The best way to explore Austria is on a road trip that will take you to incredible cities, gorgeous vineyards, Alpine landscapes, and historical landmarks. So here’s the best 10-day Austria road trip itinerary.

Austria Travel Guide

Pro Tip: Always have plenty of cash with you in Austria. Credit cards are usually accepted at hotels, high-end restaurants, and boutique or department stores in larger cities. But local shops and restaurants, especially in smaller towns, often only take cash or charge a fee for paying with a credit card.

Here’s the ultimate Austria road trip itinerary!

Three Nights in Vienna

Day 1: Check in to your hotel or vacation home, then do a guided walking tour of Vienna’s historic City Center that includes the Schönbrunn Palace and Vienna State Opera. In the evening, have dinner at a riverfront restaurant, and stroll along the waterfront to see the city at night.

Day 2: Take a day trip to the Wachau Valley wine region. This region is home to rolling hills, vineyards, churches, and fortresses. The best way to explore this area along the Danube River is by e-bike (in Spring, Summer, and Fall) and car in the winter.

Day 3: In the morning, do a Danube river cruise. Have lunch at a local cafe, then spend the rest of the day at the Prater Amusement Park. Make sure you ride the Wiener Riesenrad, the world’s oldest Ferris wheel!

Three Nights in Salzburg with a Day Trip To Hallstatt

Day 4: Check out of your Vienna accommodation and spend the day in Hallstatt. Walk the entire length of Old Town, take a boat out on the lake, go up to the Hallstatt Skywalk “Welterbeblick,” ride the Salzwelten Hallstatt, and explore the Hallstatt Salt Mine.

Then check into your Salzburg hotel or vacation home this evening.

Day 5: Start with a walking tour of Salzburg’s Old Town that includes riding the Festungsbahn funicular up to Hohensalzburg Fortress and Mozart’s residence and birthplace. Have lunch, then in the afternoon, tour the Stiegel brewery on their “Beer World” experience.

Day 6: In the morning, visit The Sound of Music filming sites with Fräulein Maria’s Bicycle Tours. Then in the afternoon, do a food and drink tour to sample Salzburg’s world-famous cuisine.

Day 7: Check out of your Salzburg accommodation and head to the town of Werfen. Here, you can visit the Hohenwerfen Castle, hike or drive to the Do-Re-Mi field where The Sound of Music was filmed, and tour Eisriesenwelt, the world’s largest ice cave. Then check into your Innsbruck accommodation this evening.

Day 8: Spend the day exploring Innsbruck. Make sure you walk around the Old Town, visit Ambras Castle, and ride the Nordkette funicular!

Day 9: Take a day trip to the famous Schlegeis Bridge. This suspension bridge is at the end of the Olpererhütte Hike, which can take around two hours one way. The hike is moderately strenuous, but the Alpine landscapes are worth the trek, and there’s a restaurant at the end of the trailhead.

Day 10: Head home or to your next road trip destination, such as Liechtenstein, Germany, Switzerland, or Italy.

When To Visit Austria

Austria’s high season is June through August when tourists and prices are at their peak. December – March is the high season for ski resorts and snow sports.

The shoulder seasons in Austria are from April – June and September. There are fewer tourists, lower prices, and moderate temperatures during these months. Spring is the best time to see those iconic Alpine flower fields, and the Fall is when you can see the grape harvests.

The low season is October – March for everywhere in the country that isn’t a ski resort. It’s cold during these months, and most places are open fewer days a week and for shorter hours a day. But travel costs can be up to 50% less during these months.

Because some trails and sites close during the winter, if you’re thinking about going in the winter (especially if you don’t want to do snow sports), make sure your top destinations and attractions will be open.

What To Pack

In addition to your usual travel essentials, you’ll want these items in Austria:

Day pack, water bottle, and hiking shoes since you’ll probably be hiking at least one trail. If you’re doing any long treks, make sure you have any specialized clothing or equipment you might need.

Electrical outlets in Austria are Types C and F. So if you’re from the EU, you won’t need an outlet adaptor. But British, U.S., and other travelers will need an adaptor.

Rain jacket because there’s always a chance of rain. If you’re here in the winter months, you’ll want several warm layers and a waterproof outer layer for rain, sleet, or snow.

But even if you’re here in the Summer months, you’ll want a lightweight fleece, sweater, or mid-weight jacket. It can be chilly year-round in the mornings and evenings in the higher elevations.

What To Wear

A professional personal appearance is important to locals in Austria. So to dress like the locals, pack practical dressy-casual clothes. Long or capri pants, skirts, and dresses for women and long pants for men. You won’t see locals wearing shorts unless they’re about to jump in a lake.

Now, you can wear athletic gear, white tennis shoes, or graphic tees, but your appearance will single you out as a tourist. I’ve found that when traveling, it’s usually better to blend in. It’s also respectful to dress more as the locals would.

It’s smart to have a layer on hand when you’re visiting churches or other religious sites to cover your shoulders out of respect.

Bring your most comfortable shoes! You’ll be walking A LOT, and you’ll spend a lot of time on trails and cobblestone sidewalks or streets.

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This Austria road trip itinerary is not a sponsored post, and, as always, the thoughts and opinions expressed in this Austria road trip itinerary are entirely my own. Some of the links in this Austria road trip itinerary are affiliate links, and, at no cost to you, I may earn a small commission from this Austria road trip itinerary.