Vienna, the capital,
can also be done from Kremsmünster as a full day tour

Vienna – the place where the sprit of Austria’s biggest history is still alive. This was the time of the Austrian Empire, and the capitol of the Empire was Vienna. In 15 BC Vienna became Roman, and the city was called “Vindobona”. During the Middle Ages, Vienna was the capitol of the Babenberg Dynasty.
In 1440 the Habsburg Dynasty took the power an Vienna became their residence. The Ottoman-Turkish invasions of Europe in 1529 and 1683 were stopped twice just outside of Vienna, and in commemoration of the Turkish defeat the humble croissant (crescent) was created by an enterprising local baker.

Vienna – where East meets West with Hungarian goulash, Turkish coffee, whipped cream pastries and Waltzes – bastions of Viennese life. The heart of the Habsburg empire for 600 years and ancient palaces scattered all around. Located in Vienna’s Imperial Hofburg Palace is the world’s most famous riding hall, the “Winter Riding School”, for the Spanish Riding School.

Each year the best Lipizzan stallions are selected for training and at the height of their career, they enchant visitors from all over the world with their truly unique performances. The heart and historical city of Vienna, the Innere Stadt ( Inner City), was once surrounded by a mighty city wall. The wall was removed in 1857, and the new space was used for a street around Vienna, today’s “Ringstrasse”. Imposing buildings, monuments and parks were created along this Ringstrasse, such as the Rathaus (town hall), the Burgtheater, the University, the Parliament, and the State Opera. The principal Park of Vienna is the Prater, which is situated on an island formed by the Danube River and the canal. Schönbrunn, the beautiful Imperial Summer Palace, includes an 18th century park and the worlds oldest zoo (1752).

Potter around the lakes of the Salzkammergut

The Salzkammergut is renowned as the Lake District for Austria with enchanting towns dotting the shores. Perfect natural stage settings for these famous operettas and musicals. See the original “White Horse Inn” in the pretty town of St. Wolfgang. The name Salzkammergut means “possession of the salt chamber” and is so-called because it belonged to the Imperial Salt Chamber, the authority charged with running the precious salt mines in the Habsburg empire.