Switzerland vs Austria: which Alpine holiday?

By the Nexara Holidays travel desk · 2 min read

Switzerland and Austria share the Alps, but they offer different holidays.

Scenery

• Switzerland: iconic peaks like the Matterhorn and Jungfrau, glaciers and lakes such as Lucerne and Brienz. See Interlaken & Jungfrau.
• Austria: gentler Alpine valleys, lakes like Hallstatt and Wolfgangsee, and the Tyrolean mountains.

Cities and culture

• Switzerland: charming towns like Lucerne, Zurich and Bern.
• Austria: imperial Vienna, Mozart's Salzburg & Hallstatt and Innsbruck, with more emphasis on music, palaces and coffee-house culture.

Costs

Switzerland is one of Europe's most expensive countries. Austria is generally better value for hotels and meals.

Getting around

Both have excellent trains. Switzerland's panoramic trains are world-famous. See Swiss Travel Pass explained: what it covers and when it pays off.

Winter sports

Both are great for skiing. Switzerland has famous resorts like Zermatt and St Moritz; Austria's Tyrol has many family-friendly resorts.

Christmas markets

Austria's markets in Vienna and Salzburg are among Europe's best.

Combine them

Many travellers combine both, travelling by train from Lucerne via Innsbruck to Salzburg and Vienna.

Our verdict

Choose Switzerland for dramatic peaks and iconic mountain excursions. Choose Austria for culture, music and better value. Or combine both. See our Multi-country tours page.

How long?

A week in either country works well. For a combined trip, plan ten to twelve days. Both are in the Schengen area, so one visa covers both. See Schengen visa for Indian travellers: how the process works.

Best season

Summer for lakes and hiking, December for markets, and January to March for skiing.