Austria transports you back in time and there is no denying the fact. The country has kept intact it several cultural draw cards and laidback character even in the blind race of modernisation. And Austria has several attractions to keep travellers across ages engaged for few days. Austria of today may be a fraction of what was during the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The present Austrian capital has been seat of governance for the then Habsburgs rulers for close to seven centuries but remains of its impressive culture and tradition can still be found here. Due to these features demand for Austria flights always remains high. Here we acquaint you with top cities of Austria.
Vienna
Vienna, the capital of Austria, holds great, political, economic, historical and cultural significance that draws travellers with varying taste and experiences. The city which was seat of power for once mighty Habsburg Empire may not be a seat of royalty today but its capital status has still kept it significant. Besides other things, the city is well known for its artistic and cultural legacy as it has been linked to some of the greatest art geniuses like Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Strauss, and Gustav Klimt. They city may not be glamorous like London and Paris but what it offers is hard to find elsewhere. Being historical and cultural hub of the country Vienna is home to several landmarks. Albertina the Habsburg’s imperial apartments for guests are one among them which has now houses a collection of graphic art. Haus der Musik and Leopold Museum are other prominent attractions in the city.
Salzburg
The Austrian city of Salzburg is a hot favourite among the art lovers as they call it the Golden City of High Baroque. Several other sobriquets like ‘Florence of the North’ or the ‘German Rome’ are showered on it. But for music lovers its holds a special importance as it is the birthplace of the legendary composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. So it won’t be an exclamation if one says that there is music in Salzburg’s air. Besides music, there are rivers, fortresses and myriad tourist attractions to add spice to your visit.
Schloss Hellbrunn which is the summer palace of the Archbishops of Salzburg is a prominent attraction. Getreidegasse, a narrow street lined with shop, that runs parallel to the river is also a prominent landmark in the city. Hohensalzburg Fortress, Mozarts birth place, Mozarts Geburtshaus, Salzburg Museum, Toy Museum and Museum of Natural History are other prominent attractions. Apart from that there are several museums and art galleries that can be viewed.
Graz
Graz, the capital of province of Styria is the second largest city in Austria. The city is home to six universities and thus it houses no less than 50,000 students in its total population of 300,000. The city’s history dates back to roman times when a small fort was found where city centre is situated today. Later Slovenian founded a fort here. The city derives its name from the Slovenian world Gradec meaning small fort. Graz holds various attractions for the travellers and its historic old town has been declared a World Heritage site. The mannerist-Baroque Mausoleum of Emperor Ferdinand II is also a prominent landmark in the city. One should also visit the Double Spiral Staircase in the Burg that holds a historic importance. The Schlossberg castle which is situated atop a hill is prominent destination. Eggenberg Castle which is a fine specimen of early Baroque architecture is also a prominent landmark. If you want to know about the local history and culture of Styria, visiting Joanneum Museum of Styria could be a wise decision.
Linz
Situated on the banks of river Danube, Linz the capital province of Upper Austria is a city of great significance. The second major economic hub of Austria is tourist destination of repute that can be understood with the fact that tourists calls it "In Linz beginnt's" ("It starts in Linz"). The city of Linz has a sizable Old Town that further enhances its beauty. On your visit to the old parts of the city, you will come across rich cultural life and several museums. The city of Linz is renowned worldwide for annual Ars Electronica Festival an international festival for Electronic Art which is attended by a large number of delegates from the different parts of the world.
The travellers staying in the city has a large number of tourist attractions to explore. New Cathedral that can accommodate around 20,000 worshippers at a time is one of the most prominent attractions while Old Cathedral a 17th century church designed by Pietro Francesco Carlone is well known for its impressive architecture. Pöstlingbergkirche, a church dedicated to the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary, is one of the most prominent landmarks in the city of Linz. The spectacular location of the church makes it a popular wedding venue. St. Martin's Church that dates back to 799 is one of the oldest churches in Austria. Apart from these, the city has some impressive monuments and the 8th century Linz castle is one among them. Bischofshof which is the bishop's residence is one among them. The city of Linz is good destination for those with love for museums. Lentos, Ars Electronica Center, Castle Museum Linz and LinzGenesis and Museum of the History of Dentistry in Upper Austria are other prominent museums.
Eisenstadt, Bregenz, Klagenfurt and Innsbruck are other major cities that should also be part of your itinerary. Innsbruck, the capital of Tyrol, is famous for housing largest ski resorts in the Alps.