Austria Travel Guide 

Important Things To Know

Currency 

Austria is a member of the European Economic Community and uses the Euro. 

You may find some hotels that offer an exchange service but it's best to have Euros on hand when traveling in EU countries like Austria.

National Languages

The official language spoken in Austria is German.

But don’t worry if your German isn’t up to scratch. Most Austrians are fluent in English, too.

Alpine Countries (Photo Credit: Provided by Collette)

Time Zone

Daylight Savings Time is practiced in Austria where clocks are set forward by one hour to maximize the hours of sunlight.

Climate And Weather 

Austria has a temperate climate, with the mildest winters and warmest summers in the western part of the country. However, this region also receives a lot of rainfall. 

Austria is a mountainous country, with an Alpine climate. Amid the Alps, the winters are far colder than in the rest of the country.

When To Visit Austria

Don’t visit in January unless you have packed plenty of cozy knitwear. It’s the coldest month in Austria. 

There’ll be snow in the valleys from Late December until March, making that the best time of year for your Austrian skiing vacation. And the higher up the Alps you go, the longer that snow lasts. 

Unless you like traveling in the rain, give April and November a miss - they’re the wettest months.

If you plan your Austrian trip for Summer, the days are hot and the evenings are cool. Summer rain showers are always possible, so a travel umbrella may be a good idea.

Best Places To Stay In Austria

• Vienna (Wien) is a top destination for tourists in Austria. It’s the nation’s capital and the largest city and boasts several top hotels.

Vienna is the home of the Waltz, the Danube, and the best apple strudel recipe. You’ll discover magnificent architecture, historical buildings, and fine dining at every turn. We loved the giant Ferris wheel, the Wiener Riesenrad. 

• If we have to choose, Salzburg was one of our favorite places to stay in Austria. A haven of Baroque architecture, the old town (Altstadt) center has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You’ll see medieval architecture, the beautiful Mirabell Palace, Hellbrun Castle with its stunning water fountains, and Mozart’s house - now a museum. Sound of Music tours are very popular here, and take you on a bus ride to all the famous location sites from the classic 1965 movie.

• You don’t have to go to Club Med for a European ski vacation. Go for a ride up the snow-capped mountains of Innsbruck in a cable car and enjoy the breathtaking views. If you’ve never skied or snowboarded before, we recommend this as the place to try it.

You won’t be short on choices for accommodation either. We found many charming establishments in this picturesque town. Innsbruck also has many luxury hotels to cater to your every whim.