When to go to Austria?
→ The detailed month-by-month page, with real weather records
Best time: May to September (skiing: December to March)
At a glance
Why go to Austria?
Austria packs into a pocket-sized territory two faces that rarely sit together so easily: the imperial grandeur of the Habsburgs and the raw majesty of the Alps. Vienna rolls out its palaces, its Ring boulevards and its concert halls with the swagger of a capital that long ruled over Central Europe, while a few hours away by train the peaks of Tyrol and the lakes of the Salzkammergut make up a picture-postcard setting. You move, almost without transition, from the gilded splendour of a Baroque gallery to the freshness of an Alpine meadow.
What wins people over here is how easy it all is. The ÖBB rail network, punctual and comfortable, links the major cities and reaches deep into remote valleys, making the country accessible without a car. Distances are short, the organisation is flawless, and the cleanliness and safety are reassuring. You can have breakfast in a century-old Viennese café, lunch beside an emerald lake and dinner at the foot of a medieval fortress, all in one well-planned day.
Austria can be enjoyed in every season, and that may be its finest quality. Winter covers Tyrol and the Arlberg in snow that is ideal for skiing; spring and autumn bring mellow cities and blazing Wachau vineyards; summer opens up the hiking trails and swims in lakes of astonishing clarity. This versatility, added to a musical and pastry culture without equal, makes it a destination people rarely visit only once.
Map of Austria: what is where?
The map shows the 7 places covered in this guide, to picture the distances and plan your route.
- Vienna
- Salzburg
- Hallstatt
- Innsbruck
- Melk Abbey
- Grossglockner Road
- Graz
How much does a trip to Austria cost?
Austria has a high cost of living, comparable to Switzerland or Germany. Vienna and the ski resorts weigh most heavily, while small towns and country guesthouses remain more affordable. Travelling by train with tickets booked in advance and favouring family-run Gasthöfe help keep spending in check. Here are rough figures per person per day, including accommodation, meals and sightseeing.
| Style | Per day | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | €70 to €100 | A night in a hostel or simple guesthouse, meals in canteens and bakeries, regional trains with advance tickets, a few chosen sights. |
| Comfort | €150 to €220 | Well-located three-star hotel, traditional restaurants, Railjet trains, entry to the major museums and palaces, a concert or an excursion. |
| Luxury | €350 and up | Characterful hotel or palace hotel, fine dining, first class and private transfers, an Opera box and tailor-made experiences. |
The currency is the euro. Bank cards are accepted almost everywhere, but it is useful to keep a little cash for small cafés, markets and mountain huts. Tipping, around five to ten per cent, is done by rounding up the bill. Cash machines are plentiful in towns.
Is Austria safe?
Austria ranks among the safest countries in the world. Petty crime is rare and mostly limited to pickpockets in tourist areas and on Vienna's crowded public transport, where ordinary vigilance is enough. Healthcare facilities are excellent and the European Health Insurance Card is valid for EU citizens. The main risk comes from the mountains: whether hiking or skiing, respect the weather, equip yourself properly and check conditions, as the weather changes fast at altitude. In winter, driving calls for caution and suitable tyres.
What to see and do in Austria
Imperial Vienna and Schönbrunn Palace
Vienna was the heart of an empire, and it shows on every street corner. The Hofburg Palace, the Habsburgs' winter residence, and Schönbrunn Palace, their summer retreat with its 1,441 rooms, frame the city in Baroque splendour. The Ring, a belt of boulevards laid out in the 19th century, lines up the Opera, the Parliament and the great museums. At the Belvedere, you can admire Klimt's The Kiss, an icon of the Vienna Secession. The gardens of Schönbrunn, with the Gloriette and the zoo, the oldest in the world, deserve a whole morning. In the evening, a concert in a historic hall extends the atmosphere of a capital devoted to music.
Salzburg, Mozart's city
Nestled between two hills, Salzburg unfolds a Baroque old town on the UNESCO World Heritage list, overlooked by the imposing Hohensalzburg Fortress. Mozart was born here in 1756: both his birthplace on Getreidegasse and his family residence are open to visitors. Cobbled lanes, wrought-iron shop signs and inner courtyards make up a setting of rare harmony. The Mirabell Gardens, with their geometric flowerbeds, offer a perfect view of the citadel. Fans will recognise many of the settings of The Sound of Music, filmed in the city and its surroundings. Every summer, the festival draws the cream of classical music.
Hallstatt and the Salzkammergut
The Salzkammergut is a region of Alpine lakes of almost unreal beauty, and Hallstatt is its most photographed jewel. Wedged between a cliff and a mirror-like lake, the village lines up its wooden houses with flower-decked balconies in a fairy-tale setting. Its salt, mined since prehistoric times, made its fortune: the oldest salt mine in the world can be visited above the village, with a spectacular viewing platform over the valley. Nearby, the Wolfgangsee and Attersee lakes invite you to swim and take boat trips. You come for the postcard and stay for the serenity of the waters and peaks. It is best to arrive early to beat the crowds.
Innsbruck and Tyrol
The capital of Tyrol, Innsbruck lives surrounded by the Alps, which seem to rise up at the end of every street. Its emblem, the Golden Roof, a loggia covered in gilded tiles, watches over the old town and its colourful façades. The Zaha Hadid-designed funicular and the Nordkette cable car lift you in minutes from the historic centre to more than two thousand metres above sea level. A two-time Olympic city, it still has a ski jump open to visitors. Around it, the Tyrolean resorts offer renowned skiing in winter and hiking trails in summer. It is the ideal starting point for exploring the valleys and passes of the Austrian Alps.
The Wachau Valley and Melk Abbey
Between Melk and Krems, the Danube winds into the Wachau, a UNESCO-listed wine valley where terraced slopes produce excellent white wines. The Baroque abbey of Melk, perched on a rocky spur, dazzles with its gilded church and monumental library. Downstream, wine villages, castle ruins and apricot orchards follow one another along the water. You can explore the valley by bike on a flat path along the river, or by boat on a gentle cruise. In spring, the apricot blossom dresses the slopes in white and pink. A stop at a Heuriger, one of the winemakers' taverns, rounds off the visit perfectly.
The Grossglockner High Alpine Road
The Grossglockner High Alpine Road ranks among the most beautiful mountain roads in Europe. Over some thirty kilometres, it zigzags up to nearly two thousand five hundred metres, offering a grandiose panorama of snow-capped peaks at every bend. At the end of the road, the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe viewpoint faces the Grossglockner, the country's highest peak at 3,798 metres, and its glacier, the Pasterze. Marmots, ibex and bearded vultures inhabit the Hohe Tauern National Park through which it runs. Open only from May to October, it can be driven by car or motorbike, with many lay-bys along the way. It is a journey in its own right, to be savoured slowly.
Viennese cafés and pastries
In Vienna, coffee is not just a drink but an institution, listed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. In hushed rooms with velvet banquettes, people linger for hours over a creamy Melange served with a glass of water and the day's papers. Sachertorte, a chocolate cake glazed with apricot, vies for top billing with apfelstrudel, the apple strudel, and Kaiserschmarrn, a torn, caramelised pancake. Historic houses such as Café Central and the Sacher have kept this ritual alive since the 19th century. On the savoury side, Wiener schnitzel, breaded veal escalope, remains the signature dish. You take your time here: that is the whole Viennese art of living.
How many days, and which itinerary?
A week to ten days lets you combine Vienna, Salzburg and the Tyrolean Alps without rushing; a long weekend of three to four days is enough to discover Vienna plus a side trip to the Wachau or the Salzkammergut.
🗺️ Day-by-day itinerary · 📓 Free printable Austria guide (PDF)
4 days
Two days in Vienna for the Hofburg, Schönbrunn, the Belvedere and the historic cafés, then a day in the Wachau Valley with Melk Abbey and a wine tasting, before a final morning in the museums or at the Naschmarkt. An ideal format for a first taste of imperial Austria.
7 days
Three days in Vienna, a train to Salzburg for two nights devoted to the old town and Mozart, then a trip to Hallstatt and the Salzkammergut. Finish in Innsbruck with a glimpse of the Tyrolean Alps. A balanced itinerary between imperial cities, lakes and mountains, entirely doable by train.
10 days
The grand tour: Vienna and the Wachau, Salzburg and the Salzkammergut, Innsbruck and Tyrol, then, by car from May to October, the Grossglockner High Alpine Road and the Hohe Tauern park. Add Graz, the country's second city, to close the loop. Enough to capture every facet of Austria, from urban splendour to the high mountains.
Getting there and getting around
The train is king in Austria. The ÖBB network, punctual and comfortable, links all the major cities with frequent services: Vienna to Salzburg in two and a half hours, Salzburg to Innsbruck in under two hours. Railjet trains are excellent for comfort, and passes such as the Klimaticket or advance Sparschiene tickets cut the bill considerably. In the cities, trams, metros and buses are efficient and cheap.
A car only becomes useful for exploring remote valleys and mountain roads, first and foremost the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, which is tolled and open only in the warmer months. A motorway vignette, digital or sticker, is compulsory on the expressways. In winter, suitable tyres are required by law and mountain passes may close. Elsewhere, the train and the bike are more than enough for a successful trip.
Where to stay in Austria?
Vienna offers the full range, from historic grand hotels facing the Opera to modern hostels, by way of boutique hotels in the Neubau and Leopoldstadt districts. Staying near the Ring or a metro station makes getting around much easier. In Salzburg, the old town has the most atmospheric addresses, but prices climb, especially during the summer festival; the districts on the right bank offer good alternatives a few minutes' walk away.
In the Alpine regions and the Salzkammergut, family-run guesthouses and traditional Gasthöfe, often in the same hands for generations, offer a warm welcome and excellent value, with a hearty breakfast included. In Hallstatt, accommodation is limited and must be booked well in advance; staying in a neighbouring lakeside village is a sensible option. In ski resorts, rates vary greatly by season, peaking in midwinter with good deals in the shoulder seasons.
Our places to stay, stop by stop, at three budgets →
What to eat in Austria?
Austrian cooking is generous and comforting. Wiener schnitzel, breaded veal escalope, is its ambassador, alongside Tafelspitz, boiled beef beloved of Emperor Franz Joseph, and goulash inherited from neighbouring Hungary. Knödel, bread or potato dumplings, are a natural partner for slow-cooked dishes. In Tyrol, try Tiroler Gröstl, a pan-fry of potatoes and meat, or Kaiserschmarrn dusted with sugar. Markets such as Vienna's Naschmarkt are packed with produce and snack stalls.
The pastries alone are worth the trip. Chocolate Sachertorte, apple strudel, jam-filled Linzer Torte or quark-filled Topfenstrudel are enjoyed in the cafés with a Viennese Melange. As for drinks, the white wines of the Wachau and the Kamptal, such as Grüner Veltliner, are first-rate, as are the local beers. In the winemakers' taverns, the Heurigen on the outskirts of Vienna, people share cold platters and new wine in a jolly atmosphere.
Entry requirements
Schengen area: an ID card or passport for EU citizens, 90 days visa-free for UK, US, Canadian and Australian passports.
Rules change: check your own government's travel advice before you go.
Cities and regions to discover
City🇦🇹 Vienna
City🇦🇹 Salzburg
City🇦🇹 Hallstatt and the Salzkammergut
City🇦🇹 Innsbruck and the Tyrol
City🇦🇹 The Wachau Valley
Frequently asked questions about Austria
What is the best season to visit Austria?
It all depends on your plans. Winter, from December to March, is made for skiing and Christmas markets. Summer, from June to September, opens up the lakes, hiking trails and mountain roads. Spring and autumn offer pleasant cities, fewer people and beautiful colours, especially in the Wachau vineyards.
Can you visit Austria without a car?
Yes, very easily. The ÖBB rail network is dense, punctual and comfortable, linking all the major cities as well as many valleys. Urban transport is excellent. A car is only a must for mountain roads such as the Grossglockner and the most remote corners.
How many days should I plan for a first trip?
A week strikes a good balance for combining Vienna, Salzburg and a taste of the Alps. With ten days, you can add the Salzkammergut, Tyrol and possibly the Grossglockner road. A long weekend of three or four days is enough to discover Vienna and a nearby side trip.
Which specialities should I not miss?
Wiener schnitzel, breaded veal escalope, and Tafelspitz on the savoury side. For something sweet, chocolate Sachertorte, apple strudel and Kaiserschmarrn. All of it carries on in a Viennese café over a creamy Melange, a ritual listed as UNESCO heritage.
Is Austria an expensive destination?
The cost of living is high, especially in Vienna and the ski resorts. You can still keep your budget under control by booking trains in advance, staying in family-run guesthouses and eating at the markets. Allow around €70 to €100 a day travelling simply, more for extra comfort.
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