Travel Tips
Austria
Imperial Vienna, the lakes of Salzkammergut and the high Alps make Austria easy to enjoy by train.
- Capital
- Vienna
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Language
- German
- Best overall
- May to September, or December for markets and skiing
- Emergency
- 112
- Electricity
- 230V, plug types C and F
This country is in the Schengen Area. Many visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa, while others need a Schengen visa. Check the current rules for your passport, including the EES and ETIAS entry systems. Passport validity rules vary, so check the requirements before you book.
Read about visa on arrival, e-visas and online registration →
Still have specific visa questions?
Summer suits hiking and lakes. December brings Christmas markets, and January to March is ski season.
Not sure which month suits your trip?
Vienna
Palaces, coffee houses, museums and classical music.
Salzburg
A baroque old town below a hilltop fortress, and the birthplace of Mozart.
Hallstatt
A lakeside village in the Alps. Stay overnight to enjoy it after the day crowds leave.
Innsbruck
A mountain city with cable cars rising right from the center.
Grossglockner High Alpine Road
A spectacular summer drive to the foot of the highest mountain in Austria.
Need help choosing where to go?
- Days 1 to 3 Vienna
- Days 4 to 5 Salzburg
- Day 6 Hallstatt
- Days 7 to 8 Innsbruck
Want a route planned around your dates?
- Trains link the main cities quickly and comfortably. Book early for cheaper fares.
- Cars need a toll sticker (vignette) for motorways.
Not sure how to get between places?
- Cards are widely accepted, but carry some cash for small cafes and huts.
- Buy an eSIM before you fly or a local SIM on arrival, so maps work from day one.
Questions about costs, cash or SIM cards?
- Wiener schnitzel: breaded veal cutlet.
- Sachertorte: Vienna's famous chocolate cake.
- Kaiserschmarrn: fluffy shredded pancake.
Want tips on what and where to eat?
- Weather changes quickly in the mountains, so carry layers on hikes.
- Many shops close on Sundays, so plan ahead.
Planning a trip to Austria?
Book a one-on-one call and bring your questions about your route, costs and visa.
Information on this page may change, so please confirm the latest visa and entry requirements and your government travel advice on official websites before you travel.