Travel Money in Austria

What is the local currency in Austria? 

The currency of Austria is the Euro (EUR). One EUR is 0.9 GBP (as of 19th October 2020).

Do I tip whilst in Austria?

In Austria, tipping is appreciated and recommended in hotels, bars and restaurants. Typically, a round up to the nearest Euro will suffice, unless the bill is over 10 euros in which case a 10% tip would be welcomed.  

View Caxton’s tipping guide for more advice on tipping abroad. 

Using cash in Austria

When travelling, our experts would recommend always bringing a small amount of cash with you on every trip, for initial taxi transfers or hotel deposits etc. The rest of your travel money should be put onto a Caxton multi-currency card, for safe and secure spending.

Cash is no longer king in Austria (even more so after COVID-19,) and almost all establishments accept credit/debit cards.

Most international banks and money outlets now charge a fee for using ATM machines, as do most card providers. Taking a travel prepaid card and a credit card is recommended as Caxton does not charge for international ATM use regardless of sum or number of times, (but check with your card provider about charges.)

We would recommend still bringing your bank card on your trip as a backup option. However, if you decide to take your bank card, we recommend telling your bank before you go so the transaction isn’t identified as fraudulent, but be prepared for fees and high exchange rates.

All major cards are accepted widely in Austria at key tourist hubs.

The price of eating and drinking in Austria

As a rough guideline, we’ve put together a list of the costs of spending an average day in Austria:

Domestic beer = €3.90

One-way ticket on local transport = €2.40

Meal, inexpensive restaurant = €12.00

Bottle of wine (mid-range) = €7.00

Bottle of water = €2.13

What happens if I have my wallet stolen whilst in Austria?

Austria is known to be a safe country with friendly and helpful people, but this shouldn’t stop you from being smart whilst you travel. If the majority of your cash is on a prepaid card, this will be automatically protected. However, in case the worse happens, here are the list of major debit/credit card ‘lost and stolen’ numbers:

HSBC/First Direct - +44 1442 422929

Natwest - +44 1268 500 813

Lloyds - +44 1702 278270

Barclays - +442476842099

Santander - +44 1908 237 963

The best tourist attractions in Austria

Some examples of Austria's most popular tourist attractions are:

• The Vienna Hofburg
• Salzburg Altstadt, UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Melk Benedictine Abbey
• Skiing at Kitzbuhel 

The best Austrian souvenirs

Whilst in Austria, you may as well spend any remaining currency, if only small amount, on some traditional Austrian souvenirs, such as:

• Mozart Balls - the delightful chocolate sweets with the famous composer’s face on. 
• Klimt-related memorabilia 
• Manner wafers
• Empress Sisi fridge magnet

History of the Euro

• The Euro came into existence on 1 January 1999 - though it had been a goal of the European Union since the 1960s. Notes and coins didn’t begin circulation until 2002. 
• Today the euro is the sole currency of 19 EU member states, with the original dozen being joined by: Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia and Slovenia. These countries constitute the "eurozone".
• The rise of the Euro in its short lifespan is remarkable with it now being the second-largest reserve currency as well as the second-most traded currency in the world after the United States dollar.

Get your Holiday Money Delivered

Beat the queues with the Caxton Cash Delivery service. With next day cash delivery to your home and 58 different currencies, it couldn’t be easier to get your holiday money sorted. Simply Login to your Caxton account and select ‘Cash Delivery’ to get started.

Alternatively, if you’re not a fan of Klimt’s work, you can use Caxton’s buy back guarantee to get rid of any unused Kronor. By doing this you ensure that if the exchange rate moves against you, you won't lose out.