Austria
Imperial grandeur meets serious mountains in Austria. Vienna's Habsburg palaces, coffee houses and concert halls are linked by fast, scenic railways to Salzburg's baroque old town, Hallstatt's lakeside salt-mining village and Tyrol's ski slopes and summer trails. Trains are punctual, cake is taken seriously, and the Alps are rarely out of sight once you leave the capital.
Overview
Austria is really two countries: the flat, cultured east around Vienna and the Danube, and the Alpine west and south, where mountains take up roughly two-thirds of the land. A first trip usually follows the main east–west railway. Spend three or four days in Vienna for the Hofburg, Schönbrunn, the Kunsthistorisches Museum and an evening at the opera, detour along the Danube through the Wachau's vineyards, then continue to Salzburg and the lakes of the Salzkammergut. With more time, carry on west to Innsbruck and the Tyrolean valleys, or cross the Grossglockner road south to Carinthia's lakes. Distances are short, so a fortnight covers a great deal.
Travel here is easy, orderly and not cheap: prices are close to southern Germany's, with Vienna's hotels the main expense and village guesthouses and mountain huts better value. Summer brings hikers, lake swimmers and festival crowds; skiers take over from December to April, and December's Christmas markets fill Vienna and Salzburg with mulled-wine stalls. Hallstatt and Salzburg's old town are swamped by day-trippers at midday, so arrive early or stay the night. Many visitors are surprised by how formal service can feel, how much shuts on Sundays, and how good everyday food is, from a Beisl lunch to a slice of Sachertorte.
Map of Austria
Top 5 highlights
- 1Architecture
Schönbrunn Palace
The Habsburgs' 1,441-room summer palace on Vienna's western edge. Take the Grand Tour of the state rooms, then climb through the formal gardens to the Gloriette for the view back over the city; go at opening time to beat tour groups.
- 2City
Salzburg's Altstadt
Mozart's birthplace is a compact baroque old town of domes and passageways beneath the Hohensalzburg, one of Europe's largest medieval castles. Ride the funicular up for views to the Alps, then walk back down along the Mönchsberg.
- 3Culture
Hallstatt
A lakeside village of painted houses squeezed between the Hallstätter See and the Dachstein massif, where salt has been mined for around 7,000 years. Take the funicular up to the salt mine and Skywalk, and visit early or late to avoid the coaches.
- 4Adventure
Grossglockner High Alpine Road
A toll road of 36 hairpins climbing to 2,504m beneath Austria's highest peak, the 3,798m Grossglockner. Stop at Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe to look down on the Pasterze glacier; the road is usually open from early May to late October or early November.
- 5Nature
Wachau Valley
The Danube's loveliest stretch, between Melk's golden baroque abbey and Krems, lined with terraced Grüner Veltliner vineyards and apricot orchards. Cycle the riverside path or take a boat, and stop in Dürnstein, where Richard the Lionheart was held captive.
Biggest cities
Vienna
Allow at least three days for the Habsburg palaces, world-class art museums, a night at the Staatsoper and long afternoons in the coffee houses, then ride the trams around the Ringstrasse.
Graz
Austria's relaxed second city is a university town with a UNESCO-listed old centre of red roofs, the bulbous Kunsthaus 'friendly alien' and Styrian pumpkin-seed oil on almost everything.
Linz
An industrial Danube city reinvented around digital art at the Ars Electronica museum and the Lentos gallery; worth an overnight stop and a slice of Linzer torte.
Ranked by urban-area population where available. Figures are rounded estimates, and sources define city limits differently, so rankings of similar-sized cities can vary.
When to go to Austria
Best time: May–Sep, Dec.
Average climate in Vienna
Festivals & events
- Jan–FebVienna ball season
Hundreds of formal balls fill Vienna's palaces and halls during carnival season, peaking with the Opera Ball in February; many sell public tickets, and dance schools run waltz crash courses.
- Jul–AugSalzburg Festival
Around six weeks of opera, concerts and theatre from late July, including Jedermann performed on the Cathedral Square; book months ahead and expect hotel prices to soar.
- Nov–DecChristmas markets
From mid-November, Vienna's Rathausplatz, Schönbrunn and Spittelberg, Salzburg's cathedral squares and Innsbruck's old town fill with stalls selling Glühwein, punch, roast chestnuts and wooden crafts.
How much does Austria cost?
Estimates per person per day, excluding flights. Prices vary by season and city.
Food to try
Wiener Schnitzel
A veal escalope beaten thin, breaded and fried in lard or butter until the crumb puffs up, served with lemon and potato or cucumber salad.
Tafelspitz
Prime beef simmered gently in broth and served with apple-horseradish, chive sauce and fried potatoes; Emperor Franz Joseph's reputed favourite and a Viennese Sunday classic.
Kaiserschmarrn
A thick, caramelised pancake torn into pieces, dusted with icing sugar and served with plum compote; a filling standard in Alpine huts and Viennese cafés.
Getting around
ÖBB's Railjet trains run from Vienna to Salzburg in about two and a half hours and on to Innsbruck, with private Westbahn trains competing on the same line. Postbus coaches reach villages the railways miss, and the cities have excellent trams. A hire car helps in the Alpine valleys, but you need a vignette (sticker or digital) to use motorways. Book advance Sparschiene fares in the ÖBB app.
Practical information
- Plugs & voltage
- CF230V — bring a UK-to-C/F adapter
- Emergency numbers
- Ambulance or rescue: 144
- Fire: 122
- Police: 133
- European emergency number: 112
- You can also download the 112 Where Are U app
Source: FCDO “Getting help”
- Dialling code
- +43
- Time zone
- UTC+1 (standard time)
- Tap water
- Generally safe to drink
- Driving
- On the right
- Tipping
- Round up or add about 5–10% in restaurants and cafés, telling the server the total you want to pay rather than leaving coins on the table.
- Etiquette
- Greet shopkeepers with 'Grüß Gott' and say goodbye when leaving. Use titles in formal settings, keep your voice down on public transport, and never cross against a red pedestrian light.
- Main airports
- Vienna International Airport (VIE), Vienna; Salzburg Airport W. A. Mozart (SZG), Salzburg; Innsbruck Airport (INN), Innsbruck
Visas & entry for Austria
Shown for a British passport.
No visa needed
You can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes Austria, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This applies if you travel: as a tourist; to visit family or friends; to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events; for short-term studies or training.
The requirements for working in Austria are different.
From the UK government's FCDO entry requirements for British passport holders — read the full page for passport validity, permits and exceptions.
Health & vaccinations
- Recommended for most travellers
- Tetanus
- Sometimes advised — depends on your trip, activities and health
- Bat LyssavirusTick-borne encephalitis
- Yellow fever certificate
- No yellow fever certificate is required to enter.
- Malaria
- No malaria risk
Source: TravelHealthPro (National Travel Health Network and Centre), checked 21 October 2026. This is a summary, not medical advice.
Public holidays in Austria
The next 12 months. Banks, offices and some sights may close, and transport and hotels get busy around these dates.
| Mon 26 Oct 2026 | National Day |
| Sun 1 Nov 2026 | All Saints' Day |
| Tue 8 Dec 2026 | Immaculate Conception |
| Fri 25 Dec 2026 | Christmas Day |
| Sat 26 Dec 2026 | Saint Stephen's Day |
| Fri 1 Jan 2027 | New Year's Day |
| Wed 6 Jan 2027 | Epiphany |
| Mon 29 Mar 2027 | Easter Monday |
| Sat 1 May 2027 | Labour Day |
| Thu 6 May 2027 | Ascension Day |
| Mon 17 May 2027 | Pentecost Monday |
| Thu 27 May 2027 | Corpus Christi |
| Sun 15 Aug 2027 | Assumption Day |
National holidays only. Dates based on lunar calendars can move by a day or two depending on official announcements.
Useful phrases in German
| English | German | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Grüß Gott | grooss GOT |
| Thank you | Danke | DAN-keh |
| Please | Bitte | BIT-teh |
| Excuse me | Entschuldigung | ent-SHOOL-dee-goong |
| How much is this? | Wie viel kostet das? | vee FEEL KOS-tet dass |
Know before you go
- Book ÖBB Sparschiene fares as soon as your dates are fixed; they can cost a fraction of the flexible fare, and a seat reservation is worth adding on busy Railjet services.
- Almost all shops, including supermarkets, close on Sundays. Stock up on Saturday or use the supermarket branches inside major railway stations, which stay open.
- Carry some cash. Card use has grown fast, but mountain huts, Heurigen wine taverns and market stalls still sometimes accept only euros in notes and coins.
Austria travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Austria?
The best time to visit Austria is generally May–Sep, Dec. Peak months are May, June, July, August, September and December. Average highs in Vienna range from 3°C to 26°C across the year.
How much does a trip to Austria cost per day?
Roughly £65 a day on a tight budget, £140 mid-range and £280+ for comfortable travel, per person including accommodation, food and local transport. Flights are extra.
What currency is used in Austria?
Euro (EUR).
What plug type does Austria use?
Type C and F sockets at 230V. UK visitors need a travel adapter — UK Type G plugs will not fit.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Austria?
Traffic drives on the right in Austria, unlike the UK.
Is tap water safe to drink in Austria?
Generally safe to drink.
Do I need a visa for Austria?
For British passport holders, the FCDO says: You can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes Austria, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Entry rules change, so check the official FCDO entry requirements for Austria before you travel: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/austria/entry-requirements
What vaccinations do I need for Austria?
TravelHealthPro recommends Tetanus for most travellers, with Bat Lyssavirus and Tick-borne encephalitis sometimes advised depending on your trip. Make sure routine UK vaccinations are up to date and see a travel health professional 6–8 weeks before you go.
