Every year, Austria inspires many travelers, like you and us. Sadly, this also creates a problem: the Alps inspire a lot of people, especially during the two high seasons, summer and winter. Too many. That’s one of the reasons we’ve created this Green Travel Guide, to help you prepare for your next vacation in Austria — and to help you travel in a more sustainable and eco-friendly way while you’re there.
Popular, more popular, Austria
In 2025, Austria broke another visitor record, surpassing 40 million overnight stays between May and July. As host Marco Spiess explained in an interview, this delighted tourist regions such as Tyrolean Oberland, Tyrol, and East Tyrol. However, it also brought a host of challenges.
Preserving the stunning natural environment requires sustainable behavior when vacationing in Austria. But what does that actually mean?
What does sustainable travel mean in Austria?
Sustainable travel encompasses many aspects. If you’d like to learn more, check out these two blog posts on the basics and tips of sustainable travel.
In general, the journey to your destination plays a significant role in the harmful climate impact of tourism. That’s why the general rule is that the shorter the journey, the better.
To learn more, read our background article on sustainable travel or check out our expert tips.
Austria is centrally located in Europe and easily accessible by public transportation. This means you can comfortably leave your car at home and travel by bus or train. Flying? It’s unnecessary within Europe!
Additionally, more and more vacation destinations are committing to sustainability by supporting the local economy, facilitating green travel, and creating local incentives for emission-free transportation. We’ve compiled a list of ways you can contribute to a sustainable vacation in Austria in our Green Travel Guide.
Green Travel Guide: Sustainable vacation in Austria
Tips for Your Trip
Take the train instead of driving. Avoid short-haul flights from neighboring countries or within Austria. Also, pack light. Not only will you have less to carry, but vehicles also consume more fuel when they’re heavily loaded. This is especially relevant if you end up driving. Another often-overlooked option is the long-distance bus. They are often much cheaper than trains and, according to calculations by the Environmental Agency, just as eco-friendly.
Local Mobility
An increasing number of destinations are offering their guests the opportunity to plan sustainable vacations. This can be through improved rail connections, guest cards, or incentives created by accommodations, such as free e-bike rentals for guests arriving by train. One example is the Hotel Klosterbräu in the popular vacation region of Seefeld.
Other destinations have joined the Alpine Pearls initiative, thereby committing to climate protection and sustainable tourism practices. The three Alpine Pearls destinations in Austria—Mallnitz and Weissensee in Carinthia and Werfenweng in the Salzburg region—are car-free. Hiking, valley, and ski buses take guests everywhere. Additionally, e-bikes and bicycles are provided free of charge.
The regions along the Danube have also partnered to ensure sustainable mobility for guests. In addition to buses, trains, and bicycles, the Transdanube Pearls offer boat trips that connect the towns.
Side Note: Cable Car
Criticism is often voiced when new cable cars are built. However, people often focus solely on recreational activities, such as skiing, or tourist traffic. Yet, cable cars are a form of public transportation, just like buses and trains and serve as vital supply routes for remote mountain huts and alpine pastures.
At first glance, the right-of-way that must be cleared for construction seems to conflict with nature, but if you consider how much space a road would take up, not to mention the additional noise, materials, and time required, you may realize, as we have, that a cable car actually takes up less space.
Ultimately, a cable car’s environmental impact depends on how it is operated. According to a WKO survey, 85% of member cable car companies use green electricity, often from hydropower, and 78% have photovoltaic systems. Cable cars also fulfill a social purpose by enabling seniors, people with disabilities, and children to experience the mountains. You can read more about this here.
Sustainable Hotels and Vacation Homes in Austria
One way to make your vacation in Austria more sustainable is to choose eco-friendly accommodations. These establishments are dedicated to preserving Austria’s unique natural environment and take their responsibilities seriously. This allows you to enjoy your stay with a clear conscience.
Look for specific certifications, such as the EU Ecolabel, the Austrian Ecolabel, or GreenSign, to identify sustainable hotels and vacation homes. You can also find them on curated platforms like the Green Pearls® network, where each property’s sustainable initiatives are listed transparently. Familiarize yourself in advance with the criteria an accommodation must meet. At Green Pearls®, for instance, these include sustainable energy production, local food sourcing, environmental protection during construction and operation, and social responsibility (employees, community projects, etc.).
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