A self-driving road trip around Vienna and its surroundings is ideal for Australians to explore imperial palaces, rolling vineyards, fairytale forests, and a neighbouring capital city. Renting a car in Austria allows you to control every detail of your journey—from when you depart and where you stop for coffee to which hidden villages you explore. This guide will help you plan an unforgettable seven-day adventure. With helpful tips and essential details, you’ll be ready to explore in no time. Let’s get started with everything you need to know before hitting the road!
Driving in Austria feels familiar to Australians with its well-maintained roads, clear signage, and drive-on-the-right rules. A rental car gives you the flexibility that public transport or coach tours cannot match. You can detour to vineyards at sunset, explore forested hills at dawn, or linger over coffee in a village square. Most rental rates include comprehensive insurance and roadside assistance, so you can relax and enjoy the ride.
Australians do not need an International Driving Permit to drive in Austria, but carrying one alongside your Australian licence and passport can smooth any dealings with local authorities. Always opt for full coverage when you rent a car—this covers damage, theft, or third-party claims. Pack layered clothing for Vienna’s variable spring or autumn weather, sturdy walking shoes, a universal charger for devices, and printed copies of your booking, driving licence, and emergency contacts.
Head first to the Ringstraße, Vienna’s grand boulevard. Pause at Maria-Theresien-Platz to admire the Kunsthistorisches Museum and Naturhistorisches Museum, then park near Hofburg Palace. Spend the morning exploring the Imperial Apartments and the Sisi Museum. For lunch, choose a traditional café—order Wiener schnitzel with a potato salad and a slice of Apfelstrudel. In the afternoon, visit St Stephen’s Cathedral, then drive across the Danube Canal to the bohemian Spittelberg district for evening tapas and live music. Return to your central hotel or apartment to rest up for the days ahead.
Begin with Vienna’s famed coffee culture. Find a charming café, savour a Melange coffee, and indulge in a slice of Sachertorte. Next, drive to the Museums Quartier, where you can choose between the modern art at MUMOK or the classical collection at the Leopold Museum. After lunch, head to the Prater and ride the historic Giant Ferris Wheel for sweeping city views. Then, rent a bike to explore the park’s leafy paths. As dusk falls, drive to the Danube Tower (Donauturm) for dinner with panoramic views, then return via the illuminated riverbanks.
Leave the city behind and wind through the Vienna Woods (Wienerwald). Follow the B1 west, stopping first at Heiligenkreuz Abbey, a tranquil Cistercian monastery founded in 1133. Continue to the hunting lodge at Mayerling, known for its Habsburg romance and mystery. Mid-afternoon, arrive in Grinzing or Sievering—villages famed for Heurigen, rustic wine taverns serving local Grüner Veltliner, and cold-plate platters under chestnut trees. Savour cheese, cured meats, and warm bread as you sip fresh wine. At sunset, drive back along forested lanes to Vienna, arriving in time for an evening concert or opera.
Head north along the Danube towards the Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Your first stop is Klosterneuburg Abbey, where you can tour its medieval crypt and Baroque church and taste the monastic wine. Next, arrive in Krems, park at the town edge, stroll its cobbled lanes, browse art at Kunsthalle Krems, and enjoy lunch riverside. In the afternoon, drive the scenic B33 to Dürnstein. Wander the abbey ruins above the town, sample apricot products (marillenknödel dumplings are a must), and watch the Danube flow by. Stay overnight in a vineyard guesthouse or return to Vienna for city comforts.
Depart early for Melk Abbey, the baroque masterpiece overlooking the Danube. Join a guided tour of the opulent library, frescoed church, and terraced gardens. After exploring, drive south into the gentle Alpine foothills. Stop for lunch in St Pölten—admire its modern Hauptplatz and the striking cathedral. Continue to Tulln am Donau, the ‘Town of Flowers’ where Gregor Mendel began his genetic experiments. Enjoy coffee in a riverside café before returning to Vienna, or choose a countryside inn to spend the night under starlit skies.
Cross the border into Slovakia for a change of pace. A two-lane motorway will take you to Bratislava in under 90 minutes. Park near the Old Town and explore on foot, visiting Michael’s Gate, the Old Town Hall, and the Blue Church. Try bryndzové halušky (potato dumplings with sheep’s cheese) at a local bistro. In the afternoon, climb to Bratislava Castle for panoramic views of the Danube and the Carpathian foothills. Return to Vienna in time for an evening performance at the Staatsoper or a relaxed dinner in the Naschmarkt district.
Spend your final day discovering Vienna’s contemporary face. Drive to the Gasometer complex—converted industrial silos now home to shops, cafés and rooftop viewpoints. Next, head to Donauinsel (Danube Island) for a riverside stroll or a paddle-boat ride. For lunch, explore the Naschmarkt’s international stalls, sampling everything from fresh oysters to Turkish gözleme.In the afternoon, return your rental car and stroll through the Belvedere Gardens or relax in Stadtpark near the Strauss statue. As the evening sets in, enjoy a final glass of Austrian wine at a rooftop bar with views of the city lights.
This seven-day Vienna road trip itinerary gives Australians the perfect mix of imperial grandeur, natural beauty, and hidden gems waiting to be explored. By choosing to rent a car in Austria, you can tailor each day to your interests—whether that’s savouring local wine in Heurigen taverns, hiking forest trails, or crossing borders into Slovakia. Drive safely, embrace local customs, and enjoy every moment of your Austrian adventure. Ready to explore? Rent a car today and start your Vienna road trip!
