Austria

A budget-conscious traveler should plan for €80 to €120 per day for hostels, public transit, and casual meals. Mid-range travelers should expect to spend between €150 and €250 daily for three-star hotels and sit-down dining.

Yes, Indian citizens must apply for a Schengen Visa through VFS Global centers to enter Austria for tourism. Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months and you have proof of travel insurance covering up to €30,000.

The Austria Schengen visa fee is €90 (around ₹8,200), plus a VFS Global service charge of roughly ₹1,750-2,200, so most applicants budget ₹9,500-10,500 in total. Applications are submitted through VFS Global centres in 8 Indian cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, Ahmedabad), with standard processing of 10-15 calendar days that can stretch to 4-6 weeks in the July-August peak. From 1 January 2026, Austria only accepts travel medical insurance from an approved provider list, so apply 4-6 weeks ahead. Fly Goldfinch handles the full visa application, appointment, and compliant insurance for you.

The best times are the shoulder seasons of April to May and September to October for pleasant weather and lower costs. Visit between December and March if you want to experience the famous Christmas markets or go skiing in the Alps.

Tap water in Austria is among the cleanest in the world and is perfectly safe to drink directly from the faucet. You can save significantly on expenses by carrying a reusable bottle and refilling it at any tap or public drinking fountain.

Air India operates direct flights from New Delhi to Vienna roughly 3 times a week (typically Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday), with a flight time of about 8 to 9.5 hours. From Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad there are no non-stop services, so you connect via a European or Gulf hub, making total travel time 11-13 hours. Vienna International Airport (VIE) is the main gateway and connects onward by train to Salzburg, Innsbruck, and the Alps. Booking the Delhi non-stop saves a layover for most itineraries.

Austria has an excellent, punctual rail and metro network, so a car is rarely needed for a city-and-Alps trip. In Vienna a single public transport ticket is €3.20 (valid 80 minutes across U-Bahn, tram, bus, and S-Bahn) and a 7-day pass is €25.20, while the Vienna-to-Salzburg train runs about 60 times a day and takes roughly 2.5 hours. ÖBB and Westbahn intercity trains are cheapest booked online in advance via discounted Sparschiene fares. In Salzburg, paid accommodation often includes a free Salzburg Mobility Card covering state-wide buses and trains.

Yes, Vienna has a strong cluster of North and South Indian restaurants (such as Tawa, Ganesha, Natraj, and Indian Village) serving dals, curries, and naan, with many offering pure-veg and vegan options. Across Austria, most tourist-area restaurants now include dedicated vegetarian and vegan dishes, and Vienna in particular has a thriving veg and vegan dining scene. Outside major cities, Indian-specific food is scarcer, so vegetarians in alpine towns should rely on Italian, salads, cheese, and potato-based Austrian dishes. Tell Fly Goldfinch your dietary needs and Indian-meal stops can be built into the itinerary.