Where to Go in Austria Based on Your Personality

Vienna’s impressive artistic and musical heritage, historic architecture and cosy coffee houses make it a popular city
Vienna’s impressive artistic and musical heritage, historic architecture and cosy coffee houses make it a popular city | © trabantos / Shutterstock
Culture Trip

Austria has many different faces, from the sophisticated suave character of the capital, with its coffee houses and strong cultural scene, to the rugged mountainous landscapes of Styria and Salzburg. Depending on whether you are passionate about your wine or love to get in touch with nature, here are our recommendations for the best places in Austria for you.

For coffee connoisseurs – Vienna

If, like many, you can’t stand to be awake without being close to a caffeinated drink, where better to travel to than Europe’s capital of coffee, Vienna? The suave city has endured a long-running love affair with espressos, since way before hipsters got their hands on them and flat whites became ubiquitous. Although the city is most renowned for its antiquated coffee houses, with their smoky interiors and snooty tuxedo-clad waiters, there has also been an influx of trendy third-wave coffee shops popping up in recent years. Whichever experience you decide upon, this city welcomes caffeine junkies with open arms.

A typical Viennese-style coffee

For winter sports junkies – St Anton

Smothered in snow

1. For artsy introverts – Graz

Vienna certainly has a lot to offer by way of culture, but quieter types may prefer sleepy Graz, which has in the past been hailed as the capital’s cooler cousin. Bookworms and artsy visitors will be charmed by the former European Capital of Culture, with its low-key yet intriguing cultural scene, charming renaissance architecture and lively student crowd for when things get too tranquil. There is no place better to catch a glimpse of Graz’s art scene than the Kunsthaus. This striking, bulbous building sticks out like a sore thumb on the banks of the River Mur. Nicknamed by locals as ‘the friendly alien’, the gallery is not just an innovative exhibition space, but also one of the country’s most curious pieces of architecture. Alternatively, the Austrian Sculpture Park, located just outside the city, is perfect for those who would like to combine culture with the great outdoors.

Interactive sculpture park | © Österreich Werbung / kriskulakova

For foodies and wine connoisseurs – wine country

If you look beyond the city skyline, you’ll notice that Vienna is hugged by rolling hills that are decorated with vineyards. Austrian wine is among the most underrated in Europe, and is often snubbed in favour of French or Italian varieties. Vienna Wine Hiking Day, held in the autumn of each year, takes you around the picturesque countryside that surrounds the city, with various pit stops along the way at Heuriger taverns – cosy places that serve local wine in the cellar or kitchen. Grüner Veltliner is an absolute must-try.

White and red wines in Galicia

For hikers – everywhere!

Austria’s scenic countryside and mountainous landscapes make for some epic and beautiful wanderings. Some of the country’s rural holiday destinations offer awe-inspiring hikes, with many well-established routes. From challenging Alpine climbs and epic hills to lush national parks, there are trails of every level to suit everyone. There are also many rewards to reap when you reach the peak of the mountain or the end of the trail: wonderfully cosy inns offering culinary delights and quaint accommodation for those brave enough to attempt long-distance hikes.

Aerial view

For those who love to chill – Styria

Those who seek therapeutic waters to escape the daily grind should seriously consider sampling spas in Styria. Steaming outdoor pools, reviving steam rooms and cosy sauna cabins – Austria’s spas are havens taking you away away from the hustle and bustle. If you are also of an artsy persuasion, consider the Rogner Bad Blumau in the region, which has a wonderfully surreal facade courtesy of Friedensreich Hundertwasser, the architect behind many weird yet wonderful buildings in the capital.

Take the plunge

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

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