How bad is Easter traffic in Austria this year?

Long traffic jams, border delays, and tighter police checks are shaping Easter travel across Austria in 2025. Here’s what drivers need to know.

Easter weekend is typically a busy travel period in Austria, but this year’s congestion is reaching exceptional levels.

With both Catholic and Orthodox Easter coinciding, and school holidays in Austria and Germany adding even more cars to the roads, drivers face severe delays, extensive border checks, and tighter police scrutiny.

Here’s an overview of the traffic conditions and how to manage your journey.

Major delays on southern routes

Travellers heading south faced extreme congestion on the Tauernautobahn (A10) on Friday.

According to ORF Salzburg, waiting times reached up to three hours due to significant bottlenecks caused by construction work. Two problematic areas particularly stand out: roadworks at Eben im Pongau and the Pongau tunnel construction between Werfen and Golling.

Since Thursday afternoon, queues stretching up to 12 kilometres formed, making it one of the worst-hit routes this weekend.

Additionally, border crossings have also become major choke points.

The Walserberg crossing on the A8 motorway, which connects Bavaria to Salzburg, experienced hour-long delays on Friday morning due to intensive border checks. Many drivers attempting to bypass the congestion shifted onto local roads, such as Wiener Straße (B1), causing even further traffic disruptions near Wals-Himmelreich.

Border controls causing lengthy waits

The Austrian government has temporarily reinstated strict border controls during the Easter period, leading to extended waiting times at key entry points.

Major crossings, such as Nickelsdorf (A4/M1) en route to Hungary and Kittsee (A6/D4), are especially impacted, with anticipated delays often exceeding an hour.

Several smaller border crossings, including Klingenbach (B16), Deutschkreuz (B62), and Pamhagen (B51), have been temporarily shut down due to preventive measures against foot-and-mouth disease.

Police step up road safety campaign

Austria’s Interior Ministry launched its ‘Safe Easter Traffic’ campaign to manage the high traffic volume and ensure road safety during Easter, according to a press release.

The police have increased their presence significantly, focusing on speeding, drink-driving, drug offences, seatbelt compliance, and mobile phone use while driving.

“Speeding drivers and tailgaters will be consistently taken off the road,” said Interior Minister Gerhard Karner. The initiative aims not just to penalise drivers but to prevent serious accidents during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.

Last year, Easter weekend saw 329 people injured and five fatalities in Austria, the Ministry said.

City centre closures in Linz

Anyone planning to drive through Linz on Easter Sunday, April 13th, should be aware of major road closures due to the Linz Marathon.

The Mühlkreis Autobahn (A7) between Prinz-Eugen-Straße and Dornach will be closed from 4 am until noon. Drivers should plan alternative routes or consider using public transport to avoid marathon-related disruptions.

Day-trippers adding to congestion

Good weather conditions are expected to increase local and regional traffic further as thousands head out on day trips to popular Easter destinations, notably the picturesque Wachau valley, famed for its apricot blossoms.

Roads such as the Danube Highway (A22), the Stockerau Expressway (S5), and local routes B3 and B33 are predicted to be particularly busy.

How can drivers manage?

To minimise stress during this challenging travel weekend, Austrian automobile clubs and traffic authorities suggest several practical tips:

Regularly check live traffic updates through services such as ÖAMTC and ORF Verkehrsservice.
Avoid peak travel times when possible – early morning or late evening trips are likely to face less severe congestion.
Carry essentials such as water, snacks, and entertainment, especially if travelling with children, to manage prolonged delays comfortably.
Use public transportation when possible, particularly in urban areas affected by road closures.

How bad is Easter traffic in Austria this year?

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