Austria road trip itinerary
Austria has always been on our bucket list, the beautiful mountainous region with it’s gorgeous lakes is just absolutely stunning.
Our Austria road trip itinerary takes us on a bucket list journey, visiting some of the most beautiful cities in the country.
The Sound of Music has also influenced this journey, we are huge fans! Our journey starts in Salzburg, before we make our way to Innsbruck, driving through the Austrian Alps on our way to Switzerland.
Austria is one of the most beautiful countries we’ve seen, and hope this Austria road trip itinerary inspires you to visit this gorgeous country.
*One thing to know before you set off on your road trip through Austria is to purchase a Vignette (Highway Toll sticker). You can easily purchase one at a gas station as you get close to the Austria border. A 10 day sticker costs 9.20 euros, and needs to be installed on the inside of your windshield.
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Helpful Resources and Guides to help plan your trip
Best places to visit in Austria
Austria road trip itinerary : Salzburg
Our first stop on our Austria road trip itinerary is Salzburg. Salzburg is the birthplace of Mozart, and is synonymous with the Sound of Music. If your a fan of the movie, then a tour of the film locations is the perfect itinerary for the day.
Salzburg has many other attractions worth visiting besides movie locations. Take a self-guided tour of Hohensalzburg Castle, one of Europe’s largest medieval castle.
*Read about our Sound of Music tour here. I share about our tour with Panoramic tours and all the fun movie locations.
Stroll through the Mirabell Palace and gardens, just one of the many movie locations in the Sound of Music. Take a leisurely stroll through the historic old town and go on a carriage ride through the city.
Salzburg is also a great place to take in a classical music concert, It is home to one of the greatest composer after all! During our visit, there were concerts going on in churches, historical halls and even the castle.
Street performers line the historic old town playing classical music and giving the city a relaxing vibe. It was pretty awesome!
*Read more about our visit to Salzburg here. I share the best things to see and do on your visit.
Austria road trip itinerary: Mondsee
Another must see place in Austria is the town of Mondsee. Mondsee is known as the filming location of the wedding scene in the Sound of Music movie, but theres so much more to see on your visit.
Make sure to stroll around the town and admire all the colorful buildings. There are lots of charming storefronts and cafes, and don’t forget to sample the cuisine. We loved the warm apple strudels which tasted amazing.
Stroll through the Lake promenade and admire the beautiful Mondsee Lake against the alpine scenery, or take a boat ride instead and admire the scene from there.
You can also visit St. Peter’s Church where the famous wedding scene was filmed. The interior is so beautiful and it’s a must see if you’re a fan of the movie.
The Salzkammergut Lake Region
Austria is home to many beautiful lakes. The region has over 76 different lakes to visit, and offer many outdoor activities including hiking, biking and water activities.
The lakes with their turquoise waters against the alpine setting was absolutely beautiful. Mondsee Lake is the closest to Salzburg, and is one of the stops if you plan to go on the Sound of Music bus tour.
Hallstatt
One place not to miss on your road trip through Austria is the beautiful town of Hallstatt. Nestled along the mountains along Lake Hallstatt is one of the most stunning places in Austria.
This town should be on everyone’s bucket list! The town is known for its production of salt since prehistoric times, so one of the main attractions is the salt mine.
You can learn more about the towns history by visiting the Hallstatt museum, and of course, take the famous post card shot of the town. Don’t miss a visit to the Charnel house (house of bones), a very interesting piece of history there.
*Read about our visit to Hallstatt here. I share some tips on how to avoid the crowds, and the top things to see and do.
Austria road trip itinerary: Innsbruck
Innsbruck is our last stop on our Austrian road trip before we head to Switzerland. Known as a winter sports destination, Innsbruck was home to the Winter Olympics back in 1964 and 1976, the youth Olympics was also hosted here in 2012.
Innsbruck is also known for its modern architecture mixed with its alpine setting. Visit the old town and admire the beautiful architecture, especially the Goldenes Dachl or (Golden roof), it is considered the city’s most famous symbol.
Make your way to the River Inn and admire the beautiful pastel buildings lining the river against the Alpine setting. It was truly spectacular.
Innsbruck is definitely worth a visit if your into winter sports during the winter, but it’s also a great visit at summertime!
*Read more about our road trip layover to Innsbruck here. I highlight the top things to do and see on a day trip.
Drive through the Austrian Alps
On our way to Switzerland, we pass through the majestic Alps. It was truly the most beautiful drive we’ve ever taken, a bucket list moment for us!
We felt so small against the majestic Tyrol mountain ranges, it literally took our breath away. We pass through beautiful Alpine towns, ski resorts and go through many tunnels, and we were always greeted with the most amazing views in the world!
If you ever have the chance to road trip through the Alps, make sure to do it! It was one of the greatest experience we’ve had, and one I’m sure our little one will never forget!
These are just some of the many beautiful places in Austria to add to your bucket list. We only wish we got to explore more of this country. Maybe one day we can come back and road trip the other parts of Austria we missed.
For more on our Europe adventures click here.
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