Vienna, Salzburg, Hallstatt, Graz: a week in Austria's most beautiful cities

Put your first morning in Vienna under the sign of music, and visit the Mozarthaus, Mozart's only preserved flat in Vienna, the one where he composed most of his music! In this three-storey flat converted into a museum, you will discover his major works. The emphasis is on the composer's Viennese years, which represent the apogee of his creative work. On the second floor, you can discover a multimedia installation devoted to The Magic Flute through a 3D exhibition.

The tour continues with a visit to the Haus der Musik (House of Music), an interactive sound museum dedicated to music.

Just a 10-minute walk from the Mozarthaus, it offers a new approach to music that is both playful and scientific. The museum is spread over several floors with distinct themes. The first floor is devoted to theVienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the second to discovering and experiencing sound phenomena, and the third to the great composers.

In the afternoon, take a stroll along Ringstrasse, a wide avenue lined with imposing buildings dating from the Habsburg era. Admire historic buildings such as the Austrian Parliament and the National Library. The latter is one of the most beautiful historic libraries in the world.

Leaving the library, cross Burggarten Park to reach the Vienna State Opera via Ringstrasse. You can visit it in the afternoon or attend a performance in the evening.

⭐ Where to stay in Vienna?

On your second day in Vienna, the focus is on history. Visit the Hofburg Palace, which houses the private flats and sumptuous state rooms of the former imperial family, the Habsburgs. The Habsburgs constantly extended their residence until it now covers more than 300,000 m2, making it one of the largest one-piece complexes in the world!

The afternoon is then devoted to Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna's largest palace and former summer residence of the Habsburgs. Explore the gardens and parks, admire the fountains and statues, and visit the interior of the palace to discover the life of the Austrian sovereigns.

Then take the underground to Kettenbrückengasse station, home to the famous Naschmarkt market. There you'll find plenty of fruit, vegetable and snack stands to tempt your taste buds.

Back in the city centre, you can visit the imperial crypt beneath theCapuchin church. Finally, to round off your day on a high note, why not make a stop by the Sacher café, to sample their famous tart of the same name, the Sachertorte.

⭐ Spend the night at the Hotel Sacher!

To round off your stay in Vienna, take a trip to the Hundertwasserhaus. This colourful and unusual building was designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser. With its irregular floors and lush vegetation, it does not conform to the usual standards ofscholastic architecture. And with good reason: Hundertwasser was inspired by the works of Antoni Gaudi and the Facteur Cheval. A real UFO in the Viennese landscape!

For an overview of Viennese art, pay a visit to the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, built in 1891 not far from the Imperial Palace to house the vast collections of the reigning family. With its countless masterpieces, it is now one of the world's leading museums.

In the afternoon, you'll be spoilt for choice in the MuseumsQuartier. This district of Vienna dedicated to the arts is home to no fewer than 70 cultural establishments. The Leopold Museum, the Museum of Modern Art (MUMOK), the Vienna Kunsthalle and many others await you... We'll let you choose this time!

We're now leaving beautiful Vienna for Salzburg, around 2hrs 45mins by train (3hrs 15mins by car). To feel the soul of Salzburg, take a stroll along Getreidegasse, the city's most emblematic avenue.

As you stroll along, take time to admire the many wrought-iron signs on the shop fronts. In days gone by, these were used to inform residents who couldn't read about the trades on the street: the baker, the cobbler, the inns... Today, even the department stores keep the tradition alive!

Not far from Getreidegasse, right in the heart of the old town and DomQuartier (the cathedral district), we recommend a visit to the Salzburg Residence. This is the former residence of the prince-archbishops, which has been transformed into a huge museum.

A tour of the residence takes in a number of magnificent and perfectly preserved ceremonial rooms. Depending on the time of day, it is possible to access the upper part of St Rupert's Cathedral in Salzburg, via a small footbridge that offers a sublime view of Domplatz and Residenzplatz.

The last part of the museum allows us to visit the residence gallery with its impressive collection of European painters from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

⭐ Where to stay in Salzburg?

The Mönchsberg hill is home to one of Salzburg's finest viewpoints. From the city centre, simply take the Mönchsberg lift (€2.90 per ride) located in Anton-Neumayr Square to reach the top in a matter of seconds. Once at the top, you have access to a panoramic terrace with breathtaking views of Salzburg and the Hohensalzburg Fortress.

From here, you can take the opportunity to visit the Museum of Modern Art, enthroned on the hill. Covering an area of 2,300 square metres, you can discover international exhibitions of contemporary and modern art. Visitors from all over the world are delighted by the uniquely styled exhibition rooms. There is also a panoramic restaurant inside.

Afterwards, take time to wander around the hill. It's a nature reserve with some lovely walks to be had. You can walk back down to Salzburg city centre. You'll arrive on Clemens-Holzmeister-Stiege, right in the city centre!

In the afternoon, a visit to the Hohensalzburg Fortress, the largest fully preserved castle in central Europe, is a must. From Salzburg city centre, take the FestungsBahn funicular up to the fortress.

Once up there, it's like discovering a small medieval village, with its ramparts, museums, little squares and mini-Christmas market. Deeply linked to the city's political history during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the fortress was a symbol of power and protection that has undergone numerous modifications.

Today it houses museums, a restaurant and also hosts concerts. It's a great place to visit if you want to learn more about Salzburg's history and have fun at the same time.

We're now heading for Hallstatt, a charming mountain village on the shores of Lake Hallstättersee, 73km from Salzburg. Allow around two hours by train with a connection, or 1h15 by car.

Known for its ossuary, Hallstatt is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its stilt houses nestling around the lake and its unique history. A veritable icon of Austrian tourism, the site has been inhabited since the first millennium BC.

While Hallstatt is first and foremost a town to be experienced and discovered on a stroll, don't hesitate to pay a visit to Museum Hallstatt, located in the heart of the village. Here you can learn about the history of the village from prehistoric times onwards, while discovering some very well-preserved archaeological finds.

To round off your knowledge of the village, you can continue your historical tour by heading to the salt mine (Salzwelten), a 9-minute walk from the museum.

⭐ Where to stay in Hallstatt?

Finish your last two days in Austria with a visit to the city of Graz, around 3 hours by train (with connections) or 2h30 by car. Less well known than Vienna, Salzburg or Innsbruck, the capital of Styria is a dynamic, authentic city, rich in Baroque and Renaissance heritage. Its old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the variety of its culinary scene makes it one of the best places to eat inAustria!

Continue your morning with a stroll through Graz's historic centre. Start at Hauptplatz, Graz's main and liveliest square, and stroll along Herrengasse.

Along the main shopping street you'll find numerous boutiques and cafés, as well as beautiful historic buildings such as the Gemaltes Haus and the Landhaus, a superb Renaissance palace that serves as the seat of the Styrian regional parliament. Don't miss the elegant inner courtyard with its three storeys of arcades. At nightfall, it is particularly photogenic.

Then take a climb up to the Schlossberg, the hill overlooking the town. There are three options for getting there: on foot, by lift or by funicular. From up there, you'll have a great view over the whole city and be able to see the two symbols of the city, the Clock Tower and the Bell Tower.

In the afternoon, you absolutely must visit the Arsenal Museum(Landeszeughaus). Built in the 17th century, when Austria was under threat from the Ottomans, it houses the largest collection of antique weapons in the world. Over four floors, you will see more than 32,000 weapons of all kinds: armour, halberds, muskets, harquebuses, swords, tournament harnesses for horses...

On your way out of the Landeszeughaus, stop off at Graz's St Giles Cathedral and the Mausoleum of Emperor Ferdinand II, both of which are well worth a visit.

To round off your stay in style, we suggest you cross the Mur, Graz's river, to the other bank. To do so, cross over to the Murinsel, a sort of giant shell linking the two banks. This artistic work was created in 2003 when Graz was elected European Capital of Culture. Today it is one of Graz's major sights.

⭐ Where to stay in Graz?