Campsites and pitches in Austria

Driving and camping in Austria

• Capital city: Vienna
• Language: German (many also speak English)
• Residents: 8.8 million (2017)
• Currency: Euro
• Price mode: As in Sweden approximately
• El: Like Sweden
• Water: Drinkable
• Religion: Catholic

Driving here to Austria

• Ferry Gothenburg-Kiel with Stena Line takes 14 h 30 min. The car journey to Austria via A7 takes just over 11 hours and is 1107 km.
• Ferry Trelleborg-Rostock with Stena Line or TT-Line takes between 6 and 7 hours. Car via A9 takes about 10 hours.

Roads and driving in Austria

• Roads: Roads are generally good, but country roads can be winding and narrow. On the motorways, there can be long queues, especially in the high season.
• Road tolls: To drive on motorways you need a sticker called a vignette. This autobahn vignette is sold at petrol stations in border areas. It is also possible to buy a digital vignette in advance, but you have to be there in time. Motorhomes weighing more than 3.5 tonnes need to obtain a Go-box, which can be done at the border. There is also a special charge called 'maut', which is levied at certain roads and passes, and is payable even if you have an autobahn vignette. This can be paid by card or cash at local pay stations. Those with a Go-box do not have to pay the toll separately, but are charged a higher kilometre rate. In order to drive on the lower tolls of the environmental classes, the vehicle must be registered on the toll road before departure.
• Speed limits: Passenger cars and motorhomes under 3.5 tonnes drive on motorway 130 (unless otherwise indicated) and on road 100. Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes may only drive 80 on motorways and 70 on roads.
• Per mille limit: 0.5 (0.1 for professional drivers and new licence holders)
• Traffic rules: Talking on a handheld phone and sending text messages while driving is prohibited. If you get out of your car on a busy road, you must wear a reflective vest.
• Words in traffic: "Staugefahr" means risk of queuing.
• Fuel: Fuel is called alcohol in Austrian German. Diesel is sold in several varieties, and you can choose the cheapest one.
  Biodiesel 100 is pure rapeseed oil, and requires a specially adapted engine.
• Parking rules: A yellow line along the road means no parking is allowed. "Kurzparkzone" means time-limited parking, often without charge. "Gebührenpflichtig" means that parking costs money. Parking tickets can be purchased from vending machines and some tobacconists.
• Security: Make sure you have Roadside Assistance, so that you can get help on the spot in case of an accident. The emergency number for the country's emergency services is 112.

Rules for camping and caravanning in Austria

• There are plenty of campsites around the country, and there are also pitches in Austria. 
• Free camping is only allowed with the permission of the landowner. The rules on free camping are restrictive and in Tyrol and Vienna free camping is prohibited, as is overnighting in a motorhome parked on a road, street or car park.