5 Best Sights in Rust, Day Trips from Vienna

Located just 2½ km (1½ miles) west of Rust's town center (and accessible in minutes by direct bus), this family-friendly amusement park entertains everyone from toddlers to teens with a mix of roller coasters, free-falls, splash rides, carousels, and land trains. There's a good choice of dining options, too, from fast-food snacks to healthy meals. Save €5 on a day ticket by ordering in advance online.

The restored Gothic Fischerkirche is off the west end of the Rathausplatz, in the shadow of the larger but younger Evangelical Church. Built between the 12th and 16th centuries, it is surrounded by a defensive wall and is noted for its original 15th-century frescoes and its beautiful organ from 1705. The church sometimes hosts classical concerts. Tours are available but must be arranged in advance.

Three decades ago, local arts patron Rudolf Kremayr bestowed to Rust one of its most spectacular buildings. With its entrance located near the corner of Kirchengasse and Rathausplatz (by the tourist information), the building is today the town's museum, with the lavishly decorated interior home to some of Rust's most important historical archives. The chimney room, an outbuilding off the courtyard, is where local exhibitions and small concerts are held. Opening hours here are very limited—only Friday to Sunday afternoons, and only through summer—so plan your schedule in advance to avoid disappointment.

A causeway leads through nearly a mile of reeds to the Seebad beach and boat landing, where you can take a sightseeing boat either as a round-trip or to another point on the lake. You can also rent a boat, swim, or enjoy a waterside drink or snack at an outdoor table. It's a 20-minute walk (or five-minute drive) from town to get here.

Like many family-run wineries in Rust (most in Austria are family businesses), this beautiful, yellow-fronted building in the heart of town produces white and red sweet wine from the vineyards around Rust. Many are for sale, including a selection of organic wines.