7 Weekend Getaways from Vienna You Probably Haven't Tried

samusimonfoti
Mar 25
4 min read

Updated: 6 days ago

You've done the Wachau. You've done Semmering. You've sat in Therme Wien on a Saturday and shared a pool with 400 strangers. These are fine. They're also what everyone does.

Here are 7 alternatives under 2 hours from Vienna, across the Hungarian border and into the Austrian countryside, that most people haven't found yet.

1. Kőszeg (1h 20m)

A medieval town of 12,000 people that should be as famous as Český Krumlov but isn't. The main square has painted baroque facades, a 13th-century castle (Jurisics Castle, worth 45 minutes for the courtyard alone), and almost nobody there on a Tuesday morning.

The real draw is the Kőszegi Mountains behind it. Írottkő peak is 884 metres, the highest point in the range. The hike from town takes about 3 hours through silver fir forest. On a clear day you can see Lake Balaton. Bring water, the trail has no facilities.

Wine is good here. Kékfrankos is the local grape. The cellars near the town wall are worth a visit, especially if you time it around the grape harvest festival. For a full guide to things to do in Kőszeg, we've covered it in detail separately.

Getting there: A2 south, exit Wiener Neustadt, Route 54 through Sopron.

2. Rust and the Neusiedlersee (1h)

The shortest drive on this list. Rust is a tiny Freistadt (free town, population 2,000) on the western shore of Lake Neusiedl. Famous for storks nesting on chimneys in spring and summer, and for its sweet Ausbruch wine.

The lake is Europe's westernmost steppe lake and rarely deeper than 2 metres. You can rent a sailboat, cycle the 130 km loop around it (or just do one side), or sit in a Heuriger drinking Blaufränkisch until the sun goes down.

Best in May or September. July is crowded.

3. Sopron (1h 15m)

The Hungarian town that almost became Austrian, which voted to remain Hungarian in the 1921 plebiscite. Sopron has an intact medieval inner city, a fire tower you can climb, and some of the best preserved Roman ruins in western Hungary.

The wine district is underrated. The Lővér hills above town have marked walking trails through chestnut forests, and you can hike from the town centre.

Less polished than Kőszeg, more lived-in. That's part of the appeal.

4. Bernstein and the Burgenland Castles (1h 30m)

Castle Bernstein is a 13th-century hilltop fortress you can actually sleep in (it's been a guesthouse since the 1950s). Even if you don't stay, the drive through southern Burgenland is worth it. Rolling hills, no traffic, the occasional castle ruin on a hilltop.

Combine with Burg Lockenhaus (about 13 km from Kőszeg, on the Austrian side). The castle does medieval themed tours and has a decent restaurant.

5. The Alpokalja (Alps Foothills) (1h 40m)

This is the area where the Alps finally flatten into the Hungarian plain. Villages of 200-500 people, vineyards, marked hiking and cycling trails, and a quiet that's hard to find in Austria anymore.

Cák, Velem, Bozsok are the villages to look for. There's no resort infrastructure. No spa hotels. Just stone houses, gardens, and trails into forested hills that cross into Austria.

If you want to hike without other hikers, this is it.

6. Bad Tatzmannsdorf (1h 20m)

A proper Austrian Kurort (spa town) that's been largely forgotten in favour of Loipersdorf and Bad Waltersdorf. The mineral springs here have been used since the 17th century. Quieter, cheaper, and less resort-like than the bigger complexes.

Good for: a day of doing nothing. Not good for: waterslides or kids' entertainment.

7. Bükfürdő (1h 30m)

One of Hungary's largest thermal bath complexes, just across the border. 34 pools, medicinal water, and entry costs roughly half what you'd pay at an Austrian therme (around 6,500 HUF, roughly €16, vs €30+ in Austria).

Not glamorous. The facilities are functional, not design-hotel-sleek. But the water is genuinely therapeutic, the outdoor pools are huge, and on a weekday you'll have space to actually swim.

Combine with Kőszeg (20 minutes away) for a full weekend.

Practical Tips

Border crossing: Hungary is in Schengen. No passport control, no waiting. You'll barely notice you've crossed.

Currency: Hungary uses the Forint, not the Euro. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but having some cash helps in smaller villages. Current rate is roughly 400 HUF = €1.

Fuel: Petrol is cheaper in Hungary. Fill up after crossing the border.

Language: In tourist areas, English and German are widely understood. In small villages, less so. Learn "köszönöm" (thank you) and "sör" (beer) and you'll be fine.

When to go: Spring (April-May) for wildflowers and empty trails. September-October for harvest festivals, warm days, and golden light. Avoid August if you don't like heat.