Explore Austria
Discover imperial cities, magnificent architecture, Alpine landscapes, historic towns, classical music, and beautiful scenery across Austria.
DISCOVER AUSTRIA
Austria combines elegant historic cities with some of Europe’s most spectacular mountain landscapes, making it an excellent destination for both cultural sightseeing and outdoor experiences.
Vienna reflects the country’s imperial past through magnificent palaces, grand boulevards, historic cafés, museums, and classical music, while Salzburg offers a completely different atmosphere with its compact old town, baroque architecture, hilltop fortress, and dramatic Alpine surroundings.
Beyond these cities, Austria is filled with mountain villages, crystal-clear lakes, castles, vineyards, ski resorts, and scenic countryside. Its central European location and excellent transport connections also make it easy to combine with neighbouring countries.
Here you’ll find my experiences in Vienna and Salzburg, along with practical travel tips and useful information to help you plan your own trip to Austria.
PLACES I’VE VISITED IN AUSTRIA
Explore the places I’ve visited in Austria, from the magnificent imperial architecture and elegant streets of Vienna to the historic old town and beautiful mountain scenery of Salzburg.
Vienna
Austria’s elegant capital, known for its imperial palaces, magnificent architecture, historic cafés, grand boulevards, classical music, and beautiful city centre.
Salzburg
A beautiful historic city surrounded by Alpine scenery, famous for its baroque architecture, hilltop fortress, charming old town, classical music heritage, and picturesque streets.
AUSTRIA TRAVEL GUIDE
Everything you need to know to plan your trip to Austria, from the best time to visit and travel costs to transport, accommodation, food, and practical tips.
BEST TIME TO VISIT AUSTRIA
Austria is a year-round destination, and the best time to visit depends on the type of trip you’re planning.
May to September is excellent for city sightseeing, hiking, lakes, countryside trips, and exploring the Alps. Days are longer and temperatures are generally comfortable, although July and August can be busy.
Spring and early autumn are particularly good for visiting Vienna and Salzburg, with generally pleasant temperatures and fewer peak-season crowds.
Winter offers a completely different experience. Austria is famous for skiing and other winter sports, while cities such as Vienna and Salzburg become especially atmospheric during the Christmas market season.
Mountain weather can change quickly, even during warmer months, so check local conditions before heading into Alpine areas.
HOW MUCH DOES AUSTRIA COST?
Austria is relatively expensive compared with some European destinations, particularly for accommodation in Vienna, Salzburg, and popular Alpine areas.
A budget traveller might spend approximately €75–€125 per day, excluding international travel, by staying in hostels or inexpensive accommodation, using public transport, and choosing affordable restaurants, bakeries, and supermarkets.
For a more comfortable trip with a private hotel room, restaurants, intercity trains, and paid attractions, approximately €150–€300+ per day is more realistic.
Salzburg can become particularly expensive during busy periods, while ski resorts can have significantly higher accommodation costs during winter.
Booking hotels and long-distance transport early can help reduce your overall costs.
GETTING TO AUSTRIA
Austria is well connected with the rest of Europe and is easy to reach by air, rail, road, and bus.
Vienna International Airport (VIE) is the country’s main international airport, with flights connecting Austria to destinations across Europe and beyond.
Salzburg Airport (SZG) provides another useful option, particularly for travellers visiting Salzburg and western Austria.
Austria also has excellent international railway connections. Direct and connecting trains link Vienna, Salzburg, and other Austrian cities with destinations in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and elsewhere in Europe.
Night trains also connect Austria with several European destinations.
International coaches can provide a cheaper alternative to trains on some routes.
GETTING AROUND AUSTRIA
Austria has an excellent public transportation network, making it easy to explore without renting a car.
Trains connect Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Graz, Linz, and many smaller destinations throughout the country.
Within Vienna, the U-Bahn, trams, buses, and suburban trains provide extensive coverage across the city.
Salzburg is much smaller, and many of its main attractions can be reached on foot, with buses available for longer journeys.
Austria’s railway journeys can also be part of the travel experience, particularly when travelling through Alpine regions.
A rental car can be useful for exploring remote mountain areas, lakes, and small villages, but it is generally unnecessary for a trip focused on major cities.
Vehicles drive on the right-hand side of the road.
WHERE TO STAY IN AUSTRIA
Where you stay depends on your itinerary and budget.
In Vienna, staying within or close to the Innere Stadt gives you excellent access to many major attractions, although accommodation can be expensive. Neighbourhoods slightly outside the historic centre can provide better value while remaining well connected by public transport.
Areas around Vienna’s major U-Bahn stations are particularly convenient if you don’t need to stay directly in the centre.
In Salzburg, staying around the historic Altstadt puts many of the main attractions within walking distance. Accommodation outside the old town can be more affordable while still providing easy access by bus or on foot.
If you’re travelling around Austria by train, staying reasonably close to a railway station can make moving between destinations much easier.
FOOD IN AUSTRIA
Food is an important part of travelling through Austria, with plenty of traditional dishes and desserts to try.
One of the best-known Austrian dishes is Wiener Schnitzel, traditionally made with veal and served with simple accompaniments.
Other dishes worth trying include Tafelspitz, Gulasch, Käsespätzle, and different regional soups and dumplings.
Austria is also famous for desserts and pastries. Apfelstrudel, Kaiserschmarrn, and Sachertorte are among the classics you’ll encounter.
Vienna’s traditional coffee houses are an important part of the city’s culture and are worth experiencing rather than simply treating them as places to grab a quick coffee.
Bakeries and supermarkets can provide inexpensive breakfast and lunch options if you’re travelling on a budget.
MONEY AND PAYMENTS IN AUSTRIA
Austria uses the Euro (€).
Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in hotels, supermarkets, restaurants, attractions, and larger businesses.
Contactless payments are also common.
However, carrying some cash is still useful, particularly for smaller cafés, markets, mountain huts, public toilets, and independent businesses.
ATMs are widely available in cities and towns.
If you’re using a foreign bank card, check whether your provider charges foreign transaction or ATM withdrawal fees.
When an ATM or card terminal offers to convert the transaction into your home currency, check the exchange rate carefully before accepting.
STAYING CONNECTED IN AUSTRIA
Getting online in Austria is straightforward.
Wi-Fi is widely available in hotels, cafés, restaurants, airports, railway stations, and many public places.
Visitors can purchase an Austrian or European SIM card or use an eSIM for mobile data.
Mobile coverage is generally strong in cities and populated areas, although reception can become weaker in remote mountain regions.
Mobile data is particularly useful for public transport information, train schedules, maps, attraction bookings, and navigation.
If you’re planning to hike or drive through remote Alpine areas, download offline maps before leaving areas with reliable coverage.
IS AUSTRIA SAFE FOR SOLO TRAVELLERS?
Austria is straightforward to explore independently, with efficient public transportation and well-connected cities.
Normal travel precautions still apply.
Keep your phone, wallet, passport, camera, and other valuables secure in crowded tourist areas, railway stations, public transport, festivals, and busy attractions.
When visiting mountain regions, conditions require a different type of preparation. Weather can change quickly, and hiking routes vary significantly in difficulty.
Check weather conditions and route information before hiking, carry suitable clothing and footwear, and avoid attempting routes beyond your experience level.
The European emergency number 112 can be used for emergency services in Austria.
VISA AND ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Austria is part of the Schengen Area, so entry requirements depend on your nationality.
British citizens travelling with a full British citizen passport can generally visit Austria and other Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa for tourism and certain other permitted activities.
Passport validity requirements also apply, so check your passport before travelling.
European border procedures are changing, including the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the planned ETIAS travel authorisation system. Requirements and implementation arrangements can change, so always check the latest official information before your trip.
Visitors with other passports may require a Schengen visa depending on their nationality and circumstances. Always confirm the latest entry requirements before travelling.
WHAT TO WEAR IN AUSTRIA
What to wear in Austria depends heavily on the season and where you’re travelling.
During summer, lightweight clothing is suitable for cities, but bring a light jacket or extra layer for cooler evenings.
If you’re heading into the mountains, temperatures can be considerably cooler than in cities, so layers and suitable footwear are important even during warmer months.
Spring and autumn can bring changing temperatures and rain, making a waterproof jacket useful.
Winter requires warm clothing, including a proper coat, layers, gloves, and suitable footwear.
Comfortable walking shoes are important for Vienna and Salzburg, where you’ll likely spend many hours exploring on foot.
HOW LONG DO YOU NEED IN AUSTRIA?
For Vienna, around 3–4 days gives you enough time to experience many of the major attractions, historic neighbourhoods, palaces, museums, and cafés without rushing.
For Salzburg, approximately 2–3 days works well for exploring the old town, fortress, historic attractions, and surrounding scenery.
With 7 days in Austria, you can comfortably combine Vienna and Salzburg while allowing time for a day trip or another destination.
With 10–14 days, you can add Alpine regions, lakes, smaller towns, or destinations such as Innsbruck and Graz.
Austria’s efficient railway network makes combining several destinations relatively straightforward, but allowing extra time for the countryside and mountains can make the trip much more rewarding.
FINAL TIPS FOR VISITING AUSTRIA
Take advantage of Austria’s public transportation system. For most city-focused trips, you won’t need a rental car.
In Vienna, don’t limit yourself to the major palaces and landmarks. Spend time walking through different neighbourhoods, visiting a traditional coffee house, and experiencing everyday city life.
In Salzburg, explore the historic centre on foot and take time to appreciate the surrounding mountain scenery rather than rushing between attractions.
Book popular attractions and accommodation early if you’re visiting during summer, Christmas market season, or major events.
If you’re travelling by train between Vienna and Salzburg, keep an eye on advance fares and different ticket options.
And if your itinerary allows, experience some of Austria beyond its cities. The Alps, lakes, villages, and countryside are a major part of what makes the country such a distinctive destination.
READY TO EXPLORE AUSTRIA?
From Vienna’s magnificent imperial architecture and historic cafés to Salzburg’s beautiful old town and Alpine scenery, Austria combines culture, history, food, and spectacular landscapes. Start planning your trip and experience it for yourself.
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