Things to Do in Austrian Alps

Salzburg's acclaimed Marionette Theatre was founded back in 1913 and its debut performance Bastien and Bastienne "“ the comic opera by Mozart "“ proved an instant hit with audiences. As its fan base expanded, so the theatre's repertoire increased, taking in operas by Rossini and Strauss, Shakespearian plays and also developing shows especially adapted for children, including Alice in Wonderland and Peter the Wolf; The Sound of Music was also added to theater's body of work in 2007.

The theater was awarded its own base in 1971, an ornate Baroque theater with a seating capacity of 350 that is tucked between the Mozarteum and the Landestheater. An extraordinary level of detail goes into the crafting of the puppets "“ each head is hand-carved in wood "“ and costumes and stage sets are individually designed for each show, while the characters are sung by some of the world's greatest opera stars.  

Located in the gloriously ornate Neue Residenz in Mozartplatz, the Salzburg Museum opened in 2007 to great acclaim and won European Museum of the Year two years later. It serves as an informative and educational museum of art and history, scanning aspects of the development of Salzburg as a city. 

A museum of several parts housed in fine marble apartments, it features temporary art exhibitions, highlights the lives of prominent Salzburg movers and shakers, and examines the history of the city through a series of artwork in the permanent exhibition "˜The Myth of Salzburg'. A one-man exhibition on the third floor spotlights the mesmeric paintings of famous contemporary Austrian artist Gottfried Salzmann.

The Salzburg Museum is partnered to the adjacent Panorama Museum and they are connected by the subterranean Panorama Passage, which reveals a section of Roman wall covered with murals and four models of Salzburg at pertinent points in its development. The undoubted star of the Panorama Museum is the 85-foot (26-m) cyclorama of the city painted in 1829 by Johann Michael Sattler; it is supremely impressive in its fine architectural and topographical detail.

The Universalmuseum Joanneum in Graz is a multidisciplinary museum that boasts 4.5 million items in its collection. The largest museum of its kind in Europe, it was also Austria’s first public museum, founded in 1811 by Archduke Johann of Austria, the brother of Emperor Franz I. The museum includes 12 different locations in Graz, each of which focuses on either art, culture or the natural sciences.

For modern and contemporary art, visitors should head to the Kunsthaus Graz, the Neue Galerie Graz or Art in Public Space. For a look into the Middle Ages and Baroque art, visit the Schloss Eggenberg and the Alte Galerie. Focusing in prehistory and antiquity are the Archaeology Museum adjacent to the Schloss Eggenberg and the Coin Cabinet inside the Schloss. The Styrian Armory, Folk Life Museum, Museum in Palais and the Multimedial Collections provide a look into cultural history of the area and the Natural History Museum and Centre of Natural History showcase the region’s natural history. An additional seven locations can be found elsewhere in Austria outside of Graz.

Schladming is cradled between the lush alpine tarns and valleys of the Dachstein massif and the Schladminger Tauern range in the Styrian Alps. Life started in this remote alpine spot back in the 14th century, when Schladming was a mining village, but today it is known as one of Austria's premier ski resorts. The Schladming-Dachstein region is best for intermediate skiers, offering long and scenic tree-lined runs. There are nine mountains to ski, all connected by a state-of-the-art network of lifts and cable cars, and with plenty of trails for cross-country skiers and snow shoers plus plenty of options for mountain restaurants and après ski.  

Summertime pursuits in this family-friendly resort include hiking and mountain biking, tobogganing and go-carting; one of the area's most popular (and nerve wracking) attractions is the Sky Walk up at Dachstein Glacier, where the panoramas include a sea of snowy alpine peaks and lurching drops of 250 meters (820 feet) straight down to the valley floor.

The historic spa town of St Wolfgang is quite simply one of the prettiest villages in the Salzkammergut (Austrian Lake District). It perches on the northern shore of the Wolfgangsee lake and is backed by the alpine foothills of Mount Schafberg – a cog railway goes right to the summit. The village was founded way back in the 10th century when Wolfgang – then the Bishop of Regensburg in Germany – built a church on the lakeside, which became a pilgrimage point after his canonization in 1052. Today the church and its distinctive white bell tower still draw in visitors in the thousands to enjoy the spectacular lakeside setting amid snow-topped alpine peaks. The architecture of the village is largely traditional, with painted chalets adorned with wrought-iron balconies peeping out from steeply pitched wooden roofs; a tangle of lanes creep uphill from the lakeside and are a joy to explore for their many restaurants and classy souvenir stores. 

In the winter St Wolfgang morphs into a popular ski resort, with 18 pistes and a modern network of lifts, while in summer it is popular for water sports on the lake and as a jump-off point for walking, cycling and climbing in the Austrian Alps as well as boat trips across the lake to St Gilgen and Strobl.

Sitting high on a cliff above the Enns River in Austria, Trautenfels Castle is home to the regional landscape museum of the Universalmuseum Joanneaum, also known as the agricultural museum. The castle dates to the 13th century and features an impressive marble hall and colorful frescoes from the 16th century. Twelve rooms with different themes showcase more than 1000 exhibits relating to the natural and cultural history of the Enns Valley, Palten Valley and Aussee Lake District. One room focuses on the forest and the work of lumberjacks in the area, while another focuses on the natural landscape of the surrounding valley. Other rooms show off items ranging from mining tools to knitting work to sets of antlers and objects made from antlers. The State Rooms and their elaborate furnishings are also open to visitors, and the castle’s viewing tower offers superb views of the entire valley.

Also worth a stop are the ruins just west of the palace of the Protestant church of Neuhaus. Once the most important religious center in the valley, they were excavated in 1991 and today serve as a memorial.

Located at the Salzburg Airport, Hangar-7 is a one of-a-kind aircraft hangar and transport museum that comes in at 44,130 square feet and offers ever-changing exhibitions in addition to upwards of five restaurant and lounge options. In addition to the aircraft and cars on display, there are also contemporary art exhibitions and air shows on occasion.

Though its main attractions are Flying Bulls historical aircraft and fleet of Formula 1 cars, many visitors come to the hangar simply to admire its architecture, the work of Salzburg architect Volkmar Burgstaller. The landmark's exterior can look like a glass aircraft wing when admired from the outside, and Hangar-7 also has a sweeping 131-foot (40-meter) entrance with two cylindrical towers. There are 1,754 panes of glass of different sizes, providing a view of the nearby mountain panorama.

Zipping up to one of Salzburg’s most impressive viewpoints, the Mönchsberg Lift makes easy work of the 60-meter climb to the top of the Mönchsberg plateau. From the 523-meter-high viewing terrace, the views span Salzburg’s Old Town, with its hilltop Hohensalzburg Fortress, striking cathedral and scenic riverside, and it’s a perfect spot for photos.

Hop on the lift from Anton-Neumayr-Platz in the Old Town, then jump out at the top of the hill, where you can visit the Museum of Modern Art or hike along the plateau’s woodland trails all the way to the Hohensalzburg Fortress.

A bluff, flat-topped peak in the Berchtesgaden Alps, Untersberg is close to the Austrian border with Germany and rises up to 6,473 feet (1,973 meters); it is the highest mountain in the Salzburg area. In summer it is the destination of hikers for its well-marked trails; paragliders for spectacular alpine views; expert climbers for tough ascents; and tours around the Schellenbergerice cave. In winter local skiers flock to the mountain for the demanding 4.75-mile (7.5-km) run back down to the village of Grödig.

Today the summit of Untersberg can be reached all year around (weather permitting) by a panoramic cable-car ride from the village of St Leonhard; the alpine views are spectacular as the Rositten Valley and snow-flecked alpine peaks spread out far below. The year 2015 sees the 50th anniversary of the releases of The Sound of Music and excursions will run out to the foothills of Untersberg to the spot where the Von Trapp family sang Climb Every Mountain as they escaped across the Alps to safety from Nazi Austria.

The museum featuring the work of Michael Haydn, younger brother of the much-more-famous Baroque composer Joseph Haydn, is found in the Benedictine Abbey of St Peter, parts of which date back to 696 AD, making it the oldest abbey in Austria. 

Johann Michael Haydn lived between 1737 and 1806; arriving in Salzburg in 1763 he was a close contemporary of Mozart but rather than leaving Salzburg for the bright lights of Vienna, he forged a successful career as a court musician by remaining in the city. He was incredibly prolific, composing more than 350 pieces of work, including 40 symphonies and 37 masses as well as 19 operettas and during his lifetime he was considered as bright a talent as both his brother and Mozart. Samples of Hadyn's melodies can be heard in the museum, which is a must-see museum for devotees of Baroque music and showcases manuscripts, sheet music and paintings reflecting his life and times. Chamber music performances of Hadyn's works take place in the evening at the abbey between July and September (daily except Wednesday) and he is buried in the Stiftskirche (abbey church).

The Tyrolean Cultural Museum was founded in 1823 and consists of a group of museums set up to showcase Tyrolean culture; it includes the Tyrolean State Museum Ferdinandeum, the Zeughaus (Armory), the Volkskunstmuseum (Museum of Tyrolean Folk Art), and the Hofkirche (Court Church). 

The Ferdinandeum offers a journey through 30,000 years of art and history; major draws include a collection of major Dutch paintings by Brueghel and Rembrandt, an exhibition of Biedermeier furniture, and masterpieces from Klimt and Kokoschka. The Hofkirche, containing the flamboyant German Renaissance tomb of Maximilian I plus his 28 marble guards, is accessible through the museum.

The Zeughaus is found in the 16th-century former weapons depot of Emperor Maximilian I; today it offers an insight into the cultural history of Tyrol, looking at how the region has been affected by local silver and salt mining, both World Wars, and the advent of mass tourism. Tyrolean customs and festivals are showcased at the Tiroler Volkskunstmuseum (Museum of Tyrolean Folk Art), and the Tyrol Panorama at the Bergisel Ski Jump Stadium is now also under the auspices of the Tiroler Landesmuseum.

The number-one destination of beer lovers, Austria’s most popular brewing exhibition is found Salzburg’s oldest brewery, which was built in 1863, although Stiegl has actually been brewing ever since 1492 and the company remains independent to this day. In medieval times the production of beer was as vital to the growth of Salzburg’ wealth as the mining of salt in the region; a visit to the Stiegl Brauwelt encompasses a whistle-stop tour of the brewing process and the bottling plant as well as highlighting the social impact of brewing on the city. Although guided tours are currently only available in German, all the exhibits in the museum are clearly labeled in other languages, including English, so it is easy to understand the displays.

Tastings following the brewery tour give the chance to sample three of the ales produced here, and soft options are offered for non-drinkers. Time your visit correctly and stay on in the restaurant for lunch or supper to savor traditional Austrian restaurant – spicy sausages, pickles and plenty of horseradish sauce – and try out some of Stiegl’s brews of the month. On sunny days the Stiegl garden is one of the most popular spots in Salzburg, with beer served in clunky gray-and-red steins. There’s also the chance to buy your favorite bottled beer in the museum store at the end of your visit.


The Styrian Armory in Graz is the world’s largest historic army, holding 32,000 pieces of weaponry, tools and suits of armor. Built between 1642 and 1645, the armory stood on the front lines for Austria’s battles with the Ottoman Empire and Hungarian rebels for the next few centuries.  One of the most visited of the dozen museums that comprise the Universalmuseum Joanneum, the Armory features exhibitions on four floors, arranged in a way reminiscent of a 17th century arsenal. On the first floor, visitors will find cannons, mortars and muskets from the 16th to 18th centuries, while the second floor focuses on helmets, suits of armor and pistols. The third floor shows off more armor, including German-made armor and equestrian armor for nobles. Finally, the fourth floor is home to staff weapons such as morning stars, halberds and pikes used by foot soldiers, as well as swords and sabres once used by horsemen.

One of the world’s largest ice caves, this network of frosty caverns and tunnels extends for more than 25 miles (40 kilometers) through the Tennen Mountains in the Austrian Alps. Discovered in 1879, this subterranean wonderland encompasses vast blue-tinged chambers, sculptural ice formations, and frozen waterfalls. 

Access to the Werfen Ice Caves (Eisriesenwelt), nicknamed the World of Ice Giants, is by guided tour only. During the cave tour, visitors are led through the interior to sights including the gigantic Eispalast (Ice Palace) chamber and the sculpture Frigga's Veil, also known as the Ice Organ, formed by rows of icicles.

Visitors often explore the ice caves as part of organized excursions from Salzburg, which typically include transfers as well as entrance to the cave. Some full-day tours combine a visit to the caves with a trip to Golling Waterfall (Gollinger Wasserfall), the Salzwelten Hallstatt salt mines, and the medieval-era Hohenwerfen Castle. 

To get to the caves, drive or take the train to the town of Werfen, Austria, situated about 24 miles (40 kilometers) south of Salzburg. From there, follow the 3.5-mile (6-kilometer) signposted access road to the parking lot near the visitor center. If you don’t have a car, buses are available, departing from Werfen Station and more frequently from the Gries parking lot, a 5-minute signposted walk from Werfen Station. From the visitor center, it’s a 20-minute uphill hike to the cable car. Once you disembark, it’s a further 20-minute climb to the cave entrance. 

The caves are open May–October and are busiest during July and August. To avoid the busiest times, go in early morning (8am–9am) or later in the afternoon (3pm–4pm). 

Because of their remote setting, the caves remained largely unknown to outsiders up until the late 19th century when explorer Anton von Posselt-Czorich entered them. Posselt-Czorich only got about 650 feet (200 meters) into the caves, but his research inspired further exploration in the early 20th century. The addition of wooden planks, climbing aids, and an access road—followed by an aerial cable car in 1955—granted access to more and more visitors. 

Found on Herzof-Friedrich-Strasse opposite the Goldenes Dachl (Golden Roof), Innsbruck’s Stadtturm (City Tower) was built in 1450; it reaches 167 feet (51 meters) in height and was built on to the former city hall to enable the tower guards to keep watch over the city, look out for enemies, and keep peace at night. 

Today the tower is topped with a bulbous dome and the viewing platform at 100 feet (31 meters) offers spectacular views over the roofs and Baroque spires of the Altstadt (Old Town) as well as to the Nordkette mountains in the Alps lying to the north – but be prepared to climb 148 winding stone steps to get to that view. Pick a clear day otherwise the Alps will have disappeared behind cloud.

Combine a trip up the tower with a peek at the frilly exterior of the Hölblinghaus, a Rococo extravaganza with flamboyantly carved balconies, and the iconic Goldenes Dachl (Golden Roof) – not missing its fascinating museum showcasing the life of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I.