Most tourists visit Vienna and other Austrian cities during the summer months when the days are sunny and very warm. On the other hand, summer months — especially July and August — are also when it rains the most and when the country gets the biggest amount of visitors. Visiting in either May or September can be a good alternative to avoid the largest crowds, get better rates for things like rental cars and hotels, and still enjoy pleasant weather.

Of course, a big appeal of the Austrian cities like Vienna and Salzburg is their beautiful architecture. If that is your main draw and you don't mind the cold, visiting in winter can be amazing as the cities look very beautiful when covered in snow.

The high winter sports season in the Austrian Alps is during the coldest months of the year — January and February. Many winter resorts are fully booked during the Christmas season, so booking in advance is a good idea. It's also possible to visit in December, or later, like March, but the effects of climate change mean that the quality of snow is a bit harder to predict for these months.

Now that you've decided when to travel to Austria, check out our prices for the dates you have chosen!

It's fair to say that Austria is one of the safest countries in the world. Its crime rates are low, its police are trustworthy and its overall atmosphere is very relaxed.

Although violent crime is extremely rare in Austria, petty crimes like pickpocketing and tourist scams do happen, especially near popular tourist attractions and in Vienna's metro. Always keep your belongings close and do not hesitate to ask for help if you need it! The overall emergency number in Austria, like elsewhere in the European Union, is 112.

Austria is home to some of the best roads in Europe — but also to some of the highest peaks on the continent. Driving in the mountains can take some time to get used to, especially on secondary roads, after dark, or during the winter months. Winters typically come with a lot of snow and your vehicle might need snow chains — ask your rental car provider about their availability if you plan to visit during the colder months of the year.

English speakers is probably higher in Austria than in neighboring Germany, but lower than in countries like Sweden and the Netherlands. You shouldn't expect absolutely everyone to speak English, but most people will, especially the younger generations and people working in the tourism and services industries.

The main language of Austria is German of the Austro-Bavarian variety (sometimes also called simply Bavarian). While speakers of all German dialects will be able to make themselves understood, the differences can also be quite noticeable. The standardized German of Austria is different from the Standard German of Germany. If you have studied German at some point in your life, chances are it was the Standard German of Germany and Austrian German can take some time to get used to. Even if you don't speak any German at all, learning a couple of phrases can be very useful.

About 10% of Austrians also speak either French or Italian, and both languages can be handy when visiting the country, especially near the borders with Italy and Switzerland. Slovenian is spoken in the south of Carinthia and Croatian in pockets of Burgenland.

Carinthia. Located in the southeastern part of the country, the state of Carinthia doesn't get the same amount of attention as Vienna or Salzburg — but for some visitors, that is a part of its charm. The region is home to a wealth of lakes (the smaller, more rural ones are often even more scenic than the larger, more famous ones) and some of the best skiing slopes in the country which, while usually not as high as in Western Austria, are just as picturesque — and much less crowded. During the summer months, the region is a prime hiking destination. Carinthia is also home to the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, arguably one of the most picturesque mountain drives in Europe. Finally, regardless of which season you visit in, you simply must try the famous local noodles!

Hohenems. The westernmost Austrian state of Vorarlberg is known for the affluence of its inhabitants (even by Austrian standards), many similarities with neighboring Switzerland, and the beautiful city of Bregenz which is located on Lake Constance. Getting less spotlight, but just as interesting to visit, is the picturesque town of Hohenems. Located about halfway between Bregenz and Feldkirch, it is home to attractions like its beautiful town hall, the Jewish Museum, and the Saw Mill Museum. A charming historic town that seems to be stuck in time, it can also serve as the gateway to the neighboring Principality of Liechtenstein, one of the smallest countries in Europe.

Neusiedler See-Seewinkel. Although its name might be hard for foreigners to pronounce, this national park is one of the most relaxing places in Austria. Located on the border with Hungary, it is often considered the westernmost point of the Great Eurasian Steppe which stretches for thousands of kilometers from here almost to the Pacific Ocean. The national park is made up of Lake Neusiedl, as well as sand steppes, wetlands, and meadows that are home to the Hungarian grey cattle, purple heron, and white-tailed eagle. Fertő-Hanság National Park, located right on the other side of the border, in Hungary is also very much worth a visit. Lake Neusiedl is just an hour's drive south of Vienna.

A landlocked country, Austria has warm summers, cold winters, and four distinct seasons. The country gets a lot of snow every year, especially in the mountains.

Undoubtedly, the main tourist attraction in the country is its charming capital, Vienna. Most tourists visit Vienna and other Austrian cities during the summer months when the days are sunny and very warm. On the other hand, the summer months — especially July and August — are also when it rains the most and when the country gets the biggest amount of visitors. Visiting in either May or September can be a good alternative to avoid the largest crowds, get better rates for things like rental cars and hotels, and still enjoy pleasant weather.

Of course, a big appeal of Austrian cities like Vienna and Salzburg is their beautiful architecture. If that is your main draw and you don't mind the cold, visiting in winter can be amazing as the cities look very beautiful when covered in snow. The same goes for other urban destinations like Graz, Klagenfurt, and Innsbruck.

Salzburg is a place definitely worthy of special mention. Located in the central-north part of the country on the border with Germany, the birthplace of Mozart is known as one of the most picturesque mid-size cities in all of Europe, and boasts the mountaintop Hohensalzburg Fortress, as well as access to stunning natural scenery. Traveling further west, Innsbruck, the former host of the Winter Olympics, is another city worthy of your attention, both for its setting against an Alpine backdrop (it is the second largest city in the Alps, after Grenoble in France) and for its busy cultural life. Both Salzburg and Innsbruck are only a couple of hours’ drive from Munich, the largest city in the German state of Bavaria, so can be visited on the same trip.

The high winter sports season in the Austrian Alps is during the coldest months of the year — January and February. Many winter resorts are fully booked during the Christmas season, so booking in advance is a good idea. It's also possible to visit in December, or later, like March, but the effects of climate change mean that the quality of snow is a bit harder to predict for these months. Naturally, a lot of people also visit the Austrian mountains during the summer months when they become prime hiking territory.

A modern country with an extensive road network, it's hard to find a place in Austria where you'd be too far from the gas station - and that includes the Alps. Many shops have reduced working hours during the weekends, but that rarely concerns gas stations and most of them are open 24/7.

Prices at Austrian gas stations are shown per liter (1 liter = 0.26 US gallons).

As of June 2024, the gas price in Austria is €1.59 (or $1.71) per liter. Like many other European countries, Austria has overcome the gas price surge of 2022, experiencing a gradual reduction of cost since then. The gas prices in Austria are noticeably cheaper than in neighboring Switzerland, Germany, and Italy, marginally cheaper than in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and marginally more expensive than in Hungary and Slovenia.

Like many other European destinations, Austria experiences the highest rental prices during the summer months. In Vienna, the average daily price is €69 in June, €84 in July, and €77 in August. It’s therefore not a bad idea to visit the Austrian capital during the shoulder season as the average price is hovering around €40-45 in both April–May and September–October.

Or, if you don’t care about the weather (or are actively seeking winter entertainment), come in January when the average is only €27. The seasonal price dynamics are very similar in Salzburg and Innsbruck, only these two destinations are actually about 20%-30% more expensive than Vienna.

There are many cheap car rental companies in Austria, but keep in mind that the cheapest price doesn't always mean the best deal (read more on choosing the right rental car provider below).

The rental car price in Austria is influenced by different factors such as how early in advance you book the car and whether it has a manual or an automatic transmission (manual is almost always cheaper). The length of your trip also influences the final price - the daily rental price is nearly always lower for longer trips. Finally, as mentioned above, picking up and dropping off a car at the airport is cheaper than doing it in the city.

Price is obviously a huge factor when choosing a rental car, but it shouldn't be your only concern — often, for a couple of euros more, you can find a much better overall deal. Instead, try to look for a company that offers both a good price and has a good rating from previous travelers.

Also, make sure you are familiar with the rental conditions! Different rental car suppliers will have different conditions. The rental conditions can influence the final price of the car and are important to be aware of in general.

You can find the rental conditions when searching for a rental car on our website.

Some of the most important things when picking up a rental car is knowing your rental car supplier's fuel and mileage policies along with its driver requirements.

Mileage policy :
A rental supplier's mileage policy is the maximum permitted distance that you are allowed to travel per day (or sometimes per week) with your rental car. Once you exceed the permitted distance, you will be required to pay an extra fee for every additional kilometer you drive. There might also be the maximum permitted mileage for the whole of the rental period.

Different rental car suppliers have different mileage rules. It's important to know about them before booking your car, especially if you plan to drive a lot or travel long distances during your trip.

You can find the supplier's mileage policy in their rental conditions:

Fuel policy:
Different car rental companies have different policies when it comes to fuel. While we used to offer car rental deals with full-to-empty fuel policies, we have since decided to only offer what we deem to be fair fuel-policies.

Driver requirements:
Different rental car companies will have different requirements for drivers. These may include:

The same as with mileage and fuel policies, the driver requirements of each car rental supplier be found on their rental conditions page.

Check our comprehensive Help Center to learn more about mileage, fuel, and driver requirements, as well as other important questions.

Choosing the right insurance is very important as it will protect you in case anything goes wrong during your rental period. If you have your own personal insurance, it may or may not cover your rental car — you should ask your insurance carrier to find out.

We strongly recommend you choose our own Full Coverage. Not only does it come at a reasonable price and covers most potential scenarios, but it will also give you clarity and peace of mind as you will have 24/7 support from our team for any issue that you might have.

Check the Insurance section of our Help Center to learn more about choosing the right insurance and everything related to it.

Small cars are the cheapest in Austria - on average, they start at €21 per day. A small car is perfectly fine for traveling alongside all of the main highways in the country, and might even be preferable for exploring cities.

The starting price is €27 per day for medium cars, €32 for large cars, and €157 for premium cars.

To pick up a rental car, you'll need to have your booking confirmation voucher, passport, driver's license, a credit card on the main driver's name, and all the other necessary documents.

When making the reservation, you will see your rental car's pickup location, of which there are many types. Since most travelers tend to pick up their rental cars at the airport, we'll mainly focus on the pickup locations in or near the airport. These are the most popular pickup location types:

• Meet & Greet. With this type of pickup location, you'll be met by an employee of the car rental company in the arrivals hall of the airport which you normally enter right after leaving the baggage claim area. The employee will usually have a printed sign with your name on it. The employee will take you to the company's office to proceed with signing the rental contract and collecting the car's keys.
• In the terminal. In this case, you will have to find your rental car company's desk yourself. The desk will be usually located in the arrivals hall. Once you've found the desk, you can present your documents and continue with the pickup procedure. Do keep in mind that you might have to wait in line.
• Shuttle bus. In certain cases, the car rental company's desk might be located outside the airport's terminal. Sometimes you can reach it on foot, but in most cases, you need to take a shuttle bus. For this, you'll need to find the shuttle bus stop inside the airport, the location of which will be given to you when making the booking. Sometimes, the shuttle bus is shared by multiple car rental companies while others have their own shuttle service just for them. Look for the name and the logo of your rental company to make sure you take the right shuttle bus.
• Delivery service. This type of pick-up is similar to Meet & Greet but takes even less time to complete as you won't need to go to the car provider's office to sign the agreement.
• Car rental center. This means that your car rental company shares its location with other companies. The car rental center is located in the arrivals hall, in another part of the terminal, or in a separate building next to the terminal.
• Outside terminal. This pick-up location means that your car rental company has an individual desk located outside the airport's terminal, but within the larger airport complex, that can usually be reached on foot

At the pickup location: After the car rental company checks your documents and make sure you have enough deposit on your credit card, you will receive the car's keys and be taken to the rental car which will usually be parked in a nearby parking lot.

Inspect the car: Upon picking up the car, you will have to sign a document called the check-out form. If your rental car has any scratches or other types of damage, they should be listed on the form. Inspect the car carefully — if it has any scratches or other issues that are not listed, make sure to point them out to the employee before signing the check-out form. The form will also list the mileage and the amount of fuel the car has at the pickup time.

Take photos: It is generally a very good idea to take photos of the car before picking it up, preferably from multiple angles and including the inside of the car with the odometer showing the previous mileage on the car and of the amount of fuel in the tank (read more about fuel on our Fuel Policy section above). The photos should have a timestamp to show the date and time when they were taken; most pictures taken with mobile and digital cameras have them.

Find out the drop-off location: Before leaving with the car, make sure you find out the exact drop-off location and the directions to get there. While it will often be the same as the pickup location, it might also be in a completely different part of the airport (this is especially the case with the larger airports that have multiple terminals).

Returning the car: When dropping off the car at the end of your trip, carefully check the vehicle in the presence of an employee of the rental company. If any new scratches or damages are found, the company employee should point them out in your presence. If there are none, the car's check-in form should state that the car has been returned in the same condition. The same applies to the cleanliness of the car (if you return a car that is not clean, the company might later charge an extra cleaning fee). Make sure to check the car's trunk and the glove compartment to avoid leaving any personal belongings in the vehicle.

You might also want to add some extras for your rental car such as a GPS system, a child's seat, second-driver permission (if you're traveling with a friend or a family member who can and wants to drive). If you plan to drive in the Alps or Pyrenees, snow chains might be useful or even necessary during winter. Be sure to search for them in advance and add them before making the booking. Not every rental car supplier will have all of these extras available. Adding extras will influence the final price of a car and different car rental companies offer them for different prices.

Yes, speed cameras are in use in Austria, although their frequency is probably slightly lower than in some other European countries like neighboring Germany. The use of speed camera detectors in Austria is prohibited by law.

If you're caught speeding, the fine will usually be sent to your rental car provider. They might add a fee on top of that for administering the fine. The tolerance for speeding is low and even going just a couple of kilometers over the permitted norm can give you a hefty fine.

The drunk driving limits are 0.05% for experienced drivers and 0.01% for novice drivers. Drunk driving is taken seriously and can lead to not only serious fines, but even a license ban or prison sentence, especially if coupled with other offenses like reckless driving.

To travel on many motorways and other roads in Austria, you need to purchase a special highway vignette or toll sticker. Austrian highway vignette can be purchased for three pre-limited periods of time — 10 days, two months, or one year. As a visitor to the country, you'll most likely choose the first option.

You can buy the Austrian highway vignette in many of the gas stations and stores that are located along highways in Austria. If you're arriving in Austria by car from another country, make sure to purchase the Austrian highway vignette on the border, otherwise you'll have to pay a fine. Once purchased, it is important to place the vignette inside your vehicle's windshield.

Many rental cars in Austria will already come equipped with the highway vignette. The price of the vignette will be included in the full rental price. To find out more, do get in touch with your car rental provider in advance and make sure to check your rental conditions.

In addition to the required purchase of a highway vignette, there are specifically designated toll roads in Austria, many of them tunnels and alpine passes. Usually, you'll pass through a toll gate when entering the road where you'll have to pay the toll. Payment can usually be made either by cash or a credit card. The exact fee will depend on the specific road. Find out more about the toll roads and the fees of using them in Austria on the European toll road website and on the Austrian toll road website.