The capital of Austria has a lot going for it.. especially in the first district. Palaces, museums, cathedrals, Baroque architecture and monuments that seem to be around every corner. Plenty of shopping to be done, late night bars and clubs, and cafes to while away the hours at. The subway system is fast, cheap and super easy to use, but I highly recommend exploring the first district (Innere Stadt) on foot.
The south tower, right, is open to the public and a great viewpoint.
Situated at the very center of the city is the tallest church in Austria, St. Stephen's Cathedral. The South tower room can be reached via a set of 343 narrow and steep steps, providing a view over the city. The north tower can be accessed by elevator up to an open-air platform for another view of the city and closer look at the cathedral roof mosaic. There are also guided tours of the catacombs below.
This momument was erected in 1694 after one of Vienna's last great plagues.
The Plague Column can be found on the Graben, one of the most famous squares and shopping streets in the center of Vienna. There's two catherals nearby worth checking out— St. Stephen's and St. Peter's Catholic Church.
A rather hard to miss building!
The Hofburg, former residence of the Habsburg dynasty, is the second largest palace in the world. You can see the outdoor courtyards and monuments for free, but most of the main attractions, like the Imperial Apartments, Treasury and Sisi Museum require tickets. You will quite probably wander here by accident while exploring the first district, but if not, you can take the subway to Herrengasse on line U3 to reach it.
Rathaus means "city hall" in German.
The city hall in Vienna is a popular site for outoor festivals and has a multi-level ice skating rink that's open in the winter time. Austria's best known Christmas market is here, and there's a film festival in the summertime. You can also go inside, but only on a guided tour.
The Österreichische Nationalbibliothek.
Inside the Hofburg is the Austrian National Library, containing over 200,000 historic books. It's littered with elaborate ceiling frescoes, gilt columns, statues and paintings. It's a relatively quick but worthwhile stop for antiquarians and anyone interested in art and architecture. Check it out while visiting the other Hofburg attractions.
The Giant Ferris Wheel.
This amusement park, the second oldest in the world, is free to enter and open year-round. Tickets are purchased for individual rides. It's a nice blend of a carnival and a modern amusement park with plenty of activities for both children and adults.
The Imperial Crown of Austria.
Also located in the Hofburg is the Imperial Treasury. Containing relics over 1,000 years old, you can see the crown of the Holy Roman Empire and other imperial regalia here. This is a smaller museum that can be completed in 1-2 hours, just like the National Library.
Wait times can be long, so reservations are recommended.
This is one of the most famous cafes in the city and was frequented by many big names, including Sigmund Freud, Adolf Hitler and Leon Trotsky, among others. It's a little pricey, but the atmosphere is simply unmatched. With its elaborate columns and high vaulted ceilings, soft lighting and live piano music, it feels like taking a step back in time. Plus there's lots of pastries!
Salzburg is a much smaller city than Vienna, so despite its lack of a subway system it remains very walkable. Purchasing a Salzburg card will give you free access to public transport and a lot of the attractions, as well as discounts for others. Most of the essential sites are located in Old Town (Altstadt).
Looking towards the courtyard.
Situated on Festungsberg mountain, this emblem of Salzburg is located at the center of the city. You can take the Festungsbahn funicular or walk the steep footpath up to the entrance gate to reach it. There's a panoramic view of the city and a few small museums here, with a total walkthrough time of around 3 hours.
Mozarts Geburtshaus.
Not to be confused with Mozart's residence, Mozart's birthplace is located on Getreidegasse, the most famous shopping street in the old town. It's a relatively short walkthrough of about an hour, but informative and worthwile for fans of Mozart.
Petersfriedhof.
You can walk through the oldest cemetery and St' Peter's Abbey in Salzburg for free, but the catacombs have a 2 euro entrance fee. It's right next to the cable car for Fortress Hohensalzburg, so it's a very convenient stop along the way there.
No panoramic views this time!!
The adventurous can take a cable car up to Untersberg mountain, located just outside Salzburg. Cable car admission is included in the Salzburg card, as well as the bus system used to reach it. Take bus #25 to the last stop to reach Untersberg. It's worth checking the weather beforehand for visibility, and you can definitely skip this one if you're afraid of heights.
Good views of the old town and fortress from here.
It seems like a misnomer to call this one a mountain, but you can walk up here for a great view over the city. There are numerous connected trails and ways up, or you can take the Mönchsberg lift to reach it and the Museum of Modern Art.
Mirabellgarten.
Famous for being a filming location for The Sound of Music, admission to this garden is free. It's located just outside Mirabell Palace which is also free. Unfortunately I visited in winter, so there wasn't much to see in the garden other than the statues and fountains.
The Wachau is a stretch of valley located along the Danube River, between Melk and Krems, and known for its vineyards and fortresses. You can take a boat down the river, and it's a popular destination for biking. This is a good day trip from Vienna because it's only two hours by train.
The ruins are illuminated at night time.
This is a medieval castle ruins located above Dürnstein, originally built around the year 1140. It's about a 30 minute walk uphill from the town below, free to visit, and provides a good overlook of the valley.