Recommended hotels in Vienna, Austria

For most travel lovers, it would certainly be safe to say that a weekend in Vienna is the perfect European getaway. The capital city of Austria is home to international congresses and conferences and major classical music events every year, and so welcomes visitors with a wide array of beautiful hotels set in historic buildings that combine tradition with innovation, adapting its services to meet the needs of today’s travellers with modern spas, technologically advanced facilities and the finest gastronomic offer. Thus, musicians, business travellers and tourists will easily find the right hotel in Vienna for their stay but, without a doubt, the ones that will truly fall in love with the capital of Austria are those who appreciate top-quality chocolate and coffee.

4-star hotel in Vienna: Arcotel Kaiserwasser

Taking its name from the nearby Kaiserwasser Lake, this establishment is located 17 kilometres away from Vienna airport (courtesy shuttle is provided), in an area well-connected by bus and train to the main spots in the city. What is more, the direct airport bus line stops right in front of the building. It offers comfort and executive rooms of double, triple and family occupancy together with suites featuring stunning city views. Guests can enjoy in-room DVD players, cable TV, free WiFi internet and daily breakfast buffet included in the nightly rate. However, the greatest allure of this hotel in Austria is its fitness centre overlooking the Danube River and downtown Vienna, conveniently complemented by spa treatments, a sauna, and steam baths. Make your reservation here.

Hotel with Spa in Vienna: Sans Souci Wien

Roughly 5 minutes from the Parliament of Austria, the Museum Quarter and some main metro stations, this Vienna hotel is a favourite for those who like to visit street markets, especially during the Christmas season. Guests may use the indoor pool and spa facilities free of charge, and its gym has personal trainers available. For an even nicer stay, the premises have been decorated with works of art.

Room categories range from double, twin and superior to luxury rooms or suites, all of which include minibar and private bathroom with robes and toiletries. Alternatively, you may choose a one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartment for longer stays. The multilingual staff, who are fluent in Polish, Hindi, Croatian and Portuguese –among other foreign languages- will gladly assist you should you need to book meeting spaces or facilities specifically designated for banquets and celebrations. Check rates and availability here.

One of the leading hotels in Austria: Sacher hotel in Vienna

Worldwide-known for baking the original Sacher cake (Sachertorte), not everyone is aware that the Sacher hotel is also one of the finest luxury hotels with Spa in Austria. Strategically situated across the street from Vienna State Opera House and near casinos, museums, shopping centres and metro stations, this hospitality establishment excels in providing premium service while creating a unique atmosphere of exclusivity.

The spacious, elegant rooms of Wien’s Hotel Sacher are classified into superior, deluxe or suites, featuring large cosy beds, a closet, complimentary WiFi, en suite bathroom and a balcony with views. A courtesy shuttle service may be arranged to and from the airport. Each reservation entitles guests to enjoy the daily breakfast buffet, nevertheless, it is the onsite Café Sacher and its delicacies what really attracts the enthusiasts of the finest chocolate.

Other extras- which may imply the payment of additional fees- are babysitting, VIP guest services, spa and beauty treatments and concierge. For your convenience, the staff speaks Russian, Italian, French, German, English and Spanish.

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Innsbruck: closest airports, ski trips and Christmas markets

The capital of Tyrol in Austria is the beautiful city of Innsbruck, located in the Inn Valley between mountain ranges among which are the Karwendel Alps. Attractions like the Imperial Palace, the Wilten Abbey, the Golden Roof, the Old Inn Bridge and the Ambras Castle make it as appealing to world travellers as any other European capital, even when the most frequent reasons to choose Innsbruck as destination are its ski runs and its Christmas markets.

This Austrian city has a reputation for being a regular host for Winter sports international competitions –including the Olympics – and so is a favourite for ski and snowboard lovers. What is more, the proximity of the snowboard tracks and slopes to the city centre makes trips to Innsbruck in Austria all the more convenient: the funicular and cable cars offer frequent services to transport people between the two points in a short period of time.

Another alluring feature is the celebration of various Christmas markets around the city, although it is the one in the Old Town that attracts the highest number of both local and foreign visitors. It is inaugurated in mid-November every year and generally stays open until Christmas’ Eve arrives.

Innsbruck: closest airports and how to arrive

Flying to Innsbruck airport

If you decide to book a flight to Innsbruck in Austria, you will land in a terminal just 4 kilometres away from the downtown, thus needing less than 10 minutes to drive from the airport to your final destination. However, you will have to take into account that inbound operations to this terminal are limited and not many airlines operate scheduled flights or frequent services towards it. Austrian Airlines handles frequent operations from Vienna airport to Innsbruck and from Frankfurt airport to Innsbruck, and so do British Airways from London Heathrow, Easyjet from London Gatwick and Manchester and Transavia from Amsterdam. Other airline companies sell seats to fly to Innsbruck on a seasonal basis, so you may want to confirm whether your airline of choice offers flights to the capital of Tyrol or not on the desired dates.

Travelling from Salzburg airport to Innsbruck in Austria

If you are flying into Salzburg airport instead, travelling to Innsbruck will only imply a short commute from the passenger terminal to Salzburg Hauptbahnhof in order to catch a direct train. This hourly train service departing from Salzburg not only is the cheapest but also offers spectacular views, and reaches central Innsbruck in less than 2 hours.

Trains from Munich airport in Germany to Innsbruck in Austria

It is also a good idea to add Innsbruck as an additional stop in your Europe tour, and you can do so by making a connection by train from Munich East Station. Likewise, in view of the fact that the train commute from Munich to Innsbruck takes only 2 hours and 15 minutes and that services run every two hours, you might as well fly to Munich airport in Germany specifically for this trip.

From Zürich airport to Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof

Travellers passing through Zürich International airport in Switzerland also get the chance to travel to Innsbruck by train. Different train companies run services to cover this route and, depending on which one you choose, you might need to make a transfer and change trains halfway. The average time duration of the journey is 4 hours.

Skiing trip to Innsbruck in Austria

As host city of internationally renowned winter sports events and competitions, Innsbruck is well prepared to welcome hundreds of ski and snowboard lovers from around the world. If you are already planning for this adventure, we recommend you take a look at some of the best ski resorts and accommodation in Innsbruck, most of which even afford breathtaking views of the Inn Valley.

Christmas markets in Innsbruck

In case you are visiting the city to enjoy the season’s atmosphere and purchase the coolest Christmas decorations and gifts, find a nice hotel in Innsbruck’s Old Town and immerse yourself in all the activities that are typical of this festivity, including punch and wine tasting, live music in the streets and entertainment for kids and adults alike.

Transit hotels in Vienna airport, Austria

Referred to as Flughafen Wien in German, Vienna International airport is the primary international gateway for travellers into the capital city of Austria, and lies 17 kilometres away from the downtown. While it serves as main hub for the national carrier Austrian Airlines, other European companies like Eurowings have it as operational base for their flights in the territory. As of today, only two of its terminals are fully in use: T1, where airplanes from the One World and SkyTeam airline alliances land and take off, and T3, where all Austrian Airlines, El Al, Qatar Airways and Emirates operations take place.

Finding a place to sleep in Vienna airport / Flughafen Wien

Due to the daily amount of international arrivals and connections and thanks to the effective transportation options from and to the terminals, business travellers may find it extremely suitable to book a hotel close to Vienna airport. This way, they will be able to meet up with partners and clients while enjoying a stress-free stay in Austria, with the added benefit of direct transportation to the city centre alongside unparalleled proximity to the terminals.

Commuting from the airport to Vienna city centre

If you choose to transfer to the city by public train, follow the signage to Vienna airport railway station upon arrival. The S-Bahn line S7, which departs twice an hour, connects the terminals with central Vienna in only 25 minutes.

At the arrivals hall you will find a City Airport Train information booth where you can purchase a ticket for this faster, direct service towards Wien Mitte. The journey lasts just 16 minutes, but take into account that the payment of a slightly higher fare is required.

If you go to your right after exiting the arrivals hall, you will get to the Flughafen Wien’s bus station, which also offers links from the airport to central Vienna available 24 hours a day. Furthermore, you can take long-distance buses to other cities such as Bratislava, Budapest, Prague and Warsaw from this point.

Recommended accommodation near Vienna airport in Austria

NH Hotel in Vienna International airport

Across the street from the passenger terminals lies this hotel and conference centre by the NH Hotel Group. It offers soundproofed rooms with a variety of amenities like WiFi network available at no extra charge. Those travelling for work will have the chance to host their meeting or conference in optimal spaces ready to accommodate up to 550 attendees. Should you want a more laid-back atmosphere for your appointments, you can also meet up with your colleagues at the hotel lobby or the bar.

Everything in this business hotel near Vienna airport is oriented towards a hassle-free travel experience: early breakfast, lunch on site at discounted rates for guests, wellness centre, round-the-clock library and room service. Whether you are catching the first flight in the morning or landing in Austria after midnight, your home away from home will be few steps away.

The MOXY airport hotel in Vienna

Just a short walk separates the terminal buildings from the MOXY facilities, which comprise amenities such as a gym, personal lockers, free WiFi internet all throughout and a 24-hour onsite bar serving a wide range of local draft beers. Guests have both entertainment and meeting spaces at their disposal.

The en suite rooms of this accommodation near Vienna airport in Austria feature modern technology that includes flat-screen TVs and USB ports. Windows are noise-isolating so that, in spite of being so close to the airport, travellers can sleep soundly during their stay. A varied continental breakfast is available every morning.

3-star hotel near Vienna airport

The Bauer hotel in Vienna International is a 10-minute drive away from the terminals, and so it provides guests with an optional pick-up and drop-off service for a fee. If you hire a car upon arrival, you may benefit from the private parking spots available at the establishment. Adjacent to the building there is a traditional Austrian restaurant specialising in regional cuisine, while take-away options can be found at the onsite mini-market and the vending machines.

Moreover, travellers staying in the Bauer hotel near Flughafen Wien may use the complimentary WiFi access in the entire premises, and enjoy extra services like ironing, buffet breakfast and free mineral water. Rooms are well-appointed with a work desk, satellite TV and private bathroom with toiletries.

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A guide to Salzburg airport in Austria

Salzburg International airport (SZG), also referred to as W. A. Mozart airport, is the second largest aviation hub in Austria only behind Vienna International. Its passenger terminals lie roughly 3 kilometres away from Salzburg city centre and just 2 kilometres from the German border. It serves as a hub for the carrier Eurowings in the country, although it handles high volumes of both scheduled and seasonal operations by major international airlines and is also known for being a primary gateway into the main ski holiday areas in the neighbouring regions. Continue reading our recommendations if you plan to land in Salzburg for the first time anytime soon.

Travelling from the airport to Salzburg

In order to cover the short distance between Salzburg airport and the city, you may ride one of the trolley bus lines (2 and 10) departing every 10 minutes from the airport terminals on working days and every 20 minutes on weekends and holidays. The trolley bus journey from the airport to Salzburg takes about 15 minutes, and a one-way ticket costs 2,5 euros. If you plan to explore the city and get the 3-day Salzburg card to visit its main attractions, you will also be able to use it as a transport pass. Alternatively, you may take a taxi outside the arrivals zone of the airport to get to your hotel in Salzburg in a matter of minutes.

Terminals of Salzburg airport in Austria

There are two terminal buildings in Salzburg airport of Austria (SZG): Terminal 1 is the largest terminal, and its facilities comprise two distinct areas for Schengen and non-Schengen operations each; it also features shops, restaurants and an observation deck affording privileged views of the runway. In Salzburg airport, passengers walk across the runway or else are transported by bus to board the airplanes since there are no jet bridges available. Terminal 2 is a smaller building dedicated to the air traffic of the peak holiday season, which accounts for its extra counters specifically designated for checking in skiing gear. The dining options are limited here, so consider stopping at T1 to grab a bite to eat first if you are hungry.

Passenger services in SZG

Salzburg airport has an airport lounge for first-class and business-class passengers of flights operated by Air Baltic, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Eurowings, Finnair, Lufthansa, S7Airlines and Turkish Airlines. Likewise, members of Priority Pass, Lounge Cub and Diners Club, and travellers who purchase a pass at the Ticket Centre of Terminal 1 are admitted into the Salzburg airport lounge. Opening hours go from 5am to 9pm, so if you need to stay overnight to wait for your early morning flight, we recommend you book a hotel near Salzburg airport.

Among other amenities for travellers going through this airport in Austria we count the aforementioned observation deck, which is accessible from the upper level of Terminal 1, features a cafe and provides impressive runway views; an art gallery with temporary exhibitions on display that stays open from 7am to 10pm daily; a security fast track that can be accessed by buying a 5€ pass at the Ticket Centre and free unlimited WiFi in the majority  of public and restricted zones.

Flights to Salzburg in Austria

The listed below are the airlines flying to Salzburg in Austria both regularly and seasonally.

Airlines that operate scheduled flights to SZG (all year round):

Air Serbia (from Nis), Austrian Airlines (Vienna), British Airways (London Gatwick), easyjet (Berlin Schönefeld), Eurowing (Berlin Tegel, Köln Bonn, Düsseldorf, Hamburg), Finnair (Helsinki), Lufthansa (Frankfurt) and Ryanair (London Stansted).

Flying to Salzburg on peak-holiday season

You can get seasonal flights to Salzburg in Austria with Aer Lingus (from Dublin and Cork), Air Baltic (Riga, Tallinn), Air Cairo and FlyEgypt (Hurghada), British Airways (London Heathrow, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow), Jet2.com and easyJet (Amsterdam, Belfast International, Bristol, Hamburg, Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Luton, Birmingham, Leeds), Eurowings (Corfu, Gran Canaria , Heraklion, Terme), Olbia (Palma de Mallorca), Flybe (Birmingham and Newcastle), I-Fly and Pobeda (Moscow Vnukovo), Norwegian Air Shuttle (Bergen, Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Helsinki, London Gatwick, Oslo Gardermoen, Stavenger, Stockholm Arlanda) and Pegasus (Antalya).