Day Trips & Excursions in Austria

Feel festive this Christmas season with a horse-drawn sleigh ride in a village near Schladming. Departing from Salzburg, this day trip ventures along the Salzach River Valley and travel up 3,281 feet (1,000 meters) to the Alpine mountain of Dachstein. Relax with some lunch at a local inn before hopping on your 2-hour sled ride to soak up the wintry scenery. After this full-day excursion, your tour will conclude at its original departure point.

The Austrian city of Salzburg lies within day-trip distance of Ljubljana, but the journey can be laborious by train or public bus. This full-day small-group tour provides an easier and more relaxed alternative: with comfortable return transport through the Alps by air-conditioned minivan or car, a guide to show you Salzburg's sights including Mozart's birthplace; and free time to explore independently. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for convenience.

See the best of Austria with this Salzburg Super Saver, combining two top-selling tours at a discounted price. Led by an expert guide,  travel underground to salt mines dating back 450 years and pay a visit to the charming Bavarian town of Berchtesgaden. Afterward, explore the Lake District in the Austrian Alps and soak up incredible views. Take a boat ride on Lake Wolfgang and see the historic Castle Huttenstein. Your day trip will conclude with transportation back to Salzburg.

Spend a day discovering Austria's UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley on this trip along the Danube River from Vienna. Led by a local guide, pass the vineyards, abbeys, and forests of the countryside as you learn about the area's rich history. Top off your day trip with a 1.5-hour boat ride to Melk along the Danube where you'll visit a Benedictine abbey overlooking the river, or an Austrian meal in a local restaurant, depending on the season. Your excursion will conclude with transportation back to Vienna.

If you're an independent explorer, but don't want to deal with the hassle and unreliability of public transportation, enjoy a private self-guided tour of Vienna.  After pickup from your Budapest hotel, your guide will take you to the Austrian capital by private car. Along the way, enjoy expert suggestions on what to eat and see.  Then, you're free to spend the day how you please, before returning to Hungary.

Indulge in a day of breathtaking natural landscapes and manmade treasures on a full-day trip to Innsbruck and Swarovski's Crystal World from Munich. Accompany a friendly local guide on a scenic journey through Bavaria and cross the border into Austria, where you'll stop first at the Swarovski museum for a breathtaking stroll through crystal-bedecked exhibitions. Then explore the colorful streets of Innsbruck, two-time venue of the Winter Olympic Games.

Escape the city and marvel on this private 8-hour Bavarian Mountains tour from Salzburg. Travel along the Kingslake River Valley deep into the Bavarian Mountains with your private guide. Admire breathtaking views over Austria's mighty Lake District from the top of Obersalzberg. Head off the tourist trail to Hinterbrand and enjoy a walk along the shore of Koenigssee Lake. Explore the pretty mountain town of Berchtesgaden during your free time, then return to Salzburg via a 450 year-old salt mine.

See "˜Sound of Music' filming locations, Obersalzberg, and the Austrian Lakes on a private day trip from Salzburg. The action-packed day includes visits to Schloss Leopoldskron, Hellbrunn Castle, Lake Wolfgangsee, and Mondsee "” all sites immortalized in the "˜Sound of Music' film. Travel to Obersalzberg, too, and learn about the mountain retreat during the days of Hitler's Third Reich. Access to the Eagle's Nest isn't included, but there's ample time for you to visit it, if you wish.

Discover the natural beauty and charming villages of Austria on a small-group 5- to 6-hour tour. Complimentary transportation takes you from Vienna and into the UNESCO listed Wachau Region. After a stop in the village of Weißenkirchen, begin your 3-hour hike through forests, vineyards, and rock formations. Your guide takes care of all navigation, so you're free to experience the views of the Danube, Spitz, and beyond.

Discover the Vienna Woods on a half-day guided tour. Led by an expert guide, visit the Mayerling hunting lodge, where scandal once rocked the royal family, as well as the Cistercian Abbey of Heiligenkreuz, constructed in 1133. Soak up a scenic boat ride on the Seegrotte, the largest subterranean lake in Europe. Then, journey back to your original departure point, spotting Liechtenstein Castle on the way.

The Austrian capital of Vienna is renowned for its imperial history and UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic center. On this full-day tour from Ljubljana, enjoy comfortable round-trip transport by minivan and benefit from a small group size. In Vienna, visit the magnificent Schönbrunn Palace, drive the famous RingStrasse, and admire landmarks such as St. Stephen's Cathedral on a guided walking tour, then enjoy some free time to explore independently.

This 9.5-hour bike tour from Vienna gives you the opportunity to enjoy the idyllic Austrian countryside and sample locally produced wines. On a state-of-the-art bike, you'll feel energized as you cycle past lush valleys, quaint villages and rolling vineyards. Take a gentle route with regular breaks, enjoy free time to relax by the Danube or climb to a hilltop castle, and receive lunch and numerous wine samples free of charge.

Keen to see more of central Europe while you're in Prague? Then grab the chance to visit Austria's capital on this day trip from Prague to Vienna. Traveling by coach with an expert guide, head to the city and discover its historical highlights. Drive along the majestic Ringstrasse, and explore the lavish Hofburg Palace and gardens of the Schönbrunn Palace, both former residences of the 18th century ruling Habsburgs. Finish your Prague to Vienna day trip with a visit to St Stephen's Cathedral and free time for lunch or shopping.

Explore Salzburg's Mirabell Gardens and UNESCO-listed Old Town on this day trip from Vienna. Led by a local guide, enjoy the stunning drive to Salzburg, stopping at Lake Mondsee and winding through the Austrian Alps. Upon arriving, take a guided walking tour of Mozart's home town and visit the gardens of Mirabell Palace. Your day trip will conclude with transportation back to Vienna.

Get a true taste of the Austrian countryside on this day trip to the Wachau Valley from Vienna. An expert guide will lead the way through charming villages and scenic landscape, making stops at UNESCO-listed sites such as the medieval town of Dürnstein. Relax with an authentic lunch at a local wine tavern (own expense) and taste the region's best wines in a small, intimate cellar. Between May and September, your day trip will also include a Danube River cruise between the villages of Spitz and Melk.

Soak up three top-selling tours at a discounted price on this Salzburg Super Saver through the Bavarian Mountains. Led by an expert guide, begin your morning with panoramic views of the Alps at Hitler's historic mountain retreat, known as the Eagle's Nest. Then spend the afternoon exploring the underground world of 450-year-old salt mines, before concluding with a trip to the charming town of Berchtesgaden.