Europe · Central EuropeOutline guideCountry in Central Europe
Photo: Ikiwaner, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Austria (German: Österreich) is a landlocked German-speaking country in Central Europe. Austria, along with neighbouring Switzerland, is the winter sports centre of Europe. However, it is just as popular for summer tourists who visit its historic cities and villages and hike in the magnificent scenery of the Alps. With more than 30 million arrivals (2023) and only about nine million inhabitants, it is one of the most visited countries in the world.
Answers to what travellers most often look up about Austria.
Cards and cash
Austria is a cash-oriented society, and while acceptance of credit/debit cards is on the rise, many shops are still cash only.
Tipping
In Austria, tipping is common and, although legally not mandatory, often considered as socially obligatory.
Austro-Bavarian German
The national official language of Austria is German which, in its national standard variety, known as Austrian (Standard) German (Österreichisches (Hoch)deutsch) is generally identical to the German used in Germany,…
Phone boxes usually operate with prepaid cards which can be obtained from postal offices and kiosks (German:Trafik).
Mobile networks
Magenta TelekomTap water is of exceptional quality and safe to drink in Austria (except in some parts of lower Austria, where it is recommended to ask about the water quality first!).
Austria has an excellent healthcare system by Western standards. Hospitals are modern, clean, and well-equipped.
Symbols of Nazism, including material questioning the extent of Nazi crimes or praising its actions, are forbidden by Austrian law.
Covered in the guide
Attractions, food, stays and travel essentials, with ratings, reviews, opening hours and directions.
the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre
famous for the annual summer music festival of Bregenzer Festspiele
historically the seat of the Eszterházy Hungarian noble family that gave the town its aristocratic feel
known as Austria's culinary capital and student city
the cultural, educational and economic centre of Western Austria directly in the heart of the Alps
scenic town very close to the Wörthersee
a vibrant music and arts scene and a beautiful historic core
the birthplace of Mozart; a cultural city with an attractive setting and scenic Alpine backdrop
a large lake situated in Vorarlberg and shared with Switzerland and Germany
part of the Europa Sport Region
one of the most ancient settlements of the North Tyrolean Ausserfern, on the border with Bavaria and a short walk or drive to the famous castles of King Ludwig
a stunning cultural landscape among mountains and lakes
a popular ski resort in the shadow of the Patscherkofel mountain near Innsbruck
home to the world's oldest mountain railway.
the great spas of Styria, an easy daytrip from Graz or Vienna
one of Austria's warmest lakes
Places in Austria on the World Heritage List.
Neusiedl Lake
Listed 2001
Wachau
Listed 2000
Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe
Listed 2007
prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps
Listed 2011
Semmering railway
Listed 1998
The Great Spa Towns of Europe
Listed 2021
Historic Centre of the City of Salzburg
Listed 1996
Hallstatt-Dachstein Salzkammergut cultural landscape
Listed 1997
Historic Centre of Vienna
Listed 2001
City of Graz – Historic Centre and Schloss Eggenberg
Listed 1999
Fertö / Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape
Listed 2001
Altaussee salt mine
List from Wikidata (CC0). Photos from Wikimedia Commons.
Sunny plains and countless wineries along the border with Hungary. Austria's largest (albeit very shallow) lake, Neusiedler See, is a good spot for bird-watching.
Austria's southernmost state is popular for its many lakes, its traditional cuisine, and the peculiar dialect of its inhabitants.
The largest state stretches from the Bohemian hills to the peaks of the Alps. The Wachau landscape with the impressive monastery of Melk is a UNESCO world heritage site.
Home to the world-famous city of Salzburg and some of Austria's best-known skiing resorts. Motorists might enjoy crossing the Alps to Carinthia via the famous Glockner-Hochalpenstraße.
The mining towns in the North may have seen better days, but the area around Austria's second city, Graz, is booming. Southern Styria is famous for its wineries and Mediterranean charm.
Very touristy state. Has the highest mountains and a lot of very famous ski areas and tourist places (Kitzbühel, Ischgl, Sölden), but there are also some untouched and wild regions like Hohe Tauern National Park.
Less touristy and more industrial, Upper Austria offers great lakes for swimming, mountains for hiking and affordable skiing as well as Austria's third-largest city, Linz. Most famous is the Salzkammergut.
The former capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire is brimming with impressive architecture, cultural institutions and opportunities to explore the cuisines of Austria and pretty much everywhere else. An imperial and cosmopolitan capital in a small country, it forms a marked contrast from the rest of Austria.
Austria's gateway to Switzerland and Liechtenstein sometimes feels more Swiss than Austrian, owing in part to the Alemannic dialect of its inhabitants. Famous is Lake Constance and Montafon mountains.
Public transport and paid services in Austria.
Public transport planning
There is a route planning app called ÖBB Scotty available as web app and for Android and iOS, which takes into account all forms of public transport in the country and all international connections…
By car
Sparsely populated regions in Austria are easier to explore by car as bus services can be infrequent. Many popular spots in the mountains are accessible only by car or on foot/ski.
By plane
Although you'll miss out most of the stunning Austrian Landscape, it is possible to travel by plane within Austria.
By e-hailing
As of 2024, the most popular ride-hailing services in Austria are Uber, Bolt and Free Now.
Apps for booking a taxi or a ride in Austria.
Finding apps for Austria…
Other ways to travel:Local transport
Operators checked against their official websites in October 2026; services that have stopped running are not listed. Logos and Wikipedia links: Wikidata (CC0)
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Vienna · International · VIE
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Calculated from climate averages: mild daytime highs and lower rainfall. It does not account for festivals, crowds or prices.
Average conditions in Vienna
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. high | 2° | 4° | 9° | 15° | 20° | 24° | 27° | 26° | 20° | 15° | 8° | 3° |
| Avg. low | -5° | -4° | -1° | 4° | 9° | 13° | 15° | 15° | 10° | 5° | 1° | -3° |
| Rainfall (mm) | 42 | 38 | 46 | 41 | 85 | 91 | 88 | 86 | 79 | 54 | 45 | 42 |
| Humidity | 90% | 86% | 79% | 72% | 71% | 67% | 64% | 64% | 71% | 81% | 88% | 90% |
Choose your passport and destination to see whether you need a visa.
Budget
$80
Per person, per day
Mid-range
$220
Per person, per day
Luxury
$575
Per person, per day
| Budget | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $40 | $125 | $335 |
| Food and drink | $20 | $50 | $120 |
| Local transport | $10 | $20 | $50 |
| Activities | $10 | $25 | $70 |
Estimate from World Bank price levels (2025). Actual costs vary by city and season. World Bank
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We do not label countries as safe or unsafe. Below is the official advice from two governments, with the date it was last updated. Always read the full advice before you travel.
US Department of State
Level 1 of 4Exercise normal precautions
Exercise normal precautionin Austria. Austria is generally a safe destination for travelers. Read our Travel Guidance for additional information on travel to Austria.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
No advice against travel. Read the full advice before you go.
Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: see general advice for women travellers read our guide on disability and travel abroad see general advice for LGBT+ travellers read about safety for solo and independent travel see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad Travel insurance If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. About FCDO travel advice The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice. Get travel advice updates Sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated. Follow FCDO: travel advice on X travel advice on Facebook Travel Aware on Instagram
Stories, itineraries and practical advice for travelling in Austria.
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Culture & historyThe Austro-Hungarian Empire (German: Österreichisch-Ungarische Monarchie, Hungarian: Osztrák–Magyar Monarchia) or Austria-Hungary was a constitutional dual monarchy that existed from 1867 to 1918.
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