Page last updated: 21 November 2024
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 45.1 million visitors, both international and domestic tourists, visited Austria in 2023.1
- 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.
How many tourists visited Austria in 2024?
- A total of 37.33 million international and domestic tourists arrived from January to September 2024. Note: This data is preliminary from Statistics Austria and may be subject to change.
| 2024 Tourist Arrivals in Austria | ||
| Month | International | Domestic |
| Jan | 2,782,298 | 955,368 |
| Feb | 3,214,074 | 1,058,166 |
| Mar | 2,799,107 | 1,048,922 |
| Apr | 1,425,772 | 933,089 |
| May | 2,221,530 | 1,312,005 |
| Jun | 2,679,158 | 1,421,618 |
| Jul | 3,979,156 | 1,591,660 |
| Aug | 4,307,419 | 1,797,985 |
| Sep | 2,539,314 | 1,265,701 |
| Oct | – | – |
| Nov | – | – |
| Dec | – | – |
How many people visited Austria in 2023?
- In 2023, Austria welcomed 45.2 million visitors, with 30.9 million being international tourists and 14.3 million domestic travellers. This represented an 11% increase from the peak pre-pandemic year of 2019.
How much do tourists spend in Austria every year?
Tourists spent over €25.6 billion during trips to Austria in 2023.
- 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 does Austria make from tourism?
- According to the Federal Ministry of Austria, Austria’s total tourism revenue in 2019 was €37.8billion. In 2022, Austria’s tourism revenue amounted to €30.8 billion, representing 3.8% of the total GDP.
Which country visits Austria the most?
The leading source of foreign tourists to Austria is Germany, followed by the Netherlands, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Czech Republic, and Italy.
- In 2023, Germany was the top source of international visitors to Austria, accounting for 14.7 million visitors with 33% of market share.
- The Netherlands also contributed about 5%, with 2.25 million tourists.
- Switzerland and Liechtenstein accounted for 1.3 million international visitors with a market share of 2.9%.
- The Czech Republic and Italy both account for greater than 2% with 1.1 million and 1 million visits respectively.
How expensive is Austria to visit?
- The average spending per capita was €163 per day.
Budget Breakdown:
- Accommodation: Budget-friendly options like hostels for as low as $29 (€26) per night for a dorm bed. Mid-range hotels typically cost around $126 (€115) per night, while luxury hotels can range from $162 (€147) to $302 (€275) per night.
- Food: A meal at an inexpensive restaurant can cost around $15-€20 while a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant can cost about $65.
- Transportation: Austria has an efficient public transport system. A single ticket can cost around $3, while a day pass is usually double that price. Train travel is also a convenient and affordable option, with tickets between major cities ranging from €20 to €60 depending on distance and booking time.
- Activities: Entry fees for museums and attractions typically range from €10 to €20, with discounts often available for students or on certain days. Organised tours can vary widely in price, from €30 for a day trip to over €100 for specialised experiences.
How long do visitors stay in Austria?
- Generally, tourists spent 3.3 nights exploring Austria’s popular cities and attractions in 2023.
- 2008 marked the highest peak stay with 3.9 nights.
Austria Travel Resources
Economic Impact – Austria Tourism Statistics
- 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.
Where is Austria?
Austria is a landlocked country located in Central Europe. It is bordered by several countries:
- North: Czech Republic and Germany
- East: Slovakia and Hungary
- South: Slovenia and Italy
- West: Switzerland and Liechtenstein
Austria covers an area of approximately 83,879 square kilometres (32,383 square miles) and has a diverse landscape that includes mountains, forests, and lakes.
Key Geographic Features:
- Capital: Vienna, which is situated in the eastern part of the country.
- Major Mountains: The Austrian Alps dominate the western and southern regions, making it a popular destination for skiing and hiking.
- Rivers: Significant rivers include the Danube, which flows through the country from west to east.
When is the best time to visit Austria?
- July is the best time to visit Austria with 5.61 million visitors in 2023. It is a peak month due to the warm summer weather and the Salzburg Festival attracting tourists.2
- August, attracting 5.55 million visitors, continues the summer peak with ideal weather and the Vienna International Film Festival.
- September, with 4.25 million visitors, marks the start of autumn with pleasant weather and the Wiener Wiesn-Fest, Austria’s largest folk festival.
- June had 4.2 million visitors, as it marks the summer tourist season and the start of Donauinselfest, Europe’s largest free open-air festival in Vienna.
- February, with 4.06 million visitors, is a peak month due to the winter sports season 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 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 Statistics Resources
- Austria Statistics
- Denmark Statistics
- France Statistics
- Germany Statistics
- Greece Statistics
- Iceland Statistics
- Italy Statistics
- Norway Statistics
- Portugal Statistics
- Spain Statistics
- Sweden Statistics
- United Kingdom Statistics
