After the Holy Roman Empire dissolved, Austria formed its own empire while Prussia led the unification of Germany. For half a century, the Habsburg monarchs held on for one last round with the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Today’s Austria offers alpine skiing in the Tyrolean Alps while the Danube River waltzes through the centuries in three-quarter time. In Vienna, you can witness its imperial past through its palaces, coffeehouses, Art Nouveau architecture, edelweiss, and golden Strauss statue.

Must Sees: Vienna | Must Sees: Salzburg | Must Sees: Melk | Must Sees: Baden | Food

MUST SEES: VIENNA

Hofburg

Visit all the museums at the Habsburg’s winter palace. See a thousand years of treasures at the Schatzkammer of the Holy Roman Empire. There are golden crowns with gemstones as big as a fist, in all different colors and cuts. Jewels and precious stones cover the swords.

Schönbrunn

The Habsburgs resided at the Baroque summer palace. View the gilded opulence and Chinese lacquered panels of 40 of its 1,441 Rococo rooms. The symmetrical gardens are spectacular with the Neo-Classical hilltop Gloriette to the boisterous Neptune Fountain.

Hundertwasser Haus

Friedensreich Hundertwasser believed architecture should align with nature and was against using straight lines. The apartment house has undulating floors and colorful walls. With grass growing on the roof, trees grow inside the rooms.

Prater

The Prater was a royal hunting ground that now holds a free amusement park open to all. The film classic, The Third Man (set in Cold War Vienna), immortalized this Ferris wheel. It’s a great place to unwind in the swath of land between the Danube and its canal.

Stephansdom

A quarter million glazed tiles form the double-headed eagle mosaic on the roof. The Giant’s Doorway and Heathen Towers are remnants of the original Romanesque church. The cap on the unfinished North Tower is Baroque, while a 450-foot Gothic spire tops the South Tower.

Sisi Museum

Beneath the Michaelertor of the Hofburg, visit the Sisi Museum. The Empress Elisabeth (Sisi) was the popular wife of Emperor Franz Joseph. She was another tragic and vane free spirit who suffered under royal life. She was instrumental in establishing the short-lived Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Wiener Hofburg Orchestra

The Wiener Hofburg Orchestra performs at the Festival Hall of the Hofburg Palace. In these imperial surroundings, the concerts highlight famous waltzes by Johann Strauss and classic pieces by Mozart.

Belvedere

Belvedere Palace is home to Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss. At the height of his golden phase, Klimt covered it in bright gold leaf. Byzantine mosaics influenced the patterned robes in the Art Nouveau masterpiece. There is tenderness in the kiss with her eyes closed and gentle intertwined hands.

MUST SEES: SALZBURG

Hohensalzburg

The Prince-Archbishops started building the fortress in 1077 on Festungsberg mountain. This is a storybook white castle upon a gleaming hilltop. The views are regal, with the Old Town directly below and New Salzburg past the Salzach River.

Mozart Geburthaus

Visit the golden Mozart Geburthaus where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in 1756. Look at the child prodigy’s violin, viola, and harpsichord. After touring Europe, Mozart returned to Salzburg, where he worked as a court musician for the Prince-Archbishop.

Mirabellgarten

Prince-Archbishop Raitenau built Mirabell Palace in 1606 for him and his mistress. The geometrically-arranged gardens have statues of mythological heroes, a Dwarf Garden, and a pair of unicorns. At the central fountain, Pegasus takes flight.

Felsenreitschule

The open-air theater is located in the quarry for Salzburg Cathedral. It is the venue of the Salzburg Festival. It appears in the climactic scene of The Sound of Music where the von Trapp family make their dramatic escape.

Residenzplatz

Residenzplatz is a large plaza in the historic center of Salzburg. Salzburg Cathedral is to the south and the Alte Residenz is to the west. At the center, the Residenzbrunnen fountain carries a Triton statue on top.

Salzburger Dom

Saint Rupert (first Bishop of Salzburg) founded the cathedral in 774. In 1181, Prince-Archbishop Raitenau rebuilt it in the Baroque style with twin towers and copper dome.

Festungsbahn

The funicular railway connects the Old Town with the fortress. The journey only takes a minute. After emerging from the smooth ride of the sloping tube, the view from the hilltop does not disappoint.

MUST SEES: MELK

Danube Cruise

Take a scenic cruise through the beautiful countryside of the Wachau Valley along the Danube River from Krems to Melk. Highlights include Dürnstein with its blue tower and the hilly perch of Kuenringer Castle where Leopold imprisoned Richard the Lionheart.

Melk Abbey

On a massive rock, Melk Abbey assumes a commanding position at the edge of the Danube. Jakob Prandtauer designed the Baroque Benedictine abbey. Beneath an octagonal dome, the beautiful abbey is dripping with gold leaf, frescoes, marble, and spiral staircases.

MUST SEES: BADEN

Beethoven

Beethoven lived in Baden for a time. It must have inspired him because he composed the Ninth Symphony here.

Trinity Column

Baden raised this Baroque monument at the center of the Hauptplatz in the Zentrum. Plague columns (pestsäule) remind the community of those who died as well as those who survived.

FOOD

Wiener Schnitzel

This national dish consists of a thinly sliced veal cutlet, coated in breadcrumbs, and pan-fried in rich lard.

Tafelspitz

Tafelspitz is sliced top round of beef boiled with root vegetables and spices in a beef broth. It’s served with roasted slices of potato, minced apples, and horseradish mixed with chives.

Sachertorte

Experience elegant Viennese coffeehouse culture at Café Sacher. The famous Sachertorte is a dense chocolate cake with chocolate icing and layers of apricot jam in the center.

Käsekrainer

If you need a quick bite to eat, find a würstelstand. Order sausages or hot dogs stuffed in a hollow bun. Käsekrainer is the star of the stand. It is a pork sausage with small chunks of melted cheese. Order like a local by asking for a pus-filled hunchback.

Marillenknödel

This is a small dumpling filled with an apricot and coated with powdered sugar.

Wurstsemmel

Try this popular snack at a deli. This is a bread roll containing sliced meat or sausage. Get it with leberkäse, which is baked beef, pork, and bacon with spices.

Mozartkugel

A Mozartkugel is a round truffle with a tender core of pistachio paste, nougat, marzipan, and covered with dark chocolate.

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