Austria captivates visitors with its imperial cities, Alpine landscapes, and rich musical heritage. From Vienna's grand palaces to Salzburg's baroque architecture and the stunning Tyrolean Alps, this Central European gem offers world-class culture, outdoor adventures, and legendary coffeehouse traditions.
Local currency: Euro (€) — Austria uses the Euro as the official currency since 2002.
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Austria.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- $22-35 (dorm bed in Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck)
- Budget
- $55-85 (budget private room or budget hotel)
- Midrange
- $100-180 (3-4 star hotel in city center)
- Luxury
- $300-900+ (5-star hotel or castle hotel)
Food
- Street
- $4-8 (Würstelstand sausage, Leberkäse sandwich, bakery roll)
- Local
- $12-20 (Beisl lunch special with soup, main, drink)
- Midrange
- $25-50 (sit-down dinner at mid-range restaurant with wine)
- Fine
- $80-250+ (tasting menu at Michelin-starred restaurant)
Transport
- Bus
- $2.50-2.90 per single journey (Vienna single ticket €2.40)
- Taxi
- $10-20 (typical city ride in Vienna; base €4.30 + €1.60/km)
- Airport
- $8-45 (bus €8, S-Bahn €4.20, CAT train €11, taxi €35-45 from VIE)
- Daytrip
- $20-60 (train day return Vienna-Melk $24, Vienna-Salzburg $40-80 advance)
Activities
- Museum
- $10-20 (KHM €18, Belvedere €18, NHM €15)
- Sites
- $14-32 (Schönbrunn Palace €19-32, Hofburg €17, Hohensalzburg €14)
- Tour
- $30-80 (guided city walking tour, Wachau wine tour, Hallstatt day trip)
- Excursion
- $50-160 (full-day guided excursion with transport and admission)
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Austria costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
$560-700/week (hostel accommodation, mostly self-catered meals, public transport, 1-2 paid attractions)
Midrange traveller
$1,050-1,540/week (3-star hotels, mix of restaurant and café dining, attractions, day trip)
Luxury traveller
$3,500+/week (5-star hotels, fine dining, private tours, premium experiences)
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Buy the Vienna City Card (€17-29 for 24-72 hours) for unlimited public transport plus discounts at 200+ museums and attractions — invaluable if you plan to use the U-Bahn multiple times per day.
Museum discounts: Many Vienna museums are free on specific days — KHM and NHM are free for under-19s, and some offer discounted evening hours.
Supermarket lunches: Austrian supermarkets (Billa, Spar, Hofer) have excellent deli sections and prepared foods for €3-6. Eating a picnic in the Prater or Stadtpark saves significantly over café and restaurant meals.
ÖBB Sparschiene train tickets: Booking Austrian Federal Railways tickets 3-8 weeks in advance can reduce Vienna-Salzburg from €60 to €19 each way.
Free walking tours: Tip-based walking tours in Vienna depart daily from Stephansplatz at 10 AM and 2 PM — no booking required, pay only what you think it's worth.
Happy hour dining: Many Viennese restaurants offer 'Mittagsmenü' (lunch specials) from 12-2 PM at €9-15 for two courses — the same meals cost €25-40 at dinner.
Overnight trains: ÖBB's Nightjet trains offer couchette travel to cities like Munich, Zürich, and Berlin — cheaper than flying when the sleeping-berth experience is factored against airport time.
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Schönbrunn Palace Gardens
The magnificent formal gardens of the Habsburgs' summer palace are free to enter and stroll, with the Gloriette hilltop offering panoramic Vienna views at no cost. The Neptune Fountain, rose garden, and private dining areas are all freely accessible during garden hours.
Kunsthistorisches Museum Free Zone
The grand entrance hall and staircase of the Kunsthistorisches Museum — including Klimt's painted lunettes — can be visited for free by entering the café. The Maria-Theresien-Platz exterior and monument are always free to enjoy.
Vienna Ringstrasse Walk
The imperial Ringstrasse boulevard built by Emperor Franz Joseph I is one of Europe's great architectural set-pieces — a 5 km loop past the State Opera, Parliament, City Hall, Burgtheater, and Natural History Museum, all fully appreciable from the outside for free.
Prater Park and Wiese
Vienna's massive green park offers free meadows, cycling paths, and the Hauptallee chestnut boulevard. The giant Ferris Wheel (Riesenrad) costs €13 to ride but is free to photograph from below. The adjacent Prater amusement area has some free outdoor areas.
Naschmarkt Browsing
Walking through Vienna's famous 1.5 km market is completely free and an experience in itself — sampling from vendors is expected, and buying a small item is sufficient. Saturday's flea market adds antiques and vintage items to the stalls.
Salzburg Old Town (UNESCO World Heritage)
The entire Salzburg Altstadt is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and freely walkable. Getreidegasse, Residenzplatz, Mozartplatz, and the cathedral square (Domplatz) are all free. The Mirabell Gardens with their fountain and mountain views are free and among Austria's most beautiful public spaces.
Innsbruck Old Town and Nordkette Views
Innsbruck's compact medieval old town (Altstadt) with the Golden Roof, historic arcades, and mountain-backdrop streets is freely walkable. The Nordkette mountain is visible for free from the city; the Olympic Museum exterior and Bergisel ski jump exterior are also free to admire.
Vienna National Library State Hall (free peristyle)
The outer vestibule (Prunksaal anteroom) of the Baroque National Library can be seen from the Josefsplatz courtyard without admission. The Prunksaal itself requires €8 entry but is arguably Vienna's most beautiful interior.
Wachau Cycle Path (Danube Cycle Route)
The EuroVelo 6 Danube Cycle Route through the Wachau is free to cycle on, passing vineyard villages, castle ruins, and baroque monasteries. Bike hire available from €15/day in Vienna, Krems, and Melk, making this an affordable day activity.
Vienna's Summer Open-Air Festivals
The Rathausplatz Film Festival (July-August) broadcasts opera and concert films free of charge on a giant screen with food trucks. The Donauinselfest (late June) is Europe's largest free open-air festival with 600+ hours of music. Karlsplatz and MuseumsQuartier regularly host free summer events.