Where to Stay in Austria Tips
How to find the perfect holiday accommodation in Austria
Where to Stay in Austria: Expert Tips for Every Traveller
Planning your Austrian adventure and wondering where to stay in Austria?
Whether you’re visiting iconic cities like Vienna and Salzburg, exploring charming alpine villages, or skiing in the Tyrolean Alps, choosing the right accommodation can truly shape your experience.
As someone who lives in Austria and regularly explores its diverse regions, I’ve stayed in everything from elegant boutique hotels and lakeside resorts to traditional alpine guesthouses and modern city apartments. In this guide, I’ll share practical, firsthand tips to help you navigate the many lodging options across the country—so you can find the best fit for your trip, budget, and travel style.
You’ll also find links to detailed destination guides with curated accommodation picks—including affiliate recommendations I genuinely stand behind. Let’s find your perfect stay in Austria.
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Top 10 Tips
From bed sizes, duvets to linens-and all other tips.
Hints
How to find your Austrian holiday accommodation.
Good to Know
Info: providing ID and/or passports, Tourist tax and tipping.
Types of Accommodations
You will find a selection of accommodation options in Austria including:
Hotels: 3- to 5-star accommodations with on-site reception. From boutique to luxury hotels. Many hotels may have wellness/spa, pools and restaurants.
Pension: Typically, they are family-run small 2-3 star hotels, usually equivalent to a Bed and breakfast.
Apartments /Ferienwohnung / FeWo: Self-catered holiday apartments. Perfect for families or groups that require more space and kitchen facilities.
Chalets: A Typical wooden A-framed house found in ski resorts. A luxurious accommodation option for groups, sometimes with a chalet host.
Hostels: Dormitory-style sleeping arrangements with shared bathrooms. Some hostels have family rooms.
Kinderhotels: family-friendly hotel that offers childcare, kids clubs, activities and restaurants.
Campsites: Tent and caravan sites. Some campsites have cabins and pools.
Unique: Bauernhaus (Farmhouse), Schloßhotels (Castle Hotels), Hütte (mountain huts).
Chalet in Kaprun
Hotel Grüner Baum in Hallstatt © Wanderlustria
Facilities and Amenities to consider when searching for holiday accommodation
Cancellation and Payment Policies
Check-In/ Check-Out times
Reception Opening times
What floor is the room on?
Is there Luggage Storage available?
Room Size and Occupancy
Size of Bed(s)
Typical hostel
Is Breakfast Included? What Type?
Is there Air Conditioning?
Elevator/Lift Availability
Distance to city centre /public transport
Is WIFI (WLAN) available?
Is there a Washing Machine or laundry service?
Is Parking available?
Quick Accommodation links
Budget
The prices of a hotel can vary depending:
- whether it is High or low season
- proximity to the centre of the city/village/sights
- what amenities are available.
Average prices during High Season:
Hostel dorms: 8-bed dorm rooms: 35€/person/night.
Camping: 25-50€ per night
Budget / B&B: €70-150 per night
Self-catered apartments: from 95-200+€ /night
Chalets in Ski resorts: 250- 500€+/night
Midrange / Boutique: €150-300 per night
Luxury: €350+ per night
Top 10 Hints
Here are the ten things you need to know before you book your holiday accommodation in Austria.
1. Room Sizes are typically smaller.
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Hotel rooms in Austria may have different layouts and sizes.
These are the typical room types:
Single: occupied by one person- normally with single bed
Double: occupied by two people – normally means it has a double, queen or king bed
Twin: occupied by two people – normally means it has two single beds.
Suites: usually considered the larger room size available in hotels. Suites usually offer multiple spaces such as bedroom, living room or sitting area, some may have a kitchen or kitchenette.
Maisonette: are two-floor rooms with separate living and sleeping areas.
2. You are only allowed the number of registered guests in each room/apartment.This includes children and babies. For safety reasons, all accommodations have a designated maximum capacity.
3. Bed Sizes are different.
Learn More
These are the typical mattress sizes in Austria.
Single: 90 cm x 200 cm (35“x 79“).
Double: 140 cm x 200 cm (55“x 79“).
Queen: 160 x 200 cm (63” x 79”)
King: 180cm x 200 cm (71” x 79”)
4. Duvets and Linen. Austrians do not use bedspreads. In Austria, you are provided two duvets.
Learn More
The two same-sized duvets (usually 150cm x 200cm), one for each person, are folded in half and placed side-by-side on the bed.
Another surprise for tourists in Austria is that beds have a fitted bottom sheet but no top sheets. The duvet is in a duvet cover that is washed after each guest.
Accommodations normally provide bath towels, bath mats and smaller towels. BUT face cloths are not commonly provided in Austria.
5. Floor Numbering The first floor is the floor above the ground floor (Erdgeschoss). In Vienna, the first floor may be above the Erdegschoss and the Mezzanin (effectively, it is the third floor). If it is important to be on the ground foor- confirm with the accommodation.
6. Elevators and Lifts: Most city hotels have elevators/lifts. However, many older Austrian buildings, B&Bs and self-catered apartments may not have elevators/lifts. I recommend that you enquire before booking- if an elevator/lift is a necessity.
7. Air Conditioning is not popular in Austria. You will find air conditioning in hotels but do not expect it in self-catering apartments. American guests may find that the air conditioning may not be as cold as you are normally accustomed to.
8. Breakfast A typical Austrian breakfast is coffee, tea, hot chocolate, semmeln (bread rolls) with cold meat, cheeses, pate and spreads, museli and yogurt, and hard boiled eggs.
Many hotels may provide a buffet breakfast with more continental breakfast options.
9. Catering Resorts and hotels may offer two different food catering options: Vollpension (full-board) means you have breakfast, lunch and dinner at the hotel’s restaurant are included. Halbpension (half-board) means you have breakfast and dinner included.
10. Washing machine and Dryers. Some accommodations may provide a washing machine, but in Austria, dryers are not common. Your accommodation will provide a drying rack.
Hints for Finding Holiday Accommodation in Austria
Holiday accommodation in Austria is listed on all the major booking platforms, including Booking.com, Airbnb, VRBO, etc.
You will find listings for Hotels, Pensions and Airbnb-type options on all the platforms, so do not restrict yourself to one search. Look on different booking platforms to find the best deal.
HINT #1: Alternatives to using the main Booking platforms
The local tourist offices in most Austrian cities, regions or resorts also provide accommodation reservation systems. Normally, reservations through Tourism offices do not incur commissions, so you may find better prices.
To find Tourism office websites, Use a Google Search : [city/village/ski resort Name] + Tourismus.
HINT#2 Summer Cards
One of the best ways to save money and get amazing perks is to find accommodations that provide their regional Summer Card.
Many regions in Austria offer Summer Cards, which are normally provided for free when you stay with affiliated accommodation providers. These Summer Cards cannot be purchased. The Summer Cards offer unbelievable deals for summer activities, with some providing free gondola rides, entrance to sights, and free public transportation.
You will find all the information about Summer cards on the Regions Tourism Website.
Good to Know
Providing Passport /ID to Austrian Accommodation Providers
It is the law in Austria for accommodations to provide a guest ID to the authorities.
Normal requirements are:
-
- Names
- Passport or European ID
- Birthdates of all guests
- Email address
- Home address.
Hotels and accommodations with on-site reception may register guests at check-in.
However, many Airbnb hosts and hosts of self-catering apartments will request this information before your arrival.
It is now the norm for guest registration to be completed through an online registration form, which is submitted directly to the authorities.
Registration
In Austria, all tourist properties must be registered, and there is a registration number. This number should be listed on the booking platforms.
Tourist Tax.
All adult guests (>14 years old) pay a tourist tax ranging from 2 to 6 €/person/night depending on the location and the accommodation type. The tourist tax may be included in your hotel invoice. For Self-catered accommodation, this is normally an extra that is paid in cash.
Tipping Hotel Staff
The practice of tipping is not very common in Austrian hotels. In most hotels a service charge is included in the bill for staff, however, Porters, Concierge staff and Cleaning staff appreciate a thank you or small gratuity. For example a tip of 1-2€ / bag or 1-2€ / night for the cleaning staff for a spotless stay.
Trip Planning
Click on one of the topics below to start planning your dream trip to Austria.
How to Plan Guide
Austria Travel Tips & Info
Budget for your trip
Accommodation Guides
Transport Guides
Visas and ETIAS
When to Visit Austria
Austria Holidays
Festivals & Events
Mobile Phones in Austria
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