Look at pictures of Austria, and you’ll see photos of what feels like a fairy tale destination. The tall peaks of the Alps pierce the sky, hiding lush valleys in the summer, ski slopes in the winter, and pristine alpine lakes and trails all year round.
Austria also boasts a rich culture and history. Amateur historians and art lovers will adore beautiful Vienna with its Habsburg palaces full of centuries of art.
Music lovers of the Mozart and Von Trapp varieties alike will love charming Salzburg. But while this storied country truly feels like an unreal destination, is Austria safe to visit? Here’s our take.
Is Austria Safe to Visit in 2024?
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Yes, Austria is very safe to visit. In fact, it is one of the safest countries on the planet. Besides occasional petty crimes, such as pickpocketing in public areas, the dangers you might encounter in Austria are few and far between.
Most world governments are united in their assessment of Austria’s safety for visitors. Australia gives its citizens the green light to visit Austria, just advising them to use normal safety precautions.
Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom all agree.
Only New Zealand tells its citizens to exercise increased caution when visiting Austria, but that is still a very mild level of alert. They advise citizens to beware of slightly increased levels of petty crime and risks of terrorism following a recent incident in 2020 as well as COVID-19.
It’s also worth noting that New Zealand currently has no country listed under its lowest level of travel advisory, so it’s normal that their advice for Austria is more elevated than other countries’ advice.
The most common challenges countries advise their citizens on before traveling to Austria are:
- Pickpocketing
- Petty theft
- ATM scams
- Terrorism
- Natural disasters
Overall, the risks involved in visiting Austria are very low. Levels of crime are low. The most common crime tourists encounter is petty theft, such as pickpocketing, ATM scams, and bicycle theft.
Levels of violent crime are almost nonexistent and pretty much never affect tourists. Many tourists wander through Vienna freely, even at night, without experiencing so much as a negative interaction.
Some countries advise their citizens to be careful of terrorism when visiting Austria due to the risk of terrorism. There was one high-profile incident in Vienna in 2020 that resulted in several deaths, but there hasn’t been a terrorist attack since then.
Even though it’s good to keep terrorism in mind, especially when you are in public places, you shouldn’t let the fear of it affect your vacation.
After all, terrorist attacks are random by design and could even affect you at home. When you’re visiting Austria, you shouldn’t waste your time worrying about what the people might do to you. In fact, the biggest threat to you is the Austrian weather.
If you are planning to visit the mountains, be very careful, as every year, foreign tourists get into accidents while skiing or hiking and have to call the local rescue services for help.
Make sure you’re only going on trails that match your experience level, and read up on weather forecasts ahead of time.
The Austrian government is usually very good about posting warnings ahead of time about blizzards, avalanches, landslides, and other natural disasters that threaten an area.
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Crime in Austria
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To reassure you about the prospect of visiting Austria, all we need to do is take a look at the crime rate. According to World Bank data, Austria’s incidence of homicide as of 2020 is just 0.72 incidents per 100,000 people.
That makes it one of the countries with the lowest rates of violent crime in the world. The murder rate rose slightly in 2021, mostly due to intimate partner violence that was exacerbated by COVID-19 lockdowns.
The few murders that do occur are targeted, not random. Organized crime does have some presence in Austria. According to the Organized Crime Index, Austria is a transit point for human trafficking, drug trafficking, and weapons smuggling into the rest of Europe.
These instances are still lower than they are in most other world countries, usually controlled by foreign gangs, and as a rule, never affect foreign tourists.
Austria’s rates of other types of crime, such as assault, kidnapping, and armed robbery, are also very low. According to local news sources and blogs, the only crime that has slightly elevated rates is the rate of theft.
Most thefts in Austria consist of pickpocketing and bag snatching. Violent theft is very rare. Break-ins, when they do occur, target affluent locals, not foreigners.
There have been a few high-profile instances of terrorism in Austria in the past decade. At this point, the unfortunate reality of living anywhere in the world is that terrorism can occur pretty much at random.
Some countries advise their citizens to be aware of terrorism risks while in Austria, but the risk is no higher than elsewhere in Europe — in fact, it is lower than in many other Western European countries.
When you visit Austria, you should have some awareness about where you are walking — although you should keep that awareness even when you’re walking around your hometown.
Overall, you don’t have to be worried about being the victim of a crime while on your Austrian vacation.
Pickpocketing
The primary concern for most tourists visiting Austria is pickpocketing. Pickpocketing and other forms of petty theft are the most common crimes in Austria. They are also the type of crimes that affect tourists the most.
Pickpockets in Austria are most often found in the popular tourist attractions of Vienna, the capital. Not only does the capital have the biggest population, it also receives the most visitors in the country, creating the perfect storm for pickpockets.
Be careful around popular tourist attractions such as St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Ringstrasse, and the Prater. Pickpockets don’t confine their territory to Vienna’s popular tourist attractions.
Keep an eye on your valuables when you are on the city’s public transportation. Bag snatchers also like to operate on intercity and international buses and trains. Lock your compartment if you are in a sleeper car, take valuables with you when you leave your seat, and stay alert.
Besides pickpockets, popular tourist attractions in Vienna are home to other types of theft, such as scams. The most common type of scam is the ATM scam.
Make sure you only use authorized ATMs that are either in buildings or well-lit public places. Cover the PIN pad while entering your PIN and keep an eye on transactions to see if someone commits credit card fraud in your name.
Another common form of petty theft in Vienna is bicycle theft. This probably won’t affect you unless you rent a bike or borrow one from a local friend. Make sure that your bike is locked up and you don’t leave it for too long.
Most crimes in Austria are thefts of opportunity and primarily occur in Vienna. A little bit of caution and attention to your surroundings, the same that you would do when walking anywhere, is enough to stay safe.
Terrorism
When many people go abroad, they are worried about the potential for terrorist attacks. All of Western Europe has been on high alert for terrorism over the past few decades, and that includes Austria.
People’s fears over terrorism in Austria increased due to recent high-profile attacks. In November 2020, a gunman rampaged through Vienna, killing four people and injuring 22 others in an attack near some of the city’s main tourist sites.
Following the attacks, many people worried about the risk of terrorism while visiting Austria. Part of the reason why the attack stood out in people’s minds is that previous incidents in Vienna were mostly rare, especially compared to other Western European countries.
There hasn’t been a major terrorist attack since 2020, and the Austrian police were diligent in hunting down the accomplices of the perpetrator. The truth is that terrorism is a risk pretty much anywhere in the world due to the globalization of terrorist and criminal networks.
However, that doesn’t mean you should never leave your home. The risks of an attack happening while you are in Austria are very low.
If you want to feel prepared, regularly check local news for risk messages by authorities. When in crowded places, keep an eye out for escape routes, but don’t let that consume your mind while on vacation.
Avoiding Bad Areas
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Austria is such a safe country that there are practically no bad areas that are no-go zones for tourists. However, there are a few areas that are sketchier than others, especially at night.
Vienna, like any big city, has some parts of the city that are not as nice as others. At night, the areas around popular tourist attractions, such as the Prater and Karlsplatz, become sketchy due to the presence of criminals and addicts.
Even then, if you are traveling in a group, you can still walk through those places at night without encountering too much trouble.
Some poorer areas of the city where most of the immigrant communities congregate, such as Favoriten, have higher rates of property crime. However, these vibrant districts are still exciting to explore, and you won’t encounter much trouble.
The rest of Austria’s cities are small enough that there are few sketchy neighborhoods. In fact, the place you should be most careful when visiting in Austria is the mountains.
Read weather reports ahead of time and make sure you aren’t taking on a hiking trail that is beyond your skill level, as you don’t want to be one of those tourists who needs rescuing.
Things to Consider
Here are a few things to consider while visiting Austria:
- Austrian law requires all people to have an ID on them at all times, so carry some form of ID with you.
- If you are heading into nature, make sure you memorize the number for the local mountain rescue agency, which is 140.
- Always check local weather reports before heading into the mountains. If a local tells you it’s too dangerous to go, listen.
- If you are driving in Austria, winter tires are mandatory between November and mid-April.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Here are some other things you might want to know before visiting Austria:
Is Vienna safe for tourists?
Vienna is one of the safest cities in the world for tourists. The only thing you really have to worry about is pickpocketing and the inevitable lines if you visit during the high season.
Is Austria a friendly country?
Austria is generally a friendly country. People love welcoming foreign visitors, and many people speak fluent English, especially those working in tourism.
Is Austria safe from crime?
Crime does occur in Austria. This is a real country, after all, not a fairy tale land. However, crime levels are generally very low, and police are responsive when something does happen.
Is Austria a cheap country to visit?
All that safety comes at a price. Austria is not a cheap country to visit. While hostels and more affordable pensions do exist, traveling in Austria is more expensive than in Latin America, Asia, or even other European countries.
What is the biggest problem in Austria?
Austria isn’t all sunshine and roses, and it does have some problems. The biggest problems currently are inflation as well as an energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. These problems don’t affect visitors very much besides the fact that you will need a higher budget for traveling to Austria.
So, Is Austria Safe to Visit in 2024?
Austria is one of the safest places in the world to visit, even if you’re not an experienced traveler. The crime rate is very low, besides the occasional pickpocketing.
As long as you’re aware of your surroundings, you’ll have a great trip to Austria. So, with so much natural beauty, friendly locals, and historical sights, what are you waiting for — book your trip today!