Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Austria
Experience authentic local culture on a shoestring budget with hostels, street food, and public transport
Daily Budget: €48-120 per day ($54-133)
Complete breakdown of costs for budget/backpacker travel in Austria
Accommodation
€20-45 per night ($22-50)
Crash in hostel dorms across Vienna's 7th and 15th districts, grab a guesthouse near Salzburg's old town, or bunk up in mountain huts across Tyrol.
Browse budget/backpacker accommodation →Food & Dining
€15-30 per day ($17-33)
Grab Bäckerei pastries for breakfast, hit Würstelstand sausages, stock up on supermarket meals, and swing by kebab shops.
Transportation
€8-20 per day ($9-22)
Pick up Vienna U-Bahn day passes, ride regional trains with Vorteilscard discounts, and hop FlixBus between cities.
Activities
€5-25 per day ($6-28)
Join free walking tours, stretch out in public parks like Stadtpark, hit museums on free days, and hike in the Alps.
Currency: € Euro
Money-Saving Tips
Buy weekly transport passes in Vienna (saves 30-40% vs daily tickets)
Shop at Spar or Billa supermarkets for breakfast supplies, typically 60-70% cheaper than hotel breakfast.
Visit museums on first Sunday mornings when many offer reduced or free entry
Buy the Vorteilscard for train travel, it costs €66 but knocks 45-50% off all ÖBB trains.
Eat lunch at traditional Beisl restaurants instead of dinner, same dishes, 30-40% cheaper.
Stay in city outskirts with solid U-Bahn connections, typically 25-50% cheaper than center.
Common Budget Mistakes to Avoid
Taking taxis everywhere instead of public transport costs 3-4x more for equivalent journeys.
Eating exclusively in tourist areas around St. Stephen's Cathedral hits you with a typical 100-150% markup.
Not booking accommodation during Vienna Ball season backfires, prices increase 200-300% in January-February.
Skipping breakfast at accommodation then buying coffee and pastries individually adds €10-15 daily.