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Austria

Duration: All Weekend 4-7 days 8-14 days 15+ days Kids: All 👨‍👩‍👧 Kid-friendly
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Austria: Vienna, Salzburg and Tyrol
Austria 9 days

Austria: Vienna, Salzburg and Tyrol

Vienna, Salzburg, Hallstatt and Tyrol by train

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Planning a trip to Austria? Here you'll find our day-by-day itinerary (Vienna, Salzburg and Salzkammergut, Hallstatt, Tyrol and Innsbruck, Wachau Valley, High Tauern and Grossglockner), plus all the practical info to organise your journey: currency, visa, e-SIM, health, plugs and useful numbers.

When to go to Austria

Continental: harsh winters (+2 to -15°C, frequent snow), pleasant summers between 20 and 30°C. May to September is best for cities and lakes; December is magical for the Christmas markets but cold. Mountain weather turns fast: layers and a shell, always.

Practical info for travelling in Austria

Updated: June 2026

Currency

Euro (EUR). Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but the odd country Gasthaus and the market stalls still prefer cash: keep some on you.

Language

German (in its soft Austrian variant). English is spoken very well in cities and tourist areas; a 'GrĂĽĂź Gott' when entering shops always makes a good impression.

Documents / Visa

EU citizens only need a valid ID card or passport: no visa, it's the EU/Schengen area. Visitors from many other countries enter Schengen visa-free for up to 90 days, but should check their own nationality's rules. Carry your document: authorities may ask for it.

Health / Vaccines

No mandatory vaccines, BUT tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is endemic: if you plan forests, lakes or hiking between spring and autumn, discuss vaccination with your doctor. EU citizens can use the EHIC for necessary care; note that helicopter rescue for leisure accidents (skiing, mountains) is NOT covered by the state — private insurance is essential.

e-SIM / Connectivity

With an EU SIM, roaming is included at no extra cost. Visitors from outside the EU should get a local SIM or eSIM (A1, Magenta, Drei networks). Excellent 4G/5G; only the remotest alpine valleys have gaps.

Electricity

230V, 50Hz, type C/F (Schuko) sockets. Standard European two-pin plugs fit; travellers from the UK, US and elsewhere need an adapter.

Time zone

Central European Time (UTC+1, UTC+2 in summer).

Payments

Cards and contactless almost everywhere, but Austria remains fonder of cash than other northern countries: in mountain huts, wĂĽrstel kiosks and the odd tavern, 'Nur Barzahlung' (cash only) is not rare. ATMs everywhere, no issues.

Good to know

  • Ă–BB trains: the right way — Railjets link Vienna-Salzburg-Innsbruck with enviable frequency and punctuality: Sparschiene tickets bought ahead on the Ă–BB app cost half. From Italy there is also the overnight Nightjet with sleepers: leave in the evening, arrive in the city centre at dawn.
  • If you drive: vignette and rules — On motorways and expressways the vignette (toll sticker) is MANDATORY: beware, the digital one bought online is only valid from the 18th day after purchase — to leave immediately buy the physical one at the border or a tobacconist. Alcohol max 0.049%; fines are severe and since 2024 extreme speeding means car confiscation; a first-aid kit and reflective vest are MANDATORY on board; winter tyres from 1 Nov to 15 Apr in snowy conditions. In motorway queues form the Rettungsgasse: an emergency corridor down the middle, always.
  • Book ahead — Schönbrunn and Vienna's palaces need timed online tickets; same for the Wachau cruise (April-October) and concerts. In Hallstatt you book nothing but arrive EARLY: after 10:30 the village is a river of people. For the Salzburg Festival (summer), book hotels months ahead.
  • CafĂ©s and tipping — In Viennese cafĂ©s you stay as long as you like: order a Melange and the table is yours for hours (the glass of water served with coffee is tradition, not a mistake). Tipping: round up 5-10% by telling the waiter the total as you pay ('Stimmt so'), don't leave it on the table.
  • Sundays and opening hours — As in Germany, on Sundays shops and supermarkets are CLOSED (except those in stations and airports). Museums and restaurants stay open. Stock up on Saturday.
  • Safety — A very safe country, with crime in Vienna lower than other European capitals. The only caution: (non-violent) pickpocketing in crowded places, especially at the Christmas markets. In the mountains and on the slopes: follow local rules and check the avalanche bulletins.

Useful numbers

  • 112 — EU single emergency number, 24/7
  • 144 — Ambulance / medical emergency
  • 133 — Police
  • +43 1 7135671 — Italian Consular Chancery in Vienna — travellers of other nationalities should contact their own embassy

💡 Austria rewards planners: ÖBB Sparschiene bought early, Schönbrunn timed tickets and Hallstatt at dawn. And if you are heading into the woods between May and October, ask your doctor about the tick-borne encephalitis vaccine: the tip nobody expects and everyone is grateful for.