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Introducing Austria

Discover Austria.
Everything we love about Europe, Austria delivers in spades: beautiful and historic cities, opulent imperial palaces, medieval castles, bucolic mountain villages, and of course, the Austrian Alps. As for culture, this is the country that produced Mozart (two museums in Salzburg, his birthplace, are dedicated to the famous composer), and in this music-centric country, you’re never far off from a fine concert hall or opera house.

When is the best time to visit?
Winter sports enthusiasts will want to head to the Alps between December and early May, whereas summer travelers can expect warm but not oppressive heat. This allows for some fine mountain hikes, camping, and boating and swimming excursions to Plansee, Faaker See, and Hallstatter See lakes. If you want to beat the summer tourist crowds and want to enjoy outdoor activities in decent weather, the spring shoulder season of April and May is a good bet.

Where should you go?
For sheer beauty and culture, Vienna rivals any other city in Europe. It’s the former seat of the original Habsburg Dynasty, and Vienna still abounds with regal architecture, including the 1,441-room Schönbrunn Palace. In another baroque palace, the Belvedere, you’ll also find an art museum housing one of Europe’s most valuable collections.

Classical music connoisseurs should head to Wiener Musikverein (home of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra) and Wiener Staatsoper, which produces dozens of operas and ballets throughout the year. If you’re a fan of music history, make a trip to Salzburg and Mozart Geburtshaus in the colorful Aldstadt district. For a ski holiday, visit one of Austria’s many alpine resorts, such as Semmering, many of which offer skiing and snowboarding for all ability levels.

How many days do you need?
You should plan on four or five days to properly enjoy the palaces, concert halls, museums, coffee houses, and tea rooms of Vienna. Even if you do plan a winter or summer holiday outside the capital, you’ll find that it shouldn’t take you very long to get from one location to another. For example, Semmering is just an hour-long drive away from Vienna’s international airport. If you plan to see a lot of the country, you can easily do so in about 10 days.

Austria Travel Insights

See the autumnal leaves in the Austrian Alps in Tyrol in October
Austria in October: Travel Tips, Weather & More

October is fall in Austria and a quiet season in which to visit. That's great news if you're looking for discounted accommodation. There are fun events such as Oktoberfest-like celebrations and film and museum/gallery festivals in the cities. October is also a fun time to head to Alpine villages for a dose of traditional culture, which includes dressed-up cows. Find out more about traveling to Austria in October.

Check out Hundertwasser's architecture in Vienna
Austria in September: Travel Tips, Weather & More

September in Austria is the start of fall, meaning the summer vacationers are mostly gone, but the weather is still pleasing and perfect for outdoor activities. Wineries put on special events in September, the conditions are great for biking and paragliding, and the cities are comfortable for a culturally oriented walking tour. There's lots to see and do in Austria in September.

Salzburg's Old Town lights up with their annual Christmas market
Austria in December: Travel Tips, Weather & More

December is winter in Austria, which means snow, skiing (and other snow sports), and Christmas markets. Short days might impact on sightseeing but there are plenty of museums, galleries, cafes, and other indoor attractions to enjoy. Expect crowds in the ski resorts and bustle in the cities around the festive season. Find out more about traveling to Austria in December below.

Visit the Gloriette Pavilion and Neptune Fountain of the Schönbrunn Palace to see the blossoming flowers
Austria in April: Travel Tips, Weather & More

In between the peak ski and summer seasons, April is the shoulder season for travel to Austria. But with mild temperatures, dry conditions, no snow on the ground, and lower prices, it's a great time to visit. Take a road trip across the relatively small country, enjoy a classical music concert in Mozart's hometown, and shop for Easter treats at a market. Here's more about what you can see and do in Austria in April.

Tour Vienna's cultural attractions, like St. Michael's Square, in November
Austria in November: Travel Tips, Weather & More

November is the end of fall in Austria, and the weather is likely to be cold, damp, and a bit dark. The country doesn't see many visitors this month, but that makes it a great time to get in some early Christmas shopping at a market, relax in a thermal spa in the mountains without the crowds, or go sightseeing in an uncharacteristically quiet month in Salzburg. Read on to find out where to go and what to do in Austria in November.

Pretty spring morning light over famous Hallstatt mountain village in the Austrian Alps
Austria in May: Travel Tips, Weather & More

A month with pleasant weather before the crowds of summer arrive, May is an excellent time to visit Austria, whatever your interests. Attend a food festival in Vienna or a classical music concert in Salzburg; hike into the mountains from Hallstatt or take a motorbike road trip: it's all possible in May. Read on for more ideas for traveling to Austria this spring month.

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Trip Reviews for Austria

The latest reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim

Fantastic trip to Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic
Austria | Aug 21 - Aug 29, 2024

A
Abhijit G.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Sep 10, 2024
This was our first time working with Kimkim. We worked with Mathilde and she did a fantastic job planning this trip for us! We decided to take this trip about a month before the travel date. Mathilde understood the essence of the timing and was extremely responsive and made herself available frequently so we could plan the trip details quickly. The purpose of our trip was to attend a concert in Vienna (Coldplay yay!) and she seamlessly planned our trip around the concert so we could utilize... Read more

This was our first time working with Kimkim. We worked with Mathilde and she did a fantastic job planning this trip for us! We decided to take this trip about a month before the travel date. Mathilde understood the essence of the timing and was extremely responsive and made herself available frequently so we could plan the trip details quickly. The purpose of our trip was to attend a concert in Vienna (Coldplay yay!) and she seamlessly planned our trip around the concert so we could utilize our time effectively to explore the cities as well. She also gave us useful insights on the concert which helped us use our time effectively and that increased our excitement for the concert! During the planning calls, we informed Mathilde that we like to explore cities on our own. She was very responsive and personalized the itinerary further to suit our needs by making a list of attractions we could see at our own pace. The recommendations for each city were excellent!

All the hotels were fantastic and centrally located making it easy to get to the main sights. The breakfast at all the hotels was scrumptious!

The airport transportation was punctual and the providers were excellent. It made airport transfers in a couple of cities very seamless. All the train bookings were handled well and our travel was seamless thanks to all the bookings. We had to reach out to the emergency helpline as we missed a train in Munich (since we couldn't follow the German announcement about a change in platforms at the last minute :( ). The support team was super prompt in getting back to us and checked in on us to ensure we were able to resolve it and get on the next train to our destination. Thank you!

Mathilde personalized the day trips to our preferences and we absolutely loved them. Kimkim's local partners who conducted the day trips were punctual and the guides enthusiastically shared information throughout the trip. It was fun to interact with them and learn about the region. The conversations with the guides made the day trip fun and memorable.

Overall, we absolutely loved working with Kimkim, especially Mathilde. She helped us make the most out of our trip so we could enjoy our concert and also travel around and take in the sights. We also appreciated that Mathilde checked in on us regularly during the trip. Truly a fantastic trip! Definitely look forward to planning the next trip with her soon!

Hotel Reviews
Hilton Munich Airport
Oberding
Authenticity & Character
Modern hotel
Location
Conveniently located at the airport
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Golden Well
Prague

Excellent luxury hotel. Located at the end of a quiet street. Loved it. Excellent on-site restaurant with the best views of Prague.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Theaterhotel & Suites Wien
Wien
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel am Mirabellplatz Salzburg
Salzburg

Clean and comfortable hotel. Breakfast was excellent!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
KING's HOTEL First Class
München
Authenticity & Character
Location
Walking distance from Munich's train station and close to main sights
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
24/7 assistance in case of emergency
24/7 assistance in case of emergency
Austria

Very responsive suport. They gave us suggestions to resolve the issue when we missed our train and checked in on us to ensure we got on the next train to our destination.

Quality of Experience
Český Krumlov: Renaissance & Baroque Pearl of Southern Bohemia
Český Krumlov: Renaissance & Baroque Pearl of Southern Bohemia
Austria

The transport was excellent. The driver was very punctual and the car was comfortable and impeccable. Made the journey very enjoyable. The personalized walking tour in Cesky Krumlov was awesome! The guide shared a lot of insights and booked lunch at a very nice traditional Czech restaurant. She also walked us through the lesser known streets in town which was excellent. Excellent guide, highly recommend working with her.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Welcome to Prague
Welcome to Prague
Prague
Quality of Experience
The Sisi Ticket (3 imperial attractions on 1 ticket!)
The Sisi Ticket (3 imperial attractions on 1 ticket!)
Vienna
Quality of Experience
Welcome to Vienna
Welcome to Vienna
Vienna
Quality of Experience
Hallstatt + Lakes & Mountains District + The Oldest Salt Mine in the world
Hallstatt + Lakes & Mountains District + The Oldest Salt Mine in the world
Salzburg

Guide was excellent. Was punctual and very fun to speak with. Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Munich Walking Tour of the Old Town
Munich Walking Tour of the Old Town
Munich
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Mathilde Dubuisson
Mathilde
Mathilde Dubuisson
Local specialist in Villefranche-sur-Saône | Replied on Sep 11, 2024

Hello Abhijit and Ashwini,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this amazing review. It was a real pleasure to organize this trip for you. I'm happy you enjoyed all the cities and hotels and we could make your trip for Coldplay concert and through Eastern Europe memorable! :D
I wish you all the best and I look forward to hearing from you about your future trips to Europe!
Mathilde

Clem was patient and knowledgeable with plann...
Austria | Aug 22 - Aug 31, 2024

Robyn
Robyn B.
Canada | Reviewed on Sep 01, 2024
Clem was patient and knowledgeable with planning for our trip to Budapest, Vienna and Prague. All events were planned well and clearly marked. We spoke a few times and made sure that our trip included both cultural activities and activities involving nature as well as time for my family to explore on our own. Hotel locations were great. One hotel was in need of renovation and when I told Andrew ( he took care of us while we were abroad and he works w Clem) he apologized, gave our feedback to... Read more

Clem was patient and knowledgeable with planning for our trip to Budapest, Vienna and Prague. All events were planned well and clearly marked. We spoke a few times and made sure that our trip included both cultural activities and activities involving nature as well as time for my family to explore on our own. Hotel locations were great. One hotel was in need of renovation and when I told Andrew ( he took care of us while we were abroad and he works w Clem) he apologized, gave our feedback to the hotel and made sure our subsequent rooms in different cities were lovely.
I was in touch with Andrew for advice a few times along our journey and he was always available and answered promptly. I wouldn’t hesitate to use Kim Kim again to have a knowledgeable guide help with planning and logistics and to lend ground support when needed, while you are abroad. Robyn

Hotel Reviews
Three Corners Downtown Hotel
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Renovation of rooms needed
Hotel Sans Souci Wien
Vienna
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Majestic Plaza Hotel Prague
Prague
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Clemens Sengwein
Clemens
Clemens Sengwein
Local specialist in Vienna | Replied on Sep 02, 2024
Dear Robyn, Thank you so much for your kind words and detailed review! It was a pleasure assisting you in planning your trip to Budapest, Vienna, and Prague. I’m delighted to hear that the itinerary we put together met your expectations and provided a great balance of cultural and nature activities, along with time for your family to explore. I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience with one of the hotels. I’m glad that Andrew was able to step in and ensure the rest of your... Read more

Dear Robyn,

Thank you so much for your kind words and detailed review! It was a pleasure assisting you in planning your trip to Budapest, Vienna, and Prague. I’m delighted to hear that the itinerary we put together met your expectations and provided a great balance of cultural and nature activities, along with time for your family to explore.

I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience with one of the hotels. I’m glad that Andrew was able to step in and ensure the rest of your accommodations were up to standard. We always strive to provide the best possible experience, and your feedback will certainly help us improve.

I’m also happy to hear that Andrew was responsive and supportive throughout your journey. It’s wonderful to know that you felt well taken care of during your travels. If you ever need assistance planning another adventure, don’t hesitate to reach out. It would be a pleasure to help you again.

Safe travels, and all the best to you and your family!

Warm regards,
Clemens

Three weeks in Austria
Austria | Jul 25 - Aug 15, 2024

E
Elizabeth F.
Casa Grande, AZ | Reviewed on Aug 18, 2024
We just arrived back in the USA after three wonderful weeks in Austria. With the help of both Tomaz and Zala, our Austrian assigned travel specialists, we visited Zell Am See, Kitzbuhel, Salzburg, Graz and Vienna. Throughout the stays in the amazing cities we had many day trips and excursions. Thank you Tomaz and Zala! From Zell Am See, our driver / guide David took us along the Grossglockner road and up to the Grossglockner glacier and National Park and down the other side of the... Read more

We just arrived back in the USA after three wonderful weeks in Austria. With the help of both Tomaz and Zala, our Austrian assigned travel specialists, we visited Zell Am See, Kitzbuhel, Salzburg, Graz and Vienna. Throughout the stays in the amazing cities we had many day trips and excursions. Thank you Tomaz and Zala!

From Zell Am See, our driver / guide David took us along the Grossglockner road and up to the Grossglockner glacier and National Park and down the other side of the mountain to Heilegeblut. What a spectacular ride with exquisite views and highly educational at the National Park. David is a wonderful guide as he is from the area and quite knowledgable. Another activity suggested by Tomaz and Zala was the Top of Salzburg which was an amazing adventure taking at least 4 ski lifts / cable cars taking about 1&1/2 hours up to the top of the Kitzhorn. We were up on a glacier and experienced the first ski lift built into a glacier. Again, there is a museum to visit which is informative along with spectacular views. An experience like none other.

In Salzburg, we started our trip in the birthplace of Mozart at an evening Mozart string performance and two opera singers in one of the oldest buildings in Salzburg, dating from the 900's. We highly recommend such an experience in Salzburg. We also enjoyed a walking tour of historic old town Salzburg which helped us improve our understanding of the history and architecture and better directed our sightseeing during our remaining stay. One of the highlights was our visit to the Salt mine (Salzburg means Salt area) near Hallstatt. Along the way our very kind, knowledgeable driver took us through beautiful villages and made stops along the way.

Graz was truly a find and not heavily touristed which is refreshing. From here we did two days of traveling to wine regions with our guide David. Have to say, the Austrian and Slovenian (both Styrian regions) white wines are delicious but not well known. We came away converts and cannot say enough nice words about our guide David as he entertained all our ignorant questions and helped us better understand history and culture.

Vienna was our last stop and a city not to be missed. One of the highlights was a food tour guided by Peter. We knew enough to only have some fruit for breakfast which was a good call as 7 hours later we returned back to the hotel with belts way too tight! We liked one of the stops so much we returned the next evening for our last meal in Vienna before heading back to the USA.

This trip marks our fourth time utilizing KimKim, so clearly we think highly of the company. We very much appreciate being taken care of by a local company / individual and have not been disappointed in the level of service and ideas presented. We will be back for more adventures utilizing KimKim.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Stefanie
Vienna

Hotel Stefanie is the oldest hotel in Vienna, located in the second district so there is a lot of history packed into the hotel, the city and the district. Very easy to walk across the Danube canal right into the historic city center, about a 10 minute walk. And once across the canal, the metro and trams are all available again making it easy to travel around the area. Staff is immaculate and friendly. This is an "old fashion" hotel in that the room keys are gigantic so you give your key to the staff when leaving the hotel. Amazingly, they have it ready for you with a smile on their face upon your return. So, very friendly and helpful staff. The rooms are far from "old fashion" and are well appointed.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Palais-Hotel Erzherzog Johann 4*
Graz

This hotel is right at the one of the main squares of the historic area of Graz and an easy walk to get to the top of the hill overlooking Graz. Staff is friendly and as usual, they all speak multiple languages so will gladly accommodate the visitor. The trams are right out the door so it is easy to travel around the city if your feet are too tired.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel IMLAUER & Bräu
Salzburg

Very convenient location to the train station. An easy walk with luggage. And also very easy walk into the city and the historic old town of Salzburg across the river. The staff is quite friendly and helpful making recommendations on where to eat and the easiest way to walk and begin exploring the city. The hotel has a beer garden attached to the restaurant which is lovely and shaded. Restaurant serves authentic Austrian dishes and the breakfast buffet is extensive.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Schwarzer Adler Kitzbühel
Kitzbühel

This hotel is near the old historic city center and is exquisite. We were greeted with a glass of Prosecco and made to feel as though we were the most important clients. The hotel is exquisite and a wonderful place to unwind and relax with a roof tip pool including great views and a bar.

Authenticity & Character
Beautiful, old historic building.
Location
Easy access to the city center but a taxi is required from the train station.
Staff
We felt right at home and it was hard to leave
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Grüner Baum Zell am See
Zell am See

This hotel is in an excellent location for walking all over the small village of Zell and very convenient to walk to/from the train station with luggage. Rooms are quite spacious and the staff is very friendly.

Authenticity & Character
Typical Tyrolian architecture with a lot of wood and beautiful flowers.
Location
Staff
Big smiles and very friendly. They knew our room number when checking in for breakfast after the first day and think about how many customers they meet daily!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Wachau Valley wine tour
Wachau Valley wine tour
Vienna

If you like wine and tasting and learning about new wines, this is a good day trip. The company limits the size of the group, there were 6 of us on this trip with 2 guides. We drove for about 1 hour outside of Vienna into the Wachau Valley with explanations along the way. We stopped at two wineries total, one before lunch and the second after lunch. Lunch was at a typical Heuriger which was excellent and unexpected. We had wanted to visit a Heuriger but were unsure of how to do this without a car so this solved the issue. After the second wine visit, we boarded a river steamboat and cruised the Danube to Melk, ending with a beautiful view of the Melk Abbey. Then returned to Vienna. A fun filled, delicious day.

Vienna's Sweet and Savory Food Scene
Vienna's Sweet and Savory Food Scene
Vienna

Our guide Peter provided us with both history of Vienna, explained the architecture and also helped us understand the importance of the foods / beverages we were tasting. So, overall a very educational and delicious tour. We spent about 7 hours total which included a lot of walking and the riding the metro into local neighborhoods with no tourists. This was refreshing as we could see everyday life. One of our stops was at a local market which was amazing to the sense for the sounds, sights, and smells. Highly recommend this tour if you like food and history. This company limits the size of the group and there were 8 of us including Peter.

Day trip to Slovenian Styrian region (Ptuj and Maribor) - the oldest vine in the world!
Day trip to Slovenian Styrian region (Ptuj and Maribor) - the oldest vine in the world!
Graz

David took us wine tasting two days in a row. The first day was to the Syrian region of Austria near the Slovenian border. This particular trip was into Slovenia, our first time into the country of Slovenia. Beautiful and picturesque given the steep rocky hills, vines and trees. Delightful wines. And both Maribor with the oldest vine in the world and Ptuj with the castle were beautiful. The wine was an added bonus.

Hallstatt Salt Mine
Hallstatt Salt Mine
Austria

This was an unexpected surprise. The mine is an active mine, still used today and has been in use for about 8,000 years. The old original remains are visible and the history is explained along the way. It is a bit "disneyland" but nonetheless an excellent experience tailored to both children and adults. We had a private driver to get us from Salzburg to the mine and had time to wander around Hallstatt afterwards. Hallstatt is picturesque, just like in the guidebooks. But, very crowded.

Classic Concert in Salzburg with dinner
Classic Concert in Salzburg with dinner
Salzburg

Highly recommend as Salzburg is all about the music and Mozart.

Graz City Tour
Graz

This was a small group tour led by an employee of the Graz Tourist Information office. We recommend this tour as it helps you truly look at the buildings and architecture in a different way and truly see them. Lots of stories and history provided as well as tips on where to stop for ice cream and other delicacies.

Top of Salzburg
Top of Salzburg
Zell Am See

This was a highlight and the experiences was very unanticipated. The day started out cloudy and rainy so we debated going as we were certain the views would not be visible given the clouds. But, one never knows so we boarded the bus to Kaprun, about 10km. Ultimately, we then spent the next 1&1/2 hours traveling via 4 different ski cable cars up to the top of the mountain, the Spitz Einhorn. Miraculously, the clouds went during our transport up the mountainside so we were treated with a preview of outlooks to come and could hear the bells of the cattle below us and the sounds of the mountain streams rushing downhill. At the top of the Spitz Einhorn there is plenty to see and do. Ultimately, an amazing day.

Explore Zell am See on your own
Explore Zell am See on your own
Zell Am See

Started the day with a leisurely boat ride around the lake, approximately 1&1/4 hour. Then, we actually walked around the lake following the walking path. It is about 10 miles total around the lake but there are small little hamlets along the way with restaurants and toilets combined with beautiful views. Spent the remainder of the day wandering the village of Zell am See and having a beer lakeside around 5:30pm.

Local specialist: Tomaz Martinek
Tomaz
Tomaz Martinek
Local specialist in Slovenia | Replied on Sep 16, 2024

Thank you for sharing your fantastic experience in Austria! We're thrilled you enjoyed exploring Austria. It sounds like every part of your trip, from the Grossglockner road to the Salzburg Mozart performance and Graz's hidden gems, was filled with unforgettable moments.

We’re honored to have been a part of your fourth journey with KimKim and delighted our team could provide you with memorable and unique experiences. We look forward to helping you plan many more adventures ahead. Thank you for choosing KimKim, and we hope to see you again soon!