Is Austria or Norway cheaper?

Austria is the cheaper of the two: roughly $35–130/day in Austria versus $65–130+/day in Norway.

When is the best time to visit Austria vs Norway?

Austria is at its best in May–July, September, December–February; Norway peaks in February, March, May–August.

Is Austria or Norway better in August?

Norway is the better of the two in August. Austria has the edge in January, September, October, December, Norway in March, August, and both are at their best in February, May, June, July.

How long do you need in Austria vs Norway?

Plan 1–2 weeks for Austria and 1–3 for Norway.

Should I choose Austria or Norway?

Pick Austria if you want somewhere cheaper across the board, stronger for mountains, more urban / city-focused. Pick Norway if you want somewhere stronger for nature, adventure, more off-the-beaten-path.

Austria vs Norway

Two strong destinations, different in important ways. Here's the side-by-side, then a verdict on which suits which traveler.

Western Europe

Austria

The Alps done properly — skiing, hiking, and Vienna for the culture.

Best time to visit

January: peak
February: peak
March: fine
April: fine
May: peak
June: peak
July: peak
August: fine
September: peak
October: fine
November: avoid
December: peak

Peak Fine Avoid

Northern Europe

Norway

Fjords, northern lights, midnight sun — utterly unlike anywhere else.

Best time to visit

January: fine
February: peak
March: peak
April: fine
May: peak
June: peak
July: peak
August: peak
September: fine
October: avoid
November: avoid
December: fine

Peak Fine Avoid

Read our full guides about Austria and Norway.

Side by side

Emphasised where they differ. Muted rows are much the same either way.

	Austria	Norway
Best time	May–July, September, December–February	February, March, May–August
Climate	mild	cold
Budget	Budget – Mid-range · $35–130/day	Mid-range – Premium · $65–130+/day
Trip length	1–2 wks	1–3 wks
Visa	Schengen — visa-free for most Western passports (90 days).	Schengen — visa-free for most Western passports (90 days).
Currency	EUR (€)	NOK (Krone). Roughly 11 NOK ≈ 1 USD.
Language	German. English widely spoken in cities and resorts.	Norwegian. English universal.
Tap water	Tap water safe and excellent — much of it is alpine spring water.	Tap water excellent — sometimes better than bottled.
Safety	Very safe.	Very safe. Weather is the only real risk.

General guidance — visas, safety, and health change, so check your government's travel advisory and the official sources before you go.

Austria or Norway, month by month

Which of the two is the better bet for each month of the year, scored on how well the season suits each place.

Which to choose

Choose Austria if:

You want somewhere cheaper across the board.
You want somewhere stronger for mountains.
You want somewhere more urban / city-focused.

Choose Norway if:

You want somewhere stronger for nature, adventure.
You want somewhere more off-the-beaten-path.

Common questions

Is Austria or Norway cheaper?: Austria is the cheaper of the two: roughly $35–130/day in Austria versus $65–130+/day in Norway.
When is the best time to visit Austria vs Norway?: Austria is at its best in May–July, September, December–February; Norway peaks in February, March, May–August.
Is Austria or Norway better in August?: Norway is the better of the two in August. Austria has the edge in January, September, October, December, Norway in March, August, and both are at their best in February, May, June, July.
How long do you need in Austria vs Norway?: Plan 1–2 weeks for Austria and 1–3 for Norway.
Should I choose Austria or Norway?: Pick Austria if you want somewhere cheaper across the board, stronger for mountains, more urban / city-focused. Pick Norway if you want somewhere stronger for nature, adventure, more off-the-beaten-path.