Backpacking Austria

Are you looking for breathtaking nature? Thanks to its great landscape, Austria stands out as a unique travel destination. From impressive mountains and deep blue lakes to flowery meadows, Austria has everything you need (and more!).



We hope you enjoy discovering our ideal backpacking itinerary for Austria.


Important Basics

Official Language

German

Basic Vocabulary
English German
Hello Hallo
Goodbye Tschüss
Thank you Danke
Yes Ja
No Nein
Capital City

Vienna

Phone Country Code

+43

Form of Government

Semi-presidential parliamentary republic

Best Time to Visit

May – September and during the ski season

Fun Facts
  • 21% of Austria’s population lives in Vienna.
  • 62% of the country is covered in mountains.
  • When it comes to caffeinated drinks, cappuccino is the most popular beverage in Austria.

Cities

Vienna

The first stop on your journey throughout Austria is Vienna. The capital is located in the province of the same name and it is the cultural, political, and economic center of the country. Ideally, you should travel to Vienna in early spring or early autumn, when the climate is more enjoyable. In the capital, it generally doesn’t rain much. During winter, the climate is rather mild.

Vienna offers you several unique sightseeing options: here, you can admire St. Stephen’s Cathedral, which dates back to the 12th century. The observation deck on the south tower is 72-meters high, therefore, a visit to the cathedral is absolutely worthwhile, as you get an impressive panoramic view of the city. Other sights worth seeing are the Ringstraße, the Hofburg, the Burgtheater, the State Opera, and Kunsthistorisches Museum. 

In the inner districts of Vienna, further highlights are waiting for you: the Belvedere, a baroque park with two castles, one of the oldest Ferris wheels in the world (it offers also a wonderful view), and the Hundertwasser House, which was designed by the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser.

If you are not so keen on culture, you can go shopping in the city or enjoy the culinary variety. To experience the typical flair of Vienna, you should go to one of the many markets, such as the Naschmarkt, the Viktor-Adler-Markt, or the Meidlinger Markt. On sunny days, flea markets don’t only offer bargains and interesting items, but they beam with a charming atmosphere, which invites you for a stroll.

Culinary delicacies are also available in Vienna for everyone; you can find the so-called Viennese coffee houses and inns, which you should definitely visit.

You should also get to know the Viennese nightlife, which offers many different possibilities. Furthermore, the city has the highest density of restaurants per inhabitant in the world, meaning you will definitely find something that suits your tastes just perfectly.

Stay at one of the local hostels and get a bed in an 8-person dorm for €24 a night.

Salzburg

From Vienna, you can take the train to Salzburg for €10 per person.

Salzburg is known for being Mozart’s birthplace and for the Salzburg Festival. Many people also know Salzburg because of its baroque old town, which has also become a UNESCO World Heritage site. Just outside Salzburg, the landscape is breathtaking; there are so many lakes in which you can go for a swim or walk around their shores depending on the season.

Salzburg counts approximately 150,000 inhabitants and offers many sightseeing opportunities, such as the Salzburg Cathedral, which was built in the 17th century and represents one of the most important buildings in the city. Besides the cathedral, there are many other churches that you should visit. Furthermore, there are also various castles and palaces, all of which are worth seeing. Among them is the Hohensalzburg fortress, which is the symbol of the city. The Mirabell castle and its baroque garden, located in the city center, are also very interesting to visit. There are also some similar and worth seeing castles and palaces, including the Alte Residenz and the Hellbrunn castle.

We also recommend visiting other places, such as Mozartplatz and Sebastiansfriedhof, as well as the numerous museums present in the city. Great examples are given by the Salzburg Museum, which hosts exhibits from the art and cultural history of Salzburg, and the house where Mozart was born, located at Getreidegasse 9. 

In Salzburg, stay at one of the local hostels and get a bed in a dorm for €29 a night.

Hallstatt

From Salzburg, you will take a bus and a train to Hallstatt. The trip costs approximately €21 per person.

In Hallstatt, the world-famous town center is waiting for you. Here, you will find on the one hand a great market place and on the other hand the Hallstatt salt mines. These are the oldest salt mines in the whole world, dating back to more than 7,000 years ago. During the mine tour, you can also learn something about the so-called “man in salt”, who was buried in the mountain in 1734.

In Hallstatt, you have the possibility to go climbing, hiking, mountain biking, or swimming during summer, and in winter, snowshoeing is one of the most popular activities.

You can spend the night at a hostel and get a bed in a 6-person dorm for €31 a night.

Mayrhofen

You can get to Mayrhofen by train for €50.

Mayrhofen is located at an altitude of 630 meters. Here, the Ziller valley divides itself into four side valleys: Zillergrund, Stilluptal, Zemmgrund and Tuxertal. Mayrhofen is mainly known as a ski resort among winter sports fans; however, during the summer many people come to visit the small village to hike.

Mayrhofen offers great ski huts, pubs and apres ski, as well as a few cafes. You can get a bed in a 10-person dorm for €28 a night.

Seefeld in Tirol

Your journey through Austria has not come to an end yet! You will take the bus from Mayrhofen to the beautiful city of Seefeld, which will cost you €20.

Once you arrive in Seefeld, you can enjoy the beautiful nature and the great view. Seefeld is located in the province of Tyrol, just like Mayrhofen and counts a little less than 4,000 inhabitants.

Seefeld is a very popular destination in the summer as well as in the winter, since the area offers many fun activities. In the summer, you can rent a mountain bike or book an e-bike or a mountain bike tour. In addition, you can also go hiking or go Nordic walking. In the winter, skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing are very popular.

If it rains, you can also go to the cinema in Seefeld – not every village, with a population of only 4,000 people, offers you the possibility to plan so many activities in every season and weather condition.

In Seefeld, you can spend the night at a hostel and get a single room for €34 a night.

Lech

Your next and last stop is Lech. From Seefeld, take the train and bus to reach the city. It’ll cost you approximately €35 per person.

Lech is located in the federal state of Vorarlberg and counts less than 2,000 inhabitants. The village is world-renowned for winter sports at the wonderful Arlberg. The skiing area at the Arlberg is connected with the villages of Zürs, St. Anton, Stuben and the Sonnenkopf in Klösterle.

You can do winter sports as well in Lech, even if you’re not a pro. There are countless possibilities like skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledging, ice skating or winter hiking. In the summer, you can go hiking, climbing ,or mountain biking instead.

As in every ski resort you can decide whether you’re going by yourself or with a group. Here, in fact, there are plenty of guides and ski instructors, meaning you will eventually find the right experience for you.

In Lech you can stay in a guest house and get a single room for €48 a night.

After having explored so many different villages and towns, you will see Austria with completely different eyes. Austria is beautiful and you will definitely make you want to come back again. But now, it’s time to get back home!


Vienna

Vienna

The first stop on your journey throughout Austria is Vienna. The capital is located in the province of the same name and it is the cultural, political, and economic center of the country. Ideally, you should travel to Vienna in early spring or early autumn, when the climate is more enjoyable. In the capital, it generally doesn’t rain much. During winter, the climate is rather mild.

Vienna offers you several unique sightseeing options: here, you can admire St. Stephen’s Cathedral, which dates back to the 12th century. The observation deck on the south tower is 72-meters high, therefore, a visit to the cathedral is absolutely worthwhile, as you get an impressive panoramic view of the city. Other sights worth seeing are the Ringstraße, the Hofburg, the Burgtheater, the State Opera, and Kunsthistorisches Museum. 

In the inner districts of Vienna, further highlights are waiting for you: the Belvedere, a baroque park with two castles, one of the oldest Ferris wheels in the world (it offers also a wonderful view), and the Hundertwasser House, which was designed by the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser.

If you are not so keen on culture, you can go shopping in the city or enjoy the culinary variety. To experience the typical flair of Vienna, you should go to one of the many markets, such as the Naschmarkt, the Viktor-Adler-Markt, or the Meidlinger Markt. On sunny days, flea markets don’t only offer bargains and interesting items, but they beam with a charming atmosphere, which invites you for a stroll.

Culinary delicacies are also available in Vienna for everyone; you can find the so-called Viennese coffee houses and inns, which you should definitely visit.

You should also get to know the Viennese nightlife, which offers many different possibilities. Furthermore, the city has the highest density of restaurants per inhabitant in the world, meaning you will definitely find something that suits your tastes just perfectly.

Stay at one of the local hostels and get a bed in an 8-person dorm for €24 a night.

Salzburg

Salzburg

From Vienna, you can take the train to Salzburg for €10 per person.

Salzburg is known for being Mozart’s birthplace and for the Salzburg Festival. Many people also know Salzburg because of its baroque old town, which has also become a UNESCO World Heritage site. Just outside Salzburg, the landscape is breathtaking; there are so many lakes in which you can go for a swim or walk around their shores depending on the season.

Salzburg counts approximately 150,000 inhabitants and offers many sightseeing opportunities, such as the Salzburg Cathedral, which was built in the 17th century and represents one of the most important buildings in the city. Besides the cathedral, there are many other churches that you should visit. Furthermore, there are also various castles and palaces, all of which are worth seeing. Among them is the Hohensalzburg fortress, which is the symbol of the city. The Mirabell castle and its baroque garden, located in the city center, are also very interesting to visit. There are also some similar and worth seeing castles and palaces, including the Alte Residenz and the Hellbrunn castle.

We also recommend visiting other places, such as Mozartplatz and Sebastiansfriedhof, as well as the numerous museums present in the city. Great examples are given by the Salzburg Museum, which hosts exhibits from the art and cultural history of Salzburg, and the house where Mozart was born, located at Getreidegasse 9. 

In Salzburg, stay at one of the local hostels and get a bed in a dorm for €29 a night.

Hallstatt

Hallstatt

From Salzburg, you will take a bus and a train to Hallstatt. The trip costs approximately €21 per person.

In Hallstatt, the world-famous town center is waiting for you. Here, you will find on the one hand a great market place and on the other hand the Hallstatt salt mines. These are the oldest salt mines in the whole world, dating back to more than 7,000 years ago. During the mine tour, you can also learn something about the so-called “man in salt”, who was buried in the mountain in 1734.

In Hallstatt, you have the possibility to go climbing, hiking, mountain biking, or swimming during summer, and in winter, snowshoeing is one of the most popular activities.

You can spend the night at a hostel and get a bed in a 6-person dorm for €31 a night.

Mayrhofen

Mayrhofen

You can get to Mayrhofen by train for €50.

Mayrhofen is located at an altitude of 630 meters. Here, the Ziller valley divides itself into four side valleys: Zillergrund, Stilluptal, Zemmgrund and Tuxertal. Mayrhofen is mainly known as a ski resort among winter sports fans; however, during the summer many people come to visit the small village to hike.

Mayrhofen offers great ski huts, pubs and apres ski, as well as a few cafes. You can get a bed in a 10-person dorm for €28 a night.

Seefeld in Tirol

Seefeld in Tirol

Your journey through Austria has not come to an end yet! You will take the bus from Mayrhofen to the beautiful city of Seefeld, which will cost you €20.

Once you arrive in Seefeld, you can enjoy the beautiful nature and the great view. Seefeld is located in the province of Tyrol, just like Mayrhofen and counts a little less than 4,000 inhabitants.

Seefeld is a very popular destination in the summer as well as in the winter, since the area offers many fun activities. In the summer, you can rent a mountain bike or book an e-bike or a mountain bike tour. In addition, you can also go hiking or go Nordic walking. In the winter, skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing are very popular.

If it rains, you can also go to the cinema in Seefeld – not every village, with a population of only 4,000 people, offers you the possibility to plan so many activities in every season and weather condition.

In Seefeld, you can spend the night at a hostel and get a single room for €34 a night.

Lech

Lech

Your next and last stop is Lech. From Seefeld, take the train and bus to reach the city. It’ll cost you approximately €35 per person.

Lech is located in the federal state of Vorarlberg and counts less than 2,000 inhabitants. The village is world-renowned for winter sports at the wonderful Arlberg. The skiing area at the Arlberg is connected with the villages of Zürs, St. Anton, Stuben and the Sonnenkopf in Klösterle.

You can do winter sports as well in Lech, even if you’re not a pro. There are countless possibilities like skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledging, ice skating or winter hiking. In the summer, you can go hiking, climbing ,or mountain biking instead.

As in every ski resort you can decide whether you’re going by yourself or with a group. Here, in fact, there are plenty of guides and ski instructors, meaning you will eventually find the right experience for you.

In Lech you can stay in a guest house and get a single room for €48 a night.

After having explored so many different villages and towns, you will see Austria with completely different eyes. Austria is beautiful and you will definitely make you want to come back again. But now, it’s time to get back home!

Austria Route Map

Itinerary and Stops.

Tag
Route/Station
Transport
Unterkunft
1. Home – Vienna
Home – Vienna
Bus
40
8-person dorm
24
2. Vienna
Vienna
-
8-person dorm
24
3. Vienna
Vienna
-
8-person dorm
24
4. Vienna – Salzburg
Vienna – Salzburg
Train
10
Dorm
29
5. Salzburg
Salzburg
-
Dorm
29
6. Salzburg
Salzburg
-
Dorm
29
7. Salzburg – Hallstatt
Salzburg – Hallstatt
Bus+train
21
6-person dorm
31
8. Hallstatt
Hallstatt
-
6-person dorm
31
9. Hallstatt
Hallstatt
-
6-person dorm
31
10. Hallstatt – Mayrhofen
Hallstatt – Mayrhofen
Train
50
10-person dorm
28
11. Mayrhofen
Mayrhofen
-
10-person dorm
28
12. Mayrhofen
Mayrhofen
-
10-person dorm
28
13. Mayrhofen
Mayrhofen
-
10-person dorm
28
14. Mayrhofen – Seefeld
Mayrhofen – Seefeld
Bus
20
Single room
34
15. Seefeld
Seefeld
-
Single room
34
16. Seefeld
Seefeld
-
Single room
34
17. Seefeld
Seefeld
-
Single room
34
18. Seefeld – Lech
Seefeld – Lech
Train+bus
35
Single room
48
19. Lech
Lech
-
Lech
48
20. Lech
Lech
-
Lech
48
21. Lech – Home
Lech – Home
Bus
20

Total price.

Flights 00,00
Transportation 196,00
Tours 0,00
Accommodation 644,00
Total 840,00

Du möchtest 

deine eigene

Reise erstellen?

Du möchtest deine

eigene Reise erstellen?

Dos and Donts, Food & Drinks, Costs.

Breakfast

Bread: in Austria, breakfast is similar to Germany. People eat bread and jam with a cup of tea or coffee.

Soups

Soup with fried peas: a delicious soup with fried peas.

Garlic soup:  in Austria, garlic soup is very creamy and spicy. It’s perfect for lunch.

Main courses

Schnitzel:  you have to try Wiener Schnitzel no matter what. You’ll find it at a reasonable price in one of the local restaurants.

Schweinsbraten: in Austria, roast pork is traditionally served with fried onions and dumplings.

Roast pork with onions: one of the locals’ favorite dish. It is usually served with a delicious sauce and fried potatoes. 

Meat dumplings: the dumpling dough is filled with minced meat and then cooked. They are usually served with red cabbage and a gravy. What’s better than this?

Egg dumplings:  something for vegetarians. Egg dumplings are delicious dumplings that you can order with any sauce you like.

Kasnocken: in Germany, it is better known as Käsespatzen. Austrians are also very good at this dish. Try it yourself!

Drinks

Almdudler: it is a lemonade with herbal taste. A must-try!

Wine: Austrian wine has a great reputation.

Austria

The local currency in Austria is Euro. See prices for certain products and the cost of living below:

Cost of Living

Food

Free Time

Personal Hygiene

Dos

Off into nature: Hiking is a must in Austria. Explore the mountains and the nature!

Keep your budget in mind: Austria is expensive, especially Vienna. Try to consider this when planning your trip.

Night’s rest: in most cities in Austria, you should be quiet after 10pm. Any disturbance will not be tolerated.

Don'ts

Comparison with Germany: even though the language is almost identical, Austrians do not like to hear comparisons to Germans.

Fare evasion: this is strictly controlled in Austria.

Imitating the dialect: Yes, Austrians have a strong dialect. But you’d rather not imitate or joke about it.

Visa, Visa, Passport & Vaccinations

Passport

Yes

Temporary passport

Yes

National ID

Yes

Temporary national ID

Yes, must be valid

Child’s pass

Yes

Visa

(Not necessary)

Vaccine

Robert Koch Instituts

Additional Remarks.

Austria is part of the European Convention on the Regulation of the Movement of Persons between the Member States of the Council of Europe from 13/12/1957. Travel documents other than temporary ID cards mustn’t have expired for more than a year. Please also inform yourself on the current entry regulations regarding the Corona virus. Current information about this can be found at your country’s Foreign Office.

The team at Backpacker Trail wishes you lots of fun and an unforgettable trip!

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