This Austria Travel Guide aims to provide you with simple and stress-free travel planning information and inspiration for planning a trip to Austria.
On this regularly updated page you will find links to useful posts on The Trusted Traveller, budget information, details on types of accommodation available, information on getting around the country and more useful links to resources around the web.
Quick Facts
Capital: Vienna
Language: German
Currency: € Euros which is made up of 100 cents. Coins come in 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, €1 and €2 denominations and notes in €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500 denominations.
Electricity: 230 volts AC, 50Hz. European plugs with two round pins are standard.
Travel Tips
Geography
Austria is a small landlocked country right in the heart of Europe bordered by Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland.
The landscape is mountainous with the Alps running right through the country and peaks rising up to over 3,500 metres. Almost half of Austria is forested while the other half is mainly lush green grassland.
Weather
Austria has a moderate continental climate which brings warm summer days with cool night and cold sunny winters with lots of snow during the ski season of December to March.
Best Time to Visit
Austria is a year-round destination and you should plan your visit based on the types of activities you wish to enjoy.
June to September (summer) sees lots of sunshine and low rainfall making it the perfect time for hiking in the mountains and exploring the bigger cities.
From November to March (winter) it is cold with plenty of snow, perfect for those wanting to take part in winter sports such as skiing. It is also a nice time of year to visit some of the smaller villages on the edge of the Alps because of the festive spirit and spectacular scenery.
Money
It is always recommend to have a mixture of cash and bank/credit card with you when you travel anywhere in the world and this is no exception in Austria.
In Austria ATM’s are called Bankomats and are found in all major towns and cities across the country. As well, credit cards are widely accepted although some establishments such as small hotels and shops may only accept cash.
Getting There
Getting to Austria from surrounding European countries is simple, quick and cheap by bus or train. You can find out more about rail travel in Europe, including purchasing tickets, on the Rail Europe website; and about bus travel on the Eurolines website.
Austria is also well-connected by air with flights arriving in Vienna, Innsbruck and Salzburg from all across Europe and the UK and parts of the US, Middle East and Asia. A flight from London will take around two hours and a flight from New York about nine hours.
I use and recommend Expedia for researching and booking flights all around the world.
It is also possibly to arrive by boat along the Danube River from Germany, Hungary and Slovakia.
Getting Around
Austria is a relatively small country so getting around it is pretty simple and cheap.
Train
Europe’s excellent network of trains means that getting around Austria and in fact to/from other European countries is the most timely and cost-effective way to travel. All the major cities are connected to one another and you will find that most regional areas are well-connected to at least one of two of those major cities.
Because of Austria’s proximity to the Alps, some of the world’s most scenic train journeys can be taken through the country too making it more than just a means to get from point a to point b.
There are two classes on the trains, 1st and 2nd class, with the only real difference being slightly more leg space and room to move about in 1st class.
Most trains you can just show up at the train station and buy your ticket on the day while a few (mostly high-speed intercity trains) may need a seat reservation to be made in advance. This can be done either at any train station in the country or online through a ticketing agent in your home country. Here are a few that I recommend depending on where you are from:
- Rail Europe for residents in USA, Canada & Mexico.
- Rail Europe for residents in Australia, New Zealand, UK, Europe and other select parts of the world.
Bus
Eurolines operates services bus services around the country and they are a cheaper alternative to train travel but will take longer to get from a to b.
Driving
Because Austria is a small country, it is relatively easy to navigate if driving yourself.
You’ll be able to collect a hire car from all major airports and cities with most allowing you to pick up in one location and drop off in another, which makes sense if you’re road tripping around the country.
The road in Austria are well maintained and easy to navigate because they are well signposted. During the winter months remember that weather conditions can change rapidly especially on roads going through the mountains. Be sure to obey all signs and drive with care in slippery conditions.
Where to Stay
Austria caters for everyone when it comes to accommodation. Here is a list of the types of accommodation you’ll find:
- Camping/Cabins – With Austria being a very outdoorsy country you’ll find lots of camp grounds that offer tent sites and basic cabins as low costs. And as with a lot of other European cities, you’ll also find large camp sites on the outskirts of big cities like Vienna that you can stay at cheaply and commute each day into the city for sightseeing.
- Hostels – You’ll find hostels in abundance in the Austria’s bigger cities and one or two in most other regional areas as well. The level of cleanliness in Austria and similar parts of Europe is well above average so you will likely find your room and shared bathroom to be super clean.
- B&B’s/Pensions – Small family run style accommodation like B&B’s or pensions can be found all over the country in big cities, small towns and popular rural locations. Accommodation is simple yet comfortable and the experience usually comes with friendly hosts and a home cooked breakfast each morning.
Get up to $45.00 AUD credit when you join Airbnb using this link.
- Hotels/Apartments – You will find both chain hotel/apartments brands and independent hotel/apartments to be in abundance in cities across the country. The good thing about this type of accommodation is in most cases you know what you are going to get, a clean, comfortable and modern room with a decent array of facilities in the room and on the property. Apartments are great for longer stays as they allow you a bit more space and the option to self cater.
I use and recommend Booking.com for researching and booking hostel, motel, hotel, apartment and resort accommodation around the world.
- Luxury Hotels & Resorts – Austria has its fair share of 5 star properties, some of which have been named in top lists of accommodation around the world. These will offer you brilliant service and a top location, sometime with incredible views of the surrounding area.
Eating
Austria has a variety of eating options that will suit all budgets and tastes. While you will find the majority of its restaurants and cafes serve local and European dishes, the country is expanding and becoming more multicultural with its cuisine offerings.
- Supermarkets/Markets – Save money and shop in supermarkets and local markets for snacks, picnic lunches and even ingredients to make a whole meal in your self catering accommodation.
- Fast Food / Take-away – Chain fast food stores are in all major centres of the country and along highways as well. If you’re looking for a cheap and tasty fast food meal, look to where the locals are, usually getting snacks and light meals from food trucks and stands on the side of the street. A popular street food snack is a sausage or hot dog and you’ll find stands selling them everywhere.
- Cafes – Austrian’s love cafes and some of the world’s most well know can be found in the country. Coffee, delicious sweets and tasty Austrian sandwiches will be on offer for sit down or takeaway.
- Restaurants – Portion sizes tend to be on the larger side in Austria so eating out in restaurants can be really good value. Consider sharing a meal with a travel companion if you’re not too hungry to save money or sticking to one course.
- Fine Dining – Austria has it’s fair share of the worlds best restaurants so if it is fine dining experiences you are after then you won’t be disappointed.
Useful Austria Posts
Suggested Itineraries
Exploring Austria by Car: A 5 Day Itinerary
First Timers One Month Europe Itinerary
Things to Do
Other Austria Travel Planning Resources
Here is a constantly growing collection of resources from around the web to help you plan you dream trip to Austria.
- The official Austria Tourism website is a great place to start planning your trip.
- The authority in all things travel, Lonely Planet has an extensive section all about Austria. Or why not buy the Austria Lonely Planet Guidebook in hard copy or as an eBook.
- Carly is an Aussie expat living in Vienna who writes all about life in Vienna, her travel across Austria and the rest of Europe on her blog Austrian Adaptation.
- Becki from Borders of Adventure spent most of 2017 discovering the best of Austria. You can read all about her adventures on her blog.
- Travel Tyrol is a blog by Linda who loves living in Austria and wants to share it with the world.