The modern glass-and-steel building known as the 21er Haus was in fact constructed in 1958 as the Austrian pavilion for the World Expo in Brussels. After the fair, the venue was painstakingly taken apart, transferred and rebuilt in Vienna on its current site near the Belvedere Palace. Originally called 20er Haus, the institution has been renamed to reflect the current century and today houses an excellent collection of contemporary Austrian art, a sculpture garden on the grounds and a basement-level café and theater.

Housed in a beautiful, meticulously restored palace that dates to the late 1600s, Vienna’s Albertina museum has one of the world’s largest graphic art collections, including drawings by Dürer, Michelangelo and Rembrandt. Most impressive are the palace’s Hapsburg staterooms, which were made accessible to the public for the first time in 2003, when the Albertina reopened after being shuttered for nearly a decade. The ultramodern titanium roof that juts out from over the palace’s entrance, in stark juxtaposition to the Baroque sculpture of Erzherzog Albrecht on horseback, was designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Hans Hollein and caused quite a controversy when it was unveiled (some locals likened it to a ski chute).

An interesting detail to note is that most of the drawings on display in the Albertina are actually reprints; the originals are kept in a vault and come out only for special exhibits. I was tipped off to this fact when I found myself standing alone in front of Dürer’s famous A Young Hare watercolor with nary a guard or alarm system in sight. When I asked a museum employee, she explained that the originals are extremely fragile and nearly impossible to insure (the Albertina has 50,000 drawings and approximately a million Old Master prints).

The Albertina hosts fantastic temporary exhibits that are always worth seeing. After a visit, take a short stroll to the Hofgarten and have lunch or coffee at the Palmenhaus. Open daily.

The annual music, opera and theater festival is one of Europe’s most prestigious cultural events. It takes place every summer for several weeks beginning mid-July and performances are scheduled all across town. Venues run from the sumptuous Festival Hall and al fresco Domplatz (the square in front of the cathedral) to the beautifully decorated Benedictine Abbey of St. Peter (the oldest existing monastery in the German-speaking area). The festival draws the biggest names in opera, music and theater and tickets to the most coveted productions are often booked months in advance.

Located 45 minutes outside of Innsbruck, the 500,000-square-foot Aqua Dome boasts a spa, hotel, restaurant, several pools and fitness center with different types of classes. In the winter, it is a great day trip for skiers in neighboring mountain resorts to take a day off and unwind. Be aware, though, that those who don’t do well with nudity in public spaces should most likely avoid.

This outdoor park at the entrance of the Ötzal Valley is a paradise for adventurous travelers. Open in the summer months, the amusement park boasts white water rafting, a high ropes course, a Flying Fox zip line and more. Those looking for a true camping experience can stay overnight in one of the park’s cabins or teepee structures.

The sprawling Augarten is a park in the residential second district and is home of the Vienna Choir Boys. Comprising some 128 acres, the park also holds Vienna’s oldest Baroque gardens, open to the public, as well as the Augarten Porcelain Manufactory and the Augarten Contemporary, a sculpture park and exhibition space. History buffs should seek out the two crumbling Flaktürme, defense towers left over from World War II (a debate on what to do with these massive concrete structures has been ongoing for years; they are virtually indestructible, and the Architecture Center has called for their preservation as the most accessible anti-war memorials). Augarten porcelain may not be as famous as Meissen or Nymphenburg, but a visit to the factory, which is housed in an 18th-century palace, is interesting. English tours can be arranged. Afterwards, have lunch at Décor restaurant.

The Augustinerkirche, part of the Hofburg, has seen its share of famous weddings: Emperor Franz Joseph and Elisabeth (known as Sissi), in 1854; Crown Prince Rudolf and Princess Stéphanie, in 1881; and even French emperor Napoléon (in proxy) and Austrian princess Marie Louise, a daughter of Maria Theresa, in 1810. There is tons of noteworthy art, so it’s best to explore with an Indagare-approved guide who can give a thrilling context to what you’re seeing. (Contact our Bookings Team to make arrangements). Don’t miss the marble tomb of Archduchess Maria Christine, known as Mimi. The favorite daughter of formidable Hapsburg matron Maria Christina, who had sixteen children, Mimi was the only one permitted to marry for love (rather than for reasons of state). Tragically, Mimi died shortly after the wedding, and her husband’s grief is movingly expressed in architect Antonio Canova’s sculpted tomb.

This excellent contemporary art gallery was founded and is run by the elegant intellectual Gabriele Schober. The three-story space shows works by up-and-coming artists like Helrl Häfliger, who works exclusively with toilet paper to create two- and three-dimensional sculptures. The gallery’s location, on one of the oldest streets in Vienna, which is home to stunningly preserved Renaissance era townhouses, contrasts with the very modern works of art presented.

This ski-jumping venue was designed in 2001 by Zaha Hadid and is truly a sight to see, located 820 feet above the city. Try to plan a visit when Olympic skiers are practicing.

The former factory for Anker, Austria’s largest bread-making company, Ankerbrotfabrik (Anker Bread Factory) is today one of Vienna’s most exciting contemporary art and social projects venues. Located in the 10^th district to the southeast of the city center, the space aims to bring business and education to the less affluent neighborhood, which is home to much of Vienna’s immigrant population. There is an education center in the space that caters to local children as well as a cantina and second-hand shop, which employ refugees. Throughout the large space are multiple art galleries, a vintage furniture shop (an outlet of Lichterloh) and event spaces. Check the website before visiting to see if there is anything scheduled for the day of your visit.

The performances at the Burgtheater—known to serious theatergoers simply as “Die Burg,” and considered one of the most acclaimed stages in Europe—are in German. But Klimt fans should take the forty-five-minute backstage tour to see the two ceiling murals the twenty-six-year-old artist created with his brother, Ernst, and fellow painter Franz Matsch from 1886-1888. Klimt’s opinion of the finished work was rather harsh (he famously called it “Schweinsdreck,” which translates to pig dirt), surely in part because Emperor Franz Joseph insisted upon a self-portrait of the artist. If you’re standing under the panel that depicts Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre—the murals portray well-known playhouses and scenes from plays—look for an audience member wearing a white ruffled collar. It was the first, and last, time Klimt depicted himself in one of his works. Tours in English are available.

Vienna’s waterfront is prime real estate for restaurants, but in recent years, the area has developed in a more traditional way, with several beaches cropping up. There are a number of places to rent boats for an afternoon cruise, and multiple beaches on the Alte Donau, including the family-friendly Gänsehäufel (www.gaensehaeufel.at),a wooden island on the Danube with beaches, a wave pool and playground. Tel Aviv Beach is a good stopping point for Israeli tapas. Most of the waterfront restaurants and cafés are packed at night, but during the day it has a less scene-y crowd.

This modern museum is home to spectacular, 360-degree painting depicting the Tyrolean struggle for freedom and military history of the region, which alone makes it worth a visit.

Home to some of Austria’s best wineries, the Burgenland is Austria’s eastern-most state (it shares a border with Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia). Its main hub, Neusiedl Am See, however, is just a scenic, forty-minute drive from Vienna, making this a feasible day trip for some wine tasting and great food. Plan a route that includes stops at such villages as Purbach, Donnerskirchen, Oggau, Rust and Mörbisch. Combine lunchtime with a visit of 18th-century Schloss Halbturn whose Knappenstöckl restaurant (www.knappenstoeckl.at) is a local favorite. Contact our Bookings Team to arrange for a guide and driver.

In Neusiedl am See, have a cocktails at hip hang-out Mole West (molewest.at) or, for an early dinner before returning to Vienna, head to Podersdorf and dine at Dankbarkeit (www.dankbarkeit.at), which has a gourmet restaurant and a more rustic but fun Heuriger, Austria’s version of a countryside trattoria.

An easy, half-day trip outside of Vienna is to visit the small town of Klosterneuburg, home of the renowned Sammlung Essl, a collection of modern and contemporary art. On the way back to Vienna, have lunch or dinner at Restaurant Eckl (Sieveringer Strasse 46; 01-320-32-18; www.restauranteckel.at) a fabulous local spot with a romantic garden setting beneath ancient chestnut trees (expect hearty, well-prepared Austrian fare and local wines).

The Wachau valley, located west of Vienna, is one of Austria’s most scenic, drawing outdoor enthusiasts thanks to its rolling hillsides and stunning vistas. Don’t miss the scenic medieval village of Dürnstein where king Richard Lionheart was reportedly held captive during the Third Crusade. Have lunch on the terrace of Richard Löwenherz restaurant, overlooking the Danube. Other nearby towns not to miss are Melk (home of the Baroque monastery Stiftung Melk) and Krems, with its contemporary art enclave Kunsthalle. The drive from Vienna to Melk and Dürnstein is about an hour.

The larger winter resort of Kitzbühel is one-and-a-half hours away and a bit more polished than Zell and offers great skiing (though is not a glacier). At the end of January, the town hosts the famous Hahnenkamm ski race there and the town can get crowded.

Weisses Roessl (www.roesslkitz.at), right in the center of town, is a two-minute walk from the ski lifts, has beautiful rooms and a nice spa/wellness center.

A convenient winter resort near Salzburg, Zell am See is a quaint Tyrolean village only an hour drive outside the city. Known for its gorgeous setting on a lake (Zeller See), the town is surrounded by Alpine mountains and the nearby Kaprun Glacier. There’s plenty of great skiing for all levels, as well as a healthy après-ski scene.

Salzburger Hof (www.salzburgerhof.at) is a gorgeous chalet near the lake that has been owned by the same family for decades and remains the grande dame choice. Hip Mavida (www.mavida.at), a designer hotel created by architect Niki Szilagyl is a bit removed from the town center and has a minimalist vibe.

One of Vienna’s oldest and most well-respected contemporary art galleries, Galerie Krinzinger was founded in the 1970s and is located on the third floor of a gorgeous fin de siècle building in the first district. The gallery represents established artists like Marina Abramovic but its most interesting shows are those by up-and-coming creative such as Erik Schmidt and the gallerist’s own talented daughter, the impressive Angelika Krinzinger. Of note are the results of the gallery’s hosted residencies around the world in such places as Sri Lanka and Tokyo.

Georg Kargl was the first blue chip art dealer to move to the removed Shleifmühlgasse neighborhood, and today the area is known as one of Vienna’s preeminent hubs for contemporary art. Adjacent to the traditional gallery sits the Box, a secondary space that shows the work of one artist; the Box’s blue façade itself was created by American artist Richard Artschwager. Kargl shows the works of exceptional artists, both Austrian and international, and his gallery is worth seeing for its space alone.

While strolling through the Old Town of Innsbruck, be sure to stop and see this landmark, the Golden Roof, which is considered the city’s most famous structure. The gilded façade was completed in 1500 and features a balcony that was used by Emperor Maximilian I to observe events taking place in the square below. To get a good view and to beat the crowds, go first thing in the morning or at the end of the day.

In a choice location with beautiful views of the Alps, the historic Gwandhaus houses a restaurant, café, museum and gorgeous gourmet store. Gössel, a manufacturer of Trachten, the traditional dress, is about as Austrian as it gets. Here, visitors can view the beautifully made dirndl and Lederhosen on display in a museum (and purchase them in the boutique), as well as dine on Austrian specialties in the restaurant and café, all with a view of the nearby Alps. It’s a wonderful, destination-specific place for a meal and tour.

In a city with an abundance of world-class art museums, the new Heidi Horton Collection has made an enormous splash even amid controversy. Opened in June 2022 in a beautifully renovated palace, the private collection has been declared one of the best in Europe and contains hundreds of 20th-century masterpieces, all amassed over decades of discerning and discreet buying on behalf of Austrian billionaire Heidi Goëss-Horten. The museum, which opened the same year that its patron died, contains works by Klimt, Schiele, Chagall, Picasso, Baselitz, Richter, Warhol, Basquiat and other modern and contemporary masters. (It is said that Heidi herself had great taste but was also helped in her collecting by a very astute advisor.) After Horten’s death, part of her famous jewelry collection was sold by Christie’s auction house, and the $201 million raised will support the foundation supporting the museum and other philanthropic causes. However, after an outcry by Jewish advocacy groups who pointed out that much of the wealth amassed by Horten’s late husband Helmut could be attributed to businesses bought from Jewish families under duress before and during World War II, Christie’s pledged to donate much of the proceeds to Holocaust education and canceled the last of the jewelry sales. The museum management has also committed to “recognize the moral necessity of aggressively engaging with this aspect of history and express our deep regret that this has not been done sooner.”

This Baroque villa built in 1613 by the prince-archbishop of Salzburg was named for the healing fountain that supplied it. Water is a defining characteristic of the design of the palace, and the property’s trick fountains still provide entertainment and amusement. With its sizable park and nearby zoo, Hellbrunn is excellent for an outing in the summer months. In December, Hellbrunn hosts a lovely Christmas market in the palace courtyard.

While Lech draws most if its visitors during the winter for its famous “White Ring,” the largest connected ski area of Austria, these same 190 miles of trails transform into the “Green Ring” in summer, when they are a paradise for nature lovers.

The Rufikopf Geo Trail is particularly noteworthy for the 200 million-year-old shell fossils that are preserved in the rocks here, and once lined the ocean floor. Indagare can help arrange a hike to see the fossils, lakes and glaciers with an expert guide. For a longer, multi-day hiking adventure, the 77-mile Lechweg River Trail runs along the turquoise Lech River from Vorarlberg to Bavaria, Germany. Popular sites to visit along the Lechweg Trail are the Highline 179 Suspension Bridge and Tirol Lech Nature Park.

The Vienna Boys’ Choir, whose members live, study and practice in the city’s Augartenpalais, perform in the Imperial Palace chapel, part of the Hofburg complex, every Sunday at 9:15 A.M. (except when they are on tour). Note that the choir sings as part of regular Masses, which are conducted in German. Be sure to request tickets with full view of the altar.

A lesser-visited museum but a gem nonetheless, the Imperial Furniture Collection is a depot (its German name is in fact Hofmobiliendepot) that stores and displays 165,000 pieces of furniture and decorative and functional objects. The Hapsburg royalty owned multiple palaces, and while many of them are open to the public today, none have been kept intact fully furnished. Instead, the pieces that made up the living and entertaining spaces for the emperors and their families are here, and range from the regal (gilded thrones) to the mundane (coat hangers). Seeing the objects on show in this museum in many ways offers a more realistic look into the lives of the famed Hapsburg royals.