Although there are many incredible places to see in Austria, a Central European country to fall for at first sight with its dreamlike landscapes and fairytale palaces; and it would really be impossible to include all of them in a single list. Located on the imposing mountain range of the Alps, Austria is the perfect country to travel by car since this means of transport will give you the freedom to stop when and where you want, something essential in a country with so many natural viewpoints and beautiful medieval towns, many of them inaccessible by public transport. Here are 5 things Austria is famous for!

Vienna

Most routes through Austria start and end in the imperial city of Vienna or if you take a low cost flight, in neighboring Bratilava, located an hour from the capital. Located on the banks of the Danube and known as the city of classical music for being the birthplace of great composers such as Beethoven or Mozart, this is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, which we are sure will exceed all your expectations.

Melk Abbey

Leaning over a rocky crag and with excellent views of the Wachau Valley or the Danube, you will find the wonderful Melk Abbey, one of the best examples of Baroque and another of the most incredible places to see in Austria. Although the whole of the monastery is an essential traveler, the Collegiate or Abbey Church stands out and above all, its impressive library, where you will find more than 80,000 volumes and medieval manuscripts of incalculable value. Considered one of the best excursions from Vienna, being located just 80 kilometers from the capital, the visit to the abbey can be combined with a tour through the landscapes of vineyards, meadows and green forests of the Danube Valley, either in car, by boat or by bike, if you have several days.

Mauthausen

Although we cannot place it on the list of the most beautiful places to visit in Austria, we believe that the moving visit to the Mauthausen Concentration Camp is almost an obligation for all travelers who want to know first-hand the atrocities that happened there and which are to never be repeated again. Symbolic, along with Auschwitz (Poland), of Nazi barbarism, it is worth spending about 3 hours during the journey from Vienna to Salzburg, to remember the more than 100,000 innocent victims who were cruelly murdered in this concentration camp, one of the largest in Europe. During the visit, different rooms with memories and personal objects of the deceased are visited, as well as the cremation chambers, so the maximum respect and silence must be observed.

Salzburg

Salzburg, surrounded by the peaks of the Alps and the birthplace of Mozart, is one of the most beautiful cities to visit in Europe. Strolling through the narrow streets of the historic center, declared a World Heritage Site, enjoying palaces and buildings that recall its medieval past, is one of the best things to do in Austria.

Innsbruck

Before arriving in Innsbruck you can make a short stop in the surprising Wattens, where some of Swarovski’s most brilliant works are kept, and especially in the beautiful city Hall in Tirol. Although if you don’t have much time, nothing better than dedicating it all to the beautiful city of Innsbruck, capital of Tyrol, which has one of the most beautiful and best preserved old towns in Europe, as well as a natural environment of mountainous landscapes that will leave you speechless. After completing this list of places to see in Innsbruck and doing some hiking in the surroundings, nothing better than recharging your batteries by trying caloric Tyrolean food such as the famous innsbrucker gröstl dish.