Gringo Inca’s Austria Guide: Adventuring in Elegant Central Europe

Explore emerald landscapes accentuated by imposing snowcaps. Or take a peak at the lives of Europe’s old rulers in showy palaces and formidable fortresses. Then, enjoy a local wine or cafe Viennese as you decide on your next destination. This easy-to-navigate country offers an exciting range of options, from history and culture to outdoor adventure. In our Austria guide we provide the basic essential information (language, weather, transportation, when and where to go, etc.). But of course we have our typical angles, emphasizing novel cultural experiences and the outdoors… always the outdoors :)

How to get around

Transportation is wonderfully efficient in Austria. We’re talking about multiple trains a day connecting major (and not so major) cities, from coach to sleeper class. And once in town, you’ll find the local transportation systems easy to use. Buses connect smaller cities and even quiet villages with the rest of the country. We used multiple modes of transportation and found them to be clean and safe.

If for some odd reason you enjoy driving while on vacation, you can rent a car to traverse the magical Austrian topography on the autobahns. The minimum age to rent a car is 18. You’ll need an EU-issued or international driver’s license.

Languages

German is the official language of Austria, and most Austrians (8.3 million) speak the Austro-Baviarian dialect. Swiss German, a dialect that most other German speakers find difficult to understand, is the first language for 300,000 Austrians.

The majority of people speak English, especially youth and people in the cities. You’ll likely encounter other foreign languages, such as Italian, French, and Spanish.

What to Pack

As with any place, you should pack clothes for the climate and time of year. Most of Austria has a temperate climate, although western Austria has a wetter Atlantic climate.

In other words, summer afternoons are warm but not sweltering hot. And the beautifully snow winters are an outdoors-lover’s dream. So dress according to the season. Our strategy for clothes was to use layers, because springtime Vienna (and definitely Innsbruck) has chilly mornings and comfortable afternoons.

Packing for gear is much more itinerary-specific. Someone planning on visiting museums and = doing a couple of day hikes won’t need the same equipment as someone hiking the Lynx Trail.

Our 8-day trip included day hikes, and every night we slept in a hotel. This was our packing list:

• Sneakers (wore on the plane)
• Socks, underwear
• Two pairs of easy walking pants
• Shirts for layering: two short-sleeved, two long-sleeved, one thermal
• Sweater
• Rain jacket
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Neck pillow
• Eye shades (these were the only reason I could sleep on the overnight coach seat from Vienna to Innsbruck!)
• GoPro and charger
• Phone and charger
• Noise-cancelling headphones
• Book
• Notebook
• Wallet with credit card and plenty of Euros
• Passport!

How Many Days do I Need?

Honestly, this really depends on how much time you have/want to spend. We were here for 8 days and would have liked to stay longer. There are simply too many elegant towns, exciting hikes, and world-class cultural experiences to get bored.

Cost

There’s no one-size-fits-all budget for visiting Austria. As with anywhere else, factors such as the time of year, preferred activities, and plane ticket make individual budgets widely vary. So it’s no surprise that a Google search for “cost to travel Austria” provides a range from $50 to $200 a day!

We’re not going to tell you a fixed amount to visit Austria. But we will provide tips for keeping the overall price down:

• First, make sure to decide on your MUST-do’s. If it’s a seasonal sport, then obviously that’ll limit your options. Plan with this “must-do” as the centerpiece of your budget, as it’s the least flexible part of your itinerary.
• Remember that flights and hotel stays are more expensive during the more popular months (December-February/March and July-August).
• Consider staying in hostels or pensions instead of hotels. Austria also has plenty of prime camping areas, providing a wonderfully inexpensive way to enjoy the magic of Central Europe!
• Set lunch menus, called Mittagsmenü, are easy to find and cheaper than ordering a la carte.
• Set a price alert on whatever flight search app or site you use.

When to Visit

The most popular times to visit Austria are winter and summertime. These seasons are excellent for enjoying the Alps, historic castles and classical music. But naturally, these are the most expensive times to visit Austria.

If you’re flexible time and activity-wise, consider a “shoulder season” trip such as in May or September. The weather is still good for hiking and mountain biking, and the large tourist attractions are appreciatively not as crowded.

Where to Go and What to do in Austria

Innsbruck

Also read our full article on Innsbruck :)

• Bergisel Ski Jump for extreme sport watching and beautiful views of the Tyrol region.
• Castle Ambras: The world’s oldest museum is right next to Innsbruck and a great short hike from/too Lanser-see.
• Hiking: Innsbruck is surrounded by epic hiking spots. Check out Karwendel Nature Park for perhaps the country’s best trekking (and biking).
• Italian food: After all, Italy’s right next door!
• Mierders alpine coaster: This coaster is open in the warmer months and goes as fast as gravity (and your braking instincts) allow.
• Town of Innsbruck: Take a couple of days to enjoy Maria-Theresien-Strass and some museums, including the Tirol Panorama.

Just outside of innsbruck

Landeck: A cosy Tirolean town near the Venet Skiing Area and with magical hikes along the “Mystic Canyon of Tyrol”.

Pfunds: This village is where Italian, Swiss and Austrian cultures combine for a unique Tyrolean experience. Medieval farmhouses and two ski areas (Kaunertal Glacier and Silvretta Arena) are the main attractions.

Salzberg

• Augustiner Braustubl: Like Naples and its pizzerias, Austria is chock-full of great drinking spots. But this specific beer garden stands out among them all for its size, suds, aura, and age (the brewery is from 1621).
• Festung Hohensalzburg: This is one of Europe’s largest medieval castles, and it sits on a hill overlooking the rest of Salzburg.
• Hiking: Several spectacular hikes combine natural beauty and history. Lake Hallstatt to Rudolf’s Tower is one of Austria’s most picturesque hikes.
• Mirabell Palace: Built in 1606, the palace in Salzburg’s Historic Center is an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Mozart: Arguable the world’s most famous composer, he was born and spent the first part of his life here. Salzberg offers all the Mozart, from visiting his birthplace to attending a concert.

Vienna

Check out our full article on Vienna for more information!

• Food: The capital has a solid international presence, but don’t skip out on schnitzel, goulash, spatzle, or strudel.
• Museumsquartier: A 90,000-square meter plaza that’s home to museums, art shops, and cafes.
• Opera House: At least take a tour (if not go to a show) at one of the world’s most famous opera houses!
• Schonbrunn Palace: Imagine life inside the Hapsburg’s summer retreat or just stroll around acres of royal gardens.
• St. Stephen’s Cathedral: The historic center seems to rotate around this iconic religious and historic symbol.
• Vienna City Hiking Trail (Stadtwanderweg 1): There are plenty of urban and day hikes in the area. This one in the beautiful Beethovengang neighborhood is a tranquil stroll over hills where you can rest and imbibe at the local wineries.

Austria Guide: Conclusion

In Austria one can sample the elegant life of past nobility or chill in classy cafes for hours. And the very next day, you might hike through villages and breezy Alpine forests, all under a clear cerulean sky.

Austria is small enough to make visiting multiple locations in a short trip very realistic. Its quick, punctual public transportation system helps, too. But most importantly for us, the trail systems throughout the Austrian Alps are safe, seemingly infinite, and fantastically breathtaking.