Austria Travel Guide

Few countries in Europe are as magical as Austria - an alpine land hugged by sweeping pine forests, glistening lakes and Baroque-studded cities. The natural starting point is the staggeringly beautiful capital Vienna. Nab your Austria car rental at Vienna airport and head down into the city to discover its serious musical pedigree. This is the city where the likes of Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and many more musicians cut their teeth, perhaps inspired by the rows of imperial palaces and Baroque churches. Don’t confine yourself to just the capital though. Your Vienna car rental offers you the freedom to explore the meandering valleys, snow-capped mountain scenery and flower-studded meadows that lie beyond.

Dining in Austria

There’s no doubt, the Viennese know how to eat out. A good starting point is one of the capital’s exquisite coffee houses where you can taste roasted brews accompanied by fine cakes. Whether you stay in Vienna or take your Austrian car hire outside the city, it’s unthinkable to visit the country and not try a portion of their iconic schnitzel, pounded and breaded chicken or pork lightly fried until golden. Then there’s tafelspitz, broth boiled beef or veal served with apple sauce and horseradish. It’s not all about the age-old classics. There are plenty of innovative restaurants whose chefs are creating new and exciting Viennese dishes that pair well with the country’s finest wines.

Attractions in Austria

It would simply be impossible to list every attraction that you could reach with your car rental in Austria. Whether you’re a culture vulture, foodie or outdoorsy type, you’ll always find something to do which fits the bill. First timers shouldn’t skip a visit to the charming Old Town of Salzburg or the picture-perfect lakeside town of Hallstatt. Then there’s the great outdoors like Lake Attersee which attracts swimmers and water sports junkies during the summer. Or the mountains in Innsbruck which provide a winter wonderland during the colder months. There are museums aplenty in Austria. Highlights including the Lentos Museums in Linz and the impressive Kunsthistorische Museum in Vienna.

Austria driving routes

If you plan to take your Austrian car rental for a spin outside the city, you can’t do better than the Grossglockner High Alpine Road. This almost 50-kilometre stretch of road which links Bruck and Heiligenblut is the highest surfaced route in the country and reaches heady heights above 2,500 metres. Best driven in the summer months, the route twists and turns with hairpin bends through some of Austria’s most spectacular scenery and you can stop en route to hike in the Tauern National Park or visit the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe visitor centre. Pro tip: try to hit the road early, particularly in the summer when it gets a little crowded later in the day.

Austria car rental

There is simply no better way to experience the country than by scoring a rental car in Austria. If you’re sold, your best bet is picking one up at Vienna’s international airport. Before you do, there are a few things worth remembering. In Austria, cars drive on the right-hand side. Unless otherwise stated on signs, driving limits are 50 kph in the city, 100 kph on open roads and 130 kph on highways. While city gas stations are often open 24 hours a day, rurally they typically close at 8pm, so fill up early if you plan to drive later into the night.