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Our practical guide
Going on a road trip with young children may seem like a real challenge at first glance. We chose Austria after falling in love with neighboring Slovenia, which shares the same unspoiled atmosphere, far from mass tourism. And we weren't disappointed: with a little planning, Austria is one of the most family-friendly destinations in Europe.
🔹Traveling with a 3-year-old and a 5-month-old baby, it was essential for us to plan a vacation that would allow us to enjoy ourselves to the fullest. We have always wanted to maintain an active lifestyle and pass on to our children the desire to explore other cultures.
🔹Austria fully met our expectations: it is a decidedly kid-friendly destination, offering a wide variety of activities and the opportunity to travel at your own pace. We therefore recommend this country without hesitation for family vacations, rich in shared moments and unforgettable memories.
👉 In this article, we share our detailed feedback and practical advice for planning a family trip to Austria, whether you are new parents or already experienced in road trips with children.
Table of Contents
🚗 Traveling in Austria with children: why a road trip is ideal
Austria is a small country and ideally positioned in Europe, making it an ideal destination for car travel.
The roads are well maintained, everything is well signposted, and there are plenty of rest and stop areas - perfect for taking a break, changing the baby or letting the kids stretch their legs. Even in summer, we didn't experience any major traffic jams.
💡Why choose a family road trip in Austria?
- Traffic flows smoothly, even in the mountains.
- Freedom to stop where and when you want.
- Possibility of carrying more belongings without constraint.
🔹 In order to avoid flying and to avoid long one-way trips, we split our France-Austria itinerary into two days.
- The result: it went very well, the children were able to take their naps and we stopped regularly. (In this respect, it will of course be different from one child to another, depending on how they accept long car journeys).
🔹 Once we were there, we limited long internal trips, favoring short journeys between two accommodations, and that worked well too. The country is rich enough in culture and nature to allow occasional stops to discover a point of interest. In general, we combined this stop with a meal, then got back in the car for a siesta.
🚗 Renting a car in Austria with children: tips and budget
For a successful road trip in Austria with children, renting a car is often the most practical and flexible solution. We have put together a comprehensive guide with practical advice, detailed steps, tips for avoiding hidden costs, and best practices for booking at the best price.
💡 Our advice:
- Don't hesitate to compare agencies to find the best prices.
- select an agency with a minimum rating of 8/10
- Book in advance if you plan to travel during peak season.
- Choose a car that is suitable for mountain roads, but also suitable for the number of passengers, luggage, strollers, etc.
- Check that insurance is included in the rental.
👉 Discover our comprehensive guide to renting a car in Austria and avoid unpleasant surprises:
👉 Compare car rental prices in Austria and book at the best rate
👨👩👧👦 What activities can you do in Austria with children?
Our selection of the best activities to do in Austria with children
👉 We've compiled this comprehensive article the best activities to do in Austria with kids, along with all the key information you need to plan your family trip.
What to visit in Vienna with children? Tips and must-sees
👉 You can also check out our detailed article on Vienna, where we share our practical tips, must-see attractions, and family-tested experiences to help you make the most of your stay!
🍽️ Eating in Austria with children: easy and practical
We had no problems whatsoever with food for the children.
🔹 Austrian supermarkets (including SPAR, Billa and Hofer) offer everything parents need:
- baby food, compotes, infant milk,
- diapers, wipes,
- and even some organic baby products.
We've had no trouble getting supplies, whether in the big cities or in the mountains (there's always a SPAR supermarket nearby), and the opening hours are pretty wide.
🔹 For our 5-month-old baby, breastfeeding simplified meals, but for our eldest, we cooked simple, family-style meals in our Airbnb accommodations: pasta, rice, vegetables, meat... exactly like at home (and we ate exactly the same as he did).
🔹 In restaurants, most establishments offer:
- high chairs,
- changing areas (not systematically, but quite frequently)
- and often children's menus
🔹Our stroller was never a problem either. As an alternative to children's menus, we always managed to get by, as food in Austria focuses on dishes such as veal escalope, potatoes, vegetables, sausages....
💡Tip : travelling by car also meant that we always had our cooler with us, with yoghurt, pasta dishes, fruit, in case the restaurant menus didn't suit us.
🏡 Where to stay in Austria with your family: our recommendations
Choosing the right accommodation is one of the keys to a successful road trip with kids. After spending several weeks in Austria with a 3-year-old and a 5-month-old baby, here’s what really made a difference for us.
Our recommendation: Airbnb apartments with fully equipped kitchens
We opted for Airbnb accommodations throughout our trip, and that’s definitely what made our road trip so enjoyable. Being able to cook simple meals at home saved us precious time and a lot of energy with two young children.
What we consistently looked for:
- ✅ Fully equipped kitchen (a must with a baby)
- ✅ Washing machine (so you don't overload your suitcases)
- ✅ Crib available (if you don't bring your own) / space for a travel crib
- ✅ Parking nearby
The hotel alternative: Hotels.com for more flexibility
If you prefer staying at a hotel —with breakfast included, excellent service, and flexible cancellation policies—Hotels.com offers a wide selection of kid-friendly hotels in Austria, many of which feature spacious family rooms.
It’s also a good option for the first and last nights of your road trip, especially in Vienna or Salzburg, where finding parking for Airbnb stays can be more challenging.
👉 See available family-friendly hotels in Austria
💡 Our tips for finding a place to stay on a road trip:
- Try to plan stays of at least two nights per stop. Packing and unpacking every night with kids is exhausting—and Austria has so much to offer that it’s well worth spending some time there!
- Be sure to check the listing for details on how to access the property (whether the house is on one level or has stairs, whether there is an elevator if it’s an apartment building, etc.).
- If you’re traveling by car, you have the option of choosing a place to stay outside the city center, or in a quieter area with plenty of space for the kids.
🧳Organization and logistics: preparing for your trip to Austria with children
Travelling with children is above all a question of organization and logistics.
So we decided to keep the number of stops to a minimum and stay several nights at each place, to avoid having to pack and unpack our bags every other day—a task that can be time-consuming and tedious.
👉 O ur organization tips :
- Adapt the number of stages to the age of your children.
- Choose accommodation with a fully-equipped kitchen and washing machine.
- If you're going by car, bring your own car seats (more comfortable and economical).
💡 If you rent a car locally, Austrian rental companies offer child seats as an option(we did this when we traveled to Spain, Slovenia, and Turkey, and had no issues).
From a logistical point of view, we found Austria to be a very well organized destination, both in terms of equipment and infrastructure.
👉 Find our complete checklist for organizing luggage for a road trip with children:
💶 How much should you budget for a family road trip in Austria?
Austria may be subject to certain preconceptions when it comes to budget travel—but these are unfounded. Based on our own experience traveling with two young children, it’s entirely possible to take a 10-day family trip for less than €1,500 per person, all-inclusive (transportation, lodging, meals, and activities).
The main expenses to budget for: accommodation (€80–150 per night, depending on the region), meals (€40–60 per day for two adults, alternating between dining out for lunch and cooking dinner), and a few must-see paid attractions such as the Schafbergbahn or Schönbrunn Palace.
👉 Check out our comprehensive guide: A family travel budget for Austria, item by item
🏡 Family Travel in Austria: A Warm and Welcoming Experience
One of Austria's great assets: the warm welcome extended to families.
Everywhere we went - hotels, restaurants, rentals - we were received with kindness and respect. We were never turned away from a restaurant, and were always made to feel welcome by our hosts in the accommodation.
Austrians are respectful of rules and politeness, which makes for a very pleasant stay with young children. The country is safe, and everything is well laid out.
We never felt the pressure of mass tourism, even in big cities like Vienna.
The only exception is the very touristy village ofHallstatt, which is best visited early in the morning or at the end of the day to avoid the crowds.
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🌤️ When is the best time to travel to Austria with children?
Located in the heart of Europe, Austria enjoys a temperate climate.
We went there in July, the perfect time to combine walking, swimming and cultural discoveries, and found our stay very pleasant (with fairly warm, but bearable, temperatures).
☀️ What you need to know :
- Temperatures between 25 and 32°C in summer
- Cooler air at higher altitudes, especially in the evening.
- Some rain is possible, but does not prevent visits.
💡 Tip: pack a few warm clothes for cooler evenings or in the mountains, but there's no need to overload - shorts, jeans, t-shirts and sandals are enough most of the time.
📌 Book your activities in Austria in advance
To avoid long lines—a must during peak season in Hallstatt, Schönbrunn, or at the Schafbergbahn—be sure to book your tickets online. Tickets are refundable and cost the same as those purchased at the ticket office.
💬 Conclusion
Austria is an ideal destination for families with children: safe, welcoming, well organized and full of discoveries.
Whether it's a road trip, a nature break or a cultural getaway, everything has been thought of to make life easier for parents.
For us, going to Austria with children is a big yes - and probably not the last time!
💡 Looking for a concrete example of a family road trip in Austria? This 10-day itinerary covers the country’s must-see destinations, from major cities to iconic lakes and charming villages.
❓ FAQ - Travelling to Austria with children
- Is Austria suitable for families with babies?
Yes, it's a very kid-friendly destination: clean infrastructures, welcoming restaurants and plenty of suitable accommodation.
- What's the best way to get around Austria with children?
The car remains the best option for its flexibility and comfort. Roads are safe and well-signposted.
👉 Compare cars available in Austria
- Where to eat with children in Austria
Most restaurants offer simple menus and high chairs. Supermarkets also offer a wide range of baby products and wide opening hours.
- Do I need special equipment to travel with my baby?
Bring a light stroller, a baby carrier and an umbrella bed if your accommodation doesn't offer one.
- What's the best time of year to visit Austria with your family?
Spring and summer are perfect: long days, lush greenery and pleasant temperatures.
Autumn also lends itself well to a stay, with cooler temperatures but breathtaking scenery.
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