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Weather & climate
Weather in Austria
Austria
18°
Overcast
Thu
13°
18°
Fri
13°
22°
Sat
11°
20°
Sun
11°
20°
Mon
9°
14°
Tue
6°
13°
Wed
7°
14°
SPF level in Austria
Recommended: SPF 50
Spring
SPF 30
Summer
SPF 50
Autumn
SPF 30
Winter
SPF 15
Suncream is often more expensive in tourist zones. Pack your preferred SPF from the UK, especially for beach holidays. Always carry travel-size (100ml max) for hand luggage.
Before you go
Entry requirements for Austria
What British travellers need to know
You can stay in Austria without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period for tourism, visiting, business, or short-term study.
Your passport must be issued less than 10 years before the date you arrive and must expire at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area.
Be ready to show proof of your accommodation booking, travel insurance, a return or onward ticket, and that you have enough money for your stay.
Until the new Entry/Exit System is fully in place, ensure your passport is stamped on entry and exit to prove you are within the 90-day limit.
You may need to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photo, at the border when you first enter the Schengen area, which may cause longer waits.
Good to know:
You cannot take meat, milk, or products containing them into Austria, with exceptions for certain baby foods, medical foods, or pet feed.
You must declare any cash or travellers cheques you are carrying if the total value is 10,000 euros or more.
Safety in Austria
Tips when travelling
Austria is tourist-friendly but has some key cultural and legal rules:
Keep your belongings secure in crowded city centres and on public transport, especially at night when pickpocketing is more common.
Be careful about accepting drinks from strangers or leaving your drink unattended due to risks of drink spiking, robbery, and assault.
You must validate your public transport ticket in a ticket machine before starting your journey to avoid an on-the-spot fine.
Using cannabis or other illegal drugs can result in severe penalties, including long jail sentences and heavy fines.
Wearing any clothing or object in public that covers your face is generally illegal and can lead to a fine of up to 150 euros.
Bonus tips:
Always carry a copy of the photo page of your passport as official ID is required and a UK driving licence is not accepted.
All vehicles on motorways must display a valid toll vignette inside the windscreen to avoid fines.
More information
Driving in Austria
A UK driving license is valid in Austria. Consider an International Driving Permit if your license does not have a photo.
Side of road
right
Motorway speed limit
130 km/h
Urban speed limit
50 km/h
Alcohol limit
0.05%
Remember: Austria drives on the right. Take extra care at junctions if you normally drive on the left.
Health in Austria
As a UK resident, you can use a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for state healthcare in Austria. However, it's still recommended to have comprehensive travel insurance for medical emergencies, repatriation, and other unforeseen events. Make sure your insurance covers winter sports if you plan to ski or snowboard.
No specific vaccinations are required for entry into Austria from the UK. However, it's always wise to be up-to-date on routine vaccinations like measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, and polio. Discuss your travel plans with your doctor to determine if any additional vaccinations or precautions are recommended based on your individual health and activities.
Cards & payments
Widely accepted, especially in larger establishments and tourist areas.
Visa
High
Mastercard
High
American Express
Medium
Lost card? Call Visa: +1-303-967-1096
Tipping in Austria
Tipping is customary in Austria for good service. While not mandatory, it's a common way to show appreciation.
Restaurant
5-10% of the bill
Bar/Café
Round up the bill or 5-10% for table service
Taxi
Round up the fare or 5-10%
Hotel Porter
1-2 EUR per bag
Hotel Housekeeper
1-2 EUR per night, left at the end of your stay
Tour Guide
5-10 EUR per person for a good tour
Mobile & roaming
Since Brexit, the guarantee of EU roaming without extra charges no longer applies. Check with your mobile provider for their roaming policy in Austria. Some providers may still offer inclusive roaming, while others might charge extra. Consider local SIM if roaming charges are high.
Local SIM
10 GB for 20 EUR (~£17)
Network coverage
4G, 5G
Electrical in Austria
Voltage
230V / 50Hz
Plug types
Type C, Type F
WiFi & internet
Widely available in hotels, cafes, restaurants and public spaces.
Average speed
50 Mbps
Wi-Fi is readily accessible, especially in urban areas. Many hotels and eateries offer free Wi-Fi to customers.
Emergency numbers
Universal emergency
112
Police
133
Ambulance
144
Fire
122
Save 112 in your phone before travelling.
Calling Austria
Country code
+43
To call a Vienna number (e.g., 01 1234567) from the UK, you would dial 00 43 1 1234567.
The country code for Austria is 43. The international access code from Austria is 00.
UK Embassy
Recent updates
Entry requirements
6 days ago
Passport Validity
- Passports issued before 1 October 2018 may now be explicitly 'invalid for entry to the Schengen area' if the date of issue is more than 10 years ago.
Entry-Exit System (EES)
- The Entry-Exit System (EES) is now 'being implemented across the Schengen area' rather than 'being rolled out in a phased way' with a full operation date of 10 April 2026.
- The EES is now described as 'replacing the previous system of manually stamping passports', rather than this being a future state after full roll-out.
Frequently asked questions
While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, AtoBeach cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies. We recommend verifying details with official sources before travelling.