Culture guide
Vienna · Austria
Austria Travel Guide
The Austria guide: Vienna, Salzburg, the lakes and the schnitzel.
7 min read · 5 days · Updated September 12, 2026
- austria
- travel guide
- Destination
- Vienna, Austria
- Duration
- 5 days
- Best time
- Apr-May
- Style
- Culture · Food · History
- Daily budget
- 140 USD
Austria is the imperial-and-alpine country: Vienna's palaces, cafés and concert halls; Salzburg's Mozart-and-hills postcard; the Salzkammergut's lakes; and the Tyrol's peaks. Planning figures: Vienna ~€110/day, Salzburg ~€120.
The classic route: Vienna (3) → Salzburg (2) by the scenic rail, with the lakes as the add-on.
What this guide covers
Vienna & Salzburg
East to west by rail.
Day 1
Vienna — the Ring
The Hofburg, St Stephen's, the café hour.
Day 2
Vienna — Schönbrunn
The palace, the gardens, the concert night.
Day 3
Vienna — Klimt
The Belvedere; the Prater.
Day 4
Rail to Salzburg
The fortress and Getreidegasse.
Day 5
The lakes & farewell
Hallstatt or the Salzkammergut; SZG or VIE.
Where to Go
Vienna covers the Hofburg, Schönbrunn, the Belvedere's Klimt and the café hours. Salzburg adds the fortress, the Mozart houses and the Sound of Music geography. Hallstatt and the lakes complete the postcard.
- Classic: Vienna 3 → Salzburg 2 → Hallstatt 1.
- Alps: Innsbruck 2 → the Tyrol villages 3.
The Café Institution
The Viennese coffee house is UNESCO-listed culture: Sachertorte at Sperl or Central, Apfelstrudel Demel-adjacent, newspapers on wooden holders. Budget one per day, minimum.
What to know before you go
Money
- Vienna ~€110/day, Salzburg ~€120.
- Staatsoper standing tickets from €13.
When
- April–June and September–October are ideal.
- December's Christkindlmärkte are the musical-alternative season.
Turn this guide into a trip
The trip planner opens pre-filled with Vienna — adjust the dates and interests to fit your trip.
Plan around this destination
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Ready-made trips
Frequently asked questions
Vienna or Salzburg?
Vienna — the deeper city. Salzburg is the two-day postcard and the lakes.
Is Austria expensive?
Mid-priced: €110–120/day, with the café culture doing heavy value.
How many days for Austria?
Five days does Vienna and Salzburg; a week adds the lakes and the Alps.