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Travel to Austria
Flying to Austria
Vienna International Airport (VIE), around 18km (11 miles) southeast of central Vienna, is Austria's principal international gateway and the country's largest airport. It has extensive connections across Europe as well as direct services to destinations in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and North America. Austrian Airlines, the national carrier, uses Vienna as its main hub, while numerous European and international airlines also serve the airport.
Vienna Airport has excellent onward transport connections. ÖBB Railjet trains link the airport directly with Vienna Hauptbahnhof and continue to cities including St Pölten, Linz, Salzburg and Innsbruck. Vienna Hauptbahnhof is about 15 minutes from the airport by Railjet, while the S7 suburban train and City Airport Train (CAT) provide additional connections into Vienna.
Salzburg Airport (SZG) is Austria's second-largest international airport and is particularly useful for visitors heading to Salzburg and the surrounding Alpine regions. Innsbruck Airport (INN) serves Tirol and is especially busy during the winter ski season. Graz (GRZ), Linz (LNZ) and Klagenfurt (KLU) also handle international and regional services.
Flight times:
From London to Vienna: approximately 2 hours 15 minutes (direct).
Airport guides
Airport Code: VIE. Location: Vienna International Airport is located 16km (10 miles) southeast of Vienna. Money: Banks and foreign exchange services are available in the departures and public areas of the... Read more
Airport Code: SZG. Location: Salzburg Airport is located 4km (2.5 miles) west of Salzburg city centre, and 2km (1.2 miles) east... Money: There is a bank in the Terminal 1 as well as various ATMs at Salzburg Airport. Read more
Airport Code: INN. Location: Innsbruck Airport is located 5km (3 miles) to the west of Innsbruck. Money: There is an ATM in the arrivals area. Read more
Airport Code: GRZ. Location: The airport is located 9km (5.5 miles) south of Graz city centre. Money: A bank is open Mon-Fri, and an ATM service is available. Read more
Airport Code: LNZ. Location: The airport is located 13 km (8.1 miles) southwest of central Linz. Money: A bank counter is open from 0830-1200, and an ATM is also available within the terminal. Read more
Travel by rail
Austria has one of Europe's most extensive international rail networks, with frequent trains linking Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Graz and other Austrian cities with neighbouring countries. ÖBB, the national railway operator, runs Railjet, EuroCity and Nightjet services, supplemented by trains operated by neighbouring European rail companies.
Vienna has particularly frequent international connections. Direct trains link the capital with cities including Budapest, Prague, Bratislava and Munich, while services also operate to destinations in Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Slovenia and other parts of Central Europe. Salzburg and Innsbruck have particularly good connections with Germany, Switzerland and Italy, while Graz provides useful links towards Slovenia and Italy.
ÖBB Nightjet operates overnight trains between Austria and several major European cities. Depending on the route, these offer seats, couchettes and sleeping compartments and can be a convenient alternative to flying for longer journeys.
Vienna Hauptbahnhof is the country's principal international rail hub. Salzburg Hauptbahnhof, Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof and Graz Hauptbahnhof are also important interchange stations for cross-border services. As Austria and all its neighbouring countries are within the Schengen Area, international rail journeys generally operate without routine passport controls, although travellers should carry valid identification.
Rail passes:
Austria is covered by Eurail and Interrail passes. Passes are valid on most ÖBB services and many international trains, although reservations or supplements may be required on some night trains and other international services.
Driving to Austria
Austria shares borders with Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Its central position makes road travel from neighbouring countries straightforward, with an extensive motorway and main-road network connecting Austria with the rest of Central Europe.
Austria is part of the Schengen Area, as are all eight of its neighbouring countries. Travellers therefore normally cross these borders without routine immigration checks, although temporary border controls can be introduced and travellers should carry valid travel documents.
Major international road routes include the A1 between Vienna, Linz and Salzburg towards Germany; the A2 from Vienna through Graz towards Italy and Slovenia; the A4 from Vienna towards Hungary; and the A12 through Tirol towards Germany and western Austria. The Brenner route between Innsbruck and northern Italy is one of the principal road crossings through the Alps.
A motorway vignette is required for most cars and motorcycles using Austria's motorways and expressways. Certain Alpine routes, tunnels and mountain passes carry additional tolls. Heavy traffic can occur on major transit routes during summer holidays and winter ski weekends.
Getting to Austria by boat
The Danube provides Austria's principal international passenger waterway. Scheduled and seasonal boat services operate along parts of the river, particularly between Vienna and Bratislava in neighbouring Slovakia. Most other international passenger travel on the Danube is associated with river cruises rather than regular transport.
Cruise ships:
Vienna is a major stop on Danube river cruises travelling through Central and Southeast Europe. Typical itineraries link Austria with Germany, Slovakia, Hungary and destinations farther downstream, including Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria. Linz, Melk, Dürnstein and other Austrian towns along the Danube are also included on many cruise itineraries.
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