Basics

Time: GMT +1 (GMT +2 from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October).
Electricity: Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. The European round 2-pin plugs are standard.
Money: The unit of currency is the Euro (EUR), which is divided into 100 cents. Currency can be exchanged at banks and bureaux de change available in all towns, but it may be easier to use the ATMs. Banks are closed on Saturdays and Sundays, but exchange offices at airports and major city rail terminals are open seven days a week. Major credit and debit cards are widely accepted though some small hotels and restaurants may only accept cash. Travelers cheques are also accepted.

 

Note: This is not updated daily and should be used as a guide only.

Language: The official language is German.
Entry Requirements for Americans: US passport holders do not require a visa for travel to Austria providing they stay no longer than three months. A passport is required.
Passport/Visa Note: The borderless region known as the Schengen area includes the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. All these countries issue a standard Schengen visa that, in principle, allows the holder to travel freely within the borders of all. All visitors holding proof of sufficient funds to cover intended stay and to buy an onward ticket need only enter Austria on a one-way ticket.
Health: No vaccinations are necessary for business visits or general tourism. There is, however, a risk of tick-borne encephalitis for long-term visitors who expect to be visiting rural or forested areas in spring or summer. These travelers should consider vaccination and ensure they take precautions against tick infestation. Water and food are safe. Medical facilities are excellent. Medical insurance is advised unless from the UK - citizens of EU countries can get free emergency medical treatment at public hospitals in Austria on production of a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Bird flu was found in dead swans in the southern province of Styria in February 2006 and stringent measures are being taken to contain the outbreak. The risk is very low for travelers, but all close contact with wild, domestic and caged birds should be avoided, and all poultry and egg dishes well cooked as a precaution.
Tipping: A 10-15% service charge is automatically added to hotel and restaurant bills, but it is usual to leave another 5% if satisfied with the service. It is customary to give the money to the waiter rather than leave it on the table. It is usual to leave small change for most service personnel. Taxis expect a 10% tip.
Safety: Travel to Austria is generally trouble-free, however visitors are advised to take sensible safety precautions particularly in larger cities.
Customs: From 15 November 2005 it is compulsory that vehicles are driven with their lights on throughout the year. Wearing of military or other uniforms of foreign countries is not allowed, unless in transit or with a special permit obtained from Austrian diplomatic representation abroad.
Business: Business protocol is very important in Austria and business is formal, structured and conservative, more so than many other Western European countries; all correspondence such as faxes and emails should also be formal. Dress is conservative, yet elegant; Austrians take great pride in their appearance and a good quality, well-fitting suit for men and women should be worn to make a good first impression. Austrians are also very title-conscious; always use last names with a preceding title such as Herr (Mr), Frau (Mrs) or Fräulein (Miss), along with their professional or academic title where applicable (e.g. Herr Professor Kaufmann). It is vital to arrive punctually for meetings and to be thoroughly prepared, as meetings are brief and to the point. Be prepared to engage in preliminary small talk, including a knowledge of current affairs, before getting down to business. English is widely spoken in business, but printed literature should be in German if possible. Offices open at 8am and close promptly at 5pm Monday to Friday.
Communications: The international access code for Austria is +43. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). The area code for Vienna is (0)1. Public telephone boxes can be used for direct dial calls within the country and overseas. Austria's mobile network operates on the 900 and 1800 bands for GSM. Internet cafes are widely available.
Duty Free: Travelers from non-EU countries over 17 years are allowed to bring in the following items without paying customs duty: 200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250g of smoking tobacco, or a proportional mix of these products; 2 liters wine, or 1 liter of spirits with alcohol content more than 22%, or 2 liters of alcohol volume less than 22%; 50g perfume and 250ml eau de toilette; and other goods to a total value of EUR175. Restricted items include pornographic material and fresh foodstuffs such as meat and dairy products. Travelers must have a European Firearms Pass if traveling with firearms.
 

Activities

Skiing

The Tirol region offers some of the world's best skiing and unlike many French and Swiss resorts in the alps, most resorts in Austria are friendly and welcoming villages with traditional looking chalets perched among ancient, domed churches. Ski season runs from December to April. To guarantee reliable snowfall and good skiing it is best to head for the western edges of the Tirol, to the world class St Anton, or its neighbors Lech or Zürs, which all have extensive skiing.

 

Vienna

It is difficult not to be moved to hum a Brahms lullaby or a Strauss waltz as you explore the sights of Austria's beautiful Baroque capital, Vienna, which for centuries was the centre of the splendid Hapsburg Empire. The city remains infused with the grand imperial spirit in the form of magnificent palaces and grand mansions peppering the Innerestadt. The city's cultural heritage is mainly musical, the great classical composers like Strauss, Brahms, Beethoven, Schubert, Haydn and Mozart all having lived and performed here. Today the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the State Opera House help keep alive the city's tradition by offering more classical music performances a year than any other city in the world. Vienna is a city of music, but it is also synonymous with gourmet fare, cream cakes, superb coffee, the angelic strains of the Vienna Boys' Choir and the proud prancing of the Lippizaner stallions at the world-famous Spanish Riding School. Vienna started out as a Celtic settlement on the banks of the Danube and became one of the Roman's most important central European bases. Its central location on the strategic river contributed to the city becoming a mighty empire, reaching its peak during the tumultuous reign of the dazzling Hapsburg dynasty. At the end of the 19th century the golden age of empire began to decline as Vienna's coffee houses filled with radical intellectuals like Freud, Klimt and Mahler. The Second World War Nazi occupation left scars, but Vienna survived it all to remain a captivating capital that blends Italian romanticism with a Germanic orderliness. Most of the city's tourist attractions are within the largely pedestrians inner city area which was once enclosed by the city walls. The walls have been replaced with the Ringstrasse, a wide ring road. Further out in the suburbs is the thrilling Prater amusement park with its massive ferris wheel, and the opulent Schonbrunn summer palace. Visitors also should not miss a trip to the Vienna Woods, peppered with ancient 'heuringen' (wine taverns).

 

New Year's Day Concert Performed by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the annual New Year's Day concert is seen by millions of viewers worldwide and is a traditional start to the New Year. The orchestra is considered to be one of the finest in the world and this most famous of concerts features some of the most popular waltzes by the celebrated composer, Johann Strauss. For more information, one can contact the ticket and ball office of the Vienna Philharmonic on +43 (0)1 505 6525 or consult their website. Venue: Vienna Musikverein. Date: 1 January. Time: 11.15am.

Donau (Danube) Island Festival The Danube Island Festival has become one of the largest youth parties in Europe and attracts millions from around the world to take part in a weekend of free entertainment, music and dancing. Besides local bands and DJs there are world-famous international artists, and numerous open-air performances that take place on various stages around the island. Venue: Donauinsel (Danube Island). Date: 22-24 June 2007. Time: From 10am.

Hofburg The Hofburg Palace, or Imperial Palace, was the home of the Austrian Hapsburgs for 600 years. The first fortifications were erected by King Ottakar Premyst in the 13th century and were added to by every generation until it became the monumental structure it is today. As well as housing the president's offices, the palace now encompasses 22 separate museums, the National Library, a 14th-century Augustinian church, the famous Spanish Riding School and the Royal Chapel, where every Sunday the Vienna Boy's Choir sing Mass (they have performed for the Royal Court since 1498). It will be impossible to even catch a glimpse of everything on display at the Hofburg, so visitors should be selective. The most popular of the museums is the Kaiserappartements, which takes visitors on a tour of the Kaiser's imperial apartments, the Sisi Museum, and the Imperial Silver Collection. Opening Time: Imperial Apartments, Sisi Museum, Silver Collection: daily 9am to 5pm (until 5.30pm in July and August). Admission: Imperial Apartments, Sisi Museum, Silver Collection: EUR8.90 (adults), EUR4.50 (children under 15); other concessions available.

Spanish Riding School The Spanish Riding School of Vienna is the oldest and last riding school in the world where classic dressage is still practiced in its purest form. This Institute was founded in 1572 and named for the Lipizzaner horses, which are of Spanish origin. The Imperial Court Stud was originally situated near the village of Lipizza (hence the name of the horses) but since the collapse of the Danube Monarchy in 1920 have been bred at the Federal Stud in Styria. The horses perform their tricks in the Winter Riding School, which was commissioned by Emperor Karl VI. Performances take place between February and June, September and December but are in high demand and booked up months in advance (details on their website). The easiest way to see the horses is during their training sessions. Tickets are only available at the door, and cannot be booked in advance. Situated in the stables is the Lipizzana Museum, which displays the history of the school. Opening Time: Museum: daily 9am to 6pm; training sessions: Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 12pm. Admission: EUR5.09 (museum); EUR12 (training sessions); concessions available. Performances range from EUR26 to EUR160.

Museum of Fine Arts (Kunsthistorisches Museum) This museum was built between 1872 and 1891 to house the vast collections then owned by the Hapsburgs who were enthusiastic patrons and collectors of the arts. With its magnificent renaissance architecture and superbly decorated ceiling, the museum is a masterpiece in its own right. It is one of the richest and most important in the world; its collections range from Ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman Antiquities to the Collections of Medieval Art and the splendid Renaissance and Baroque Collections. It houses the works of Rubens, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Dürer, Raphael, Titian, Bruegel and Van Dyke, to name just a few. Opening Time: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 6pm; Thursday 10am to 9pm. English guided tours from entrance hall, Tuesdays 11am, Friday and Saturday 3pm.. Admission: EUR10 (adults); concessions available. Guided tours cost EUR2.00. Admission is until half an hour before closing.

Schönbrunn Palace The magnificent Schönbrunn Palace was used as the summer residence of the Hapsburgs from the 18th century onwards. Set amongst superb gardens this vast, symmetrical structure is everything you would imagine an imperial palace to be. A tour of the palace offers visitors the chance to view the superb assortment of Baroque and Rococo State Rooms and to admire the famous ceiling frescoes of the Great Gallery and the Hall of Mirrors where Mozart once played. The vast gardens are popular with locals and tourists alike, and include a zoo, a maze and labyrinth, the Privy garden, and the Gloriette with viewing terrace. Also within the grounds, the Orangery plays host to classical concerts during the summer season. Opening Time: Palace: daily 8.30am to 5pm (April to June, September, October); 8.30am to 6pm (July, August); 8.30am to 4.30pm (November to March). Park: open daily at 6am (6.30am from November to March), closing times vary according to the season, between 5.30pm and 9pm. Admission: Grand Tour: EUR11.50 (adults), EUR6 (children 6-15). Various other tour options available. Maze and Labyrinth: EUR2.90 (adults), EUR1.70 (children).

Giant Wheel One of Vienna's most recognizable attractions, the Giant Wheel is located in a large wooded park and playground known as the Prater. It was built in 1897 by an English engineering firm and is the only one of its era still standing (the ferris wheels in Chicago, London, Blackpool and Paris have long since been destroyed). The wheel with its 15 gondolas takes twenty minutes to manoeuvre around and offers magnificent panoramic views of the city. Opening Time: Daily 9am to midnight (May to September); daily 10am to 10pm (March, April and October); daily 10am to 8pm (November to February). Admission: EUR7.50 (adults), children 3-14 EUR3.00, concessions available.

Belvedere The Belvedere consists of two splendid rococo mansions, designed in the early 18th century, which face each other across formal, sloping grounds which offers excellent views over the city. From the outside it is Vienna's finest palace complex, built by Prince Eugène of Savoy (1680-1735), the famous general who saved Vienna from the advance of the Ottoman Empire. The museums in the two palaces house some of Vienna's most renowned art galleries, offering excellent examples of Austrian art from the middle ages to present day. Their displays include an unrivalled collection of paintings by Klimt as well as famous works by Schiele and Kokoschka, Renoir and Monet. The Medieval and Baroque works are presented in the Lower Palace where many rooms have been preserved in their original state. Opening Time: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 6pm, entrance is until 5.30pm. Admission: EUR9; includes entry into both parts of the Belvedere. Concessions available.

The Alps

The vast majority of tourists visiting Austria head straight for one of its cosy alpine villages in the Tirol region. Among the wooded mountains is some of the world's best skiing. Unlike many French and Swiss resorts, most resorts in Austria are real, friendly villages on the valley floor and despite expanding enormously over the last 20 years the development has generally been in good taste, with traditional-looking chalets perched among the ancient, domed churches. Austrian resorts are also more fun and welcoming than many in the Alps; the Austrians know how to enjoy themselves and don't find it demeaning to speak their guest's language. However many Austrian resorts lie fairly low and experience unreliable snowfall. To ensure guaranteed good skiing it is best to head for the western edges of the Tirol, to St Anton, Lech or Zürs, which all have extensive skiing and more reliable snowfall. The ski season runs from December to April but the villages remain bustling in the summer, when the valleys are filled with climbers and walkers who come to enjoy some of the breathtaking scenery.

 

St Anton

St Anton is a top destination for British skiers and snowboarders, attracted by both the first-class skiing and the beer-fuelled après ski sessions. Along with its neighbors, Lech and Zürs (only a short bus ride away), St Anton offers extensive skiing for intermediate and advanced skiers but is possibly not the best choice for beginners or non-skiers as lower slopes can get crowded and there are not many off-slope facilities. The resort, which sprawls along the bottom of a narrow valley, is a Mecca for ski-bums attracted by the excellent off-piste runs - the best Austria has to offer. St Anton's south-facing slopes can get slushy by the end of the day, particularly in spring, and partly for this reason the collection of bars on the slopes above town get packed by around 3pm. The most famous is the Krazy Kangaroo, which has live bands and is filled by Austrian and English revelers dancing in ski boots till the bar closes, when the short run home in the dark becomes a challenge to some.

 

Saalbach

Saalbach and its close neighbour, Hinterglemm, have united in the picturesque Glemmtal Valley to form one of Europe's liveliest ski resorts, which is particularly popular with Dutch, German and Scandinavian visitors. The valley sides offer numerous ski slopes, but its low altitude means that snow conditions can deteriorate quickly. Nevertheless the resort has excellent snowmaking equipment, which ensures good coverage in the sunshine. There are more than 125 miles (200km) of ski trails linked by lifts, mainly suited to intermediate level skiers. There is, however, a two-mile long (3km) expert mogul descent on the north facing Zwolferkogel, and more than 60 miles (97km) of off-piste terrain. The pretty Tyrolean style villages are fairly new, but the ambience is traditional with chalets and sleigh bells adding to the charm.

 

Lech

Together with neighbouring Zürs, the two resorts in the Arlberg mountain range are Austria's most exclusive. Lech boasts a reliable annual snowfall that attracts those (who can afford it) to this charming little hamlet, who look forward to skiing as much as the energetic nightlife, often spent mingling with celebrities and royalty.

 

Airports

Vienna International Airport (VIE)

Location: The airport is located 11 miles (18km) southeast of Vienna. Time: GMT +1 (GMT +2 between April to October). Contacts: Tel: +43 (0)1 7007 22233 (24-hour telephone information service). Transfer to the city: Local trains and buses leave regularly for Vienna. There is also a City Airport Train, which provides a fast and direct service to the centrally located City Air Terminal that is connected to the underground, bus and tram networks. Taxis are also available. Car rental: Car hire companies include Avis, Hertz, Budget, Sixt and Thrifty. Facilities: There are more than 70 shops, including duty-free, as well as various restaurants and bars in both terminals. Bureaux de change and banks are available. Other facilities include airline lounges, luggage storage, business centers, Internet cafes and wireless Internet access, and a medical centre. Parking: Short- and long-term parking is available. The parking lots and multi-storey car parks are connected to the terminal by signposted footpaths. Departure tax: None. Website: www.viennaairport.com

 

Climate

Austria enjoys a temperate Central European climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are hot with cool nights. In Vienna and other low-lying cities temperatures during the day can get uncomfortably hot over July and August. Winters are cold, below freezing in January and February. The ski season in the Alps runs from December to April but the mountains are also popular with hikers and climbers over the summer when the weather is usually warm and bright.