Austria is a must-visit destination in Europe with something for everyone. Whether it's stunning Alpine scenery and glorious nature, world-class museums or unique architecture, Austria is a captivating country that will beckon you to return again and again.
It's a brilliant place to visit in all seasons, whether you crave winter sports and activities or long to hike through vast meadows. The tallest waterfalls in Central Europe are right here in Austria. For us, we love the old towns and history found in Salzburg and Innsbruck, though some of the smaller villages of Austria might capture your heart just the same.
What to Know Before You Go
- Currency: Euro. Cash is not necessary as most establishments prefer card payments.
- Power: Plugs and sockets are type F. Voltage is 230 V 50 Hz.
- Official Language: German. Around 73% of the population speaks English.
- Capital City: Vienna
Getting There and Getting Around
- Flights: The main airport of Austria is the Vienna International Airport. Search for the best prices on flights with Skyscanner.
- Public Transportation: Austria has an extensive network of trains, buses and trams to get around the country. High speed trains connect Austria to other countries in Europe. Book your train and bus travel in one place with Omio.
- Renting a Car: Renting a car and driving around Austria makes it easier to get to those off the beaten path towns and villages. We always use Discover Cars to find the best rates on car rentals.
- Uber: The most popular ride sharing apps in Austria are Uber, Bolt, and Free Now. It's usually just as easy (and cheaper) to get around cities in Austria using public transportation.
Best Travel Resources
- Booking.com: This is our preferred choice for booking hotels around the world. We use Booking.com all the time for their wide selection of properties and reliability. In many cases, accommodations offer free cancellation should your travel plans change, and we love having that flexibility.
- VRBO: This is our preferred choice for booking apartments and houses for our travels. We love staying in local neighborhoods and it's also fabulous having a full kitchen to use to save money on food costs.
- Skyscanner: We always search for our flights on Skyscanner to find the best prices and routes.
- Omio: This is our preferred way to book train and bus travel around the world. They have more than 1000 trusted travel partners for trains, buses, ferries and airport transfers.
- Discover Cars: This is our preferred choice for booking rental cars around the world. Compare the prices between multiple car rental companies to find the best rates and options.
- Get Your Guide: This is one of the best places to book day tours and guided trips with over 140,000 experiences in 10,000+ cities worldwide.
- Viator: Viator is another excellent place to find day tours and guided trips with over 300,000 experiences worldwide.
- Take Walks: This is a fabulous smaller tour company offering local-led, small group walking tours throughout Europe and North America. We've taken several of their tours and have been thoroughly impressed each time.
- Airalo: Our preferred eSIM one stop shop. Airalo offers eSIMS for 200+ countries and regions with affordable rates. You'll always stay connected, no matter what.
Here are all of our Austria travel guides. We've broken it down into specific cities and regions so you can plan your trip.
