Getting Euros for Your Trip to Austria

Austria shares Germany's love affair with cash. Despite being a modern, wealthy country, many Austrians prefer "Bargeld" (cash) for everyday transactions. This is particularly true in traditional establishments, mountain regions, and smaller towns.

Vienna has become more card-friendly in recent years, but even there you'll find coffee houses, Würstelstände (sausage stands), and smaller restaurants that prefer cash. In the Alps, cash is essential — many mountain huts, ski lifts, and après-ski venues don't accept cards.

Key insight for 2026: If you're skiing in Austria, bring significantly more cash than you would for a city break. Many mountain restaurants only accept cash, and ATMs in ski villages can have long queues and withdrawal limits.

Best Ways to Get Euros for Austria

1. Multi-currency cards (Wise, Revolut) — Best for flexibility. Use for card payments where accepted, and withdraw from Austrian bank ATMs for cash.
2. Order Euros online before travel — Essential for ski trips. Have cash ready before you head to the mountains.
3. Austrian bank ATMs — Erste Bank, Raiffeisen, BAWAG, and Bank Austria ATMs don't charge fees. Use with a fee-free card for best value.
4. UK specialist bureaux — Good rates for Euros. Order in advance for best value.
5. Austrian exchange offices — Found in Vienna and tourist areas. Rates vary — compare before exchanging.
6. UK banks — Convenient but rates typically 3-4% worse than specialists.
7. Airport exchanges — Poor rates at both UK and Austrian airports. Avoid if possible.

Using Cards in Austria

Where Cards Usually Work

• Hotels: All accept cards
• Supermarkets: Billa, Spar, Hofer all accept cards
• Major restaurants: Most tourist restaurants accept cards
• Train tickets: ÖBB machines and counters accept cards
• Ski passes: Main ticket offices accept cards
• Museums: Vienna's major museums accept cards

Where You'll Need Cash

• Traditional coffee houses: Many Viennese coffee houses are cash-only or have minimums
• Mountain huts (Hütten): Most Alpine huts are cash-only
• Würstelstände: Vienna's sausage stands are typically cash-only
• Markets: Naschmarkt and Christmas markets — cash preferred
• Small restaurants: Many prefer cash, especially outside Vienna
• Ski resort restaurants: Mountain restaurants often cash-only
• Taxis: Many prefer cash, though Uber accepts cards

ATMs in Austria (Bankomat)

Best ATMs to Use

• Erste Bank: Red ATMs, common in Vienna. No foreign card fees.
• Raiffeisenbank: Yellow/green ATMs, especially in rural areas. Fee-free.
• BAWAG: Widely available. No fees for foreign cards.
• Bank Austria: Good network. Fee-free withdrawals.

ATMs to Avoid

• Euronet: Found in tourist areas. Charges €5+ fees.
• Independent ATMs: Non-bank ATMs often charge fees.

Ski Resort ATM Tips

ATMs in ski villages can be limited and have long queues. Withdraw cash in larger towns (Innsbruck, Salzburg) before heading to resorts. ATM withdrawal limits may also be lower in small villages.

How Much Cash to Bring

• Vienna city break: €100-200 for 3-4 days
• Salzburg/Innsbruck: €150-250 for 3-4 days
• Ski week: €300-500+ (mountain restaurants are expensive and often cash-only)

Daily Spending Guide (Per Person)

• Budget: €60-90/day — hostels, supermarket meals, free activities
• Mid-range: €120-200/day — 3-star hotels, restaurants, museums
• Skiing: €200-400/day — ski passes, mountain restaurants, equipment hire
• Luxury Vienna: €350-600/day — 5-star hotels, fine dining, opera

Tipping in Austria

• Restaurants: Round up or add 5-10%. Say "Stimmt so" (keep the change) or state the total.
• Cafés: Round up to nearest Euro
• Taxis: Round up to nearest Euro
• Hotels: €1-2 per bag; €1-2/day housekeeping
• Ski instructors: €10-20 at end of lessons (customary)
• Mountain huts: Round up small amounts