Money in Austria: Euros, Cards, Cash, Tips and Visitor Taxes

A card works for much of an Austrian holiday, but a small cash reserve is useful for independent businesses and mountain stops. Consumer prices usually include VAT; accommodation taxes and refundable bottle deposits are separate details worth checking. The goal is to compare the full cost, not just the first number shown.

Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria · packing4two

Euros and useful denominations

Austria uses the euro, EUR or €, divided into 100 cents. Coins are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents plus €1 and €2. Notes commonly useful to visitors are €5, €10, €20 and €50; €100 and €200 also circulate. The €500 note remains valid but is no longer issued and is awkward for small purchases.

Ordinary euro coins from other euro-area countries are usable. Keep smaller notes and some coins for occasional cash-only payments.

Can you travel without cash?

Many hotels, shops and chains accept cards, particularly in Vienna. Ask first at an independent restaurant, stall or mountain hut. Nur Barzahlung means cash only.

A reserve such as €100–€200 for a couple can be a starting point for occasional expenses, not a required daily budget. Adjust it for remote routes and keep a backup card separately rather than carrying the entire trip budget in cash.

Card payments and currency conversion

A supported Apple Pay or Google Pay wallet can work at a compatible terminal, but acceptance depends on the underlying card. Bring the physical card and know its PIN. Acceptance of a domestic debit card does not guarantee acceptance of every international card.

Compare your issuer’s terms and normally select EUR rather than a terminal’s home-currency conversion. At an ATM, read both the operator fee and conversion offer before confirming; issuer charges may apply separately.

Paying for taxis

The Freenow app lets you book a taxi and review journey details. Select the payment method before booking and check the fare conditions. Do not pay the same fare in cash if it is being charged through the app.

For a street taxi, confirm card acceptance before departure. For airport journeys, clarify the destination, fare basis and any extras, then keep the receipt and vehicle details.

Tipping without overcomplicating it

Around 5%–10% is customary for good table service. Tell the server the total you wish to pay before the card is charged: a €47 bill might become €50.

Rounding a taxi fare or adding a modest amount is optional and depends on service. Check for an included tip or service charge rather than paying it twice. A counter purchase does not require the same calculation as a served meal.

Buying transport tickets

Wiener Linien operates Vienna’s metro, trams and buses. Its WienMobil app provides route planning and ticket purchases. Choose the product, traveller and validity start and complete the purchase before travel. If payment fails, use a machine or counter instead of boarding without a valid ticket.

Some paper tickets require validation after purchase; read the instructions. Digital tickets must be displayed as required in the app. Airport travel is not automatically covered by a city ticket, so compare the zones and services included.

VAT and the displayed price

The standard VAT rate is 20%, with reduced rates of 10% and 13% for specified categories. Since July 2026, selected food products such as bread, milk and eggs have a 4.9% rate. That does not make all food or every restaurant bill taxable at 4.9%.

Consumer prices generally already include VAT. A €120 total taxed at 20% contains €20 VAT, not €24; subtracting 20% from a displayed total is not the correct refund calculation.

Vienna accommodation tax

Local accommodation taxes, often called Ortstaxe, vary within Austria. Vienna’s rate is 5% from 1 July 2026, calculated on the accommodation charge excluding VAT and breakfast. It rises to 8% from 1 July 2027.

Check whether your booking total includes this charge or whether the property collects it separately. Do not apply the percentage indiscriminately to a package including meals. Compare parking, breakfast and cancellation terms too.

Refundable drink-container deposits

Eligible single-use plastic drink bottles and cans bearing Austria’s deposit logo carry a €0.25 deposit. The system covers sizes from 0.1 to 3 litres, with exceptions such as certain milk products.

Return empty, recognisable containers with readable barcodes and logos to a suitable collection point, then redeem the voucher as instructed. A container bought across the border is not automatically eligible for an Austrian refund.

Tax-free shopping for non-EU residents

Eligible shoppers resident outside the EU can request tax-free paperwork when the invoice exceeds €75, meaning €75.01 or more. Present evidence of non-EU residence and arrange the documentation with the retailer.

Export the goods in personal luggage by the end of the third month following purchase. Obtain the required EU-exit validation and claim through the retailer or refund operator; fees can reduce the return. Keep goods and documents accessible before checking bags. Vienna Airport uses digital export validation. Consumed accommodation and meals are not goods exported in your luggage.

Hotel Mercure Wien Westbahnhof is one of the hotels we stayed at in Vienna and recommend. Compare the room for your party, breakfast and the total including local accommodation tax. Check the hotel on Trip.com