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Austria Travel Guide: All you need to know to visit Austria in 2023

Welcome to Austria

The country of the Alps, the Tyrol, and the Danube. It’s a land of mountains, lakes, forests, castles, thermal spas, and wine cellars. Austria was once part of a great European empire, yet today it still shows the greatness of its past glory. Art has always been in the heart of Austria, and Vienna is its capital, where classical music, architecture, crafts, and pastry are magic.

In this article, you will read the ultimate Austria travel guide. This will help you to know the basis for planning your trip to this beautiful country.

Document Checklist for Austria

Visa
Valid passport
Sufficient funds
Return airline ticket

Essential Austria Travel Information

Currency - Euro (€). $1 is equivalent to approx. EUR 0.99
Daily budget for 1 person - A daily budget per day is around €112 (USD 115)
Languages - The official language is German
Socket type - For Austria, there are two associated plug types, types C and F. Austria operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz
Time zone - Central European Time (GMT+1)
Top 3 cities to visit - Vienna, Graz and Innsbruck
Top 3 landmarks/monuments - Vienna State Opera House,The Schönbrunn Palace, and old town Hallstatt

Visa Information for Austria

There are currently 104 countries that need to apply for a Schengen visa before they visit Austria. We recommend you use our [Checker Visa Tool (/) to know if your nationality needs a travel document to travel to the country.

If you are not part of this list but are traveling next year, you need to know that starting in May 2023, all visitors to any member state of the Schengen zone without visa-free travel will need to obtain Schengen area approval or ETIAS.

ETIAS Austria explained

ETIAS is the acronym for the European Travel Information and Authorization System, designed to offer better safety and security to European borders.

The ETIAS visa waiver is valid for three years or until the associated passport expires. Whichever date comes first.

Typical Costs and Budget for Austria

This is a basic guide to keep in mind of what you will likely spend in Austria.

Daily spending per person - A daily budget per person is around €112 (USD 115). This will cover your needs per day.

Meals - The meals per day can be around €28 (USD 29).
Transport - For local transportation it can be €19 (USD 19).
Hotel - For 1 person a room can be around €60 (USD 61) or a couple €118 (USD 121).

A week-long vacation to Austria usually costs around €822 for one person. So, a two-person trip to Austria costs approximately €1,644 for one week. A trip for two weeks for two people costs €3,287 in Austria.

Transport and Ways to Travel around Austria

Public transport in Austria is excellent, with timetables that make the system much more organized. Citizens usually get around using trains or buses to travel within the cities or to make trips between different cities or small towns; so we recommend you do the same because that way you will understand their culture much more while also saving a little money, since these methods of transport are the most economical.

Here we will tell you about the train and the bus:

Train - Rail travel in Austria is fast, comfortable, and safe, so you can enjoy a peaceful journey while watching the beautiful Austrian landscapes. The national train operator is ÖBB, which has several routes within the country. Railjet trains are the fastest for intercity routes and include restaurants, free Wi-Fi, and power outlets for you to charge your cell phone or technology devices while traveling.

Other trains such as the R and REX trains are slower and stop at smaller stations between the main hubs. Keep in mind that if you are traveling, you can buy valid tickets for one day that offer unlimited travel on public transport within a specific state or region; this includes R and REX trains, suburban trains, and buses. However, they are not valid on Railjet, InterCity, or EuroCity services, nor for private operators.

You can buy tickets online or at train stations.

Bus - The bus is also an excellent option to get around in Austria. It is much more economical than taking the train, and there are also comfortable lines with which you can feel confident. However, it would be best if you remembered that it could be challenging to take a bus on Sundays in rural areas, so you have to be aware when planning your trip.

Safety in Austria

Austria is one of the safest countries in the world, so you will feel very confident to do tourist tours throughout the country. Just follow the rules imposed by the authorities, and you will have a magnificent trip without any inconvenience.

Here are some travel recommendations:

Get good travel insurance in case you need medical attention.
Keep at hand the phone number of emergency services in Austria in case you need help.
Read travel advice to make the best decisions to enjoy this foreign country.

Weather in Austria

Austria’sweather varies depending on the time of year, so the ideal months to travel depend on what you are looking to have on your trip. Summers can be sweltering, rainy, or humid, and they go from June to mid-September; temperatures can be around 25°C (77°F) but can sometimes reach 35°C (95°F). Winter goes from December to March and can be around -10°C (14°F).

Whether you’re looking for a country to enjoy summer in the sun and take walks in light clothes or to enjoy white days and hot chocolate using a good coat, Austria is the place for you!

Popular Cities and Towns in Austria

Austria has lovely cities to explore, we give you the top 5.

Vienna is the capital and largest city of Austria. It exudes art, romance and architecture that represent the grandeur of this country. The city has three palaces: the Hofburg Imperial Palace, the Schönbrunn Palace, and the Palm House, magnificent for taking a walk and learning much more about Austrian history.
Graz is the second largest city in Vienna. It is charming, with incredible landscapes, such as forests, rivers, and fields full of crops. But do not be fooled as it surprises with its nature. You will also be surprised by the dynamism of this city: There is great nightlife, good restaurants, and cafes where you can spend time while enjoying your trip.
Salzburg is a city known for its architectural beauty and its history. Besides that, in case you did not know, it’s the place where the musical composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born, who conquered all of Europe with his art and the whole world with his incredible musical pieces. If this catches your eye, you can visit the Mozarthaus Vienna, which used to be his house and is now a museum, and you can participate in the classical music festivals organized during the year.
Innsbruck, a perfect city if you want to go skiing. You can use a small cable car that will take you from the city center to the slopes of Nordkette to practice this sport. Sounds incredible? It also has beautiful Baroque, Renaissance, and Rococo architecture that is worth visiting.
Linz is a wonderful and charming city. It has everything for you to feel happy about being in this corner of Austria. One of its main attractions in the center of the old town of Linz is Hauptplatz, once the central market square, where you can walk through and appreciate the medieval essence reflected in time.

Must Do and See in Austria

There’s a lot to see and do in Austria, but here we’ll give you the five landmarks to explore on your trip.

Vienna State Opera House - It opened in 1869, giving opera lovers and performances a special place in the heart of Vienna. The first performance was Mozart’s Don Giovanni. If you are an opera lover or want to know more, this place will show you how unique this art is on a large scale.
The Schönbrunn Palace - It is one of the most important buildings in Austria, located in Vienna, and it’s known for the grandeur of its gardens and sculptures. This is an attraction that you should not miss if you pass by the capital.
Hallstatt Old Town - It’s a city that looks like it came out of a fairy tale. It is located in the Austrian Alps and was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997. This place will make you feel like you’re a fairy tale character. It’s picturesque, with cobbled streets, perfect for exploring.
Fortress Hohensalzburg - It is a medieval fortress located in the city of Salzburg. Here you will find museums and libraries, where you will discover extensive collections of music from all over Europe: up to 6,000 volumes.
Schlossberg & Uhrturm, Graz - The Clock Tower is a symbol of Graz and of the entire Austrian nation. Here, you will see this remarkable monument with a beautiful view of the whole city. This tower is 28 meters high (92 feet) and was built in the 13th century.

Typical Austria Food to Try

Wiener Schnitzel is one of Austria's most critical national dishes. It is composed of meat chops with bread crumbs fried in butter until golden. Potatoes and salads accompany this dish.
Sachertorte is a chocolate cake and is said to have been created in Vienna in 1832 at the request of Prince Klemens Wenzel von Metternich to surprise his special guests. So if you like chocolate, you should try this delight.
Martinigansl is an exceptional dish in Austria, and you can only find it in October and November. It is goose stuffed with chestnuts and dried plums served with red cabbage and potato dumplings. This dish is a very ancient tradition in Austria.

Vaccine Information for Austria

Here on the CDC website, you will find all the health information about Covid 19 and other vaccination updates, and about the travel insurance you must have before traveling to Austria.

Austria Is a Leader in Renewable Energy

Before traveling to Austria, you should know that this country is a global leader in renewable energy. About 80 percent of the electricity generated in the country comes from renewable sources, mainly through hydroelectric dams. Learning its mountainous terrain in the production of green energy.

Fun Facts about Austria

Austrians love books. Bookworms in Vienna will undoubtedly want to visit the Austrian National Library, one of the largest in the world. The library contains more than two million books dating from the 14th century.
Austria is the home of classical composers. Being a country with cultural grandeur that has remained for centuries, it is also the birthplace of some of the best classical artists, such as Franz Schubert, Joseph Haydn, Gustav Mahler, and many more.
Austria has one of the oldest flags in the world. The flag is said to date from the 12th century, and as legend has it, the red symbolizes the blood shed by Duke Leopold V at the siege of Acre.