Austria travel guide for Britons

Britons do not need a visa to enter Austria for tourism, business or family visits of up to 90 days in any 180‑day period. From 2026, you will need an ETIAS travel authorisation before you travel; it is not a visa, but a mandatory online application that takes about 20 minutes and costs €7. Apply well before your flight, because the authorisation is linked to your passport number.

For longer stays, work, study or residence, you need a national visa or permit from the Austrian authorities before you arrive. The UK embassy in Vienna can help with emergencies, but it cannot issue Austrian visas.

As a UK citizen, you can enter Austria without a visa for short stays. The rules are part of the Schengen area: you get 90 days of stay within any 180‑day period across all Schengen countries combined, not per country. Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen area and issued within the last ten years.

From 2026, the ETIAS system will require you to apply online before travel. It is valid for three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, and covers multiple entries. The application asks for basic personal and passport details and a small fee. Approval is usually quick, but allow time in case of delays.

At the border, you may be asked to show proof of accommodation, return tickets and sufficient funds for your stay. Keep copies of your booking confirmations and travel insurance details.

The British Embassy in Vienna is the main point of contact for UK citizens in Austria. It can help with lost or stolen passports, arrests, and other emergencies, but it cannot issue Austrian visas or provide legal advice. For consular help, call the embassy or the UK government's 24‑hour consular assistance line.

If you are in a remote area, the embassy can still assist by phone. For non‑urgent matters, use the online contact form. The embassy is located in Vienna; for other regions, the nearest consulate may be in a neighbouring country, but the Vienna embassy covers all of Austria.

A mid‑range trip to Austria costs roughly £80–£120 per person per day, excluding international flights. This covers a mid‑range hotel or guesthouse, meals in restaurants, local transport and a few attractions. Budget travellers can manage on £50–£70 a day with hostels, supermarket meals and free sights; luxury stays and ski resorts push it well above £200 a day.

Flights from the UK to Vienna, Salzburg or Innsbruck typically cost £80–£200 return in low season and £200–£400 in peak season. Rail travel within Austria is efficient; a Vienna–Salzburg train takes about 2.5 hours and costs around £25–£40 if booked in advance. City cards and museum passes can cut costs if you plan to visit several sights.

Tipping is customary: round up or add about 10 % in restaurants, and tip hotel staff and guides a few euros. ATMs are widely available, and credit cards are accepted in most places, but carry some cash for small shops and rural areas.

Direct flights from the UK to Austria operate from London (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton) to Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck, and from Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh to Vienna and Salzburg. Flight time is about 2 to 2.5 hours from London to Vienna, slightly less to Salzburg and Innsbruck.

Budget airlines like Ryanair and easyJet serve Vienna and Salzburg from several UK airports; Austrian Airlines and British Airways fly from London to Vienna. In winter, additional flights serve ski destinations like Innsbruck. Book early for the best prices, especially for December and February half‑term.

From the airport, Vienna's city centre is about 20–25 minutes by train (CAT or S‑Bahn), Salzburg about 20 minutes by bus or train, and Innsbruck about 20 minutes by bus. Taxis are more expensive but convenient for groups.

Austria uses the standard European two‑pin plugs, types C and F, with a voltage of 230 V and a frequency of 50 Hz. UK plugs (type G) do not fit, so bring a travel adapter. Most modern phone chargers and laptops are dual‑voltage, but check the label before using a device rated only for 110–120 V.

You can buy adapters at UK airports or electronics shops, but they are cheaper in advance. If you bring a multi‑country adapter, ensure it supports the European socket type. Power banks are useful for long train journeys.

Tipping is customary but not excessive. In restaurants, round up the bill or add about 10 % and say the total to the server when paying. For example, if the bill is €18.50, say '20' and the server will give change accordingly. Tip taxi drivers by rounding up, and give hotel porters and housekeeping a few euros.

In bars and cafés, rounding up to the nearest euro is common. Tipping is not expected in fast‑food places or self‑service counters. If service is poor, you are not obliged to tip. Credit card payments often allow you to add a tip on the terminal, but cash tips are also fine.

In an emergency, dial 112 for the pan‑European emergency number, which works for police, ambulance and fire. The dedicated numbers are 133 for police, 144 for ambulance, 122 for fire, and 140 for mountain rescue. Operators speak German and often English.

For non‑urgent police matters, use the local police station. If you need consular help, contact the British Embassy in Vienna. Save the emergency numbers in your phone before you travel, and consider downloading the official Austrian emergency app if available.

This page is based on official government and embassy information. For the most current entry rules, check the UK Foreign Travel Advice and the Austrian embassy website before you travel.