Austria Visa Requirements
For 🇺🇸 United States passport holders
Great news! United States passport holders can enter Austria without a visa for tourism or business purposes. You can stay up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
US citizens can visit Austria and Schengen Area for up to 90 days within any 180-day period without a visa. ETIAS required from 2025.
Entry Requirements
Passport Validity
6 months beyond stay
Blank Pages
2 page(s) required
Multiple Entry
Allowed
Work Permitted
No - requires work visa
Entry Conditions
Valid passport for 3+ months beyond stay. Proof of accommodation, return ticket, sufficient funds.
Travel Essentials
Health & Safety
Vaccinations
Routine vaccines (MMR, Tetanus, COVID-19). Tick-borne encephalitis for outdoor activities.
Tap Water
Safe to drink
Safety Tips
Austria is extremely safe - one of Europe's safest countries. Crime rates are very low. Normal urban awareness applies in tourist areas. Mountain safety is important if skiing or hiking - conditions can change rapidly and avalanche risk exists in some areas.
Money & Costs
Daily Budget (USD)
Cards & ATMs
Cards accepted most places. Some prefer cash.
Tipping
Tipping is appreciated but amounts are modest. In restaurants, 5-10% is standard - tell the server what you want to pay (e.g., "Machen Sie 20" if the bill is €18). Don't leave money on the table. Hotel porters expect €1-2 per bag. Taxi drivers appreciate rounding up.
Practical Info
Emergency Numbers
Emergency: 112
Police: 133
Ambulance: 144
Fire: 122
Getting There
Main Airports
- Vienna VIE
Airport Transfers
Vienna Schwechat (VIE): CAT (City Airport Train) to Wien Mitte (€12, 16 minutes). S-Bahn to center (€4.20, 25 minutes). Taxi €40-50. Salzburg (SZG): Bus 2 to center (€3, 25 minutes). Taxi €18-25. Innsbruck (INN): Bus F to center (€3, 18 minutes). Taxi €15-20.
Local Transport
Vienna has excellent U-Bahn, trams, and buses. ÖBB trains connect all major cities efficiently - the Railjet is fast and comfortable. Ski resorts have excellent lift networks. Buses fill gaps. Austrian rail passes offer good value for multi-day travel.
Culture & Travel Tips
Best Time to Visit
April-October for sightseeing. December for Christmas markets. December-March for skiing.
Cultural Notes
Austrians are formal until they know you - use "Sie" (formal you) unless invited to use "du." Greetings like "Grüß Gott" (God greet you) are standard. Classical music is a point of national pride. Coffee houses are social institutions with specific etiquette. Alpine traditions remain strong outside Vienna.
Insider Tips
Book opera, concert, and popular attraction tickets well in advance. Austrian coffee house culture is UNESCO-recognized - sit, order a mélange, and linger with a newspaper. Tipping is easy - just tell the server what you want to pay. The Vienna Card offers good public transport and attraction deals. Skiing is world-class December through March.
Dress Code
Smart casual. Formal for opera/concerts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do US citizens need a visa to visit Austria?
No, US citizens can visit Austria and other Schengen Area countries for up to 90 days within any 180-day period without a visa. Starting in 2025, travelers will need ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) authorization, which costs €7 and is valid for 3 years. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen Area. Austria is a full Schengen member, so your 90-day limit applies to all Schengen countries combined, not just Austria.
What is Vienna known for and what should I see?
Vienna is renowned for its imperial heritage, classical music, and café culture. Must-see attractions include Schönbrunn Palace (the summer residence of the Habsburgs with stunning gardens), the Hofburg Palace (imperial winter residence, now museums), St. Stephen's Cathedral, and the Kunsthistorisches Museum (art history museum with works by Bruegel, Vermeer, and more). Vienna's coffee house culture is UNESCO-recognized; experience traditional cafés like Café Central or Demel. For music lovers, catch performances at the State Opera or Musikverein. The Naschmarkt offers food and flea markets. Don't miss Viennese pastries: Sachertorte, Apfelstrudel, and Kaiserschmarrn.
How do I get around Austria and to neighboring countries?
Austria has excellent public transportation. The ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways) connects major cities efficiently; high-speed Railjet trains link Vienna to Salzburg in about 2.5 hours. Vienna's public transit (U-Bahn, tram, bus) is comprehensive; buy a Vienna Card for unlimited travel plus museum discounts. Salzburg and other cities have efficient local transit. Within the Schengen Area, there are no border controls, so trains and buses travel freely to Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and other neighbors. For Alpine destinations, consider renting a car to access scenic mountain routes and smaller villages not well-served by public transit.