1 week Austria Itinerary
Have you decided to take a trip to Austria on your next vacation?
You’ve come to the right place, we’ve prepared a one-week Austria itinerary for you to see some of the most beautiful cities!
Discover Vienna, Salzburg, Hallstatt and Graz and visit some unmissable places of interest such as Melk Abbey or the Salzkammergut lakes.
Follow all our steps to visit Austria in 6, 7 or 8 days. Also find our selection of the best accommodation for each city as well as our tips and advice to make your stay easier.
So what to do and see in 1 week in Austria?
Table of Contents
Day 1-3: Vienna
To start your week-long Austria itinerary, the easiest way is to land in Vienna. The capital of Austria is the best connected city in the country.
Depending on your arrival time, I advise you to go directly to your hotel to drop off your luggage and rest. You can take a first stroll around the neighborhood to immerse yourself in the Austrian atmosphere.
The next day, for your first full day of sightseeing, I recommend starting with Vienna’s main tourist spot, Schönbrunn Palace.
This magnificent Baroque building is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During your visit, you will be able to discover the state rooms and the imperial apartments of this building which was once the summer residence of the Habsburgs.
Schönbrunn Palace is also famous for its huge and very beautiful park, a very pleasant place to walk.
If you are interested, you can also visit the greenhouse, the zoological garden (tickets on sale here!) or the Imperial Coach Museum of Vienna, all of which are located within or near the castle. All these activities are to be paid in addition to the entrance ticket to the castle.
There is also a guided tour of Schönbrunn Palace including access to the interior and gardens.
Tips for your Austria itinerary:
The visit to Schonbrunn Palace is also included if you buy the Vienna Pass which gives priority access to a number of monuments and also allows you to take the hop-on hop-off tourist buses.
This is simply the best pass to visit Vienna during your week in Austria!
At the end of the morning, join the Naschmarkt, the permanent market of Vienna. It is the ideal place to have lunch on good fresh and local products.
Then continue the day by the Karksplatz to see the Church of Saint-Charles-Borromée. I also recommend that you enter to live a rather unique experience in a church!
You can take a panoramic lift to admire the ceiling frescoes up close. Personally, I had never seen that in a church and it is quite surprising.
For the rest of the afternoon, a leisurely stroll in the historic center of Vienna to discover the main tourist monuments such as the Opera or the Rathaus, Vienna’s town hall.
And to end the day in style, go to St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna or Stephansdom. Climb the 343 steps of the tower to enjoy an exceptional panorama of the whole city. Preferably at sunset!
And to be sure not to wait too long in the queue and miss this moment, I strongly advise you to buy your ticket in advance here.
For your second day of visiting Vienna, head to the Vienna Riding School. And there you say to yourself “horse riding” but what is he talking about, not very Austrian all that? Don’t worry you won’t have to ride a horse, just watch and admire
Every morning, this institution, recognized worldwide in the art of horse training, opens its doors to spectators to attend the training session.
In addition to the show, the venue where the session takes place, the Imperial Winter Ride, is definitely worth a visit!
To attend the training, if you have the Vienna Pass it is included, otherwise you must reserve your places in advance.
For the rest of the morning, I suggest you visit the Hofburg Palace. Like Schönbrunn Palace , the palace served as the residence of the Austrian imperial family, but only during the winter period.
The visit will allow you to see the bedrooms or the working room of the emperor.
There is also a part of the imperial palace which houses the museum of Sissi the Empress and an impressive collection of silverware. Everything is included in the entrance ticket that you can get directly here.
The Vienna Pass also gives you access to the palace.
Then, for the afternoon program, take a tour through the largest Baroque library in Europe, the Austrian National Library. The state room, with its 200,000 ancient volumes, is splendid.
Admission is free with the Vienna Pass.
Then, visit the Albertina Museum. You can admire an important collection of works by Monet and Picasso as well as 20 ceremonial rooms, all recently restored.
Included with the Vienna Pass, otherwise tickets can be purchased in advance.
If you don’t feel like spending the afternoon indoors, you can also replace one of the 2 previous visits with a small cruise on the Danube.
The most classic is the 1 hour outing that you can book by clicking here.
Finally, to end the day, I suggest you go to the Prater, Vienna’s large public park. Do not hesitate to take a ride on the Ferris wheel, one of the symbols of the city and the best way to witness the sunset over all of Vienna.
You can buy your tickets directly here.
And if you’re not a big fan of rides or are a bit dizzy, I recommend a softer but equally classic option in Vienna, go to an opera or a classical music concert.
Several venues such as the Staatsoper (Vienna Opera), the Musikverein, the Volksoper or the Orangery of Schönbrunn Palace offer this type of show at various prices:
- Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at the Musikverein
- A concert of 30 musicians from the Mozart orchestra in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein
- Ticket for a concert at Schonbrunn Palace
- A classical music concert in the magnificent baroque church of St. Peter in Vienna
- A classical music concert given by a string quartet at Sainte-Anne church
- A performance of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at Saint-Charles-Borromée Church
- Mozart and Strauss concert at the Vienna Kursalon with musicians, singers and dancers
- A concert by the Vienna Residence Orchestra, one of the best chamber orchestras in the world, in the Auersperg Palace.
One of the unforgettable experiences to have during this week-long stay in Austria.
To have a complete list of things to do and see in Vienna, it is in our article to read here: Visit Vienna.
Tips for your Austria itinerary:
To visit Vienna in 2 days, I advise you to get the Vienna Pass.
Access to all of Vienna’s main monuments and museums is included, as well as unlimited Hop-On Hop-Off bus transport.
Accommodation in Vienna
- Wombat’s CITY Hostels Vienna – Naschmarkt : Hostel next to the Naschmarkt. Bed in dormitory from € 18, breakfast € 4.90. Pros: the ideal location to reach the main points of interest on foot, cleanliness, spacious rooms, good breakfast.
- Debo Apartments Schönbrunner Strasse : Ideally located between Schönbrunn Palace and the Naschmarkt market. All apartments are modern, spacious, bright and composed of a living room, a bedroom and a fully equipped kitchen. Night from 45 € (provide 30 € extra for the cleaning fee per stay). Most: the situation with subway and shops nearby, the cleanliness and size of the apartments. Even with the cleaning fee, it’s still a great choice for a cheap stay in Vienna.
- Urban Stay Hotel Columbia : Hotel located just 5 minutes walk from City Hall. Modern double room, comfortable and cozy from € 100 a night, breakfast included. Goodies: the location to visit Vienna on foot, friendly and welcoming staff, varied and hearty breakfast with good local products. This is our favorite in Vienna for its benefit / price ratio!
- The Harmonie Vienna : 4 * Hotel located 10 minutes walk from the city center. Comfortable room, design and warm from 180 € per night, breakfast included. The most: the comfort of the rooms, the excellent breakfast, the atmosphere and the calm of the hotel, the tea and the cupcakes in the late afternoon, the geographical situation. To make you a little pleasure in a beautiful hotel, I highly recommend you book at The Harmonie!
I then propose a small selection of apartments that I could not separate because quite similar in terms of characteristics and budget. Prices vary between 110 and 140 € per night, cleaning fees included. They are all modern, fully equipped and very well located.
- Vienna Mariahilfer Apartment: 70m² for just € 110 a night.
- Apartments Spittelberg Gardegasse : from 120 € the night.
- HeyMi Apartments in City Center : several apartments all more beautiful than each other, from 130 € per night. Big favorite for their benefit / price!
- HeyMi Apartments Opernring : Same chain as before, but in a different neighborhood.
Day 4-5: Salzburg
For the second stage of this 6, 7 or 8 day Austria itinerary, I will take you to Salzburg.
For that, you will have to rent a car, clearly the fastest way to get around during this week-long road trip to Austria. In addition it allows stops on the road to visit some places that you would not have seen by taking the train for example.
Once you have your car rental (rent it preferably at the airport, it’s easier for the return), take the road to Salzburg. It takes about 3 hours 15 minutes from Vienna to Salzburg.
On the way, I recommend 3 stops to visit some of the most beautiful sites and natural landscapes to see in Austria:
1) At 1h20 from Vienna, you will pass by the famous Abbey of Melk.
Overlooking the Danube on its rocky outcrop, you cannot miss it. I recommend that you take the time to visit it, in particular so as not to miss its huge library, which is world famous. The place is just superb.
Outside, you will enjoy a view of the Danube and its surroundings.
2) Before arriving in Salzburg, about 1h15 from Melk, you will also pass through the Salzkammergut lake region, renowned for its magnificent alpine lakes. Certainly one of the most beautiful Austrian landscapes.
Stop first at Lake Attersee, the largest in Austria. Then continue to Lake Mondsee, a very well-developed lake suitable for water activities.
You can easily spend an afternoon in the area and take the opportunity to picnic and hike around.
You thus arrive in Salzburg at the end of the day.
The next day, for the rest of your 1-week Austria itinerary, the day will be entirely devoted to visiting Salzburg.
Begin the morning by ascending to Hohensalzburg Fortress, the city’s iconic landmark. Serving to protect the principality and the archbishops from attacks, it is one of the best preserved fortified castles in all of Europe.
You can buy your entrance ticket for the fortress in advance by clicking here! Otherwise the entrance is included with the Salzburg Card that I mention in the Tips for your Austria itinerary: advice.
To reach it you can choose the sporty option by climbing the hill on foot, or the softer option by taking the funicular from Festungsgasse street. This option also allows you to enjoy a nice view during the climb.
In the fortress you can visit:
- The golden room and the golden room, both equipped with very beautiful wooden sculptures
- The dungeons and the torture chamber for the sinister version
- The Festungmuseum, a museum devoted to the life of the prince-archbishops
- The Rainermuseum and its collection of Austrian weapons
At the exit of the fortress, go down again passing by the Abbey of Nonnberg, about ten minutes on foot. The place is famous worldwide for having served as a model for the very popular film “The Sound of Music”. It is here that the heroine Maria was a novice before marrying Mr le Baron!
Fans of the film will know what I’m talking about! Every day, guided tours of the city are organized to follow in the footsteps of the film’s location. For amateurs, I put the link right here.
After this short film-lover’s interlude, head back to the historic center of Salzburg to visit the DomQuartier, a very touristy cultural attraction in the city.
The entrance ticket to the Dom (to be purchased here!) gives you access to several historical sites such as the Church of Saint-Pierre, the residence of the prince-archbishops and the cathedral. A great way to combine visiting the city and learning more about its history.
After a well-deserved lunch break following a busy morning, I then recommend that you go to 9 Getreidegasse street. Here you will find Mozart’s birthplace, which has now been transformed into a museum. If you are interested, you can of course visit it (it is included with the Salzburg card).
At the exit, do not hesitate to take a walk on Getreidegasse to admire its traditional houses and the wrought iron signs of the shops, an originality of the street.
It is also the ideal place to do some shopping or have a drink.
End your day in Salzburg by discovering Mirabell Castle and especially by strolling through its sumptuous gardens. You can reach it by following Getreidegasse street.
The gardens offer a grand view of the city and the cathedral. You can admire many fountains, the rose garden, the orangery or even the dwarf garden made up of white marble garden dwarfs, rather unusual, isn’t it?
And if even after all that, you want to see even more things in Salzburg, check out our article: Top 17 must-see places in Salzburg.
Tips for your Austria itinerary:
To visit Salzburg in 1 day, buy your Salzburg Card directly here.
All the places I told you about in this itinerary are included in it. This will allow you to make great savings.
6 days in Austria
If you do not have a full week in Austria but 6 days, at the end of your 2 nights spent in Salzburg, the next day, you will have to make the trip back to Vienna.
Accommodation in Salzburg
- Stadtalm Naturfreundehaus : Youth hostel located near the Salzburg Museum of Modern Art. Bed in dormitory from € 25, breakfast included. The access is not very easy because at the top of a hill and the rooms are a little small but the view against, is extraordinary. This is the best price for a hostel in Salzburg. The others start at 50 €, which is a bit expensive for a bed in dormitory.
- Motel One Salzburg-Süd : Hotel located 4km from the center of Salzburg. A bus stop right in front of you will allow you to get to the center in just 10 minutes (and remember, with the Salzburg Card it’s free). Spacious and modern double room from 80 € per night, breakfast at 9.5 €. The most: the quiet location, the comfort of bedding, the excellent breakfast. This is our heart stroke for its benefit / price ratio.
- H + Hotel Salzburg : Located a 15-minute walk from Mirabell Castle. Modern and comfortable double room from 120 € per night, breakfast 17 €. Most: the breakfast room overlooking the mountains, the comfort of beds, shops and restaurants nearby.
- Altstadt Hotel Stadtkrug : Small, typical hotel located in the very heart of Salzburg’s old town and the pedestrian area (so no car noise!). Comfortable double room with typical Austrian charm from 190 € per night, breakfast included. The most: the central location for everything to visit on foot, the very friendly staff, the very good bedding, the excellent quality breakfast and hearty, the terrace for dinner on the roof and enjoy the view.
Day 6: Hallstatt
For the third stage of this week-long Austria itinerary, take the road to reach Hallstatt, located about 1h20 by car.
Hallstatt is a very small village, considered one of the most beautiful in Europe and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a real postcard setting!
The price of success is that it is really very touristy and you will have to share the place with a lot of people, including many Chinese tourists! They found it so charming that they even created a replica in southern China.
Start by walking around the village and do not hesitate to venture into the small alleys and climb the various stairs.
Also go see the Catholic Church whose cemetery offers a lovely view of the lake below.
You can also visit a rather amazing place: the ossuary. It contains hundreds of decorated skulls of those who died in Hallstatt.
We bury people normally, then after about ten years, we come to take the skull to expose it. This tradition is still perpetrated in Hallstatt.
After visiting the village, I advise you to go to the Hallstatt Skywalk. You can go there on foot (it’s quite a climb but it’s not too difficult) or take the funicular. Arriving at the top, the panorama over Hallstatt and the surrounding area is breathtaking!
For the afternoon, I propose 2 programs according to your desires:
1. For the quiet version
Visit the oldest salt mine in the world, located near the Skywalk.
Enter the mines and discover one of the main tourist activities to do in Hallstatt. After your visit, head back down to Hallstatt and take the opportunity to take a lakeside walk or a short cruise.
2. For the slightly sportier version
After going up to the Skywalk, walk back down to Hallstatt and get back in the car to drive a few miles away to Obertaun.
The village is the starting point for visiting the ice caves of the Dachstein massif. You will also need to take a cable car to get there.
There are 2 caves: the giant ice cave and the mammoth cave.
You can choose to visit one or both. Count about 1 hour of visit for each.
Then, take the cable car back to the second landing to reach “The 5 Fingers”, a viewing platform clinging to a 400 meter high cliff! Needless to say, the view is just incredible over the massif and Lake Hallstattersee below.
You can find more information in our article: Top Things to Do and See in Hallstatt.
Accommodation in Hallstatt
Hallstatt is a very small village and moreover, ultra tourist, you can well imagine that there is not so much accommodation and that the prices are quite high. So I suggest you book your accommodation in Hallstatt now!
- Heritage Hotel Hallstatt : Hotel located in the historic center of Hallstatt. Modern and bright double room from 190 € per night, breakfast 17 €. Most: the location just in front of the pier for boats (practice if you have luggage), the calm, the size of the rooms.
- Fenix Hall: Double room combining a rustic and modern decor from 200 € per night, including breakfast. The most: the comfort of the place, the very friendly welcome and the good advice of the owner, the location. It’s our heart stroke for its benefit / price ratio!
- Wallner Apartments: Large modern apartments, very clean and fully equipped! One of them even offers a superb view of the lake. From 210 € the night. Pros: location, free private parking (very convenient to Hallstatt!), Availability of the host.
- Seehotel Grüner Baum : Hotel located in the historic pedestrian center of Hallstatt. Double room warm, comfortable and spacious from 300 € per night, breakfast included. The most: the location, the lake view rooms, the lakeside terrace, the beautiful surroundings, the excellent breakfast, the quality of the welcome. It’s simply the best hotel for an upscale stay in Hallstatt.
Accommodation in Obertraun
If you do not have as much money to spend on a hotel night or if all the hotels in Hallstatt are already booked, I recommend staying in Obertraun, a pretty village on the lake and only 10 minutes away. by carfrom Hallstatt.
In addition, from Obertraun you can also take the river shuttle to Hallstatt. It’s fast, cheap and you’ll enjoy a boat trip on the lake!
- Haus Marie: Suites and apartments with views of the Dachstein Massif from 90 € per night. The most: the view, the free private parking, large garden with barbecue and picnic area, spacious accommodation, welcoming guests.
- W & S Executive Apartments – Obertraun: Located 2km from the lake, in Obertraun. All apartments include a seating area, a kitchenette and a private balcony. They are very well equipped with even washing machine and dishwasher. They are very modern and design. From 95 € per night + 25 € cleaning fee per stay. It is a big heart stroke for their benefit / price ratio. I highly recommend you to sleep in Obertraun and visit Hallstatt easily!
- Seeblick Krippenstein: Hotel offering double rooms recently renovated and therefore modern and comfortable from 100 € per night, breakfast included. Most: the view of the mountain, the location near the cable car to ice caves, good breakfast, very friendly owners.
- Dormio Resort Obertraun : Modern and fully equipped chalets from 130 € per night (price for 4 people!). Each one has a balcony and a terrace. The Dormio also features a wellness center with indoor pool, sauna, steam room and a large garden with children’s playground. This is the ideal place for a family holiday in Austria.
Day 7: Graz
After discovering Vienna, Salzburg and Hallstatt, now head for Graz for the penultimate stage of this 1-week Austria itinerary.
The journey between Hallstatt and Graz takes around 2h20. I therefore advise you to leave early in the morning to be able to enjoy a good day in Graz.
Arrived in Graz, start the visit with a climb to the Schlossberg, the hill overlooking the city. 3 options to get there: on foot, by lift or by funicular.
From up there you will have a beautiful panorama over the whole city and can see the 2 symbols of the city: the Clock Tower and the Bell Tower.
Then continue your morning with a stroll through the historic center of Graz.
Start at Hauptplatz, Graz’s main and liveliest square, then wander down Herrengasse.
Along the main shopping street you will find many shops, cafes, but also beautiful historic buildings such as the Gemaltes Haus or the Landhaus.
This is where you have to visit the must-see museum in Graz: the Landeszeughaus.
It presents the largest collection of weapons and armor in the world: 32,000 pieces on 4 floors! If you have already visited the Armory Royal in Turin, in Italy or the Palace of the Grand Masters in Valletta, in Malta, you have a small idea of what this can mean!
This is really THE visit that I recommend to you in Graz.
Leaving the Landeszeughaus, pass by the Saint-Gilles Cathedral in Graz and the Mausoleum of Emperor Ferdinand II, 2 places whose interior is worth a look.
After this morning of sightseeing in Graz, rich in discovery, and a good lunch break to regain your strength, I suggest you cross the Mur (the river of Graz) to get to the other bank.
To do this, go through the Murinsel, a kind of giant shell connecting the 2 banks. The artistic work was created in 2003 when Graz was elected European Capital of Culture. It is today one of the major curiosities of Graz.
You will arrive next to the most unique and futuristic architectural monument in Graz, the Kunsthaus, the museum of contemporary art.
Also created in 2003, its design is not unanimous with its blue color and its species of tentacles on the roof, but it is one of the things to see. If you are interested in this type of art, do not hesitate to visit it.
I cannot tell you about what you will be able to see there because the exhibitions are only temporary and last only 1 to 3 months. So it will be a surprise!
Finally, to finish visiting Graz in 1 day, go to Eggenberg Castle. Take tram line 1 to reach it, it is not located in the city center.
The castle was built according to a very specific logic, relating to time and seasons: 365 windows for every day of the year, 4 towers for the 4 seasons etc. Inside you can visit the famous room of the Planets or the old gallery.
There are also 2 museums: that of archeology and the cabinet of the Mint.
I also advise you to add a walk in the immense park of the castle (in addition to the visit of the interior for about 2€).
Find all our tips for visiting Graz in our article: Top Things to Do in Graz.
Accommodation in Graz
Like all cities in Austria, Graz is no exception to the rule and accommodation is quite expensive. So we can never repeat ourselves enough but book as soon as possible to avoid the best accommodations being taken!
- Hotel Daniel Graz: Located 10 minutes walk from the historic center. Modern and pleasant double room from €77 per night, breakfast at €25. Most: the geographical location, the good breakfast, the friendliness of the staff.
- Hotel Mercure Graz City: Located 400 meters from the clock tower. Spacious and comfortable double room from €100 per night, breakfast at €18. Most: the comfort of the rooms, the location, the quality of the breakfast.
- Hotel Weitzer Graz: Located in the heart of the old town. Spacious and well-equipped double room from €120 per night, breakfast at €25. The pluses: close to all places of interest, the hearty breakfast, the impeccable service.
- Augarten Art Hotel : Located 1km from the historic center. Tram station nearby to reach the center. Elegant and designer double room from €180, breakfast at €15. The pluses: the decoration of the hotel with numerous works of art, the comfort of the rooms, the swimming pool, the kindness and the availability of the staff. Our favourite, ideal for an upmarket stay in Graz.
Day 8: Back to Vienna
And here you are at the last stage of this 6-7-8 days Austria itinerary, it is unfortunately not the most interesting part because it is a question of joining Vienna. From Graz, it takes 2 hours.
Depending on the time of your return flight, go directly to the airport or take a last short trip to Vienna.
You still have things to see, including the MuseumsQuartier and the Capuchin crypt. You can also do some shopping on Kartnen and Graben streets, if you are missing some souvenirs.
Feel free to read my article with all the things to do in Vienna (click here) to learn more!
Tips for your Austria itinerary:
7 day itinerary in Austria
If you only have 7 days to visit Austria, you can skip stage 3 from Hallstatt or 4 from Graz as you wish .
Feel free to give your opinions and suggestions on our one-week Austria itinerary!
Are you going to Austria? Read also:
- Discover all our articles about Austria: all our articles about Austria are listed here.
- What to do in Austria? The TOP 20 things to do and see in Austria
- Itinerary: A week in Austria: Itinerary to prepare your trip to Austria
- Hallstatt: The 6 things to do during your stay
- Innsbruck: Top 15 places to visit
- Linz: The 12 places to see
- Salzburg: The 17 must-sees to visit
- Vienna: Top 25 Must-See Things