Hotels near Austrian National Day

Austria's national day falls on 26 October and marks the 1955 declaration of permanent neutrality, passed the day after the last occupying troops left the country. It is a public holiday. The Austrian Armed Forces stage a large display on Heldenplatz in front of the Hofburg, with equipment on show and a recruitment element, and the Federal President's offices open to the public.

The part that matters to a visitor is admission. A number of federal museums traditionally open free of charge on 26 October, which in a city this museum-heavy is a significant saving. The list is confirmed each year rather than fixed, so check before planning around it. Banks and most shops close, and public transport runs a Sunday timetable.

Pro Tip: Check the free-entry list a week ahead and stack your expensive museum visits onto the 26th, then put the Heuriger taverns and Kahlenberg on the days either side. Arrive at any free museum before 10am, because queues build fast once the Heldenplatz crowd disperses.