Austria. Media News. Some of our favorite activities.

Dear friend of Austria,                                                     

And here is Part Two of some of our favorite things .. I am very much aware of a certain pun that may seem intended here.. but we are skipping the Sound of Music for this one - well not entirely, you will see / read!

More Austrian Lebensgefühl coming your way! We are traveling from Vienna to Salzburg to Carinthia .. and while we are on that topic - we always highly recommend planning your trip through Austria with the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB). When you travel with ÖBB, getting around Austria (and beyond) is incredibly easy and convenient, and it’s the way most locals travel. The ÖBB Railjet trains are fast, comfortable, and with 95% punctuality, you can rely on the trains to get you to your destination on time, and the environment will thank you, too!

Warmly,
Sigrid Pichler

Manager of Public Relations
Austria Tourism New York City

sigrid.pichler@austria.info​
www.austria.info

For a little retail therapy, the Designer Outlet Parndorf is beautifully designed as a charming shopping village just south of Vienna. Located in the picturesque Lake Neusiedl region, just 30 minutes by bus from Vienna, this one-of-a-kind destination features over 160 designer stores, including fashion, jewelry, footwear, elegant homeware, and trendy sportswear. Convenient shuttle bus services are available from Vienna, as well as private transfers.

Heading back towards Vienna, let's get back to history and culture! Founded in 1114, Klosterneuburg Abbey is one of Austria’s most important cultural and spiritual landmarks. Renowned for medieval masterpieces such as the Verdun Altar and its impressive Baroque architecture, the Abbey is also home to Austria’s oldest continuously producing winery. Starting in 2026, visitors can discover a distinctive chapter of Austrian-American history through a new guided tour focusing on the von Trapp family’s early years in Klosterneuburg, before their move to Salzburg and long before their journey eventually led them to the United States.This positions Klosterneuburg Abbey as an unexpected cultural link between Austria and the United States.

While Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg (and a lot of his legacy can still be explored there), he moved to Vienna at the age of 25, where he would spend the final 10 years of his life. During this time, Vienna became the heart of his creative output, and it was here that he composed some of his greatest masterpieces. Today, Vienna offers countless ways to explore his life and legacy. From the historic Mozarthaus Vienna, where he lived during his most creative years, to the interactive exhibits at the House of Music, the city invites you to step into the world of one of classical music’s most iconic figures. 

Masters of the visual arts, Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt, let you experience Vienna around 1900 with their masterpieces and exciting insights into that vibrant period of time. Located in the MuseumsQuartier Vienna – one of the world's largest and most frequently visited art and cultural spots – the Leopold Museum is a key cultural centre of the city and a treasure trove of Austrian art, showcasing an exceptional collection of works from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 

The Liechtenstein City Palace and Garden Palace will take you on a deep dive into Vienna's art history. Built over 300 years ago by one of Europe’s oldest noble families, the Princely Family of Liechtenstein, these two palaces are now considered ultimate cultural treasures.The palaces are exclusively accessible via public or private guided tours or exclusive events offering visitors spectacular baroque staterooms, unique architecture and major works of European art spanning five centuries. Generally, public guided tours are held twice a month (registration is required). The tours are only held in German, however, English audio guides are available for free. English guided tours will be offered on selected dates. Private guided tours can also be arranged in different languages.

To round out your tour through art history, we highly recommend a(nother) visit to the must-sees of the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Imperial Collections of the Habsburgs in Vienna which include an extraordinary array of art from ancient Egypt, classical antiquity, and the Renaissance. With masterpieces by renowned artists like Titian, Rembrandt, and Vermeer, the museum offers an immersive experience into centuries of artistic achievement. From the world’s most extensive Bruegel collection and the famous “Saliera” by Cellini to 2,100 objets d'art from the Habsburgs, you can also enjoy coffee, dinner or a party in the marble Cupola Hall. If you still want more, head over to the Imperial Collections of the Habsburgs at the Imperial Treasury, the Imperial Carriage Museum, and the Theater Museum in Palais Lobkowitz which will reopen in November 2026!

   

Carinthia is Austria's southernmost province boasting gorgeous lakes and mountains. You find great driving routes in Carinthia: whether it's the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, Nockalm Road, or Villach Alpine Road, each journey offers breathtaking landscapes and an unforgettable feeling of being closer to the sky with every twist and turn.
Highlights are the stunning views of Austria's highest mountain, the Grossglockner (3,798 m / 12,361 ft) and explorations of the picture perfect idyllic village of Heiligenblut am Grossglockner.
Be sure to try local delicacies such as Carinthian cheese noodles, sweet Reindling cake, or homemade cheese along the way. It’s for good reason the Nockalm Road is also known as the Carinthian Road of Delights!
Along the Villach Alpine Road, enjoy magnificent viewpoints, including the three-country view of the Austrian, Italian, and Slovenian Alps. For an unforgettable experience, venture onto the Skywalk, hovering 1312 ft above ground and take in the stunning panoramic views from a bird's eye perspective.

Let's head to the province and city of Salzburg where more adventures await!
Salzburg’s iconic castles and fortresses, from city landmarks to scenic countryside attractions, offer great adventures and experiences for history buffs, children, and really everybody else! Hohensalzburg Fortress, the iconic landmark of Mozart’s city, rewards visitors with sweeping panoramic views and invites them on a vivid journey back to a time when powerful prince-archbishops ruled the land. High above the Salzach Valley, Hohenwerfen Fortress rises dramatically on a rocky outcrop, where circling birds of prey and imposing walls transport visitors straight into the Middle Ages—making it one of Salzburg’s most popular destinations. Further south, Mauterndorf Castle once guarded an important Alpine trade route and served as a historic toll station; today, interactive exhibits, staged medieval scenes, and a more than 700-year-old defensive tower bring its past to life for visitors of all ages. Completing the journey, Fort Kniepass, a new attraction since summer 2025, seamlessly connects past and present in the Saalach Valley, combining history, adventure, and culinary enjoyment into a contemporary fortress experience.

The FestungsBahn funicular and the MönchsbergAufzug lift provide quick access from Old Town Salzburg to Hohensalzburg Fortress and Mönchsberg mountain and offer phenomenal views and experiences.

Also outside the city, attractions like funiculars and railways and the like have been delighting locals and visitors alike for more than 100 years, combining nostalgic charm with modern comfort. Along the way, enjoy panoramic viewpoints, renowned dining spots, and access to world-famous sights—perfect moments to slow down and leave everyday life behind. In the Salzkammergut district you can explore Austria's steepest cogwheel railway, the SchafbergBahn. The new base station of the SchafbergBahn features one of the most beautiful lakeside terraces, the ExperienceQuarter which offers a small museum area and the Café & Restaurant EQ on the first floor—perfect for enjoying the view before or after your journey. If you want to enjoy gorgeous views from the water, WolfgangseeSchifffahrt ferries showcase turquoise water, historic villas, and 360° mountain views.