Quick facts
Budget breakdown
| Category | Budget | Midrange |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | €18–30 | €70–140 |
| Food | €12–20 | €30–50 |
| Transport | €5–8 | €10–17 |
| Activities | €0–15 | €20–40 |
| Drinks | €5–10 | €15–25 |
| Daily Total | €40–83 | €145–272 |
Daily per-person estimates. Costs vary by season and travel style.
Practical info
Visa & Entry
- Austria is in the Schengen Zone. EU/EEA citizens enter with ID. US, Canadian, Australian citizens get 90 days visa-free
- Vienna Airport (VIE) is 18km from the centre. CAT train (€14.90, 16 min), S7 train (€4.40, 25 min), or Vienna Airport Lines bus (€9.50)
- If arriving by train, Wien Hauptbahnhof (central station) has direct U-Bahn and tram connections to the city centre
Getting Around
- U-Bahn (5 lines), trams, and buses form an excellent network. Single ticket €2.40, 24h pass €8, 72h pass €17.10
- Wiener Linien app or paper tickets from machines at every station. Validate before boarding — inspectors fine €105 on the spot
- Vienna is very walkable. Most attractions in the Innere Stadt (1st district) are within 15 minutes of each other on foot
Connectivity
- A1, Drei (Three), and Magenta offer prepaid SIMs from €10–15 for 5–10GB at the airport or Hartlauer shops
- Free WiFi in most cafes, museums, and public buildings. Wien.at public WiFi hotspots across the city centre
- EU roaming applies for EU residents. Download the Wiener Linien app and Wien Mobil for transit planning
Money
- Austria uses the Euro. Contactless and card payments accepted widely, but some traditional Beisln and markets are cash-only
- ATMs (Bankomat) are everywhere. BAWAG and Erste Bank ATMs have low fees for international cards
- Tipping: round up or add 5–10% at restaurants. Leave small change for coffee. Not expected at counters or market stalls
Health & Safety
- Vienna is consistently ranked the world's most liveable city — extremely safe with low crime. Pickpockets at Stephansplatz and on the U-Bahn
- Tap water is excellent — it comes from Alpine springs and is genuinely delicious. Carry a refillable bottle
- Pharmacies (Apotheke) have green cross signs. 24-hour pharmacy at Schwedenplatz. Emergency: 144 (ambulance), 112 (EU emergency)
Packing Tips
- Layers are essential — mornings cool, afternoons warm, evenings crisp. Winter can hit -5°C; summer reaches 30°C+
- Smart casual opens doors in Vienna — locals dress well. A nice outfit for a coffee house visit goes a long way
- Comfortable walking shoes for cobblestones. An umbrella for spring showers. Sunscreen for summer terraces
Cultural tips
Coffee House Culture
Viennese coffee houses are UNESCO-listed cultural heritage. You're expected to linger for hours over a single Melange. Never rush, never ask for the bill — they bring it when you signal.
Classical Music
Standing tickets at the Staatsoper cost €4–15 and go on sale 80 minutes before curtain. Dress code is relaxed for standing room. Musikverein standing room starts at €6.
Greetings & Formality
Austrians are formal — say "Grüss Gott" (greetings) when entering shops and "Auf Wiedersehen" when leaving. Use "Herr" and "Frau" with surnames until invited to use first names.
Sachertorte Protocol
The Sacher vs Demel Sachertorte debate has raged since 1832. Order it "mit Schlag" (with whipped cream). Eating it without cream is considered incomplete by Viennese standards.
Jaywalking & Order
Do not jaywalk — Viennese wait for green pedestrian lights even on empty streets. Also, stand right on escalators (left for walking). These are taken seriously.
Smoking Culture
Austria banned indoor smoking in restaurants in 2019, but outdoor terraces and some bars still have smoky areas. Heurigen gardens are blissfully smoke-free.
