Cost To Visit Austria: Travel Budget Guide (2026)

There are many things that can affect the cost of your trip to Austria—when you go and what type of traveler you are will also play a part. This guide breaks down the basics of what you can expect to spend when visiting Austria, so you can plan your travel budget.

Austria uses the euro (EUR). Prices have been converted from EUR and are only shown in $ (USD) for ease of use for our U.S. audience.

Is Austria expensive to visit?

Austria is typically more expensive than most U.S. vacation destinations, mainly due to hotel pricing in Vienna and popular Alpine areas and the cost of touring (concerts, palace tickets, ski-related expenses).

Within Central Europe, Austria is often considered moderate to expensive, especially compared to cheaper neighbors, but it’s usually less expensive than Switzerland.

Austria is usually moderate to expensive on the ground, depending on your itinerary:

• Vienna and top Alpine resort towns can feel pricey for hotels and dining.
• Smaller cities and lake regions can be more manageable—especially if you book early.
• Many “must-dos” are paid (palaces, concerts, scenic funiculars), but public transit is efficient and helps control costs.

Austria Vacation Costs

Below is a detailed expense breakdown for accommodations, food, transportation, and attractions—followed by day trip costs and realistic daily/weekly budgets.

Avg. Accommodation Cost

Peak

• Budget Travelers: $90–$160 per night
• Mid-Range Travelers: $180–$320 per night
• Luxury Travelers: $450–$1,100+ per night

Shoulder-Season

• Budget Travelers: $80–$145
• Mid-Range Travelers: $160–$290
• Luxury Travelers: $410–$950+

Off-Season

• Budget Travelers: $70–$130
• Mid-Range Travelers: $145–$260
• Luxury Travelers: $360–$820+

Austria Tip: Vienna and famous Alpine bases tend to be higher; smaller cities can offer noticeably better value.

Food Cost

Budget Travelers

• Breakfast: $6–$14
• Lunch: $12–$20
• Dinner: $18–$32

Mid-Range Travelers

• Breakfast: $14–$24
• Lunch: $20–$35
• Dinner: $45–$85

Luxury Travelers

• Breakfast: $24–$40
• Lunch: $35–$65
• Dinner: $110–$240+

Easy Savings: bakeries for breakfast, supermarkets for simple lunches, then a few memorable dinners out.

Transportation Cost

Vienna Airport (VIE) → City Center

• Train/City Airport Train options: $5–$18
• Taxi: $40–$70
• Private transfer: $90–$180+

Getting around Vienna (and other cities)

• Public transit single rides: $2.50–$4
• Day/short-term passes: $10–$25 (varies by duration)
• Taxi / rideshare (short rides): $10–$20
• Taxi / rideshare (longer rides): $20–$45+

Trains between major cities (very common)

• Vienna ↔ Salzburg: $40–$120 round trip (booking affects price)
• Vienna ↔ Innsbruck: $60–$160 round trip
• Vienna ↔ Graz: $25–$70 round trip
• Salzburg ↔ Hallstatt area: $30–$70 round trip (train + bus/ferry)

Car rental (best for lakes + Alps, but not required for cities)

• Compact car:
  • Off-Season: $45–$80/day
  • Shoulder: $55–$95/day
  • Peak: $75–$130+/day
• Fuel + parking (typical daily): $15–$40
• Vignettes/tolls (route-dependent): $10–$25+

Private driver

• Half-day: $180–$320+
• Full day: $300–$550+

Attractions

• Schönbrunn Palace: $25–$45+ (ticket type varies)
• Hofburg / Sisi Museum areas: $15–$25
• Belvedere Palace (Klimt): $18–$25
• Vienna classical concert (varies widely): $35–$200+
• Vienna museums (major): $15–$22
• Salzburg old town: free (some museums extra)
• Mozart-related attractions (Salzburg): $12–$20
• Hallstatt viewpoints / salt mine (varies): $10–$45+
• Alpine cable cars / funiculars: $20–$65+
• Hiking/viewpoints: free (transport extra)

Day Trip Costs

Daily Budget

Weekly Budget (7 Days)

Austria Flight Cost

Flight cost depends on where you’re departing from, the season, and the airline. Major international airports will have cheaper flights than smaller airports. Most U.S. travelers fly into Vienna International Airport (VIE).

Average round-trip flight ranges from the U.S.:

• Peak: $650–$1,200
• Shoulder: $550–$1,050
• Off-Season: $450–$900

You can save money on flights by signing up for cheap flight alerts from Jetsetter Alerts.

Austria Travel Seasons

Peak Season

Austria’s peak travel season is June–August for Vienna and the most popular Alpine and lake regions (think Salzkammergut and the big mountain bases), when demand is highest and centrally located hotels book up fast; there’s also a second peak in late December–February in ski areas, with the biggest price spikes around Christmas/New Year and school holiday weeks.

Shoulder-Season

Austria’s shoulder season is April–May and September–October, and it’s often the best value—Vienna and Salzburg are usually easier on your wallet than summer, the Alps are still great for scenic drives and hikes, and you’ll typically see fewer crowds than peak months.

Off-Season

Austria’s off-season is November–March for many cities, when hotels can be at their lowest (outside of holiday weeks), but Alpine ski towns don’t follow the same pattern—they can be most expensive from late December–February when winter sports are in full swing.