Top Things to do in Austria
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Top 10 Castles in Austria, Austria
As home to majestic mountains, opulent palaces, and high culture, Austria's attractions are classically sumptuous and enduring. But beyond the waltzes, the strudels, the alpine summits, and Habsburg architecture, its modern cities are proof of just how easily Austria combines the contemporary with the historic.
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1. Schloss Glopper
2. Schonbrunn Palace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 42,524 reviews
The Cultural World Heritage Site of Schönbrunn Palace is Austria's most frequently visited tourist attraction. In the palace the residential and state rooms with their original furnishings and decorations convey an authentic impression of the imperial lifestyle. The park and gardens surrounding the palace make Schönbrunn in a unique synthesis of Baroque art as well as providing a convenient and highly popular recreational area for Vienna's population.
Reviewed By vicdud - Washington DC, United States
Schonbrunn Palace was beautiful!! The classic pass gets you access to the palace, privy garden, maze, orange garden, and the gloriette; so many awesome things to see! Definitely recommend using any kind of tour guide (audio or person), helps a lot with understanding the royal family and the interior of the palace. It should take about 4 hours and there is a lot of walking involved. There is so much to see and lots of history to learn.
3. Erlebnisburg Hohenwerfen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 864 reviews
Explore one of the most beautiful fortress in Austria. A refreshing experience awaits you at the over 900-year-old Hohenwerfen Fortress in the Pongau region of Salzburg. On the steep peak, high above the Salzach valley, the gentle breeze from the surrounding mountains caresses your face while peeking through the battlement embrasures. OPENING HOURS: April*: Tue - Sun, 9.30 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. May – September: daily, 9.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. 13 July – 14 August: daily, 9.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. 1 October* – 8 November*: Tue - Sun, 9.30 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. * Closed Mondays (except holidays)
Reviewed By Vball-traverler
When we were driving to our hotel in Maria Alm, my wife saw the fortress from the highway and mentioned it to me. We received the "Hochkonig" card, which gave us a discount to see the Hohenwerfen Castle. It was a beautiful castle where we saw a demonstration of various falcons, eagles and ospreys flying over the courtyard. We took the guided tour later and learned quite a lot about this castle. We were not disappointed in visiting.
4. Fortress Hohensalzburg Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11,689 reviews
This amazing 11th-century castle overlooks Salzburg from a hill on the outskirts of the city. Fortress Hohensalzburg is a real eye-catcher, high above the Baroque towers of the city. The castle remains a visible landmark to this day and is an unmistakable feature of Salzburg’s world-famous skyline. From afar, the mighty walls begin to reveal the history visitors experience at first hand within these sturdy defenses. Opening hours: We are open for you 365 days a year - even on public holidays! January – April and October– December: 9.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. May – September: 9.00 a.m. – 7.00 p.m. Advent weekends and Easter: 9.30 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. Please note: On 24th of December, we are closing at 2pm.
Reviewed By Brittany_11_10 - Los Angeles, United States
Whether you walk up the road to get to the fortress or take the funicular, visiting Fortress Hohensalzburg is a must-do/see in Salzburg. It's well worth the 13 euro or so (which includes a one-way ride on the funicular as well and a free audio tour). The fortress is very well-preserved, the audio tour and museum offer a lot of interesting history (of the region, the fortress, the rulers over various times, etc.), and the views from the top are stunning. I'd budget at least two hours, but you can easily spend more time up there. From late November to late December, they sell gluhwein, and other beverages and snacks as well.
5. Schloss Hellbrunn
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,958 reviews
Reviewed By Sue77777
Beautiful gardens and grounds around the main house. The fountains were off as seasonal but the main lake had a lovely Christmas angel there We spent three hours here , they also had a children’s petting area for the Christmas market. Free entry except the weekends, so great fun. The actual market was reasonably priced , unlike some we have been too around the European cities. Nice cafe too offering reasonably priced meals and drinks, great attentive service too We enjoyed walking the garden too and of course seeing the sound of music pavilion
6. Riegersburg Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 249 reviews
Riegersburg Castle is situated on top of a 482 m dormant volcano. The "strongest fortress of Christianity" was first mentionend 1138. The Riegersburg is the property of the princely family of Liechtenstein sind 1822 who endeavour to preserve and restore the fortress. Make an art history time travel in the castle from the Gothic chapel over to the Renaissance Knights Hall and to the Baroque White Hall. The fortress is easily accessible by lift, situated north of the castle. You can also enter the Riegersburg climbing up the footpath through the 7 archways. For the ascent you need about 20 minutes. For the adventurous there is the via ferrata.
Reviewed By Boulder11 - Boulder, United States
Don't let some of the negative reviews stop you from seeing this well-preserved middle-ages castle set in a unique location, at the top of a dormant volcano. This provided the castle with only 1 side to protect, the other three being sheer drop-offs! While the signage is in German, the castle and each of the two museums have well-written English handouts that clearly describe what you are seeing. The neighboring valley is beautiful with lots of vineyards and scattered villages. If traveling to Graz and/or the Styrian region of Austria, I think this is a worthwhile stop. We paid 16 euros each for the lift/funicular up and down and the admissions to the castle and museums and felt this was a fair asking price. We did not inquire about the falconry show. The view is so spectacular, plan on stopping in the tavern for ice cream, a beer, or some wine, and enjoy the vista.
7. Schloss Esterhazy
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 245 reviews
Esterházy Palace in Eisenstadt is one of the most beautiful baroque palaces in Austria and presents a fascinating view of the resplendent life once lived at the court of the Princes Esterházy But the palace is still the hub of the cultural scene today and regularly provides the picturesque backdrop for festivities and social events
8. Schloss Ambras Innsbruck
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,157 reviews
Due to the current regulation to contain the pandemic, the museums of the KHM Museum Association will remain closed until 23th March 2021! The wonderful world of the Renaissance The provincial sovereign of Tyrol, Archduke Ferdinand II (1529-95), son of Emperor Ferdinand l, ordered that the mediaeval fortress at Ambras be turned into a Renaissance castle for his wife Philippine Welser. He also commissioned the building of a separately designed museum complex to house his world-famous collections. Constructed according to the most advanced ideas of its time, it is an eminent precursor of our modern-day museums and has been preserved at its original site to this day. The armouries comprise rare examples of 15th century jousting armour from the collections of Emperor Maximilian I, suits of armour of famous 16th century commanders, the Archduke’s private armour, the armour of the court of Innsbruck, and weapons from the Thirty Years’ War.
Reviewed By 260flaviob
This castle is one of the most beautiful we have seen on our tour in Austria. From Innsbruck you can get there after about twenty minutes by bus (we took a Hop on / Hop off, very comfortable and included in the Innsbruck Card). The Castle is surrounded by greenery and has a very well kept garden. There are two main buildings to visit, one connected to the entrance (with spectacular weapons and armor) and the actual Castle, to be reached with a short walk. The castle is impressive and was bought by the Archduke Ferdinand II, a true patron of the time. In the current exhibition, the organizers have tried to recreate the different rooms as they had been wanted by the Archduke: the Chamber of Art and Wonders (some even not politically correct by our current standards), the Chamber of Armor and the Antiquarium. In the upper castle there are houses as they were at the time of Ferdinando. The most sumptuous setting in the building is the Sala Spagnola, a 43 meter long banquet hall with frescoed walls and trompe l’oeil. Magnificent. There is also a section dedicated to the Habsburg portraits with over 200 portraits, made by famous artists like Cranach, Tiziano, van Dyck and Diego Velásquez. We went there on a very hot August day and at the end of the tour it was beautiful and very romantic to eat a sandwich sitting on a bench in the shade of the secular trees of the garden.
9. Schloss Eggenberg
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 695 reviews
The unique architecture of Schloss Eggenberg, the most important great house in Styria, is a complex symbolic representation of the universe. At the same time, with its impressive combination of Baroque interiors (magnificent state rooms), magical gardens and park, and priceless collections of the Universalmuseum Joanneum (Alte Galerie with its old masters paintings, Archaeology Museum and Coin Cabinet), Eggenberg contains a fascinatingly varied panorama of Styrian culture over the centuries. UNESCO World Heritage Site! Please note: dogs are not allowed in the park to protect our peacocks.
Reviewed By YairBarZohar - Qiryat Ata, Israel
Built in the 17th century, this castle is one of the most important cultural properties in Austria. UNESCO recognized this castle, together with the Old City, as a World Heritage Site. You can wander through the vast and beautiful gardens surrounding the castle, as well as admire the wonderful architecture, which combines styles of baroque and rococo. To enter the castle rooms you will need to join a guided tour, which runs from Tuesday to Sunday every hour between 10:00 and 16:00. The admission fee is reasonable. It is recommended to purchase the card in advance through the website of the castle. Opening hours of the castle: The visit to the castle is possible from April to October from Tuesday to Sunday from 10: 00-17: 00 as part of a guided tour only. The gardens are open daily, from April to October from 8:00 to 19:00, from November to March from 8:00 to 17:00. How long should I visit? About two hours.
10. Burgruine Gosting
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 79 reviews
The ruins of the Gösting Castle rise up where the Mur River Valley opens up into Graz. Built in this strategic position between the 11th and the 15th centuries, the castle could control all traffic into Graz. In 1925, the Castle Society was founded to attempt to prevent further destruction after years of neglect and fires during the 18th and 19th centuries. Rising 200 meters over the Mur River, Gösting Ruins offers great views over Graz.
