Best places to elope in Austria – Alps edition [2024]
Austria has a wide range of beautiful scenery to offer and there will be something for everyone. Each season has its unique charm and we are sure that you will find the perfect location for your epic elopement in Austria.
This blogpost would probably be pages and pages long if we would go through each and every region in Austria and that’s why our focus lies on the Alps region within Austria. And trust us when we say – there are so so many stunning places in this area, you won’t miss anything. So fasten your seatbelts and lets dive into what epic elopement locations Austria has to offer.
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1. Is it possible to get legally married in Austria
Before we start with our first location let’s kick off this blogpost with a burning question that you probably have on your mind: Is it possible to get legally married in Austria, even as a non-EU citizen?
The great news is: YES! Despite other countries (such as Germany), Austria has no restrictions when it comes to getting legally married on your elopement day. But there are a few documents that you have to submit beforehand. Please also keep in mind that processing the documents might take a few weeks/months. Only civil marriage ceremonies are legally binding in Austria and for US-citizens the registrar’s office (Standesamt) needs the following documents (all the documents besides the passport have to be translated into German):
Passport
Birth Certificate (original or certified copy, citing names of parents)
Certificate of residence (driver’s license or latest tax slip)
Documentary proof of dissolution of previous marriages, if any, e.g. final divorce or annulment decrees, marriage certificate from former marriages or death certificate. In the case of a divorce, in which the woman’s or the man’s nationality are different or which took place outside of their home country, the permission of the Austrian Ministry of Justice is required, which will delay the procedure.
A Marriage/Partnership Affidavit/Certificate of No Impediment executed before a Consular Officer of the U.S. Embassy in 1010 Vienna, Parkring 12a, in which the U.S. applicant states that he or she is free to marry the other party according to the laws of his or her home state in the U.S.
Austria, the United States and many other countries are members of “The Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents.” This means that Austrian official will require that U.S. documents be certified and a so-called apostille be affixed. The apostille can only be obtained from the Secretary or Deputy Secretary of State in the U.S. state where the original document was issued.
You can find further detailed information on the US embassy website for Austria: https://at.usembassy.gov/marriage/
2. Best places to elope in Austria
After this great news let’s continue with even more great news. Because the Austrian Alps have some of the most beautiful wedding backdrops to offer that we can think of and that’s why the say Austria is one of the best places to elope in the Alps. From incredible alpine lakes to mountain views that will leave you speechless this small country is packed with breathtaking scenery.
2.1 Vorarlberg
We gotta say, we developed a soft spot for Vorarlberg over the last couple of years and we absolutely love to accompany elopements within this region. Sitting at the border to Switzerland in West-Austria Vorarlberg has not only stunning mountains to offer but might even have a few spots that are not as touristy as other regions in the Alps. Of course, there are also towns that are pretty touristy and where you will only find hotels & resorts but if you know where to look, Vorarlberg has some real treasures to offer.
Despite being a very touristy town, Lech am Arlberg is a great place to start exploring everything Vorarlberg has to offer. You sometimes only need to drive for a few miles and you come across a hike that is not known to a lot of tourists. Yes, getting up at sunrise really helps with avoiding the masses as well 😜
2.2 Innsbruck & Tyrol
Innsbruck is the capital of the state Tyrol and might be the place where you will start your elopement adventure in Austria anyway as it has one of the more well-known airports within the Alps region of Austria. The city itself is surrounded by incredible mountain ranges one of its most famous ones being the Nordkette and you won’t have to drive far to find a spot that is perfect for your Austria elopement.
But only a short drive away from the capital are locations that might be even more spectacular. One of those locations or areas is definitely the Stubai valley. At the end of this valley is Austria’s biggest glacier area the Stubai glacier. You can probably imagine that the views from up there are nothing short of spectacular. Tyrol also has a lot more areas that are perfectly suited for an unforgettable elopement experience. With Innsbruck being one of the biggest cities in Austria the area around the city can be a bit more touristy (compared to Vorarlberg) and the state of Tyrol is well-known for its winter & summer activities.
Need help finding the perfect location? Have a look at our blogpost on how to choose the perfect location for your elopement
2.3. Salzkammergut & Hallstatt
Not far away from the city Salzburg lies a small little town that is known all over the world and is visited by thousands and thousands of people every day. Yes, we are talking about the postcard town of Hallstatt. Many of you have probably seen photos of the small Austrian town right by the lake. That’s why it is a popular choice for elopements in Austria as well. But please be aware that the town is very touristy almost all year round and that our best advice would be to not only spend your time there but also explore the area around the town.
You will find so many incredible alpine lakes in this area and if you plan on going a bit more to the north you will enter the Salzkammergut. This area might not have the highest mountain ranges in Austria but it has some spectacular views nonetheless.
2.4 Hohe Tauern
The national park Hohe Tauern is not only home to the tallest mountain in Austria, the Großglockner with its incredible height of 3798m (12460ft) but it is also the biggest nature reserve within the Alps.
If you don’t want to hike for several hours on your elopement day, no problem at all. The national park has lots of gondolas that can take you up to more than 2000m. But you will not only find fantastic mountain views in the national park but also lots of waterfalls, gorges and glaciers. This region really has some epic places and you won’t regret choosing it as your elopement location in Austria.
Like we said in the beginning, this list could go on and on as Austria has so many more amazing places to offer. Choosing Austria as your elopement location is one of the wisest decisions you can make and we would be absolutely thrilled to be a part of that adventure and to help you plan & capture this once in a lifetime experience.