Q: When to Visit Austria?

The best time to visit Austria is from June - September when the weather is nice and warm, perfect for all the summer outdoor activities you can do in places like Innsbruck and the Austrian Alps, where there are tons of opportunities to do some hiking. Like most places in Europe, Austria does get quite overwhelmed with tourists in the summer months, and it can get quite hectic in touristy places like Vienna and Hallstatt. So, if you want to steer away from them, I highly recommend you stick to September. That said, between June and August, you will have the highest chance of clear days, which will allow you to do so many more things. Being outside among nature is the best thing you can do in places like Salzburg and Innsbruck. If you decide to visit between June and August and are looking to avoid the tourist crowds, I highly recommend starting your day as early as sunrise. You will have many of the places I mentioned here all to yourself. I have done this many times and thoroughly enjoy places like Hallstatt so much more when there's no one around, even in the busiest month of the year.

Question 1

When to Visit Austria?

Accepted Answer

The best time to visit Austria is from June - September when the weather is nice and warm, perfect for all the summer outdoor activities you can do in places like Innsbruck and the Austrian Alps, where there are tons of opportunities to do some hiking.

Like most places in Europe, Austria does get quite overwhelmed with tourists in the summer months, and it can get quite hectic in touristy places like Vienna and Hallstatt. So, if you want to steer away from them, I highly recommend you stick to September.

That said, between June and August, you will have the highest chance of clear days, which will allow you to do so many more things. Being outside among nature is the best thing you can do in places like Salzburg and Innsbruck.

If you decide to visit between June and August and are looking to avoid the tourist crowds, I highly recommend starting your day as early as sunrise. You will have many of the places I mentioned here all to yourself. I have done this many times and thoroughly enjoy places like Hallstatt so much more when there's no one around, even in the busiest month of the year.

Question 2

How to Get to Austria?

Accepted Answer

There are several ways you can get to Austria: flying directly to Vienna, the capital city of Austria; taking a train across from Germany; or hopping on an international bus across Europe.

From the US, there are many direct flights from cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York that will take you straight to Vienna in about 9-11 hours. You can browse through great direct flights from here.

From Europe, you have quite a lot more options here. You can either fly directly from places like the UK via Wizz Air, take a train from all the major train stations around Europe, or catch one of the many buses connecting Vienna to Europe. Flixbus is highly recommended when it comes to bus travel in Europe.

From Asia, there are also many direct flights operated by Austrian Airlines and local carriers from cities like Bangkok. Alternatively, you can go with connecting flights, which are often a bit cheaper. There are many flights from Asia that connect via Middle Eastern countries like Emirates via Dubai or Etihad via Abu Dhabi. The journey should take approximately 10 hours direct.

To find a cheap flight to Austria, I would recommend you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule, so you can compare and pick the best one.

Question 3

How to Get Around Austria?

Accepted Answer

Austria is very well-connected by trains and buses, and these are the two modes of transportation on which you will rely the most for this itinerary.

By trains: The trains here are pretty reliable with a strict schedule and excellent coverage, and they come equipped with modern facilities, so it should not be too hard to move around the country. Due to the strict schedules and occasional delays of trains here, always allow at least 20 minutes of transit time if you can.

I missed the connecting train twice while here due to the first leg being delayed, so make sure you keep that in mind while traveling in Austria with trains. You can book a train ticket online beforehand, which is extremely convenient.

By Bus: When it comes to intercity travel, the bus is a great way to get around Austria as well. The bus schedule is available online, and you can easily reserve seats online without having to be at the bus station beforehand. This and Flixbus are my preferred modes of transportation when I want to move around quickly and directly.

By Rental Cars: You can also rent a car straight from the airport in Vienna and drive around Austria. One thing to know is that mountain roads can be quite narrow and can be quite a bottleneck, especially in places like the Austrian Alps, so be sure to avoid weekends or public holidays. To rent a car, click the link below.

Rent a Car in Austria

Question 4

How Much Money Do I Need for 2 weeks in Austria?

Accepted Answer

From this 2-week itinerary, we can calculate approximately how much money you will be spending here as follows:

Accommodation: For 14 days in Austria, you can expect to pay around 490 EUR for accommodation at a minimum, considering you are staying in hostels.

Food: For 14 days, 3 meals a day in Austria, you can expect to pay around 588 EUR for food, considering you eat out for every meal. It will be cheaper if you cook it yourself.

Transportation: For this itinerary, you can expect to pay around 163 EUR for transportation between cities, with the Vienna to Salzburg leg costing 30 EUR, the Salzburg-Hallstatt Roundtrip costing 20 EUR, the Salzburg to Innsbruck leg costing 23 EUR, and a roundtrip to Olpererhütte costing 60 EUR. Additionally, you should set aside 30 EUR for other modes of transportation you might take, such as subways, etc.

Activities: Depending on how much you want to follow my itinerary, you can expect to pay around 200 EUR for activities, considering if you go for Vienna Pass, Salzburg Card, and Innsbruck Card, which in my opinion are worth every dime.

Total Budget for 2 weeks in Austria: 1,341 EUR

Question 5

Is it Safe in Austria?

Accepted Answer

Austria is a very safe country, and there isn't much to worry about when you travel here, except in crowded places like train central stations where, like in any other big European cities, petty theft and pickpocketing can happen.

As usual, it is always a good idea to exercise caution by not leaving your belongings unattended and watching out for them at all times. Keep your hands in your pockets when entering or exiting crowded places like a tram or a train, and make sure you are holding your phone and wallet tightly.

Other than that, you should be fine traveling around Austria. I didn't have any problems in Austria when I was there. Keep your wits about you, and you will be fine.

Question 6

Which tourist SIM card is best for Austria?

Accepted Answer

There are three major carriers in Austria, namely A1, Magenta, and 3, that offer prepaid SIM cards for tourists to purchase while traveling in Austria. Unfortunately, with the increasing popularity of eSIMs, the need to physically be in the country to buy a SIM card at a store is quite inconvenient and not ideal.

If you have a smartphone that supports eSIMs, I highly recommend you take a look at this eSIM. They have a variety of data packages, price points, and durations for you to choose from, ranging from 1 GB for 7 days costing only 5 USD to 10 GB for 30 days costing 22.5 USD.

The setup is fast and instant, and you can buy it prior to your trip, so you don't have to scramble your way to get one at the airport after a long flight. The data speed is also equivalent to what you get with a local SIM card with 4G speed across the entire country.

Or if you are traveling to Austria as part of a bigger Europe trip, I highly recommend you get the regional Eurolink eSIM which will give you access to data from over 39 countries across Europe. I have personally used this eSIM on my 3-month trip around Europe, and it has worked wonders.

For more information on eSIMs in Austria, click here: Check Austria's Available eSIM.

Start Here

2 Weeks in Austria: A Backpacking Itinerary

Planning

3 Days in Salzburg: A Complete Itinerary

3 Days in Vienna: A Complete Itinerary

A Complete Olpererhütte Hiking Guide from Innsbruck

Discover Innsbruck: My 13 Favorite Things to Do & Places to Visit

Explore Salzburg: 15 Awesome Things to Do & Places to Visit

Discover Hallstatt: 10 Incredible Things to Do & Places to Visit

Visiting Vienna: 16 Awesome Things to Do & Places to Visit