Best Austria Honeymoon Destinations
Home of Gustav Klimt’s glimmering artwork in gold The Kiss, the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, elegant glacier lakes, glorious palaces, and seemingly untouched medieval era old towns, it’s hardly a surprise honeymoons in Austria are becoming increasingly popular.
From the refreshing and revitalizing mountain air of the Austrian Alps to the history and heritage of some of Europe’s most prestigious cityscapes, here’s our guide to Austria’s best honeymoon destinations.
Vienna
Austria’s capital city doesn’t have the grand boulevards of Paris, the famous landmarks of London, or the ancient historical sites of Rome. However, it does boast an extraordinary array of romantic honeymoon-worthy attractions, and all within sight of the ever-majestic Alps.
A slew of excellent international standard hotels provides a base from which to explore an Austrian honeymoon destination known as both the ‘city of music’ and the ‘city of dreams.’ Sitting on the banks of the River Danube, the longest river in western Europe, Vienna still manages to have the ambience of a large town rather than a city, let alone a national capital.
To wander along its riverside footpaths is to take in a rich buffet of sights, ranging from expansive areas of green space to a series of palatial mansions worthy of a Disney movie. One, the Upper Belvedere Palace now contains the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere, the museum featuring Klimt’s The Kiss.
Also not to be missed on any honeymoon in Austria is the even more impressive Schönbrunn Palace, the summer residence for Austria’s regal Habsburg rulers for over 300 years. Among its 1,441 rooms, visitors today will find everything from unreal murals to incredible chandeliers, plus gardens large enough to get lost in.
Salzburg
Austria’s fourth-largest city is perhaps best known as the birthplace of Mozart, one of the finest classical composers of all times. While the place of his birth is now a museum dedicated to his life and work, even short weekend breaks to Salzburg Austria is enough time to get a tantalizing introduction into what makes the city tick.
Encompassing stunning baroque style buildings, Salzburg Old Town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, and is often considered one of the best-preserved of any old town north of the Alps, making it ideal for honeymooners looking for internal and external beauty. The hilltop Hohensalzburg Fortress, dating in some parts to the eleventh century, is one of Europe’s largest, while nearby salt mines – from where ‘salt city’ gets its name – are an equally diverting way to spend a day.
City life centers around two nearby squares, Mozartplatz and Residenzplatz. At the latter, it’s possible to start or end the day with an ageless ride on a horse and cart, having first admired the artistry of the Residence Fountain, one of the city’s finest. Then be sure to tuck into traditional Austrian cuisine such as schnitzel at a charmingly lit local restaurant.
Innsbruck
Iconic Innsbruck, still celebrated for hosting the Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976, has been inhabited since at least the Stone Age. Coming to the fore when a bridge (‘brücke’ in German) was constructed over the River Inn, the city has 1,000 years of history and heritage to explore.
Because of its location close to the Tyrolian Alps, Innsbruck makes a great destination for honeymoons in Austria year-round. During the summer months, there’s really nothing better than strolling amid its vibrantly painted riverside buildings – although those keen on discovering the outdoors to a greater extent will also find myriad signed hiking paths leading further afield.
In the winter, Innsbruck becomes a haven for snow and winter sports enthusiasts. Celebrate the start of married life together beside the open fire of an authentic Tyrolian chalet, or grab a ski pass and jump on a lift to get to its pistes to take on a shared love. Priceless memories can be picked up at the Swarovski Crystal Worlds, which also has expansive gardens and 18 exhibition galleries filled with wonders.
Bad Gastein
Don’t let a name put you off, here the ‘bad’ of Bad Gastein comes from the German for baths. Famed for its natural hot springs since at least the nineteenth century, Bad Gastein has an enviable position rising up the slopes of forested mountains within a photogenic valley.
Those on honeymoon in Austria will find Bad Gastein’s town center located at its very own waterfall, tumbling a total of 341 meters in a series of three cascades. Around it, a series of stunning Belle Epoque structures have appeared, many containing spas which make use of the region’s mineral rich waters. The Felsentherme baths is perhaps the best known of many.
An excellent way to seal a honeymoon at any time of year, the town’s baths are just one side of its wellbeing offerings, alongside yoga, forest bathing, summer hiking, and winter skiing. More on the history of its spas, alongside some of their most famous visitors, can be encountered at the local museum.
With a sustainability ethos at its heart, Bad Gastein also makes it incredibly easy to experience all the town has to shout about thanks to an all-in-one pass providing access to seven distinct attractions.
Lienz
Harking back to the medieval period, Lienz sits at the coming together of two rivers, the Drava and the Isel. Sometimes nicknamed the ‘pearl of the Dolomite Mountains,’ Lienz features a charming heart which has been attracting those on honeymoon in Austria for decades.
An obvious place to start might be Bruck Castle, standing proudly over the town, and not just for its cultural and historical value but also – be warned – for the 15 species of bat that call the castle their home.
If all that sounds more Halloween than honeymoon, don’t worry. Although smaller than the other honeymoon destinations we’re highlighting, Lienz none the less has an excellent pick of hotels and plenty to keep anyone busy, from spas and ski runs (winter snow permitting) to climbing parks and parts of the Drava cycle route, ultimately cutting through four countries. Bicycle made for two, anyone?
From its biggest cities to quaint mountainside towns, Austria has a wealth of destinations just perfect for a honeymoon. All that’s missing is you, and your significant other!