Mauthausen Day Trips from Vienna

Mauthausen is one of those tough but necessary visits. Located 160 kilometres from Vienna, Mauthausen is one of the most infamous of all the Nazi concentration camps. A great idea for an immersion in history to complement the basics of what to see and do in Vienna.

If you've decided to visit, there are several excursion options available to you. I have analysed them all to present you with all the information you will need. Just choose the one that best suits you and your circumstances and... off you go!

We start the list with the most common option: a day trip to the concentration camp. This is, in a way, unavoidable, given that the outward and return trip takes 2 hours. These are very comprehensive tours that leave no part of the camp unexplored. In fact, they often include a visit to the museum. The bus tour is not to be underestimated either, as it passes through beautiful areas such as the Vienna Woods and Melk Abbey.

In general, these tours are quite complete, although I advise you to check the question of the guide. If you want it in English, you should make sure that it is specified in the company's offer. They are usually in English, so if you are not fluent in English, it is best to check this before booking.

Details of interest

If this option is the one that best suits your wishes, please bear in mind the following information:

• Method of transport: Bus
• Journeytime: 2 hours each way
• Typical visits: Concentration camp, barracks, SS quarters, gas chamber and Mauthausen Museum.
• Approximate duration: 8 hours
• Prices: from 180 €.
• Multilingual guide
• Recommended if... you want a conventional tour without private services.

By the way, about the visit to the museum, it is of great interest. You can check which exhibits are available so you know what to expect.

Do you want something more exclusive and without the need to travel to meeting points and to share the trip with other people? Then private 1-day tours are the solution for you. They are all about comfort: normally, the car picks you up at your accommodation and takes you to Mauthausen. There the guide, who is usually also the driver, will accompany you inside the camp. However, it is advisable to check this because, depending on the company, this may vary.

Mauthausen for small groups (up to 7 persons) on private tours

Are you a group of friends, or maybe you are travelling as a family? Whichever of the two, this type of tour can offer you great comfort as it is designed for groups of maximum 7 people. It is also designed as a private tour as the vehicle will come to your hotel to pick you up. Otherwise, it includes the usual services and the classic stops of a tour to Mauthausen.

Interesting details

Interested in booking this type of tour? Here's what you should know:

• Vehicle: Minibus.
• Approximate itinerary time: 2 hours.
• Typical visits: Mauthausen camp, prisoner barracks, SS quarters and visit to the Museum.
• Approximate duration: 8 hours.
• Prices: from 700 € (for groups up to 7 persons).
• Multi-lingual guide
• Recommended if... you want something private when travelling with your family or group of friends.

Private tours to Mauthausen for medium sized groups (8-15 people)

Perfect if you are travelling with an already medium sized group. If you are visiting Mauthausen with between 8 and 15 people, this is the type of tour that will ensure you comfort and save you waiting time. This type of tour offers pick-up from your hotel and transfer to Mauthausen. It also includes entry to the camp facilities.

As for extra services, it is advisable to check the particular offer, although it is not usual for excursions to Mauthausen to include food. Audio guides, for example, may be included, although this is something you should indicate at the time of booking. However, you can download the official Mauthausen audio guide here.

Interesting details

Excursions in this category usually have the following features in common. They are as follows:

• Vehicle: Minibus.
• Approximate itinerary time: 2 hours.
• Typical visits: Mauthausen camp, prisoner barracks, SS quarters and visit to the museum.
• Approximate duration: 8 hours.
• Prices: from 1400 € (for groups up to 15 persons).
• Multilingual guide
• Recommended if you want something private when travelling with medium-sized groups.

Mauthausen for large groups of 20-50 travellers on private tour

This is the Mauthausen tour option for really large groups and especially interesting if you are organising a study trip or some kind of corporate or sports team trip.

Unlike other tour formats, pick-up from your accommodation is not always included. It is not surprising, then, if the pick-up is at a meeting point previously defined by the company.

Useful details

If you are planning to travel with groups of this size, then please pay close attention to the following information:

• Vehicle: Bus.
• Approximate time of the itinerary: 2 hours.
• Typical visits: Mauthausen camp, prisoner barracks, SS quarters and visit to the museum.
• Approximate duration: 8 hours.
• Prices: from 150 € per person (for groups up to 50 people).
• Multi-lingual guide
• Recommended... for study trips, sports teams or corporate trips.

The journey from Vienna to Mauthausen is not very long but not extremely short either. In addition, it passes close to incredible attractions such as Melk Abbey. That is why some tours choose to stop at this monument to show you around. They often include entrance tickets to visit it.

If you want to liven up your journey from Vienna to Mauthausen, you should consider this alternative. Especially if you're a music lover, as this abbey hosts a Baroque Music Festival in the summer which is a delight for music lovers.

Interesting details

If you are opting for this type of tour, here are the most common features:

• Vehicle: Bus or minibus.
• Approximate itinerary time: 2 hours.
• Typical visits: Melk Abbey, Mauthausen Camp, prisoner barracks, SS quarters and visit to the Museum.
• Approximate duration: 10 hours.
• Prices: from 200 €.
• Multilingual guide
• Recommended... for those who are curious to see an iconic monument of the country.

This type of tour does not only focus on Mauthausen but includes a stop at the concentration camp as part of a wider itinerary. There are many Danube tours of varying lengths, but most of them take you through Austria, including iconic locations such as Linz, Mitterkirchen and Grein. If you're looking for a full immersion in Austria without giving up your desire to visit Mauthausen, this is an option worth considering.

Details of interest

These tours are the most varied of all, but if you opt for one of them, here's what you need to know:

• Vehicle: It depends on the tour, there are bus tours but also bike tours.
• Approximate duration: It also depends on the tour, although they are usually long. Minimum 2 days and maximum 7.
• Typical visits: Another issue that depends on the tour, some of them stop in emblematic Austrian towns and even others go to cities in neighbouring countries that are located on the banks of the Danube.
• Price: There's something for everyone, but don't put less than €500 in your budget.
• Multilingual guide
• Recommended if... you're looking for total immersion without giving up on seeing Mauthausen.

By the way, if you're interested in doing any of these Danube routes, I recommend you take a look at this article on how to get from Vienna to Budapest. Like Vienna, the Hungarian capital is also bathed by the Danube River, so it is one of the emblematic routes along the Danube. You can check out other options in this article on the best tours from Vienna.

If you want to visit Mauthausen on your own, you can do that too. You will have to take public transport or a rental car. The advantage is obvious: you have the time and the way to get there. For example, if you want to have a pleasant journey and enjoy the scenery, the train is the best way. If, on the other hand, you prefer to save money, the bus is the best option. However, the bus is the longest way to get there.

The only thing you have to bear in mind is that if you go on your own, you won 't be able to take advantage of a guide service. Or, to put it another way, you will only have access to the guided tours organised by Mauthausen, which, by the way, are not very frequent and have very limited timetables. The tours start at 2pm and are only available in German, English and Italian.

Interesting details

• Vehicle: Train (which you can take from Wien hbf ) and bus 361 (which departs from Wien VIB).
• Travel time: The train usually takes around 2.5 hours, the bus 3.5 hours.
• Sightseeing: As this is not a tour, you choose what you want to see.
• Prices: From €25 for the train and from €6 for the bus.
• Recommended if... you want to go at your own pace and visiting Mauthausen without a guide is not a concern for you.

As is often the case in other camps of this kind, where the harshness of what happened there weighs heavily, respect is a key element. In fact, the Memorial organisation has defined and published the rules of conduct in Mauthausen. Here are the most important ones.

Dress code

• According to the guidelines, dress should "be appropriate to the dignity of a memorial".
• It is advisable to avoid political symbols on clothing.
• It is not permitted to wear sportswear or sports equipment.
• High-heeled shoes are discouraged, especially because of the possibility of accidents due to the paths and wooden platforms.

Rules of respect

• No talking in the crematorium.
• Do not speak loudly or use voice amplification devices.
• Eating is only allowed in the visitor centre and in the Bistro.

Finally, the memorial organisation also prohibits entry with pets. Children under the age of 14 are not allowed.

The Vienna Pass is very similar to other tourist passes such as the Berlin Pass. It is a card that gives you access to more than 60 attractions in Vienna. Depending on how you approach your visit, it can pay off. You can get it with a validity of 1 to 6 days. If you plan to visit Vienna in depth and without a break, it is a great option.

However, if your wish is to visit Mauthausen, unfortunately the Vienna Pass will not help you. First of all because a visit to the concentration camp is not included among the attractions it offers. Secondly, the transport benefits do not apply to a train or bus between Vienna and Mauthausen. Nevertheless, it can be very advantageous for you to visit the best of Vienna. For more useful information, here is an article on tips for visiting Vienna.