Road trips in Austria

Art, Cuisine, and Nature Combine for an Epic Road Trip Adventure in Austria

Austria is a diverse mix of landscapes, all of which combine to offer gorgeous scenery and epic road trips! While mountains dominate a good portion of the country, the geography is far more varied and includes everything from picturesque alpine valleys and vineyards to rolling hills and farmland, and even semi-arid steppes. Whether your Austria travel plans include a leisurely car ride across the countryside, a heart-pounding motorcycle ride through the Alps, or just a few Vienna tours on foot, Planet Ride has an Austria itinerary to meet your needs.

With the culture, history, and geographic diversity all packed into one European country, Austria tour packages can include all kinds of fun. Outdoor adventure sports and activities of some sort, like skiing, cycling, and hiking, can be enjoyed year-round. If outdoor scenery captures your attention, you will not be disappointed. Destinations like High Mountain and Thayatal National Parks offer towering peaks, wonderful alpine valleys, and ancient castles and fortresses. Austrian culture also deeply embodies the arts, especially music and film. Austria is home to several famous composers and Vienna is packed full of art museums, concert halls, and the like. Historically significant architecture also abounds, from the majestic Schoenbrunn Palace of Vienna to the Hohensalzburg fortress of Salzburg.

Why travel with Planet Ride ?


Prices up to 20% less than local prices


Direct contact with our local specialist partner


Secured payments


Quality checks & trusted third party

Austria generally has a temperate continental climate with sometimes hot or rainy summers and winters that are cold in the lowlands and very harsh with substantial temperature fluctuations year-round in the alpine regions. Make sure to pack accordingly depending on where your Austria itinerary takes you, as the varied geography will definitely impact the local climate. With that in mind, Planet Ride’s Austria tour packages all feature road trips from late spring to early fall, and that is what we would recommend for all travelers, especially if you plan to head into the mountains.

While Austria may not be all that large, and it does share some similarities with Germany’s Bavaria region, there is no single Austrian culture. Each of its nine states will have a unique personality, which includes the cuisine! There are some dishes that can be found nearly nationwide, though. A few staples to try during your Austria travel include Wiener schnitzel (a breaded and fried veal cutlet), knodel (dumplings), bread of all shapes, sizes, and grains, and sachertorte (a chocolate cake with chocolate icing and apricot jam). A couple of regional specialties include kletzennudeln, which are sweet dumplings filled with dried pears and soft cheese, and kernol, which is green pumpkin seed oil and is often served on salads.

Arriving in Austria will not be difficult. Vienna’s airport has flights to most major airports worldwide, and several other cities offer flights throughout Europe. Overland travel by car, bus, and especially train, are also great options. Austria is a member of both the European Union and the Schengen Agreement. So, most visitors can stay for up to 90 days with only valid identification, no need for a visa.

Austria is one of the safest countries in the world, and you should have little to worry about during your visit. Be respectful and use common sense, and you should be just fine!

What Planet Ride offers for road trip adventures in Austria

Planet Ride currently features Austria travel packages for every interest, and we are constantly expanding our offerings! Whether you want a leisurely car camping trip that features Vienna tours or a high-altitude, high-adrenaline motorcycle journey through the Alps, we have a trip that is sure to delight. For all of our trips, we partner with an expert local guide to ensure your every need is met. They can assist with navigating everything from the local culture to the local roads and will help with just about anything else, from trip arrangements to even vehicle maintenance. A few tour examples are included below, so check them out!

Our essentials of Austria and Bavaria trip entails 20 days of motorhome travel across Austria and southeast Germany. Enjoy the comfort of your own motorhome or camping car as you cover about 1,800 kilometers in total. After joining up with the rest of the group in Umhausen, you’ll make stops in Innsbruck, Graz, Vienna, Steyr, and Salzburg before venturing into Germany. Along the way, you’ll get to explore everything from cosmopolitan metropolis to the highest point in Austria along with gorgeous alpine scenery all steeped in local culture! Once in Germany, you’ll visit Berchtesgaden (home to Hitler’s infamous Eagle’s Nest), Munich, and Schwangau.

If you’d prefer a two-wheeled adventure, check out the Passes of Europe tour. This 9-day trek through the mountains of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland is sure to leave you breathless – both from the altitude and the gorgeous scenery! Rental bikes include proven, capable models like the Honda 750 NCX, Yamaha 07 Tracer GT, and various 1200cc BMW models. Alternatively, you can extend the trip a little and ride your own motorbike from home! Along this 1,600 kilometer route, you’ll climb some of the highest passes on the continent, carve hairpin turns, and marvel at the alpine valleys, lakes, and villages. This particular trip also features the flexibility of creating your own travel group and choosing the dates of the tour.