All Austria

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Austria

145 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Austria

Updated August 20, 2024

Email

Cities

Top Cities
All Cities
  1. Graz
  2. Hallstatt
  3. Innsbruck
  4. Klagenfurt
  5. Salzburg
  6. Vienna
  7. Wien

Unusual Attractions in Austria

See All 145 Things To Do in Austria

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Austria

See all 9 Places to Eat in Austria
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Austria

Museums 30
Architecture 25
Art 15
Churches 14
Sacred Spaces 14
Architectural Oddities 13
History & Culture 12
Collections 11

Austria Leaderboard

Recent Austria Activity

Stories About Austria

Frau Perchta is often called the Christmas Witch, but that is just one aspect of who she is: a powerful winter goddess who has endured a centuries-old campaign to vilify her.

Fearsome Frau Perchta Is an Ancient Alpine Winter Goddess

Today, she's commonly called the Christmas Witch or even "the female Krampus"—but she is so much more.
by Victoria Linchong
A handstein, circa 1740 from Hungary, in the German Mining Museum in Bochum.

The Raw Ore Centerpieces That Turned Grueling Labor Into Cutesy Dioramas

Handsteins were beloved of 16th-century princes because they affirmed the social order.
by Eve Kahn
A 14th-century painting of Saint Corona by the Master of Palazzo Venezia Madonna.

Is Saint Corona a Guardian Against Epidemics?

Well, she might be now, at least.
by Matthew Taub
The world's largest wine bottle held 1,590 liters of Austrian red wine—until recently.

The World's Largest Bottle of Wine Just Spilled in Austria

We're gonna need a bigger napkin.
by Luke Fater
Archaeologists found these Late Bronze Age feeding vessels in Vösendorf, Austria.

Found: Milk Residue That Proves Ancient Europeans Used Cute-as-Heck Baby Bottles

The clay vessels are shaped like mythical animals.
by Reina Gattuso
They look familiar...

In the Bronze Age, People Labored Over Cereal That No One Ate

They probably used the Cheerio-like rings in rituals, not the kitchen.
by Sabrina Imbler
Bibi and Poldi having a tense moment.

The Celebrity Tortoise Breakup That Rocked the World

In 2011, after nearly a century together, Galápagos tortoises Bibi and Poldi called it quits. We still don’t know why.
by Cara Giaimo
Train workers free the trapped chamois.

Watch Austrian Train Workers Leap to the Rescue of a Snowed-In Goat

After their wave of plowed snow stopped it in its tracks.
by Noor Al-Samarrai

See Fewer Ads

Become an Atlas Obscura member and experience far fewer ads and no pop-ups.

Learn More