Essential Apps for Austria Travel
At a glance
ÖBB rail, Vienna metro, Bolt, dining — 14 must-haves for Austria.
TL;DR – install these right away
| Category | Apps |
|---|---|
| Rail & transit | ÖBB, WienMobil |
| Taxi | Bolt, Uber, FREE NOW |
| Maps & navigation | Google Maps, Moovit |
| Translation | Google Translate |
| Payments | Wise, Revolut |
| Dining & booking | TheFork, Google Maps |
| Tours | GetYourGuide, Klook |
| Weather | AccuWeather |
1. Rail & public transit
ÖBB (Österreichische Bundesbahnen)
The official app for Austria's national railway, and the core tool for any Austria trip. Founded in 1923, ÖBB operates a rail network of more than 5,800km across 47 routes centered on Vienna, with direct connections to neighboring Germany, Czechia, Hungary, Italy, and Switzerland.
- Domestic and international in one app: book routes including Vienna↔Salzburg (2h30), Vienna↔Innsbruck (4h), Vienna↔Prague (4h), and Vienna↔Budapest (2h30) — even cross-border routes — all in a single app
- Sparschiene discount: search for discounted tickets up to 70% off when booked early
- Mobile ticket: board with a QR code, which works offline too
- Nightjet (night trains): book European night sleeper trains — useful for long-distance overnight travel from Vienna to Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, Hamburg, and more
- Real-time info: delay and transfer information updates in real time
- Tip: the ÖBB Vorteilscard (discount card) is aimed at long-term residents, but short-term travelers should look for Sparschiene discounted tickets instead.
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
WienMobil (Vienna public transit)
The official app for Vienna's public transit operator (Wiener Linien), integrating the metro (U-Bahn), tram (Straßenbahn), buses, and night buses in one place.
- Vienna metro: 5 lines — U1 (red), U2 (purple), U3 (orange), U4 (green), U6 (brown) — connecting all major sights
- 24/48/72-hour tickets: buy unlimited-ride tourist passes directly in the app
- Wien-Karte (Vienna Card): a package with 72 hours of unlimited transit plus discounts at museums and restaurants
- Real-time arrivals: check next tram/bus arrival times at any stop
- Bike rental: rent a bike through the integrated WienMobil Rad (city bike) service
- Tip: buying the Vienna Card gets you discounts when visiting St. Stephen's Cathedral, Schönbrunn Palace, and Belvedere Palace.
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
2. Taxi
Bolt
An Estonia-based European ride-hailing app with an especially strong presence in Eastern Europe. Operates in Austria's major cities including Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Graz.
- Competitive pricing: generally 10–20% cheaper than Uber in Vienna
- Driver ratings: real-time driver location tracking and a rating system in the app
- Green option: choose an electric vehicle (available for some rides in Vienna)
- Advance booking: supports pre-booking for airport pickup
- Safety features: emergency SOS, live location sharing
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
Uber
A global ride-hailing app operating alongside Bolt in Vienna and Salzburg.
- Uber Comfort/Black: options for a roomier or premium vehicle
- Real-time fares: check an estimated fare before you request a ride
- English support: most drivers speak English
- Airport pickup: board from the designated pickup zone at Vienna International Airport (VIE)
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
FREE NOW
A leading taxi app in Europe, letting you hail an officially licensed taxi through the app, even in Austria.
- Licensed taxis: connects you with a metered, officially licensed taxi driver instead of a rideshare
- Fixed fares: fixed-price options on major routes
- Advance booking: supports booking for airport pickup or a specific time
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
3. Maps & navigation
Google Maps
Search maps and public transit routes across Vienna, Salzburg, Hallstatt, Innsbruck, and more.
- Offline maps: save the Vienna and Salzburg regions in advance for use without a signal
- Transit integration: includes WienMobil and ÖBB route information
- Find dining: search restaurants and cafés based on Google reviews
- Street View: preview Vienna's alleyways and station entrances ahead of time
- Tip: Hallstatt has narrow roads and limited parking, so we strongly recommend arriving by bus and getting around on foot.
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
Moovit
An app for real-time Austrian public transit information, offering more detailed real-time arrival and delay info than Google Maps.
- Vienna metro and trams: real-time arrival information
- Salzburg/Innsbruck: search bus routes
- Crowding info: guidance on when specific routes tend to get crowded
- Route comparison: compare walking/bus/metro combination routes
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
4. Translation
Google Translate
Austria's official language is German, but Austrian German (Österreichisches Deutsch) has plenty of vocabulary and pronunciation that differs from standard German. English is widely understood in big cities like Vienna, Salzburg, and Graz, but you'll need German for smaller towns or restaurant menus.
- Camera translation: instantly translate German menus and signs with your camera
- Offline German pack: download in advance to use without Wi-Fi
- Conversation mode: real-time two-way voice translation with locals
- Austrian-specific vocabulary: even Austria-specific terms like Semmel (bread roll), Paradeiser (tomato), and Erdäpfel (potato) get translated
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
5. Payments
Wise
A fintech card known for the lowest fees compared to banks when paying in euros (EUR). Austria is an EU member state and uses the euro.
- True exchange rate: pays in EUR at the mid-market rate with no markup
- ATM withdrawals: free withdrawals up to a monthly limit
- Multi-currency: hold EUR, CHF, and USD at the same time
- Tip: card payments are the norm at cafés and restaurants in Vienna, but some small cafés or markets may only accept cash.
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
Revolut
Along with Wise, one of the two leading fintech apps for overseas payments. Revolut offers rich extras like spending analytics, virtual cards, and shared accounts.
- Real-time exchange rate: instantly see the equivalent in your home currency the moment you pay in EUR
- Shared accounts: convenient for splitting costs with travel companions
- Insurance bundle: premium plans include travel insurance
- Alerts: instant push notifications on payment, helpful for catching double charges or a lost card
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
6. Dining & reservations
TheFork
Europe's largest restaurant reservation platform, actively used in Austria as well.
- Vienna's Michelin restaurants: book fine-dining spots like Steirereck, Steirische, Palugyay, and Amador
- Austrian classics: find restaurants for Wiener Schnitzel, Tafelspitz (boiled beef), Kaiserschmarrn, and Sacher Torte
- Discounts available: up to 50% off with YUMS points when booking
- Local cafés: also lets you book authentic Vienna coffeehouse (Kaffeehaus) culture spots
7. Tours & activities
GetYourGuide
Book tickets and tours for Austria's major attractions in advance.
- Schönbrunn Palace: book an interior tour (the Emperor's study, Hall of Mirrors, and more) with skip-the-line entry
- Hofburg Palace: book the Imperial Treasury and Spanish Riding School performances
- Salzburg: Mozart's birthplace, Mirabell Gardens, and Hohensalzburg Fortress tours
- Hallstatt: day-trip packages departing from Vienna
- Vienna Opera: book advance tickets for the State Opera House (Staatsoper)
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
Klook
Asia's largest travel activity booking platform, with a convenient localized interface.
- Vienna Pass: a city pass offering unlimited entry to 60+ attractions
- Alpine activities: hiking and boat tours in the Salzkammergut region
- Hallstatt tours: half-day or full-day tours departing from Salzburg
- Points: earn Klook credit toward your next booking
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
8. Accommodation
Booking.com
Compare and book hotels, apartments, and hostels across Austria.
- Vienna's 1st district: options ranging from upscale hotels around the Ringstraße to affordable hostels
- Salzburg: accommodations near the old town sell out early during peak season
- Hallstatt: lakeside rooms are so popular you may need to book 6 months ahead
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
App installation checklist
- ÖBB (essential for rail)
- WienMobil (for visiting Vienna)
- Bolt or Uber
- Google Maps (saved offline)
- Google Translate (German pack)
- Wise or Revolut
- GetYourGuide or Klook
Why an eSIM matters for an Austria trip
Checking your ÖBB ticket, using WienMobil transit, calling a Bolt, and pulling up your GetYourGuide entry ticket — all of it requires data. EU roaming rules apply, but for travelers from Korea, installing an Austria eSIM in advance is far cheaper. Compare eSIMs running on the A1, Magenta, and Drei networks on esimoa.
👉 Compare the best Europe eSIM prices on esimoa
Note: app details are current as of 2025 and service policies may change.
