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Quick Answer
At a glance
- Best time
- May–Jun, Sep; Nov–Dec markets; Dec–Mar ski
- Time needed
- 7 to 10 days
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Language
- German
- From the airport
- Vienna International (Schwechat): S7 S-Bahn to Wien Mitte, ~25 min
- Visa
- Schengen area rules apply
- Getting around
- ÖBB Railjet; vignette for motorways
Austria is two countries in one: the flat, continental east around Vienna, and the Alps in the west, where Salzburg and Innsbruck sit in mountain valleys. The month you pick decides whether you get palace gardens, Christmas markets or ski slopes. Every date and price below was checked on 4 October 2026.
The best time to visit Austria, month by month
Temperatures are GeoSphere Austria’s 1991-2020 normals for Wien Innere Stadt (Vienna’s city centre) and Innsbruck Universität (the Alpine west).
| Month | Vienna high / low (°C) | Innsbruck high / low (°C) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4.2 / -0.1 | 4.4 / -3.1 | Skiing, museums, the Vienna ice rink |
| February | 7.0 / 1.1 | 8.0 / -2.2 | Skiing, quiet cities |
| March | 11.0 / 4.0 | 12.5 / 1.4 | Spring skiing high up, city breaks |
| April | 17.4 / 8.6 | 17.4 / 5.1 | Palace gardens, Easter |
| May | 21.1 / 12.3 | 21.1 / 9.0 | Cities and lakes before summer |
| June | 25.7 / 16.4 | 25.0 / 12.7 | Hiking, lakes, long evenings |
| July | 26.9 / 17.7 | 25.7 / 13.8 | Lakes, high Alpine hikes; busiest month |
| August | 26.6 / 17.5 | 25.2 / 13.6 | Lakes; wettest month in Innsbruck |
| September | 21.6 / 13.8 | 21.3 / 10.3 | The best all-round month |
| October | 15.0 / 8.9 | 15.9 / 6.0 | Autumn colours, glacier skiing starts |
| November | 9.5 / 5.0 | 9.7 / 1.5 | Christmas markets from 6 and 13 November |
| December | 4.7 / 0.7 | 4.5 / -2.2 | Christmas markets, ski season starts |
The two climates differ most in rain and night-time cold. Innsbruck gets roughly 115 to 140 mm of rain a month in June, July and August, against about 74 to 82 mm in Vienna, and its winter nights run about 3°C colder.
Top Cities to Explore
Austria by trip type
Christmas markets (mid-November to early January)
Austria’s markets run past Christmas, which German ones mostly do not. In Vienna, the Vienna Tourist Board lists the Rathausplatz market from 13 November to 26 December 2026, Schönbrunn Palace from 6 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, and the Rathausplatz ice rink until 6 January 2027. The catch is that Spittelberg, Freyung, Am Hof and Karlsplatz all close on 23 December. The markets are about crafts, lights, music, hot chocolate and roasted chestnuts; dress for long evenings outdoors with a packable down jacket and waterproof winter boots.
Vienna is the obvious base and the most efficient one: more than a dozen markets in one city, all on the U-Bahn. Our Vienna guide has every 2026 date and opening hour, and the Christmas markets 2026 guide compares Vienna with Prague, Budapest and the German markets. Many travellers link Prague, Vienna and Budapest by train: see Christmas markets by train.
Ski season (December to April)
The Austrian National Tourist Office says most ski resorts open between late November and mid-December, depending on snow, with many opening on 4 and 5 December 2026. The glaciers run much longer: Hintertux from September and Pitztal from September, Stubai, Kaunertal and Kitzsteinhorn from October, and Hintertux and the Mölltal Glacier until June, all snow permitting. January to March is the reliable core of the season. Pack a thermal base layer: Innsbruck averages January lows around minus 3°C in the valley, and the slopes are colder.
Summer (June to September)
Summer is lake and hiking season in the Alps and the warmest time in Vienna, with highs around 26 to 27°C in July and August. It is also the wettest stretch in the west, often as afternoon thunderstorms, so start mountain walks early. September keeps the warmth with fewer people.
How much does a day in Austria cost?
Austria is not a budget destination, but its transport passes and big sights have clear published prices.
| Item (2026) | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Vienna 24-hour public transport ticket | from 9.70 euros | Wiener Linien |
| Vienna 7-day ticket | from 25.20 euros | Wiener Linien |
| Schönbrunn Palace, Palace Ticket | 42 euros (adult) | Schönbrunn Palace |
| ÖBB Sparschiene within Austria | from 9.90 euros (2nd class) | ÖBB |
| 10-day motorway vignette | 12.80 euros | ASFINAG |
Rooms are the biggest cost, and Vienna’s climb steeply from the first Advent weekend. Price a midweek stay against a weekend one, and see the cheapest European countries to visit if Austria stretches your budget.
Getting around Austria
Entry rules, money and staying connected
Entry: Austria is in the Schengen area, so non-EU visitors count their days under the Schengen 90/180 rule. The EU’s biometric Entry/Exit System registers non-EU travellers at the external border; our EES and ETIAS guide explains what to expect and the status of ETIAS.
Money: Austria uses the euro. Cards and contactless payments are widely accepted, but keep a little cash for small market stalls. When a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and pay in euros.
Data: a travel eSIM gets you online on landing; see the best eSIM for Europe.
- Activate before you fly: data works on arrival
- Plans for 200+ countries from a few dollars
- Keep your number; no physical SIM swap
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best month to visit Austria?
September is the best all-round month: Vienna averages highs of about 22°C and Innsbruck about 21°C, according to GeoSphere Austria’s 1991-2020 normals, with summer crowds gone. May and June are close behind. For Christmas markets go from mid-November to 23 December, and for skiing from mid-December to March.
When do the Christmas markets in Austria open in 2026?
Vienna’s markets open first: Schönbrunn Palace and Stephansplatz on 6 November 2026, the Rathausplatz market on 13 November. Rathausplatz runs to 26 December and Schönbrunn to 6 January 2027, according to the Vienna Tourist Board. Several smaller Vienna markets close on 23 December, so late-December trips have fewer to choose from.
When is ski season in Austria?
Most Austrian ski resorts open between late November and mid-December, depending on snow, according to the Austrian National Tourist Office. Glacier areas such as Hintertux, Stubai and Sölden open from late September or October and run to May or June, snow permitting. January to March is the most reliable stretch for snow at resort level.
How cold is Austria in winter?
In December and January, Vienna’s city centre averages highs of about 4 to 5°C and lows around 0°C. Innsbruck, in the Alpine Inn valley, is colder at night, with January lows around minus 3°C. Mountain resorts are much colder again, so pack thermal layers and waterproof boots for any winter trip.
Do I need a vignette to drive in Austria?
Yes. Cars need a vignette on Austrian motorways and expressways. ASFINAG’s 2026 prices are 9.60 euros for one day, 12.80 euros for ten days, 32 euros for two months and 106.80 euros for a year. Two-month and annual vignettes bought online are only valid from the 18th day after purchase; one-day and ten-day ones can start immediately in the ASFINAG shop.
What currency does Austria use, and are cards accepted?
Austria uses the euro. Cards and contactless payments are widely accepted in shops, hotels, museums and on public transport, but carry a little cash for small market stalls. If a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and pay in euros: the conversion rate it applies is usually worse.
Start planning your Austria trip
Pick the season first, then the base: Vienna for markets and museums, Salzburg or Innsbruck for the Alps. For the coldest months, our where to go in November and where to go in December guides compare Austria with the rest of Europe.
