Austria has some extremely good roads which is great for the road trippers amongst us. So many things to see in and around Vienna, that it’s easy to miss some of the best stops. This is a mini itinerary to make sure the most important spots are on your map.
Grab your bags and plane tickets cause once in Vienna you can hit the road straightaway, as the Vienna loop starts..well…in Vienna.
Vienna
Once landed, all you need to do is get your car. From the myriad of car hire companies, each with its own prices and T&Cs it’s easy to get confused. Go for a car hire broker. For example, if you get a car hire in Vienna, you have discounts all year round, in 3 steps it’s done and there’s only one T&C.
That will leave more time to read through the menu in Vienna’s most popular restaurant: Steirereck. Rated #1 in the city, Steirereck will offer you a unique dining experience. Well-deserved after that flight if you ask me.
From the airport it’s about a 20 minute drive to the above-mentioned delicious restaurant. After a good meal it’s time to start exploring the city.
You could easily spend three days sightseeing in Vienna but if you’re stuck for time, go see the State Opera House (Staatsoper), Schönbrunn Palace, St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom) where Mozart got married; the Spanish Riding School (Spanische Hofreitschule) to see the show* or Mozarthaus (Figarohaus). All these can be done in one day if that’s all you have set for Vienna.
* Riding school shows are only on weekends.
Wachau Valley
From Vienna head North for the Wachau Valley. If there is one must-see on this road trip then that it has to be Wachau Valley; the gorgeous villages with breath-taking views around Krems an der Donau which is right on the Danube, make it a really memorable drive. Stop for lunch in Spitz and let your exploration legs run wild.
Stay a day (or even two) to really discover the quaint villages and stunning scenery. You can also take a tour of Melk Abbey, then stop at Durnstein for sightseeing, photos and why not, a bit of shopping. And there is no better stop in Weissenkirchen for a cuppa than at Alte Poste.
Photo Credit: RachelGouk
City of Graz
After a delightful day spent visiting the wonders of the Danube you can now hop in your car and move on towards Graz which is only 88 miles ahead.
The city of Graz is a World Heritage Site which is why it’s marked on this Vienna loop. While you’re there go and see the Clock Tower, the city’s landmark and also the oldest building in Graz. Also visit the Glockenspie with its rotating dancing figures and musical accompaniment at precisely 11:00, 15:00 and 18:00 every day – and the Grazer Schloßberg.
Photo Credit: glowfish™
Salzburg
Next stop: Salzburg. Make your way towards Salzburg while enjoying the landscapes. Only a 3 hour drive from Graz you can easily reach the birthplace of Mozart.
On arrival, it might be wise to get a Salzburg card as it includes 2 night accommodation, free public transport and free admission to the entire city’s attractions for around 100 quid. Not a bad deal to be fair. With the card, you can then go to the Cable-Car Untersberg and take some breath-taking pictures from the top of the mountain.
Then go back down towards Hellbrunn Palace and make sure you DON’T MISS the Trick Fountain tour. I repeat: DON’T MISS the Trick Fountain tour! If you do, it’s just pointless being in Salzburg.
After all this sightseeing it’s time to get back to the beginning of the loop, Vienna, return your car at the airport and start looking forward to tell everybody back home about the your jam-packed Austrian road trip adventure.