperature in October in Graz14
7°C maximum daytime temperature in November in Graz7
2°C maximum daytime temperature in December in Graz2
Hours of sunshine (daily)
Days with some rainfall
11 days with some rainfall in January in Graz11
10 days with some rainfall in February in Graz10
11 days with some rainfall in March in Graz11
13 days with some rainfall in April in Graz13
15 days with some rainfall in May in Graz15
15 days with some rainfall in June in Graz15
14 days with some rainfall in July in Graz14
14 days with some rainfall in August in Graz14
11 days with some rainfall in September in Graz11
9 days with some rainfall in October in Graz9
12 days with some rainfall in November in Graz12
11 days with some rainfall in December in Graz11

Find out more about the climate in Graz.

Salzburg: The Musical Centre

Music is ingrained in Salzburg's legacy, not least as it's the city better known as the birthplace of Mozart (his birth house is now a museum) and The Sound of Music, whose film locations across the city and nearby lakes are melodiously enjoyed on a Panorama Tours bus.

Salzburg's UNESCO World Heritage city centre retains the architectural prestige of its wealthy Prince-Archbishop rule: a bundle of 1,000 protected buildings and monuments, including grand cathedrals and abbeys, Baroque churches, show-off squares and courtyards, and marbled winged princely palais, of which the 1606-built Mirabell Palace and Gardens is the most esteemed.

The narrow historical alleyway of Steingasse still charts a course as the oldest street in Salzburg*. And if walking through history wasn't enough, you can taste it. End the day sipping on the monk-heritage brew at the 17th-century Augustiner Brewery.

Salzburg's centre is pocket-sized, and its picture-perfect views are best viewed from the heights. A fairytale panorama of city splendour is best seen from the rooftop of the Museum of Modern Art.

Meanwhile, atop the 542-metre-high grounds of 11th-century Hohensalzburg Fortress you'll find a 360° view of Salzburg and its hugging mountain ranges.

Climate in Salzburg

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C
2°C maximum daytime temperature in January in Salzburg2
4°C maximum daytime temperature in February in Salzburg4
8°C maximum daytime temperature in March in Salzburg8
13°C maximum daytime temperature in April in Salzburg13
18°C maximum daytime temperature in May in Salzburg18
21°C maximum daytime temperature in June in Salzburg21
23°C maximum daytime temperature in July in Salzburg23
22°C maximum daytime temperature in August in Salzburg22
19°C maximum daytime temperature in September in Salzburg19
14°C maximum daytime temperature in October in Salzburg14
7°C maximum daytime temperature in November in Salzburg7
2°C maximum daytime temperature in December in Salzburg2
Hours of sunshine (daily)
Days with some rainfall
15 days with some rainfall in January in Salzburg15
14 days with some rainfall in February in Salzburg14
15 days with some rainfall in March in Salzburg15
16 days with some rainfall in April in Salzburg16
16 days with some rainfall in May in Salzburg16
19 days with some rainfall in June in Salzburg19
17 days with some rainfall in July in Salzburg17
17 days with some rainfall in August in Salzburg17
13 days with some rainfall in September in Salzburg13
12 days with some rainfall in October in Salzburg12
14 days with some rainfall in November in Salzburg14
16 days with some rainfall in December in Salzburg16

Find out more about the climate in Salzburg.

Innsbruck: The Mountain City

Like a pop-up storybook, 800-year-old urban Innsbruck* is striking with its mountain walls encasing the city. It's a double layer of sightseeing: on the ground and at lofty heights.

Wander between the pastel-painted historic Old Town, with its Hofburg Imperial Palace, Hofkirche Court Church, City Tower, and the 2,657 gilded copper-tiled Golden Roof, lined by the colourful houses along the Inn River.

Sample Tirolean traditional eats such as the potato, meat, and egg fry-up of gröstl at Weisses Rössl, the oldest restaurant in the city, or the sweet and savoury flaky pastry treats at Strudel Café Kröll.

Glide to the peak of the Nordketten Mountain on the cable cars that leave the Zara Hadid architecturally avant-garde stations, between Austria's biggest nature park, Europe's highest alpine zoo, and the city mountain summit views at 2,000 metres.

Skiing is the DNA of every Tirolean, but in keeping with its sporting prestige year-round, head to downtown Innsbruck's 50m high Bergisel Olympic Ski Jump Tower not only for the city views but to watch professional ski jumpers soar, torso forward, through the air.

Climate in Innsburck

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C
0°C maximum daytime temperature in January in Innsbruck0
2°C maximum daytime temperature in February in Innsbruck2
6°C maximum daytime temperature in March in Innsbruck6
10°C maximum daytime temperature in April in Innsbruck10
14°C maximum daytime temperature in May in Innsbruck14
18°C maximum daytime temperature in June in Innsbruck18
20°C maximum daytime temperature in July in Innsbruck20
19°C maximum daytime temperature in August in Innsbruck19
17°C maximum daytime temperature in September in Innsbruck17
12°C maximum daytime temperature in October in Innsbruck12
5°C maximum daytime temperature in November in Innsbruck5
1°C maximum daytime temperature in December in Innsbruck1
Hours of sunshine (daily)
Days with some rainfall
15 days with some rainfall in January in Innsbruck15
13 days with some rainfall in February in Innsbruck13
15 days with some rainfall in March in Innsbruck15
16 days with some rainfall in April in Innsbruck16
18 days with some rainfall in May in Innsbruck18
19 days with some rainfall in June in Innsbruck19
19 days with some rainfall in July in Innsbruck19
18 days with some rainfall in August in Innsbruck18
14 days with some rainfall in September in Innsbruck14
12 days with some rainfall in October in Innsbruck12
14 days with some rainfall in November in Innsbruck14
14 days with some rainfall in December in Innsbruck14

Find out more about the climate in Innsbruck. You also discover more about conditions across the country in our complete guide to the climate in Austria.

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Becki Enright

Becki Enright

Posted in: City Culture Europe

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