Highlights
Vienna
The former Habsburg capital has palaces, world-class museums and a strong musical tradition. See Schönbrunn and the Hofburg, the paintings at the Kunsthistorisches Museum and Klimt's 'The Kiss' at the Belvedere, then sit for hours in a traditional coffee house.
Salzburg
Mozart's birthplace has a baroque old town beneath the Hohensalzburg fortress. The Salzburg Festival each summer is one of the world's leading classical music and opera festivals.
Hallstatt and the Salzkammergut
A lakeside village squeezed between mountain and water, with one of the world's oldest salt mines above it. The surrounding Salzkammergut region has many quieter lakes, including the Wolfgangsee and Traunsee.
Innsbruck and Tyrol
The Tyrolean capital has a medieval old town with the Golden Roof, and a cable car that rises from the centre to the Nordkette mountains. The region around it is a base for hiking and skiing.
The Grossglockner High Alpine Road
A spectacular mountain road climbing towards Austria's highest peak, the Grossglockner, with views over the Pasterze, the country's largest glacier. It is usually open from late spring to autumn.
The Wachau Valley
A UNESCO-listed stretch of the Danube between Melk and Krems, with vineyards, apricot orchards and the huge baroque abbey at Melk. Cycle the riverside path or take a boat.
Graz
Austria's second city has a well-preserved old town, the Schlossberg clock tower and a modern art museum shaped like a blue bubble.
Alpine skiing
Resorts such as St Anton, Kitzbühel, Ischgl and Sölden offer extensive slopes, while the cosy mountain huts and après-ski are part of the experience.
Interesting facts about Austria
- Vienna's Schönbrunn Zoo, founded in 1752, is the oldest zoo in the world still in operation.
- The Viennese coffee house culture is listed by Austria as intangible cultural heritage under UNESCO's framework.
- Roughly two-thirds of Austria is covered by the Alps.
- Drivers on Austrian motorways need a toll sticker or digital vignette, which can be bought before the trip.
- Hallstatt's salt mine has been worked for thousands of years and gave its name to an early European culture, the Hallstatt culture.
Best time to visit
Summer (June to September) is best for hiking, lakes and festivals, and the high mountain roads are open. The ski season runs from December to April, with the highest resorts and glaciers offering longer seasons. Spring and autumn are good for Vienna and the Wachau, with grape harvests in September and October. In December, Christmas markets fill the squares in Vienna, Salzburg and other towns.
Practical information
| Capital | Vienna |
|---|---|
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
| Languages | German |
| Plugs | Type C, F |
| Voltage | 230 V, 50 Hz |
| Emergency | 112; also 133 police, 144 ambulance, 122 fire |
| Driving | On the right |
| Tipping | Round up or add around 5 to 10 per cent in restaurants and cafés, telling the server the total when you pay rather than leaving money on the table. |
Getting around
Austria's rail network is efficient and links Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck and Graz, with frequent fast trains and connections across Europe. Regional buses reach mountain villages, and many resorts offer free or discounted local transport for guests. Vienna has an excellent metro, tram and bus network. Driving gives flexibility in the mountains; motorways require a vignette and some tunnels and passes have extra tolls.
Staying connected in Austria
Mobile coverage is very good across Austria, including most valleys, ski areas and train lines, with 4G and 5G widespread in cities. Coverage can still drop in deep side valleys and on remote high trails. Free Wi-Fi is common in hotels, cafés and on many trains. Austria is in the EU, so EU roaming rules apply for EU plans. Travellers from elsewhere can install an eSIM before they fly and switch it on when they land.
See Austria eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for Austria
- ÖBB: The Austrian Federal Railways app for timetables, tickets and live train information.
- WienMobil: Vienna's public transport app for routes and tickets on the metro, trams and buses.
- Google Maps: Walking and driving directions; download offline maps for hiking areas.
- Bergfex: Ski resort conditions, snow reports, hiking routes and mountain weather.