Tourist Cards
Save Money on Your Holiday in Austria
Between the Bodensee and the Neusiedlersee there are a lot of different tourist cards available offering a wide range of discounts for travellers as well as for locals.
Target group: Mainly Tourists
They are called "Sommer-Card", "Activ-Card", "Erlebnis-Card" or are named after the province they are valid for. Such cards are mainly intended for tourists who like to explore the region, use cultural services, visit museums or make a trip through a specific city, rather than just sunbathing.
In general tourist cards entitle to use several services for free or at lower costs, like a fare at mountain railways, an open air pool or guided tourist tours.
Guest Cards - Gästekarten
These are cards for tourists that stay overnight in a specific region. “Gästekarten“ are usually free of charge. They include a wide range of services for free or a reduced price. They cannot be bought, but are available via the hotel or the landlord of the guest room.
Touristcards - Touristenkarten
The so called „Touristenkarten“ can be bought by tourists. They are valid for a specific season or for a specific region. The following pages wil give an overiew this type of cards available in Austria, compiled and veryfied by ECC Austria (in cooperation with the Austrian Consumer Association VKI).
Availability
Tourist cards are mostly available between April/May until September/October. The exact period and validity depends on the specific card. These cards are sold at tourism bureaus, at the offices of mountain railway stations, at hotels or simply online. ECC Austria checked the prices for the month of July/August.
Price comparison
It is not easy to compare the price of tourist cards, because there is a difference in the period of validity and the service offered.
Example: A 7 day card in Tyrol or Vorarlberg costs between appr. 30 Euro (e.g. Activecard Imst-Gurgltal) and appr. 90 Euro (Bodensee Erlebniskarte, Variante „Seebären“).
Special prices
Often there are special conditions for children, seniors, etc. In such cases, we recommend that you bring an official document (e.g. your passport) when buying the card, so you can prove your age if necessary.