Austria is a beautiful country to explore, and its capital, Vienna, is an even more beautiful place. There are many beautiful and picturesque sights to see.

Located in Central Europe, Austria is a relatively small country that is easy to reach on a road trip. While its size won't put you off, Austria has many incredible, go-anywhere best places to visit.

1. Erwald

If you love the outdoors, Ehrwald, nestled in the beautiful region of Reutte, is one of the best places to visit in Austria.

It sits on the border with Germany and is towered by the incredible Zugspitze, which is the highest mountain in Germany. Once you are here, make sure to cross the trails in this area. Then head to Holzerstubn for the best dumplings. It's proper warm therapy.

2. St. Gilgen

St. Gilgen is situated on the shores of Lake Wolfgangsee, and once you're here, be sure to take the steam train up the Schaafberg mountain and enjoy the views along the way. If you're a fan of the movie, you may recognize the Schaafberg class train, which is featured in The Sound of Music.

3. Hohenems

Hohenemes is located in the west of the country, and one place you won't want to miss is the 12th-century Altme Castle, which is perfect for walking. Another place worth seeing is the Stadtpfarrkirche, which dates back almost 500 years. There are so many historical buildings for you to choose from.

Better yet, Hohenems is surrounded by those striking Austrian mountains. All this means plenty of opportunities to ski in the winter or glide along the trails in the hot summer months.

4. Wachau

Wachau is one of those locations that may not immediately come to mind when thinking about Austria. In addition, you can enjoy a delicious snack and a traditional Austrian lunch at the Gasthof Goldenes Schiff (Spitz).

5. Wildsee Lake & Seefeld

Seefeld is one of the best places to visit in Austria, for any season and time of the year. Once you are here, be sure to visit the Sikircher on Lake Wildsee.

If you prefer to hike in the summer, you can follow the trails to Kaltwassersee and enjoy the incredible beauty of the area.

6. Mondsee

Mondsee is easily one of the best places in Austria if you want to go out for a day trip from the big city.

Once you're here, you'll almost certainly spend a lot of time on one of Mondsee's largest lakes! For a delicious meal, stop by the Gasthof Drachenwand for their venison, it's delicious. Even if it's a little more expensive than the rest of Mondsee, it's worth the extra money.

7. Pabnoykirchen

The Pabneukirchen area may not seem like a typical tourist destination, but it's an area that people completely forget about on their Austrian road trips.

When you get here, head to a charming farm and stay at the Wanderreithof Heimelsteiner, a place that really makes you feel at home as soon as you arrive. After some minor orientation, you'll head out into the surrounding area to experience horseback riding and even a barbecue over a crackling fire.