5 of the best Austrian cities and towns and what to do there

Not Bavaria but not quite Italy either: Many Austrian towns beyond Vienna blend the looks of their Bavarian neighbours with the laid back character of their Southern counterparts. Here are the five best urban spaces to soak up culture, atmosphere, beer and wine.

Salzburg

Less than ten times smaller than Vienna (by population) the home of Mozart and the Sound of Music loves to outshine Austria’s capital. Salzburg largely owns its charming Renaissance arcades and Baroque townhouses to a thorough redesign in the late 16th and early 17th century.

Having joined Austria only 200 years ago, Salzburg is at least as Southern German as it is Austrian. Among the best things to do in Salzburg are strolling through the narrow streets of the old town, taking breakfast at Café Tomaselli, visiting the Fortress Hohensalzburg and enjoying Salzburger Nockerl and local beer at quiet Linzer Gasse neighbourhood.

Kitzbuehel

The chic ski resort in the Tyrolean Alps shares a…