Austria holiday
Travel tips, best time to visit & highlights for your Austria holiday in Europe
Austria combines alpine adventures with Viennese coffee house culture, Mozart's legacy, and top-notch skiing. In summer, hiking and lakes attract visitors, while winter offers world-class ski resorts.
Capital
Vienna
Language
German
Currency
Euro (€)
Time zone
UTC+1
Flight time from DE
approx. 1 hour (or 4h by train)
Entry requirements
EU Identity Card
Deals for Austria:
Which hotels in Austria are recommended?
Selected hotels and holiday accommodations in Austria — with images, reviews, and direct booking links with our partners.
Relais & Châteaux SPA-Hotel Jagdhof
Neustift im Stubaital, Österreich
Hotel Trofana Royal
Ischgl, Österreich
Hotel Imperial
Wien, Österreich
Alpin Resort Sacher Seefeld-Tirol
Seefeld in Tirol, Österreich
Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna Hotel
Wien, Österreich
Hotel Sacher
Wien, Österreich
Kempinski Hotel Das Tirol
Jochberg, Österreich
Salzburgerhof Wellness-, Golf- und Genießerhotel
Zell am See, Österreich
What are the highlights of Austria?
The best-known highlights of Austria include Vienna, Salzburg, Hallstatt, Tyrol, Wachau.
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Vienna
Imperial palaces, coffee houses, opera, and the MuseumsQuartier.
Salzburg
Mozart's birthplace, Hohensalzburg Fortress, and Sound of Music settings.
Hallstatt
The "most beautiful village in the world" on Hallstätter See – UNESCO World Heritage.
Tyrol
Innsbruck, Stubai Valley, and some of the best ski resorts in the Alps.
Wachau
Vineyards, castle ruins, and Danube cycling paths – enjoying cycling through Austria.
Hotels in Austria
Compare thousands of hotels, apartments and resorts on Expedia – with price guarantee, free cancellation and reward points.
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Reiseversicherung abschließen
Rundum-Schutz ab 9,90 € auf TravelSecure.de
Hotelgutscheine & Kurzreisen
Deals ab 29 € p.P. auf touriDat.com
Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
When is the best time to visit Austria?
The best time to visit Austria is June–Sep (hiking), Dec–Mar (skiing). In summer: 20–30°C. In winter: -5–5°C.
Recommended travel time
June–Sep (hiking), Dec–Mar (skiing)
Summer
20–30°C
Winter
-5–5°C
How much does a holiday in Austria cost?
A holiday in Austria costs roughly 60–85€ per person per day (excluding flights) on a budget, 85–150€ mid-range and 150–300€ for luxury travel.
Average cost per person per day (excluding flight)
Budget
60–85€
Hostel, street food, public transport
Mid-range
85–150€
Hotel, restaurant, excursions
Luxury
150–300€
Boutique hotel, fine dining
How long is the flight from Germany to Austria?
From Germany you reach Austria in approx. 1 hour (or 4h by train).
What travel tips are there for Austria?
Insider knowledge to make your holiday better.
Try Sachertorte at Hotel Sacher Vienna – the original
ÖBB Nightjet connects many German cities affordably
Buy ski passes online in advance – often cheaper
Heuriger (wine tavern): food and wine directly from the winemaker
Semmering Railway is one of the most beautiful train routes in Europe
What do people eat in Austria?
Typical dishes in Austria are Wiener Schnitzel, Sachertorte, Tafelspitz, Kaiserschmarrn, Apfelstrudel, Kasnocken.
These dishes you must try!
Which regions and places in Austria are worth visiting?
42 regions, cities and highlights in Austria
Lakes
Achensee
Achensee is the largest lake in Tyrol and is rightly referred to as the "Sea of the Tyroleans." Nestled between the Karwendel Mountains and the Brandenberger Alps, the fjord-like …
Attersee
Attersee is the largest lake entirely located in Austria and the crown jewel of the Salzkammergut - a massive alpine lake that stretches over 20 kilometers in length and reaches …
Millstätter See
The Millstätter See is Carinthia's tranquil gem - a deep blue alpine lake that majestically stretches between the Nock Mountains and the Millstätter Alps. With a length of almost …
Mondsee
Mondsee is one of the warmest bathing lakes in the Salzkammergut and a place that gained worldwide fame through the film The Sound of Music - the famous wedding scene was filmed …
Wörthersee
Lake Wörthersee in Carinthia is one of the warmest bathing lakes in the Alps, reaching water temperatures of up to 27°C in summer. With its bright turquoise color, surrounded by …
Wolfgangsee
The Wolfgangsee is one of the most beautiful lakes in the Salzkammergut and became world-famous through the operetta "Im Weißen Rössl" — the hotel of the same name actually exists …
Neusiedler See
Lake Neusiedl is Europe's second-largest steppe lake and the only one of its kind in Central Europe — a UNESCO World Heritage site on the Austrian-Hungarian border. With an area …
Regions
Arlberg
The Arlberg is the cradle of alpine skiing and one of the most legendary winter sports regions in the world. Here, on the mountain pass between Tyrol and Vorarlberg, the first ski …
Kleinwalsertal
The Kleinwalsertal is a geographical curiosity of the first order: an Austrian high valley that can only be accessed from Germany. The municipality of Mittelberg, with its …
Montafon
The Montafon is a 39-kilometer-long valley in southern Vorarlberg, stretching from Bludenz to the Silvretta Bielerhöhe, framed by the impressive backdrop of the Silvretta, …
Stubaital
The Stubaital south of Innsbruck is one of the most impressive high valleys in the Alps, combining everything that mountain and winter sports enthusiasts could wish for in a …
Tyrol
Tyrol is the heart of the Austrian Alps and one of the most famous holiday regions in Europe. The federal state stretches from the Arlberg in the west to the Wilder Kaiser in the …
Salzburger Land
The Salzburger Land combines cultural world heritage with spectacular alpine landscapes and is one of the most diverse holiday regions in Austria. At its center is the city of …
Carinthia
Carinthia, Austria's southernmost province, is a sun paradise between the Alps and Mediterranean flair. With over 200 bathing lakes, including some of the warmest alpine lakes in …
Vorarlberg
Vorarlberg, Austria's westernmost and smallest federal state, surprises with a fascinating mix of alpine natural beauty, contemporary architecture, and a vibrant cultural scene. …
Styria
Styria, affectionately known as the Green Heart of Austria, is the second-largest federal state of the Alpine Republic and combines alpine mountain worlds, gentle wine hills, …
Upper Austria
Upper Austria, the fourth largest federal state of Austria, combines the Salzkammergut, the cultural city of Linz, and the idyllic Mühlviertel, offering a variety of landscapes …
Lower Austria
Lower Austria, the largest federal state of Austria, encompasses the capital Vienna and offers an astonishing landscape and cultural diversity. The centerpiece is the Wachau, a …
Burgenland
Burgenland, Austria's easternmost and youngest federal state, surprises with its own unique character: Here, Pannonian expanses meet Austrian coziness, Hungarian influence meets …
Cities
Bad Gastein
Bad Gastein is one of the most unusual mountain towns in the Alps: Like an amphitheater, the Belle Époque grand hotels rise up the steep rock faces, while a powerful waterfall …
Ischgl
Ischgl in the Paznaun Valley is one of the most legendary ski resorts in the Alps and is known as the "Ibiza of the Alps." The Silvretta Arena ski area connects Ischgl with the …
Lech am Arlberg
Lech am Arlberg is the most exclusive ski resort in Austria and has been attracting royals, celebrities, and ski enthusiasts from around the world for decades. The village at …
Mayrhofen
Mayrhofen in the back Zillertal is the action hotspot of the Tyrolean Alps, combining top-notch winter sports with a lively après-ski scene. The Penken gondola quickly takes …
Salzburg
Salzburg is Mozart's birthplace, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and one of the most beautiful Baroque cities in Europe. Nestled between the foothills of the Alps and the Salzach …
Seefeld
Seefeld in Tirol sits on a sun-drenched plateau at 1,200 meters between the Wetterstein Mountains and the Hohe Munde and has been world-famous since the Olympic Winter Games of …
Seefeld in Tirol
Seefeld in Tirol is the Olympic region for Nordic disciplines and is located on a sunny high plateau at 1,200 meters between the Karwendel and Wetterstein mountains. Twice the …
Sölden
Sölden in the Ötztal is the ski resort of superlatives: three peaks over 3,000 meters with cable car access, two glaciers, and the legendary BIG3 Rallye across all summits. …
St. Anton am Arlberg
St. Anton am Arlberg is the cradle of alpine skiing and one of the most legendary ski resorts in the world. In 1901, the first ski club in Austria was founded here, and to this …
Vienna
Vienna, the capital of Austria, is a metropolis of imperial splendor, cultural depth, and contemporary joy of living. The city on the Danube has repeatedly been voted the most …
Salzburg
Salzburg, the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, is a baroque masterpiece of world significance. The compact old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996, is dominated by …
Innsbruck
Innsbruck, the capital of Tyrol, is nestled between the impressive Nordkette and the Patscherkofel — a city where alpine panorama and imperial history uniquely combine. Innsbruck …
Graz
Graz, Austria's second-largest city and the capital of Styria, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and captivates with a fascinating mix of medieval old town, avant-garde …
Linz
Linz, the capital of Upper Austria on the Danube, has undergone a remarkable transformation from an industrial site to a creative cultural city over the past decades. The …
Hallstatt
Hallstatt, a tiny village on the western shore of Lake Hallstatt in Upper Austria's Salzkammergut, is one of the most photographed places in the world. The pastel-colored houses …
Bregenz
Bregenz, the capital of Vorarlberg, is picturesque located on the eastern shore of Lake Constance and serves as a starting point for discoveries in the tri-border area of Austria, …
Zell am See
Zell am See is picturesque, located on the emerald green Zeller See, nestled between the gentle slopes of Schmittenhöhe and the glaciated peaks of the Hohe Tauern in the Salzburg …
Kitzbühel
Kitzbühel, the glamorous alpine town in Tyrol's Unterland, is world-famous for the legendary Hahnenkamm race — the most dangerous and prestigious ski race in the world. Every …
Areas
Wachau
The Wachau, a 36-kilometer stretch of the Danube between Melk and Krems, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000 and is considered one of the most beautiful river …
Salzkammergut
The Salzkammergut, one of the most picturesque regions in Europe, extends across three federal states (Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria) and impresses with 76 crystal-clear lakes, …
Großglockner
The Großglockner, at 3,798 meters, is the highest mountain in Austria and majestically towers in the heart of the Hohe Tauern National Park — the largest protected area in the …
Zillertal
The Zillertal, located southeast of Innsbruck, is one of the most famous and frequently visited alpine valleys in Tyrol. Stretching approximately 30 kilometers from Strass im …
Ötztal
The Ötztal is the longest side valley of Tyrol at 65 kilometers, stretching from the Inn Valley mouth near Oetz up to the glaciated three-thousanders around the Wildspitze (3,768 …
Complete guide for Austria
Regions, attractions, food, routes, costs & practical tips — all in one digital guide.
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How do I plan a holiday in Austria?
Austria is one of the most popular travel destinations in Europe, offering Alps, Culture, Skiing and much more. The best time to visit Austria is June–Sep (hiking), Dec–Mar (skiing), when the weather is ideal for exploration and relaxation. With a daily budget starting from 60–85€ (Budget) to 150–300€ (Luxury), Austria is suitable for various travel budgets.
From the capital Vienna, Austria can be excellently explored. The official language is German, and the currency is Euro (€). From Germany, you can reach Austria in approx. 1 hour (or 4h by train). Whether you want to try culinary highlights like Wiener Schnitzel, Sachertorte, Tafelspitz, visit top attractions, or simply enjoy the atmosphere: Austria has something for every type of traveller.
Use our free travel tools to prepare your Austria holiday perfectly. With the holiday finder, you can discover if Austria is the right destination for you. The budget calculator helps you plan costs realistically, and with the packing list, you won't forget anything.
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