🇬🇧 Cross-border drive · United Kingdom → Austria 🇦🇹
Driving from London to Vienna
Driving from London to Vienna? Navigate the A20, E40, and Austrian motorways. Get practical tips on tolls, vignettes, and border crossings.
- Drive time
- 15h 37m
- Distance
- 1,477 km
- Same day?
- Split it
- 12 h+, plan a stop
- Fuel cost
- ≈ €212
- petrol · diesel ≈ €180
- Tolls
- ≈ €28
- mixed
- EV charging
- Unknown
- not yet surveyed
On this page
Route map
Route options
Other paths OSRM found between the two cities — handy when traffic, tolls, or scenery matter more than raw speed.
Avoids motorways
+8h 49m- Distance:
- 1,566 km (+89 km)
- Duration:
- 24h 27m
Via: B 279 · B 49 · 22 · B 22
How else can you make this trip?
Driving is the focus of this guide; here's how cycling, coach, and (soon) train and plane stack up for the same pair.
15h 37m
1.477 km · €212 fuel
See details ↓
Not realistic
1.477 km is far beyond a typical multi-day cycle tour. Try a shorter pair like a day or weekend stage.
No direct service
Our coach data (FlixBus + BlaBlaCar) doesn't list a direct service for this pair. National operators (e.g., National Express in the UK, Eurolines feeders) may still cover it — check their site directly.
2h 57m
from €40
See details ↓
15h 31m
Eurostar · SNCF VOYAGEURS
See details ↓
What the drive is like
Drafted from the route's computed data on April 24, 2026 and reviewed against the route summary card. Read our methodology.
Your journey from London to Vienna begins the moment you join the A20 heading towards Dover, preparing for the Channel Tunnel. Once through, you'll immediately pick up the French A 16, a swift autoroute that will carry you eastwards across Northern France. Be prepared for the typical French autoroute tolls; budget for these as you cover the miles. The A 16 eventually merges into the E40, a major European artery that will be your main companion for a significant stretch through Belgium and into Germany.
As you cross into Belgium, note the change in speed limits and road signage, though the E40 remains a well-maintained motorway. The E40 continues its path through Germany, passing Cologne and Frankfurt. Keep an eye out for the Autobahn sections where speed limits can be advisory, but be aware of traffic and construction zones. Fuel prices in Germany are generally moderate. The E40 eventually leads you towards the German-Austrian border. Prepare for the transition into Austria; unlike Germany's largely toll-free Autobahns, Austria requires a vignette for its motorways.
Upon entering Austria, you'll likely find yourself on the A1, which connects directly to the E40 in some sections, continuing towards Vienna. The Austrian motorways are well-kept but require the purchase of a vignette, which can be bought at border crossings or service stations. Ensure you affix it correctly to your windscreen to avoid fines. Winter tyre regulations are strictly enforced in Austria from November to April, so check the requirements based on the season of your travel. The final leg into Vienna will see you navigating the city's ring roads and approach routes, a blend of urban driving after the long continental stretches.
Route highlights
- Channel Tunnel crossing to France
- French A 16 autoroute tolls
- E40 motorway across Belgium and Germany
- German Autobahn sections
- Austrian vignette requirement
- Winter tyre mandate in Austria
Trip plan
How to think about the drive: one day, split, or overnight.
Overnight recommended
Too long for a single-driver day. Plan on 1 overnight stop(s) to do this trip right.
A natural overnight stop near the halfway point: Idstein (de).
- Distance:
- 1,477 km
- Duration:
- 15h 37m (free-flow, no traffic)
Where to stop
Places along the route that make natural breaks for coffee, lunch, or a night.
-
Oye-Plage 🇫🇷 fr
≈185 km≈ 5.6 km detour from the main route
-
Strombeek-Bever 🇧🇪 be
≈369 km≈ 1.6 km detour from the main route
-
Kerpen 🇩🇪 de
≈554 km≈ 8 km detour from the main route
-
Nordenstadt 🇩🇪 de
≈738 km≈ 3.3 km detour from the main route
-
Schlüsselfeld 🇩🇪 de
≈923 km≈ 9.1 km detour from the main route
-
Geiselhöring 🇩🇪 de
≈1,108 km≈ 18.8 km detour from the main route
-
Marchtrenk 🇦🇹 at
≈1,292 km≈ 7.3 km detour from the main route
Along the way
Places to stop for coffee, a bite, a view, or the night — from OpenStreetMap.
Food · 6
-
+0.1 km
fast food · Wien
-
+0.1 km
restaurant · Wien
-
+0.1 km
fast food · Wien
-
+0.3 km
restaurant · Wien
-
+0.3 km
restaurant · Wien
-
+0.5 km
fast food · Wien
Coffee · 6
-
+0.1 km
cafe · Wien
-
+0.2 km
cafe · Wien
-
+0.2 km
cafe · London
-
+0.7 km
cafe · London
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+0.8 km
cafe · London
-
+1.1 km
cafe · Wien
Museums & history · 6
-
+0.5 km
museum · Wien
-
+0.6 km
museum · Wien
-
+0.5 km
museum
-
+0.3 km
Royal Tank Regiment Memorial
memorial
-
+0.3 km
Anglo-Belgian War Memorial
memorial
-
+0.5 km
Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke
memorial · London
Outdoors · 6
-
+0.4 km
attraction · Wien
-
+0.4 km
attraction
-
+0.7 km
Heldenplatz
attraction
-
+1.6 km
Hundertwasserhaus
attraction
-
+1.7 km
Hammer
attraction
-
+2.3 km
attraction · Wien
Stay the night · 6
-
+0.9 km
hotel
-
+1.3 km
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel London - West End
hotel · London
-
+1.3 km
hotel · Wien
-
+1.4 km
hotel · London
-
+1.4 km
hotel · London
-
+1.6 km
hotel · Wien
Key moves
Things to know before you set off — borders, sides of the road, tolls.
Channel crossing required — book ahead
OSRM treats the Channel as land. The reality: you need either Eurotunnel (Folkestone–Calais, 35 minutes, ~£90–£250 depending on date) or the Dover–Calais ferry (90 minutes, ~£80–£200). Both add an hour to a half-day to the trip on top of the booking, queue, and customs. Reserve your slot before you commit to a date.
Multi-country chain · GB → FR → BE → NL → DE → CZ → AT
You'll cross 7 countries on this drive — each with its own toll system, fuel pricing, and motorway rules. Skim the must-know section below before you set off, and have your registration plus insurance card in the door pocket for any roadside check.
Drive on the left in GB
The UK, Ireland, Malta, and Cyprus drive on the left. If you're crossing over from the continent via ferry or the Channel Tunnel, take a breather before you pull onto the motorway — it rewires faster than people expect.
Tolls on motorways in FR
Budget for motorway tolls — France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal charge per-km, Croatia and Greece by section. Contactless cards work almost everywhere; have one loaded.
Vignette required in CZ / AT
Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Bulgaria, and Romania require a sticker or e-vignette for motorway use. Buy at the border — missing one is a heavy on-the-spot fine.
Long rural stretch on Le Shuttle
Plan for about 59 km of two-lane country roads. Slower than motorway, but often the pretty part — fewer overtakes after dark.
Long rural stretch on R0
Plan for about 18 km of two-lane country roads. Slower than motorway, but often the pretty part — fewer overtakes after dark.
Must-know before you go
The things a driver from another country wouldn't think to ask about — fines, stickers, payment cards, opening hours.
City access & emission zones
Brussels Low Emission Zone covers all 19 communes
Must knowBrussels LEZ runs 24/7 across the entire city; foreign plates must register online before arrival. Diesel pre-Euro 4 and petrol pre-Euro 1 are banned outright. The fine for unregistered entry is €350. Antwerp and Ghent have their own LEZs with different sticker requirements.
Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart need a green Umweltplakette
Must knowGermany's low-emission zones (Umweltzone) are simpler than the French system but stricter on entry. You need a colour-coded sticker physically on your windscreen before entering. The vast majority of zones today require a green sticker (Euro 4+ petrol, Euro 6+ diesel). Order via TÜV / DEKRA / certified workshops — about €6–13, ships in days. Driving without one costs €100 even if your car would qualify.
Order your Crit'Air sticker before the trip
Must knowParis, Lyon, Strasbourg, Marseille, Toulouse and a growing list of cities require a Crit'Air air-quality sticker visible on your windscreen — even for a single drive-through. It's €4.51 from the official site and ships by post (allow 2–6 weeks abroad). Without it, expect on-the-spot fines from €68. Your registration document tells the issuer your emission class.
Greater London ULEZ — £12.50/day, 24/7
Must knowLondon
The Ultra Low Emission Zone covers every London borough since August 2023. Foreign plates must pay via the TfL website by midnight the day after travel — no payment, £180 fine. A scrappage scheme covers UK residents only. Confirm your car's Euro class on the TfL "check your vehicle" tool before you commit to driving in.
Whole-city paid parking — no free street spaces inside the Gürtel
Must knowVienna
Vienna extended its short-term parking zone (Kurzparkzone) to all 23 districts in 2022. Foreign plates pay via Handyparken app or paper "Parkschein" tickets at trafiks (newsagents). Daytime parking is €2.50/hour, max 2 hours per ticket — meaning practically you need a private parking garage for any stay over 2 hours. Garages average €4–6/hour or €25/day.
Borders & documents
EU drivers don't need an International Driving Permit
TipA common piece of post-Brexit confusion: EU and UK driving licences are still mutually recognised for short visits. You don't need an IDP for a holiday or business trip. You also no longer need a Green Card — the UK rejoined the unified motor-insurance system in 2021. Bring your registration document and insurance certificate.
Tolls, vignettes & road payment
Digital vignette before crossing the border
Must knowAustrian motorways need a vignette — €10.10 for 10 days, €30.40 for 2 months, or €103.80 annual. The digital version (linked to your plate) is bought online at asfinag.at and activates from a chosen date — if you buy on the Austrian side of the border, it's only valid 18 days later under consumer-protection rules. Buy ahead.
Czech e-vignette is plate-linked, no sticker
Must knowCzechia replaced paper vignettes in 2021. Buy on edalnice.cz with your plate, valid from the chosen date. 10-day is CZK 290 (~€12), annual CZK 2,300 (~€95). Police read plates electronically — no display required. The first 90 minutes after purchase, the system sometimes hasn't synced; keep your purchase confirmation accessible.
You'll hit three different toll systems on this trip
Must knowThis route crosses countries with mismatched toll mechanics — France's ticket-and-pay, vignette stickers, electronic-only stretches. There's no single transponder that works everywhere, but a Telepass EU device covers FR/IT/ES/PT and a Bip&Go covers the same plus a few more. For a one-off trip, contactless cards plus a Swiss vignette and Austrian e-vignette is the simplest mix.
Brenner, Tauern and Karawanken tunnels are extra
UsefulEight Austrian routes charge separate tolls on top of the vignette: Brenner (A13, ~€11.50), Pyhrn (A9, ~€6.50), Tauern (A10, ~€14), Karawanken (A11, ~€8.50) and others. Pay at the booth — no vignette discount. If you're heading south to Italy via the A13, budget for it.
What your car must carry
Triangle, first-aid kit, hi-vis vest — all three
Must knowGermany requires a warning triangle, a first-aid kit (compliant with DIN 13164, with a "use by" date — €10 at any pharmacy), and a reflective vest in every passenger car. Roadside checks do happen at borders. The first-aid kit is the one foreign drivers most commonly miss.
Hi-vis vest in the cabin, triangle in the boot
Must knowA reflective vest must be reachable without leaving the vehicle (in the door pocket or under your seat — boot is too late). One warning triangle is also mandatory. The 2012 breathalyzer rule was scrapped in 2020 but is still nice to keep. No spare-bulb requirement.
Headlight deflectors required for continental cars
Must knowContinental left-hand-drive headlight beams cut up-and-right — point them straight at oncoming British traffic at night. €15 stick-on deflectors in the right pattern fix this. Many newer cars have a software "tourist mode" in the headlight menu instead. Without one, you'll dazzle every car you pass after dark and risk an MOT-style stop.
Driving rules & habits
Drive on the left — give yourself a buffer day
Must knowSwitching sides isn't the danger people imagine for the first hour — it's the moment you're tired in week 2 and pull into a quiet petrol station. Park, then think. Roundabouts go clockwise; entering one feels backwards. The first 30 minutes after the ferry/Eurotunnel are the highest-risk: take a coffee at a service area before joining the M20.
Rules, fees, and thresholds change. Always verify against the official source the day before you drive — this page is a checklist, not a legal reference.
Main roads
The highways this route spends the most kilometres on.
-
A 3 —623 km
-
E40 —261 km
-
A1 West Autobahn165 km
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M20 —77 km
-
A 4 —69 km
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A8 Innkreis Autobahn61 km
-
A 16 L'Européenne55 km
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A25 Welser Autobahn19 km
-
R0 —18 km
-
A20 Sidcup Road14 km
-
A 44 —10 km
-
A2 Old Kent Road3 km
Route character
How much of the drive is motorway vs. secondary vs. rural.
Motorway drive — fast, predictable, uneventful.
- Motorway
- 93%
- Secondary
- 0%
- Other / rural
- 7%
Drive difficulty
At-a-glance feel: how demanding is this drive for one driver?
Overall
Demanding
Tough drive — multiple complicating factors compound fatigue. Strongly recommend splitting across days.
- Long drive: 15h 37m behind the wheel at free-flow speeds.
- Cross-border: GB → AT. Keep documents accessible and check border rules.
- Side-of-the-road change — adjusting from RHT to LHT (or back) takes focus.
Fuel & tolls
Rough cost expectation for a typical EU passenger car. Treat as an estimate — pump prices change weekly.
Petrol (RON 95)
≈ €212
110.8 L × €1.92 / L · 7.5 L/100 km
Diesel
≈ €180
88.6 L × €2.03 / L · 6 L/100 km
Electric (DC fast)
≈ €174
258 kWh × €0.68 / kWh · 17.5 kWh/100 km
Public DC fast charging — slower AC charging at home or hotels typically costs about half.
Motorway tolls & vignettes
≈ €28
- FR — €0.10/km on the motorway network (≈ 51 km in-country ≈ €5)
- CZ — Vignette (motorway sticker / e-vignette) — €13.00 for 10 days Annual vignette is €88.00 if you drive often
- AT — Vignette (motorway sticker / e-vignette) — €10.10 for 10 days Annual vignette is €103.80 if you drive often
Prices last refreshed 2026-05-04.
Weather by month
Average daytime high / overnight low and typical monthly rainfall, over the past five years.
🇬🇧 London
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8°
2°
|
10°
4°
|
12°
5°
|
15°
6°
|
19°
10°
|
23°
13°
|
23°
14°
|
23°
14°
|
20°
12°
|
16°
10°
|
11°
6°
|
10°
6°
|
| 70mm | 57mm | 64mm | 54mm | 46mm | 35mm | 84mm | 39mm | 96mm | 79mm | 77mm | 63mm |
hot mild cold
🇦🇹 Vienna
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5°
-1°
|
8°
1°
|
13°
4°
|
16°
7°
|
20°
10°
|
26°
16°
|
28°
18°
|
28°
17°
|
23°
13°
|
17°
9°
|
9°
3°
|
5°
1°
|
| 37mm | 28mm | 49mm | 76mm | 74mm | 62mm | 62mm | 47mm | 130mm | 53mm | 50mm | 46mm |
hot mild cold
Next 5 days at Vienna
Live forecast — refreshes every few hours.
-
Tue 12
☀️
9° / 8°
—
-
Wed 13
☀️
17° / 6°
1.3mm
-
Thu 14
🌧️
19° / 10°
36.7mm
-
Fri 15
⛅
16° / 9°
3.7mm
-
Sat 16
⛅
18° / 10°
6.8mm
Forecast: MET Norway
Directions
Turn-by-turn summary of the main manoeuvres, generated by OSRM.
Show all 47 manoeuvres
- Strand (A4) 0.5 km
- Waterloo Road (A301)
- Bricklayers Arms Flyover (A2) 0.5 km
- Old Kent Road (A2) 3 km
- Sidcup Road (A20) 0.4 km
- Sidcup Road (A20)
- Sidcup Road (A20) 4 km
- Sidcup By-pass (A20) 6 km
- Swanley By-pass (A20) 4 km
- (M20) 77 km
- — 0.2 km
- Boulevard d'Erlanger 0.7 km
- —
- — 0.9 km
- Le Shuttle 59 km
- Boulevard de la Côte d'Opale 1.0 km
- Boulevard de l'Europe
- (D 304) 0.1 km
- —
- L'Européenne (A 16) 43 km
- L'Européenne (A 16) 12 km
- (E40) 133 km
- — 0.9 km
- — 0.2 km
- (R0) 18 km
- — 1 km
- (E40) 128 km
- (A 44) 10 km
- — 0.7 km
- (A 4) 69 km
- (A 3) 297 km
- — 0.4 km
- — 1 km
- — 0.4 km
- (A 3) 326 km
- Innkreis Autobahn (A8) 61 km
- Welser Autobahn (A25) 19 km
- Welser Autobahn (A25) 2 km
- West Autobahn (A1) 143 km
- West Autobahn (A1) 22 km
- Wientalstraße (B1) 2 km
- Bergmillergasse
- Linzer Straße 1 km
- Hütteldorfer Straße 5 km
- Carl-Szokoll-Platz
- Marc-Aurel-Straße
- Jasomirgottstraße
By plane from London to Vienna
Indicative travel time on a non-stop flight, based on great-circle distance, average commercial cruise speed (850 km/h), and a 90-minute allowance for taxi, security, and boarding.
- Total time
- 2h 57m
- Door-to-door from :from airport.
- In the air
- 87 min
- At ~850 km/h cruise speed.
- On the ground
- 90 min
- Taxi + security + boarding (typical short-haul).
- Route
- LHR → VIE
- 1.235 km great-circle.
Indicative fare: from €40 — fares vary by season, day of week, and how far ahead you book. Always check the airline or a meta-search before planning around this number.
Show flight path on map
Estimate-only. We don't pull live schedules or fares for flights — see the methodology page for how this number is computed.
Air travel emits roughly 5–10× the CO₂ per passenger-km of rail for the same distance.
By train from London to Vienna
Fastest cross-border rail itinerary from the public Transitous planner. Times reflect a typical Monday-morning departure on the next available service-day.
- Fastest journey
- 15h 31m
- 5 changes
- Lead operator
- Eurostar
- + 4 more
- Alternatives
- 5
- Itineraries returned by the planner.
Trains on the fastest itinerary
- EST 9028
- 661A
- ICE 693
All operators across alternatives
- Eurostar
- SNCF VOYAGEURS
- DB Fernverkehr AG
- NS Int
- OEBB Personenverkehr AG Kundenservice
Includes a high-speed rail leg (TGV, ICE, AVE, Frecciarossa-class).
Show route on map
Routing via the public Transitous OTP planner (community-run MOTIS instance). Cached 24 hours; verify on the operator's site before booking.
Frequently asked
Where can I buy the Austrian vignette?
You can purchase an Austrian vignette (digital or sticker) online in advance, at border crossings, or at petrol stations and tobacco shops near the border.
Are there tolls on the French autoroutes?
Yes, the French autoroutes, including the A 16, are primarily toll roads. You'll pay at toll plazas as you drive.
What are the speed limits like in Germany?
Germany's Autobahns often have no mandatory speed limit, but many sections do have limits. Always adhere to posted signs and drive according to conditions.
Do I need special tires for driving in Austria?
Yes, winter tyres are mandatory in Austria during specific periods (typically November 1st to April 15th) and under certain weather conditions. Check current regulations.
Is driving on the right or left in Austria?
Austria drives on the right, which is a change from the UK where you start your journey.
How this page is built
Compiled by COD Solutions Oy from open European data — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for the route geometry, Open-Meteo for monthly climate normals, EU Weekly Oil Bulletin for cross-border fuel-price bands, OpenStreetMap via Overpass for sights along the route, and Google Gemini drafts the narrative and FAQ from the computed route data. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.