Austria Travel Guide

Continent: Europe
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Austria Travel Essentials

Ideal Duration: 5-7 days for exploring Vienna and nearby attractions; 10-14 days for a more extensive exploration

Currency: Euro (EUR)

Best Time: June-August, September and October Read More

Accommodation Cost (per night in USD):
Dorm bed: $20-40
Budget: $60-100
Mid-range: $120-200
Luxury: $250 and above

Budget for Food & Drinks (per day in USD):
Budget: $15-30
Mid-range: $40-70

Visa Policy for Indians: Schengen Visa

Visa Policy for Other Nationals: Schengen Visa for many countries

Getting In Austria: Vienna International Airport (VIE), Salzburg Airport (SZG) Read More

Getting Around Austria: Trains, trams, buses, bicycles Read More

"The Land of Music and Arts"

Austria Tourism

Basking in the glory of natural beauty, Austria is one of the most prominent attractions of central Europe. Rooted in its deep imperial culture, the country offers much more beyond the scenic beauty, including neo-classical architecture, the craze for music, popular cafes, and the thrill of sports. From the rustic backdrops to colorful mismatched houses, Austria is a place to relax, savor and appreciate the culture of the country of many years of making.

Austria is famous for its breathtaking natural beauty, including the Austrian Alps. The country offers numerous opportunities for outdoor activities such as skiing, snowboarding, hiking, and mountain biking. It is famous because of its rich history, culture and music. It is also known for its wellness and spa tourism, with numerous thermal baths and wellness resorts set against scenic backdrops.

Must Know Before You Travel to Austria

  • Transportation: Austria has an efficient public transportation system, including trams, buses, and trains. Consider purchasing the Vienna Card or other city cards for discounted transportation and attraction admission.
  • Biking: Austria has an extensive network of bike paths, and you can rent bicycles in many cities. Do not walk on bike lanes as it is considered impolite, and some cyclists ride quite fast.
  • Shopping Hours: Many shops in Austria close early on Saturdays and are closed on Sundays.
  • Tap Water: Tap water in Austria is safe to drink, so save money and reduce plastic waste by refilling your reusable water bottle.
  • Safety: Austria is generally a safe country but exercises standard safety precautions. Beware of pickpockets in crowded areas, and be cautious at night.

Best time to visit Austria

Best time to visit Austria is during Spring(April to June) and Autumn(September to November). Spring in Austria is a lovely time with blooming flowers and pleas (Read More)ant temperatures. This is a great season for outdoor activities, such as hiking and cycling, as the countryside comes to life. In Autumn, the weather is still pleasant, and the fall foliage is spectacular. The crowds start to thin out, making it a more peaceful and cost-effective time to travel.

Summer(June to August) is the peak tourist season in Austria, especially in July and August. The weather is warm and ideal for outdoor adventures. This is the perfect time for hiking, swimming in lakes, and enjoying the lush alpine landscapes. Festivals and open-air concerts are common during the summer months.

Winter(December to February) in Austria is famous for its ski resorts and Christmas markets. The Austrian Alps offer excellent skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities.

Holidify's opinion on Travel to Austria

What's Great about Travelling to Austria?

Old world charm. Elegant architecture. Food. Cleanliness and Hygiene. Scenic Beauty.

What's Not So Great about Travelling to Austria?

Racial discrimination at some places.

Who should Travel to Austria?

Nature lovers. Those who seek serenity. Elegant architecture. Music and Art lover. Adventure Buffs. Great food.

Read More on Austria Travel

Nightlife in Austria

Austria is known for its everlasting culture of music, literature and the arts, which is also a huge part of their daily life. The nightlife in the country is quite flexible differing from city to city offering from trendy club lounges and dance locales to mellow taverns and beer gardens. One can find dingy small bars, cabaret, opera, theatre and many nightclubs in Vienna. One of the favorite pastimes of locals to spend their evening Summers is at beer gardens found all across the country.

Shopping in Austria

Austria is mainly known for its high-quality products such as winter sports equipment, handbags, glassware, and chinaware. In larger cities like Vienna, one will find plenty of options from high-end designer boutiques and huge stores including mall culture to flea markets and local artisan labels. Innsbruck is renowned for its glittering crystals. For souvenirs, one can go for quality craft and art pieces. Stores and shops in Austria are usually open from Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm including one to two hours of lunch break in small towns. As for Saturday, timings may vary but in general remains as 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. However, the timing for big stores and shops in tourist places are Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm and during Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Festivals of Austria

Festivals in Austria are all about celebrating music, arts and season of the country. The Vienna International Festival (mid-May to mid-June) is one of the most celebrated festivals in entire Europe where plays and concerts form a major attraction. The Salzburg International Festival, Fasching (Carnival), Christmas, St. Nicholas Day and Midsummer NightÍs celebration are other important festivals one must look out for.

History of Austria

Austria has been the land with several rulers changing the seat of power from time to time. Beginning with the first human settlement in the Danube Valley, many have followed including Celts, Illyrians, Romans and Bavarians, and then the noble Babenberg and the Habsburg dynasties. However, the noble Habsburg family was perhaps the most prominent one, which ruled the country for long six centuries. They expanded their holding all across Europe by 16th century through marriages as well as military conquests. 

With French revolution in late 18th century, people thrived for independence, which resulted in fall of Holy Roman Empire but the Habsburgs were able to hold their flag high. A dual monarchy of Austro-Hungary in 1867 shared by Habsburgs and Hungarian government was the beginning of their diminishing powers, which finally came to an end with WWI. With WWII came the rule of Hitler over Austria oppressing the Jewish community of the country. Austria finally got its independence in 1944, formally established in 1955 and became part of European Union in 1995. 

Customs of Austria

Austria is a country of rich culture and traditions. The people here tend to be quite formal in their demeanor in both business and social setting. Shaking hands is the established form of greeting and use the title and last name while referring someone especially during a business communication or on their first meeting. Punctuality, particularly when you have an appointment with a local, is essential for people of Austria and so apologise if you are running late. There is no particular dress code for visitors or even locals, however, make sure to dress up properly for some occasions such as theatre, operas or concerts. Make sure to greet people saying Guten Tag (good day) while entering restaurant or shop and with Auf Wiedersehen (goodbye) while leaving. Tipping is usually practiced and is customary in hotels even though service charges are included in the bills. Normally, the tip is given to the hotel concierge only for special services, and employees are tipped in family run establishments. In restaurants, tipping is not mandatory although appreciated, as 10% has already been included in the prices.

Food of Austria

The food in Austria is usually quite delicious and unique with a tradition of being stodgy and filling variety. The popular basics include vela, sausage, pork, eggs, potatoes, and bread. People of Austria take food seriously, and almost every village owns a bakery of their own presenting a great variety of freshly baked products and savory rolls from 6:00 am onwards. Meat with dumplings is their typical meal along with broth-based soups, cheese spread and stewed and breaded meats while their breakfast includes rolls, cheese, cold cuts, and coffee. Confectionary is a real weakness for people throughout Austria and is renowned worldwide. Austrian pies and pastries are must try usually gracing the windows of bakeries adorned with most elaborated icings. Gourmet culture is taken to a new level in the country especially in Vienna, where coffee and cake is the much-loved combination.

Photos of Austria

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FAQs on Austria

How to reach Austria from India?

Vienna has an international airport that serves as the entry point from India. If you are planning to visit the Austria, Several flights ply on a regular basis between India and Vienna such as British Airways, Finnair, Niki, Lufthansa, Jet Airways, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Aeroflot, Air India, Austrian Airlines and much more. There are several direct flights as well as connecting flights from various India cities including Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi.

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