Page last updated: 18 June 2025
Austria, renowned for its stunning alpine landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and historic cities like Vienna and Salzburg, is a top destination for travellers seeking both natural beauty and cultural experiences.
How many people visit Austria each year?
Over 40 million people, comprising both international and domestic tourists, visited Austria each year.1
- In 2019, Austria welcomed 46.2 million visitors marking the highest recorded visitors in history.
- When the pandemic started, this number dropped by 46% to 25 million visitors in 2020.
- By 2021, Austria further dropped by 12% to 22.1 million visitors.
- Arrivals in Austria rose with 39.8 million visitors in 2022 and 45.2 million visitors in 2023, but still down 14% from 2019 figures.
- Austria continued its strong tourism recovery in 2024, welcoming 46.7 million visitors, a 3.3% increase from 2023 and slightly surpassing pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2019.
How many tourists visited Austria in 2025?
- In 2025, from January to April, Austria received approximately 12.4 million visitors, a +4.2% increase compared to the same period in 2024 (11.9 million)
Note: This data is preliminary from Statistics Austria and may be subject to change.
Monthly Visitors in Austria 2025
| Month | 2025 Visits |
| Jan | 2.96 |
| Feb | 4.12 |
| Mar | 2.54 |
| Apr | 2.78 |
How many tourists visited Austria in 2024?
In 2024, over 46.7 million tourists visited Austria, a +3.3% increase from 2023 (45.2 million) and a +1.1% increase from the pre-pandemic peak in 2019 (46.2 million).
How much do tourists spend in Austria every year?
Tourists spent over €25.62 billion during trips to Austria in 2024.
- Inbound tourist receipts in Austria generated €23.13 billion in 2019.
- This number decreased to €13.44 billion in 2020 due to coronavirus travel restrictions and fewer international visitors. This further decreased by 24% in 2021 to €10.17 million.
- Tourists spent €21.21 billion in 2022 and €25.62 billion in 2023, 11% greater than pre-pandemic figures.
How much do tourists spend in Austria 2024?
- In 2024, international tourists spent approximately €35.4 billion in Austria, a 38.3% increase from 2023 (€25.6 billion) and a 53.2% increase from 2019 (€23.1 billion).
Which country visits Austria the most?
- Germany was by far the top contributor of visitors to Austria in 2024, accounting for 58.45 million overnight stays, the highest among all source markets.
- The Netherlands followed with 11.09 million overnight stays, reflecting strong travel demand from neighboring countries.
- Switzerland and Liechtenstein together recorded 4.40 million overnight stays, maintaining their place among the top European markets.
- The United States saw a significant rise, reaching a record high of 2.38 million overnight stays, the highest level since records began.
- Overnight stays from Asia totaled 3.37 million, up 7.1% from 2023, but still 28.9% below 2019 levels.
How much does it cost to visit Austria?
- Visiting Austria cost around €757 per trip in 2024, based on average international tourist spending. This includes expenses such as accommodation, dining, transportation, activities, and shopping.
How many days do tourists visit Austria?
- Generally, tourists spent 3.3 nights exploring Austria’s popular cities and attractions in 2024.
- 2008 marked the highest peak stay with 3.9 nights.
Austria Travel Resources
Economic Impact – Austria Tourism Statistics
- In 2024, tourism contributed 5.3% to Austria’s GDP, highlighting the sector’s continued recovery and importance to the national economy. The industry supported around 541,000 jobs, reflecting its strong role in employment across the country.
- Tourism contributed 7.6% to Austria’s GDP in 2019, which declined to 4.5% in 2020 and 4.1% in 2021 due to the pandemic. In 2022, 3.8% of the total GDP came from the tourism sector.
- In 2019, tourists spent around €37.7 billion, while spending decreased to €20.9 billion in 2020 and €15.8 billion in 2021.
- 2022 was Austria’s recovery year with total spending of €30.3 billion, matching pre-pandemic figures.
- Martin Winkler, CEO of Austria’s leading private-sector tourist company, Verkehrsbüro Group, announced that nearly 10% of Austria’s population is employed in tourism, either directly or indirectly, highlighting its significance to the economy.
Is Austria safe to visit?
Yes, Austria is considered one of the safest countries to visit in the world.
- It consistently ranks high on global safety and quality of life indexes.
- Violent crime is extremely rare, and petty crimes like pickpocketing are uncommon but can occur in busy tourist areas. Basic precautions are usually sufficient.
- Public transportation is reliable and safe, even at night.
- Healthcare services are excellent and accessible.
- Natural areas like the Alps are well-maintained, with marked trails and safety infrastructure for outdoor activities.
When is the best time to visit Austria?
- July is the best time to visit Austria with 6.67 million visitors in 2024, making it the peak month. The warm summer weather and the renowned Salzburg Festival continue to draw large crowds.2
- August followed closely with 6.11 million visitors, sustaining the summer high season thanks to ideal weather and major cultural events like the Vienna International Film Festival.
- June welcomed 5.16 million visitors, marking the start of the summer tourism season and the kickoff of events like Donauinselfest, Europe’s largest free open-air festival in Vienna.
- May saw 4.53 million visitors, benefiting from late-spring travel and pre-summer events.
- February, with 4.12 million visitors, remained a popular winter month due to ski tourism in the Austrian Alps and the prestigious Vienna Opera Ball.
How popular is Austria as a tourist destination?
- Over the past few decades, Austria has become one of the world’s top tourism destinations, consistently ranking among the 15 most visited countries despite its small size and population.
- With nearly 30 million international visitors annually and a reputation as the “Most Tourism-Friendly” by the World Economic Forum, Austria is a major player in tourism.
Austria Travel Resources
Austria Tourism Statistics – International & Domestic Overnight
- Pre-Pandemic (2013-2019): Austria experienced steady growth in both international and domestic visitors that stayed overnight, peaking in 2019 with 79 million overnight visitors.
- Pandemic Impact (2020-2021): The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted tourism, causing a 32% drop in visitor numbers in both segments.
- Despite the pandemic, domestic tourism showed more resilience compared to international tourism, reflecting reliance on local travel during global disruptions.
Why do people go to Austria?
Shopping, leisure, visiting friends and relatives, business trips, and other personal reasons are the main reasons why international tourists visit Austria in 2020.
- The largest segment of visitors to Austria in 2020 came to visit friends and relatives, accounting for 36% of the total. This highlighted the strong social connections and family ties that draw people to the country.
- Activity holidays, which include outdoor and adventure activities, constituted 24% of visits.
- Recreation holidays, focused on relaxation and leisure, made up 19% of visits.
- Cultural visits and sightseeing accounted for 6% of the visits. While a smaller percentage compared to other categories, this still reflected the popularity of Austria’s rich cultural heritage and historic sites.
- Visits for wellness and beauty purposes represented 5% of the total. Austria’s spas, wellness centres, and beauty treatments are highly valued by a segment of tourists.
- The remaining 11% of visits were for other purposes, indicating a variety of reasons for travel that do not fit into the primary categories listed.
Most Visited Attractions in Austria
- Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna is Austria’s most popular tourist attraction, offering guided tours of the Imperial ceremonial rooms, freely accessible gardens, and the nearby Schönbrunn Zoo, the oldest zoo in the world.3
- Vienna’s Ringstrasse is a circular road around the city’s first district, featuring grand buildings like the State Opera, Parliament, City Hall, and the university, all viewable by foot or tram.
- Vienna’s Giant Ferris Wheel is a must-visit landmark providing panoramic views of the city.
- Hohensalzburg Fortress in Salzburg, built in 1077, offers mediaeval history with the Princes’ Chambers, a museum of ancient suits of armour, and a historic marionette museum.
Europe Travel Resources
- Belgium Statistics
- Croatia Statistics
- Denmark Statistics
- France Statistics (incl. Paris, Disneyland Paris, Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Notre Dame)
- Georgia Statistics
- Germany Statistics (incl. Berlin)
- Greece Statistics (incl. Parthenon)
- Iceland Statistics
- Italy Statistics (incl. Florence, Milan, Rome, Venice)
- Netherlands Statistics (incl. Amsterdam)
- Norway Statistics
- Portugal Statistics (incl. Lisbon)
- Spain Statistics (incl. Barcelona, Madrid, Mallorca)
- Sweden Statistics
- Switzerland Statistics
- UK Statistics (incl. Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Oxford, Scotland)
