Leslie Massey
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, sharing its borders with eight other countries. To the north, Austria is bordered by the Czech Republic and Slovakia, to the east by Hungary, to the south by Slovenia and Italy, to the southwest by Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and to the northwest by Germany. The country's landscape is characterised by mountains and forests, with the Austrian Alps forming the physical backbone of the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Countries bordering Austria | Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy |
| Austria-Switzerland border length | 98 mi or 158 km |
| Austria-Liechtenstein border length | 21 mi or 34 km |
| Austria-Germany border length | 497 mi or 801 km |
| Austria-Czech Republic border length | 249 mi or 402 km |
| Austria-Slovakia border length | 185 mi or 105 km |
| Austria-Hungary border length | 205 mi or 331 km |
| Austria-Slovenia border length | 185 mi or 330 km |
| Austria-Italy border length | 251 mi or 404 km |
| Austria's total border length | 1,574 mi or 2,534 km |
| Austria's border crossing points with Hungary | Six as of October 2017 |
| Austria's border crossing points with Slovakia | One motorway crossing in Jarovce |
| Austria's border crossing point with Germany | Ammer Saddle |
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What You'll Learn
Austria's northern border with the Czech Republic
Austria is a predominantly mountainous country in Central Europe. It shares national borders with Switzerland, the principality of Liechtenstein, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Italy. Austria's northern border with the Czech Republic is about 249 miles or 402 kilometres long. The Austro-Czech border begins at the border tripoint formed by the Austrian, German, and Czech borders. It then turns towards the east and ends at the tripoint formed by the meeting of borders between Austria, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. The border was established in 1918, with the end of the First World War, the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the creation of Czechoslovakia.
The Czech Republic is a unitary parliamentary state occupying an area of about 30,450 square miles and has a population of over 10.6 million. The capital and largest city in the country is Prague, with a population of over 1.3 million people. The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe, and its border with Austria is one of the most important crossings in the region. The two countries share a long common history, having been united from 1253 until 1276 under the reign of Ottokar II of Bohemia. They later joined again, along with Hungary, to form a major European power under the Habsburg dynasty, which lasted from 1526 until 1918.
The border crossings between the Czech Republic and Austria offer a fascinating mix of picturesque landscapes and modern transportation infrastructure. The Czech Republic has a well-developed highway network, including the D1, which stretches from Prague to the Austrian border and provides a fast connection to Vienna. Road signs in the Czech Republic are usually bilingual (Czech and English), making navigation easier for foreign travellers. There are several popular border crossings between the two countries, including the Wullowitz-Dolní Dvořiště Border Crossing, which connects the Austrian A7 highway with the Czech D3 highway, and the Gmund-České Velenice Border Crossing, which connects the Austrian town of Gmund with České Velenice in the Czech Republic.
The relationship between Austria and the Czech Republic has not always been amicable. In the 1930s, when Austria was annexed to Germany, some politicians sought refuge in the neighbouring country. During this time, the Czechs expelled nearly all Germans from their country, and the properties left behind were nationalised and redistributed among the Czech population. More recently, in the 1990s, Austrian ecologists demonstrated against the nuclear power plant at Temelin, 50 kilometres north of the Austrian border with the Czech Republic. However, in 2000, the two governments agreed on certain nuclear safety standards and cross-border information protocols.
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Border crossings with Slovakia to the northeast
Austria shares a border with Slovakia to its northeast. The boundary between the two countries is approximately 105 km or 185 miles long. The lower course of the River Morava forms a large part of the border. The only motorway crossing between the two countries is in Jarovce, which connects Berg in Austria and Bratislava in Slovakia.
In April 2025, Austria closed off 24 border crossings with Slovakia and Hungary due to a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. Slovakian authorities declared an emergency after the disease was found on three farms. Austria implemented rigorous checks at the few border crossings that remained open. Cars and pedestrians were required to cross over an epidemic rug to disinfect their tires or shoes, and police searched vehicles for meat products.
In October 2017, Hungary announced the opening of six new crossing points on its border with Austria.
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Austria's eastern border with Hungary
Austria is bordered by eight countries, with Hungary to the east. The Austria-Hungary boundary is about 205 miles long, and the two countries share a border that stretches 331 km or 205 mi. The border between Austria and Hungary is a significant transportation route, with numerous road crossings, including some famous ones. The border's history dates back to the Kingdom of Hungary, which ceded German West Hungary to the new Republic of Austria under the Treaty of Trianon in 1920. This newly acquired territory was officially named Burgenland in 1921.
The border's demarcation was influenced by the heterogeneous nature of the region and the slow disentanglement of Austria and Hungary after 1918. Before World War I, German nationalist demands for the administrative affiliation of the western fringe of Hungary, which had a predominantly German-speaking population, were not taken seriously. However, after the war, a three-year dispute between the two countries over the territory ensued. The current border reflects the outcome of this dispute.
The border between Austria and Hungary has played a significant role in the history of both countries. During the Cold War, it was part of the "Iron Curtain" that divided Europe. Hungary's border fence with Austria, which was erected after World War II, was removed in 1989 with the collapse of communism in Hungary. This event symbolised the first fissure in the Iron Curtain and had a domino effect, ultimately leading to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The opening of the border brought about significant changes. Hungarians could now easily cross into Austria to access goods and services that were previously unavailable or scarce in their country. Additionally, the border crossing facilitated increased transit between the two countries, with many people and vehicles crossing daily. Today, the border between Austria and Hungary continues to be an important route for trade, tourism, and cultural exchange between Central and Eastern Europe.
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Austria's southern border with Slovenia and Italy
Austria is a predominantly mountainous country in Central Europe, sharing borders with Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Italy. Austria's southern border is formed by the countries of Slovenia and Italy.
The Austrian-Slovenian border is a 330-kilometre (210-mile) land border that came into existence in 1991 when Slovenia gained independence from Yugoslavia. The border provides a passageway between eastern and southeastern Europe, and it connects the Vienna Basin with the Mürz and Mur valleys, providing northeast-southwest access to Styria and Slovenia, and, via Carinthia, to Italy. The Southern Calcareous Alps, on the Carinthia-Slovenia border, are predominantly made of limestone and dolomite, and they separate groups of people from one another.
The Austrian-Italian border is about 251 miles long and has numerous border passes. One of these is Birnlucke, which is situated between the Zillertal Alp and the Venediger Group. Birnlucke forms the boundary between the valleys of Ahrntal and Krimmler Achental in Italy, and South Tyrol in Italy and Salzburg in Austria. The Brenner Pass is one of the principal passes of the Eastern Alpine range, and other mountain passes include Timmelsjoch, Staller Saddle, Reschen Pass, Plocken Pass, and Hochjoch. The Italian-Slovenian border starts in the Alps at the tripoint connecting the Austria-Italy border and the Austria-Slovenia border and ends at the Adriatic Sea.
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Austria's western border with Switzerland and Liechtenstein
Austria is a predominantly mountainous country in Central Europe, sharing borders with Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. The border between Austria and Switzerland is divided into two parts, with a total length of 180 km (110 mi) or 158 km (98 mi). The longer, southern stretch runs across the Grison Alps, while the shorter northern stretch follows the Alpine Rhine, except near Diepoldsau and between Lustenau and Lake Constance, where it follows the Old Rhine bed. The border continues northward to the Austrian-Swiss-German tripoint located within Upper Lake Constance. The Swiss-Austrian border also includes the International Rhine Regulation Railway, a heritage railway that was originally built for the straightening of the Alpine Rhine.
The Swiss-Austrian border cuts across the High Alps, connecting the peaks of Grübelekopf (2,894 m or 9,495 ft), Bürkelkopf (3,033 m or 9,951 ft), Greitspitz (2,867 m or 9,406 ft), Piz Rots (3,097 m or 10,161 ft), Fluchthorn (3,398 m or 11,148 ft), Augstenberg (3,230 m or 10,600 ft), Piz Buin (3,312 m or 10,866 ft), and Gross Seehorn (3,122 m or 10,243 ft). From the northern Swiss-Austrian-Liechtenstein tripoint, the Swiss-Austrian border follows the Alpine Rhine, which also forms the Swiss-Liechtenstein border.
The Principality of Liechtenstein, a German-speaking microstate, is sandwiched between Switzerland and Austria. It is Europe's fourth-smallest country, with an area of just over 160 square kilometers (62 square miles) and a population of about 38,557. Liechtenstein's entire western border is formed by the Rhine River. The country has a prosperous, highly industrialized free-enterprise economy and offers a high standard of living for its citizens.
The current Swiss-Austrian border is a product of the creation of the Helvetic Republic in 1798. During the 19th century, it was part of the western border of the Austrian Empire and later Austria-Hungary. In the 20th century, it became the border of the First Austrian Republic, the Federal State of Austria, Nazi Germany, and Allied-occupied Austria, before eventually becoming the border of modern Austria in 1955. Switzerland's accession to the Schengen Area in December 2008 removed passport checks between the two countries, although customs checks may still be performed as Switzerland is outside the EU Customs Union.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria is bordered by eight countries: Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Italy.
The Austria-Germany border is about 497 miles long, making it the longest border for both countries.
Switzerland and Liechtenstein are not members of the European Union, so Austria shares its border with two non-EU countries.
Slovakia has a population of over 5,435,343.
Austria has implemented border checks with eight countries: Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, and Sweden.
