Austria Travel Guide: Cities and Tour Routes

Vienna, Salzburg and Hallstatt top the list of places to visit in Austria; on a first visit, completing this trio with Innsbruck is enough. Turkish citizens enter the country with a Schengen visa. Below you'll find the cities, length of stay, route options and tours on sale, in order.

In short

• The number of days determines the route: 3-4 days Vienna, 5-6 days Salzburg and Hallstatt, 7-8 days Innsbruck, 9 days and above Graz and Wachau.
• Book a flight with different arrival and departure cities so you don't return to the same city; stay at least two nights in each city.
• A Schengen visa is required: fee €90, processing time 15-21 business days; also factor in the appointment waiting time.
• Don't buy a non-changeable ticket before your visa is approved; choose a ready-made tour for multiple countries, or an individual route for an in-depth visit to a single country.

Before building the route: how many days, which city

Austria's places to visit are gathered along a certain line: Vienna in the east, Salzburg and the lake district in the middle, Innsbruck and Tyrol in the west, Graz in the south. When building your route, first determine your number of days, then add the cities in this order.

• 3-4 days: Vienna only. The city fills this time on its own.
• 5-6 days: Vienna and Salzburg. Make Hallstatt a day-trip third stop.
• 7-8 days: Vienna, Salzburg, Hallstatt and Innsbruck. Move in one direction from east to west.
• 9 days and above: Add the Wachau Valley and Graz as well.

The main rule: don't return to the same city. A flight ticket entering through Vienna and exiting from Salzburg or Innsbruck — that is, with different arrival and departure cities — saves you days. Stay at least two nights in each city; a route that changes hotels every night ends up spent carrying luggage more than sightseeing.

Ready-made tour or individual trip? If you don't want to arrange transport and accommodation yourself, there are tours that combine Austria with neighboring countries; we compared them in a separate section. If you're going individually, the intercity train network is sufficient for this route. If you're considering combining Austria with Germany, also check the city ranking in the Germany travel guide.

Vienna: at least three nights

Vienna is the indispensable stop of an Austria trip and deserves at least 3 nights. Explore the city in three blocks.

The imperial line

Hofburg Palace and St. Stephen's Cathedral are connected on foot in the center; allow half a day for these. Schönbrunn Palace is outside the center and requires a separate half day. Choose the morning hours to see Klimt's The Kiss at the Belvedere.

The Ring and museums

The opera house, parliament and city hall along the Ring Boulevard can be viewed by tram or on foot. The Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Natural History Museum stand facing each other; don't try to fit both into the same day, pick one.

Food and drink

Coffeehouse culture is part of the city's identity. Set aside an afternoon for a classic coffeehouse; try Sachertorte and Apfelstrudel. Naschmarkt is a sensible choice for lunch, and a traditional restaurant for Wiener Schnitzel. You can close the evening with a short stop at Prater's Ferris wheel.

Museum opening hours and ticket conditions change frequently; check the museum's official page before finalizing your plan. If you'll be doing a museum-heavy trip, compare multi-entry card options before buying tickets one by one. If you'll only see two museums, a card isn't worthwhile.

Salzburg and Hallstatt: for Alpine scenery

Salzburg is Mozart's birthplace and 2 nights is enough. The old town spreads along both banks of the Salzach River; Getreidegasse, the cathedral, the Mirabell Gardens and Hohensalzburg Fortress are all within walking distance of each other. Go up to the fortress in the morning and leave the afternoon for the Mirabell Gardens and the riverside.

How to approach Hallstatt

Hallstatt is a small lakeside village with narrow streets that gets crowded by midday. There are two reasonable options: a day trip from Salzburg or staying one night in the village. If you're going for the day, arrive early in the morning; the village calms down after the afternoon day-tour groups leave. Half a day for the walk around the lake and the boat, and another half day for the village itself and the viewpoints, gives a comfortable pace.

Transport is a combination of train, ferry and bus; schedules change by season, so confirm departure times before you go.

Ready-made option

If you want to see four cities in a short time, the Hallstatt, Salzburg, Vienna and Bled tour is scheduled with 3 nights on Turkish Airlines, with a Ljubljana round trip. The first departure is 12 October 2026. The pace is fast; you'll spend only a few hours in each city, so think of it as an introductory tour for first-time visitors.

Innsbruck and Tyrol: for those who want to go to the mountains

If you're willing to head west, Innsbruck is the route's strongest mountain stop. The city is set among Alpine peaks, and the old town and the mountain can be combined in the same day. This stop fits into a seven- or eight-day route.

• Morning: The old town with the Golden Roof and a walk along Maria-Theresien-Strasse.
• Afternoon: Ascend above the city with the Nordkette cable car. If the weather is overcast, move the cable car plan to another day.
• Evening: Try Käsespätzle and Gröstl from Tyrolean cuisine.

2 nights is enough in Innsbruck; a third night only makes sense if you have a skiing or hiking plan. If you'll be hiking, check in advance whether the trails in the area are open for the season; conditions change quickly at high altitude.

The practical answer to how to reach Innsbruck: take a train west from Salzburg, then fly out from Innsbruck or a nearby airport without returning to Vienna. That's why you should book your flight with different arrival and departure cities. If your budget and time are limited, skip Innsbruck and focus on the Vienna, Salzburg and Hallstatt trio; exploring three cities in depth is better than rushing through five. If mountains and nature walks are your priority, reverse the order and give Innsbruck three nights.

Graz and the Wachau Valley: a route for your second visit

Graz and Wachau rank lower on a first trip; they stand out if you're visiting Austria for a second time or building a route of nine days or more.

Graz

Graz in the south is a quieter, student-lively city whose old town is on the UNESCO list. Climbing Schlossberg to see the clock tower and city view, then walking around Murinsel and Kunsthaus, takes half a day. It's a strong city for gastronomy: pumpkin seed oil is the region's signature. 1-2 nights is enough.

The Wachau Valley

Wachau is the valley stretching along the Danube between Melk and Krems; Dürnstein and Melk Abbey lie along this line. The valley is surrounded by vineyards and is suitable for wine tasting. It's arranged as a day trip from Vienna; if you combine Melk Abbey and Dürnstein in the same day, you'll need a full day. Combining train and river ferry is easier than renting a car; if you'll be drinking, this is already the only sensible option.

You don't have to put both of these stops in the same route. The deciding criterion is simple: choose Graz for city life and dining, Wachau for scenery and wine. Allow nine days or more to fit both into your route; in a shorter time, pick one and leave the other for your next visit.

Austria tours on sale: which one suits whom

21 Austria tours are on sale with departures in the next four months. You can see all of them on the Austria tours page. Below we summarize four routes by who they suit.

• Short introduction: Hallstatt, Salzburg, Vienna and Bled tour, 3 nights. A fast-paced first look. First departure 12 October 2026.
• Central European fairy tale: A Central European Fairy Tale with Berlin and Hallstatt tour, 7 nights with Pegasus Airlines; arrival in Budapest, departure from Prague. Suited to those who want to combine Austria with several countries. First departure 12 October 2026.
• Three-country route: Golden Triangle of Central Europe tour, 7 nights 8 days with Ajet. Includes Cesky Krumlov, Bratislava and Parndorf Outlet excursions. First departure 18 October 2026.
• Austria and Czechia: Austria and Czechia in Full tour, 5 days. Suited to those who want to see two countries with short leave. First departure 27 October 2026.

There's also a route following the Budapest, Vienna and Prague line, 7 nights with a Budapest round trip on Wizz Air; its first departure is 14 November 2026.

When choosing a tour, check three things: the flight's arrival and departure cities, how many nights of the program are spent in Austria, and whether entrance fees are included in the package. Prices and availability appear current on the tour page. If you want to explore Salzburg, Innsbruck or Graz in depth, these tours won't be enough; build an individual route for that.

Visa and entry requirements

Turkish citizens apply for a Schengen visa for Austria. The permitted stay is calculated on a 90 days / 180 days basis; that is, you can stay in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period. The application fee is €90, and the processing time has been confirmed as 15-21 business days. For the current document list and application steps, see the Austria visa page.

How to plan your calendar

• 15-21 business days corresponds to roughly 3-4 weeks on the calendar. Add the appointment waiting time to this; since this period varies, find out the current appointment availability from the application center and apply well before your travel date.
• If your route includes multiple Schengen countries, the application is based on the country where you'll stay the longest. If you'll spend the most nights in Austria, apply through Austria.
• Don't cut the timeline too tight: holiday periods see increased demand, so plan according to the upper limit of the processing time.

About ETIAS

What ETIAS means for Turkish citizens entering the Schengen area is a frequently asked question; you can read the current situation in our article What is ETIAS, does it affect Turkish citizens.

There are multiple-entry and long-term visa options for frequent travelers. In our article the Schengen trusted traveler formula, we explained who this is available to. The fee, duration and rules were verified from the official source as of 1 August 2026; still check the current status before applying.

In what order should you build your plan

The order of decisions matters; the most common mistake is buying a non-changeable ticket before the visa result is known. Separate reservation from final purchase and follow this order.

1. Determine your number of days. Three or four days for Vienna; five or six days for Vienna, Salzburg and a day trip to Hallstatt; seven or eight days for a route including Innsbruck; nine days or more for a route including Graz and Wachau.
2. Decide between a ready-made tour or individual travel. If you want an in-depth visit to a single country, choose an individual route; for multiple countries in a short time, a tour is more practical. First check the departure dates on the Austria tours page.
3. Calculate the visa appointment and processing time together. Check the visa page for which reservation documents are requested in the application; if needed, apply with a flexible reservation that allows cancellation or change.
4. Finalize your flight after visa approval. Make the arrival and departure cities different; you'll gain days.
5. Choose hotels in the city center. In Vienna, base your choice on the metro; in Salzburg and Innsbruck, on walking distance to the old town.
6. Compare museum and transport cards. If you'll visit many museums, cards are worthwhile; if not, single tickets suffice.

There's also a suitable setup for a short holiday: if you're considering the 29 October long weekend, check the 4-day route suggestions for the 29 October holiday abroad. Dedicating four days to Vienna alone is the lowest-risk choice for this route.

One final suggestion: if Hallstatt and Alpine scenery are your priority, give Vienna three nights, stay two nights in Salzburg, and allocate extra days to Hallstatt or nature. If museums and architecture are your priority, give Vienna four nights and still stay at least two nights in Salzburg.

Frequently asked questions

Where should first-time visitors to Austria go?

On a first visit, the Vienna, Salzburg and Hallstatt trio is enough. Give Vienna three nights, stay two nights in Salzburg, and add Hallstatt as a day trip or one night from Salzburg. If you have seven or eight days, add Innsbruck.

How many days are enough for Austria?

Three or four days are enough for Vienna alone. Five or six days are needed for Vienna, Salzburg and Hallstatt; this extends to seven or eight days when Innsbruck is added. Allow nine days or more to also add Graz and the Wachau Valley.

Can you travel from Turkey to Austria without a visa?

No. Entry to Austria for Turkish citizens requires a Schengen visa. The application fee is €90, with a processing time of 15-21 business days. The length of stay is calculated according to the 90 days / 180 days rule.

Can Hallstatt be visited as a day trip?

Yes, it can be visited as a day trip from Salzburg. If you arrive early in the morning, you'll avoid the midday crowds. Allocating more than half a day for the lake area and the village gives a comfortable pace.

Is a tour or an individual trip more sensible for Austria?

If you want to see several countries in a short time, a ready-made tour is practical. If you want an in-depth visit to a single country, set your own pace, and stay longer in cities, an individual route is more suitable. You can check the tour page for departure dates.

Can Vienna and Salzburg be combined in the same trip?

Yes, this is the most common pairing in Austria. There's a train line between the two cities; booking a flight that enters Vienna and exits from Salzburg with different arrival and departure cities saves days. Allow at least two nights in each city.

What is the best time to visit Austria?

The period depends on what you want to do. City and museum visits can be made year-round; hiking and skiing plans are determined by season. Check whether trails and cable cars are open before you go.