Disclaimer: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you book through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. See our Privacy Policy for details.
10 Essential Austria Travel Tips Every Tourist Should Know
If you’re planning your first trip to beautiful Austria that got stunning landscape and pretty cities and looking for practical Austria travel tips, you’re in the right place.
Because, when I planned a two-week trip to Austria with my mum in summer 2022, I thought I had everything sorted.
But as I explored this charming Central European gem in the heart of Alps, I realised there was so much I wish I’d known earlier!
From the best time to visit and must-see places to visa info, transport tips, packing essentials, and even dining etiquette – it’s all here.
By the end, you’ll have all the essential travel tips for Austria with which you can confidently and enjoy a seamless, unforgettable trip without breaking your bank balance. Let’s dive in!
1. Duration of the trip and best time to visit
How many days to spend in Austria?
Spend at least 10 days in Austria to truly enjoy it. I spent 15 days there and could have easily stayed longer!
From hiking and history of old town to music and amazing food (hello, cheese), Austria may be small, but it’s packed with unforgettable experiences.
Best time to visit Austria
For skiing, visit Austria from December to March. For hiking with mild weather and fewer crowds, plan your trip between March and May.
Avoid August—it’s hot, crowded, and pricey. I went in July, and trust me, the heat was peaking – Average temperature was 32*C and the sun was pricking.
2. Tips on making your Austria travel itinerary
A pro tip while planning your Austria itinerary: know what you want to experience and when you’re going
Is it nature, hiking, cities, party vibes and museums?
Or skiing and Christmas markets in winter? Your itinerary can totally vary with these
Austria has 9 states, each with its own unique vibe.
- Vienna (Wien) – Capital: Vienna. One of the coolest, hippiest cities I’ve ever visited. Free-spirited, full of museums, and has some of the best coffee and croissants in the world.
- Lower Austria – Capital: St. Pölten. Home to my favourite wine of Wachau valley, Grüner Veltliner. Think endless vineyards and cycling along the Danube River—most relaxed spot in Austria, best in summer.
- Salzburg – Capital: Salzburg. In my opinion, the most beautiful city of the country. Meadows, historic streets, easy hikes, paragliding, cafes, churches, and the gorgeous Salzkammergut region with lakes and charming markets. Great for Christmas markets or summer explorations.
- Tyrol (Tirol) – Capital: Innsbruck. Stunning mountains, perfect for hiking in summer and skiing in winter.
- Burgenland – Capital: Eisenstadt. Known for its sunny weather, vineyards, and excellent wines, especially in the Neusiedler See region. A great destination for wine lovers and nature enthusiasts.
- Carinthia – Capital: Klagenfurt. Ski paradise, organic farming, and plenty of mountains.
- Upper Austria (Oberösterreich) – Capital: Linz. Historical sites and the largest concentration camp in the country.
- Styria (Steiermark) – Capital: Graz. A student’s paradise with cobbled streets and lively music festivals.
- Vorarlberg – Capital: Bregenz. Picture-perfect villages and one of the least touristy regions. Cheese lovers, rejoice!
3. Austria travel budget breakdown
In June 2022, I spent around 350 Euros per day for two people as a mid range budget traveller.
This covered hotels, cafe visits, meals, 99.9% public transport using trains and buses, entrance fees for attractions, and a bit of shopping ( Austria is surprisingly great to buy things beyond magnet stickers) excluding international airfare.
If you skip the shopping, you can enjoy a similar experience for about 300 Euros per day for two people.
This price can be much cheaper at least by 20% if you visit Austria during March to June.
Budget backpackers can plan a trip to Austria keeping 65-70 Euros/ day/meal by staying in hostels and cooking meals.
So, Austria ranks as our second most costly trip, but Japan remains the most expensive country to visit to the date.
Basic costs tourists need to pay in Austria
I haven’t included the cost of drinking water because Austria has super clean water spouts all over its cities—except near hiking trails.
I also used a few clever tricks to cut down our trip expenses—like staying in “Pensions” in larger cities and choosing the right areas in pricey places like Vienna.
4. Booking tours and activities
To truly enjoy Austria’s beauty, travelling independently is the way to go—skip those tour packages! That said, booking a few individual tours and attraction tickets online is a smart hack. It’ll save you loads of time and spare you from standing in those endless queues.
5. Before You Go: Austria Essentials
Tips on Getting Austria Schengen visa for tourists
Austria is among the 29 Schengen countries ( Bulgaria and Romania joined Schengen list in Jan 2025). There are different aspects and insights on what Schengen union is.
But for tourists, having a visa from any one of these nations means exploring the other 28 is easier.
Over 50 nationalities can enter the Schengen countries without a visa. A valid passport suffices for easy entry. Changes are on the way:
Who needs a visa to visit Austria as a tourist?
Except for EU nations, almost everyone needs a visa to visit Austria. Previously, citizens of the USA, Canada, Singapore, Japan, and a few other countries with strong passports could enter with just their passports.
By 2026, non-European countries like the USA, Singapore, and Japan will need an ETIAS to travel to Austria. It isn’t a visa, but an online authorisation process.
Austria Schengen Sticker Visa for weaker passports
For over 140 nations like India, getting a sticker visa is the only way to go to Austria.
It involves gathering a hefty 50+ page document and attending a face-to-face interview at the embassy. – As an Indian traveller I go through this every time I travel to Europe.
It’s no easy task- it typically takes at least a month to complete.
Booking Air Tickets
Austria has around six main airports, with Vienna International Airport being the biggest. There’s also Salzburg Airport, Innsbruck Airport, and a few smaller ones.
As a foreign tourist, you’ll probably land in Vienna. Mind that Vienna international airport isn’t big and doesn’t have a dozen of food outlets.
It just serves the purpose and works fine. Vienna receives fewer international flights compared to Munich, Paris, or Frankfurt.
One Quick heads up : Many confuse Austria with Australia! So just be careful when you search for flights and make sure you are booking flights to Austria and not Australia
Should you take Domestic flights in Austria?
No. Skip domestic flights in Austria—trains are the best!
Austrian railway network is not only well connected. But super picturesque, passing green meadows, the Alps, and vineyards.
Buses work well too, with accessible platforms for all ages. My 60 year old mom found it super comfortable getting on and off theses buses.
So if you have a baby stroller and or a traveller on wheelchair, you still can depend on Austrian trains and buses.
Currency
Like most EU nations, Austria uses the Euro (€).
Bring Euros with you, as exchanging other weaker currencies can be tricky. Indian Rupees and Egyptian Pounds aren’t accepted.
Exchange rates for US Dollars, British Pounds, or Canadian Dollars are pretty poor. Save yourself the hassle—arrive with Euros in hand!
Using cards for payment
Visa and Master Debit cards work well in Austria, but cash is king, especially in smaller villages and lake side towns such as Saint Gilgen.
Cards aren’t accepted in hut cafés along mountain trails, so withdraw cash before hiking.
Credit card skimming fraud isn’t as high as before in Europe. But still, avoid credit cards sparingly and avoid small street shops. Travel cards are a safer alternative.
6. Getting around Austria
Roads and driving
Austrians drive on the right lane with elegance and patience. Even when there is no single soul on the road, you never see an Austrian driver skipping the signal (99%).
So we never had trouble of crossing roads in none of the cities – we walked a lot in Austria almost 10 to 15km a day.
You don’t hear honking except for Police and Ambulance sirens.
Car rentals
Renting a car in Austria is easy, but only worth it if:
Honestly, with Austria’s exceptional public transport, you rarely need a car unless you’re staying in a remote hillside village or making a road trip on the winding beautiful roads of Grossglockner.
Cycling
Austria is among the most cycle-friendly countries in the world, right up there with the Netherlands.
With dedicated bike lanes and stunning views, it’s a dream for cyclists. Accommodation hosts love it too—no parking headaches!
Plus, buses and trains welcome bikes and also dogs on board. For spots like Wachau Valley, cycling is the perfect way to explore if you’re reasonably fit.
Public transport overview
Trains and buses are the easiest ways to travel between cities in Austria.
We took a train from Innsbruck to Munich when leaving Austria, and it was incredibly convenient.
Vienna is the only city with a metro system, while cities like Salzburg have well-connected buses, and Innsbruck offers trams.
You can also take trains to nearby countries like Slovenia, and Italy. We even took a bus to Germany’s beautiful Bavarian lake- Konigssee. The buses work perfect to get to Hitler’s former mountain lodge, Eagle’s nest.
Ferries and boat rides are common in lakeside towns like Saint Gilgen and Hallstatt, but they’re mainly for leisure, not daily commuting.
In mountainous regions, cog railways and ropeways are the go-to for reaching peaks. You don’t need any special apps to figure out bus or tram routes—Google Maps with its transit feature is more than enough.
For booking train tickets between cities, the ÖBB app is straightforward and reliable.
Train and bus passes in Austria
There’s no “one pass fits all” for public transport in Austria, not even Eurail pass.
Despite all the online buzz and what some ads claim, a Eurail Pass isn’t necessary for most travellers.
It’s designed for those hopping between multiple countries over at least three months. Plus, it doesn’t even cover buses or city trains and metros!
Even though my mum and I relied on trains and buses to explore Austria, we skipped the Eurail Pass.
Why? Because the cost of Eurail pass was way more than what we actually spent on train tickets.
Also, keep in mind that each Austrian city has its own passes. For example:
Before you rush to buy a Eurail Pass, take a moment to do the maths.
So, think carefully about what works best for your itinerary. With a bit of planning, you’ll save money and get around like a pro!
Taxi
Taxis in Austria is very expensive! A kilometer ride sets you back 10€.
Curious, I asked my hotel owner in the gorgeous Tyrolean village of Kirchberg near Kitzubuhel about the taxi fare to Innsbruck. She rolled her eyes, mentioning they charge over 150€ for 90KM, while train costs less than 25€
Uber was available in Salzburg and Vienna, albeit pricey! In smaller areas like Melk of Wachau valley, Innsbruck, Schafberg/Saint Gilgen local taxis are the norm, requiring booking via phone.
7. Essential Travel Tips for Austria – Language and Culture
Language Spoken in Austria
Austrians speak Austrian German, which is quite similar to standard German—if you know one, you’ll understand the other.
They use the Latin alphabet with unique letters, so reading signboards might be easier than pronouncing them.
English works fine in most places. Austrians are proud of their language but don’t expect everyone to speak it!
Are Austrians friendly to tourists?
Austrians are neither rude nor very friendly to tourists. They may not invite a random traveller they meet on road to their home, but they won’t ignore you either when asked for help.
I’d heard Germans can be a bit rude, so I expected the same from German-speaking Austrians. But it’s a different story!
Tourism is a big deal here, so Austrians welcome people warmly. We never experienced any racism—in fact, they admired my mother’s saree.
Hitchhiking might be tricky, but they’re helpful to tourists. Shopkeepers are polite, and while personal assistance is rare, they do help when asked.
Many women asked about how to drape it and where to buy one!
How religious are Austrians?
Austrians are moderately religious. Catholicism is the main religion, but not many people go to church, except for the older generations on Sundays.
I visited a few churches in small towns and noticed it was mostly older folks attending.
Like in Greece, I expected strict dress codes to enter these churches. But when I asked the caretaker if I could go inside while wearing shorts or a skirt, they were totally fine with almost any type of dresses!
Religion is part of the culture, but it doesn’t really influence everyday life for most people.
What are the do’s and don’ts of Austria?
What to know about Austria’s cafe culture
Is tipping mandatory in Austria?
Tipping isn’t a must in Austria. Sometimes, waiters may ask if you want to round up the bill while swiping your card.
If you’re happy with the service, rounding up is an option. Hotels and BnBs typically feature individual tip boxes at reception for specific services such as housekeeping, front desk, and the restaurant.
Although it is expensive ( not as much as Switzerland though), Austria is great for shopping. Even in streetside shop, sellers don’t expect tips.
Safety concerns
Austria and Japan are the only places where I’d feel totally free.
You can stroll on remote hiking trails or walk back to your room at midnight, even as a solo female traveller, without any worries.
I and mom have taken metro trains late night and walked back after Opera concert in Vienna without facing any problem.
Police aren’t everywhere, but they arrive quickly if needed.
It’s super safe, just remember the usual precautions, like not getting too drunk
The streets are well-lit, and you’ll see people jogging at night in mountainous towns like Innsbruck.
Just be cautious of cows while hiking – they can get angry if you get too close. There have been incidents where hikers who approached the cows were harmed!
Tourist scams to be aware of in Austria
8. Tips on carrying electronics and SIM
Plug Sockets and Adapters
Austria uses Type C & F plugs – The ones with round pins. Check if your country needs a plug adapter here. I carry a universal adapter.
Mobile SIM and Connectivity
I grabbed two SIM cards from the Wow Austria outlet at Vienna airport. They have great network coverage and works well almost everywhere.
Each SIM card, offering 30GB data for four weeks plus local calling, cost around 25€. 4G internet was reliable, except on hilly trails.
But now, 2025 onwards you really should ditch buying physical SIM and buy an eSIM before leaving- it is much easier+cheaper that way.
I used SIMLOCAL eSIM for my one month trip across Portugal in 2025 and i wish I had used the same for my Austria trip in 2025.
Vienna airport had decent free Wi-Fi, and our hotels had speedy connections.
Despite OBB claiming free Wi-Fi on trains and railway stations, it never functioned.
9. Public amenities
Public Toilet Policy
Restaurant and cafe toilets are typically free in Austria, with many cafes letting people use them even without making a purchase.
At the Melk docking yard, I asked a cafe waitress about restroom fees, and she found it funny, wondering why anyone would pay (She hasn’t been to Belgium and tried to use a washroom– I am sure).
There are a few public toilets that charge around 50 cents for access. All majortrain stations will have toilets
Toilets in Austria typically have western commode with toilet paper and no jet spray.
Used toilet paper is disposed of in the commode, unlike in Greece where it’s put in the dustbin.
Public Hygiene
Austria is definitely one of the cleanest nations, though not quite at Japan’s level. It’s much cleaner than many European countries like Greece.
You won’t see trash littered in public spaces, but you might notice carpets of cigarette butts near Vienna metro stations and spots where locals gather.
Another thing I loved about Austria is the mix of stunning historical buildings, especially the Baroque facades, and the vibrant street art scene, with Vienna and leading the way.
Locals avoid historical buildings but transform empty walls into vibrant masterpieces! Innsbruck and Salzburg have some street art too, but nothing matches Vienna’s bold and creative vibe.
Is it okay to drink tap water in Austria?
Yes, it’s absolutely safe to drink tap water in Austria. If you’re travelling on a budget like we were, it’s a must!
You’ll find drinking water spouts everywhere in Austria—sometimes from beautiful historical statues in older areas or plain, modern ones in city centres.
Austria isn’t exactly cheap, and buying bottled water when tap water is perfectly safe is just an unnecessary expense.
However, we didn’t come across any spouts on hiking trails. Everywhere else, we kept refilling our bottles at these public water spouts.
Most cafés serve one glass of water free with your coffee, but anything extra costs more.
So, it’s smart to refill your bottle in your hotel room or ask café staff for the nearest drinking water spouts—they’re usually happy to help!
10. Food and Alcohol
What is the food like in Austria?
Austria is mainly meat based food – beef, duck and lamb are widely used. Wiener Schnitzel (that’s breaded and fried pork/veal) is Austria’s signature dish.
They’ve got hearty stews, dumplings, and tons of sausages, each with its own local twist.
Breakfast is usually bread with jams and cheese in Austria. There’s a crazy variety of bread and cheese.
I loved the butter croissants and slicing up spennel (that round bread with a star on top), filling it with berry jams and pesto cheese.
Locals dig pretzels like their neighbours Germans, but we found them too salty and hard!
Austrians love their meat, but they also have a serious thing for cheese— Alpine cheese and Tirolean cheese are everywhere.
And let’s talk about their desserts and chocolate cakes! The cafe culture is one of the many and main reasons why I love Austria.
We were all about apple and cheese strudels, though Sachertorte is the most famous. My personal favourite? Cheese strudel, then apple strudel.
Cities like Salzburg have these century-old cafes, each with its own signature vibe. I was all in on them during my week-long stay!
Vegetarian food in Austria
You might think that as vegetarians – my mum and I, an egg-itarian – we’d struggle in a meat-heavy country like Austria, but surprisingly, it wasn’t an issue at all!
While the veg food variety isn’t as huge as in Turkey, it’s definitely better than our experience in Japan. Plus, cities like Vienna have tons of vegan options, so we were sorted.
From Veg Knodeln and apricot dumplings to Kasespatzle, Schupfnudeln (potato noodles) there’s actually quite a bit of delicious Austrian vegetarian food to enjoy!
Hot beverages
Austrians are coffee freaks – just like me! Whenever I imagine the cappuccino I had in Vienna and Kirchberg, I crave it even now.
You find tea only in fewer places.
You must specify if you want cappuccino, latte or espresso. Cappuccino quality is usually ample. So ask for cup size before ordering two.
Alcohol drinking Culture
Austrians love their beer, wine, and fruit liqueurs.
Wachau steals the show for wine lovers. Gruner Veltliner can become your go-to?it’s affordable, fruity, and simply delightful.
They’ve got a huge variety of beer, including fun flavours like ginger and lemon.
It’s common to see people sipping beer in parks or street-side bars since open containers are legal. And trust me, they know how to party with crates of beer stacked high!
I tried Radler beer—a refreshing mix of beer and lemonade—and it was amazing!
Even if you’re not a beer lover, this spot is worth visiting. And for beer enthusiasts, Augustiner beer is hands down one of the best I’ve ever had!
Rum is also a favourite, but it’s their traditional fruit liqueurs that stand out. Marillenschnaps, made from apricots, was my favourite!
It’s not too strong to knock you out but gives you that warm throat feeling and a light, happy buzz. They even have liqueurs made from raspberries, carrots, and walnuts—so unique and tasty!
Smoking
It was surprising to see a country as clean and health-focused as Austria have widespread smoking in open spaces.
At Innsbruck’s summit, we met a local cyclist who lit up for a smoke right after finishing his ride. Quite a mix of culture and habits!
Except for public transport and enclosed cafes, smoking is allowed pretty much everywhere outdoors.
While weed isn’t legal, hemp shops and even weed planter boxes and hemp shops pop up in various spots!
The Museum Quarters in Vienna had a surprising vibe in the evening—me and Mum chilled there, but the air was filled with a strong smell of weed.
What to do next with these travel tips for Austria?
Now you are prepped for your trip with our Austria travel guide, it’s time to take the next step in planning your dream trip.
Start by finalising your travel dates and crafting a rough itinerary. Check for flight deals, book accommodations that suit your budget, and look into local city passes for savings.
Make a list of must-visit places and activities, and prioritise what aligns with your interests—whether it’s soaking up history in Salzburg, exploring nature in Tirol , or indulging in local food and drinks especially wine at Wachau.
Don’t forget to organise your visa and travel insurance if needed!
Found these travel tips useful to plan your Austria trip? Let us know in the comment section below.
