Austria
Austria suits travelers who want imperial cities, Alpine peaks and lakes, linked by rail.
Austria is a landlocked federal republic in Central Europe, in the Eastern Alps. Vienna is the capital and the largest city. The country borders Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. More than 70% of the territory is mountainous, and the highest peak, the Großglockner at 3,798 m, is in the Hohe Tauern range. Austria has nine states, from Vienna and Salzburg to Tyrol, Carinthia and Burgenland on the Hungarian border.
Travelers come for Vienna's imperial history, since the Habsburgs ruled the Austrian lands from the late 13th century, and for the lakes and mountains of the west and south. Hallstatt has some of the oldest archaeological evidence of Celts in Europe. Summer suits hiking, climbing and lake swimming, and winter suits skiing in the mountains. The national rail carrier, ÖBB, runs most commuter and long-distance trains, so one city and one mountain or lake region can be combined in a single trip.
Five things to know before Austria
- Expect EES registration, and carry your passport
Non-EU visitors give fingerprints and a photo at the first Schengen entry instead of getting a stamp. Germany checks its border with Austria, and Austria checks its borders with Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia and Czechia. EES explained
- Check the toll rules before you drive on motorways
Cars, motorcycles and light campers need a vignette on motorways and expressways, and Alpine crossings charge their own toll instead. A digital vignette valid longer than 10 days starts on day 18 after online purchase. ASFINAG
- Compare ÖBB discount fares with a pass
ÖBB sells discounted Sparschiene fares for travel within Austria and Sparschiene Europe for trips abroad. Compare them with point-to-point tickets and a Eurail pass before you commit. Is a Eurail pass worth it?
- Pick a lake region, not only Hallstatt
The Salzkammergut has seven tourism regions, and Hallstatt is one village in one of them. Choose a base by lake and rail access, then visit Hallstatt early or overnight. The Salzkammergut
- Ask for the guest card at check-in
Most regions add a local tax per night to your room, and many hotels then hand out a guest card with free buses, lifts or museum entry. Tourist taxes in Europe
Austria travel guides
Practical guides from writers who live there.
Museums, coffeehouses and where to base yourself.
Read the guideSalzburgThe old town, the fortress and day trips to the lakes.
Read the guideInnsbruckCable cars from the city center to alpine trails.
Read the guideHallstattGetting there by train and ferry, and beating the crowds.
Read the guideThe Danube ValleyWachau boats, ferries and bike paths from Vienna.
Read the guideTyrolWhich valley to base in, and how to go car-free.
Read the guideThe SalzkammergutSeven lake regions east of Salzburg.
Read the guideVisa checkerYour passport's rule for Austria, checked.
Read the guide
Destinations in Austria
Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.
- Bed a night
- €45
- Food
- €30
- Transport
- €9
- Sights
- €10
A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.
- Bed a night
- €110
- Food
- €70
- Transport
- €25
- Sights
- €25
A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.
- Bed a night
- €180
- Food
- €140
- Transport
- €70
- Sights
- €80
When to go
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh4°Low-1°Cold, ball seasonJanuaryPartly cloudy
- High
- 4°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 38 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, ball season
- FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low1°Cold, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 35 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh11°Low3°Cool, early springMarchPartly cloudy
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 36 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, early spring
- AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh16°Low6°Mild, blossomAprilPartly cloudy
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 54 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, blossom
- MayRain13 rainy daysHigh19°Low10°Warm, greenMayRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, green
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh25°Low15°Warm, long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 84 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, long days
- JulyPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh27°Low17°Hot, festivalsJulyPartly cloudy
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, festivals
- AugustPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh28°Low17°Hot, busyAugustPartly cloudy
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- SeptemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Warm, wine harvestSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 91 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, wine harvest
- OctoberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Crisp, autumnOctoberPartly cloudy
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Crisp, autumn
- NovemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh9°Low4°Markets openNovemberPartly cloudy
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 46 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Markets open
- DecemberPartly cloudy9 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh5°Low1°Christmas marketsDecemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 5°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 45 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Christmas markets
Average daily high and low in Vienna, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Austria
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
8
- Feels like
- 5°
- Humidity
- 68%
- Wind
- 12 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 5%
The Danube Valley
09:05 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today10°7°5%Monday: Rain. High 10°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Tue9°6°13%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Wed10°5°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu9°2°0%Thursday: Clear. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri9°2°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat11°2°0%Saturday: Clear. High 11°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun8°1°3%Sunday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 3%.
Updated 07:31 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Festivals by month
- JanMozart WeekSalzburg
- Feb
- MarSalzburg Easter FestivalSalzburg
- AprSchubertiadeAcross Austria
- MayVienna FestivalVienna
- Jun
- JulBregenzer FestspieleAcross AustriaSalzburg FestivalSalzburg
- AugInnsbruck Festival of Early MusicInnsbruck
- SepArs ElectronicaLinzSteirischer HerbstGraz
- OctWien ModernVienna
- NovSalzburg ChristkindlmarktSalzburg
- Dec
On tour in Austria: Sabaton The Legendary Tour Part 2 Graz, Apr 30, 2027 · Nickelback Everything Under the Sun Tour 2027 Vienna, Jun 25, 2027
Before you go to Austria
Austria FAQ
Do I need a visa for Austria?
Not for short stays on most Western passports: US, UK, Canadian and Australian citizens get 90 days in any 180 across the Schengen area. Canadian passports (3 months) and Australian passports (90 days) also have a bilateral stay in Austria only, after the Schengen 90 days; the visa checker shows your rule. You register in the EES at the border.
Do I need ETIAS for Austria now?
No. The EU states: "ETIAS is currently not in operation and no applications for travel authorisations are collected at this point." The fee will be €20 once it starts.
How many days do I need in Austria?
A week covers Vienna, Salzburg and a night in Hallstatt or Innsbruck by train. Add days for hiking in Tyrol or a lake stay in the Salzkammergut.
Should I base in Salzburg or at a Salzkammergut lake?
Salzburg suits a first trip: an old town, trains and day trips. For lake days choose one of the seven Salzkammergut regions, which buses 150 and 140 from Salzburg reach in about 40 to 60 minutes, and treat Hallstatt as one stop.
When is the best time to visit Austria?
May, June and September for cities and hiking, December for Christmas markets, and January to March for skiing in Tyrol and Salzburgerland.