Across the Austrian Alps
Austria
The great Austrian crossing from Tyrol to Vienna, from Innsbruck's Golden Roof and Habsburg legacy, over the Brenner Pass and through the Salzkammergut's lake district (where Hallstatt gave its name to the Iron Age), into the Baroque splendour of Salzburg (Mozart, the Sound of Music, the Salzburg Festival) and finally the imperial grandeur of Vienna. Austria's full cultural and natural range in one drive.
Explore on the interactive map →Stops along the route
- Innsbruck
Tyrolean capital ringed by Alps. The Golden Roof's 2,657 gilded tiles and Nordkette cable car rising to 2,334m define the city.
- Kufstein
Inn Valley fortress town on the Bavarian border. The 13th-century Kufstein Fortress rises sheer above the river on a granite outcrop.
- Salzburg
Mozart's birthplace, UNESCO baroque old town. Hohensalzburg Fortress looms over the Getreidegasse and the Salzach River.
- Hallstatt
UNESCO lakeside village inhabited since 7000 BC. Iron Age salt mines above and a bone ossuary of 1,200 painted skulls below the church.
- Linz
Upper Austria's capital on the Danube. The Ars Electronica Center and a hilltop baroque pilgrimage church mark the transition to the Wachau.
- Melk Abbey
Baroque monastery perched on a Danube promontory since 1089. Its gilded library holds 100,000 volumes above the Wachau wine terraces.
- Vienna
Habsburg imperial capital. The Ringstrasse, Klimt's Kiss at the Belvedere, Stephansdom, and legendary coffee houses reward the final stretch.
Where to Eat
- St. Peter StiftskulinariumAustrian
One of Europe's oldest restaurants, offering traditional Austrian dishes in a historic monastery setting.
- Gasthof ZaunerAustrian
Family-run inn serving local specialties like fresh fish from Lake Hallstatt in a cozy atmosphere.
- Pöstlingberg SchlösslEuropean
Elegant restaurant atop Pöstlingberg hill, offering panoramic views of Linz and gourmet European cuisine.
- FiglmüllerAustrian
Renowned for its oversized Wiener Schnitzel, this Vienna institution has been serving since 1905.
Things to Do
- Kufstein FortressHistoric Site
Medieval fortress offering panoramic views of Kufstein and housing the world's largest outdoor organ.
- Salzwelten HallstattMuseum
Explore the world's oldest salt mine with underground slides and a subterranean lake.
- Ars Electronica CenterMuseum
Futuristic museum in Linz showcasing interactive exhibits on technology, science, and art.
- Schönbrunn PalaceHistoric Site
Baroque palace in Vienna with opulent rooms, vast gardens, and the world's oldest zoo.