Austria Itinerary: 5, 7 and 10 Days Through Vienna, Salzburg, Hallstatt and Innsbruck

A first trip to Austria fits three plans: 5 days for Vienna, Salzburg and Hallstatt, 7 days with Innsbruck and the Alps added, and 10 days if you continue to Switzerland or a neighbouring country. ÖBB states that the Railjet Xpress runs twice an hour without changes from Wien Hauptbahnhof to Salzburg Hauptbahnhof, which makes it the backbone of every route.

How many days do you need in Austria?

Five days is enough for the three main stops, while 7 and 10 days let you slow down or extend the route. The table summarises how to split the days.

What does the 5-day route look like?

The 5-day route starts in Vienna, continues to Salzburg and ends in Hallstatt.

1. 1Days 1-2: WenenSchönbrunn Palace and Park was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996, and Vienna's historic centre followed in 2001. The Wiener Linien app WienMobil plans routes and sells public transport tickets.
2. 2Dag 3: SalzburgSalzburg's historic centre was inscribed in 1996 and includes Hohensalzburg Fortress, the Cathedral, Getreidegasse and Mirabell Palace and gardens.
3. 3Days 4-5: HallstattThe Hallstatt-Dachstein Salzkammergut cultural landscape was inscribed in 1997. Travel details are in the dedicated Hallstatt guide.

How do you extend the trip to 7 or 10 days?

Add Innsbruck for 7 days, and add Switzerland or a neighbouring country for 10 days.

• Innsbruck: the Austrian National Tourist Office says the Hungerburgbahn funicular runs from Congress station in the city to Hungerburg, then on to Seegrube and Hafelekar at up to about 2,300 m.
• To Switzerland: SBB lists six direct trains a day between Zürich HB and Vienna, taking 7 hours 52 minutes, and the last one of the day is a night train.
• Zürich HB to Innsbruck: SBB says several direct ÖBB Railjet connections run each day, taking about 3.5 hours.
• Neighbouring countries: ÖBB says the Railjet runs to Germany, Italy, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Switzerland.

For the Swiss leg, use this site's Switzerland itinerary guide, and for visas see “Schengen Visa for Thais 2026: Countries, Steps and Timing”, since each embassy decides its own applications and may ask for more documents.

Which month is best for Austria?

The Austrian National Tourist Office suggests choosing the season by what you want to do.

How do you travel between the cities?

Trains are the main option, and this site's Austria trains guide covers tickets and apps in detail.

• The ÖBB Railjet runs at up to 230 km/h with Economy, First and Business Class.
• The private operator WESTbahn runs from Vienna to Salzburg and on to Bregenz, with stops including Innsbruck.
• The free ÖBB app sells domestic and international tickets and shows them as mobile tickets for inspections.

Salzburg Airport (SZG) is about 4 km from the centre, with trolleybus line 10 reaching the old town in about 15 minutes and line 2 in about 23 minutes. Innsbruck Airport (INN) is close to the centre and linked by bus in around 20 minutes. For an overnight train, ÖBB's Nightjet offers seats, couchettes and sleeper cabins on a network that includes Vienna, Innsbruck, Salzburg and Zurich.

If you hike in the mountains, the Austrian government portal lists 112 as the European emergency number, 133 for police, 144 for ambulance and 140 for mountain rescue, all free from any phone in Austria.

How do you reach Vienna from the airport right now?

From 24 August 2026 to the end of October 2027 the S-Bahn core line between Wien Praterstern and Wien Hauptbahnhof/St. Marx is closed, but long-distance trains, the diverted REX 7, the S7 and the CAT bus still serve the airport.

• CAT: normally non-stop to Wien Mitte, it runs during the closure as a premium bus to the city centre about every 12 minutes, expected until 31 October 2027.
• S7: it takes about 25 minutes, runs every 30 minutes and currently goes only between the airport and Wien St. Marx.
• REX 7: about 20 minutes to Wien Hauptbahnhof, and Vienna Airport says long-distance trains between the two run without restrictions.

How does mobile internet help on an Austria trip?

ÖBB mobile tickets, the WienMobil app and maps all need data while you move between cities, so prepare your internet before landing in Vienna.

• Show mobile tickets from the ÖBB app to inspectors on the train.
• Check the line closure and the CAT bus in real time in the apps before leaving the airport.
• Install an eSIM in advance by following this site's eSIM installation guide, then switch it on after landing.

Bekijk eSIM-abonnementen voor Oostenrijk

Frequently asked questions about visiting Austria