There isn’t a straight-forward guide to packing for Austria. It’ll depend greatly on the time of year you visit and what you want to do when you get there. I’ll help as much as I can, but take the guide and adjust it to your needs (and forecast)!
Essential Items for All Seasons
- Comfortable pair of walking shoes
- Waterproof tennis shoes aren’t a bad option if there is rain in the forecast!
- I went with my reliable white Nikes while Frances went with the then in-style Vans
- Whatever you choose, try them out before you take them on your trip
- Light jacket
- Our choice of light jackets were mostly blue jean jackets. They were more easily packable and went with most outfits
- Rain jacket
- I packed a very light, cheap rain jacket I found at TJ Maxx 🙂
- However, a good option for traveling is also the Anorak rain jackets that pack into the pockets
- Jeans that are comfortable
Winter
Summer
Bring all the winter gear, especially if you’re going into the mountains in the winter.
- Fleece-lined leggings
- Beanie
- Scarf
- Down jacket or, what I use, a 3-in-1 coat that is waterproof
Mostly light clothes, but have a light jacket or sweatshirt and a rain jacket just in case!
- Shorts
- A pair of jeans
- Light leggings
- Sunscreen
Mountains
If you plan to stay at the base of all of the mountains, you can pretty well pack for the season you are traveling. However, even if it is summer, if you plan to go up into the mountains at all, be prepared for the drop in temperature! We went up to Kitzsteinhorn in October. At the base of the mountain it was sunny and 70 degrees F (21 degrees C), but by the time we got to the halfway point at Alpine Center I donned my down jacket, beanie and gloves! And this was on a warm, sunny day. The wind at the glacier at the top will make it chilly year-round!
Click here to learn more about Kitzsteinhorn.
The weather difference from the base to the top of Kitzsteinhorn ↑
Luggage
I traveled with my Osprey 55L hiking backpack while Elizabeth traveled with her carry-on suitcase on this trip. For Austria, I don’t believe either was an advantage to the other. Having our own car and with our B&Bs having their own parking there weren’t a lot of obstacles to pulling the suitcase around. We didn’t stay in hostel, so it wasn’t necessary to stuff our luggage in a small drawer.
However, if you decide to travel with a backpack on this trip, don’t skimp on the brand. Frances learned the hard way when her backpack strap didn’t make it through the first airport 🙂
For more information on packing for international travel, click here!
Keep an eye out on backcountry.com for sales on quality backpacking packs.
Packing for Austria can be a little challenging due to the weather changes at the different altitudes, especially outside of the summertime. However, dress in layers, pack a beanie and go explore, because Austria is worth the packing struggle!
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