Austria travel guide

The most common Austria trip sees the palaces and old town in Vienna, then continues to Salzburg.

The emergency number is 112; police 133, ambulance 144 and fire 122.

In Vienna, split Schönbrunn Palace and the old town across different days; in Salzburg, the fortress and old town fit into one day.

Travel times between the two cities vary by date, so check the official timetable before booking.

Visa and entry requirements for Austria

Whether you need a visa, how long you can stay and which pre-arrival forms apply all depend on your nationality and the purpose of your trip. Check the official source below, and your own government's travel advice, before you book.

This country is in the Schengen Area. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) registers non-EU travelers at the external border, and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is scheduled to apply to visa-exempt travelers; check the official EU site for who needs it, the start date and the fee. For visa-exempt travelers, Schengen stays are limited to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted across all Schengen countries, and your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure date.

• Visa (Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs) (Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs)
• ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) (European Union)
• EES (Entry/Exit System) (European Union)

Vienna is the city of Schönbrunn Palace and the old town. Divide your time: Schönbrunn in the morning, the old town in the afternoon. Salzburg is small enough to combine Hohensalzburg Fortress and the old town in a day.

UNESCO inscribed the Historic Centre of Vienna in 2001, Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens in 1996, and the Historic Centre of the City of Salzburg in 1996. Linking Vienna and Salzburg works best with four nights or more.

Based on the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

For visa-exempt travelers, Schengen stays are limited to 90 days within the 180 days before your last departure. If you travel between Austria, Czechia and Germany, your days in all of them are added together. Visa-free entry covers tourist stays without gainful or paid activity.

Check your passport's expiry date before buying flights.

Austria's European emergency number is 112. Police 133, ambulance 144 and fire 122. Save your own embassy's numbers too. If you lose your passport, you may need a police report, so note where and when you lost it.

Train times and fares between the two cities vary by date, so check the official Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) timetable before booking. On the same screen, check whether the train needs a seat reservation and whether you can bring a bike or large luggage. Keep plans light after arrival on travel days.

Matching your hotel check-in time to your travel time makes the day easier. Check the departure and arrival stations on the booking screen, and on days with a lot of luggage ask whether your hotel can store it before you leave.

First check that your passport is valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure. Schönbrunn Palace's opening hours vary by season, and Hohensalzburg Fortress may close its funicular and some areas on certain dates for events or maintenance. Check both on the official sites and note the dates in your plan, then book travel once those dates are set. Save local emergency numbers and your embassy's number in a note you can read offline.

Pre-departure checklist

• Check your passport is valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure
• Check the EES and ETIAS information
• Check Schönbrunn Palace opening hours
• Check Hohensalzburg Fortress closures
• Save the emergency number 112 and your embassy's number

• For palaces and the old town: in Vienna, Schönbrunn in the morning and the old town in the afternoon.
• For the fortress and old town: combine them in one day in Salzburg.
• For both: four nights or more; check travel times first.