Before visiting another country, there are always a few things I like to research before the trip. After visiting Austria in 2024, our family learned a few things about this beautiful country. Below I have outlined the top 10 things to know before visiting Austria.
In this guide, I have Austrian travel tips that dive into travel requirements, safety concerns, money stuff, weird rules that are vital to know, and important cultural customs. So, take a few minutes to learn these travel tips for Austria before getting on the plane.
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Travel Tips For Austria
All of these Austrian travel tips are important to make your trip go smoothly. The items mentioned are the little things that many forget to research before booking. Yet, knowing these travel tips for Austria will prepare you. You will feel confident navigating a new country and nothing will pop up that you aren’t expecting.
1. Travel Requirements For Austria
One of the important things to do know before visiting Austria is the travel requirements. As a U.S. citizen you will need a passport with at least 3 months validity beyond your planned date of departure. They really recommend that your passport doesn’t expire within 6 months or less.
U.S. citizens don’t need a tourist visa to enter. Austria is part of the Schengen area, so you can stay in this area for a total of 90 days within a 180 day period.
This means, if you have traveled to other countries that are a part of the Schengen area, like France or Italy, within the last 180 days, those days count towards the 90 days.
So, if you are a frequent traveler, it is important to know the rules on this. The 180 days is rolling, and not by year. You wouldn’t want to be left at the border because of this rule.
ETIAS
Starting in the last quarter of 2026, travelers will need to fill out the ETIAS travel authorization. This online form will be required for 30 European countries, including Austria.
The ETIAS, which stands for European Travel Information and Autorisation System, will cost 20 euros and take only minutes to process. The official website does state that in some occurrences they will require additional information, so they recommend applying for the ETIAS well in advance of your trip.
It is very important that you fill in the form correctly and not make any mistakes. If there are inconsistencies, you will be denied at the border. The ETIAS will be valid for 3 years or until your passport expires.
For more information on the ETIAS, check out the European Union website here.
Entry/Exit System
The EES or Entry/Exit System was implemented on October 12, 2025 and will gradually be rolled out to 29 European countries by April 10, 2026. The EES is being used to register non-EU nationals traveling for short term stays in Europe.
Austria is one of the countries that will be using the EES system. At the border, passport control officers will take your photo and scan your fingerprints. This information will be recorded in a digital file. When you cross the border again, the passport officer, will just verify the information.
So far we have only crossed into Germany by car since this has been implemented and nothing has changed so far. It will be interesting to see how this progresses. I will update this post, with more information as I experience it.
2. What Language Is Spoken In Austria?
Whenever you visit another country, it is a good idea to learn a little of the language. It is one of the tips for traveling to Austria that shows respect to the country you are visiting.
No one expects you to know a whole new language, but trying to say a few words shows manners. Austrians speak German.
Is English Spoken In Austria?
You will find many people speak English in Austria, especially in touristy areas. If you can’t find someone that speaks English, Google translate is your best friend. There are so many ways to communicate these days with technology.
A Few Phrases To Learn Before Visiting Austria
A few phrases I like to learn before visiting a new country are thank you, good morning, good evening and hello. Before you visit Austria, you can learn these polite phrases too.
- Thank you = danke (dank a)
- Good morning = guten morgen (goo-ten mor-gen)
- Good evening = guten abend (goo-ten a-vonte)
- Hello = Hallo (ha – low)
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3. Money In Austria
Now let’s move on to money. Austria uses the Euro. The Euro is usually not too far off from the US dollar, but in the past year, the USD has weakened a bit.
I know this because we get paid in the USD and then have to send money over to Europe. Let’s just say, we aren’t making as much as we used to.
To check the current exchange rate, I like to use xe.com. You can just put in the amount you want to know in euros and it will tell you how much it is in the dollars. You can use it for any currency.
Cash, Debit Or Credit
When we visited Austria in December of 2024, most places we visited took credit card. We did notice that it was cash only at some smaller places, like the Christmas market stalls, bathrooms and small restaurants in Zell am See.
I would recommend having some cash handy. A few small bills or coins only because most places take credit cards.
Tipping In Austria
Tipping in Austria is much different than in the U.S. For good service at a restaurant, you should tip around 10%. If you are at a cafe or bar, it is okay to leave just a few euros.
If you are paying by card at a restaurant, you will usually pay right at the table, if not you will walk up to the bar to pay. Ask your server how it is done.
When the server gives you the bill, let them know how much you would like the final amount to be including the tip, and they will add it to the credit card machine.
IMPORTANT: You can’t add a tip after they have run your card. They won’t print out a receipt where you write out the tip on a piece of paper like you do in the states.
4. Be Prepared For A Different Style Of Customer Service
In the U.S. you expect a very fast and high level of service. In Austria, you will experience a different level of customer service. This doesn’t mean you will be waiting for hours, but you should know the differences before you go.
When you first sit down, you might have to wait a little bit to get served. Just be patient.
You will not automatically get water. You can ask for tap water or buy a bottle if you prefer. A lot of times you order your food and drink at the same time.
After your meal, your server will not automatically bring you the bill. You will need to ask for it or pay at the bar, depending on the restaurant you go to. When we are ready to go, we usually call over the server and ask if we can pay at the table or need to go up front.
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5. Tap Water
Can you drink the tap water in Austria? Yes! Drink it. There is no need to buy a bottle of water in Austria.
6. Emergency Numbers
The emergency number in Austria is not the same as the states. They don’t use 911. Instead, dial 112. This is the European emergency number.
7. Best Way To Travel Around Austria
There are many ways to get around Austria. The train system is really good and you can get to many different areas of the country. If you are traveling to popular destinations, this is the best way to get around Austria.
Even when we were in Zell am See, there is a train that goes there and buses that will take you anywhere you’d like to go around the area.
For our ski trip to Zell am See, Austria, we rented a car. Since we were traveling from another European country, and we wanted to have a car when we were there, it just made sense for our trip.
If you do rent a car in Austria, you will need to get an international driving permit (IDP). You can technically drive with your U.S. license for 6 months in Europe, but most rental companies will require the international driving permit.
Getting an IDP is quite easy. You can apply by mail or in-person with the American Automobile Association (AAA) or online through the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA).
You Might Need A Vignette If Renting A Car
Another important travel tip for Austria when renting a car, is that you need to get a vignette to drive on the highway. A vignette is a sticker that goes on your car and is like a toll system on the highways.
If you don’t have a sticker, you can get some major fines. When we visited, we didn’t drive on any motorways (autobahns) and expressways (“S” roads) in Austria, so it didn’t apply to us. Check your routes before traveling and plan ahead.
To get a sticker, you have some options. The easiest way, in my opinion, is to get a digital toll sticker. You can do so on the ASFINAG webpage. There you can purchase a 1-day, 10-day, 2-month or 1-year sticker.
In addition to the vignette, there are also a few roads that have an additional toll depending on where you go. These toll sections can be paid directly at the toll station or online in advance.
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8. Paying For The Bathroom Is Normal
When traveling through Europe, it is very normal to have to pay for the bathroom. In the Netherlands, where we live, most payments can be made by card. There are some instances where you do need to have a few coins with you.
Austria is the same. It is very common to pay .50 to 1 euro for the bathroom.
9. Safety Concerns
Austria is a very safe, clean, and beautiful country. According to the Global Peace Index, it is the 4th safest country in the world. I would feel very confident and safe visiting even if I was traveling by myself.
When traveling, it is always smart to be aware of your surroundings and not to make stupid decisions that you wouldn’t do at home.
Some general, basic travel tips I always follow are:
- Split up your money.
- Carry a crossover purse or money belt.
- Don’t leave your things unattended.
- Try not to travel during rush hour.
- Take notice of the people around you.
For other safety tips, you can check out this post I wrote that goes much more in depth (it’s even helpful for those without kids!): Family Travel Tips: How To Make Traveling With Kids Easier
10. Common Courtesy To Remember When Visiting Any Country
Many of these Austria travel tips listed in this section can apply to other countries you visit too. It is always a good thing to have common courtesy when traveling to another country. You are their guest afterall.
Some specific things to know about Austria are:
- Not everyone talks about the Sound of Music there. They don’t have nostalgia about it and don’t think it is a classic film like Americans do. You will see tours that are specifically geared towards the Sound of Music, but these are all very touristy things to do. Some Austrians might not even know about the film!
- Austrians are not Germans. They speak German, but are very proud of being Austrian.
- If you go to the sauna, expect people to be nude. This is normal. No one is going to stare at you, and please do not stare at other people!
- Skiing in Austria is different than the U.S. You will want to stay on the trails. Cliffs are not always marked, so please be careful.
- Stay on the right of the escalator to let people pass if you aren’t walking up. This is more of a general travel tip, but still a common courtesy.
- And lastly, please don’t walk in the bike lane in the cities.
Wrapping Up: Things To Know Before Visiting Austria
I hope this list of 10 things to know before visiting Austria has prepared you for an amazing trip. With this knowledge, I know you will feel confident navigating this new country and have the time of your life! Gute Reise!
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