Things to do in 

Austria

If you’re after alternative things to do in Austria, lean into slow, local moments—workshops, vineyards, forest paths, alpine dairies—where everyday life shapes what you’ll remember.

Cultural activities: Styria’s Zotter Chocolate near Riegersburg takes you along a tasting path from cocoa nibs to warm liquid chocolate, plus the Edible Zoo that kids and food lovers can wander. In Rattenberg, watch glassblowers at Kisslinger craft bright vases, then try engraving a small tumbler—easy-paced and fascinating for seniors. Late afternoon in Rust, Burgenland, slip into a family cellar for a private tasting and watch storks settle on chimneys by Neusiedler See, a relaxed treat couples tend to savor. On weekend evenings in Vienna’s Stammersdorf, a heuriger courtyard brings folk tunes, fresh wine, and platters of spreads in a vine-shaded garden that suits mixed-age groups.

Day trip ideas: From Vienna, ride the Semmering Railway to Payerbach-Reichenau, then walk to the 20-Schilling Blick for sweeping views of the stone viaducts, lunch at a small gasthaus, and an easy return by dusk. Roman City Carnuntum near Petronell-Carnuntum lets you step into reconstructed villas with working kitchens and heated floors—great for families and history fans. From Salzburg, take the local train to Golling to see the waterfall and the quiet Bluntautal lakes; pack a late-morning picnic and head back by early evening. From Innsbruck, tram up to Igls for a gentle forest loop, or spend an unrushed afternoon in Hall In Tirol’s pastel old town and coin-mint museum.

Scenic views: Late afternoon on Bisamberg above Stammersdorf gives a soft look at Vienna’s roofs and the Danube; wander vineyard paths and end in a calm heuriger. Over Obertraun, the Dachstein Krippenstein cable car brings you to the 5 Fingers platform for a wide sweep across Hallstätter See; it’s cooler up top, so bring a layer. The Zillertal High Road offers easy pullouts above Aschau and Hippach; drivers get big alpine panoramas without long hikes, and photographers catch ridgelines in warm light. In Vorarlberg, ride the Niedere cable car from Andelsbuch for a gentle ridge walk and Lake Constance views while paragliders drift past and cows graze close to the trail.

Explore Austria's Regions: Vienna balances grand halls with lived-in corners like Ottakring’s Brunnenmarkt and vine-lined Stammersdorf on the city’s edge. Salzburg and the Salzkammergut pair baroque lanes with lake days at Traunsee and Gosausee, then a quiet evening in Bad Ischl’s cafes. Tyrol works well with bases in Alpbachtal or Seefeld for village strolls, easy lifts, and farm tastings. Styria’s Graz leads to Vulkanland around Riegersburg, where you can visit vinegar cellars, pumpkin-seed oil presses, and farmhouse inns. The Wachau flows from Spitz to Dürnstein with ferries, terraced paths, and late-afternoon tastings. Burgenland circles Neusiedler See for flat cycling, bird hides, and small estates in Rust. Vorarlberg mixes Bregenz’s lakeside art with the timber architecture routes of the Bregenzerwald.

Plan 7–10 days for Austria’s unique activities, experiences, and regions if you focus on two or three bases, like Vienna + Wachau + Salzkammergut or Innsbruck + Zillertal. For a wider loop reaching Vorarlberg and Burgenland, 12–14 days keeps the pace comfortable. If you’ve only got 3–5 days anchored in Vienna, pair it with quick hops to Slovakia or Hungary, or plan a longer circuit linking Czech Republic and Slovenia.

More places to see in Austria

Beyond Vienna, Austria invites you into river towns, lake country, and mountain valleys where daily life sets the rhythm. Plan time for these places and slip into local routines that are easy to enjoy with a private guide or on your own.

Salzburg: Drift through Mirabell Gardens late morning when the hedges are quiet and the fountains catch the light. Ride or walk up to Hohensalzburg Fortress in the afternoon for an unhurried look over the rooftops. Settle into Augustiner Bräu Mülln in the evening, claim a table in the arcade, and pair a stein with a warm pretzel from the food stalls.

Wachau Valley: Tour the library and terraces at Melk Abbey around midday, then follow the Danube by bike or boat toward Dürnstein, passing terraced vines and apricot orchards. As the day cools, slide into a heuriger in Weißenkirchen or Spitz for a glass of Grüner Veltliner and a plate of cold cuts and Liptauer.

Graz: Browse the Kaiser-Josef-Markt in late morning and taste what’s in season, from pumpkin seed oil to fresh berries. Step into the blue-bubbled Kunsthaus Graz after lunch for a quick hit of contemporary art. Climb the Schlossberg stairs at sunset, watch the clock tower lamps flick on, then grab a hearty schnitzel and salad at Glöckl Bräu off the Hauptplatz.

Burgenland (Neusiedler See): Pedal the flat lakeside path from Mörbisch to Rust in the afternoon, pausing to spot stork nests on the rooftops. Wander Rust’s cobbled lanes as the light softens, then sit at a village heuriger in Oggau for late-day tastings. If you reach Podersdorf by dusk, walk the pier and finish with grilled pike-perch at a simple lakeside spot.

Seasonal activities

Spring: Watch apricot and apple blossoms brighten the Wachau and Styrian hillsides, then cycle gentle Danube paths while river towns wake up. Step into Easter markets for hand-painted eggs and pastries, a relaxed scene that suits couples and seniors, with plenty of space for curious kids to roam. City parks green quickly, so picnics at Schönbrunn or Mirabell fit easily between museum stops.

Summer: Swim or paddle the clear lakes of the Salzkammergut, then ride cable cars to high-altitude trails where wildflowers frame wide views. Evenings drift into open-air concerts and the free film festival on Vienna’s Rathausplatz, while families linger over gelato and couples find riverside patios for long dinners. Those chasing a touch of luxury can plan scenic drives and leisurely boat outings, keeping the pace unhurried in the heat.

Fall: Vineyards in the Wachau, Burgenland and Styria turn gold, heurigen taverns pour new wine and kitchens lean into pumpkin and porcini. Catch festive Almabtrieb cattle processions in Tirol, then slow down in quieter museums and palaces that seniors and culture seekers appreciate. Clear days make it a favourite season for couples to ride the Ringstrasse or wander cobbled old towns.

Winter: Advent markets glow in Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck, with spiced drinks, craft stalls and brass music setting an easy tempo for all ages. Ski days span from family-friendly slopes to famed Arlberg terrain, and non-skiers settle into thermal spas or grand cafés for unhurried afternoons. New Year’s brings waltzes in the streets and big-city fireworks, while luxury travellers retreat to snug alpine hotels when the snow deepens.

Across the year, look for the free Donauinselfest on the Danube in June, the open-air Film Festival at Vienna’s Rathausplatz all summer, and lively Krampus runs in Alpine towns each early December. Advent season anchors winter with markets in almost every city, while late summer fills Salzburg and Vienna with classical performances in churches, courtyards and squares. On 31 December, Vienna’s Silvesterpfad street party ties it together with dancing, food stands and midnight fireworks.