Salzburg Things to Do

Long overlooked for a combination of reasons, the recently refurbished summer palace Schloss Hof is not only one of Austria‘s largest, it is also one of the grandest. Owned by the state and sustained by the proceeds of a now bustling tourist trade, the palace is currently in fine fettle. The main building is one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture anywhere in the world, and the extraordinary period furnishings and art contained within (many of which were only recently returned to the palace) are a convincing reminder of the power and wealth enjoyed by the Hapsburg royals. Suffice it to say that the surrounding gardens, orangerie, manor farm, fountains and sculptures are a collective treasure as well.

Innsbruck is arguably one of the most beautiful towns in Austria, situated as it is against the sheer cliffs of the Alps that rise from its northern edge. The town is a famous center for winter sports (it hosted the Winter Olympics twice), and is home to a number of charming museums dedicated to Tyrolean history and culture, as well as some brilliant examples of decorative baroque architecture. Older still is the peculiar but beautiful Golden Roof, built in 1500 for Maximilian I so that Archduke Friedrich IV and other Tyrolean sovereigns could have an appropriately regal spot from which to observe tournaments and festivals in the square it faces.

Tourists looking to stretch their legs while taking in the sites of Vienna can easily plot a course from one home or “haus” that was once the residence of a noteworthy figure from history or fiction to another (these structures are often home to relevant museums or honorific plaques, inscriptions, and other memorials). The following suggestions should help get you started.

If it’s unmitigated alpine beauty you’re after, the wide and varied expanses of Hohe Tauern National Park in Austria is a sure bet. Covering an area of nearly 700 square miles, Hohe is by far the largest of its kind in central Europe.

Travelers familiar with Austria‘s mountainous geography might not immediately think of the country as one of the best destinations for cycling tours in Europe, but the routes along Austria’s larger rivers are flat (or even gently slope downhill). Large numbers of enthusiasts from all around the world flock to Austria each summer to enjoy this popular pastime.