Do US, UK, Canadian, Australian, or Japanese citizens need a visa for Austria in 2026?
No visa is required for tourist stays up to 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area (which includes Austria). Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure date from the Schengen zone and issued within the past 10 years.
Should I book ÖBB Railjet or Westbahn between Vienna and Salzburg?
Both take ~2 hours 25 minutes. Choose ÖBB Railjet if you are departing directly from Vienna International Airport (VIE) or Wien Hauptbahnhof, or connecting onward to Hallstatt/Graz/Klagenfurt. Choose Westbahn if you are staying near Wien Westbahnhof (Mariahilfer Straße) or want flexible hop-on/hop-off double-decker seating.
Is the 1-Day or 10-Day Austrian Digital Vignette valid immediately when bought online?
Yes! The 1-Day (€9.30) and 10-Day (€12.40) digital Vignettes can be set to start immediately when purchased through the official ASFINAG toll shop or at border ADAC/ÖAMTC kiosks. Note that 2-Month and Annual digital Vignettes bought online by private consumers still have an 18-day consumer-withdrawal waiting period unless bought at a physical kiosk or registered as a business customer.
What currency does Austria use and how do you tip in Austrian restaurants?
Austria uses the Euro (€ EUR). In restaurants, cafés, and taxis, rounding up the bill by 5% to 10% ('Aufrunden') directly when paying the server is standard—tell the waiter the total amount you want charged before they tap your card or hand back change.
What is the minimum purchase for a Tax-Free VAT refund in Austria?
Non-EU residents can claim a VAT (Mehrwertsteuer / MWSt, 20% standard rate) refund when a single same-day store receipt exceeds €75.01.
Are supermarkets and shops open on Sundays in Austria?
No. Almost all retail shops and supermarkets across Austria close on Sundays and public holidays, and close at 18:00 on Saturdays. For Sunday groceries, use supermarkets located inside major ÖBB train stations (Wien Hbf, Wien Westbahnhof, Wien Praterstern, Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof, Salzburg Hbf, Innsbruck Hbf, Graz Hbf) and airports.
Are Austrian thermal spa saunas textile-free?
Yes. While thermal swimming pools require standard swimwear, the dedicated sauna and steam-room zones (Saunawelt) in Austrian thermal spas are strictly swimsuit-free ('Textilfrei') for hygiene reasons: wrap yourself in a large sauna towel and always place a towel beneath your entire body, including your feet, on wooden benches.
What power plugs and voltage are used in Austria?
Austria uses Type C and Type F (Schuko) two-round-pin sockets at 230V and 50Hz—identical to Germany, France, Spain, and the Netherlands.