3. Make Time for Castles and Palaces
The royal grand architecture of Austria is beautiful no matter what time of the year you’re visiting, but there’s something special about visiting a 17th-century castle buried under snow. Luckily, Austria’s castles, fortresses, and palaces stay open throughout the winter, allowing for quiet strolls in the royal gardens and not-so-crowded tours of the interiors.
Austria’s most picturesque castle is probably Burg Kreuzenstein, just north of Vienna and famous for its imposing towers. Medieval Burg Hochosterwitz, with its 14 fortified gates, doesn’t fall far behind.
For easy access, try one of the many buildings that are within the borders of major cities. Hohensalzburg Fortress, sitting on a hill right over the city of Salzburg, dates back to the 11th century, and it’s one of Europe’s largest fortress complexes.
A short 40-minute ride outside Salzburg takes you to stunning Werfen Castle, a Hollywood favorite that has appeared on everything from The Sound of Music to the Netflix series The Man In The High Castle to the video game Call of Duty: Black Ops III.
4. Attend a Holiday Concert
The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra is an amazing spectacle at any time of the year, but during the holidays, they hold special classical concerts that are must-sees. Their famous New Year’s Concert sells months in advance.
The Kursalon concert venue in Vienna also offers special holiday concerts on December 24th and New Year’s Eve, plus a gala event on December 25th. For something extra special, check out the schedule at the Mozarthaus -– the house where Mozart lived and composed his most famous pieces offers advent concerts during December.
Even if you’re not in Vienna, don’t worry, most cities and towns around the country have their own marching bands and caroling choirs that take to the streets during the holiday season. If you’re in Western Austria, the New Year’s Day Concert by the Tyrol Symphony Orchestra is equally popular and great entertainment.
The Tyrol Winter Festival Erl is a treat that mixes opera performances with Christmas specials. Another famous must-see in Tyrol is the Christmas concerts of the Wilten Boys’ Choir, if you arrive early and can secure a spot in the Court Church.
