Austria, a country of imperial palaces, alpine landscapes, and rich musical heritage, blends old-world charm with modern efficiency. Whether you’re wandering through Vienna’s baroque streets, skiing in the Austrian Alps, or cruising along the Danube River, knowing how to manage your money is key to a smooth travel experience. While Austria is increasingly cashless—especially in urban areas—cash remains important in smaller towns, rural regions, and at local markets or traditional guesthouses. This guide explains everything you need to know about using cash and ATMs in Austria, including typical withdrawal fees, transaction limits, exchange rates, and the level of card acceptance, helping you avoid surprises and enjoy your trip without payment hassles.
Where to find ATMs in Austria?
Urban Areas: Major cities such as Vienna, Salzburg, and Graz have a wide network of ATMs (known locally as Bankomaten), especially in central districts, near shopping zones, and adjacent to bank branches. Leading Austrian banks like Erste Bank, Bank Austria (UniCredit), and Raiffeisen Bank provide online ATM locators to help you find nearby machines.
Tourist Spots: Key attractions including Schönbrunn Palace, Hallstatt, and Innsbruck’s alpine resorts are generally well-equipped with ATMs, often located close to train stations, visitor centers, or hotel areas.
Rural Areas: In remote alpine villages and countryside regions, ATM access may be more limited. It’s a good idea to withdraw cash in larger towns or service hubs before heading into smaller or mountainous communities.
Best ATMs to use in Austria for foreigners
The best ATMs for foreigners to use in Austria are those owned by popular banks such as:
– Deniz Bank,
– Volksbank,
– Raiffeisen, and
– Sparkasse.
There are other banks with ATMs that also accept international debit and credit cards.
Don’t accept conversion at ATMs and withdraw only in local currency
In Austria, some ATMs may ask – Debit in EUR (or Debit in your home currency), Accept Conversion OR Decline Conversion (also known as With or Without Conversion).
- If you ‘Accept’ (Debit in your Home Currency) – ATM converts your money at ATM’s set exchange rate. You pay an extra % fee to the ATM for currency conversion.
- If you Decline (Debit in EUR) – the ATM will convert at exchange rate of the bank/card logo (Visa, Master, etc.).
So, to avoid extra fees, select ‘Decline/Without’ Conversion or ‘Debit in EUR’.
Can I use a foreign debit or credit card at an ATM in Austria?
Yes, majority of the foreign debit and credit cards are widely accepted at ATMs in Austria.
Types of cards accepted at ATMs
ATMs commonly all major types of cards – Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Plus, Cirrus. Cards like American Express, JCB, UnionPay, Diners cards, Discover and Rupay cards are generally not accepted.
What are the ATM opening hours
Most ATMs (Bankomaten) in Austria operate 24/7, especially those located on exterior walls of banks, in shopping areas, or transportation hubs. However, machines inside bank branches may only be accessible during regular business hours (typically Monday to Friday, 8:00–16:00). For some bank branch ATMs, you may need to insert your card at the door to access the ATM outside of banking hours.
What are ATMs called
In Austria, ATMs are commonly referred to as “Bankomat”, and this word is often clearly marked on signage near the machines. Where its not, you spot the ATM only with the name of the bank.
Language options at ATMs
Austrian ATMs generally offer German and English language options. You can also use Google Translate’s camera feature if needed to understand on-screen text or printed receipts.
What currencies can I withdraw from ATMs in Austria?
ATMs in Austria dispense cash in Euros (Euros). A handful of ATMs offer the option to withdraw US Dollars and some other European currencies.
ATM withdrawal limits in Austria?
ATMs in Austria typically have a maximum withdrawal limit per transaction of EUR 400. The ATMs usually do not have daily withdrawal limits so you can make multiple withdrawals in a day, subject to your bank’s limit on your card.
ATM Fees in Austria
There are only a couple of fee-free ATMs in Austria. Majority of the Bank ATMs in Austria charge EUR 3.8 to EUR 6.95 per transaction as ATM Access Fee, to foreign card holders. There is only 2 banks that offer fee-free withdrawals at their ATMs to foreign card holders.
Apart from ATM Access Fees, there can be other potential charges to withdraw cash in Austria. These are:
1. Currency Conversion Fees (Accept or Decline Conversion)
2. Your Bank’s currency conversion fee – Some banks charge the card holder a fee to use the card abroad. Cross check with your bank on what the charges are.
How to avoid high fees when withdrawing cash in Austria
- Use the lower fee ATMs in the country.
- Use the ATM Fee Saver app to find fee-free or low-fee ATMs.
- Opt for “Decline Conversion” or “Without Conversion” during ATM transactions.
- Consider getting fee-free cards from your home country.
- Avoid using ATMs at the airports, sometimes they have higher fees
Ways to find fee-free ATMs in Austria?
Discover fee-free and low-fee ATMs in Austria on the ATM Fee Saver mobile app for iOS and Android. This app provides ATM PINs and details of leading bank ATMs such as ATM fees and withdrawal limits for foreign cardholders at ATMs in Austria. Moreover, its simple fee calculator helps you determine exact withdrawal charges. You can also find cash tips and tricks on the app for 100+ countries including Austria.
Safety at ATMs
Austria is known for its low crime rate, making it a safe destination for travelers. ATMs are widely available throughout the country, especially in urban areas. However, there has been a noted increase in ATM attacks involving explosives, particularly in smaller towns near borders. Banks have implemented enhanced security measures, such as relocating ATMs indoors and installing protective metal curtains, to mitigate these risks. Despite these incidents, violent crime remains rare. It’s advisable to use ATMs located in well-lit, populated areas or within bank premises to minimize potential risks.
FAQs
What to do if an ATM takes your card?
If an ATM in Austria takes your card, contact the bank (if you used an ATM inside a bank branch), they may retreive your card if you have proof of identity. You can also contact the bank’s helpline but they usually retreive and resend new cards only for their own customers. If so, you’ll need to contact your own bank and ask them to deliver a new card at home or abroad.
Fee-free ATMs and possible to withdraw cash free of cost at ATMs in Austria?
Yes, its possible but only at a few locations. There are only a couple of fee-free ATMs in Austria. Majority of the Bank ATMs in Austria charge EUR 3.8 to EUR 6.95 per transaction as ATM Access Fee, to foreign card holders. There is only 2 banks that offer fee-free withdrawals at their ATMs to foreign card holders.
Foreign cards from US, UK, India, China, Europe, Australia accepted?
Absolutely yes! You can usually use cards from the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and other countries at ATMs in Austria.
Bitcoin ATMs
Austria has a fair network of Bitcoin ATMs, with approximately 103 machines installed nationwide. These ATMs are primarily located in major cities such as Vienna (45 machines), Linz (13), Graz (10), and Innsbruck (10)
Foreign bank ATMs’ presence in Austria
Bank of America: No, there are no Bank of America ATMs here.
Citibank: No, there are no Citibank ATMs.
Barclays: No ATMs in Austria.
HSBC: No ATMs here.
Standard Chartered: No, there are no Standard Chartered ATMs in Austria.
