💰 Quick Context: The Euro
Austria uses the Euro (EUR / €) as a eurozone member. A Melange (Vienna's signature coffee) costs €4–6, a Wiener Schnitzel at a mid-range restaurant €14–22, and a hotel night €90–250. Quick math: the euro and USD are close to parity, so prices in euros roughly match what you would pay in dollars. Check the current EUR/USD rate before your trip. Austria is significantly more cash-reliant than most Western European countries. Many restaurants, wine taverns, and market stalls display "Nur Barzahlung" (cash only) signs that will catch visitors from cashless Scandinavia or Australia off guard.
🎧 Order Euros Before You Fly
Have cash in hand when you land. Insured delivery, 2–5 day shipping.
Order EUR → CEI Currency ExchangeCash vs. Card: What to Expect in Austria
Austria's relationship with cash is cultural. Austrians value financial privacy, and many businesses prefer cash transactions. This makes Austria feel different from neighbouring Germany (which is also cash-heavy) and very different from the Netherlands or Nordic countries.
Vienna is the most card-friendly city, with Billa and SPAR supermarkets, chain restaurants, hotels, and shops along Kärntner Straße and Mariahilfer Straße all accepting cards. But step into a traditional Heuriger (wine tavern) in Grinzing, a stall at the Naschmarkt, or a Beisl (traditional pub), and you will need cash. Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Graz have improving card acceptance in the city centres, but cash is still king at many traditional restaurants.
Carry €100–200 at all times, especially outside Vienna. Keep €5, €10, and €20 notes since smaller vendors cannot break €50 or €100 bills. Ski huts, Christmas market stalls, and rural Gasthäuser (guesthouses) are almost always cash-only.
How to Get Euros for Your Austria Trip
Austria is one of the few Eurozone countries where cash still rules a significant share of daily life. Vienna's chain restaurants and supermarkets take cards, but Heurigen wine taverns, Naschmarkt stalls, traditional Beisln, ski huts in the Alps, and rural Gasthäuser are routinely cash-only. Plan to carry euros, and plan to top up partway through the trip. Two cheap routes for getting hold of them: pre-order before takeoff, or pull from an Austrian Bankomat once you land. Most travelers do some of both, leaning more cash-heavy than they would for, say, France or the Netherlands.
Order euros before you fly
Two paths for pre-arrival euros. A currency-exchange service like CEI Currency Exchange ships physical euros to a US address with insured 2–5 day delivery, at a small spread over the bank rate. Order what you'll need for the first 48 hours and you'll skip the airport ATM queue entirely. Your home bank can do this too: Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, and Citi all order euros for branch pickup or home delivery, free for many premium account holders and a modest fee otherwise. Allow 3–7 business days. Unlike France or Germany, Austria has no Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner, so BoA debit users will pay BoA's standard 3% non-network fee on any Austrian ATM withdrawal. That tilts the math in favor of pre-ordering for BoA customers, especially if your itinerary leans rural (Hallstatt, Tyrol ski villages, Wachau valley) where evening ATM access is thin and breakfast pensions tend to be cash-only.
Withdraw from an Austrian Bankomat
On the ground, the cheapest source of euros is an Austrian bank's Bankomat (the local word for ATM). Erste Group/Sparkasse, Bank Austria (UniCredit), Raiffeisen, BAWAG P.S.K., and Oberbank all give the actual interbank rate with no markup, and they don't add operator fees on foreign cards. Your only cost is whatever your home bank tacks on (1–3% foreign transaction fee on most US debit cards, zero with a Wise or Charles Schwab card). Two Austria-specific notes: stick to bank-branded Bankomaten with the blue-and-green Bankomat logo, and steer clear of independent machines branded Euronet or YourCash that cluster around Stephansplatz, Mariahilfer Straße, and the Hofburg in Vienna. Their advertised "no operator fee" is followed by an aggressive DCC pitch and a poor exchange rate. Decline DCC every time the screen offers to charge you in USD. See the Best ATMs section below for which Austrian banks to trust, or our Vienna money guide for neighborhood-level locations. Want to see exactly what an Erste Bankomat will cost on your specific debit card? Run the numbers through our ATM fee calculator first.
Airport counters & "0% commission" booths
Three traps to avoid in Austria. The currency-exchange counters at Vienna International (VIE), Salzburg Airport (SZG), and Innsbruck (INN) advertise rates that look reasonable but routinely run 5–12% off the interbank rate, plus a small fixed fee. The Western Union and Interchange windows on the Graben, the Kohlmarkt, and along Kärntner Straße use the "0% commission" or "no fee" framing while baking the markup straight into the rate. And Euronet's bright-blue independent ATMs that cluster at Stephansplatz, near St. Charles's Church, and along Mariahilfer Straße push DCC as the default and quietly add operator fees that Austrian bank Bankomaten don't charge. Stick to bank-branded machines, decline DCC, and you'll skip all three. Heading into Vienna or Salzburg? Our Vienna and Salzburg money guides walk you out of arrivals with the cleanest cash strategy.
For a side-by-side comparison of every method (bank wire, travel card, pre-order, ATM, exchange counter) including USD-to-EUR timing tips, see our complete Getting Currency guide →.
Best ATMs to Use in Austria
Austrian ATMs are called "Bankomat" and carry a distinctive blue-and-green logo. Machines operated by Austrian banks offer fair interbank exchange rates with no operator surcharge for foreign cards. Most allow approximately €400 per day in withdrawals.
Erste Bank
Austria's largest bank with Bankomat machines across Vienna (Stephansplatz, Westbahnhof, Wien Hauptbahnhof), Salzburg, Innsbruck, Graz, and most towns. English-language option available on all machines.
Top PickRaiffeisen
The widest ATM coverage in Austria, reaching small Alpine villages and rural valleys where other banks have no presence. Essential for travelers heading to ski resorts like Kitzbühel, St. Anton, or Zell am See, or hiking in the Wachau Valley.
Recommended
Bank Austria (UniCredit)
Part of the international UniCredit group with strong coverage in Vienna and major Austrian cities. If you hold a UniCredit account in Italy or elsewhere, withdrawals may have reduced fees. Reliable machines with English support.
RecommendedBAWAG
Also operates PSK (postal savings bank) ATMs, often found inside or near post offices. This gives extra ATM coverage in smaller towns where dedicated bank branches are scarce. Fair rates, no operator surcharge.
Recommended⚠ Watch Out for Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC)
Euronet's bright blue ATMs cluster around Stephansplatz and Graben in Vienna, Getreidegasse in Salzburg, and Maria-Theresien-Straße in Innsbruck. They display a screen showing your withdrawal converted to USD (or GBP), which looks helpful but hides a 4–8% markup. Always press "EUR" or "ohne Umrechnung" (without conversion). Erste Bank and Raiffeisen Bankomat machines do not push DCC. The same trick appears at some hotel card terminals and souvenir shops near Schönbrunn Palace.
ATMs to Avoid in Austria
Independent ATM operators target the exact tourist spots where visitors need cash most: Vienna's historic centre, Salzburg's Altstadt, and ski resort villages. They charge €3–5 per withdrawal on top of DCC markups.
Euronet
Bright blue machines clustered near Stephansplatz, the Hofburg, and along Graben in Vienna. Also found in Salzburg's old town and near Innsbruck's Golden Roof. High operator fees plus aggressive DCC prompts at every step.
Avoid
Travelex / Vienna Airport Exchange
Currency exchange counters at Vienna International Airport (VIE) build 8%+ markups into their rates. Erste Bank and Raiffeisen Bankomat machines are in the same arrivals hall. There is never a reason to use the exchange counter.
AvoidCardpoint / Standalone ATMs
Independent machines in hotel lobbies, souvenir shops, and nightlife areas. Charge €3–5 per withdrawal and push DCC. Look for the blue-and-green Bankomat logo to identify safe bank-operated machines.
AvoidPaying by Card in Austria
Card Networks
Visa and Mastercard work at Billa, SPAR, and Hofer supermarkets, hotels, department stores like Steffl on Kärntner Straße, and larger restaurants. Maestro (the European debit network) is actually more widely accepted in Austria than Visa debit at smaller businesses. If your bank card supports Maestro, it may work at places that decline Visa. Amex is limited to international hotels (Sacher, Imperial, Bristol) and some upscale restaurants. Most Viennese Beisln and neighborhood restaurants will not take it.
Contactless & Mobile Payments
Contactless is growing but less universal than in Western Europe. The Billa and SPAR checkout lanes handle tap-to-pay, as do most chain restaurants and Vienna's ÖBB train ticket machines. But many traditional restaurants, coffeehouses (including some famous ones like Café Central), and wine taverns still use older chip-and-PIN terminals or only accept cash. Apple Pay and Google Pay work at NFC-enabled terminals but should not be your only payment plan. Vienna's U-Bahn and trams accept contactless payment at ticket machines, but not directly at turnstiles like in London.
Where Cards May Not Work
Heurigen (wine taverns in Grinzing, Neustift, Stammersdorf) are almost always cash-only. Christmas markets across Vienna, Salzburg, and Innsbruck are predominantly cash (Punsch, Bratwurst, ornament stalls). Alpine ski huts (Hütten) at resorts like St. Anton, Ischgl, and Sölden are frequently cash-only, though the main lift ticket offices take cards. Naschmarkt stalls in Vienna, Grünmarkt farmers' markets, and traditional Beisln often display "Nur Barzahlung." Bakeries (Bäckereien) throughout the country are hit-or-miss for cards.
Tipping in Austria
Tipping Guide
Austrian tipping has its own etiquette. At restaurants, tip 5–10% of the bill. The traditional method is to say "Stimmt so" (keep the change) when handing over your payment, or state the total amount you want to pay. For example, if the bill is €17.50, say "Zwanzig" (twenty) to leave a €2.50 tip. At cafés and coffeehouses (Café Sacher, Demel, Café Central), round up to the nearest euro or leave small change. For taxis, round up or add 5–10%. At hotels, €1–2 per bag for porters and €1–2/night for housekeeping is appropriate. Tips are almost always given in cash, even if you pay the bill by card. Hand the tip directly to the server.
Vienna, Salzburg & the Alps: Practical Money Tips
Things to Know
For city-specific tips, see our Vienna, Salzburg, and Innsbruck money guides. Each covers neighborhood-level card acceptance, ATM locations, transport payments, and local spending tips.
Vienna is Austria's most modern city for payments, but even here, cash is far more important than in Amsterdam, Stockholm, or London. The 1st District (Innere Stadt) around Stephansplatz has good card acceptance at shops and restaurants, but traditional Viennese coffeehouses and local Beisln in the 7th (Neubau) or 4th (Wieden) districts often prefer cash.
Salzburg's old town (Altstadt) has a mix of tourist-oriented card-accepting shops and cash-only traditional restaurants. The Salzburg Festival season (July-August) brings more card acceptance temporarily. Innsbruck and the Tyrolean ski towns (Kitzbühel, St. Anton, Ischgl, Söldën) accept cards at hotels and lift ticket offices, but mountain huts, après-ski bars in smaller resorts, and equipment rental shops in village centres are often cash-only.
Austrian trains (ÖBB) accept cards for online bookings and at station ticket machines, but conductors selling on-board tickets sometimes require cash. Wiener Schnitzel in Vienna runs €14–22 at a mid-range restaurant like Figlmüller or Plachutta. A Sachertorte slice at Hotel Sacher is about €9. Budget travelers can eat well at a Würstelstand (sausage stand) for €4–5, cash only.
Money Safety in Austria
Staying Safe
Austria is one of Europe's safest countries. Violent crime is extremely rare, and even petty theft is uncommon compared to Barcelona or Rome. The main money-related risk is Euronet ATMs in tourist zones. Their bright blue machines at Stephansplatz, in Salzburg's Getreidegasse, and near Innsbruck's Altstadt look legitimate but cost 4–8% more than a Bankomat. Train the habit of looking for the blue-and-green Bankomat logo.
Carry enough cash for the day. Being caught without euros at a cash-only Heuriger or Christmas market stall is the most common "money problem" visitors face in Austria. The nearest Bankomat may be a 10-minute walk. In Alpine areas, ATMs can be sparse between villages. Withdraw in the valley town before heading up to a ski resort or hiking trailhead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Austria so cash-heavy compared to other EU countries?
Austrians culturally value privacy and are skeptical of digital payment tracking. Many restaurants, heurigen (wine taverns), Christmas market stalls, ski huts, and small shops display "Nur Barzahlung" (cash only) signs. Vienna is modernizing, but smaller cities and Alpine areas remain firmly cash-first.
What does "Bankomat" mean in Austria?
Bankomat is the Austrian term for ATM. Look for the blue-and-green Bankomat logo on machines operated by Erste Bank, Raiffeisen, Bank Austria, BAWAG, and other Austrian banks. These are safe, fee-free machines. Avoid independent ATMs without the Bankomat branding.
How do I tip in Austria?
Say "Stimmt so" (keep the change) when handing over payment, or state the total you want to pay including tip. For example, if the bill is €17.50, say "Zwanzig" (twenty) to leave a €2.50 tip. Tip 5–10% at restaurants. Tips are almost always given in cash, even if you pay the bill by card.
Do Vienna Christmas markets accept cards?
Most Christmas market stalls are cash-only. The Rathausplatz Christkindlmarkt and Schönbrunn Palace market sell Punsch, sausages, and ornaments for cash. Withdraw euros before visiting. A few larger stalls have started accepting cards, but do not count on it.
Are Euronet ATMs safe in Austria?
Euronet ATMs are functional but expensive. They charge operator fees per withdrawal and aggressively push DCC, adding a 4–8% hidden markup. You will find them near Stephansplatz in Vienna and in Salzburg's old town. Walk to an Erste Bank or Raiffeisen Bankomat instead.
Do ski resorts in Austria accept credit cards?
Ski lift ticket offices and resort hotels accept cards. But many on-mountain huts (Hütten), après-ski bars, and equipment rental shops in smaller resorts are cash-only. Major resorts like Kitzbühel, St. Anton, and Ischgl have better card acceptance than smaller Tyrolean villages.
Skip the Foreign Transaction Fees
The Wise card converts your money at the real mid-market exchange rate. No markups, no surprises. Spend euros like a local.
Get the Wise Card →Quick Comparison
| Method | Cost | Convenience | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| No-FX-fee card (where accepted) | Best (no fees, mid-market rate) | ★★★★☆ | Hotels, supermarkets, larger restaurants |
| Bankomat ATMs (Erste, Raiffeisen, etc.) | Low (no operator fee, fair rate) | ★★★★★ | Cash for heurigen, markets, ski huts |
| Euronet / independent ATMs | High (€3–5 fee + DCC markup) | ★★★☆☆ | Never recommended |
| Airport exchange counters (Travelex) | Highest (8%+ markup) | ★★☆☆☆ | Never recommended |
Austria Quick Facts
| Currency | Euro (EUR / €). Close to USD parity |
| Cash vs. Card | Notably cash-heavy for Western Europe. Carry €100–200 daily |
| Best ATMs | Bankomat machines: Erste Bank, Raiffeisen, Bank Austria, BAWAG |
| Contactless | Growing in Vienna. Less reliable outside the capital |
| Card Acceptance | Good at hotels, supermarkets. Many restaurants and markets cash-only |
| Tipping | 5–10%. Say "Stimmt so" (keep the change). Always tip in cash |
| DCC Risk | High at Euronet machines near tourist attractions. Low at Bankomats |
| Best Strategy | Bankomat cash is essential. Card where accepted. Raiffeisen for Alpine areas |
Austria City Guides
Neighborhood-level money guides for Austria's biggest cities. Where to find ATMs, which areas need cash, how to pay for transport, and more.
Austria money toolkit
Deep-dive guides for specific banks, airports, and traveler nationalities in Austria. Each one builds on this overview with card-by-card fee math, exact ATM locations, or terminal-by-terminal directions.