Road Trip to Austria: Routes, Tips & Hidden Gems

Austria is a country of mountains, rivers, and towns that seem straight out of a painting. Vienna shines with imperial grandeur, while Salzburg is alive with music from legendary composers like Mozart. Tyrol’s alpine villages are cozy and timeless, and lakes reflect the sky between rolling hills. Castles sit on cliffs, overlooking centuries of history. Vineyards in Lower Austria, deep valleys, and snow-capped peaks give the country a sense of quiet beauty and discovery. Cafés serve rich coffee and fresh pastries. Markets overflow with local flavors. Classical music drifts from concert halls into the streets. You can hike alpine trails, glide along the Danube River, or stroll streets lined with Baroque architecture. Austria is full of contrasts, majestic yet welcoming, lively yet calm. From grand palaces to peaceful mountain paths, from bustling squares to serene lakes, Austria offers something unique at everywhere you explore. Its landscapes, towns and traditions leave a lasting impression.

The Big Four

Largest ice cave on earth

Eisriesenwelt near Werfen stretches over 42 kilometers, making it the largest ice cave on Earth. You can explore halls filled with glittering ice formations and frozen sculptures. The cave has been attracting adventurers and nature lovers for over a century.

Home of the Alps

About 60 percent of Austria is covered by the Alps with snow-capped peaks, deep valleys and clear lakes. The mountains shape Austrian life and culture. Offering skiing in winter, hiking in summer and stunning views that draws visitors worldwide.

Birthplace of music legends

Austria gave the world legendary composers like Mozart, Beethoven and Strauss. Vienna’s concert halls and Salzburg’s streets still echo with their timeless music.

World famous souvenir

The snow globe was invented in 1900 by Erwin Perzy, a Viennese surgical instruments engineer. Once made as a paperweight with a miniature scene inside became a beloved souvenir around the world. Snow globes are sold everywhere, capturing miniature winter landscapes and famous landmarks.

Top road trips through Austria

Discover the best driving routes across Austria

The Scenic Route The Heritage Drive The Coastal Highway

Explore the regions

Burgenland

Cruise through a world of endless vineyards and flat plains where red tile villages lead you to the shores of Lake Neusiedl

Carinthia (Austria)

Navigate mountain passes to discover a sparkling landscape of warm turquoise lakes and high alpine peaks at the sunny southern edge of the Alps

Lower Austria

Follow the blue Danube through the terraced vines of the Wachau Valley and past grand forest abbeys that mark the historic heartland of the nation

Salzburg (state)

Drive from the baroque spires of a world famous music city into a dramatic wilderness of massive waterfalls and the world's largest ice caves

Styria

Wind your way through the green hills of the Austrian Tuscany where pumpkin fields and apple orchards meet the limestone cliffs of the north

Tyrol (state)

Conquer the high hairpins of the Grossglockner and the Brenner Pass in a land of white peaks and wooden alpine chalets tucked in deep valleys

Upper Austria

Explore the stunning lakes in the Hallstatt region and dense pine forests that hide the crystal clear rivers of the Mühlviertel hills

Vorarlberg

Discover cutting edge timber architecture hidden among the steep slopes and high meadows of the Bregenzerwald forest

Austria's history

Austria’s history goes back thousands of years. Celtic tribes settled here around 500 BC, and by 15 BC the Romans had built towns and roads in the region called Noricum. In the Middle Ages, the Babenbergs and later the Habsburgs ruled Austria. Building castles, palaces and churches that still stand today. Vienna became a center of music, art and politics. The Habsburgs also ruled Hungary, creating a large Central European empire that lasted until World War I in 1918. After the war, Austria became a republic and faced challenges in the 20th century. It was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938 but regained independence in 1945 and declared neutrality in 1955. From Celtic settlements to imperial palaces, Austria’s towns, mountains and rivers tell the story of a nation born out of a historic empire. You can see the past in castles, Baroque streets and Roman ruins while enjoying the country that it is today.