Vienna, Austria is a one of the most popular destinations in central Europe and is often included on many European itineraries. This is of no surprise given its history and position of power less than 200 years ago.
Whether you are visiting Vienna for the cafes or classical music, or maybe to visit one of the many breathtaking palaces sometimes a bit of a day trip helps recharge the batteries.
There is a lot to see outside of Vienna and in surrounding countries. Below you will find a range of day trips from Vienna that you can take a bus to in less than an hour to a more signficant road trips through vineyards.
Read | 2 Days in Vienna, Austria
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11 Day Trips from Vienna, Austria
Below many wonderful bloggers from across the globe have helped contribute their favorite day trips from Vienna. I love doing collaborative posts because it also inspires me to visit places I’ve never considered. Share your appreciation to contributors by giving their link a click!
Eisenstadt
Contributed by Marina of PlacesofJuma
A lovely place for an unforgettable day trip from Vienna is the charming town of Eisenstadt. It’s the political and cultural center of Burgenland. Visitors just love the mix of a long history, cultural events, and the modern outlook. Actually, there is a lot to see in the city center between the pedestrian zone, the palace park, and the parliament building. The whole inner city is stuffed with lovely details and many highlights.
The main attraction in Eisenstadt is the Esterházy Palace. It dates back to a fortified 13th-century Gothic castle. For more than 40 years, the composer Joseph Haydn was inspired by Esterházy Palace’s special atmosphere to create exceptional music to accompany historic events. The Haydn Room, named after the composer, is still one of the world’s best – acoustically – and loveliest concert halls.
Lovely are also the beautiful palace grounds. On a walk, you will enjoy the lovely botanic garden, a small lake, and even a public pool area. On any case, don’t miss the Gloriette (the Esterházys’ former hunting lodge), Haydn’s House, and Haydn’s church, which contains Haydn’s mausoleum and the Stations of the Cross are all worth visiting too.
It’s easy to organize the day trip from Vienna to Eisenstadt: You can ether take the train (1:10 hour), the bus (1:20 hour) or the car/taxi (45 minutes).
Linz
Contributed by Cazzy of Dream Big, Travel Far
If you’re looking for a unique day trip from Vienna, then Linz is the perfect place to visit. Located just 1 hour and 40 minutes from Vienna, Linz is easily accessible via train or renting a car and driving. Linz is the 3rd largest city in Austria which means there are plenty of great things to see and do.
Some of the highlights of Linz include the charming Old Town which features the wonderful Hauptplatz with its many restaurants and cafes, a perfect spot for lunch. Make sure you visit the “New Cathedral”, also known as Mariendom (which is actually the largest church in Austria) for beautiful views over Linz from the 135m spire.
Other great spots to visit in the city centre include Linz Castle, the many great museums on offer (Schlossmuseum Linz is a popular choice), and don’t forget to check out the Mural Harbor for some pretty cool graffiti art. Another great activity located not far from Linz town centre is a trip to the Mauthausen Concentration Camp. This is a painful, but necessary and very informative place to visit that will allow you to delve into the history of this Nazi concentration camp. It’s only 30 minutes from the town centre of Linz and accessible via bus.
Hallstatt
Contributed by Vaibhav Mehta from The Wandering Vegetable
Located in the mountain region of Salzkammergut in the Gmunden district, Hallstatt is one of the most beautiful villages in Austria. In fact, it is considered to be one of the most visually pleasing villages/lake towns in the world. It is a popular day-trip destination for travellers and has to be included in your Europe trip itinerary. Hallstatt is situated about 288 km away from Vienna.
You can get to Hallstatt from Vienna either by car or by train. It takes about 3.5 hours to get to Hallstatt by car and a little over 4 hours to reach by train. To get to Hallstatt by train, depart from Wien Hauptbahnhof, make a transfer at Attnang-Puchheim train station and arrive at either Hallstatt central station or Obertraun-Dachsteinhöhlen train station.
The lake town greets you with such stunning scenery that you feel like a day’s less to explore the place. It looks like a fairytale town straight out of your childhood storybook. Strolling around Hallstatt and getting lost in the charming streets is an experience of a kind.
There are several things to do in Hallstatt like walking along the Hallstatt Lake Promenade, visiting the lovely Market Square and having a nice meal at a restaurant/cafe, exploring the iconic Hallstatt’s Salt Mine (Salzwelten), enjoying the paradisiacal alpine view of Hallstatt from the Hallstatt Skywalk, visiting the Catholic Church of Hallstatt, and touring the Welterbemuseum Hallstatt.
Do not miss out on doing a boat ride across the Hallstatt Lake. It is one of the most calming and memorable experiences you’ll ever have. If you’re a foodie, then do visit the Rudolfsturm restaurant for some fresh seafood, a delicious garlic soup, and a picturesque lake view.
Durnstein
Contributed by Laura of Cruise Lifestyle
Dürnstein is just an hour’s drive from Austria’s capital, making it a great option for a day trip from Vienna. Its location on the banks of the Danube means it can also be visited on a river cruise. Dürnstein is a quaint, fairy-tale town, best known for it’s vineyards but there are many other things to do here if visiting for the day.
Stift Dürnstein is the most iconic landmark of the Wachau region, recognised by its ornate white and blue steeple. You will come across the former monastery during a walk through the town centre and is definitely worth pausing to admire the architecture.
The town is perfect for a leisurely stroll through the cobbled streets, dotted with little shops and cafes. The region is known for producing apricots and most of the shops sell apricot wine, brandy, liqueur, and jam. You can sample these if you choose to take a tour of the nearby apricot vineyard; I can confirm that the brandy is very strong!
It’s definitely worth walking to the top of the main street (Hauptstraße) where you will be rewarded with a spectacular view of the Danube and the Wachau Valley.
For authentic Austrian cuisine, I’d recommend stopping at Gasthaus Kuenringer, which has a pleasant outside terrace for dining al fresco during the summer months. I enjoyed drinking a refreshing ‘Hugo’ aperitif, which combines Prosecco, elderflower syrup, sparkling water and mint leaves.
Active visitors can explore Durnstein on the walking and cycling paths on the river bank or even take a canoe along the Danube to admire Dürnstein from the water along with local birds and wildlife.
Salzburg
Mozart’s birthplace or setting of the Sound of Music are most likely one of the reasons Salzburg is on your radar. Austria’s second largest city? is often looked over but it is the perfect size for a day trip with plenty to do that you might find yourself staying the night.
Start your day wandering the UNESCO World Heritage awarded Old Town of Salzburg. Here you will find narrow winding streets with colorful buildings and hanging signs. In the middle of the Old Town is a bright yellow building with the words “Mozarts Geburtshaus” which translates to Mozart’s Birthplace (Getreidegasse 9). It is possible to tour the home, as well as his residence (Makartplatz 8).
Castle and palace lovers will have absolutely no shortage of things to do in Salzburg. Between the commanding Hohensalzburg Fortress towering over the city, the flower-filled gardens at Mirabell Palace, or the impressive rooms of the Salzburg Residenz all the way to the trick fountains of Hellbrunn Palace.
End your day with a stop at Restaurant Stiegl-Keller for a meal (and pint!) with a view over Salzburg.
Graz
Contributed by Lina of World of Lina
Graz is Austria’s second-largest city and the capital of the wonderful state Styria. The best way to get there is either by public transport which takes around 2.5 hours or by car. There are direct train and bus connections available a few times a day.
On top of a small hill and overlooking the city, you can spot the Uhrturm – the city’s main sight. To get up there, you can either climb a few hundred very small stairs, follow a windy road on the backside of the hill or take the cable car called Schlossbergbahn. If you’re a bit of an adventurous person, I recommend sliding down the highest underground slide worldwide which can be found inside the Schlossberg hill. It’s not only the fastest way down but also a hell lot of fun!
Another place you shouldn’t miss seeing is the Kunsthaus. It’s a modern art museum where you can admire different exhibitions of contemporary artists. Due to it’s strange look, locals also call it the “Friendly Alien”. For lunch or a good cup of coffee, check out the vegan restaurant Ginko Greenhouse that is located near the main square. It has a great variety of amazing dishes and the best vegan cakes ever!
If you have some time left, make your way to Schloss Eggenberg where you can take an extensive stroll in its beautiful surrounding park.