List of cities in Austria by population
In this small country located in the heart of Europe, you can stroll through the cozy streets of Salzburg and Innsbruck, drink the famous Viennese coffee, visit the Vienna Opera, enjoy Mozart's creativity, swim in the thermal pools, improve your health in the medical radon galleries of Gastein, relax on the lakes of Carinthia, raft along the mountain river, and, of course, go skiing in the Alps! Check up the list of cities in Austria by population and choose one to visit or even move to!
List of largest cities in Austria
1. Vienna
Continent: Europe
Land: Vienna
Population: 1 840 573 people (2015)
City area: 414.65 km²
Population density: 4438.00 people / km²
Agglomeration: 2 300 000 people (city population together with the population of suburbs)
Climate type: mild temperate
Time: UTC + 1, in summer UTC + 2
Airports: Vienna-Schwechat Airport (VIE)
Vienna is the most influential city in Austria. A lot of industrial enterprises, factories and plants are concentrated in the city. The leading areas are metal processing, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, as well as the production of food, footwear and clothing. The local river port serves hundreds of vessels daily and has the largest container terminal in Europe.
In the state are the main offices of the largest Austrian firms, insurance companies and banks. Twice a year in the Austrian capital, international fairs are held, and various congresses, conventions and exhibitions are conducted almost every day. The Vienna International Center hosts the headquarters of the most influential international organizations. This is the third UN residence, after New York and Geneva.
Vienna is one of the most charming and luxurious cities in Europe. From the first minute, it amazes with its charm, grandeur, beauty, a wonderful combination of ancient castles and modern skyscrapers, high art and youth subcultures. Since ancient times, the city has won its fame as the musical capital. Here Strauss, Schubert, Mozart, Schoenberg and Beethoven wrote their legendary overtures and symphonies. Today, their music sounds can be heard at the famous Vienna Opera Ball. To receive a free invitation to this place is considered a great honour for any dancer. Buying tickets often becomes a huge problem, because they are sold out long before the event.
The architectural appearance of the city showcases all the styles, from Gothic to postmodern, but most of all, there are massive buildings in the Baroque style. The pride of Vienna is also considered the most beautiful parks, which occupy almost a quarter of its territory.
2. Graz
Continent: Europe
Land: Styria
Population: 280,200 people
Graz is the second on our list of big cities in Austria. It is the capital of the federal state of Styria and happens to be a large student center: there are several universities here with over 55,000 students - that is about 20% of the population. Also Graz is famous for its lively cultural life: the city regularly hosts festivals, exhibitions, fairs and colourful national holidays, attracting a huge number of tourists and participants. In 2003 , Graz was recognized as the cultural capital of Europe.
Many cultural traditions are rooted in the past, as there have been a lot of bright moments in the history of the city. Graz was the residence of the Habsburgs, the capital of Inner Austria, the center of Protestantism, an important European outpost during the Turkish raids in the 16th century, and also part of the Napoleonic Empire, the fascist German republic and the British occupation zone. In THE local universities, Nikola Tesla and Erwin Schrodinger received their education, and the village of Tal, 4 km from Graz, became famous for being THE birthplace of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
It is interesting that in Austria, Graz is considered to be the most "Italian" city: here you can see magnificent palaces, elegant mansions decorated with frescoes, and cozy Venetian courtyards. The thing is that during the Baroque era, talented Italians worked on the architectural image of the city: Domenico Del Allio, who built the palace complex Landhouse in the spirit of the Florentine palazzo, Giovanni Pietro de Pomis, the author of the mausoleum of Ferdinand II, and others.
3. Linz
Continent: Europe
Land: Upper Austria
Population: 200,841 people
Linz is the administrative center of Upper Austria, the third largest city in the country and a large industrial and transport center.
It is located at the confluence of the Traun River in the Danube. The city was founded by the Romans as the port of Lentia and quickly turned into the main medieval center of commerce on this great river. From 1489 to 1493, it even managed to become the capital of the empire. In 1785, the city became the center of the bishopric, but as the stronghold of Protestantism was heavily destroyed by the Bavarians, Linz left the political arena of the country for many years.
Only in the 19th century did the favorable position of Linz began to be profitable again - in 1832 the first horse-drawn railway on the continent passed here, and by the end of the century, the city developed into the largest railway junction of the empire.
But today, the main street of Linz Landstrasse may seem surprisingly deserted. There are no more cars, but trams, shops, cafes and department stores give it a peculiar look. The historic area of Altstadt at the northern end of the Landstrasse is quite small.
Only fragments of old city walls may be found. For example, a beautiful main square Hauptplatz (the largest medieval square in the country) with a column of the Holy Trinity (XVIII century) and the Old Town Hall (XVI century), the main art gallery of the city - Lentos Kunstmuseum (one of the largest museums of modern art in Austria) near the Nibelungenbrücke bridge, the Alter Dom cathedral (the 17th century) in the southeastern corner of Hauptplatz, the parish church with the mausoleum of Emperor Frederick III, as well as the regional parliament complex in the former Minorite monastery (XIII-XV cc.).
At the western extremity of Altstadt, on a high cliff above the Danube, there is Weinberg Castle (13th-15th centuries), formerly the residence of Frederick III and now - the Land Museum of Upper Austria.
4. Salzburg
Continent: Europe
Land: Salzburg Population: 150,887 people
Salzburg is in the west of the country. It is the fourth largest city in Austria. Salzburg means ‘Salt Castle’, because once upon a time, people transported salt on barges on its river. Salzburg is famous as the birth place of the great composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Also the famous film ‘Sounds of Music’ was shot here. In addition, the historical Baroque architecture is preserved in this city. Salzburg is called the city of three universities, where a large number of students live and study.
In Salzburg, the Old Town is under the protection of UNESCO, because it was built in the style of Baroque architecture. The central square of Residenzplatz, which has retained its appearance from the 18th century, is worth your visit for sure.
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You can find the ‘Archbishop's Residence’ dating back to the 17th century. There are 35 bells and ancient clock towers. The fountain Residenzbrunnen, which was built in 1661, is particularly attractive. The famous historical attraction is the Benedictine Abbey of St. Peter, which was founded by Saint Rupert. At first, the cathedral was built in the Romanesque style, then it was rebuilt in the baroque style. The cathedral keeps the relics of Saint Rupert.
5. Innsbruck
Continent: Europe
Land: Tyrol
Population: 130 894 people
Innsbruck is the capital of the land of Tyrol with a population of about 130,000 people. The name of the city of Innsbruck in German means "bridge over the Inn River". This is one of the most beautiful cities of the Old World and, perhaps, the only European city that successfully combines sporting and urban lifestyle. In 1964 and in 1976, the Winter Olympic Games were held here. Since then, the city became the center for winter sports with modern infrastructure.
The main sights of the city are located in the Old Town on the right bank of the Inn. The symbol of the city is the "Golden roof" (Goldenes Dachl), which is a magnificent bay window of the building. Among the main attractions of Innsbruck are the Hofburg Imperial Palace, the Hofkirche Church, the Arc de Triomphe, the Tyrolean Ethnographic Museum, the Tyrolean Folk Art Museum, the Alpine Zoo, and the fabulous Swarovski Crystal Worlds Museum near Innsbruck in the town of Wattens.
Austria is a beautiful country to visit! Which city of the biggest ones would you choose?
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Source: Legit.ng
