Austria
Last checked:
- Capital
- Vienna
- Currency
- EUR · Euro
- Languages
- German
- Plugs
- Type C, F · 230 V
Emergency numbers
Top 5 places
- Schönbrunn Palace · Vienna
Habsburg summer palace with state rooms, large gardens and the Gloriette viewpoint.
- St. Stephen's Cathedral · Vienna
Gothic cathedral in the centre; climb the south tower for city views.
- Salzburg Old Town · Salzburg
Baroque old town, Hohensalzburg Fortress and Mozart's birthplace.
- Hallstatt · Hallstatt
Lakeside village in the Salzkammergut with salt mine tours; very crowded at midday.
- Innsbruck and the Nordkette · Innsbruck
Alpine city with a cable car from the centre up to mountain hiking and skiing.
Getting around
Public transport
WienMobil (Wiener Linien)
Official Vienna app for U-Bahn, trams and buses: route planning, tickets and 24/48/72-hour passes. It also links Citybikes and some taxis. A 72-hour pass is usually cheaper than single tickets if you ride a few times a day.
Trains
ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways)
Main way to travel between cities (Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Graz). Buy in the OBB app; early Sparschiene fares are cheapest. Westbahn is a cheaper private option on Vienna to Salzburg.
Ride-hailing app
Uber
Operates in Vienna and some other cities. Since 2021 Vienna ride apps follow a regulated fare band, so prices are close to taxis; upfront price shown in app.
Ride-hailing app
Bolt
Available in Vienna and Graz; often a little cheaper than Uber. Also offers e-scooters in Vienna.
Taxi
FREENOW / taxi 40100, 31300
Official metered taxis can be booked by app or phone. Airport taxis can be pre-booked at fixed prices. The City Airport Train and the cheaper S7 train also link Vienna airport to the centre.
E-scooters
Lime / Bolt / Dott
Dockless e-scooters in Vienna and other cities, paid per minute in the app. Riding on sidewalks is banned.
Bike share
WienMobil Rad (Citybike)
Vienna's docked bike share, rented through the WienMobil app.
Money and cash
Currency: EUR · Euro
Austria is still fairly cash-oriented. Cards and phone payments work in most shops, hotels and city restaurants, but some cafes, Heurigen (wine taverns), market stalls and mountain huts are cash only. Carry some euros. Use bank ATMs (Bankomat) and choose to be charged in EUR.
Tipping
Tipping is customary but modest in Austria: round up or add about 5-10% for table service. Menu prices already include service and VAT, so there is normally no service-charge line on the bill. Tip by telling the server the total you want to pay when you hand over money or before the card is run.
| Restaurants | About 5-10%, rounding to a convenient number. Say the total ('Zwanzig, bitte' for 20) when paying. Do not say 'danke' while handing over cash unless you mean 'keep the change'. |
|---|---|
| Cafés and bars | Round up to the next euro or so at table service. Counter service: optional coins in a jar. |
| Taxis and ride apps | Round up to the next euro on short rides; around 10% for longer rides or help with luggage. |
| Hotels | About 1-2 EUR per bag for porters and 1-2 EUR per night for housekeeping (optional). |
| Tours and guides | Around 5-10 EUR per person for free walking tours, where guides rely on tips; a few euros for paid tours. |
| Food delivery | Round up or 1-3 EUR. |
Service charge: what’s true
Service is included in menu prices by law (prices must be shown as final prices), so there is usually no separate service charge. Rarely, a 'Servicepauschale' is added for large groups; it should be stated in advance. Sources word this differently: some say 'service is not included', meaning the tip is not included.
Pressure tactics to watch for
No widely reported pressure tactics. Card terminals rarely prompt for tips; just say the total you want to pay. If a server keeps your change after you said 'danke', that is the custom, not a scam: say the amount you want back instead.
Useful phrases
- Zahlen, bitte. The bill, please.
- Stimmt so. Keep the change.
- Machen Sie zwanzig, bitte. Make it twenty, please.
Etiquette
- Greet when entering shops and small restaurants: 'Grüß Gott' or 'Guten Tag', and say 'Auf Wiedersehen' when leaving.
- Use titles and surnames in formal settings; Austrians value politeness and punctuality.
- In coffee houses it is normal to sit for a long time over one coffee; ask for the bill when you are ready to leave.
- Most shops close on Sundays and public holidays; plan grocery shopping ahead.
- Jaywalking and crossing on red are frowned on and can be fined.
- Saunas are usually nude and mixed; towels are sat on, swimwear is often not allowed.
- Cover shoulders and remove hats in churches; keep quiet during services.
Scams and how to handle them
Overpriced 'Mozart concert' tickets
Where: Kärntner Straße, Graben, outside the State Opera and St. Stephen's, Vienna
How it works: Sellers in Mozart costumes sell tickets to tourist concerts in minor venues for 70-120 EUR, much more than the show is worth.
How to avoid it: Book concerts directly with venues (Musikverein, Konzerthaus, State Opera standing places) and compare prices before buying.
Fake police or ticket inspectors
Where: Tourist areas, trains and stations
How it works: People posing as police or ticket checkers ask for your ID and wallet, then return it with cash missing.
How to avoid it: Ask for official ID, do not hand over your wallet, offer to go to a police station. Real Wiener Linien inspectors carry an official badge.
Fake charity collectors
Where: Outdoor cafes and tourist streets
How it works: People with clipboards claiming to collect for deaf or disabled people ask for cash; the clipboard can also cover a phone on your table for theft.
How to avoid it: Say no and keep phones off tables. Real charities do not collect cash this way.
Three-cup (shell) game
Where: Busy tourist spots and bridges
How it works: A dealer and fake winners invite you to bet on which cup hides a ball; you never win.
How to avoid it: Walk past. Watchers in the crowd are accomplices.
'Free' gifts and bracelets
Where: Streets and squares in Vienna and Salzburg
How it works: Someone hands you a flower, bracelet or blessing (sometimes posing as a monk), then demands money.
How to avoid it: Do not accept items from strangers. If something is pushed on you, hand it back and walk away.
Holiday rental fraud
Where: Online listings
How it works: Fake listings at low prices ask for payment by bank transfer before you see the flat.
How to avoid it: Book on reputable platforms and pay only through the platform.
Distraction pickpocketing
Where: U-Bahn, stations, cafes, Christmas markets
How it works: One person bumps or distracts you while another takes a wallet or phone.
How to avoid it: Keep valuables zipped in front, especially getting on and off trains.
Safety
- Crime is generally low; pickpocketing is the main risk in city centres, on public transport and in city parks after dark.
- Watch luggage when boarding and leaving trains and coaches; thieves use distraction.
- Vienna hotspots: Westbahnhof, Hauptbahnhof, Praterstern, Karlsplatz, U-Bahn lines U1 and U6, Christmas markets.
- Drinks in bars can be stronger than you expect; do not leave drinks unattended or accept them from strangers.
- In the mountains check weather and avalanche bulletins, and keep to marked ski runs. Mountain rescue is 140.
- Some motorways need a vignette (toll sticker or digital) if you drive.
How widely English is spoken
Widely spoken in Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck and ski resorts, and by younger people; less common among older people in rural areas. Austrian German has its own words (Erdapfel for potato, Servus for hi/bye).
Sources
- GOV.UK Foreign travel advice: Austria, safety and security
- Wikivoyage: Austria
- The Local Austria: Six tourist scams to be aware of in Austria
- Vienna Tourism: Vienna tipping guide
- Vienna Tourism: Vienna taxi and ride-sharing guide
We check these guides against official and well-known sources, but rules and prices change. Spot something out of date? Email support@tourits.app.