Austria doesn't receive as much attention as France or Germany when it comes to being a tourist destination, but it boasts some of the most iconic landmarks in the world, such as the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, the Salzburg Cathedral, and the Melk Abbey.
If you're in the process of planning an epic backpacking trip through Austria, you're in the right place! In this article, we'll take you on a journey through the stunning landscapes, rich culture, and delicious cuisine of this beautiful European country.
From the snow-capped peaks of the Austrian Alps to the historic streets of Vienna, we've got you covered with all the information you need to plan the ultimate two-week backpacking adventure in Austria. So, pack your bags and get ready to explore one of the most beautiful and diverse countries in Europe.
- Austria Itinerary Map
- 2 Weeks Backpacking Austria Itinerary
- When to Visit Austria?
- How to Get to Austria?
- How to Get Around Austria?
- How Much Money Do I Need for 2 weeks in Austria?
- Is it Safe in Austria?
- Which tourist SIM card is best for Austria?
- What to Pack for Austria?
- Further Reading for Austria
Austria Itinerary Map
| ☀️ Day 1-4: | Vienna |
| ☀️ Day 5-7: | Salzburg |
| ☀️ Day 8: | Werfen |
| ☀️ Day 9: | Hallstatt |
| ☀️ Day 10-12: | Innsbruck |
| ☀️ Day 13: | Olpererhütte |
Tips: Get the Vienna Pass or FlexiPass if you want to save money on tourist attractions. The card includes all free public transportation and all tourist attractions for the Vienna Pass, or 3-5 tourist attractions for the FlexiPass.
2 Weeks Backpacking Austria Itinerary
Day 1 - 4: Vienna (5 Nights)
Our 2-week backpacking trip in Austria begins in Vienna, the capital of the country and a city rich in history, culture, and charm. Known for its stunning architecture, world-class museums, and elegant cafes, Vienna is a must-stop destination for any traveler visiting Austria.
As the former seat of the Habsburg monarchy, Vienna has a long and illustrious history, and many of the city's landmarks and cultural institutions reflect this rich heritage.
One of the highlights of visiting Vienna is exploring the many world-class palaces they have here, with some of the most intricately designed gardens you will ever see. Schönbrunn Palace is the perfect example of this, with its vast gardens, beautiful ornate fountains, and killer view over the city.
- Salzburg: Original Sound of Music Tour (4 hours) 🏅 Top Pick
- From Salzburg: Half-Day Tour to Hallstatt (5.5 hours)
- Vienna: Vivaldi's Four Seasons & Mozart in the Musikverein (2 hours)
Another great palace you shouldn't miss is Belvedere Palace. Although it is much smaller when compared to Schönbrunn Palace, Belvedere Palace can stand on its own with its world-renowned art collection, beautiful Baroque architecture, stunning gardens, and, best of all, it's much easier to navigate and way closer to the city center than Schönbrunn Palace, making it a great alternative for those who do not have much time in Vienna.
And that is it for your first day in Vienna. Schönbrunn Palace should take at least half a day to see, and the rest of the day you can spend your time exploring Belvedere Palace before calling it a day. For the second day, we will stick to the historic city center and start exploring all the churches and museums they have here.
There are a ton of beautiful churches you can visit here as well, like the 18th-century Baroque church and the Karlskirche with its beautiful frescoes and over-the-top ornate interior. You can take the elevator to see the frescoes on the ceiling up close, as well as access the balcony for a nice view above the city.
Right at the heart of the city, you will also find St. Stephen's Cathedral, a Romanesque and Gothic building, built in the 12th century, standing prominently in the middle of the historic city center.
The cathedral is a beautiful and impressive example of the Romanesque and Gothic architectural style, with its exterior adorned with intricate carvings, sculptures, and decorative elements, while its interior is filled with impressive frescoes, paintings, and other works of art.
For a fee, you can also climb 343 steps to reach the top of one of its towers for a closer look at the beautiful roof tiles of the cathedral, as well as an incredible view over the city center.
Vienna is also home to some of the best museums in the world like Kunsthistorisches, the museum of art and history in Vienna, which houses a vast collection of art and artifacts from a variety of historical periods from the Middle Ages to the present day.
The museum was built in the late 19th century and is an example of neo-Renaissance architecture that is beautifully adorned and decorated with frescoes, paintings, and other decorative elements, to the brim, which is an attraction in itself.
It is also said that Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien holds the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts outside of Cairo, Egypt, which goes to show just how wealthy and influential Vienna was across the world back in the day. If you don't have much time in Vienna but still want to visit a museum, make it this one.
There are also a ton of museums at the Hofburg, an imperial palace that used to be the primary residence of the Habsburg dynasty. What's cool about the Hofburg is that it is not just one palace but a complex of buildings that were constructed over many centuries and includes a number of ornate and opulent rooms and spaces you can explore.
Within the palace, you will find many interesting museums such as Weltmuseum Wien and Kunsthistorisches, as well as many beautiful parks surrounding these buildings where people often come to picnic during sunset. It is a beautiful area that will give you a glimpse of what's to come for you in Vienna.
In the evening, you can also explore Ferstel Passage, a historic shopping arcade built in the late 19th century. It consists of a series of connected shops and restaurants with tables lining both sides of the passageway under this beautifully ornamented architecture, with a glass roof, marble flooring, and intricate decorative details.
You can spend the evening and dine here if you like. There is a nice French restaurant at Ferstel Passage that serves delicious buckets of mussels with a nice romantic seating area along the passageway. So, if you are looking for a nice romantic place for lunch or dinner at Ferstel Passage, check out Beaulieu Épicerie Bistro.
For the third day, you can spend a little relaxing time in the city by checking out its lively café scene as well as trying out some of the best cuisines that the city has to offer. For lunch or dinner, I highly recommend you check out Ribs of Vienna, an atmospheric underground eatery with a barrel-vaulted ceiling that specializes in, you guessed it, ribs. It is one of the best ribs I have ever had in my life!
For a nice vintage cafe, I recommend you check out Café Sperl, a cafe located in an 1880 coffeehouse that has been in operation for more than 130 years. The place is best known for its homemade pastries, such as the delicious chocolate wafer cake, but you can also dine here as they serve common dishes like schnitzel at a pretty affordable price.
In the evening, I highly recommend you visit Prater, a large public park known for its wide range of recreational activities, including amusement park rides, sports facilities, and other entertainment options. Enjoy the night away with cool entertainment and some thrilling rides.
This amusement park is home to the famous Wiener Riesenrad, the oldest still-operating Ferris wheel in the world, standing over 64 meters (212 ft) high. It was constructed way back in 1897 and was considered the tallest Ferris wheel in the world for more than 65 years, until it was surpassed by the one built in Japan in 1985.
There are so many rides in Prater; it is hard to count them all. I spent 2 days exploring Prater in the evening, and I have yet to see all the rides. There are at least 3 roller coasters here, among other thrill rides.
And that should be it for Vienna. Next up, we are going to travel west and surround ourselves with the stunning backdrop of the Austrian Alps, popularized by the classic movie, The Sound of Music. Let's continue!
Getting from Vienna to Salzburg
From Vienna, you can take one of the many trains that connect these two major cities from Vienna Central Train Station. There are many trains running this route starting at 5 AM all the way to 9 PM every day. The journey should take about 2-4 hours depending on the train, and it can cost as low as 5 EUR if you book in advance.
For this route, I highly recommend you reserve your seat when booking, as there will be a lot of travelers on this route. I saw many people having to move seats throughout the trip because they didn't reserve seats. You can book the train online here.
Day 5 - 7: Salzburg (4 Nights)
Salzburg, the city of Mozart and "The Sound of Music", is a beautiful and historic city located on the banks of the Salzach River. It is known for its rich cultural history, stunning Baroque architecture, and breathtaking mountain views. This is where we will be spending the next 3 days exploring.
Tips: Get the Salzburg Card to save money on tourist attractions. The card includes all free public transportation, funicular rides, and the cable cars up Untersberg, which in itself costs almost as much as the 72-hour Salzburg Card.
The first evening you arrive here, I highly recommend you visit Fortress Hohensalzburg, a medieval castle located on top of a hill right at the center of Salzburg, and it is one of the best places in the city to see the sunset.
One of the highlights of visiting the fortress is the panoramic views it offers. Since the castle is located on a hill overlooking the city, you will be able to see the city from one side and all the Sound-of-Music-like mountains and rivers, all from the castle's balconies and towers.
The castle itself is pretty big, with a spacious courtyard surrounded by all kinds of museums and buildings that you can explore. You can expect to spend around an hour or two just exploring the castle alone. Once you are done, retire early for the night, and we will wake up early to witness a beautiful sunrise over the city.
A great place to watch the sunrise in Salzburg is the viewpoint at the Museum of Modern Art, a hilltop museum that offers an absolutely beautiful view over the city. Here, you will be able to capture the beautiful houses, church spires, and the iconic fortress, all in one go.
You can also leave this for sunset if you are not quite a morning person. I went up there both at sunrise and at sunset, and it was amazing both times, especially during the blue hour at sunset when the sky turns purple and the artificial lights illuminate the city skyline.
Next up, we will visit Hellbrunn Palace, a summer residence for the prince-archbishops of Salzburg built in the early 17th century. It is known for its pleasure gardens with grottos, novelty fountains, and a theater.
The palace is known for its beautiful gardens and parkland, which feature a number of outdoor sculptures and fountains. One of the most famous features of the palace is the "Trick Fountains", which is a series of hidden water features that were designed to surprise and delight visitors. It was probably the most interesting garden I've ever been to.
It was the most fun audio-guided tour I've had in a while, and I don't usually enjoy this type of guided tour. If you're in Hellbrunn Palace, definitely visit the Trick Fountain and get the audio guide. Trust me, you're going to love every moment of it.
There are also a few nice hikes you can do here, like the one that takes you to this viewpoint nearby, where you will be able to see the palace and its garden, as well as its surroundings, from above. There is also the Folklore Museum nearby, which is pretty fun to visit after the viewpoint.
There are a number of interesting attractions you can check out as you explore Salzburg's old town on the first day here, like Salzburg Cathedral. It is one of the most important landmarks in the city, known for its beautiful stained glass windows, which depict scenes from the life of Jesus and the saints.
Erzabtei St. Peter is also another great place to visit. It is one of the oldest monasteries in Austria and is known for its rich history and cultural significance. The monastery has played a significant role in the spiritual and cultural life of Salzburg for over 1,300 years.
The interior is worth seeing, as well as the cemetery and the catacomb located within Erzabtei St. Peter. Especially noteworthy are the cemetery and catacomb, built in the 12th Century, known for their picturesque surroundings and as the resting place for baroque tombs of nobility.
You can also spend the day learning about Mozart, the famous classical composer who was born and spent the best part of his life here in this city. You can even visit Mozart's Birthplace, which is now converted into a museum dedicated entirely to preserving the legacy, life, and works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
The museum has a number of exhibits that showcase Mozart's life and career, including displays of his manuscripts, instruments, and other personal possessions.
You can also visit Mozart Residence, the residence of the Mozart family that turned into a museum. The family relocated here when the house where Mozart was born simply became too small to host social gatherings appropriately.
At night, be sure to check out Linzergasse Street, a pedestrian-only shopping street that runs through the heart of the Old Town area. It is lined with a mix of charming old buildings and modern shops and restaurants.
The street is also a popular spot for shopping and dining, as there are a number of boutiques, specialty stores, and restaurants located on both sides of the street. So, if you are looking for a nice place to hang out at night, be sure to drop by here.
Day 8: Werfen (Day Trip)
For the second day, we will spend our time in Werfen, a beautiful town not too far from Salzburg, home to the picturesque Hohenwerfen Castle, Eisriesenwelt, the largest ice cave in the world, and the place where they filmed the famous "Do Re Mi" picnic on the hill scene from The Sound of Music.
Hohenwerfen Castle is a medieval castle located on a high rock outcropping overlooking the Salzach River, and it offers one of the best panoramic views of the surrounding area.
The coolest thing about the castle is the fact that it was used to practice falconry back in the day. Today, you can witness the training itself with its "Birds of Prey" shows that run three times a day in the summer at 11:15 AM, 2:15 PM, and 4:30 PM. For a more recent schedule, check out their website here.
Very interesting to see these massive birds flying around to catch thrown food, while racing each other high in the sky, with the Alps in the background. It was quite a sight to behold.
After the show, you can also spend a few hours exploring the castle's beautiful interior, which features a number of exhibits and displays about the castle's history and the region's culture. The entry to the castle is operated using time slots, which you will be assigned when you buy the ticket at the entrance.
To get to the castle, you can take one of the many trains from Salzburg to Werfen, and from the station, you can walk along the river to the foothill of the castle, which should take about 20 minutes. There is no need to walk on the road; there is a nice pedestrian walking path along the river with shaded areas all the way to the trailhead.
From the trailhead here, you are going to have to hike up to the top, which can get quite steep at times but shouldn't take you longer than 20-30 minutes to get up there. You can also get up via the funicular if you don't mind paying extra. You can reserve the ticket to the castle + funicular from here.
Day 9: Hallstatt (day trip)
For the third day, we will be going on a day trip to Hallstatt, probably one of the most photogenic lakeside towns you can see in Europe. It is known for its stunning natural beauty, rich cultural history, and the iconic postcard photo of the town and the lake.
From Salzburg, if you wish to spend an entire day in Hallstatt and catch the last train back, I highly recommend that you start early and catch the 5:12 AM train from Salzburg Train Station. The journey should take about 2 hours and cost around 10 EUR before you arrive at Hallstatt.
Arriving that early, you should be able to have the whole place to yourself for an hour or two before tourists start to flock to Hallstatt. For this route, you do not need to reserve a seat on the train as it is an early train and there won't be as many people as if you travel during the day. You can book the train online here.
One of the first things you should do when you arrive in Hallstatt is to go to the Hallstatt Famous Viewpoint and get a photo of yourself and the place before it gets extremely crowded, as daytrippers arrive from both Salzburg and Vienna.
Once you are done, you can spend some time exploring Hallstatt Town Square and make your way to the Salt Mine Funicular Station. Buy a ticket to the salt mine and spend a few hours exploring the place and learning more about how Hallstatt began as a salt mining town that stretches all the way back to its roots more than 7,000 years ago.
Hallstatt Salt Mine is definitely the highlight of visiting Hallstatt for me. The entire Salt Mine tour was extremely well thought out and presented, and I consider it one of the best salt mine experiences you can have in the world.
The mine is considered to be the oldest in the world, and you will learn how they managed to mine salt 7,000 years ago, as well as gaze upon the oldest man-made staircase in the world, which was constructed more than 3,100 years ago.
The best part about the tour is being able to slide down the 64 meters-long old miners' wooden slide that was used back in the day and compare speed with other attendees. It was exhilarating!
There are so many things to do in Hallstatt that it will be impossible to list them all here, but the other highlights are the SkyWalk, Dachstein Giant Ice Cave, and so much more to occupy you for the entire day.
To get back from Hallstatt to Salzburg, you will first have to catch the last boat across the lake at 6:15 PM and then take the evening train at 6:32 PM or 6:48 PM from Hallstatt Train Station, which will take you back to Salzburg at around 8:45 PM. You can book the train online here.
Getting from Salzburg to Innsbruck
From Salzburg to Innsbruck, you can take one of the many trains from Salzburg Train Station. There are many trains running this route starting at 6 AM all the way to 9 PM every day. The journey should take about 2 hours and it can cost around 22 EUR.
For this route, I also recommend reserving your seat with your booking as there will be a lot of travelers traveling this route as well. You will be more comfortable not having to switch seats at every stop when you reserve your own seat. You can reserve a seat on the train here.
Day 10 - 12: Innsbruck (4 Nights)
Located right in the center of the Austrian Alps, Innsbruck is a vibrant city that combines stunning natural beauty with a rich cultural history unrivaled by any other city in the country. The first place to start is hands down, my favorite out of all, the Top of Innsbruck, an alpine nature park located on the top of Hafelekar mountain, a 2,334 m (7,401 ft) high mountain peak that offers an impressive 360° view over Innsbruck and the Austrian Alps.
Tips: Get the Innsbruck Card to save money on tourist attractions. The card includes all public transportation, most museums, tourist attractions, and the Nordkette cable cars, which in itself costs almost as much as the Innsbruck Card.
Dubbed "The highest city stroll in the Alps", the Top of Innsbruck offers visitors of the city a chance to escape the bustling city and dive deep into the alpine wilderness. With a funicular and a cable car, you can be transported from the historic city center to the heart of the Austrian Alps in just 30 minutes.
While you are up there, you will be able to see some of the best scenery in the Alps with a panoramic view of Innsbruck and its surroundings, as well as the jagged peaks and rock formations of the Alps from the other side, right at your fingertips.
You can easily spend half a day up here alone, just exploring some of the hiking trails and viewpoints that seem to get better and better the further you hike. There are many viewpoints up here, so be sure to spend some time and find the best spot to relax at.
On your way down from the Top of Innsbruck, you can also stop by Alpenzoo, an alpine zoo considered to be one of the highest zoos in Europe. It accommodates over 2,000 animals across more than 150 species, many of which are native to the Alps and not so easy to see.
The zoo is located on the slope of the Hafelekar mountain, with lots of footpaths to explore each section of the park where you can observe the animals. There are quite a few ups and downs, so be prepared to hike if you want to see all the rare animals they have here.
Once you are done, you can spend the rest of the day exploring the historic city center of Innsbruck, an old town set against the Alps with the copper-tiled Golden Roof, Imperial Palace, and a ton of lively cafes and restaurants in which you can indulge yourself.
Located along Maria Theresien Street, you will be surrounded by all the colorful houses Innsbruck is known for. On a nice clear day, you can see the beautiful alpine mountains looming in the background, making it one of the most photogenic town squares I have ever seen.
Important tourist attractions you should definitely not miss in the old town are the Golden Roof, the most famous architecture in the old town, adorned with the iconic 2,657 glistering golden tiles, Stadtturm or the Town Hall Tower, a perfect place to see the old town from above, and all the museums at the Innsbruck Hofburg, a massive all-white imperial palace, home to 5 museum areas, Maria Theresa's Rooms, Empress Elisabeth's, a Furniture Museum, an Ancestral Gallery, and the Painting Gallery.
If you have a bit more time, be sure to visit Ambras Castle, a Renaissance castle located on the outskirts of Innsbruck. It was built in the 16th century by the Habsburgs and has now been turned into a museum where you can visit and see what the Habsburgs were able to acquire throughout their reign.
The castle is made up of two main parts: the Lower Castle and the Upper Castle. The Lower Castle includes the Court of Honour, the Court of the Lions, and the Court of the Maidens, as well as galleries. The Upper Castle includes the Habsburg personal Portrait Gallery and the Spanish Hall, which is one of the main attractions of the castle.
Day 13: Olpererhütte (Day Trip)
For the second day, we are going to start as early as 6 AM to hike the beautiful Olpererhütte hiking trail, a mountain hut located in the middle of the Austrian Alps on the Olperer mountain, which is part of the Zillertal Alps, overlooking the Schlegeis Stausee reservoir.
The hike is also known as the place where you can get that epic photo of yourself on a floating suspension bridge that you often see on Instagram. It is one of the best hiking experiences I had in Austria, and I highly recommend doing it on your second day in Innsbruck.
To get to the trailhead, you are going to have to take one of the morning regional trains from Innsbruck Central Station to Jenbach Train Station. From Jenbach, you have to switch to a Zillertalbahn train, which is a local mountain train that will take you to Mayrhofen.
For Zillertalbahn, you have to buy a different ticket as it is not the same operator as the regional train. You can buy the ticket directly from the conductor on the train. For the train schedule, you can check the official website.
These two legs of the journey should take about two hours. Once you arrive at Mayrhofen, you will then have to take local bus #4102 that leaves right in front of Mayrhofen train station to Schlegeis Stausee. The bus leaves every one to two hours from 7:55 AM to 6:10 PM every day. For the latest bus schedule, check the official website.
The journey should take about 1 hour, and you can, again, buy the ticket directly from the bus driver. It's best to have a bit of cash on hand as the card reader might not work sometimes.
The whole one-way journey should take about 3 hours before you arrive at the Olpererhütte Hike trailhead. The buses and trains should cost no more than 30 EUR, one way. Once you arrive at the trailhead, you will have to hike up the steep trail for about 1.5 hours until you reach Olpererhütte.
The trail is all uphill and mostly consists of well-marked gravel paths. As long as you take it slow, you should reach the mountain hut in no time. I took the second train out from Innsbruck at 6 AM, arrived at Schlegeis Stausee by 10 AM, and reached Olpererhütte at about 11:20 AM. This gave me more than enough time to take photos up there.
After you arrive at Olpererhütte, you can continue uphill a bit more, and you will arrive at the famous suspension bridge where you will be able to get the same photo as I did. Depending on when you arrive, you might have the whole place to yourself, or there will be a long queue waiting for the Instagram-perfect photo. The life of a modern traveler, am I right? 😅
Once you are done at the top, it's another one-hour hike down before you have to catch the bus back to Mayrhofen. Keep in mind that they do not have buses running at 12:55 and 14:55, so be sure to plan your arrival carefully to avoid waiting 2 hours for the bus back. I was able to catch the 1:55 PM bus back in time and got back to Innsbruck by 5 PM, which was pretty good timing.
Since you will be spending an entire day traveling and at least 3-4 hours hiking, be sure to pack breakfast and lunch, as well as enough water to hike up. At Olpererhütte, there is a restaurant where you can have lunch and a spring where you can fill up water for free. Please also wear shoes with good grip, as well as lightweight clothes and pack extra layers in case it gets windy and cold up there.
Other than that, you are going to have a hell of a time hiking to Olpererhütte. It is still one of my favorite memories in Austria, and if you are looking to do some hiking in the Austrian Alps, be sure to check out Olpererhütte.
For the last day in Innsbruck and for this itinerary, you deserve a rest day. You have done so much in the past 11 days; I think it is good for you to spend a day relaxing, enjoying Innsbruck, and immersing yourself in the nature of the Austrian Alps.
Innsbruck has a pretty well-connected international airport, so you should have no trouble flying out from here. If not, you can always take a train from Innsbruck to Vienna and fly out from there.
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.
How to Get to Austria?
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. You can also 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.
How to Get Around Austria?
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.
How Much Money Do I Need for 2 weeks in Austria?
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
Is it Safe in Austria?
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.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Austria?
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.
What to Pack for Austria?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Austria:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Swim Suits: A swim trunk is a must-pack item if you are planning to visit Austria in the summer, just in case there is a body of water you can jump in.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Austria
I hope you found this Austrian travel guide helpful. If you would like to read more about Austria, here is a selection of articles that you might enjoy:
- Looking for a complete itinerary for Austria? Check out: 2 Weeks Backpacking Austria Itinerary.
- If you are visiting Austria, you cannot afford to skip Vienna. This city is jam-packed with beautiful sights and some of the prettiest landmarks in Europe. To help your visit, here are 16 Best Things to Do in Vienna.
- For a complete Vienna itinerary, check out: 3 Days in Vienna Itinerary.
- Popularized by the classic movie, "The Sound of Music," Salzburg is one of the most beautiful cities to visit in Europe with a ton of things to do. Here are the 15 Best Things to Do in Salzburg.
- Want to visit Salzburg for 3 days and are looking for the perfect itinerary? Check this out: 3 Days In Salzburg: An Itinerary For First Timers.
- Probably one of the most picturesque towns in Europe, Hallstatt is so much more than just getting that perfect Instagram photo. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Hallstatt.
- Innsbruck is one of the best places to visit if you want to see the wonderful Austrian Alps up close and personal. Here are the 13 Best Things to Do in Innsbruck.
- One of the best hikes you can do in the Austrian Alps is the Olpererhütte hike, and you can do it all in one day from Innsbruck. Here is A Complete Hiking Guide to Olpererhütte from Innsbruck.
- Not convinced by my words? Here are 125 photos that will inspire you to visit Europe.
- To see all the articles about Austria, visit the Austria Travel Guide page.
- Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
- Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
- Or if you want something more specific to the region, visit our Western Europe Travel Guide, Central Europe Travel Guide, or Eastern Europe Travel Guide pages.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
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