Before you set off for Austria

An overview of what to check before you travel. You will find the details on the individual pages in the Practical advice section.

Documents

Austria is a member of the EU and of the Schengen area, so there are no border checks. You do still need a valid identity card or passport. The rules for entry and for travelling with animals are on oesterreich.gv.at.

On the road

• Motorway vignette – annual €106.80, two-month €32.00, ten-day €12.80, one-day €9.60 (2026).
• Section tolls – some tunnels and mountain roads are paid separately.
• Winter tyres – compulsory from 1 November to 15 April in wintry conditions, with a tread depth of at least 4.0 mm.
• Alcohol – the permitted limit is 0.5 per mille.
• Child seats – compulsory for children under 14 years of age and under 150 cm tall.
• Emergency corridor – compulsory whenever traffic slows on motorways and expressways.

Money

Austria pays in euros. Cash machines accept the usual payment cards.

Season

The high season falls in July, August, Christmas and Easter. Book accommodation and travel well ahead for those dates.