Bad Ischl, a spa town in the Salzkammergut and site of an imperial summer villa, became the height of 19th century fashion. In the 21st century it returned to the spotlight as the central venue of the 2024 European Capital of Culture program.

This quiet town in a picturesque landscape was one of the favourite escapes of the empress Elisabeth and the unlikely site where World War I was launched.

A visit to the Kaiservilla and its park is a must as a counterweight to the weighty impression of the grand palaces of Vienna. The villa and the Marmorschlössl cottage nearby, with their memories of the lives of the imperial family, offer a far more personal connection with the closing decades of the Habsburg monarchy.

The Pongau region has a timeless history of copper mining and a church connection as a bishops' residence, so the survival of two medieval churches and the 12th century tower Kastenturm in today's Bischofshofen is probably not surprising.

The town's parish church St Maximilian remains from a monastery and still has some Romanesque features. It displays a reproduction of the so-called cross of St Rupert, an 8th century Anglo-Saxon ceremonial object, which was gifted to the church. Its interior frescoes are believed to be from the 15th century. Frescoes in the nearby Gothic Frauenkirche are probably even older.

Austria's westernmost city is on the shore of Lake Constance and home of the Bregenzer Festspiele and its annual opera performance on a floating stage. The Seebühne has 7,000 seats. Austria's westernmost city is on the shore of Lake Constance and home of the Bregenzer Festspiele and its annual opera performance on a floating stage. The Seebühne has 7,000 seats. The festival has made Bregenz a hub for the arts as well as being Austria's western gateway to Germany.

The port handles lake cruises and the nearby mountain Pfänder is one of Austria's great lookouts, reached by cable car.

Above the lakeside streets is the Oberstadt, a historical precinct marked by old city walls and the Baroque tower Martinsturm.

Dürnstein's Gothic buildings and stairways maintain a medieval atmosphere despite the beautiful Baroque abbey at the edge of the Danube. This wine-growing village is dominated by the ruin of the castle where Richard the Lionheart was once kept hostage.

Dürnstein forms part of the Wachau world heritage landscape and is a bus ride or river cruise hop from Krems.

One of the world's smallest provincial capitals is the site of the Baroque aristocratic palace Schloß Esterházy and has a main street of diverse historical buildings and a centuries-old cathedral.

Here the Classical composer Joseph Haydn served the Esterházys as court composer and his house is another attraction. The extraordinary Kalvarienberg church (or Bergkirche), where Haydn is buried, alone is worth the visit with its grottoed cross stations and dioramas winding about and above the main structure.

Eisenstadt, long part of Hungary, is reached by a regional rail service from Vienna that divides at Neusiedl am See –  Eisenstadt passengers need to board the front part of the train.

The late medieval town retains many of its historical buildings, including churches, a decorated gate tower, a remarkable armoury building and the period castle Schattenburg, which is now a museum open to the public.

Set below the castle, Feldkirch is a compact destination for wanderers where the attractions are in easy reach. The central Marktplatz functions like a main street, but is also the place to eat and drink, surrounded by arcaded buildings and decorated facades. The town also parades its unlikely connection with the Irish writer James Joyce at its rail station.

The Salzkammergut's gateway town on Traunsee is in a rare landscape surrounded by peaks and preserves historical town buildings as well as two castles, one a late Gothic structure sited on an island in the lake. The surprise is the postcard Renaissance town hall with Baroque facade decoration.

Walkers love the local hill paths and Gmunden is also the ideal base for lake cruises. The peak Grünberg can be reached by cable car and provides a superb panorama over the town and lake, but the much higher summit of Traunstein is a favourite challenge for climbers.

UNESCO world-heritage Graz has a rich architectural legacy, making it one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

A blend of all historical styles is added to by a striking modern art museum and an artificial island. Its Renaissance Landhaus and the  Landeszeughaus, an extraordinary armoury of weapons, belong to the centuries when the threat of the Ottoman empire was alive and the city was in the front line.

Graz's old town is dominated by a medieval clocktower, the most obvious reminder of the fortress that once stood on the prominent cliff. It has been replaced by a public park, heritage zones and entertainment areas connected with the city by funicular railway.

Graz's Baroque inheritance includes the striking palace Schloß Eggenberg not far from the town centre, the mausoleum for the emperor Friedrich II, and the pilgrimage churches of Mariatrost and Mariahilf. Gothic features remain in the cathedral and city palace.

The border town south of Salzburg tells the story of the Celtic inheritance of the region, the historical salt trade, and the world's favourite Christmas carol, Silent Night.

The Keltenmuseum Hallein shows a 11,000-year journey through history in its archaeology. Highlights include a bronze helmet. Salzwelten Salzburg and the Kelten.Erlebnis.Berg nearby at Dürrnberg focus on the salt industry driven by the Celts and reconstructs a village.

The grave of Franz Xaver Gruber, composer of the Silent Night tune, is near the town.
Hallein is also a winter sport centre, featuring the Keltenblitz alpine slide at Bad Dürrnberg nearby.

This beautiful world-heritage lakeside town, which supposedly inspired the Frozen town Arendelle, has been described as "overrun" by tourism. That's not quite correct, misleading and poor travel guidance.

The secret to enjoying the best of Hallstatt is to stay at least a couple of nights – which offers a chance to appreciate its evening peace after day-trippers are gone – and recognise its real significance as a site telling a crucial story in Austria's prehistoric and medieval past. The views speak for themselves.

Anyone can go shopping and admire the quaint buildings – and it's important to recognise that the town's most-photographed church is its least interesting – but visitors should at least stroll through the historical museum, visit the fascinating medieval upper church and its graveyard, and tour the salt mine and its prehistoric remains.

Doing that alone offers plenty of opportunities to admire the rhapsodic, almost fjord-like landscape.

The capital of the Tyrol is also the biggest city in the Alps. The Tyrol's separate identity within Austria is deeply felt by its people and Innsbruck reflects this. This beautiful city is surrounded by high peaks and winter sport venues and its old town is studded with architectural gems.

These include the Renaissance Goldenes Dachl, a balcony built for the emperor Maximilian I, the superbly restored Dom zu St Jakob, the Hölblinghaus and countless other town houses that reach back to Gothic times. The oriel window is an institution in Innsbruck.

The Hofburg palace on the edge of the old town is impressive enough, but in many ways the Renaissance castle Schloß Ambras, in a hillside park overlooking the city, is more remarkable for the story behind it and is stunningly restored. It is also important as home to one of Europe's oldest museums, the priceless antiquarium, a hall depicting the Habsburg rulers, and a museum of arms and armour that is one of Austria's best.

Also extraordinary is the Hofkirche. Not outwardly striking, it has an interior that houses a singular cenotaph to Maximilian, who is buried elsewhere. Intricately worked black bronze statues of royal personages line the hall of the church, seemingly to do homage to the dead emperor. But there is also a grave monument to the low-born Andreas Hofer, who led a Tyrolean insurrection early in the 19th century in a demonstration of regional pride.

Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, the lakeside capital of Carinthia, is one of Austria's oldest cities and a jewel of historical architecture. The highlights are the Renaissance Landhaus and the Lindwurm (dragon) fountain, from the same period.

From the Baroque come the cathedral and the parish church of St Egid.

Just to the south of the city lies the remarkable 12th century abbey Stift Viktring, surrounded by a moat.

The trading town on the Danube was prosperous in medieval times and for centuries rivalled Vienna for influence. Hundreds of its historical buildings have been preserved, contributing to the world-heritage profile of the Wachau region.

Krems' churches, gateways, small squares and narrow lanes maintain the feel of times past. Views over the town and the Danube valley are possible from multiple points.

Highlights include the 13th century castle house the Gozzoburg, the extraordinary pictures on the external walls of the Großes Sgraffitohaus, the Gothic Göglhaus, the Pfarrkirche St Veit and the Piaristenkirche. It's possible to wander for days among such streetscapes. The town of Stein, now connected with Krems, also maintains varied historical buildings.

The powerful abbey Stift Göttweig, the smaller medieval town Dürnstein, and the cruising possibilities presented by the Danube and its winegrowing landscapes make Krems the best base to explore the Wachau.

The little town of Kremsmünster is the site of an abbey that was founded in the 8th century and became one of the most powerful in Austria.

Today's Baroque abbey church contains a cenotaph to Gunter, son of the founder duke Tassilo, and a chalice from the period. The abbey library houses tens of thousands of books. The abbey fish ponds are a rare treasure of architecture.
But the abbey also became an observatory. The 18th century abbot Alexander Fixlmillner also had the remarkable Mathematischer Turm completed for all manner of scientific research, including geophysics and meteorology, and weather observations began soon after in what is touted as Europe's first high-rise building.

In the old town are late Gothic houses.

The fortress of Kufstein dominates the town from its perch high above the river Inn. Festung Kufstein contains most of the attractions, including a folk museum, a museum telling the stories of political prisoners kept in the powerful central tower, and centuries-old heavy guns.

The decorated town hall, the Stadtpfarrkirche St Vitus and parts of old town fortifications are other interesting sights.

Linzer Schloß was the favourite residence of the emperor Friedrich III and traces of his palace remain today around the rebuilding of Rudolf II and 21st century museum spaces. Nearby on the hill is the tiny early Gothic Martinskirche, one of Austria's oldest churches.

Far more imposing Baroque churches dominate the city streets, but the largest of all is the mighty Neogothic Mariä-Empfängnis-Dom. The Renaissance Landhaus and its arcaded courtyard are on the edge of the old town and the city's grand houses have made their prestige statement for centuries.

If Salzburg is the city of Mozart, Linz is the city of Anton Bruckner. The organist and composer was born nearby 200 years ago and the city's orchestra, concert house and music festival are all named for him. The city has a powerful arts profile led by the Lentos museum, the Francisco Carolinum, the Ars Electronica Center in media arts and the open-air Mural Harbor in street art.

To explore the darker side of the 20th century, take a trip to the memorial for concentration camp Mauthausen, which was centre of a system in which tens of thousands of prisoners were put to work or put to death over an eight-year period.

For a commanding view of the city and the Danube valley of upper Austria, take the Pöstlingbergbahn tram to the top of the hill, where the Wallfahrtsbasilika looks out over the city.

Melk's best known site is its monastery, the mightiest on the Danube. The Baroque abbey dominates its bank of the river, vast and richly equipped, and is now a museum. The sumptuously decorated abbey church is free to visit.

The pavilion in the Baroque garden would be an extraordinary attraction on its own, with a richly painted interior, featuring exotic animals and peoples, and frescoed ceiling. The area is flanked by English, Mediterranean and "paradise" gardens.

Below is a historical town with its own architectural surprises, easy to stroll. All these attractions make Melk a river cruise destination in high demand.

Here is a surprising memory of the Roman empire in Austria. One of the largest settlements, Carnuntum, was in today's small Danube town, along with a legionary fort and a port set up by the emperor Marcus Aurelius in the 2nd century.

Today extensive excavations have produced an archaeology park, a memorial hall with grave monuments, and an open-air museum with reconstructions. A probable triumphal arch known as the Heidentor is partly reconstructed west of today's town, along with a  gladiator training arena and an amphitheatre.

The medieval town became a city of architecture from later periods with an unusual towered town hall, although the Baroque cathedral Dompfarre St Pölten retains some Romanesque memories for today's visitors.

Apart from the striking Rathausplatz, there are two Baroque squares, Riemerplatz and Herrenplatz, and a Franciscan church and monastery built in the 18th century. Two unconventional Art Nouveau sights are the renovated former synagogue and the Olbrich-Haus or Stöhr-Haus, distinguished by a facade relief. Only about 40 minutes by train from Vienna, St Pölten makes a good day excursion.

Everyone has heard of the beauty of Salzburg, but it's not one of Europe's best known cities. Crowded into a narrow riverside space, the old town is a network of laneways surrounded by a postcard mountain landscape, the palace now occupied by the DomQuartier, the ancient abbey of St Peter and the churchyard, providing access to the ancient catacombs.

All this represents history reaching back into the darkest era of the post-Roman age, when the church pioneers laid the foundations of a powerful Christian city-state. Above it all sits Hohensalzburg, the extraordinary medieval and Renaissance castle of the Salzburg prince-archbishops, perched above their cathedral and palace complex.

In Salzburg, culture is almost everything. The city is keenly aware of its links with the young Mozart and stages one of Austria's great culural festivals, the Salzburger Festspiele. A wide variety of churches merit at least a short visit.

But it's important not to miss the other elements that help make Salzburg a fascinating city for travellers. Follow the narrow winding medieval Steingasse under archways, and the Imbergstiege stairs that lead uphill to the tiny St Johannes am Imberg church wedged into a hillside space. Stefan-Zweig-Weg nearby passes cross stations through the Felixpforte. Above this, peaceful walking paths lead past the Kapuzinerkloster monastery and around the old defensive walls and provide perhaps the best views of the castle and old town.
See also the decorated Baroque Pferdeschwemme, where the court horses were washed and groomed, and the quirkier figures that make up the Zwerglgarten.

The small city at the junction of the Enns and Steyr rivers is one of the most beautiful in a country of beautiful cities.

The late Gothic Bummerlhaus, the Rococo town hall and the intricately decorated Sternhaus are just a few of the many striking buildings in Steyr's historical streetscape. The Blumauerhaus and the connected gateway are adorned in exterior paintings. Schloß Lamberg sits just above the city centre.

Visiting Vienna is the ultimate civilised experience. It's a beautiful and cultured city, one of the leaders in most international liveability rankings for years. Its entertainment, lifestyle and excellent transport are part of this.

There are many gracious  palaces, green spaces, museums and beautiful frescoed churches.

Vienna's brilliance comes from the concentration over centuries of wealth, power and patronage associated with the imperial crown, the nobility and the church. The reach of its empires attracted the great and the ambitious.

The Baroque period coincided with the first peak of this patronage. The mostly Baroque palaces of the Hofburg complex, Schloß Schönbrunn and the Belvederes and Baroque churches such as the Peterskirche and Karlskirche are the glories of Vienna. The state hall of the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek is remarkable inside and out.

But there are also Gothic highlights and reminders of Romanesque style at the cathedral of St Stephan, the Michaelerkirche, Maria am Gestade and, oldest of all, the Ruprechtskirche. The stark underground remains of the Virgilkapelle are a contrast with the intricacy and colour of the palaces and churches. Other highlights are found in Vienna's Art Nouveau buildings, mainly houses and rail stations, but also the quirky clock Ankeruhr.

The Burggarten, the Volksgarten, Rathauspark and Stadtpark are 19th century green spaces that benefited from the demolition of Vienna's defences. The parks were among their replacements, along with the Ringstraße circuit of boulevards and associated public buildings and cultural institutions. All these helped build the grace and profile of the industrialising city. Other public spaces such as the Karlsplatz-Resselpark area, the Baroque Augarten and the vast expanses of Prater and Donaupark along the Danube make Vienna one of the greenest capitals.

Vienna has been the centre of Western music for centuries and it's hard for travellers to avoid the influence of Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn and Mahler, all of whom were attracted to the city, and the two Johann Strausses, its natives.

The intellectual weight of the city is expressed in names such as Freud, scientists such as Ernst Mach and generations of philosophers, writers and painters in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Vienna coffee houses became places for debate and many of these famous places survive as part of a rich tradition of food, drink, music and museums – more than 90 of them.

This small city points the way to Italy. But it's also a place to admire historical buildings, take in the flavour of Carinthian-Slovenian culture and stroll along the river Drava. Parts of the old town walls still stand.

From the ruined fortress Landskron, a local bus ride to the north, visitors can see and enjoy extraordinary views in every direction.

Wels has Roman remains and it was important in the medieval period, when a stone fortress was enlarged in the 13th century and again in the 16th. It's one of two castles in the historical town centre.

The elongated main square Stadtplatz, with the Ledererturm gate tower at one end, is the centrepiece with its Baroque facades. Part of its streetscape is the Stadtpfarrkirche, redecorated from Gothic but preserving a Romanesque portal and small aristocratic mausoleum.

Two remarkable attractions make Werfen worthy of attention by adventurous travellers. The first is the world's largest ice cave, the Eisriesenhöhle. It's more than 1640 metres above the river Salzach, and although it's reached by cable car (made famous by a 1960s movie) visitors still face a climb before the one-hour tour.

Perched on the other side the valley is Burg Hohenwerfen, a powerful 900-year-old fortress. Both sites are open from April to the end of October.

The medieval city was on the front line of military threats in its early centuries and a fortress was built. The the emperor Maximilian I, who reconquered Wiener Neustadt from the Hungarians, was buried under the altar of the St Georgs-Kathedrale in the fortress, which later became a military academy.

Parts of the city walls remain, as does the restored medieval cathedral Dom Mariä Himmelfahrt.