Austria is one of the most popular vacation destinations in Europe and every year it attracts a good number of visitors from around the world. Austria, along with Switzerland, is regarded as winter sports capital of of Europe. Its historic cities along with magnificent scenery of the Alps make it one of the must visit destinations in Europe. Austria is one of the smallest nations in Europe but it’s big and vast in magnificent sceneries brought by the Eastern Alps that occupies 60 percent of the nation’s territory. Here are the top 10 Austria Tourist Attractions that every avid tourist visiting Austria should visit.

10. Prater

The Wurstelprater amusement park of Vienna is simply called “the Prater”. The Prater is the place to be if you are very much into giant rides and other amusement park attractions. This is indeed one of the top Austria tourist attractions for its popularity among tourists from around the world. It also houses Vienna’s most popular symbol, the Giant Ferris Wheel. From the month of March to the month of October, the Prater is expected to be in full swing.

9. The Grossglockner Road

Grossglockner Road begins from Bruck (Pinzgau) to Heiligenblut, was built from 1930 to 1935 and is dubbed as one of Europe’s most outstanding mountain roads. Although its significance being a route going to the Alps has been declined, it still managed to be splendid highway that goes through Hohe Tauern, one of the most visited Austria tourist attractions. It used to a Roman road that came into rediscovery due to its magnificently beautiful panoramic views. The road runs for 22 kilometers going through the mountains and at an altitude of over 2,000 meters.

8. The Giant Ice Cave

There is no doubt that the Giant Ice Cave is among the top tourist destinations in Austria simply because it can bring you into a totally new world. These ice caves are definitely the largest on earth and considered as some of the true wonders of the world. The ice caves are a phenomenal underground place of natural ice formations and ice sculptures.

7. Austria’s Tallest Waterfalls – The Krimmler Ache

The Krimmler Ache is the tallest waterfalls in Austria and in three remarkable cascades; it plunges 380 meters, making it one of the most visited Austria tourist attractions.

6. Melk Benedictine Abbey

The Melk Abbey is another must-see place in Austria simply because it has been recognized as one of the most popular monastic sites in the world. The abbey is composed impressive buildings that have been perfectly laid out all around the beautiful seven courtyards. This complex’ most significant parts are the twin-towered church and the west end. What makes the abbey a contender in the top Austria tourist attractions is that it offers great historical information and important places like the Imperial Rooms, the tomb of Saint Coloman of Stockerau and the Imperial Corridor.

5. Stephansdom (St. Stephen’s Cathedral), Vienna

The St. Stephen’s Cathedral is a very popular place to see in Vienna because of its history and the fact that it remained standing despite having been a victim to several wars. This Cathedral is always among the list of Austria tourist attractions because it is now considered as the symbol of freedom for the whole of Vienna. It is a Gothic cathedral that was first constructed in 1147 AD and the famous diamond-patterned tile roof took form in 1952. If you want to view the beauty of the city, you may want to take the 343 spiral steps that would take you to the top.

4. Kitzbuheler Horn

One of Austria’s most picturesque summits is the Kitzbüheler Horn located in Tyrol region. All of its 1,998 meters long territory is indeed magnificent and it can be accessible either by cableway that runs through the Pletzeralm or by ascending up from Kitzbühel. Once you have reached the summit, you will understand why this place is among the top Austria tourist attractions; the summit offers only the beat magnificent views.

3. Mozart’s Addresses in Salzburg

There are many that have been claiming close connection to the famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, but none can compare to the importance of Salzburg. One of the main reasons why this city is the closest to Mozart is because this was where he was born, on No. 9 Getreidegasse on January 27 of 1756. The address is now a highly visited museum named Mozart’s Birthplace and it is one of the reasons why the city is among the most visited tourist attractions in Austria. Another reason is that there is another place connected with the composer and that is Makartplatz 8, the address where he took lived in 1773. As the city is also popularly known as Mozart’s Salzburg, several music festivals are taking place here in his honor like the Salzburg Festival and the Mozart Week.

2. Schonbrunn Palace

Another important palace in Austria is the Schönbrunn Palace and it used to be the summer residence of the Imperial family in Vienna. It is a baroque styled palace that houses 1,441-room and is considered one of the top Austria tourist attractions because of its historical, cultural and architectural influences. The palace’s history along with its magnificently vast gardens – that have been in existence for more than 300 years – are the reason why thousands of tourists flock here every year.

1. Austria’s Imperial Palace – The Vienna Hofburg

The magnificent Hofburg Palace of Vienna was the seat of the Habsburgs – Austria’s monarchy – for many centuries. Today, the nation’s leader carries out state businesses in the very rooms used by Emperor Joseph II. Since 1275, almost every Austrian ruler ordered alterations or additions, which resulted in different several architectural influences like Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance, Rococo and Classicism. The entire complex is considered as one of the most visited Austria tourist attractions because of the Imperial Silver Collection, the Sisi Museum (with focus on Empress Elisabeth’s life and times of Empress Elisabeth), and Imperial Apartments (19 rooms that were occupied by Emperor Franz Joseph).