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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Austria what to pack

49 replies

OhFortheLoveOv · 05/06/2023 11:52

We are off to Austria for a week in 2 weeks time . We staying in tyrol … What the heck do I pack? Hiking clothes where to start? Also what about the evenings? I am at a loss… an alpine adventure sounded fun and different to the usual beach trip until I released I have no clue what to wear or for that matter any suitable clothes …Help

OP posts:
Havanananana · 05/06/2023 13:02

Comfortable walking clothes - they don't need to be high-end hiking stuff if you don't otherwise do much walking, but should be comfortable. Shorts, long trousers, jeans all suffice. You'll need a lightweight, windproof and showerproof jacket. Layers are good, so t-shirts/tops, a light fleece for cool days (or for when you're at the top of the mountains) and for evenings sitting out at a cafe or restaurant.

Good walking shoes or walking boots are essential, as are suitable socks. You'll need a small rucksack (16L size is ample - e.g. Fjällräven Kånken or similar size) for carrying an extra layer/the jacket and for drinks and snacks and suncream and Antisan insect bite creme. OTC painkillers are very expensive in Austria, so pack some Ibuprofen, Paracetamol or Aspirin in case of aches, headaches and hangovers. A hat, neck-warmer/Buff and sunglasses are also usually in my rucksack.

The weather can change very quickly in the Alps, so be sure to keep an eye on the forecasts. Afternoon and early evening showers are common even on very hot days. Before your departure date you can look at Bergfex for a fairly accurate 10-day forecast. Bergfex is also useful once in Austria, along with the usual apps on your phone.

Unless you're at a 5-star hotel, there is no dress code in Austria, and certainly not in the mountain resorts, where smart-casual, or even casual-casual prevails. I live in the mountains and live in shorts/t-shirt top/sweatshirt from May to October.

LilacRos · 05/06/2023 15:56

Pack what you would pack for a UK walking holiday in June.

LIZS · 05/06/2023 16:02

Boots, layers ie.fleece/t shirt, couple of pairs of trousers/leggings (zip off trousers good in case it is warm) , waterproofs, gloves/hat for altitude, casual for evenings with cardigan, swimwear and sandals/flipflops. High factor suncream , sunhat and sunglasses. Small day backpack.

Fairyliz · 05/06/2023 19:03

Don’t forget your swimsuit for the hotel swimming pool/sauna. Although at some places my children took great delight in telling me ‘mummy they aren’t wearing clothes’.

Hoppinggreen · 05/06/2023 19:04

You won’t really need much for “evening”, it will probably be pretty casual

Havanananana · 05/06/2023 21:08

Fairyliz · 05/06/2023 19:03

Don’t forget your swimsuit for the hotel swimming pool/sauna. Although at some places my children took great delight in telling me ‘mummy they aren’t wearing clothes’.

Swimsuits are not usually allowed in saunas. For modesty, a towel can be wrapped around the body, and it is usual to take a second small towel for your feet. The general rule is that bare skin should not be in contact the benches or the floor, so if a towel is not being worn, one should be taken in to sit on. Nudity in general considered perfectly normal in hotel "wellness" areas like saunas, steam rooms and the adjacent showers and nobody bats an eyelid.

OhFortheLoveOv · 05/06/2023 23:19

Thank you so much for the replies. I’m somewhat out of my comfort zone, so all advice is muchly appreciated.
although I’m fairly fit and active, I’m a size 18…and big chested. Which leads me to next struggle finding outdoor clothes that are comfortable and stylish. Do they exist? Have visions myself resembling a weeble wobbling down a yo and down mountain 🤣

OP posts:
NCTDN · 06/06/2023 21:24

I totally understand the whole outdoor clothing issue. I've just ordered a pile of things from dare2b and they usually fit quite well. They have a sale on atm too.
We're off to Austria in July and I think the weather will be so mixed that I need to take my whole wardrobe!

LIZS · 06/06/2023 21:45

North Face do plus sizes. Otherwise try Regatta, Dare2b and Trespass.

southchinasea · 08/06/2023 20:06

This is such a useful thread - we're off to the Tyrol for the first time next week too! Now browsing some of the above suggestions. The weather forecast looks showery and cooler than the UK - 17/18 degrees.

OhFortheLoveOv · 10/06/2023 16:14

I saw the forecast and heart sank a bit as hoped it would be similar to uk…but looks rainy … I’m hoping weather will be okish as not sure what to do if it’s not?

I’ve been told it’s is the alps not to worry and it can be cloudy and rainy one minute and sunny the next.. so I guess anything goes. Feels like I’m packing everything I own and winging it really 😂

OP posts:
Havanananana · 10/06/2023 16:45

Just pack a few layers and a light showerproof rain jacket. Layers are your friend!

Keep looking at Bergfex for weather forecasts - any forecast more than a day in advance is subject to change. The good thing about Bergfex is that it shows hourly weather forecasts. A typical day in the Austrian Alps at the moment can be over 25 deg C during the day, followed by a thunderstorm in the afternoon and then a cooler evening. If Bergfex says it will rain at say16.00, this is usually pretty accurate - and you can look at the sky when you're out just to check. Just plan accordingly (and perhaps cautiously) so that you don't get stranded far away from your car or from the cable cars should the rain arrive an hour earlier than forecast.

southchinasea · 16/06/2023 20:58

We've been here in Seefeld for a few days and it's beautiful. The weather has mostly been sunny and warm with blue skies and around 20 degrees. Today was more mixed with showery rain.

We've been walking in t-shirt and walking trousers, with a fleece and waterproof coat in the backpack. Evenings I've been wearing jeans and a top with sandals.

It's been lovely walking through the forests surrounded by mountain peaks. Yesterday we hiked up higher - needed walking boots with good grip and I was glad we had walking poles as there was snow across the path! I'm sure you'll have a great time.

Havanananana · 16/06/2023 21:35

Forecast for the coming week, which is presumably when @OhFortheLoveOv is visiting, is for temperatures over 25 deg in the mountains, and hotter in the eastern cities. Maybe the occasional shower in the mountains mid-week - i.e. typical summer weather in the Alps 😎

PandyMoanyMum · 16/06/2023 21:40

There are some lovely “beach lakes” so take swimmers and beach shoes

Caulidop · 16/06/2023 21:51

Where are you staying OP? I found that a forecast temp that I thought would be mid to warm in UK was flippin' hot in the mountains! Quite a different climate and as said previously, quite changeable. I'm sure you'll have an amazing time.

NCTDN · 25/06/2023 09:33

@OhFortheLoveOv how was your weather?

OhFortheLoveOv · 12/07/2023 15:52

@ NCTDN It was uncharacteristically hot, hit high 30s most days being in mountains was a godsend as did stopping at various mountain huts for cool drink. Blooming love Hugo spritz now!
Austria is truly stunning! Only thing I would say is a lot of construction work going on, but didn’t dampen our hols too much and we would still go back in heartbeat

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OhFortheLoveOv · 12/07/2023 15:57

@Caulidop we stayed in Saalbach, just outside Zell am see.

OP posts:
Havanananana · 12/07/2023 23:58

Saalbach-Hinterglemm has lots of building work going on at the moment (mainly road improvements and re-paving the centre of Hinterglemm, plus a few hotels being renovated) in preparation for the Skiing World championships which will take place there in Feb. 2025. There is also a new ski lift being built on Schattberg, which unfortunately has turned the top of that particular peak above Saalbach into one big building site for this summer - but fortunately there are plenty of other peaks on both sides of the valley from which to enjoy the stunning views.

Caulidop · 13/07/2023 15:37

@OhFortheLoveOv ah lovely! We stayed in Hinterglemm jusy down the road! Loved the area.

Reepicheepy · 13/08/2023 08:58

@OhFortheLoveOv - sorry to resurrect this but I’m off to Austria mid next week and forecast looks similar ish to when you were there.

Could I ask what clothes you ended up wearing ( as I’m also at a loss).

NCTDN · 13/08/2023 09:30

@Reepicheepy I can back three days ago. The weather was incredibly mixed - luckily I had a mixture of everything with me. One day was 9 degrees and rainy, the next was 24 and sunny!

Reepicheepy · 13/08/2023 09:36

Yes I’m expecting mixed for sure! I have 3 days in Salzburg first which is currently showing 30 - then off to the higher mountains ( also showing quite hot at 26 atm).

I’ve been before in May a few times and we’ve gone from minus to pretty warm. I think it is being summer and possibly hotter that’s throwing me. I’m also on a small group holiday so was having a wobble about the evenings and whether I needed something slightly smarter ( which I think prob not).

Also having a bit of a wobble about ticks - wanted to get my family vaccinated against TBE but couldn’t source any kids vaccines in the U.K. Last time my youngest did get bitten and the Austrians at the hotel were really concerned he wasn’t vaccinated against TBE.

NCTDN · 13/08/2023 09:47

Where in the mountains are you staying? Salzburg was the hottest place for us, though I managed to burn in the mountains. I never realised that the UV was 10% more powerful for every 1000m increase in altitudeBlushIt's pretty obvious now I think about it.