Krems (Lower Austria, Outside Vienna): In the eastern part of the Wachau, on the river's left bank, this 1,000-year-old town incorporates the little village of Stein, with narrow streets terraced above the river. Many houses date from the 16th century.
Wels (Upper Austria): Even in Roman times, Wels, on the left bank of the Traun River, was a flourishing town. Emperor Maximilian I died here in 1519. Its parish church has a 14th-century chancel with a tower from 1732. Across from the church is the house of Salome Alt, the notorious mistress of Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich of Salzburg, who bore him 15 children.
St. Christoph (Tyrol): St. Christoph, the mountain way station of St. Anton in Tyrol, sits at an elevation of 1,784m (5,853 ft.). It was a famous settlement on the road to the Arlberg Pass, and was the site of a fabled hospice established in 1386. Members patrolled the pass looking for frozen bodies and assisting wayfarers in trouble.
Lienz (East Tyrol): Not to be confused with Linz in Upper Austria, Lienz, with an e, is the capital of remote East Tyrol. Set at the junction of three valleys, this colorful town stretches along the banks of the Isel River. In summer, mountain climbers use it as a base to scale the Dolomites. The town is presided over by Schloss Bruck, the fortress of the counts of Gorz.
Mariazell (Styria): Pilgrims come here to see the Mariazell Basilica, dating from the early 1200s, and its trio of prominent towers. Both Fischer von Erlachs, senior and junior, the famed baroque architects, helped transform the church. The Chapel of Grace inside is the national shrine of Austria, Hungary, and Bohemia. If you're exploring Styria, this old town, both a winter playground and a summer resort, is worth a stop.
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