Go, but pay attention.
No major changes since yesterday.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Austria
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Go, but pay attention.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't fall for it
Scams to know
Fake Police Fraud
Individuals stop tourists to ask for directions, then accomplices appear claiming to be police and display fake badges.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Required: Yellow Fever
Recommended: Hepatitis B, Measles, Rabies, Tick-borne Encephalitis
Source: CDC Travelers' Health →Getting in
What you'll need at the border
The visa policy of the Schengen Area is a component within the wider area of freedom, security and justice policy of the European Union. It applies to the Schengen Area and Cyprus, but not to EU member state Ireland. The visa policy allows nationals of certain countries to enter the Schengen Area via air, land or sea without a visa for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Nationals of certain other countries are required to have a visa to enter and, in some cases, transit through the Schenge
Source: Wikipedia →Real, not invented
Terrorism
Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Austria. Terrorism attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by foreign nationals such as: public transport national and international transport hubs music, sporting and cultural events entertainment establishments and nightlife venues government buildings and international institutions places of worship and religious sites You should be vigilant in public places and follow the advice of local authorities. Recent examples include: on 15 February 2025, one person was killed and five injured in central Villach, Carinthia, southern Austria in a knife attack on 2 November 2020, four people were killed and 23 injured in a terrorism-related shooting in central Vienna The Austrian authorities have successfully disrupted various attack plans, making a number of arrests in recent years. You can expect to see an increased police presence, and additional safety measures may be in place. Be aware of your surroundings and follow the advice of local authorities.
Source: UK FCDO →From people who've been there
Local know-how
Staying safe
- •Austria is one of the safest countries in the world.
- •Violent crimes are extremely rare and should not concern the average tourist.
- •There is a federal police and in some few towns there is a municipality police.
- •Racism can be in some rare cases a problem and may make your stay an unpleasant experience.
Staying healthy
- •Austria has an excellent healthcare system by Western standards.
- •If you are a traveller from the EU, you can get any form of urgent treatment for free (or a small token fee) that is covered by the Krankenkassen.
- •If you are a traveller from outside the EU, and have no travel insurance, you will need to pay the full cost of treatment up-front (with the exception of the emergency room).
- •Austria has a dense network of helicopter ambulances that can reach any point in the country within 15 minutes.
Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.
Right now
In the news the last few days
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
C / F · 230V
Driving side
right
Emergency
police: 112 or 133 / ambulance: 144 / fire: 122
Tipping
In Austria, tipping is common and, although legally not mandatory, often considered as socially obligatory. Giving 5% to 10% of the total amount is common; more signals exceptionally good service. Rounding to a multiple of a Euro is common, for low sums the amount paid is often a multiple of 50 cents (i.e. a bill of can be paid as or ).
Cash vs. Card
Austria is a cash-oriented society, and while acceptance of credit/debit cards is on the rise, many shops are still cash only.
Zoom in
2 Austria cities on SKETCH.WORLD
Real, resident-submitted Numbeo crime data at the city level — the same national picture above, with crime swapped for what people who actually live there report.
Show the receipts (9 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-09-09
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-09-09
- ca-gac — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-09-09
- cdc-health — observed 2026-09-09
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-09-09
- reddit — observed 2026-09-09
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-09-09