Semmering Railway

Entry requirements vary by passport. Check the requirements for your specific passport on the Austria page at Yoogo.

Austria uses the euro (EUR). Card payments are widely accepted in cities, hotels, restaurants, and larger shops, though some smaller cafes, markets, and rural businesses still prefer cash, so it is worth carrying some euros when travelling outside major centres.

Austria is considered one of the safest countries in Europe, with low rates of violent crime. Standard precautions apply in crowded tourist areas of Vienna and Salzburg, such as being mindful of pickpockets, but visitors can generally move around with ease day and night.

Austria has an excellent rail network, with frequent and punctual trains connecting Vienna, Salzburg, Graz, Innsbruck, and most regional centres. Within cities, trams, buses, and the Vienna U-Bahn (metro) provide comprehensive coverage, and intercity buses fill gaps in the rail network for smaller towns.

Spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October) offer comfortable temperatures, fewer crowds, and lower accommodation prices than the summer peak. Summer (June to August) is ideal for alpine hiking and lake swimming, while winter (December to February) brings world-class skiing and traditional Christmas markets.

German is the official language of Austria. English is widely spoken in Vienna, Salzburg, and other major tourist destinations, particularly in hotels, restaurants, and museums, though a few words of German are appreciated in smaller towns and rural areas.

No vaccinations are required for entry into Austria. Routine immunisations such as measles, mumps, rubella, and tetanus should be up to date, and travellers spending time outdoors in forested areas may wish to discuss tick-borne encephalitis vaccination with their doctor before travelling.

Tipping is customary but modest. In restaurants, rounding up the bill or leaving around 10% is standard practice; you tell the server the total you wish to pay when settling the bill rather than leaving cash on the table. In taxis, rounding up the fare to the nearest euro is the normal gesture.

Austria has strong 4G and 5G coverage across cities and most tourist regions, with only the most remote alpine areas experiencing limited signal. Travellers with compatible devices can purchase an Austria eSIM before departure through providers such as Airalo, making it straightforward to activate data on arrival without needing a physical SIM card.