- Destinations
- Europe
- Austria
Austria
Landlocked in the heart of Europe, Austria runs from the Alps in
the west down to Vienna and the Danube in the east. For six
centuries it was the heart of the mighty Hapsburg Empire, which at
its peak included what is now Poland, Hungary and the Czech
Republic along with much of Romania, Bulgaria and the Balkans. The
country's imperial inheritance is particularly striking in the
grand buildings and cultural institutions of the Baroque-flavoured
capital, Vienna, resplendent with palaces and captivating churches,
cosy coffeehouses and inns, and grand ballrooms where Strauss
waltzes still draw dancers onto the floor.
Another of the great classical composers spawned by Austria was
Mozart, born in Salzburg, a beautiful historic city where stunning
Baroque churches rise up against the backdrop of the Austrian Alps.
The Alps stretch west to Switzerland and in winter skiers come from
all continents to carve the slopes and experience the charm of the
alpine villages and their welcoming inhabitants.
The charm of Austria may lie in its preservation of a romantic
classical past, but this does not mean modern Austria has stood
back from development. Behind the stunning scenery and antique
architecture a vibrant industrial and commercial society goes about
its business in the cities and towns. Austrians work hard, but they
also know how to play hard. Austrian hospitality and cuisine are
legendary. From a cruise on the magnificent Danube River to a cycle
tour through the Alpine meadows or a breath-taking day's
sightseeing in busy Vienna, visitors to Austria find it impossible
to fit in a dull moment.
Information & Facts
Attraction Overview
Austria is perfect for sightseeing, with an assortment of
wonderful tourist attractions; just the mention of this scenic,
multicultural country brings to mind images of skiing in the Alps,
exploring Vienna's impressive Baroque architecture and sampling the
warm, rich cuisine of the alpine villages and their friendly
inhabitants.
Austria is the birthplace of many famous figures, including
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Sigmund Freud, not to mention Arnold
Schwarzenegger. Austria is also home to Swarovski crystals,
Lipizzaner stallions and the 11th-century Hohensalzburg Fortress,
as well as one of the largest youth parties in Europe, the Danube
Island Festival.
Austria is a year-round destination, with snowy winters perfect
for mountaineering, skiing and snowboarding, and mild summers ideal
for sightseeing. The many sights and attractions are made
accessible by the national railway system, the U-Bahn, extensive
motorways and various ports and harbours. With all these
magnificent highlights so easily within grasp, taking a trip to
this beautiful country in the warm heart of Europe is guaranteed to
be a fulfilling, memorable experience for anyone!
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.
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.
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.
Customs
It is compulsory that vehicles are driven with their lights on
throughout the year. Smoking is not allowed in many public
places.
Duty Free
Travellers 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 litres wine, or
1 litre of spirits with alcohol content more than 22%, or 2 litres
of alcohol volume less than 22%; 60ml 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. Travellers must have a European Firearms
Pass if travelling with firearms.
Electricity
Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. The Schuko plug
and receptacle with side grounding contacts and European round
2-pin plugs are standard.
Health
No vaccinations are necessary for business visits or general
tourism in Austria. 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 travellers 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
were taken to contain the outbreak. The risk is very low for
travellers, but all close contact with wild, domestic and caged
birds should be avoided, and all poultry and egg dishes well cooked
as a precaution.
Language
The official language in Austria is German.
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. Travellers cheques are
also accepted.
Passport Visa
The borderless region known as the Schengen area includes the
following countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy,
Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. All these
countries issue a standard Schengen visa that has a multiple entry
option that allows the holder to travel freely within the borders
of all.
Safety
Travel to Austria is generally trouble-free, however visitors
are advised to take sensible safety precautions particularly in
larger cities.
Time
Local time in Austria is GMT +1 (GMT +2 from the last Sunday
in March to the last Sunday in October).
Tipping
A 10-15% service charge is normally added to hotel and
restaurant bills in Austria, but it is customary to leave another
5% if satisfied with the service. It is common to give the money to
the waiter rather than leave it on the table, but leaving small
change for other service personnel is fine. Taxis expect a 10%
tip.