9 Austrian landmarks that you just have to see

Learn more about Austria's most beautiful landmarks

Austria, the small country in the heart of Europe, is known for its wonderful scenery, breathtaking mountains, idyllic lakes and historic towns. All you need to discover Austria's attraction is a little time and eyes open wide and a low-cost hostel, for sure!

As Austria is subdivided into 9 "federated states" (Bundesländer) there are 9 'capitals'. Let us show you the traditional landmarks of the 9 most important cities in the country.

Martinsturm - Bregenz - Vorarlberg

St. Martin's Tower, a former granary, unexpectedly has the largest onion dome in Europe. Enjoy a picturesque and 360-degree view of the city of Bregenz and its surroundings including Lake Constance (Bodensee) and the Swiss mountains. As well as the occasional concert, you can also visit the exhibition that gives you a thorough insight into the history of the city.

St. Martin's Chapel, consecrated in 1362, is decorated with magnificent frescoes. These frescos served as a kind of bible in the 14th century for those who could not read, and they portray many legends of the saints and religious events such as the depiction of the Passion of Jesus or the Last Supper.

Golden Roof- Innsbruck

The Golden Roof in the New Court of the Old Town of Innsbruck is considered the landmark of the city. It is made of fire-gilded copper tiles. Visit the museum inside the building and take a look at the old town of Innsbruck from the bay window.

The roof of the bay window, which was built in around 1500 by order of Emperor Maximilian, consists of 2,657 fire-gilded copper shingles. The oriel is decorated with reliefs that show Maximilian I, surrounded, for example, by his two wives, the chancellor or the court jester. There are also some curiosities such as some morris dancers, little twisted-limbed males who were, so to speak, the break-dancers of the time. On the background is a banner with signs that have yet to be deciphered.

You can also visit the recently opened Museum Goldenes Dachl in the interior of the building, which will immerse you in the time of Emperor Maximilian. Various events take place on the square in front of the Golden Roof, such as the International Golden Roof Challenge, an annual athletics event, or the Christkindlmarkt during the Christmas season.

Hungry? You will be spoiled for choice in the restaurant with the same name as the Golden Roof with a variety of traditional delicacies and 27 different beers, which are served in the "Elferhaus".

Fortress - Hohensalzburg - Salzburg

The Hohensalzburg Fortress is a highly visible, well-preserved castle above the romantic city of Mozart and is the symbol of Salzburg. It is one of the largest castles in Europe and dates back to the 11th century. The construction of the fortress, which lasted over 900 years, first began in 1077 and continued in three stages of construction, with the aim of protecting the archbishops and the principality of Salzburg. In reality, there was not a single military attack on the castle.

It's worth visiting the fortress just for the magnificent view of the city. You can, of course, climb up on foot (about 20 minutes) ... but with the fortress railway, the castle can be climbed much faster and more comfortably.

During the year numerous events take place here, such as concerts, courses, and Christmas markets. The museum contains Gothic princely rooms, old weapons and puppets. The fortress is open 365 days a year, but the opening times vary according to the season. If you plan to visit the fortress in July or August, we advise you purchase a discounted Early Bird Ticket at the online store to avoid the long waiting times at the ticket booths.

By appointment, you can enjoy a medieval knight's dinner with friends or family in the restaurant to the fortress Hohensalzburg!

Pöstlingberg - Linz - Upper Austria

The 539m high Linzer Hausberg has a lot to offer: whether it be on the Pöstlingbergbahn, which climbs the mountain from Linz's main square in the dragon-shaped cave train, or the pilgrimage Basilica "Seven Pains of Mary", everyone gets their money's worth here.

The Zoo Linz can be found halfway up, as well as the Anton Bruckner University for Music, Drama and Dance. In addition to the Grottenbahn, which has been in operation for over 100 years, the pilgrimage Basilica and the viewing platform, the Hartlauer photo gallery is waiting for you on the Pöstlingberg, where you can admire national and international photos in front of the impressive cityscape of Linz.

If you get hungry after visiting all these attractions, enjoy one of the delicious dishes in the Pöstlingberger Schlössl restaurant while admiring the stunning views.

Town Hall - Sankt Pölten - Lower Austria

The pink Town Hall is located between pretty pastel-coloured buildings on the city's largest square, the "Rathausplatz", in the heart of the old town and is considered a symbol of Sankt Pölten. Interestingly enough, the town hall combines different styles: Baroque façade and stucco, an octagonal Renaissance tower, Gothic niches, and Romanesque vaults.

The Tower, formerly used as a granary and arsenal, is adorned with an 18th-century onion dome. The town hall consists of two halves purchased separately from the city, which were put together to form a building. The uniform façade, however, shows nothing of this former division.

St. Stephens Cathedral - Vienna

The Giant Ferris Wheel and Prater, Schönbrunn Palace and Tiergarten, City Hall, State Opera, Danube Tower, Hundertwasser House, ... there is a lot to see in Vienna, but St. Stephen's Cathedral, also affectionately known as "Steffl", is the landmark of the city.

The most important Gothic building on the Stephansplatz is 107 meters long and 34 meters wide. The Roman Catholic Cathedral has a total of four towers, with the South Tower being the highest at 136.4 meters. In the former Austria-Hungarian Empire, it was forbidden to build a church higher than the south tower of St. Stephen's Cathedral. The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Linz, for example, had to be built two meters lower than originally planned.

There are also 13 bells in the South Tower. The North Tower, on the other hand, has the second largest free-swinging church bell in Europe.

Under the cathedral are the catacombs, about 30 burial chambers, which are accessed via the crucifix chapel. In these are the remains of Viennese cardinals and archbishops and numerous Habsburgs, including those of Napoleon Bonaparte. Whether alone, with a guide or at a church service, St. Stephen's Cathedral with catacombs and the towers (with 343 steps to the top) is definitely worth a visit.

Haydn Church - Eisenstadt - Burgenland

The church is architecturally quite unusual as it was built in two parts. The Haydn church is also called a mountain church, but the interpretation of 'mountain' remains unclear: it could be because it stands on a (really) small hill or due to the picturesque view of the surrounding landscape.

The church (now a listed building) was originally intended to be a large pilgrimage church, but the construction was interrupted due to lack of interest on the part of the builder. The original organ, on which the famous musicians Haydn and Beethoven played, is still owned by the church.

The Haydn Mausoleum has also been open since 1932 and it is where you can find Haydn's coffin. Again, you can have a tour with a guide if booked in advance.

Clock Tower - Graz - Styria

The Graz clock tower, the landmark of the city of Graz, is only 28 meters high and has a dial on each of its side walls. But something seems funny here! If you look closely, you realize that the clock marks a strange priority. Hours are more important than minutes. Earlier, the hour was more important, so the larger pointer shows the hours, as he was also seen from a distance.

At the foot of the mountain, you will also find a Stone Dog guarding Princess Kunigunde. A wooden battalion goes around the tower, from which the fire-fighters would have had the entire city centre in view. In the case of a fire, they rang the fire bell, which is still in the tower today. In addition to the fire bell, there are two other bells: the hourly bell, which rings every hour, and the poor-mouth bell, which used to ring during executions or curfews.

There is also a rose garden at the foot of the clock tower, which offers an impressive view of Graz.

Lindwurmbrunnen - Klagenfurt - Carinthia

This monument depicts a dragon or a snake-like mythical creature with short legs, long tail and small wings. It was probably carved out of a single block of stone by an anonymous master and weighs six tons.

The landmark of the city, which dates back to the 16th century, is located on the New Square in Klagenfurt and represents the city's heraldic animal - a lynx. Don't worry! The menacing Lindwurm with its open jaw spits water in the well instead of fire. Years later, a Herculean statue with a swinging club and was erected in the fight against the creature next to it, which commemorates the founding legend of the city of Klagenfurt.

Looking for a hostel in Austria? Here you can find a great selection of budget accommodation in Austria!

No matter whether you want to visit this traditional historic places, or prefer newer ones (of course there are modern buildings too!) - Austria is always worth visiting.