Updated · On BootsnAll since 1999 · History
Overview and Things to Consider
Vienna is the main draw - the Hofburg Palace, St. Stephen's Cathedral and the Ringstrasse are its architectural landmarks. Salzburg is slower, with Mozart connections. The Alps mean skiing and summer hiking. Austrian food is hearty: schnitzel, goulash, strudel.
The euro replaced the Austrian schilling. German is the language. English is common in the cities but rarer in rural areas. Vienna's public transport (U-Bahn, trams) is excellent.
Getting There and Around
Vienna and Salzburg airports handle international flights. ÖBB trains are excellent for regional and international travel, and the Vienna-Prague-Budapest corridor is especially well served. Domestic buses and trains work well. Rent a car if you want the smaller towns and Alpine regions.
What's Changed Since 2016
Vienna has become noticeably pricier, with accommodation and dining costs up substantially. Major sites now use timed entry to manage crowds. Refugee and migration debates have shifted Austrian politics. The imperial architecture hasn't changed.
Ideas to Consider for Your Visit
Give Vienna 3-4 days minimum: walk the Innere Stadt (inner city), see at least one imperial palace and sit for a while in a traditional coffee house. Salzburg has the Mozart sites and puts you close to the Alps. Visit the lakeside village of Hallstatt early or late in the day. Hike in the Tirol. Eat Wiener schnitzel and Sachertorte.
Realities to Be Aware Of
Vienna keeps getting more crowded, so arrive early at the major attractions. Restaurants in tourist areas charge inflated prices. Staff at smaller places may not speak English. Austrian tipping is less generous than American. Some Alpine towns shut down outside peak season.
If Austria Is Part of a Longer Trip
Austria is an easy link between Central and Eastern Europe, and the Vienna-Prague-Budapest-Krakow circuit is a popular one. Alpine passes lead into Italy. Switzerland is reachable from western Austria, and Danube river cruises often start or end in Vienna.
Yearly Things to Consider
May-June and September-October have the best weather - warm, without the summer crowds. July-August is peak season. In December, Vienna fills with Christmas markets. Winter is ski season in the Alps.
Ideas for Itineraries
One Week: Vienna Focus
Vienna (5 days) - Salzburg (2 days). Enough time to see the imperial capital properly, then Mozart's hometown for contrast.
Ten Days: Vienna to Innsbruck
Vienna (4 days) - Salzburg (2 days) - Hallstatt (2 days) - Innsbruck (2 days). The city first, then the Alps.
Two Weeks: Central Europe Loop
Prague (3 days) - Vienna (4 days) - Salzburg (2 days) - Budapest (3 days). Grand Central European tour with excellent train connections.
One Week: Alpine Adventure
Innsbruck (2 days) - St. Anton (2 days) - Hallstatt (2 days) - Salzburg (1 day). Mountain-focused itinerary.
From the BootsnAll archive
6 stories and articles about Austria, 2000 to 2018
- Scenery Meets History in the Austrian Alps
Article · 2010 · Mary Robinson Sive
- European Cities 2026: Brussels and Vienna from a Solo Traveler's Perspective
Article · Celeste Bobryk · Vienna
- Twelve Hours in Vienna
Article · 2018 · Katherine Carlman · Vienna
- European Travelogue #9: Vienna, Austria
Article · 2000 · Geoff Clelland · Vienna
- European Travelogue #8: Salzburg, Austria
Article · 2000 · Geoff Clelland · Salzburg
- European Tour, My Own Way #3: Salzburg, Gruenau, Venice, Florence - Austria and Italy
Article · 2000 · Celeste Bobryk · Salzburg
Cities in Austria
FAQ
Austria is Schengen, so visa requirements match Schengen rules. Most Western tourists enter visa-free for 90 days.
Budget travelers: $50-70/day. Mid-range: $100-150/day. Vienna is expensive - top attractions require tickets, and dining adds up quickly.
The U-Bahn (subway) and trams are efficient and cheap. You can walk the inner city, and buses reach the outer areas. A multi-day pass saves money.
Yes. Beyond the major palaces there's the Danube Valley, neighborhoods like Spittelberg and hours to lose in coffee houses. With 4-5 days you aren't rushing.
Traditional fare (schnitzel, goulash, strudel) dominates, and it's hearty and meat-forward. Vienna also has excellent fine dining, and coffee culture is strong.
Update history (27)▸
· Rewrite
Edited for readability and the BootsnAll voice: generic phrasing cut in 14 passages, no facts changed
· Fact-check
Fact-checked against current sources: no corrections needed
· Rewrite
Updated for modern frameworks, with content updates and changes
· Update
Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees
· Update
Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees
· Update
Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees
· Contributors
1 member blog post from 1 blogger
- 2015: 1 post from 1 traveler on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
· Update
Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees
· Contributors
5 member blog posts from 1 blogger
- 2014: 5 posts from 1 traveler on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
· Update
Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees
· Contributors
7 member blog posts from 1 blogger
- 2013: 7 posts from 1 traveler on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
· Update
Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees
· Contributors
10 member blog posts from 2 bloggers
- 2012: 10 posts from 2 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
· Update
Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees
· Contributors
22 member blog posts from 1 blogger
- 2011: 22 posts from 1 traveler on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
· Update
Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees
· Contributors
6 member blog posts from 4 bloggers
- 2010: 6 posts from 4 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
· Contributors
11 member blog posts from 8 bloggers
- 2009: 11 posts from 8 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
· Archive
Travel guide on BootsnAll, at a new address
Archived copy of /Europe-Austria· Contributors
14 member blog posts from 11 bloggers
- 2008: 14 posts from 11 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
· Contributors
33 member blog posts from 14 bloggers
- 2007: 33 posts from 14 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
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26 member blog posts from 17 bloggers
- 2006: 26 posts from 17 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
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21 member blog posts from 7 bloggers
- 2005: 21 posts from 7 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
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2 member blog posts from 2 bloggers
- 2004: 2 posts from 2 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
· Contributors
3 articles, by Celeste Bobryk and Geoff Clelland
- August 2000: European Tour, My Own Way #3: Salzburg, Gruenau, Venice, Florence - Austria and Italy - Celeste Bobryk (article) (source)
- August 2000: European Travelogue #8: Salzburg, Austria - Geoff Clelland (article) (source)
- August 2000: European Travelogue #9: Vienna, Austria - Geoff Clelland (article) (source)
· Contributors
2 Insider dispatches, by Heidi Bammer
· Contributors
Chris Heidrich, BootsnAll co-founder, has contributed to this guide since 1999, including dispatches from BootsnAll and AirTreks travelers