Region by region: What are the current Covid rules in Austria?
For people vaccinated against Covid-19, the nationwide lockdown in Austria is over, but has been replaced by a series of still strict measures, which vary slightly between the nine regions.
Rules apply to residents and tourists alike, and what is allowed depends on where in Austria you are and on your vaccination status.
National rules
The following rules apply nationwide:
- Lockdown for people without proof of 2G (full vaccination or recovery from Covid-19, though teenagers in compulsory schooling can use a negative test instead of 2G). This means leaving the home is only possible for people in this group for essential reasons including exercise, buying food or essential supplies, or going to work. On December 24th, 25th, 26th and 31st there is an exemption allowing up to ten people to meet privately without needing proof of 2G.
- Services requiring close physical contact (sometimes called 'body-hugging services' as a direct English translation from the German) including hairdressers and beauty salons can re-open with a 2G requirement and an FFP2 mask requirement.
- Non-essential retail stores can re-open, again with a 2G rule and FFP2 mask requirement.
- Hotels can re-open with a 2G rule and FFP2 mask requirement.
- Night gastronomy (late-night bars, nightclubs and après ski venues) will remain closed until at least January 9th.
- In other catering venues (restaurants and cafes) an 11pm closing time will apply as well as 2G rules, and some regions are not opening these businesses until later in December. Where these are open, food should be consumed while seated only, and FFP2 masks are required except while seated.
- Events can go ahead with different guest limits depending on the venue. If there are assigned seats, there is a maximum of 2,000 people at indoor venues and 4,000 people outdoors; without assigned seating that falls to 300 outdoors and just 25 indoors.
- There are slightly different rules for markets. For markets with no food sold for consumption, the 2G rule and FFP2 mask requirements apply. For markets where food is sold for consumption and services may be on offer as well as goods (this includes Christmas markets) there is a limit of 300 people, and a 2G rule and FFP2 mask requirement.
- Working from home is recommended if possible. At the workplace, a 3G rule (proof of vaccination, recovery or a negative test) and an FFP2 mask requirement are in place.
Regions are not able to remove any of these national rules, but if they choose to they can decide to impose stricter measures. Here's an overview of the current regional differences.
Burgenland
National rules apply.
Carinthia
Gastronomy (restaurants and cafes) is set to re-open on December 17th.
Hotels are set to re-open for tourism on December 17th.
Lower Austria
Gastronomy (restaurants and cafes) is set to re-open on December 17th.
Hotels are set to re-open for tourism on December 17th.
Salzburg
Gastronomy (restaurants and cafes) is set to re-open on December 17th.
Hotels are set to re-open for tourism on December 17th.
Styria
Gastronomy (restaurants and cafes) is set to re-open on December 17th.
Hotels are set to re-open for tourism on December 17th.
Tyrol
National rules apply.
Upper Austria
Upper Austria remains in full lockdown for the full population, regardless of vaccination status, until at least December 17th. This means that non-essential retail, services like hairdressers, and events will not open until then.
Vienna
Hotels are set to re-open for tourism on December 20th.
Gastronomy (restaurants and cafes) is set to re-open on December 20th.
Vorarlberg
On the whole, national rules apply, though with slight differences in the catering industry, where there is a limit of ten people per group seated at one table, and for events, where a maximum of 500 people may be allowed at events with assigned seating.
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Rules apply to residents and tourists alike, and what is allowed depends on where in Austria you are and on your vaccination status.
National rules
The following rules apply nationwide:
- Lockdown for people without proof of 2G (full vaccination or recovery from Covid-19, though teenagers in compulsory schooling can use a negative test instead of 2G). This means leaving the home is only possible for people in this group for essential reasons including exercise, buying food or essential supplies, or going to work. On December 24th, 25th, 26th and 31st there is an exemption allowing up to ten people to meet privately without needing proof of 2G.
- Services requiring close physical contact (sometimes called 'body-hugging services' as a direct English translation from the German) including hairdressers and beauty salons can re-open with a 2G requirement and an FFP2 mask requirement.
- Non-essential retail stores can re-open, again with a 2G rule and FFP2 mask requirement.
- Hotels can re-open with a 2G rule and FFP2 mask requirement.
- Night gastronomy (late-night bars, nightclubs and après ski venues) will remain closed until at least January 9th.
- In other catering venues (restaurants and cafes) an 11pm closing time will apply as well as 2G rules, and some regions are not opening these businesses until later in December. Where these are open, food should be consumed while seated only, and FFP2 masks are required except while seated.
- Events can go ahead with different guest limits depending on the venue. If there are assigned seats, there is a maximum of 2,000 people at indoor venues and 4,000 people outdoors; without assigned seating that falls to 300 outdoors and just 25 indoors.
- There are slightly different rules for markets. For markets with no food sold for consumption, the 2G rule and FFP2 mask requirements apply. For markets where food is sold for consumption and services may be on offer as well as goods (this includes Christmas markets) there is a limit of 300 people, and a 2G rule and FFP2 mask requirement.
- Working from home is recommended if possible. At the workplace, a 3G rule (proof of vaccination, recovery or a negative test) and an FFP2 mask requirement are in place.
Regions are not able to remove any of these national rules, but if they choose to they can decide to impose stricter measures. Here's an overview of the current regional differences.
Burgenland
National rules apply.
Carinthia
Gastronomy (restaurants and cafes) is set to re-open on December 17th.
Hotels are set to re-open for tourism on December 17th.
Lower Austria
Gastronomy (restaurants and cafes) is set to re-open on December 17th.
Hotels are set to re-open for tourism on December 17th.
Salzburg
Gastronomy (restaurants and cafes) is set to re-open on December 17th.
Hotels are set to re-open for tourism on December 17th.
Styria
Gastronomy (restaurants and cafes) is set to re-open on December 17th.
Hotels are set to re-open for tourism on December 17th.
Tyrol
National rules apply.
Upper Austria
Upper Austria remains in full lockdown for the full population, regardless of vaccination status, until at least December 17th. This means that non-essential retail, services like hairdressers, and events will not open until then.
Vienna
Hotels are set to re-open for tourism on December 20th.
Gastronomy (restaurants and cafes) is set to re-open on December 20th.
Vorarlberg
On the whole, national rules apply, though with slight differences in the catering industry, where there is a limit of ten people per group seated at one table, and for events, where a maximum of 500 people may be allowed at events with assigned seating.
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