From higher pblockport fees to Salzburg Festival season and extreme heat warnings, here’s what to expect across Austria this month.
Higher government fees for doblockents and services
From July 1st, Austria introduced sharp increases to many federal administrative fees – the first comprehensive adjustment since 2011. Most jumped by 48.2 percent to match inflation.
A standard adult pblockport now costs €112 (up from €75.90), a driving licence €90 (up from €60.50), and an ID card €91 (up from €61.50).
Even fees last raised in 2018, such as citizenship and some residence permit applications, rose by 29.8 percent. Applying for Austrian citizenship now costs €163. Court filing fees for constitutional and administrative courts increased to €340. These changes are expected to bring the government around €150 million in additional revenue annually.
READ ALSO: Austria hikes fees for visas and citizenship applications
Festivals, commemorations and anniversaries
The summer culture calendar is in full swing. The Salzburg Festival begins July 18th, with more than 170 clblockical performances through the end of August. In Bregenz, the floating-lake-stage production of “Der Freischütz” opens on July 17th and is nearly sold out.
Vienna offers plenty too: the Rathausplatz Film Festival continues with nightly free screenings and international food stands, while the ImPulsTanz dance festival runs from mid-July into August. At the end of the month, Popfest Wien returns to the plaza at Karlskirche with a showcase of Austrian indie and pop music.
Meanwhile, July 25th quietly marks 91 years since the failed 1934 Nazi July Putsch, when Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuß was blockblockinated. Though not a round anniversary, some outlets may revisit the event as part of ongoing discussions of Austrian democratic history.
READ ALSO: What you need to know about Vienna’s free summer film festival
Summer school holidays and travel pressure
Schools are out nationwide, with the summer break starting at the end of June in eastern states and on July 5th elsewhere. All schools remain closed throughout July and August, making this the prime month for family holidays.
The result? Heavy traffic every weekend, especially on north-south routes through Austria toward Italy and the Balkans. Expect long delays at the Brenner Pblock, Karawanken Tunnel and other major bottlenecks on Saturdays. Police actively manage congestion, and drivers are advised to travel early or on weekdays if possible.
Train travel is also at peak demand. Nightjet sleeper trains are often booked weeks in advance, and ÖBB adds capacity on popular routes to Croatia, Italy and Austria’s lake regions. Vienna’s public transport system runs a summer timetable with extended night service on weekends, while short-stay parking zones remain in effect on weekdays.
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New transport connections and local travel updates
Austria’s air and rail networks continue to expand. Vienna Airport is serving a record 190 destinations this summer. Austrian Airlines added new seasonal flights to Norway’s Lofoten region, Edinburgh, Sylt and Bulgaria’s Black Sea. Scoot – a low-cost airline under Singapore Airlines – launched Austria’s first non-stop budget route to Southeast Asia, flying Vienna–Singapore three times weekly.
Train travel is also becoming more convenient. The high-speed Westbahn line between Vienna and St. Pölten fully reopened in June. A Nightjet route from Brussels now extends to Innsbruck. In Graz, a new tram line to Reininghaus is now operational, and the city introduced a night-time 30 km/h speed limit across most roads to reduce noise.
READ ALSO: LISTED – The new flights from Vienna in summer 2025
Heatwave and drought warnings
Austria is bracing for a potentially record-breaking summer. July temperatures are forecast to hit or exceed 40C, with multiple heatwaves expected. Tropical nights – when temperatures stay above 20C – could set new records in cities like Vienna and Graz.
Cities have activated heat response plans, with misting stations, shaded rest zones and hydration campaigns. Forest fire warnings and open flame bans are in place across Carinthia, Lower Austria and other vulnerable regions. Farmers and hydropower producers are closely watching water levels, as low rainfall is predicted through at least mid-July.
READ ALSO: ‘We have to act fast’: Austria feels the heat from global warming
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Tourist numbers to increase
Despite the heat, tourism is booming.
Around 22.5 million visitors are expected across Austria this summer – up 1 million from last year. Hotels in Vienna, Salzburg and Alpine resorts are seeing near-full occupancy, and city tourism is nearly back to pre-Covid levels.
Cultural highlights like the Albrecht Dürer exhibition in Vienna and lakefront festivals in Carinthia are major draws. Still, heatwaves may affect some tourists’ comfort. Cities are encouraging visitors to explore indoor museums during peak heat and offering free water in busy zones. Hiking trails may face occasional closures due to fire risk or heat, and water levels at Lake Neusiedl remain under watch.
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