In this one-week winter itinerary, we share the best things to do in Austria’s most exciting cities — Vienna, Salzburg, Hallstatt and Innsbruck!
Austria is beautiful all year round, but there’s just a bit more to love during the winter season. The country turns into a mega winter wonderland — Christmas markets are in full swing and alpine villages are extra magical with layers of snow.
Spending winter in Austria also means one thing — skiing and snowboarding on the Austrian Alps! Austria is one of Europe’s top destinations for winter sports and ski passes are more affordable compared to countries like Switzerland and France.
The total cost of our Austria trip was S$1.4k per pax (excl. flights) — this includes all accommodation, transport, activities, food, plus miscellaneous items like SIM cards. Buying City Cards helped us to save on attraction tickets and public transportation within the cities.
Our Austria itinerary starts off in Innsbruck — Innsbruck Airport is small and there currently aren’t any direct flights from Singapore. There are two main ways to get to Innsbruck. The first option is to fly direct to Munich, then take a 1hr 44min train ride from München Hbf to Innsbruck Hbf (from €12.90, ~S$18.20). Alternatively, fly direct to Frankfurt, then take a 1hr 10min flight from Frankfurt to Innsbruck (from S$159).
Plan your own winter Austria itinerary: 7-day Austria Itinerary Under S$1.4k — Winter in Vienna, Hallstatt, Innsbruck, Salzburg
Things to do in Austria’s most iconic cities
From iconic dishes like braised pork rice to unique ones like giant takoyaki balls, here are some recommendations for what and where to eat in Taiwan — including things to eat in popular cities like Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung. For more ideas, check out our ultimate Taiwan food guide!
*Note: Some of these places have unfortunately closed during the pandemic 🙁
INNSBRUCK – 00:12
A historic city with an adventurous side — surrounded by snow-capped mountains and numerous ski resorts.
00:25 Nordkette Ski Resort (~S$48.50 for the ski day pass) – This ski resort is easily accessible via a 15-minute funicular ride from Innsbruck Old Town!
00:45 Swarovski Crystal World (~S$28) – Swarovski was founded in Austria in 1885 and celebrated its centennial anniversary in 1995 with the opening of Swarovski Crystal Worlds. The centrepiece of the park is The Giant by artist André Heller.
SALZBURG – 01:04
Known for Mozart, Red Bull and The Sound of Music, Salzburg is a city bursting with culture.
01:08 Getreidegasse Shopping Street – The town’s main shopping street. The old houses are displays of the town’s history — important dates and the names of former owners are often found inscribed on the front.
01:13 Salzburg Cathedral (€5) – First built in 767, the Salzburg Cathedral was destroyed by fires and rebuilt several times over the years. One of the city’s most important religious buildings, the baptismal font inside is where Mozart and his sister were baptised!
01:20 Mirabell Palace and Gardens (Free) – If you’ve watched the award-winning musical film “The Sound of Music“, this place might look familiar. It’s where Julie Andrews performed the song “Do Re Mi” in the movie!
01:26 Hohensalzburg Fortress (From ~S$19.60) – Hohensalzburg Fortress in Salzburg is the biggest fully preserved castle in Central Europe. Built-in 1077, it’s located on top of Festungsberg hill — with unobstructed views of Salzburg’s old town.
01:44 Mozart Museum – Visit the childhood home of the famed composer Mozart, now converted into a museum with original furniture, portraits and instruments displayed.
01:53 Red Bull Hangar-7 (Free) – Located just a 4min drive from Salzburg Airport, Hangar-7 houses a collection of Red Bull aircraft and Formula 1 race cars — free for the public to visit!
HALLSTATT – 02:02
A small village of 750 residents but millions of tourists flock over here each year for its picture-postcard views.
02:26 Hallstatt Skywalk (€22 for funicular round-trip) – This 350-metre-high viewing platform offers panoramic views of Hallstatt Old Town and Hallstätter See, the alpine lake that connects Hallstatt and the village of Obertraun. Get the best view of Hallstatt from here!
02:37 Salzwelten Hallstatt Salt Mine (S$53) – This is the world’s oldest salt mine — over 7,000 years old! The salt mine is closely linked with the town’s history and the tour is both educational and interactive.
VIENNA – 03:02
03:20 Adante-Viennese Cooking Class (~S$123) – Learn all about Viennese cuisine by cooking with a local chef! Andante teaches guests how to prepare a full Viennese meal — a starter (depending on the season), schnitzel with potato salad, and apple strudel.
03:38 Café Sacher (from ~S$19) – When in Vienna, you’ve got to have the Sacher-Torte and coffee at Sacher Eck Cafe. This rich chocolate cake with apricot jam and whipped cream dates back to 1832 and is now a household name in Austria.
03:50 Viennese Sausages at Bitzinger Würstelstand (from ~S$7) – Grabbing a bite at a Würstelstand (sausage stand) is a must. Würstelstands are found all over the city, but Bitzinger Würstelstand (located right beside the Vienna State Opera) is the most well-known.
04:04 Ice Skating at City Hall — Vienna Ice Dream (from ~S$12.50) – This isn’t your typical ice rink. From January to early March, Vienna Ice Dream takes over the area in front of City Hall and the surrounding Rathaus Park — transforming it into a massive ice skating park.
1:20 – Duck Zhen (~NT$50 – 65) — Indulge in tender slices of braised duck with a thin layer of fat under the skin, yum!
1:31 – Giant Takoyaki (NT$60) — It’s as big as your fist and stuffed to the brim with ingredients like mushrooms and seafood.
1:39 – Good To Eat Hot Toast (permanently closed but if you love both bubble tea and toast, their bubble tea toast would’ve been heaven in your mouth!)
1:46 – Royal Beef Cubes (permanently closed but these melt-in-your-mouth beef cubes are to die for.)
How to get to Austria (from Singapore)
The first city on our Austria itinerary is Innsbruck. However, there are no direct flights available from Singapore to Innsbruck Airport. If you’re travelling from Singapore, there are two options to get to Innsbruck:
Option A: Fly direct to Munich and take a 1 hour and 44-minute train ride from München Hbf to Innsbruck Hbf (from €12.90, ~S$18.20)
Option B: Fly direct to Frankfurt and take a 1 hour and 10-minute flight from Frankfurt to Innsbruck (from S$159)
We didn’t include this in our budget since flight prices fluctuate depending on the season. For the cheapest flight fares: set up a price alert about three to six months ahead so you’ll be notified of price drops.
Getting around Austria
Although most old towns in this Austria itinerary can be easily explored on foot, it’s still worthwhile to consider getting City Cards as they can help you save money on attraction tickets and public transportation.
For example, the Innsbruck Card costs €63 for 48 hours, while the combined cost of tickets for various attractions adds up to €80.40. By getting the Innsbruck Card, you could save €17.40.
Each city has its own city card, including the Salzburg Card and Vienna City Card.
Inter-city trains: Booking inter-city train tickets in advance can save you a lot of money. However, keep in mind that prices can vary depending on the departure time, even on the same day. Therefore, it’s best to check in advance when booking tickets.
Accommodation in Austria
There are plenty of accommodation options in Austria — budget-friendly hostels, mid-range and luxury hotels as well as Airbnbs. Here are some suggested places to stay in Austria:
- Innsbruck: Montagu Hostel (from S$61/night for a bed) or Nala Hotel (from S$157/night for a standard double room)
- Salzburg: YoHo International Youth Hostel (from S$41/night for a bed) or K6 Rooms by Der Salzburger Hof (from S$260/night for a medium room)
Vienna: Wombat’s City Hostel Vienna Naschmarkt (from S$43/night for a bed) or Motel One Wien-Staatsoper (from S$186/night for a classic room)
