Other budget accommodation

Hotels and hostels are not Austria’s only budget accommodation options. There are traditional guesthouses, a developing sector of Apartments & self-catering accommodation, private rooms bookable online or at some tourist offices, a camping industry that caters to hundreds of thousands of tourists every year, and holiday experiences on Austrian farms. Winter sports are an important part of the tourism industry in Austria and its mountain chalets and ski lodges sometimes offer affordable options.

Guesthouses

A Gasthof is an inn that usually comprises a tavern or restaurant with guest rooms and breakfast. Also called a Gästehaus, or sometimes Landhaus when away from towns) can have the function of an inn or tavern (Gaststätte or Wirtshaus) while offering rooms and breakfast. They can be very traditional in style and atmosphere, with landscapes or folk paintings and local cuisine. They tend to charge lower rates than hotels, but the name can sometimes conceal a more up-market establishment with full restaurant service. Check before booking. Some establishments describe themselves as B&Bs, but never assume the breakfast is included in the headline price. Check websites (where available) carefully or inquire. Many accept cash payment only or charge fees of the order of €5-6 for payments by credit card.

Budget private rooms

These can be even less expensive than a pension but can still offer breakfast. It’s easiest to check on the choices at the Zimmervermittlung – some houses only accept guests this way – but signs to look for are 'Zimmer', 'Zimmer frei' or 'Fremdenzimmer'.

To search online for private rooms in dozens of location, look at the Pension.de Austria page. Beds for about €20 are common and rates as little as €11 a night are posted. Sometimes cleaning fees and minimum stays, which can be for four nights to a week, apply. It is important to sort using closest results. Similar listings are available at Monteurzimmer.de and Deinzimmer.de.

Apartments & self-catering

Apartments (Ferienwohnungen, colloquially FeWo) for families and groups with full facilities including a kitchen can be had for rates similar to two or three-star hotels. Apartments can be cost-effective for couples or families even for a few days, though usually the rate per day is cheaper over longer periods.

The commonly levied post-stay cleaning fee (Endreinigung), typically about €30 per apartment, is important to factor into overall cost, especially over short stays. From 2024, Vienna has tightened rules on Airbnb to restrict the rental duration per year to 90 days per property. This is likely to affect rates.

Generally apartments would be booked by the week or month. But some, labelled Apartmenthotels, are part of hotel establishments and still offer breakfast.

Camping & caravan parks

This accommodation category offers among the cheapest nightly rates, depending on facilities and site ratings. Two useful sites provide a good overview of Austria. Camping.info lists more than 320 Austrian sites with single guest rates in the €8-44 range. ACSI Eurocampings has a similar number.

Farm accommodation

A Bauernhof might offer farmstays, even during winter. The most popular areas are Tyrol, Kärnten, Vorarlberg and Salzburger Land because of their varied landscapes. To survey some options, visit the Farm Holidays in Austria website.

Mountain accommodation

Chalets, apartments and huts are the preference for hikers and winter sports fans. For mountain resorts search the Bergfex.com accommodation page listings, Interhome.com or Iglu Ski’s Austria page.