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. 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.
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.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- 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.
- 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.