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- Capital: Vienna
- Area: 83,871 sq km
- Population: 9.02 million
- Languages: German, plus Hungarian, Slovene, Burgenland Croatian
Austria is a largely mountainous landlocked country in south-central Europe. Together with Switzerland, it forms what has been characterized as the neutral core of Europe, notwithstanding Austria’s full membership since 1995 in the supranational European Union (EU).
A great part of Austria’s prominence can be attributed to its geographic position. It is at the centre of European traffic between east and west along the great Danubian trade route and between north and south through the magnificent Alpine passes, thus embedding the country within a variety of political and economic systems. In the decades following the collapse in 1918 of Austria-Hungary, the multinational empire of which it had been the heart, this small country experienced more than a quarter century of social and economic turbulence and a Nazi dictatorship. Yet the establishment of permanent neutrality in 1955, associated with the withdrawal of the Allied troops that had occupied the country since the end of World War II, enabled Austria to develop into a stable and socially progressive nation with a flourishing cultural life reminiscent of its earlier days of international musical glory. Its social and economic institutions too have been characterized by new forms and a spirit of cooperation, and, although political and social problems remain, they have not erupted with the intensity evidenced in other countries of the Continent. The capital of Austria is historic Vienna (Wien), the former seat of the Holy Roman Empire and a city renowned for its architecture.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Currency & banking
On 1 January 2002, along with 11 other Member States of the European Union, Austria adopted the euro currency. These notes and coins can therefore be used in any country belonging to the euro zone: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.
- €1 is made up of 100 centimes or cents.
- Notes: €5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200.
- Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 centimes, as well as €1 and 2€.
Credit cards from major providers are accepted almost everywhere. That includes Visa and Mastercard as well as American Express and Diners Club.
Just be wary of the charges you might incur for using your credit card overseas. These can include:
- International transaction fees
- High exchange rate margins
- ATM fees
- Potential ‘cash advance fees if you use an ATM
Tipping
For the most part tipping is not common in Austria, with the exception of bars and restaurants where the locals tip when they are happy with the service or food.
There is no fixed rule of thumb for how much to tip, but tips tend to stay within 5-15% of the total amount of the bill. But remember that tipping is entirely up to you – there will be no hard feelings in any case.
Getting to and around Austria
Austria is served by an excellent rail network and buses cover most of the places you’ll want to get to beyond the tracks. With a bit of planning, you can explore the wild beauty of Austria by public transport at your own pace, without ever getting behind the wheel of a car.
Add on ferries that make the most of the grand sweep of the Danube River, and excellent roads and cycle routes that cut through spectacular Alpine scenery, and this mountainous corner of central Europe is a joy to explore.
Flying to Austria
Enjoy Austrian hospitality and award-winning service on board. Fly from numerous cities around the world non-stop to Vienna with Austrian Airlines.
Austrian Airlines is Austria’s largest carrier and operates a global route network of around 130 destinations and 220 flights per day. 305 million passengers have used the airline since 1957. Thanks to its favourable geographical location in the heart of Europe, the company’s hub at Vienna International Airport is the perfect gateway between East and West. New this year are the so-called green fares, allowing passengers to reduce their CO2 emissions by 20% on European flights.
Austrian Airlines is part of the Lufthansa Group, Europe’s largest airline group, and a member of the Star Alliance, the first global alliance of international airlines.
Driving
Since there are fast and well-maintained motorways throughout Central Europe, getting to Austria by car is simple.
An excellent motorway, highway, and federal road network connects Austria with its neighbouring countries. All main border check points are open day and night. In general, Austrian traffic regulations and traffic signals are similar to those enforced in other European countries.
It is approximately 1,035 km (647 mi) from the UK to the Austrian border, and the drive takes between 10 and 11 hours.
Please be aware that you need a “vignette” toll sticker to drive on Austria’s motorways and expressways. It is available at the border, at petrol stations, or online.
Trains
ÖBB-Austrian Railways offer attractive ticket options for travelling through Austria by train.
Travelling times between major Austrian cities:
- Vienna – Salzburg = less than 2,5 hours with ÖBB railjet
- Salzburg – Innsbruck = less than 2 hours with ÖBB railjet
- Innsbruck – Bregenz = starting from approx. 2,5 hours
- Vienna – Graz = 2 hours 38 min.
- Graz – Linz = starting from approx. 3 hours
- Graz – Innsbruck = starting from approx. 6 hours
Buses
FlixBus are one of the leading long-distance providers in Europe and operate a network of around 1,700 stops within 28 countries.
Departing from London Victoria Coach Station, Vienna Erdberg or Vienna Airport can be reached within 25 to 30 hours, depending on the transfers. FlixBus offer connections with 1 transfer nearly every day as well as direct connections, especially on weekends. Within Austria, this coach provider operates a network of 34 stops which make it easy to travel even further.
Health advice
The US Center For Disease Control maintains an updated list of medical advice for those travelling to Austria
The CDC recommends being up to date with all your regular shots. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot
They also suggest being vaccinated for hepatitis A. There is also some advice about protection for hepatitis B and rabies – but this depends to some degree on where you are heading and what you are doing.
Healthcare
The healthcare system in Austria is of very high quality, generally regarded as one of the best in the world; life expectancy is high and infant mortality is low.
Costs of medical care for those who are not local or from an EU country, such as tourists, can be very high. It is therefore important to take out appropriate travel insurance, which should include repatriation to your home country in the event of an emergency.
As always when you travel you should take out the necessary travel insurance coverage. We always use World Nomads but there are plenty of other insurance companies that offer travel insurance
Safety
Austria is generally a safe country to visit. There’s a small risk of petty theft, particularly at airports and railway stations in and around the larger cities.
Useful emergency numbers
- Police 133.
- European Emergency Number 112.
- Fire Brigade 122.
- Ambulance 144.
- Medical Emergency Number 141
Climate
Austria has a mainly continental climate, with warm, wet summers and cold, dry winters. A humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb) dominates the northern and eastern regions. Significant portions of the north-central, central, southern, and western regions have an oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb). A predominantly alpine climate (Köppen Dfc, Köppen EF, Köppen ET) is evident in the mountainous region of the Alps. Austria is a landlocked country in south-central Europe. Hungary lies in the east, Slovenia and Italy in the south and Switzerland and Liechtenstein in the west of Austria. Germany in the northwest, the Czech Republic in the north, and Slovakia in the northeast complete the remaining borders. The Alps, the Atlantic pressure systems from the northwest, and the Mediterranean pressure systems from the south, chiefly influence the climate.
Austria is a mountainous country that lies between 46°N and 49°N in central Europe. The Eastern Alps is the largest region that comprises 62% of Austria’s total area. The foothills at the base of the Alps and those engulfing the Pannonian plains account for another 24%. The Austrian granite plateau in the north, home to a large mountain area, occupies 10% of the land. The Vienna basin completes the remaining 4% of Austria. The Danube, the largest river at 1786 miles, flows from west to east into the Black Sea. Lake Constance is the largest lake with an area of 220 square miles. The Grossglockner is the highest mountain in Austria at 3798 meters above sea level. Lake Neusiedl is the lowest point in Austria at 115 meters above the Adriatic Sea.
The best time to visit Austria
The worst time to visit Austria
Month-by-month
Snow turns the Alps into a playground for winter sports, including ice skating, sledding and cross-country skiing. You can visit a variety of competitions. The weather in the higher elevations is very cold and windy, so pack accordingly. In the cities, the weather is more moderate, with temperatures usually above freezing during the day. Hearty visitors there to see the cultural sights will find good value at hotels, thin crowds and cityscapes transformed by the snow.
The weather is still chilly this time of year, with daytime temperatures hovering between the 50s and 60s °F in the cities. This translates to thinner crowds, meaning the hotels offer good value. Winter sports are less certain in the mountains, but it’s a lovely time to explore the cities.
The summer months are hot but not sweltering and offer ample opportunity for outdoor adventures. Venture to the mountains for hiking and the lake district towns of Saint Wolfgang and Hallstatt to enjoy the water. You’ll find plenty of other visitors, both international and local, but the crowds are bustling rather than pressing.
Summer crowds thin as the temperatures start to dip, making this a good time to enjoy both the cities and countryside. You’ll find better value at hotels and the atmosphere is a bit quieter with fewer visitors.
Despite the cold weather and snow, December is often one of the busiest months in Austria thanks to the wealth of Christkindlmarkts. Stalls strung with festive lights pop up in cities and towns across the country, selling seasonal food and drink, as well as Christmas gifts. There’s often entertainment, as well.
Visa information
What is Schengen?
Schengen refers to the EU passport-free zone that covers most of the European countries. It’s the largest free travel area in the world.
What is a Schengen Visa
A Schengen visa is a short-stay visa that allows a person to travel to any member of the Schengen Area, for stays up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes.
The Schengen visa is the most common visa for Europe. It enables its holder to enter, freely travel within, and leave the Schengen zone from any of the Schengen member countries. There are no border controls within the Schengen Zone.
However, if you are planning to study, work, or live in one of the Schengen countries for more than 90 days, then you must apply for a national visa of that European country and not a Schengen Visa.
The 26 Schengen countries are:
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
From 2024 visitors to a Schengen country that currently does not require a visa to enter will be required to obtain an ETIAS. ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System. It is a completely electronic system that allows and keeps track of visitors from countries who do not need a visa to enter the Schengen Zone. It is similar to the US ESTA programme. The ETIAS will cost only €7 for each application and will last for 3 years.
Citizens of Which Countries Need a Schengen Visa to go to Europe?
The countries whose citizens are required to obtain a Schengen visa in order to enter any member country of the Schengen Area are:
| Afghanistan | Gabon | Oman |
| Algeria | Gambia | Pakistan |
| Angola | Ghana | Papua New Guinea |
| Armenia | Guinea | Palestinian Authority |
| Azerbaijan | Guinea-Bissau | Philippines |
| Bahrain | Guyana | Qatar |
| Bangladesh | Haiti | Russia |
| Belarus | India | Rwanda |
| Belize | Indonesia | Sao Tome And Principe |
| Benin | Iran | Saudi Arabia |
| Bhutan | Iraq | Senegal |
| Bolivia | Jamaica | Sierra Leone |
| Botswana | Jordan | Somalia |
| Burkina Faso | Kazakhstan | South Africa |
| Burma/Myanmar | Kenya | South Sudan |
| Burundi | Kosovo | Sri Lanka |
| Cambodia | Kuwait | Sudan |
| Cameroon | Kyrgyzstan | Suriname |
| Cape Verde | Laos | Swaziland |
| Central African Republic | Lebanon | Syria |
| Chad | Lesotho | Tajikistan |
| China | Liberia | Tanzania |
| Comoros | Libya | Thailand |
| Congo | Madagascar | Timor-Leste |
| Cote D’ivoire | Malawi | Togo |
| Cuba | Maldives | Tonga |
| Dem. Rep. Of Congo | Mali | Tunisia |
| Djibouti | Mauritania | Turkey |
| Dominican Republic | Mongolia | Turkmenistan |
| Ecuador | Morocco | Uganda |
| Egypt | Mozambique | Uzbekistan |
| Equatorial Guinea | Namibia | Vietnam |
| Eritrea | Nepal | Yemen |
| Ethiopia | Niger | Zambia |
| Fiji | Nigeria | Zimbabwe |
| North Korea | Northern Mariana’s |
Electrical
Which power plugs and sockets are used in Europe?
In Europe, the power plugs and sockets are of type F. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. Check out the following pictures.
Type F: also known as “Schuko”. This socket also works with plug C and plug E.
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| Type F: This socket also works with plug C and E |