Austria travel guide: Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck and the Alps
Austria is small, and its three best-known cities sit on one rail line, so a first trip is easy to plan. Vienna is the big city of palaces and cafés, Salzburg the compact old town below a fortress, Innsbruck the Alpine city with a cable car from the center. The one thing to know: the lakes and villages are what many people remember, and they are much easier with a plan for getting there.
The short answer
- First trip
- Vienna and Salzburg, with Innsbruck added if you want mountains. All three are on the main rail route, so you can do them without a car.
- How long
- Five days covers Vienna and Salzburg. A week lets you add Innsbruck or a lake village. Ten days is comfortable for all three with day trips.
- Best time to go
- May to June and September for walking and city sightseeing. December for Christmas markets, January to March for skiing around Innsbruck.
- Getting around
- Trains between the cities, ÖBB Railjets run often. Buses and local trains for lakes and villages. A car only helps in the mountains.
- Money
- The euro. Cards are widely taken in cities and hotels, but small huts, bakeries and village inns often prefer cash.
- Book ahead
- Vienna's palace tours and opera or concert seats, Salzburg's fortress and music events, and any hotel in Salzburg or Innsbruck at Christmas or in ski season.
Best cities to visit in Austria
Vienna
The capital: imperial palaces, museums, coffee houses and a serious opera and concert calendar. It suits first-timers, art and history lovers and anyone who likes to sit in a café.
Give it 3 to 4 days
Salzburg
A small baroque old town under a fortress, with Mozart's birthplace and mountains at the edge of town. It suits a short break, music fans and anyone who wants a walkable city.
Give it 2 days
Innsbruck
An Alpine city of about 130,000 people with cable cars that rise from the center to the peaks. It suits walkers and skiers who still want a proper old town in the evening.
Give it 2 to 3 days
Beyond the cities
The Salzkammergut lakes
A region of lakes and small towns east of Salzburg, including Hallstatt, St. Wolfgang and Gmunden. Buses and local trains run from Salzburg, and a day trip is realistic, though a night or two is better.
The Wachau valley
A stretch of the Danube west of Vienna with vineyards, abbeys and small towns. It is a day trip from Vienna by train, boat or bike, and suits slow travel rather than sightseeing.
Graz
Austria's second city, in the south-east, with a well-kept old town and a lively university feel. About two and a half hours from Vienna by train.
The Tyrolean valleys
Villages such as Kitzbühel and the Stubai and Zillertal valleys are reached by train and local bus from Innsbruck. Winter is for skiing, summer for hiking.
Austria itineraries
- Five days: Vienna and Salzburg
Three nights in Vienna, then the train to Salzburg for two. The Railjet takes about two and a half hours. Keep Salzburg for the old town and fortress, and use the half day on arrival for a walk by the river.
- A week: Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck
Three nights in Vienna, two in Salzburg, two in Innsbruck. Each move is a train of roughly two to four hours. Take the last leg in the morning so you arrive with a full afternoon for the cable car.
- Ten days with the lakes
Add two nights in the Salzkammergut between Salzburg and Innsbruck, using local buses, or base yourself in Salzburg and do the lakes as day trips. Spend three nights in Vienna and two in Innsbruck.
- Austria by train, in a loop
Fly into Vienna, take the train west through Salzburg to Innsbruck, and fly home from Innsbruck or travel on to Munich. One long rail line makes this the simplest route with no backtracking.
Best time to visit Austria
May, June and September are the easiest months for cities and walking: long days, open terraces and fewer crowds than July and August. Summer is warm and busy at the lakes, and mountain weather can turn quickly, so pack a layer.
December suits Christmas markets in Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck, but hotels fill early and prices rise. January to March is the main ski season around Innsbruck. April and November are quieter, and some mountain lifts and huts close between seasons.
How to get around Austria
- TrainsÖBB, the national operator, runs fast Railjet trains between Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck, with trains every hour or so on the main routes. Vienna to Salzburg takes about two and a half hours, and to Innsbruck about four to five. Advance-purchase fares, called Sparschiene, can be much cheaper than flexible tickets, but they are tied to a specific train.
- Local trains and busesRegional trains and post buses reach most lakes and valleys. Timetables thin out in the evening and at weekends, so check the last return before a day trip.
- DrivingA car helps in remote valleys, but not in cities, where parking is limited. Motorways need a vignette, a pass that is now moving to digital only. If you rent a car, check whether it already has one.
- Cable cars and liftsIn the Alps, cable cars count as transport. Some run only in season or in good weather, so look at the operator's page the day before.
- Flying inVienna has the main international airport. Salzburg and Innsbruck have smaller ones, with a good number of flights from other European hubs.
What to book before you go
These are the ones that sell out across Austria. Each city guide has its own list.
- Hotels in Salzburg and Innsbruck2 to 3 months ahead at Christmas or in ski season
Both are small cities and the best-placed rooms go first.
- Vienna palace tours and concert seats2 to 4 weeks ahead
Schönbrunn, the opera and the big concert halls sell out on busy dates.
- Train ticketsAs early as the timetable opens
Advance fares on the Vienna to Salzburg and Innsbruck routes are cheapest when bought early.
- Hallstatt boat or viewpoint timingsDay before
It is small and crowded in summer, and weather decides whether the views are worth the trip.
Money, tipping and practical things
- CurrencyThe euro.
- Cards and cashCards are widely taken in cities and hotels. Alpine huts, small bakeries and village inns may take cash only, so carry some.
- TippingRound up or add 5 to 10 per cent in restaurants and cafés, and say the total you want when you pay rather than leaving coins on the table.
- Tourist taxesA per-night tax is charged almost everywhere. It is set by each province, and sometimes by the town. Vienna charges a share of the room price, while most places charge a flat amount per person per night. Your hotel will say whether it is in the price or paid at the desk.
- EntryNon-EU visitors are registered at the border by the EU's Entry/Exit System. Whether you need a visa, and an ETIAS travel authorization once it starts, depends on your passport: check the EU's official site, travel-europe.europa.eu, before you book.
- PlugsType F, 230 volts.
What to skip in Austria
- A day trip to Hallstatt in July or August
It is tiny and crowded in summer. Go early or in the shoulder months, or choose a quieter lake town instead.
- Trying to see everything in four days
Vienna alone fills three. Choose two bases, and let the rest wait for another trip.
- Hiring a car for the cities
Parking is limited and trains link the cities better. Hire one only if you will spend time in remote valleys.
- Tourist-menu Mozart evenings
Tickets for staged concerts in costume are sold everywhere. If you want music, pick a real concert from the venue's own program.
Austria: questions people ask
How many days do you need in Austria?
Five days is enough for Vienna and Salzburg. A week adds Innsbruck or a lake village, and ten days lets you see all three without rushing. If you only have a long weekend, pick one city.
What is the best time to visit Austria?
May, June and September are the easiest for cities and walking. December is the time for Christmas markets, and January to March for skiing. July and August are warm but busy at the lakes.
Is Austria expensive to visit?
Vienna is cheaper than many Western European capitals, while Salzburg and Innsbruck cost more, especially in peak season. Alpine huts and ski resorts cost the most. Booking trains and hotels early is the easiest saving.
Can you travel around Austria without a car?
Yes. Trains link Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck, and buses reach most lakes and valleys. A car helps only for remote spots, and timetables thin out in the evening.
What are the best cities to visit in Austria?
Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck cover most first trips. Graz is a good fourth if you have time, and the Wachau valley is a good day trip from Vienna.
Is Vienna or Salzburg better for a first visit?
Vienna if you want museums, palaces and cafés, and Salzburg if you want a small old town and mountains close by. Most trips do both, because the train takes about two and a half hours.
Do I need a vignette to drive in Austria?
Yes, for motorways. The pass is moving from a sticker to digital only. A rental car may already have one, so check with the rental company before you drive.
Do I need a visa for Austria?
Non-EU visitors are registered at the border by the EU's Entry/Exit System. Whether you need a visa, and an ETIAS travel authorization once it starts, depends on your passport: check the EU's official site, travel-europe.europa.eu, before you book.