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Vienna -

Honestly, you could spend a week in Vienna and tick off just a fraction of the city's historic visitor attractions. But there are a handful of must-sees you really should make an effort to catch. One of these is the beautiful and spectacular Hofburg Palace.

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Sisi Museum -

Within the palace is a museum devoted to the Empress Elizabeth of Austria, affectionately known as Sisi. Her apartment is as she left it after leaving for Geneva on vacation. On September 10, 1898, Sisi was assassinated in the Swiss city by Italian anarchist Luigi Lucheni.

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Spanish Riding School of Vienna -

A highlight of any visit to the Austrian capital is to take in a show of equestrian excellence at the world-famous Spanish Riding School. But make sure you book online well in advance.

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Schönbrunn Palace -

Vienna's landmark Schönbrunn Palace once served as the summer residence of the Habsburg rulers. Completed in the early 1700s, the Rococo palace is one of the most important architectural, cultural, and historic monuments in the country, if not Europe, and deserving of its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Schönbrunn Palace interior -

Schönbrunn became the summer residence of Empress Maria Theresa, and the opulent interior befits its illustrious resident. The dazzling Hall of Mirrors, with its gold Rococo-framed mirrors, will take your breath away.

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Vienna Grand Ferris Wheel -

For an uplifting diversion, take a flight on the Wiener Riesenrad, Vienna's famous Ferris wheel. Inaugurated in 1897, it was the world's tallest big wheel until 1985 and certainly remains one of the most historic. The revolving attraction has featured in numerous movies.

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Sigmund Freud Museum -

Feeling in need of a spot of cultural therapy? Head for the Sigmund Freud Museum. Dedicated to the life and work of the Austrian neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis, the rooms where Freud produced the majority of his writings have been lovingly preserved, including the waiting room (pictured) of his former clinic.

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Belvedere Palace -

Vienna isn't short on palaces, and the magnificent Belvedere Palace should also be on your city sightseeing itinerary. Built as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy and completed in 1723, the palace represents one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in the city.

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Belvedere Palace interior -

This important historic site is divided into the Upper (Oberes) and Lower (Unteres) Palaces. The Upper Palace is arguably the more impressive, winning with its marble-clad halls and impressive Ceremonial Staircase.

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St. Stephen's Cathedral -

The most important religious building in Vienna is the 16th-century St. Stephen's Cathedral. Its multi-colored tile roof mosaic is quite unique. After appreciating the 18 altars in various chapels that characterize the interior, head to the Watch Room at the top of the south tower for Instagram-worthy city views.

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Salzburg -

Beyond Vienna, Austria unfolds as a romantic landscape of jaw-dropping beauty. Epitomizing this scenic splendor is medieval Salzburg. Its collection of Baroque abbeys and churches, and its cathedral and castle, is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Old Town -

Salzburg's Old Town highlights include St. Peter's Abbey and its church, and Mirabell Palace—both used as filming sites for the endearing Hollywood classic 'The Sound of Music' (1965).

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Mozart's birthplace -

Make time to explore the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Located at No. 9 Getreidegasse, the house-museum exhibits the  composer's childhood violin as well as portraits, documents, and early editions of his music. The outstanding musical instrument here is the clavichord on which he composed 'The Magic Flute,' in 1791.

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Innsbruck Hofburg -

An internationally renowned winter sports center, Innsbruck is also known as the city where Emperor Maximilian I, who reigned in the late 1400s and early 1500s, chose to seat the Hapsburg government. His palace, the sumptuous Innsbruck Hofburg, stands as one of Europe's great royal residence buildings.

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Hofkirche -

The city's Hofkirche, or Court Church, is where Maximilian was laid to rest. His magnificent marble cenotaph is lined with a guard of honor comprising figurines representing the finest work of German Renaissance sculpture.

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Goldenes Dachl -

Wandering through Innsbruck's Old Town, look out and up for the Goldenes Dachl, the famous Golden Roof. Considered the city's most iconic symbol, it's decorated with 2,657 fire-gilded copper tiles that positively shimmer on a bright, sunny day.

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Melk Abbey -

The Benedictine Abbey at Melk is certainly worth exploring. Its spectacular location, set on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube river, sets the scene for the treasures inside.

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Melk Abbey interior -

Melk Abbey contains the tomb of Saint Coloman of Stockerau and the remains of several members of the House of Babenberg, Austria's first ruling dynasty. The resplendent Imperial Corridor with its portraits of Austria's rulers stops you in your tracks. The monastery's scriptorium was once a major site for the production of illuminated manuscripts: in his 1980 novel 'The Name of the Rose,' Umberto Eco named one of the protagonists "Adso of Melk" as a tribute to the abbey and its famous library.

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Dachstein Salzkammergut -

Austria's interior encompasses some of Europe's most dramatic and imposing mountain scenery. The country's Dachstein/Salzkammergut region is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Landscape Site. The area is simply breathtaking to behold any time of year, but is particularly striking in the fall.

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Hallstatt - At the core of this scenic destination is Hallstatt. Set on the sparkling Hallstätter See, this picture-perfect village is a tourist hot spot. It's also known for its production of salt, an industry that dates back to prehistoric times.

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Salzwelten and Rudolfsturm Tower -

In fact, you can visit Salzwelten, a salt mine complex outside Hallstatt, by taking a funicular to the mine's entrance. The ride also gets you to Rudolfsturm Tower, where a viewing platform affords an astonishing panorama of the lake below and the surrounding mountains.

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Burg Hochosterwitz -

Dramatically perched on a lofty, craggy dolomite rock near the town of Sankt Veit an der Glan, Hochosterwitz Castle is one of Austria's most impressive medieval fortifications. A major tourist attraction, the castle is best reached by vehicle, the steep winding road negotiating no less than 14 defensive gates.

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Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse -

The highest surfaced mountain pass road in Austria is the daunting Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse. The route from Bruck, in the Pinzgau, to Heiligenblut, follows the path of an old Roman road. To drive it is to experience one of the most exhilarating highways in Europe.

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Klosterneuburg Abbey -

Travel north of Vienna and pay a visit to Klosterneuburg Abbey. Dating back to 1114, the monastery preserves a truly remarkable artifact, the Verdun Altar (pictured). Arguably the finest example of medieval champlevé enamel work found anywhere, the altar's three parts comprise 45 gilded copper panels depicting biblical scenes.

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Maria Saal Cathedral -

There are several good reasons for making the effort to explore Maria Saal Cathedral in Austria's Carinthia state. Built on the foundations of a Roman basilica, it was while remodeling during the Renaissance and Baroque periods that the cathedral gave up one of its most compelling secrets: a Roman-era stone relief depicting in fine detail a postal wagon and dated back to 300 CE. During the time of the Roman province Noricum, its capital Virunum stood on and around this spot.

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Krimml Waterfalls -

Austria's natural wonders never cease to amaze. Travel to the delightful little village of Krimmi and then hike the short distance to the Krimml Waterfalls, at 380 m (1,247 feet) the tallest waterfall in the country.

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Eisriesenwelt -

Eisriesenwelt translates into English as "World of the Ice Giants." And it's an apt description for the largest system of ice caves in the world. Located in Werfen south of Salzburg, the caves are found on the western edge of the Tennengebirge mountains.

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"Entrance to hell" -

The caves were thought to be the entrance to hell, according to Austrian legend. The interior extends 45 km (27 mi) into Tennengebirge's belly and is visited by around 200,000 people every year. Note that Eisriesenwelt is open from May 1 to October 26 every year. 

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Graz -

The second-largest city in Austria after Vienna, Graz boasts one of the best-preserved historic hubs in Central Europe, a cluster of structures worthy of their UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

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Landeszeughaus -

Allow a couple of days to absorb the city's wealth of visitor attractions, places like the Landeszeughaus, the Styrian armory. This is the world's largest historic arsenal holding approximately 32,000 pieces of weaponry, tools, and suits of armor—for men and horses.

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Kitzbühel -

One of Austria's premier ski resorts, Kitzbühel glistens in winter. The destination boasts more than 170 km (105 mi) of skiable pistes, suitable for novices as well as more seasoned exponents.

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Kitzbuheler Horn -

The mountain to own is the 1,996-m (6,548 ft) Kitzbüheler Horn. Served by several cable cars and gondola lifts, the peak is a majestic run, with mountain inns on its slopes to provide refreshments along the way.

Sources: (History) (Britannica) 

See also: The best ski resorts for families

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