Is it better to pay taxis in Austria with cash, or do drivers accept cards or payment apps?
I attempted paying with Visa Debit in a Salzburg taxi, and they charged an extra €3 surcahrge. Palm Sunday experience reminded me: If you want to avoid fees, use cash or app-based taxi services. Bolt worked cleanly with card, no surcharge. I keep about €30 cash ready for last-minute rides when apps aren’t available.
In Innsbruck and Linz, traditional taxis accepted cash only. Not even POS machines in many cabs seemed connected. On one trip in Vienna, the driver said, “Card offline.” App-rides like Uber work flawlessly, but don’t count on paying with card if you're flagging a cab on the street. I now preload €50 cash for city hops and use apps for any longer airport transfers.
I spent a month commuting between Graz and Salzburg using my Revolut Visa through apps like Bolt - no issues, flat fare shown. Street taxis will reluctantly accept card, but often with added cost. App-based taxi payments in Austria are most reliable. For spontaneous trips in smaller towns, cash in €5 and €10 bills is best. Apps give convenience; cash gives flexibility.
In Vienna, most taxis still expect cash, although an increasing number accept cards via POS terminals. I used Uber and Bolt apps, paying by Mastercard easily without carrying cash. Traditional yellow taxis often add a 5% card surcharge. Taxis in Austria prefer cash, unless you hail via app or choose a larger company. Keeping €20-30 in bills covers emergencies, and app rides conveniently sort payment without fees if you tip digitally.