Austria: Vienna Travel Guide & Flights

April to October is ideal for Vienna, Salzburg and the lakes, with festivals and outdoor dining. July and August are peak season in the mountains for hiking.

December brings famous Christmas markets, and December to March is ski season in Tyrol and Salzburgerland.

Vienna has warm summers (often 25–30°C) and cold winters around 0°C. The Alps are cooler in summer and snowy in winter, and weather in the mountains can change quickly.

Austria uses the euro (EUR). Cards are widely accepted, though some traditional cafés, mountain huts and small shops still prefer cash, so carry a little.

Austria is moderately expensive: budget travellers need roughly €70–100 per day, and mid-range trips cost about €140–220 per day. Vienna family hotels and apartments with kitchens are good value for families, and many museums offer free entry for children.

German is the official language, spoken with an Austrian accent and vocabulary. English is widely spoken in cities, hotels and ski resorts. 'Grüß Gott' is the traditional greeting.

Austria is part of the Schengen Area: EU citizens travel freely, one Schengen visa covers all Schengen countries, and many other nationalities (including UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens) can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Visitors from visa-exempt countries will also need an online ETIAS travel authorisation once that system starts. Rules depend on your passport, so always confirm with the official government website or embassy before you book.

ÖBB Railjet trains link Vienna with Salzburg (about 2.5 hours) and Innsbruck (about 4 hours), and the CAT train reaches central Vienna from the airport in 16 minutes. Vienna's U-Bahn, trams and buses are excellent.

A car helps for Alpine roads and lakes, but most highlights are reachable by train and bus.

Try Wiener Schnitzel, Tafelspitz (boiled beef), Sachertorte and apple strudel, ideally in a classic Viennese coffee house. In the mountains, hearty Kaiserschmarrn pancakes and Tyrolean dumplings are favourites.

Austria is famous for classical music — Mozart, Strauss and the Vienna State Opera — and for a relaxed coffee-house culture where one coffee can last hours. Austrians appreciate politeness and punctuality.

Internet access is fast in cities and generally good in the mountains. Free Wi-Fi is common in hotels and cafés, EU roaming applies, and prepaid SIMs are easy to buy.