Leslie Massey
Austria is known for its picturesque landscapes, enchanting cities, and cultural attractions. However, travelling to and living in Austria can be expensive. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to save money in Austria, from taking advantage of free attractions and discounted museum visits to utilizing city tourism cards and exploring budget-friendly dining options. Additionally, Austria offers investment opportunities and relatively safe and easy-to-set-up savings accounts. This guide will provide comprehensive insights into saving money in Austria, ensuring that you can make the most of your financial resources while exploring this captivating country.
How to save money in Austria
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Savings accounts | Safe and easy to set up in Austria |
| Investment funds | Instruments that allow you to invest capital in the financial markets |
| Stocks | Legal ownership in a company, with proportionate share of profits or losses |
| City tourism cards | Include free or discounted rates for attractions and transport |
| Free attractions | Many cultural institutions have free entry at certain times |
| Couchsurfing | Free accommodation and local tour guides |
| Discounted meals | Some restaurants offer pay-as-you-wish pricing |
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What You'll Learn
Save on attractions with city tourism cards
City tourism cards are a great way to save money when visiting Austrian cities. These cards typically include free or discounted admission to attractions, as well as public transportation.
The Vienna City Card, for example, offers a 20% discount on participating hotels and restaurants, as well as free or discounted entry to attractions such as the Schlossbergbahn in Graz. It also includes discounts on public transportation, which can save you even more money if you plan to use it multiple times a day.
If you're visiting Salzburg, the Salzburg Card offers even more value. It includes one night of accommodation and free admission to all city tourist attractions and museums. This means you can save a significant amount of money on entrance fees, especially if you plan to visit multiple attractions.
In some regions, you can also look out for guest cards that offer similar benefits. For example, if you book a room at a partner hotel in Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Salzburgerland, Upper Austria, or Burgenland, you'll receive a card that includes unlimited transport, entry discounts, and access to outdoor activities.
These city tourism cards can help you save money and make the most of your time in Austrian cities, allowing you to experience more attractions without breaking the bank.
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Save on transport with 24-hour passes
Austria's public transport system is renowned for being clean, fast, reliable, and cheap. The local network consists of trains, trams, and buses, which can take you anywhere in the country. In fact, the transport network is so extensive and safe that there is almost no need to drive in Austria.
If you're looking to save money on transport in Austria, consider purchasing a 24-hour pass. In big cities like Vienna, a single ride on public transport can cost as little as €2.40. However, if you plan to travel several times throughout the day, a 24-hour pass will save you money. These passes typically cost less than €10 and can include access to trains, trams, and buses.
In addition to 24-hour passes, there are also city tourism cards that offer free or discounted rates for attractions and public transportation. For example, the Vienna City Card includes a 20% discount on participating hotels and restaurants, while the Salzburg Card offers free admission to all city tourist attractions and museums. If you're staying in Innsbruck, the Innsbruck Welcome Card includes free guided hiking and e-biking tours.
When using public transportation in Austria, keep in mind that ticket control can be low or even non-existent, especially in Vienna. However, it's always best to purchase the appropriate ticket to avoid any potential issues. Additionally, some passes may require reservations, especially for overnight trains and some international routes.
To make your travels easier, consider downloading the ÖBB SCOTTY app, which includes route planning, timetables, and ticketing. With a little planning, you can save money and get around Austria with ease.
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Save on accommodation with Couchsurfing
Couchsurfing is a great way to save money on accommodation when visiting Austria. It is a travel community with millions of members worldwide, providing travellers with a unique opportunity to experience Austria like a local.
Couchsurfing allows you to connect with locals who open their homes to you, offering a free place to stay. It is an excellent way not just to save money but also to make friends and gain insider knowledge about the area. You can send a request to a host you think you would get along with, and you may end up with fantastic company, a free couch, and a local tour guide all in one!
Couchsurfing is available in various Austrian cities, including Vienna. Vienna, with its grand architecture and rich history, is a popular destination for travellers. By staying with a local host through Couchsurfing, you can explore the city's famous landmarks, such as St. Stephen's Cathedral and the Hofburg Palace, and discover hidden gems off the typical tourist path.
To find accommodation in Austria through Couchsurfing, you can use their website to reach out to potential hosts and discover unique places to stay. You can also use the platform to meet up with other locals and travellers, exchange travel tips, and gain insights into the best activities, dining, and nightlife that Austria has to offer.
So, if you're looking to save money on accommodation and immerse yourself in the local culture, Couchsurfing is an excellent option to consider when planning your trip to Austria.
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Save on food with pay-as-you-wish restaurants
When visiting Austria, one of the biggest expenses is often the cost of food. However, there are some pay-as-you-wish restaurants in the country that can help you save money on dining out. These restaurants allow guests to decide independently how much they want to pay for their meals, with the understanding that they should pay fairly for the food they have consumed. This pay-as-you-wish concept is based on the idea of financial solidarity and allows guests to pay according to their means while ensuring that restaurant operators can cover their expenses.
One such restaurant in Vienna is 'Der Wiener Deewan', a Pakistani restaurant that offers its menus according to the pay-as-you-wish principle. This restaurant invites guests to pay what they want, but with the reminder to be fair in their payments. Another option for budget-friendly dining in Vienna is to take advantage of the city's cultural offerings, such as the Architecture Centre Vienna (AZW), which is free for students on Wednesdays from 5-7 pm, or the Kunsthalle Wien, which has a pay-as-you-wish policy on Sundays. Additionally, the first Sunday of each month offers free entry to several museums, including the Wien Museum, Römermuseum, and Otto Wagner Hofpavillon.
If you're looking for more ways to save money on food in Austria, consider purchasing a city tourism card. These cards include discounts for participating restaurants, such as the Vienna City Card, which offers a 20% discount. Similarly, the Salzburg Card provides excellent value, including one night of accommodation and free admission to all city tourist attractions and museums. Regional money-saving cards, such as the Kärnten Card in Carinthia and the Steiermark-Card in Styria, offer additional benefits like unlimited transport, entry discounts, and access to outdoor activities.
By taking advantage of pay-as-you-wish restaurants and utilising city tourism cards and their discounts, you can significantly reduce your food expenses when visiting Austria. These options allow you to enjoy the local cuisine and explore cultural attractions without breaking the bank. So, whether you're visiting Vienna, Salzburg, or other regions of Austria, be sure to keep these money-saving tips in mind to make the most of your travel budget.
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Save on museum visits with free entry days
Vienna is a city steeped in history and culture, with many museums and exhibition venues. While most of these museums require an entrance ticket, there are several ways to save money on museum visits in Austria. Firstly, keep an eye out for free entry days or time periods. For example, the Architecture Centre Vienna (AZW) is free for students on Wednesdays from 5-7 PM, and the Kunsthalle Wien has a pay-as-you-wish policy on Sundays. Additionally, on the first Sunday of every month, several museums in Vienna offer free entry, including the Wien Museum, Römermuseum, and Otto Wagner Hofpavillon. Planning your museum visits on these free entry days can help you save money.
Another way to save on museum visits is to take advantage of city tourism cards. The Vienna City Card, for example, offers a 20% discount on participating hotels and restaurants, as well as discounted rates for attractions such as the Schlossbergbahn in Graz. The Salzburg Card is another excellent option, providing free admission to all city tourist attractions and museums. If you're staying in a hotel, ask if they offer a guest card that includes entry discounts or look into purchasing a regional money-saving card like the Kärnten Card or the Steiermark-Card, which offer discounted access to museums and other attractions.
If you're visiting Vienna, consider exploring the MuseumsQuartier (MQ). This area houses various museums and institutions dedicated to contemporary art and culture, and some of these venues may have free entry or pay-as-you-wish policies. Additionally, keep in mind that some museums in Vienna are always free to enter. For example, the main location of the Wien Museum, with its permanent exhibition on Vienna's chronological, social, and cultural history, offers free entry, with only special exhibitions requiring an entrance fee. Similarly, the Bank Austria Kunstforum Wien's main exhibition charges a fee, but access to the smaller tresor exhibition space is typically free.
Lastly, certain groups may be eligible for discounted or free admission to museums in Austria. Students under 27, individuals doing military or civilian service, and holders of an identity card for disabled persons often receive reduced rates at museums. Additionally, journalists with press cards, companions registered on disability passes, and members of specific organisations or associations may be granted free admission to select museums. Be sure to carry relevant identification or proof of membership to take advantage of these discounts.
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Frequently asked questions
If you're happy to couchsurf, you can save money by staying with locals for free. Alternatively, look out for city tourism cards that include free or discounted accommodation, such as the Salzburg Card.
Many of Austria's attractions, such as the Mirabell Gardens in Salzburg, are free to visit. You can also save money by visiting on free days or at free times, or by purchasing city tourism cards that include discounted attraction rates, such as the Vienna City Card.
If you're going to be using public transport a lot, it's cheaper to buy a 24-hour pass than to pay for single rides. You can also look out for guest cards that offer unlimited transport, or simply walk everywhere.
If you're looking to invest, Austria has a strong business environment and investment funds are a good option as they are diversified and open to an unlimited number of investors. You can also open a savings account, which is safe and easy to do in Austria, although the yields are low.
