Summer in Austria: Experience the “Lebensgefühl” in the Cities

Stunning architecture, a buzzing art scene, award-winning restaurants, fun events all year round, and yet nature often only a stone’s throw away: It’s easy to see why Austria ranks among the most popular destinations for city trippers. But it’s not just the obvious that makes our cities so special. They are also great places to fully embrace the Austrian lifestyle, or, as we call it, the “Lebensgefühl”.  

The ”Lebensgefühl” can be felt in a lot of ways in Austria’s cities: It can be the locals on the next table discussing the meaning of life until the early hours of the morning over a bottle of wine, the enthusiasm of a museum guide explaining the story behind a world-famous painting. Or the slightly grumpy, yet charming waiter in a Viennese café. And it’s also the art of not taking life too seriously that the Austrians have mastered to perfection.

We invite you to experience the Austrian “Lebensgefühl” in our cities this summer, while making the most of all the sights and activities they have to offer. Check them out below!
 

SALZBURG: A WORLD-FAMOUS CITY FOR FANS OF THE ARTS

Centuries-old traditions, top-class music and cultural events, culinary delights and international art: Salzburg, known as the home of Mozart and a UNESCO heritage site for over 25 years, celebrates both its prince-archbishop roots and the spirit of creative freedom and continuous renewal that already existed back then. The “Rome of the North”, as Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich zu Raitenau (1559-1617) called it, is packed with world-famous sights such as the Mirabell Palace and Gardens, Hohensalzburg Fortress, Mozart’s Birthplace at Getreidegasse, or the Marionette Theatre (puppet versions of “The Magic Flute”, “Fidelio”, “The Sound of Music” and more). The popular Salzburg Festival (theatre, opera and concerts) takes place from 19 July to 31 August this year.

Highlights in 2024: The DomQuartier celebrates its 10th anniversary with special exhibition “The Colours of la Serenissima. Venetian masterpieces from Titian to Canaletto” (from 21 June). The Museum of Natural History and Technology is 100 years old this year, while Salzburg Open Air Museum (more than 100 rural buildings, traditional crafts, and seasonal folk events) in Untersberg Nature Park celebrates its 40th birthday.
 

INNSBRUCK: A CITY AND MOUNTAIN BREAK BOTH IN ONE

City or nature break? Innsbruck, Tirol’s capital – and Austria’s fifth largest town – allows guests to embrace the best of both worlds. Take the cable car up the Nordkette in the morning and watch the town to your feet come to life, then head back down for some sightseeing before sampling through Tirol’s culinary delights on a foodie tour with a local guide. Or how about a city rafting tour, where you’ll pass the sights and get a chance to snap mountain pictures from the water, all while paddling on the Inn River? Innsbruck is a pleasantly walkable city where you’re always close to nature, with sporty adventures such as hiking, biking, climbing, and trail running an integral part of the alpine-urban lifestyle. The Innsbruck Card (free entry to 22 attractions and free use of public transport and the free active programme are key to a fun-packed holiday. 

New in 2024: The Kofele’s Bee Nature Trail on the Patscherkofel is the latest family attraction in the Innsbruck region, inviting children (and their parents) to learn all about bees in af playful way.

 

GRAZ: AN ARTSY AND CULINARY TOWN WITH EASY ACCESS TO NATURE

Graz, the capital of Styria and Austria's second largest town, sits in the south of the country, and is known as a lively and artsy place, where modern architecture and the historic heritage (an UNESCO site!) perfectly blend. The city enchants with its Mediterranean vibe, its art spaces, and festivals. Traditions are loved and celebrated when locals dressed in Dirndl and Lederhosen dance around the main square, while the museums and creative quarters shine with a blaze of colour and diversity. Another keyword: Indulgence. Graz above all is a culinary hotspot, the “Capital of Delights”, characterised by farmers' markets, regional products, small street cafés, and top restaurants. And there's even more: Historic treasures, unspoiled nature, and beautiful spots to take a hike, hop on a bike, or relax right amidst the vineyards are just a stone's throw away. "From the city to the countryside in ten minutes," is a popular local saying.

VIENNA: AUSTRIA'S CAPITAL AND A CULTURAL HOTSPOT

Vienna stuns with a mix of Imperial tradition and vibrant metropolitan flair, top-notch art, its classical music scene and equally famous coffee houses. World history has been written in the city for half a millennium – and yet Vienna’s more modern sides are just as fascinating. St Stephen’s Cathedral, Belvedere and Hofburg Palace, the Vienna State Opera and Schönbrunn Palace (including the oldest zoo in the world are just a few of the must-see sights for first timers. 

Fans of the arts should pencil in a visit at the Leopold Museum at MuseumsQuartier. With more than 8,300 works of Austrian art from the second half of the 19th century and Modernism, including several masterpieces of Gustav Klimt, it houses the largest collection of its kind worldwide. Leopold Museum is also home to the world’s most comprehensive Egon Schiele collection, with more than 220 works on display. 

Highlights in 2024: The Prater Museum, telling the colourful story of the world-famous amusement park, is the latest addition to Vienna’s portfolio, while the Wien Museum and the Kunsthaus Wien have just reopened after refurbishment. For film fans: Vienna also celebrates the 75th anniversary of “The Third Man” this year.


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