Austria (Österreich) blends Habsburg splendor with alpine drama. Emperors once walked the same Vienna boulevards where students now sip melange; in Salzburg, baroque domes rise against cragged peaks and the strains of Mozart float from concert halls. This one-week itinerary stitches together the country’s best: imperial palaces, golden‑age cafés, river valleys laced with vineyards, and villages reflected in glassy lakes.

Expect world‑famous art—from Klimt’s “The Kiss” to Schiele’s self‑portraits—alongside living traditions like the heuriger wine tavern, brass bands, and beer gardens. Austrian cuisine goes far beyond schnitzel: think tafelspitz simmered in broth, crisp backhendl, plum‑jam–filled Buchteln, and poppy‑seed Mohnnudeln. Coffee houses are cultural institutions; linger with cake and a newspaper and nobody will rush you.

Practical notes: Trains are fast and frequent, and cities are walkable with excellent trams. German is spoken, but English is common in tourism. Tipping is modest (round up 5–10%). Winters are cold and festive; spring and fall are mild; summers are warm and lively. This plan uses Vienna and Salzburg as bases, with the Wachau Valley and Hallstatt as day trips.

Vienna

Vienna is the capital of classical music and coffee culture, where imperial architecture meets contemporary design. The Ringstrasse frames museums and palaces; intimate neighborhoods like Neubau and Leopoldstadt hide bistros, galleries, and wine bars.

• Top sights: Schönbrunn Palace, Hofburg (Sisi Museum), St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Belvedere (Klimt’s “The Kiss”), Kunsthistorisches Museum, MuseumsQuartier, Prater’s Riesenrad, State Opera, Musikverein.
• Neighborhood vibes: Innere Stadt (historic core), Neubau/Spittelberg (boutique & creative), Leopoldstadt (leafy and local near the canal), Wieden (Naschmarkt & design).
• Where to stay: Browse stays on VRBO Vienna or hotels on Hotels.com Vienna. Aim for Innere Stadt or near a U‑Bahn line.
• Getting in: Fly into VIE or train from nearby European hubs; compare options on Omio flights and Omio trains.
• Essential eats: Plachutta (tafelspitz ritual), Figlmüller (iconic schnitzel), Gasthaus Pöschl (cozy Viennese), Zum Schwarzen Kameel (legendary canapés), NENI at Naschmarkt (Tel‑Aviv‑style plates), Umarfisch (seafood at the market).
• Cafés & drinks: Café Central (grand), Café Sperl (Biedermeier), Café Prückel (mid‑century), Jonas Reindl (specialty coffee), Loos American Bar (tiny Josef Hoffmann gem), Dachboden Loft Bar (rooftop).
• Transport tip: 72‑hour ticket ~€17–20; trams and U‑Bahn are fast. Validate paper tickets once.

Day 1: Arrive in Vienna, old town stroll, heuriger evening

Morning: In transit. If arriving from another European city, check Omio trains for direct Railjet connections to Wien Hbf; from the airport, take the S7 or Railjet into the city in ~15–20 minutes.

Afternoon: Check in and orient around St. Stephen’s Cathedral; climb the tower for tiled‑roof views if time allows. Walk Graben and Kohlmarkt for elegant storefronts, and treat yourself at Demel or a coffee‑and‑cake pause at Café Central (try the chestnut‑chocolate “Reform Torte”).

Evening: Ride tram D to Heiligenstadt and settle into a heuriger like Mayer am Pfarrplatz or Schübel‑Auer. Sample young Grüner Veltliner and a Brettljause (board of Liptauer, cured meats, pickles). Expect conviviality, candlelight, and sometimes live Schrammelmusik.

Day 2: Schönbrunn, Naschmarkt, and a night at the opera

Morning: Tour Schönbrunn Palace (Grand Tour audio guide) and stroll the gardens to the Gloriette for skyline views. For a stylish start, grab breakfast at Café Gloriette or Landtmann’s Jausenstation (open‑faced sandwiches, strudel).

Afternoon: Explore the Naschmarkt for lunch. NENI serves fluffy pitas, sabich, and mezze; Umarfisch does calamari and grilled octopus with Austrian wine pours. Continue to the MuseumsQuartier: Leopold Museum for Schiele/Klimt, then MUMOK for modern art. Coffee break at Café Sperl—polished wood, billiards, and apricot jam‑filled Buchteln.

Evening: Dinner at Plachutta Wollzeile: your copper pot of tafelspitz arrives with bone marrow, apple‑horseradish, chive sauce, and Rösti—follow the card’s “how to” ritual. Catch a performance at the Vienna State Opera or a concert at the Musikverein; standing‑room tickets can be as low as ~€15 if you arrive early. Nightcap at Loos American Bar (tiny, art‑nouveau jewel).

Day 3: Wachau Valley day trip (Melk, Dürnstein, wine)

Take a classic excursion to the Wachau, a UNESCO stretch of the Danube lined with terraced vineyards and pastel towns. From Wien Hbf, it’s ~1 hour by train to Melk (from ~€15–20 each way on Omio trains). Tour Melk Abbey’s baroque library and church, then bus or taxi to Dürnstein for cobblestone lanes, castle‑ruin views, and tastings at estates like Domäne Wachau. In early spring, Danube cruises may be limited; outside peak season, connect by train via Krems back to Vienna (~1 hour). Lunch on Wachauer Laberl rolls at Bäckerei Schmidl or regional plates at a local heuriger. Return to Vienna for a light dinner—Zum Schwarzen Kameel’s hand‑cut beef tartare or truffled egg canapés—and perhaps a canal‑side stroll.

Salzburg

Salzburg is Mozart’s birthplace and a baroque jewel pressed between the Salzach River and the northern Alps. Fortress walls keep watch over onion‑domed churches, and every lane seems to hum a familiar melody.

• Top sights: Hohensalzburg Fortress, DomQuartier, Mozart’s Birthplace, Mirabell Gardens, Getreidegasse, St. Peter Stiftskeller, Augustiner Bräu Mülln, Stiegl-Brauwelt.
• Where to stay: Altstadt (inside the bends of the river) for ambience; Neustadt near Mirabell for tranquility and easy transit. See VRBO Salzburg and Hotels.com Salzburg.
• Essential eats: Bärenwirt (crispy backhendl), St. Peter Stiftskulinarium (historic Austrian cuisine), Triangel (pre‑concert), Die Weisse (wheat beer & dumplings), Zwettler’s Wirtshaus (hearty classics), Gasthof Goldgasse (elevated local).
• Cafés & sweets: Café Tomaselli (since 1700s), 220 Grad (third‑wave coffee), Kaffee-Alchemie (artisan roasts), Konditorei Fürst (original Mozartkugel).
• Getting there: Vienna–Salzburg Railjet ~2h25–2h40, advance fares from ~€20–50 on Omio trains. Buses run ~3h on Omio buses.

Day 4: Train to Salzburg, cathedral quarter, beer hall night

Morning: Depart Vienna on an early Railjet; book seats and check times on Omio trains. Travel time is ~2h25. Grab a takeaway kipferl and coffee from Café Prückel before you go.

Afternoon: Drop bags and wander Residenzplatz and the Salzburg Cathedral’s marble interior. Stroll Getreidegasse’s wrought‑iron signs and duck into Mozart’s Birthplace for manuscripts and family instruments. Pause at Café Tomaselli for a melange and Esterházy slice; pick up a box of original Mozartkugeln at Fürst next door.

Evening: Dine at St. Peter Stiftskulinarium—candlelit vaults serving classics like Tafelspitz and Salzburger Nockerl. Afterwards, join locals at Augustiner Bräu Mülln: grab a stone stein, have it rinsed, and order Märzen from the wooden cask; snack stalls sell pretzels, radish spirals, and spreads.

Day 5: Fortress views, Mirabell Gardens, music at night

Morning: Ride the funicular up to Hohensalzburg Fortress; the panorama of spires and Alps is worth every step. Explore the museum and ramparts before descending via the wooded path. Coffee stop at 220 Grad Nonntal for hand‑brewed single origins and flaky croissants.

Afternoon: Cross to Mirabell Palace & Gardens—Sound of Music fans will recognize the Pegasus fountain and vine tunnel. Lunch at Bärenwirt for golden, bone‑in backhendl with potato salad. If energy allows, climb the Kapuzinerberg steps for a peaceful viewpoint over the old town.

Evening: Attend a chamber concert at the Mozarteum or a fortress concert (programs vary nightly). For dinner, try Triangel near the Festival Hall for venison ragout and seasonal dumplings, or Gasthof Goldgasse for refined takes on regional dishes. Nightcap at Sporer’s for house‑infused fruit liqueurs.

Day 6: Hallstatt and the Salzkammergut lakes

Make a postcard‑perfect day trip to Hallstatt. From Salzburg Hbf, take a train to Attnang‑Puchheim (45–60 minutes) and connect to Hallstatt station (~1h20), then a 5‑minute ferry across the lake—plan with Omio trains; expect ~2h15–2h40 each way and ~€40–55 round‑trip per adult. Explore the lakeside lanes, the market square, and St. Michael’s Chapel with its small ossuary. If the Salzbergbahn funicular is operating, ride up for the Skywalk viewing platform; otherwise, enjoy a shoreline stroll.

Lunch on fresh‑water fish at Gasthof Zauner or lakeside classics at Seewirt Zauner. Browse local crafts (salt, bone spoons, woodcarving) before returning to Salzburg. Back in town, unwind over hearty fare and wheat beer at Die Weisse, or seek sunset views at IMLAUER Sky Bar & Restaurant, pairing seasonal Austrian plates with a city‑lights panorama.

Day 7: Slow Salzburg morning and departure

Morning: Savor a last coffee at Kaffee‑Alchemie or 220 Grad, then stroll along the Salzach promenade. If time allows, pop into Stiegl‑Brauwelt for a quick exhibit and shop stop or browse the Grünmarkt for picnic provisions.

Afternoon: Depart for the airport or your next European stop; compare options on Omio flights and Omio trains. Grab a final snack—Zwettler’s goulash or a Käsekrainer from a Würstelstand—before you go.

Practical add‑ons and swaps

• Opera and concerts: Vienna State Opera and Musikverein have same‑day standing tickets; arrive early for best spots.
• Seasonal note (Wachau): Full Danube cruises typically run April–October; in March, plan train/bus hops and cellar tastings instead.
• Passes: Vienna’s 48/72‑hour transit tickets save time; Salzburg Card can be good value if you’re doing multiple paid sights and the fortress funicular.
• Dietary tips: Many restaurants offer vegetarian dumplings (Käsespätzle), mushroom gravies, and fish from alpine lakes.

Getting between cities (recap): Vienna → Salzburg Railjet in ~2h25; advance fares from ~€20–50 on Omio trains. Buses take ~3 hours on Omio buses. If flying into or out of Europe, compare routes and prices via Omio flights.

This 7‑day Austria itinerary marries Vienna’s imperial elegance with Salzburg’s alpine lyricism, layering art, music, wine, and time‑honored cafés. You’ll leave with a camera full of spires and lake reflections—and a palate that now knows the difference between a proper melange and a Verlängerter.