Travelling between Ireland and Austria has never been easier with direct scheduled flights from several cities in Austria to many locations in Ireland.  For the most up-to-date information about travel between Ireland and Austria please visit the websites of the individual airlines in the "Related Links" section below:  

The information below has been prepared to help Irish nationals visiting or living in Austria.    While every effort is made to ensure that the information provided is accurate and up-to-date, it can not be regarded as definitive or comprehensive in all respects.  The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Ireland cannot be held responsible for any injury or loss suffered as a result of reliance on the information provided on this website, or on websites which are referenced below.

AIR TRAVEL

Aer Lingus, Ryanair and Lauda Air offer scheduled or charter services between Ireland and Austria.  Ryanair and SkyEurope also offer direct scheduled services between Ireland and Bratislava in Slovakia (located approx. 50 minutes from Vienna).   Aer Lingus services to Munich in Germany may also be convenient for travel to certain parts of Austria.   Please note that some services are seasonal.  The following list of flights was correct as of July 2008:

Dublin - Vienna                                    Aer Lingus

Dublin – Bratislava                              Ryanair 

Dublin - Salzburg (Seasonal)              Aer Lingus

Dublin - Salzburg (Seasonal)              Ryanair

Dublin – Munich                                   Aer Lingus  

Cork - Munich                                       Aer Lingus

Shannon - Vienna (Seasonal)             Lauda Air

Belfast – Munich (Seasonal)               Aer Lingus

TRAVEL BY RAIL 

Vienna is a rail hub for central Europe and is very well served with regular rail connections to other European capitals such as Prague, Budapest and Bratislava.   Austria also has a well-developed domestic rail service.  ÖBB is the national rail company and has an English language website here. A Motorail service is also available, allowing cars to be transported on certain rail routes from Germany, Italy, Slovenia and Croatia to Austria.  Further details are available here.

DRIVING IN AUSTRIA  

Please ensure that you are over 18 years of age and hold a full and valid Irish or international licence. When driving in Austria, you should always carry a full driving licence, ownership documents and insurance details. Driving in Austria is on the right. You should familiarise yourself with the Austrian rules of the road, which differ in some important ways to the Irish rules.  For example, Austria follows the ‘priority to the right’ system, whereby drivers must give way to vehicles approaching from the right at all uncontrolled intersections.  Watch out also for trams in Austrian cities, as they always have priority and it is forbidden to overtake them when stopped.  Note also that vehicles turning right or left at traffic lights must always give way to pedestrians, who are normally signalled to cross at the same time as turning vehicles.  

High-visibility warning vests are required for all drivers and must be worn day or night when exiting the vehicle on the hard shoulder or in the event of breakdown.  Only "hands free" mobile telephones can be used whilst driving.

Speed-limits can vary but in general the following limits apply: Motorways 130kph, Open roads 100kph, Urban areas 50kph.  Speed checks are made through fixed cameras and mobile police patrols.     

All Austrian motorways and expressways are subject to a single toll, collected in advance by means of a tax sticker (vignette) which must be displayed on your windscreen.  Stickers may be purchased in service stations, post offices and Tabak shops, and are available with validity of 10 days, two months or one year.  Pay-as-you-go tolls are collected on the A13 Brenner, A9 Pyhrn, A10 Tauren, and S16 Arlberg Tunnel (although discounts apply for those already displaying a vignette).

There are severe penalties in Austria for driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. The alcohol limit is 0.5 mg/l for standard vehicles and 0.1 mg/l for learners, coach and HGV drivers. If you are caught with alcohol in your system while driving it can lead to heavy on-the-spot fines, confiscation of your licence and/or imprisonment.

Before driving in Austria it is strongly recommended to consult the following link regarding the Austrian system for recording driving offences which is applied to all drivers irrespective of their nationality.

Road Travel in Winter (1 November-15 April):  Austrian legislation requires that all vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes laden weight use winter tyres on all wheels during wintry road conditions (snow, slush, ice). Snow chains on the driving wheels are only permitted as an alternative to winter tyres where the road is fully covered by snow and/or ice and the road surface will not be damaged by the chains.  Chains or summer tyres are not permitted for slush conditions.  Heavy fines or temporary loss of vehicle may be imposed for breaches of this legislation.