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Europe : Central Europe : Austria

Aust ria[1] (German: sterreich, literally "the Eastern Realm" or "Eastern Empire") is a landlocked alpine German speaking country in Central Europe bordering Switz erland and
Liechtenstein to the west, Germany and Cz ech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary
to the east and Slovenia and Italy to the south. Austria, along with neighboring Switz erland, is
the winter sports capital of Europe. However, it is just as popular for summer tourists who visit
its historic cities and villages and hike in the magnificent scenery of the Alps.

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Co nt e nt s
1 Understand
1.1 Histo ry
1.2 Culture
1.3 Po litics
1.4 Geo graphy
1.5 Climate

Destinatio n Do cents
Abo ut Do cents

1.6 Electricity
2 Regio ns
3 Cities

To o lbo x
What links here

4 Other destinatio ns
5 Get in
5.1 Visa

Special pages

5.2 By plane
5.2.1 With children

Printable versio n

5.3 By bus

Permanent link

5.4 By car

Related changes

5.4.1 Fro m Germany

related pages

5.4.2 Fro m Italy

5.4.3 Fro m Slo venia

Understand

[edit]

History

[edit]

Today's Austria is what was once the German

speaking core and centre of power for the large
multiethnic Austro- Hungarian Empire with its imperial
capital in Vienna. This empire stretched eastwards
from present- day Austria through much of east- central
and south- central Europe. It included the entire
territories of modern day Hungary, the Cz ech Republic,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, and portions of
Serbia, Romania, Ukraine, Poland and Italy. While
Prussia united the German states to the north by force
into one "Germany" in the latter part of the 19th
Century, Austria remained oriented eastwards towards
its diverse empire. However, from the start of the 20th
century, the political history of Austria has been closely
linked to the misfortunes and disasters of modern
German history, mainly the First and Second World

Lo cat io n

Flag

Q uick Fact s
C ap it al

Vienna

G o ve rnme nt

federal republic

C urre ncy

Euro (EUR)

Are a

83,858 sq km

Po p ulat io n

8,404,252 (Jan 2011)

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Winter spo rts in Austria

In o ther languages
ca: ustria
de: sterreich

5.7 Fro m Slo vakia

6 Get aro und
6 .1 By train and bus
6 .1.1 Train types
6 .1.3 Disco unts
6 .2 By car
6 .3 By plane

hu: Ausztria

7 Talk

it: Austria

8 See

nl: Oo stenrijk

9 Styria
10 Do

pl: Austria

10 .1 Skiing and Sno wbo arding

pt: ustria

10 .2 Cycle To uring

ro : Austria

10 .3 Music

ru:

10 .4 Mo vies

sv: sterrike

10 .5 Hiking

zh:
o ther sites
Wikipedia
Open Directo ry
Wo rld6 6
Wikitravel Shared

German (official), Austro-

Bavarian Dialect ((of

The modern republic of Austria came into being in
German(native, except in
1918 as a result of its defeat in World War I. In its
Vorarlberg)), Alemannic
(native in Vorarlberg),
wake, the empire was split into many components.
regional Slovenian, SerboThey included Austria's current borders, an
Croatian, Hungarian
independent Hungary, lands given to Italy (South Tyrol,
R e lig io n
Roman Catholic 78% ,
Protestant 5% , Agnostics and
Trieste and Trentino), lands given to southern Poland
Atheists 12% , Muslim and
(which also came about from lands taken from the
other 5%
Russian and German Empires), and an independent
Ele ct ricit y
230V/50Hz (European plug)
Cz echoslovakia and the northern and western half of
C alling C o d e +43
Int e rne t T LD .at
Yugoslavia. Following an unresisted invasion and
T ime Z o ne
UTC +1
annexation by Naz i Germany in 1938, Austria more or
less functioned as a part of Naz i Germany during the
Second World War. Thus, a large proportion of the population supported Hitler and Austria's
incorporation into Germany. Austrian soldiers also fought in the Wehrmacht. Cities were bombed
heavily by the Allies and concentration camps also existed on Austrian soil (such as Mauthausen
near Linz ).

6 .1.2 Tickets

ja:

Lang uag e

5.6 Info rmatio n fo r trainspo tters

es: Austria
fr: Autriche

8,404,252 (Jan 2011)

Wars and their terrible aftermath.

eo : Astrio
fi: Itvalta

Po p ulat io n

5.5 By train

11 Buy
11.1 Currency
11.2 Prices
11.3 Sho ps
11.4 ATMs
11.5 Bargaining
11.6 What gifts to take ho me
11.6 .1 Fo r children
12 Eat
12.1 Restaurants
12.1.1 Paying
12.2 Lo cal specialties
12.3 Desserts
12.4 Vegetarians
13 Drink
14 Sleep
15 Learn

It was not until the end of the war that the mood changed and that Austria tried to distance itself
from Germany. In 1945, Austria was divided into z ones of occupation like Germany. However, unlike
Germany, Austria was not subject to any further territorial losses. A treaty signed in 1955 ended the
Allied and Soviet occupation, recogniz ed Austria's independence, and forbade future unification
with Germany. A constitutional law of that same year declared the country's "perpetual neutrality", a
condition for Soviet military withdrawal, and thus saved Austria from Germany's fate of a divided
nation with a divided capital. However, the South Tyrol Question took Austria and Italy to the UN in
the post- war era and international brokered mitigation found a suitable solution for both countries by
the late 1980's. This official neutrality, once ingrained as part of the Austrian cultural identity, has
been called into question since the Soviet Union's collapse of 1991 and Austria's entry into the
European Union in 1995.
Reexamining its Naz i past is something that has become large- scale and accepted as
commonplace in the media only relatively recently. Before, Austria had sought to portray itself as
"Hitler's first victim". A prosperous country, Austria entered the European Monetary Union in 1999,
and the euro currency replaced the schilling in 2002. Austria is also part of "borderless Europe",
resulting in many students from all over the European Union studying in Austrian universities and
vice verse. Austria is one of the most popular summer and winter holiday destinations in Europe
and has the tourist industry to match it.

16 Wo rk
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17 Stay safe
18 Co pe
18 .1 To ilets
18 .2 Laundry
18 .3 Peo ple
19 Stay healthy
20 Respect
21 Co ntact
21.1 Calling Austria
21.2 Pho nes
21.3 Cell pho nes
21.4 Internet

Culture

[edit]

Austria is a federation. Each of its nine federal states has a unique and distinct culture.
Austrians aren't easy to categoriz e. In fact, the main reason Austrians stand out from their European
neighbors is that they don't stand out from the rest for anything in particular. Austrians are moderate
in their outlook and behavior. Being at Europe's crossroads, their culture is influenced from several
sides. The stereotype of the yodeling, thigh slapping, beer- swilling xenophobe may apply to a few
individuals but it certainly doesn't apply to the majority of Austrians.
The average Austrian on the street is likely to be friendly yet somewhat reserved and formal, softly
spoken and well mannered, law abiding, socially conservative, rooted, family oriented, conformist
and somewhat nepotistic, a Catholic at heart, not particularly religious but a follower of tradition,
well educated if not as cosmopolitan as his/her European cousins, cynical, and equipped with a
dry, sarcastic sense of humor.

Austrians as a large like to define themselves merely by what they are not . Tourists often make the mistake of classifying Austrians as
Germans, which despite a common language (well at least on paper), they are not. Arguably, Southern Germany, especially Bavaria, is a
close cultural relative of Austria in many ways. Indeed the regions of Austria are all similar to their neighbors, so you will not notice you
have crossed a border, whether it be into South Tyrol in Italy, north to Bavaria or east to Hungary.
Austria and Germany are sister nations and enjoy warm relations, but Moz art was Austrian, or a Salz burger for the record, not German!
For most of its history, Austrians have a hard time defining their own nation; they face perhaps currently the most media influence from
Germany but have a very different culture, especially from northern Germany. The historic minorities and individual cultures are valued,
yet they have to struggle to survive.
Austria has a long history of being multicultural country: a glance at the Vienna phone book is all you need to discover this. Ironically, it is
Germany to the north that is paving the way regarding the integration of foreigners into society in Central Europe. Austria remains a largely
conservative and rural country with the exception of Vienna. Indeed, the cultural conflicts and national identity are as complicated and hard
to understand for many Austrians as they are for visitors! The level of personal awareness and views on this vary greatly from person to
person but are generally subject to a particularly Austrian avoidance of the subject, which is to the polls. It is best to try to see the
diversity and enjoy the variety than to jump to conclusions.
Hence many Austrians derive their identity from their region or Bundesland (state). For instance, typical inhabitants of Carinthia would say
that they are Carinthian first and Austrian second and maybe European third. Asking what state that someone is from is normally the first
question Austrians ask when meeting for the first time.
The fact that Austrians dislike demonstrations of national identity can, however, also be explained partly by the historical experiences
Austria had during the Third Reich and especially due to the violent use of national symbols in the growing Austrofascist movement as
well as by the far- right Freedom Party. It is also due to the fact that the current state of Austria is a relatively young and loose federal
republic of just 8 million people.
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However, the University of Chicago's National Opinion Research Center rates Austria as the 5th most patriotic country in the world. So
Austrians do very much love their country but are unlikely to be flag- wavers. Perhaps Austria's ascendancy to the EU in 1995 and its more
recent adoption of the euro and the border- less Europe have given it a stronger sense of importance and self- worth in the greater
context of Europe.
Most Austrians like to enjoy the good life. They spend a lot of time eating, drinking and having a good time with friends in a coz y
environment, and are therefore very hospitable. Members of the older generation can be conservative in the sense that they frown upon
extremes of any shape and form and, in general, are adverse to change. They enjoy one of the highest living standards in the world and
want to keep it that way.
Austria has no well- defined class system. The rural and regional difference tend to be greater than in neighboring countries. Generally, the
further to the west and the more rural you go, the more socially conservative people are.

Politics

[edit]

Austria is a parliamentarian, federal republic consisting of nine federal states (see list above). The official head of the state is the f ederal
president (Bundesprsident ), who is elected directly by the people for a term of six years. His/her function is mainly representative,
however, and the f ederal chancellor (Bundeskanzler ), appointed by the president, runs most of the day- to- day politics.
The Austrian parliament consists of two chambers, the Nationalrat (National Council) with 183 members as the main chamber and the
Bundesrat (Federal Council). Whereas the members of the National Council are elected every four years by popular vote, the 62
members of the Federal Council are elected by each of the legislatures of the states of Austria for 4- to 6- year terms. The composition of
the Bundesrat changes after every election to a state's Landtag (State Parliament). The Austrian constitution provides the Bundesrat with
the right to veto legislation passed by the National Council; in most cases this is only a suspensive veto, meaning the National Council
can override it by passing the law again.
There are five major parties in Austria: The social democrats (SP), the (conservative) Austrian people's party (VP), the (right- wing)
freedom party (FP) which recently split into two parties (FP and the alliance for the future of Austria BZ) and the (leftist) Green Party.
The current government consists of a coalition of SP and VP.

Geography

[edit]

Contrary to popular perceptions, Austria is not all about mountains. While the Alps do cover

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Contrary to popular perceptions, Austria is not all about mountains. While the Alps do cover
3/4 of the country dominating the provinces of Vorarlberg, Tyrol, Salz burg, Styria, Upper
Austria and Carinthia, the eastern provinces of Lower Austria, the Burgenland and the
federal capital of Vienna are more similar to the geography of the neighboring Cz ech
Republic and Hungary. This diverse mix of landscapes is packed into a relatively small
area of siz e. Glaciers, meadows, alpine valleys, wooded foothills, gently rolling farmland,
vineyards, river gorges, plains and even semi- arid steppes can be found in Austria.
One quarter of Austria's population lives in Greater Vienna, a European metropolis, located
where the Danube meets the easternmost fringe of the Alps, not far from the border with
Slovakia and its capital Bratislava.
Drnstein/Wachau
Virtually all government, financial and cultural institutions, as well as national media and
large corporations are based in Vienna, due largely to history and geography. Thus, the
capital dominates Austria's cultural and political life and is clearly a world unto its own. It has
little to do with the rest of mainly rural Austria and outside of Graz and Linz there really are no other large scale cities in the country. There
is a playful joke told in Vorarlberg province regarding the dominance of Vienna regarding national affairs that reads, "the people of
western Austria make the money and Vienna spends it."

Climate

[edit]

Austria has a temperate continental climate. Summers last from early June to mid- September and can be hot in some years and rainy in
others. Day- time temperatures in July and August are around 25 C (77 F), but can often reach 35 C (95 F). Winters are cold in the
lowlands and very harsh in the Alpine region with temperatures often dropping below - 10 C (14 F). Winters last from December to March
(longer at higher altitudes). In the Alpine region large temperature fluctuations occur all year round and nights are chilly even in high
summer. The northern Alps are generally a lot wetter than the rest of the country. The South East (Styria and Carinthia) is dry and sunny.
The area around Vienna often experiences strong easterly winds.

Electricity

[edit]

Electricity is supplied at 220 to 230V 50Hz . Outlets are the European standard CEE- 7/7 "Schukostecker" or "Schuko" or the compatible,
but non- grounded, CEE- 7/16 "Europlug" types. Generally speaking, U.S. and Canadian travelers should pack an adapter and a converter
for these outlets if they plan to use North American electrical equipment in Austria.

Regions

[edit]

Austria is a federal republic comprised of nine states:

Burgenland

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Burgenland
Carint hia (Krnten)
Lower Aust ria (Niedersterreich)
Salz burg (Salzburg)
St yria (Steiermark )
Tyrol (Tirol)
Upper Aust ria (Obersterreich)
Vienna (Wien)
Vorarlberg

Regions of Austria

Cities

[edit]

Vienna (Wien)
Bregenz
Eisenstadt
Graz
Innsbruck
Klagenfurt
Linz
Salz burg
Villach

Other destinations

[edit]

Lake Constance a big lake situated in Vorarlberg and shared with Switz erland and Germany
Kaprun part of the Europa Sport Region
Pinswang one of the most ancient settlements of the North Tyrolean Ausserfern, on the border with Bavaria and a short walk or
drive to the famous King Ludwig's castles
Salz kammergut
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St. Anton a popular ski resort in Austria on the Vorarlberg- Tyrolean border
Thermenland
Wrthersee one of Austria's warmest lakes
Zell am See one of the most important alpine tourist towns in Austria

Get in

[edit]

Visa

[edit]

Austria is a member of the Schengen Agreement .

There are no border controls between countries that have signed and
implemented the treaty - the European Union (except Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland,
Romania and the United Kingdom), Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and
Switz erland. Likewise, a visa granted for any Schengen member is valid in all
other countries that have signed and implemented the treaty. But be careful: not
all EU members have signed the Schengen treaty, and not all Schengen
members are part of the European Union. This means that there may be spot
customs check but no immigration checks (travelling within Schengen but to/from
a non- EU country) or you may have to clear immigration but not customs
(travelling within the EU but to/from a non- Schengen country).

Minimum validit y of t ravel document s

EU, EEA and Swiss citiz ens, as well as non- EU
citiz ens who are visa- exempt (e.g. New
Zealanders and Australians), need only produce
a passport which is valid for the entirety of their
stay in Austria.
Other nationals who are required to have a visa
(e.g. South Africans), however, must produce a
passport which has at least 3 mont hs' validit y
beyond their period of stay in Austria.

More information about the minimum validity of

Airports in Europe are thus divided into "Schengen" and "non- Schengen"
travel documents is available at the Austrian
sections, which effectively act like "domestic" and "international" sections
Foreign Ministry's website .
elsewhere. If you are flying from outside Europe into one Schengen country and
continuing to another, you will clear Immigration and Customs at the first country
and then continue to your destination with no further checks. Travel between a Schengen member and a non- Schengen country will result
in the normal border checks. Note that regardless of whether you are travelling within the Schengen area or not, many airlines will still
insist on seeing your ID card or passport.
Nationals of EU and EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switz erland) countries only need a valid national identity card or passport for
entry - in no case will they need a visa for a stay of any length.
Nationals of non- EU/EFTA countries will generally need a passport for entry to a Schengen country and most will need a visa.
Only the nationals of the following non- EU/EFTA countries do not need a visa for entry into the Schengen Area: Albania*, Andorra,
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herz egovina*, Braz il, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica,
Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Macedonia*, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro*, New
Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis , San Marino, Serbia*/**, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan***
(Republic of China), United States, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venez uela, additionally persons holding British National (Overseas), Hong
Kong SAR or Macau SAR passports.
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These non- EU/EFTA visa- free visitors may not stay more than 90 days in a 180 day period in the Schengen Area as a whole and, in
general, may not work during their stay (although some Schengen countries do allow certain nationalities to work - see below). The
counter begins once you enter any country in the Schengen Area and is not reset by leaving a specific Schengen country for another
Schengen country, or vice- versa. However, New Zealand citiz ens may be able to stay for more than 90 days if they only visit particular
Schengen countries - see [2] for the New Zealand Government's explanation.
If you are a non- EU/EFTA national ( even if you are visa-exempt, unless you are Andorran, Mongasque or San Marinese ), make sure that
your passport is st amped bot h when you ent er and leave t he Schengen Area . Without an entry stamp, you may be treated as an
overstayer when you try to leave the Schengen Area; without an exit stamp, you may be denied entry the next time you seek to enter the
Schengen Area as you may be deemed to have overstayed on your previous visit. If you cannot obtain a passport stamp, make sure
that you retain documents such as boarding passes, transport tickets and ATM slips which may help to convince border inspection staff
that you have stayed in the Schengen Area legally.
Note that
while British subjects with the right of abode in the United Kingdom and British Overseas Territories citiz ens connected to Gibraltar are
considered "United Kingdom nationals for European Union purposes" and therefore eligible f or unlimit ed access to the Schengen
Area,
British Overseas Territories citiz ens without the right of abode in the United Kingdom and British subjects without the right of abode in
the United Kingdom as well as British Overseas citiz ens and British protected persons in general do require visas.
However, all British Overseas Territories citiz ens except those solely connected to the Cyprus Sovereign Base Areas are eligible for
British citiz enship and thereafter unlimited access to the Schengen Area.
Further note that
(*) nationals of Albania, Bosnia and Herz egovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia need a biomet ric passport to enjoy visa- free
travel,
(**) Serbian nationals with passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate (residents of Kosovo with Serbian passports) do
need a visa and
(***) Taiwan nationals need their ID number t o be st ipulat ed in their passport to enjoy visa- free travel.

By plane

[edit]

There are 6 airports in Austria with scheduled flights. The most important international airport is Vienna which has connection to all major
airports of the world. Other international airports include Graz , Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Linz , and Salz burg which provide domestic flights as
well as connections to some European countries. Those airports are particularly popular with cheap airlines such as Ryanair. For traveling
to the western states it is recommended to use the very close Munich airport.
The most common airports to visit Vorarlberg are Altenrhein (Austrian), Friedrichshafen (Ryanair, Intersky) and Zurich (Swiss).
If visiting Austria for winter sports, choose airport considering cost and duration for the whole trip (plane+transfer), not always Vienna and
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even likely not in Austria.

Unlike many countries, getting in to Austria for skiing shouldn't imply flying to the capital city first. Vienna itself is a 4 hour drive away from
the nearest medium- siz ed resort, and longer by public transport. See more in GetIn section of Winter sports in Austria .

With children

[edit]

Aust rian Airlines: Baby strollers weighting over 10kg should be checked in as a luggage; strollers below 10kg are allowed up until the
aircraft board, and taken by personnel right at the entrance to the aircraft. See also a dedicated page on flying by Austrian with children:
[3] .

By bus

[edit]

Eurolines Austria [4] has bus schedules from Austria to all major European countries and back. If you make use of special offers and/or
book in advance, traveling by plane or train is normally cheaper than by bus, however, the bus may be the cheapest option if you want to
travel at short notice or if you have large amounts of luggage. Bus travel is especially interesting for those comming from the East as
there are many buses into Vienna. Information about their assorted services and pricing is can be found in that section.

By car

[edit]

Austria and all its neighbouring countries, except Liechtenstein are Schengen members so in theory there are no border controls. For
using the Autobahnen or Schnellstrassen, a vignette, or tax sticker, must be purchased. Costs are approx 70 for one year, 20 for 8
weeks, or about 7 for 10 days.
On some Saturdays in July and August expect traffic jams on the motorways between Germany, Austria and Italy when millions of German
tourists head south at the beginning of school vacations. A delay of about 2 hours is not unusual. The motorway A10 between Salz burg
and Villach is especially notorious. It's best to avoid those Saturdays.

From Germany

[edit]

Motorway A8 from Munich to Salz burg.

Motorway A93 from Rosenheim via Kufstein to Innsbruck, Tyrol.
E43 (A96) from Leutkirch via Wangen to Bregenz , Vorarlberg.
E56 from Regensburg via Passau to Linz , Upper Austria .

From Italy

[edit]

Motorway A23 to Villach, Carinthia.

E54 via Brenner to Innsbruck, Tyrol.

From Slovenia

[edit]

E652 to Villach,Carinthia.
E57 via Spielfeld to Graz , Styria.
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By train

[edit]

Austria has plenty of connections with all its neighbors daily. Every neighboring country (even Lichtenstein) have trains at least hourly.
Many (Cz ech Republic, Hungary, Germany, Slovakia, Switz erland) even more frequently. The BB (Austrian Railways) operate highspeed ICE and RailJet trains from cities like Zurich, Munich,Frankfurt, Passau, and Budapest. Eurocity trains are the next fastest trains
available as well as the trains connecting the bigger Austrian cities called Intercity . Regional trains called EURegio and simply
Regionalzug are also avialible from all 8 of Austria's neighbors.
Vienna is a the largest railroad hub but day and night trains from most Central European countries travel to many stops across Austria.
Day trains are normally much quicker than night trains. Tickets can be purchased from certain locations to Austria via the BB
website[5] . Always compare fares from the departure or even transit countries' railways as there may be price difference even for the
same train. BB offers discount 'SparSchiene' tickets to and from destinations like Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Netherlands,
Poland, Serbia, and Switz erland for a flat- rate (i.e. 29 for a one- way seater, 39 for a couchette, or 59 for a sleeper). There are a
limited number of tickets at this price. At peak times you need to book in advance. Additional offers are avaible to all countries in Central
Europe, although many cannot be booked online.

Information for trainspotters

[edit]

In Austria most railways run electrically. Most electric trains get their power from a single- phase AC network. This network uses its own
power lines run with 110 kV. In contrast to normal power lines, these employ a number of conductors that is not divisible by 3 - most
power lines for the single phase AC grid of the traction power grid have four conductors. There are many interesting mountain railways of
all types and trains from around central Europe.

From Slovakia

[edit]

There's a pontoon bridge accessible only to pedestrians and cyclists just south of the Austrian- Cz ech- Slovak three country border,
between Hohenau an der March (Austria) and Moravsk Svt Jn (Slovakia). The way goes through flat countryside, is very calm
and can be conveniently done by bike. Its length is approximately 6 kilometers, of which the 4 kilometers on the Slovak part are a
completely straight invariable landscape which may feel somewhat boring.
The urban traffic company of Bratislava (DPB) runs a cross- border bus line no. 901 between Hainburg an der Donau (Austria) and
Brat islava (Slovakia), with a stop also in the Austrian town of Wolfsthal. In Bratislava, the terminus is the stop Nov most .
There's a pontoon ferry accessible to car- drivers and pedestrians between Angern an der March (Austria) and Zhorsk Ves
(Slovakia). Open from five o'clock to twenty two o'clock.

Get around

[edit]

By train and bus

[edit]

Trains are the best and most common from of mass transportation in Austria. Comfortable and moderately priced trains connect major
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cities and many towns; buses serve less signifigant towns and lakes. The two forms of transport are integrated and designed to
complement each other, and intercity coaches exist but don't provide anywhere near the level of intercity rail service.
Austrian trains are operated mostly by state- owned company BB [6] . The Raaberbahn (GySEV) [7] provides some trains over
Austrian- Hungarian border and there are some short private railways with tourist trains, these railways supplement rather than compete
with the BB.
The only competetor to the BB is ' WestBahn [8] on the Salz burg- Linz - Vienna line (the company shares the name of the strech it runs
on). Rail passes, BB tickets and VORTEILScard are not valid on WestBahn, buy tickets on- line or onboard. Free wifi.
The BB also operate buses (InterCityBus)[9]
shorter that railway.

on the Graz KlagenfurtVenice line because the road between these cities is much

Train types

[edit]

S (S-Bahn/Schnellbahn) commuter trains offered in several regions and suburban areas

RSB (Regio S-Bahn) an express version of the S- Bahn making limited stops
R (Regionalzug) slow local trains, stops everywhere
REX (Regionalexpress) fast regional trains, stop at more significant stations
IC (InterCity) long- distance trains connecting major towns and cities.
EC (EuroCity) international long- distance trains
ICE (InterCityExpress) German high- speed trains
RJ (Railjet) Austria's home- grown high- speed trains
On suburban and regional trains there is normally only second class. On ICE, IC and EC trains is second class, which has sufficently
roomy plush seats, and also first class which is more private and with even roomier leather seats. The RailJet offers three classes
Economy which is akin to second class and where 2nd class tickets are valid, First Class features roomier leather seats and services like
a welcome drink, Premium Class is yet fancier with more at your seat services.

T ickets

[edit]

The BB sell domestic tickets using a price based only upon distance traveled, regardless of when you buy the ticket and which train
you take. Base fare is rather expensive, but Austrian Railways offer some interesting discounts. If you buy a ticket from Salz burg to
Vienna, that ticket is valid for any train that takes you to Vienna, even for a foreign train stopping inside Austria. (Eception being any train
operated by WestBahn, you'll recogniz e these trains by thier white livery with bright green and blue stripes.)
Tickets can be ordered (and paid for) on the web, including itineraries coving connecting trains and involving narrow- gauge, privatelyoperated, railways (like in the Zillertal valley). You can also reserve seats for a small fee: that is definitely recommended if you plan to
travel with luggage. Tickets ordered online should be printed and presented to the condoctor onbaord upon request. They should be
printed since they will barcode- scanned and stamped.
There are ticket machines at all siz able train stations and onboard some regional trains. When boarding regional trains you are required
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to have purchased a ticket before boarding, if it is possible to buy a ticket via railway office or vending machine at the station you are
departing from. (This includes most stations. These stations are marked with SB in all BB timetables). Ticket machines do not display
or print itineraries, and many train stations only display basic timetables. It is best to find an itinerary on the Austrian Railways website trip
planner. Stations also provide pamphlets with detailed timetables, but they assume that you know which line to board to get to your
destination and can only be obtained during office hours.

Discounts

[edit]

SparSchiene [10] are cheap tickets offered between major cities both domestically and interationally. These tickets aren't based on
distance, rather they're cheapest when booking well in advance online and are tied to a specific train run and time. Though this offer
can be very tempting, especially for those without the VORTEILScard, do consider that they provide less flexibility than regular tickets
and are not refundable or changeable and are often sold- out at popular times. For instance SparSchiene tickets from Salz burg to
Klagenfurt can be had for 9 in second class, compared to 35 regular price, or 18 with VORTEILScard.
VORTEILScard [11] gets you 45- 55% reduction on any domestic rail ticket (depending on the train and whether you buy it online, at
a ticket machine or at a counter) and 25% off on cross- border trains in Europe (so called RailPlus discount). The VC is also valid
private railways, except the rack and WestBahn railways. The cards are issued for one year, first by pilimary paper ticket (printed on
the spot and valid for the first two months). A plastic ID card is send out by mail, usually within two weeks of orginal purchase. The VC
is availible at all BB station ticket offices and counters. You will need both your passport and one passport- siz ed picture to fill out
the form and purchase your VORTIELScard. For one year:
VORTEILScard (regular) costs 99.90 if you aren't eligible for the following.
VORTEILScard <26 costs 19.90 for those under 26 years.
VORTEILScard Senior costs 26.90 for men over 65 years and women over 60 years. (All seniors by this criteria are waived seat
reservation fees, regardless of VortielsCard.)
Persons with limited physical mobility or handicaps (for instance the visually impared) are eligible for certain other versions of the
VORTIELScard at extremely nominal prices, although getting these with forgien, or worse- yet non- EU, documents can be a
challenge. None- the- less you are eligible to have the seat reservation fee waived.)
Minimax t icket [12] is a group discount for small groups from 2 to 5 people. The first person has 10% discount, the second
20%...to the fifth person having 50% discount. People with VORTEILScard pay half of the reduced fare.
Group discount [13] for 6 people or more gives you 30% discount for distance up to 100 km or 40% discount for distances over
100 km. Children, youths up to 18 years and youths with VORTEILScard <26 pay half of the reduced fare.
Einf ach- Raus- Ticket [14] can be used by groups up to 5 people for unlimited train travel during one day on all Austrian regional
trains (categories S, RSB, R and REX) and trains run by the operator Raaberbahn. It's valid from 9AM on weekdays (from midnight on
weekends) till 3AM the following day. The tickets is 28 total, online [15] , at vending machines, at station or elsewhere BB tickets
are sold.
Sommert icket [16] is a summer offer for VORTEILScard <26 holders. It costs 39 for people up to 19 years and 69 to people
from 20 to 25 years. With Sommerticket you can travel the whole summer from 2.7. to 11.9. on all BB and Raaberbahn trains, starting
at 8AM on weekdays (8AM to Midnight), and all day (Midnight to Midnight) on weekends and holidays.
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By car

[edit]

Rural or sparsely populated regions in Austria are easier to explore by car as bus services can be infrequent. Many popular spots in the
mountains are accessible only by car or on foot/ski. Renting a car for a couple of days is a good way to go off the beaten track. Driving
in Austria is normally quite pleasant as the country is small and the roads are in good condition, not congested and offer fantastic scenery.
Beware of dangerous drivers, however: Austrians are generally a very law- abiding bunch, but behind a wheel, they seem to make an
exception to their considerate attitude. Comprehensive maps of Austria, specific regions within Austria (including city maps), as well as
maps from neighbouring countries can be bought at any petrol station. Expect to pay around 7 for one map.
As in many European cities, parking in cities is subject to fee on work days. Usually those parking z ones are marked by blue lines on the
street. Some cities (such as Vienna) have area- wide z ones not denotated by blue lines). Fees vary from town to town as do the fines,
which are charged if you have no valid ticket, generally between 20 and 30. Tickets can be usually bought from kiosks, some cities
(such as Graz ) have ticket machines on the street. A cheap alternative is to park your car a bit outside of the town in parking garages
called Park and Ride , which can be found in any bigger city.
Travelling on Austrian motorways (Autobahnen) or Schnellstraen means you are liable to pay tolls. If your vehicle is under 3500 kg in
weight, you have to buy a Vignette toll pass, in advance, which can be purchased at any petrol station or at the border. Vignetten can be
bought for 10 days (7,70/4,40 for motorcycles), 2 months (22,20/11,10 for motorcycles) or 1 year (73,80/29,50 for motorcycles;
technically valid until January of the following year).
If you intend to transit Austria via the A14 from the German border to the Swiss border at Hohenems/Diepoldsau, you can instead
purchase a Korridor-Vignette. This is valid for a single trip along this road and can be purchased for 2.00 (or 4.00 for a round- trip) at
the border.
Vehicles heavier than 3500 kg must instead purchase a GO-Box , a transponder which deducts tolls as the vehicles travel along the
Autobahn or Schnellstrae. The cost the GO- Box is 5 and tolls can either be prepaid (75 initially, followed by increments of 50 to
recharge) or paid through an invoice at a later date. Rates vary from 0,16 to 0,33/km based on number of axles, with extra charges
paid based on time of day and for certain Autobahnen.
Driving a car on a motorway without a vignette is punished with either payment of a substitute toll of 120 (65 for motorcycles) (that
allows one to travel on the motorways for that day and the day immediately following) or a fine of upwards of 300, and if the fine is not
paid on the spot, valuables may be seiz ed from your vehicle and person to ensure that the fine is paid. You must affix the vignette to the
front windscreen of your vehicle, preferably in the top centre or on one of the driver's side corners, otherwise it is not valid, a common
mistake made by foreigners in Austria. The motorway police regularly check for vignet t en. Driving without a valid GO- Box, if required,
costs 220, and setting an incorrect toll class carries a 110 substitute toll.
Additional tolls are payable on certain roads, especially mountain passes, which
you need to pay in bank notes (not coins). An example is at Brenner Pass, right
before the A13 enters Italy, where a toll of at least 7,95 is collected each way.
The speed limits are 130 km/h on Autobahnen and 100 km/h on Schnellstraen

What not t o do wit h a Vignet t e

Do not , under any circumstances, share a vignette
with another vehicle, as doing so renders the
vignette invalid (and the sticker is designed to
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and Bundesstraen. Expect limits otherwise of 50- 80 km/h.

Rules on Autobahnen are very similar to the rules in Germany. For example, you
may not pass on the right, and the minimum speed limit is 60 km/h (vehicles
unable to travel 60 km/h are not admitted onto the Autobahn).

vignette invalid (and the sticker is designed to

show if it has been invalidated in this manner). The
penalty for doing so doubles the subsitute toll fee or
incurs a fine of up to 3000, and payment may be
guaranteed with the seiz ure of valuables from your
car.

Take special care when driving in wint er, especially in the mountains (and keep
in mind that winter lasts from September to May in the higher parts of the alps
and snowfall is in general possible at any time of the year). Icy roads kill doz ens of inexperienced drivers every year. Avoid speeding
and driving at night and make sure the car is in a good condition. Motorway bridges are particularly prone to ice. Slow down to 80 km/h
when going over them.

Winter tires are strongly recommended by Austrian motoring clubs. When there is snowfall, winter tires or snow chains are required by law
on some mountain passes, and occasionally also on motorways. This is indicated by a round traffic sign depicting a white tire or chain on
a blue background. It is always a good idea to take a pair of snow chains and a warm blanket in the boot. Drivers often get stuck in their
car for several hours and sometimes suffer from hypothermia.
Contrary to popular belief there is no need to rent an off- road vehicle in winter (though a 4x4 is helpful). In fact, small, lightweight cars are
better at tackling narrow mountain roads than sluggish off- road vehicles.
Virtually all roads in Austria open to the public are either covered in tarmac or at the least even surfaced. The problems normally
encountered are ice and steepness, not unevenness. When driving downhill the only remedy against sliding are snow chains no matter
what vehicle you are inside.
Petrol is cheaper in Austria than in some neighboring countries but is still more expensive than in America.

By plane

[edit]

Although you'll miss out most of the stunning Austrian Landscape, it is possible to travel by plane within Austria.
Domestic flights normally cost in the region of 300- 500 return, Austrian Airlines offers limited tickets for 99 (Redtickets) but they have to
be booked usually 2- 3 months in advance. Since the country is small, the total journey time is unlikely to be shorter than by rail or car. In
other words, fly only if you are on a business trip.
These domestic airports are served by airlines like Austrian Arrows, Intersky, Niki, Welcome Air:
Graz (Thalerhof), servicing eastern Styria and southern Burgenland
Innsbruck (Kranebitten), servicing Tyrol
Klagenfurt (Wrthersee- Airport), servicing Carinthia
Linz (Hrsching), servicing Upper Austria
Salz burg (Wals), servicing Salz burg and Berchtesgaden (Bavaria)
Vienna (Schwechat), servicing Vienna and Lower Austria
Here are international airports serving western Austria:
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Altenrhein Airport (Switz erland), servicing Vorarlberg, Liechtenstein, Northeastern Switz erland, and Lake Constance area
Friedrichshafen (Germany), servicing Vorarlberg, Baden- Wrttemberg and Lake Constance area

Talk

[edit]

The national official language of Austria is German which, in its national standard variety, known as Aust rian (St andard) German
(sterreichisches (Hoch)deutsch) is generally identical to the German used in Germany, with some significant vocabulary differences
(many of which concern kitchen language or the home) and a rather distinct accent. Most Austriacisms are loanwords from AustroBavarian, even though languages of the neighbouring countries have influenced as well. Other languages have some official status in
different localities (e.g., Slovenian in Carinthia, Burgenland Croatian and Hungarian in Burgenland).
Some examples for different vocabulary in Austrian German:
Aust ria
Germany
English
der Jnner
der Januar
January
der Topfen
der Quark
the curd
die Marille
die Aprikose
the apricot
die Fleischhauerei die Metz gerei
the butcher's shop
das Obers
die Sahne
the cream
die Matura
das Abitur the school leaving examination
der Polster
das Kissen
the pillow
The first language of almost all Austrians, however, is not German, but instead local dialects of Aust ro- Bavarian (Boarisch) (also
spoken as a first language by many in Bavaria and South Tyrol, Italy), with the exception of in Vorarlberg where it is replaced by
Alemannic (Alemannisch) (also the first language of the locals in German- speaking Switz erland and Liechtenstein, plus largely in
Baden- Wrttemberg, especially in the southern parts, and partly in Alsace, France). Both these languages belong to the Upper German
family, but are only partially mutually intelligeble to each other and German, and especially in the larger cities almost everyone will be
able to communicate in German as well, if only when speaking to foreigners, (including Northern Germans). Most Austrians can
understand another region's dialect but have the hardest time in Vorarlberg due to the fact that it's Alemannic- speaking.
English is widely spoken, and the only area most tourists have linguistic problems with is in translating menus. Even competent
German/Austro- Bavarian speakers may find that they are replied to in English, and it is not uncommon to hear Austrians addressing each
other in English! In rural places, however, people older than 50 often don't speak English, so it can help to learn a few basic German or
Austro- Bavarian phrases if travelling to such places.
Italian is widespread in the parts of Austria bordering Italy like the Tyrol, even though the majority language on the Italian side (except in
Bolz ano, the region's capital) is still German (Austro- Bavarian in practice).
In general, when speaking German, Austrians tend to pronounce the vowels longer and use a pronunciation which is regional, yet
genuine, elegant and melodic; it is agruably the most beautiful form of German. Also, the "ch", "h" and "r" are not as harshly pronounced
as in Germany, making the accent much more mild in nature.
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See

[edit][add listing]

Mountains such as Solden

Tips on how t o save money

Styria

[edit]

Styria has a well developed tourism infrastructure with many things to see and
do:
Murauer Bier. The Murauer Brewery has a permament brewing museum (just
turn up on Tuesdays and Thursdays). The tour includes the museum, brew
house, a video presentation and a free Murauer beer or lemonade in any of
their bars in the town. Price: 3
Judenburg Sternenturm. In the town of Judenburg there is a (locally) famous
planetarium. The town also has a town tower which can be climbed offering
views of the entire area. Even though the town is very industrial, it is worth the
visit.
Burg Riegersberg. This wonderfully preserved medieval castle (in the town of
the same name) is privately owned by the ruling family of Liechtenstein. Entry
is cheap, although photographers will have to buy a permit to use their
cameras. The castle can be reached by walking up the original access path
that winds its way through the castle's defensive gates. For those who don't
wish to walk there is a cable car which ascends the other side of the hill.

Many museums and other attractions categorise

everyone under 19 as a child. At some
attractions, such as the Hofburg and
Schoenbrunn Palaces in Vienna, all visitors
under 19 pay admission charges at a much
lower rat e, whilst at others, such as the Natural
History and Kunsthistorisches Museums in
Vienna, those under 19 can even enter f ree of
charge (they may be requested to produce
photographic official identification to verify their
age).
If you are a st udent , make sure that you have a
student card or other proof of your student status
as many museums and attractions offer reduced
admission charges for students (e.g. the Hofburg
and Schoenbrunn Palaces).

Zotter Chocolate. Also near Riegersberg is the Zotter chocolate factory. They make all their chocolate in an ethical and organic
manner. The tour of the factory allows you to taste all of their varieties of chocolate (around 150).

Do
Skiing and Snowboarding

[edit][add listing]
[edit]

see Winter sports in Austria

Cycle Touring

[edit]

Austria is well known for its scenic cycle routes along its largest rivers. Though Austria is a mountainous country, cycle routes along rivers
are flat or gently downhill, and therefore suitable even for casual cyclists. The most famous route is the Danube cycle path from Passau
to Vienna, one of the most popular cycle paths in Europe, drawing large crowds of cyclists from all over the world each summer. Other
rivers with well- developed cycle routes are the Inn, Drau, Moell and Mur. Most routes follow a combination of dedicated cycle paths,
country lanes, and traffic calmed roads, and are well suited for children.
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Music

[edit]

Many visitors come to experience Austria's musical heritage. Salz burg and Vienna offer world renowned opera, classical music and jaz z
at moderate prices, but performances of high standards are also widely available throughout the rest of the country. There are doz ens of
Summer festivals for all tastes, the most famous being the avant- garde Salz burg festival (Salzburger Festspiele ) but because they're
aimed at tourists prices can be high. Austria's strong musical tradition is not confined to classical music alone. Austrian folk music
(Volksmusik ) is an integral part of rural Austria, and is said to have influenced many of the nation's big composers. In the Alps almost
every village has its own choir or brass band (Blasmusik ), and you'll often see groups of friends sitting down to sing Lieder in rural pubs.
Traditional Alpine instruments are the accordion and z ither. In Vienna a type of melancholic violin music known as Schrammelmusik is
often performed in Restaurants and Heurigen.

Movies

[edit]

Austria has quite a special kind of cinematic culture, that is worth taking notice of as tourist. Many films star celebrities from cabaret, a kind
of staged comedy popular in Austria. Most of these movies are characteriz ed by their rather cynical and sometimes biz arre black
humour, usually portraying members of Vienna's lower or middle class. Josef Hader, Roland Dringer, Reinhard Nowak or Alfred Dorfer
are among the most outstanding actors here. Recommendations include Indien (1993), Muttertag (1993), Hinterholz 8 (1998), Komm,
ser Tod (2000) and Silentium (2004). Popular directors are Harald Sicheritz , Michael Haneke and Ulrich Seidl. Haneke received
positive international praise for his films Die Klavierspielerin (2001), based on the novel by nobel- priz e winning author Elfriede Jelinek and
Cach (2005). Seidl received various awards for his drama Hundstage (2001). Also, the 1949 classic The Third Man was shot in Vienna,
and is regularly shown in Vienna's Burg Kino.

Hiking

[edit]

It is normally safe to hike without a guide in the Austrian Alps, as there is a dense network of marked trails and mountain shelters.
However, a few lethal incidents do happen every year as a result of carelessness. Walkers are strongly advised not to stray off the trails
and not to hike in bad weather or without suitable equipment. Before setting off, always check with the local tourist office whether the trail
corresponds to your abilities.
Also, check the weather forecast. Sudden thunderstorms are frequent and are more likely to happen in the afternoon. A rule of thumb is
that if you haven't reached the summit by noon, it's time to give up and return to shelter.
Though the scenery is by all accounts majestic, don't expect an empty wilderness. The Alps can be very crowded with mountaineers,
especially in high season (there are even traffic jams of climbers on some popular mountains). Littering is a no- no in all of Austria, but
especially in the mountains, and you will enrage fellow walkers if you're seen doing it. If you really want to show respect, pick up any litter
you happen to see in your path and dispose of it at the end of your hike (it's a bit of an unwritten rule). Long distance trails are marked
with the Austrian flag (red- white- red horiz ontal stripes) painted onto rocks and tree trunks.
Most trails and mountain huts are maintained by the Austrian Alpine Club. Some are run by other equivalent organiz ations, such as the
German, Dutch and Italian Alpine Clubs. Mountain huts are meant to be shelters, not hotels. Though they are normally clean and wellequipped, standards of food and accommodation are basic. Don't expect a high level of customer service either. Blankets are provided,
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but bringing a thin sleeping bag is mandatory for hygienic reasons. During the high season (August), it's a good idea to book in advance.
Mountain huts will not turn anyone down for the night, but if they're full, you'll have to sleep on the floor. Prices for the night are usually
around 10- 20 (half for Alpine Club members), but meals and drinks are quite expensive, as everything has to be carried up from the
valley, often by helicopters or on foot. For the same reason, there are no trash cans in or near huts. Electricity and gas are hard to bring
there, too, so warm showers (if available at all) have to be paid for. Some huts don't even have running water, this means pit latrines. As
mentioned above, mountain huts are very useful for hikers, they mostly have a heated common room and they are very romantic, but
there is nothing more than necessary.
Detailed hiking maps showing the location of marked trails and shelters can be purchased online from the Austrian Alpine Society [17]

Buy
Currency

[edit][add listing]
[edit]

Austria has the euro (EUR, ) as its currency. Therewith, Austria belongs to the 23 European countries that use the common European
money. These 23 countries are: Aust ria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta,
the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain (official euro members which are all European Union member states) as well as
Andorra, Kosovo, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino and Vatican which use it without having a say in euroz one affairs and without being
European Union members. These countries together have a population of 327 million.
One euro is divided into 100 cents. While each official euro member (as well as Monaco, San Marino and Vatican) issues its own coins
with a unique obverse, the reverse as well as all bills look the same throughout the euroz one. Nonetheless, every coin is legal tender in
any of the euroz one countries.
The best rates for changing money are offered by banks.
The legacy currency, the Schilling, can still be exchanged for euros indefinitely, but not all banks may offer this service.

Prices

[edit]

The prices are comparable with Western European countries, and a bit higher than the USA. The general sales taxs of 20 % is included
in prices but lower sales taxes applies to certain services and mainly food. A can of Coke will cost you about 55 cents, a good meal 15.
Prices in tourist areas (Tyrol, Vienna, Salz burg, Zell am See) are a lot higher than the averages. B&B accommodation and restaurants in
towns and rural areas are quite cheap.

Shops

[edit]

Shops are generally open from 8AM to 7PM on weekdays and Saturday from 8AM to 6PM and closed on Sundays except for gas station
shops (expensive), shops at railway stations and restaurants. Be aware that paying by credit card is not as common as in the rest of
Europe or as in the United States but all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club) are accepted at almost
every gas station and at bigger shops, especially in shopping malls. In smaller towns and villages you normally find one or two small
shops or bakeries, which carry nearly everything, called "Greiler", although they are under threat from bigger shopping centers.
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ATMs

[edit]

ATMs in Austria are called Bankomat . They are wide- spread and you will find them even in smaller, rural villages. Many shops (and
some restaurants too) offer the service to pay directly with an ATM card. The majority of ATMs accept cards from abroad. All Bankomats
in Austria can easily identified by a sign showing a green stripe above a blue stripe. It doesn't matter which Bankomat you use; the
transaction fee is always z ero (excluding any fees charged by your own bank).

Bargaining

[edit]

Bargaining is not common throughout Austria except at flea markets. It may be okay to ask for a discount, but accept No as an answer.

What gifts to take home

[edit]

Eiswein (ice wine) see Drink section

Marillenmarmelade (Apricot Jam)
Pumpkin Seed Oil a speciality from the southern region Styria

For children

[edit]

Haba wooden toys

Eat

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Austrian food is distinctive and delicious, and is traditionally of the stodgy, hearty "meat and dumplings" variety. Wiener Schnit z el (a
bread- crumbed and fried veal escalope) is something of a national dish, and Kndel are a kind of dumpling which can be made either
sweet or savory according to taste. In Vienna the Taf elspit z (boiled beef with potatoes and horseradish) is traditionally served on
Sundays, and is normally accompanied by clear broth with dumplings and herbs. Apart from these, Austria is renowned for its pastries
and desserts, the most well- known of which is probably the Apf elst rudel.
Bread is taken seriously in Austria. Almost every village has its own bakery, offering a large choice of freshly baked sweet and savoury
rolls daily from 6AM. Rye bread (Vollkornbrot , Bauernbrot ) is the traditional staple food among peasants. If this is too heavy for you,
try the common white bread roll (Semmel). Somewhat surprisingly, it is easier to find good bread outside of Vienna, where the baking
industry hasn't yet come to be dominated by industrial scale chain shops.
Some Austrians have a habit of eating sweet flour- based dishes ( Mehlspeise) for a main course once a week. Varieties include
Kaiserschmarren, Marillenknoedel, and Germknoedel.
The best advice is to dive into the menu and give it a go - there are no nasty surprises!

Restaurants

[edit]

If you want to try out traditional Austrian food go for a Gasthaus or Gasthof , which serve traditional food for reasonable prices. Usually
they offer various options of set lunch including a soup and a main dish and in some cases a dessert too. They are typically priced at
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around 5- 7 (except for very touristy areas). Menus are written in German, though some of the restaurants have English menus as well.
Keep in mind that tipping is expected throughout all restaurants in Austria. Rounding up the price given on the bill is usually enough tip.

Paying

[edit]

In Austrian restaurants you must ask to pay. Get the attention of your server and say: "z ahlen, bitte" (to pay, please). They will then bring
you the check, or tell you the amount of the bill verbally. Then, the proper way to pay in Austria is to give your cash and say the amount
you wish to pay, including tip. To tip it is appropriate to round up, or to round up +50 cents or 1 euro of the cost for each person (should
equal about 5- 10% for a full meal). Servers are not dependent on tips, and it is not appropriate to tip a large amount. Saying "danke"
(thank you) when paying means keep the change! Alternatively, you can say the amount of the bill plus your tip and will only get change
above that amount (for instance, if you pay with a 20 bill, the amount is 16.50 and you say "Siebz ehn Euro" (seventeen euro), the
server will give you 3 change and keep the 0.50 as tip).

Local specialties

[edit]

If you have the chance to try Klet z ennudeln you should definitely do it. They are an exceptional Carinthian specialty you can very
rarely get anywhere: sweet noodles filled with dried pears and soft cheese. The best Kletz ennudeln are hand made with minced dried
pears, rather than the lower quality versions which use pear powder.
Some salads are made with Kernl (green pumpkin seed oil), a Styrian specialty. Even though it looks frightening (dark green or dark
red, depending on lighting conditions) it has an interesting nutty taste. A bottle of good, pure Styrian Kernl is very expensive (around
10- 20), but maybe one of the most Austrian things to take home. (Beware of cheap Kernl, sometimes sold as "Salatl". Be sure to
seal the bottle appropriately, the oil expands when slightly heated and leaves non removable stains. Just in case, sun light
occasionally removes them, though.) Kernl or pumpkin seed oil is also available in some online shops.

Desserts

[edit]

St rudel
Sachert ort e is chocolate torte with chocolate icing and filled with apricot jam. It should be be served fresh with freshly beaten, lightly
sweetened cream, which the Austrians call "Schlagobers". The original is available in Vienna in the Cafe Sacher [18] , but similar
cakes are very common in many other Viennese Cafes.
Esz t erhz y
Malakhof f : delicate cake
Manner Schnit t en are a very Viennese sweet specialty, but just the square form factor and pink packaging are really unique. You
can buy them everywhere. (Maybe you've already seen these as a product placement in some Hollywood movies or for example in
"Friends" and wondered what they are.)
Milchrahmst rudel: milk and curd cheese struedel, served warm
Powidl is a type of savoury prune jam with alcohol, another speciality from Vienna. It makes a good present as it tastes exotic and is
hard to find anywhere else in the world.
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Vegetarians

[edit]

Vegetarianism is slowly gaining ground in Austria, especially in bigger cities. Austrians aren't as carnivorous as the rest of their Central
European neighbors; 47% of the country reports having a diverse diet with only limited amounts of meat. Most restaurants don't cater for
vegetarians specifically, but you're almost certain to find meals on the menu containing no meat. As an alternative, there are vegetarian
restaurants in every major city, as well as harder to find vegan or vegan- friendly places. You get can get vegetarian and vegan products
(e.g. tofu, soy milk, lactose- free products) in nearly all supermarkets across the country (in rural areas as well) and in many health- food
shops.
In more traditional or very rural restaurants, you may be viewed as eccentric if you say you are vegetarian, and it's possible that not a
single meal on the menu is meat- free. This is especially true for restaurants serving traditional Austrian cuisine which relies heavily on
meat - - even apparent vegetable dishes such as potato salad or vegetable soup often contain meat products. Sometimes, also food
clearly labeled as "vegetarian" contains fish, as vegetarianism is often equated with pescetarianism. If unsure, ask the waiting staff if there
are any animal products in the dish you're about to order. Some traditional meals that are guaranteed to be vegetarian are
Kaiserschmarren (sweet pieces of fluffy pancake with fruit compote), Germkndel (sweet dumpling with sour prune jam), and Kasnudel
(similar to ravioli).
Austria's Vegan Society maintains an updated list of vegetarian- and vegan- friendly eating places: original

Drink

and translated version

[edit][add listing]

Vienna is famous for its caf culture, and there are coffee houses all over the city, many of which have outdoor terraces that are popular
in the summer. Visit them for coffee (of course), hot chocolate and pastries. Most famous is Sacher- Torte.
Austria has also some first class wines, mostly whites, slightly on the acid side. Wine can be drunk pure or mixed with mineral water,
called "G'spritz ter" or "Spritz er". The best place to do so is at the "Heurigen" in the suburban areas of Vienna. Originally the "Heurigen"
was open only in summer, but more recently you can have your "Spritz er" throughout the year with a little self- served snack.
Sof t drinks: Austria has also a national soft drink called Almdudler . It is lemonade with herbs. Other typical Austrian soft drinks are Holler
or Hollundersaft . It's a soft drink made of elderberry blossoms.
Beer in Austria is largely ubiquitous with Mrzen Lager. The quality is generally very good but varies greatly between breweries, as in
many other Central European countries. The best options are from a modest number of remaining regional breweries not yet bought up
by Heiniken. Visitors acustomed to the selection common in most larger towns in the US or UK may be underwehlemed by beer lists,
even in upscale bars. There are a small number of micro- breweries around the country, offering more exotic brews such as stouts. Beer
culture in Austria is not wide- spread, many Austrians have strong brand loyalty but don't know the difference between pilsner and lager,
so don't be surprised if a bar tender or server struggles to answer your questions.
Lagers: decent classic "Mrz en" lagers commonly availible include Stiegl, Egger and Zwettler. The quality of many others including
Gsser, Puntigamer, Schwechater, Wieselburger and Zipfer all now under the Heinicken umbrella has debatebly dropped.
Pilsners: are normally noted with Pils or Spezial, most common is Hirter Pils.
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Dunkles: is a rich dark brew offered by most breweries.

Weie: is wheat beer. There are several breweries and many imports from neighboring Bavaria, though its rarely found on tap.
Zwickl: is unfiltered lager and the pride of several breweries.
Schnaps is a type of fruit brandy served in many parts of Austria, usually after a meal. The most popular flavours are pear, apricot, and
raspberry, though doz ens of other flavours are available. There are three quality tiers of Schnaps: distilled, infused, and flavoured. The
distilled variety is the highest quality; several brands of Austrian fruit Schnaps rank among the best in the world, but are accordingly
expensive: a half- Liter bottle can cost up to 100. "Real" Schnaps is made from real fruit (either distilled or infused). Beware of the cheap
stuff sold in large bottles in supermarkets; this is often of the "flavoured" type - nothing more than pure ethanol mixed with artificial
flavouring. If you want the real thing, go to a deli or upscale bar (if you're in a bigger city) or a Buschenschank (Farmhouse) (if you're in
the countryside). However, be careful with Schnaps especially if you are not used to alcoholic drinks!
Eiswein is a type of dessert wine produced from grapes that have been froz en while still on the vine. Eiswein is generally quite
expensive due to the labour- intense and risky production process. Your best bet is to buy eiswein at Naschmarkt for 10..15 for 375 ml or
500 ml; more chances to find it there on weekends. Just to give an idea of prices elsewhere, ice wine sells at Wein & Co near
Naschmarkt at 24- 30 for a 375ml bottle, and Vienna duty free shop sells it for 23.50 as well.

Sleep

[edit][add listing]

Although hotels can usually even be found in smaller cities they are quite expensive (even more so in bigger cities) cheaper possibilities
in big cities are youth hostels and in smaller towns you can often find families renting flats in bed and breakfast style (look for Pension or
Zimmer Frei signs) for 15- 25. In the countryside many farmers will rent out rooms for a couple of nights, both officially and unofficially. To
find a place to stay, simply knock on the door of a farmhouse and ask - if they don't have a room they'll probably know someone nearby
who does.
You can also find a lot of camping grounds (some of them are open the whole year round) but while they are exceptionally clean and
often provide additional services, they are also a bit more expensive than in other countries in Central Europe.
Austrian law requires anyone to regist er at their resident address, even if it's only for one night and even if it's a campsite.
Hotels will therefore ask you to hand over your passport or driving license and may refuse to give you accommodation if you don't have
any ID on you. Don't worry too much about handing over your passport. In many countries, such a practice would raise concerns, but in
Austria, it's a standard procedure. Your passport will be returned. If you stay in private accommodation for longer than about two weeks,
you should obtain a document of registration (Meldezettel) from the local registration authority (Bezirksamt or Meldeamt ), usually located in
the town hall. This document needs to be signed by the owner or tenant of your accommodation. Failure to present this document upon
departure could cause difficulties if you have stayed in the country for more than two or three months.

Learn

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Austria has a diverse school and university system which can be quite confusing especially when you come from abroad. There is a fouryear compulsory elementary school for everyone. In general, compulsory school attendance is 9 years. After elementary school you can
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decide between attending secondary school for four years or grammar school for eight years. However, after four years in secondary
school or four years in grammar school, you can switch to a vocational school which typically focuses on technical or economic
professions. Vocational schools are usually attended for five years (giving you a general qualification for university entrance diploma) or
three years (providing you with a master craftsman's diploma for a certain profession).
A university entrance diploma grants access to all subjects which are offered at university. There are no further restrictions (e.g. like a
grade point average in certain subjects at school), however, some studies have a test at the beginning (for instance Medicine).
As in many European countries, Austria's traditional system of academic degrees is two- tiered, with a Diplom/Magister stage (after 4- - 6
years of study) followed by the doctorate. However, most of Austria's universities have been moving to a three- tiered degree system in
the past few years, with a bachelor's degree (3 years) followed by a master's degree (an additional 2 years) and finally the doctorate.
Studying in Austria is subject to fees (about 726 per year or 363 per semester for EU nationals, twice as much for others, although
citiz ens of some developing countries are exempt). Due to recent changes in laws (mid 2008) this fees are expected to be abolished for
citiz ens of the European Union, and halved for other foreigners.
Austria has many great universities, the majority of which are located in Vienna, Graz , and Innsbruck. A relatively recent development in
tertiary education are the Fachhochschulen (Universities of Applied Sciences), vocational colleges that typically focus on engineering and
business education with less emphasis on research than traditional universities, but a stronger view toward practice.
If you plan to study in Austria go here: [19]
[20] .

Work

to see the requirements. If you need advice, you can contact the national students union at

[edit]

Good work is difficult to find for non- fluent German speakers. If you speak no German at all the best option is probably looking for jobs
advertised outside Austria. Another possibility is giving private tuition in foreign languages, though you are unlikely to earn a full time
income this way and it takes several months to build up a base of clients.
There is plenty of unskilled work available in the tourism industry. As long as you have a work permit, finding a job can often be as easy
as simply turning up at a hotel and asking. Seasonal work in large ski resorts is the most promising option.

Stay safe

[edit]

Austria is one of the safest countries in the world. According to the OECD Factbook of 2006, levels of robbery, assault, and car crime are
among the lowest in the developed world, and a study by Mercer ranks Vienna as the 6th safest city in the world out of 215 cities. Violent
crimes are extremely rare and should not concern the average tourist. Small towns and uninhabited areas such as forests are very safe at
any time of the day.
Beware of pickpocket s in crowded places. Like everywhere in Europe they are becoming increasingly professional. Bicycle t hef t is
rampant in bigger cities, but virtually absent in smaller towns. Always lock your bike to an immobile object.
Racism can also be a problem and make your stay an unpleasant experience. Just like anywhere else in Central Europe, there might be
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instances of glaring, hostile looks, even questioning by the police in big cities like Graz or Vienna is not uncommon. This might make the
non- Caucasian audience unwelcome. However, Racism is almost never seen in a violent form. In more remote parts of Austria people of
non- white origin are a rare sight. If you see senior locals giving you strange looks here don't feel threatened. They are probably just
showing curiosity or a distrust of foreigners and have no intention of doing any physical harm. A short conversation can often be enough
to break the ice.
Do not walk on the bike lanes (especially in Vienna) and cross them like you would cross any other road. Some bike lanes are hard to
recogniz e (e.g. on the "Ring" in Vienna) and some cyclists drive quite fast. Walking on bike lines is not only considered to be impolite, but
it may also happen that you are hit by a cyclist.

Cope

[edit]

Toilets

[edit]

Public toilets must normally be paid for. Prices range between 0.20 and 1, which must either be handed to a toilet assistant or inserted
into a slot. Public toilets can always be found in city centers (normally on the main square), in train stations, and near major tourist
attractions. In Vienna, it's probably a good idea to simply walk into the next McDonald's and use the washrooms there for free.

Laundry

[edit]

Households without washing machines are almost unheard of in Austria. As a result, laundrettes are few and far between, and may be
completely absent from smaller cities. However, most hotels, youth hostels, campsites and even B&Bs normally offer laundry facilities for
a small charge.

People

[edit]

People in Austria are friendly and helpful. Most Austrians are very polite and treat tourists well.

Stay healthy

[edit]

Austria has an excellent healthcare system by Western standards. Hospitals are modern, clean, and well- equipped. Healthcare in Austria
is funded by the Krankenkassen (Sickness- funds), compulsory public insurance schemes that cover 99% of the population. Most
hospitals are owned and operated by government bodies or the Krankenkassen. Private hospitals exist, but mainly for non- lifethreatening conditions. Doctor's surgeries on the other hand are mostly private, but most accept patients from the Krankenkassen. Many
Austrians choose to buy supplemental private health insurance. This allows them to see doctors that don't accept Krankenkassen and to
stay in special hospital wards with fewer beds (which often receive preferential treatment).
If you are a traveller from the EU, you can get any form of urgent treatment for free (or a small token fee) that is covered by the
Krankenkassen. Non- urgent treatment is not covered. Simply show your European Health Insurance Card and passport to the doctor or
hospital. When going to a GP, watch out if the street sign says "Alle Kassen" (all Krankenkassen accepted), or "Keine Kassen" (no
Krankenkassen accepted), in which case your EHIC is not valid. Supplemental travel insurance is recommended if you want to be able to
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see any doctor or go to the special ward.

If you are a traveller from outside the EU, and have no travel insurance, you will need to pay the full cost of treatment up- front (with the
exception of the emergency room). Medical bills can be very expensive, though still reasonable when compared to the USA.
Austria has a dense network of helicopter ambulances that can reach any point in the country within 15 minutes. Beware: Mountain rescue
by helicopter is not covered by your EHIC, or indeed most travel insurances. If you have a medical emergency while you are in the
mountains (eg. break a leg while skiing), the helicopter will be called on you regardless of whether you ask for it or not, and you will be
billed upwards of 1,000. Mountain sports insurace is therefore highly recommended; you can obtain this from your health insurer or by
becoming a member of the Austrian Alpine Club. ( 48,50 for one year of membership, automatic insurance for mountain search- andrescue costs up to 22.000)
Certain regions in Austria (Carinthia, Styria, Lower Austria) are affected by tick borne encephalitis. For those who plan doing outdoor
activities in spring or summer a vaccine is strongly recommended. Also be aware that there is a small, endangered population of sand
vipers in the south.
Tap water is of exceptional quality and safe to drink in Austria (except in some parts of lower Austria, where it is recommended to ask
about the water quality first!). The quality of water in Vienna is supposedly comparable to that of Evian.

Respect
Austrians (especially those over 40) take formalities and etiquette seriously.
Even if you are the most uncharismatic person in the world, old- fashioned good
manners (Gutes Benehmen) can take you a long way in a social situation. On the
flip side, there are endless possibilities to put your foot in it and attract frowns for
breaking an obscure rule.
In general, in most of continental Europe, personnel in shops and other services
do not show the same level of politeness people from other continents might be
used to. You may find for example that a shop assistant tells you off after asking
to buy something. In Vienna a cafe isn't considered a real cafe without badtempered and arrogant waiters.

[edit]

Naz i Ref erences

Symbols of Naz ism, including material questioning
the extent of National Socialist crimes or praising its
actions, are forbidden in Austria, under section 3g of
the NS- Prohibition Law. The penalty for any kind of
neo- Naz ism is a prison sentence of up to ten years,
or a fine (the maximum is 21,600). Foreigners are
not exempted from this law. This law also covers
shouting Naz i paroles like "Sieg heil" and the
performance of the Hitler salute.

Austrians as a people generally "don't like" Germany or Germans at least in the

competitive sense and are quite sensitive about it. 80 million to the north in
Germany and 8 million in Austria has made this a even more lively rivalry. Don't compare Austria negatively to Germany; you will quickly
anger the locals as Germans are seen as over rich bad arrogant driving tourists on a bad day.

Perhaps surprisingly for a rather conservative nation, Austria's attitude towards nudit y is one of the most relaxed in Europe. The display
of full nudity in the mainstream media and advertising can be a shock for many visitors, especially those from outside Europe. It is not
uncommon for women to bathe topless in beaches and recreational areas in summer. Though swimming costumes must normally be worn
in public pools and beaches, when bathing "wild" in rivers and lakes is normally OK to take one's clothes off. Nudity is compulsory in
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Austria's many nude beaches (FKK Strand ), health spas and hotel saunas. Like in Germany, do not wear bathing suits into saunas or you
garner strange looks.
Some basic etiquette (Of course most of this doesn't really matter when you are in a younger crowd)
When entering and leaving public places Austrians always say hello (Guten Tag or Gr Gott ) and goodbye (Auf Wiedersehen ). When
entering a small shop, one should say "Gr Gott" to the shop keeper when entering and "Wiedersehen" when leaving (the "Auf" is
normally left off). Phone calls are usually answered by telling your name, and finished with Auf Wiederhren .
Don't raise your voice or shout in public, especially on public transportation. It might be interpreted as aggression. If you are speaking
a language other than German, it becomes all the more important to speak quietly in order to not be a "loud foreigner".
When being introduced to someone, always shake them by the hand, keep the other hand out of your pocket, say your name and
make eye cont act . Failure to make eye contact, even if out of shyness, is considered condescending.
It is a custom to kiss ones cheeks twice when friends meet, except for Vorarlberg, where people kiss each other three times like in
Switz erland and Liechtenstein. Fake air kisses work to. When you're not sure whether this is appropriate, wait until your counterpart
starts the greeting.
When drinking alcohol you don't drink until you have toasted ("anstoen"). Say "prost" or "cheers" and most importantly make eye
cont act when toasting.
In restaurants, it is considered rude to start smoking while someone on the table is still eating. Wait until everybody has finished, or
ask if it is okay with everyone.
If you have drunk all your wine and want more it's okay to pour some more into your glass, but only after you've kindly asked
everyone around you at the table if they need any more.
If you really want to show your manners while eating, let your unused hand rest on the table next to your plate and use it occasionally
to hold your plate while eating, if necessary. Austrians use generally European table manners, that is, they hold the knife in the right
hand and the fork in the left hand, eating with both utensils. It is polite to let your wrists or hands rest on the table, but not your elbows.
In most Austrian households it is customary to take off one's shoes. This is a habit prevailing in most of Central Europe, maybe
because of general cleanliness, but also because grit and slush from the pavements can cause havoc to a flat in winter.
Austrians (like other Central European nations) really love to use honorific titles. Many books have been written on the subject of
Austria and its Tit elwahn (title craz e). There are over nine hundred titles from many categories such as job descriptions, academic
degrees, honorary titles, official titles, etc.. People who think of themselves as being respectable always expect to be addressed by
their proper title, be it Prof., Dr., Mag. (Master's), Dipl.Ing. (Master's in Engineering), Ing. (Graduate Engineer) or even B.A. This is
especially true for older people. Younger people are generally much more relaxed in this regard. The Tit elwahn is something to be
aware of but it is also often subject of satire and self- deprecating humour so it should not be taken too seriously. Foreigners are not
expected to understand or care about (all of) it.
In German you should always use the Sie form when speaking with strangers or older people the Du is mainly reserved for friends and
family. Younger people generally address each other withDu. Misusing those forms is considered as rude and impolite. However
switching between the forms can be very irritating especially to English speaker but when picking the wrong form people will excuse
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that with your few language skills. In Tyrol the Du form is used more frequently than elsewhere.

Contact

[edit]

Calling Austria

[edit]

International code is +43.

When calling Austria from abroad, if the number starts with the city code 01 (former 0222), it's in Vienna. Drop all four of those digits and
replace it with a 1, then dial the remaining digits of the phone number.
If the number doesn't start with 01, simply drop the initial z ero from the city code and dial the remaining digits.

Phones

[edit]

Public phones are available in postal offices. Phone boxes are getting rare (and exchanged by boxes with internet access) since the use
of cell phones got very popular over the last years. Phone boxes usually operate with prepaid cards which can be obtained from postal
offices and kiosks (German:Trafik ).
Phone numbers have an area code followed by the phone number itself. Mobile phone numbers use the prefix 0650, 0660, 0664, 0676,
0699, 0680, 0681 or 0688. Toll- free numbers are denoted by 0800, service lines priced like local calls are setting off with 0810 whereas
numbers starting with 0900, 0901, 0930 or 0931 are expensive service lines charging up to 3,63 per minute.
To enjoy cheap int ernat ional calls from Austria you can use low- cost dial- around services such as pennyphone [21] , austriaphone
[22] or fuchstarife [23] . Dial- around services are directly available from any landline in Austria. No contract, no registration is required.
Most dial- around services offer USA, Canada, Western Europe and many other countries at the price of a local call so you can save on
your phone expenses easily. They also work from public payphones.

Cell phones

[edit]

Austria has a perfect GSM and 3G (UMTS) network coverage of nearly 100%. If you bring your own cell phone with you assure yourself
that it operates on 900MHz / 1800MHz (GSM) or 2100Mhz (3G WCDMA). There are cell phones that operate at 1900MHz (e.g. networks
in the United States) which are not supported in Austria. If you plan a longer visit in Austria it might be useful to buy a new mobile with a
prepaid card from a local cell phone network provider. Be aware that some remote areas (especially mountainous areas) do not have
network coverage yet, though this rather the exception than the rule. Even the Vienna underground lines do have perfect coverage.
Despite being a rather small country, Austria has a large number of cell network providers including A1, T- Mobile, Orange (former called
One) , Drei (3G), Telering, Tele2, Bob and Yesss.
The probably cheapest prepaid mobile providers right now are Bob [24] and Yesss [25] . A prepaid card costs 15 including 100
minutes talking time. Then you pay 6.8 cent per minute to all Austrian networks (as of June 2008) and 70 cents to the most important
other countries. The Yesss SIM card is only available at the discounter Hofer [26] . Yesss also sells cheap UMTS data cards (that are
different from the normal SIM cards). The starter kit includes 1GB traffic and is available for 20 Euro. In order to prevent the SIM card from
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expiring, you need to recharge it once per year.

If you have an Austrian bank account, you can purchase a registered (non- prepaid) Bob SIM card. Calls then only cost 4 cent per minute
to all other Austrian networks. There is no basic fee and no minimum charge.
The new provider eety [27] has a prepaid SIM card with very cheap international rates (13 cents to Germany, 9 Cent for Short
Messages (SMS) worldwide). Online available at www.eety.eu and also sold in a few stores in major towns.
You may often purchase a prepaid SIM card for Austria before you depart from an online vendor [28]
get instructions in English and your cell phone number before you depart.

which can be convenient as you

Internet

[edit]

Internet cafes are common in bigger cities. Hotels in cities do normally have internet terminals, more expensive hotels provide internet
access directly in the rooms. There are many free WiFi Hotspots ("Gratis WLAN"), each McDonald's has free Wifi (unlimited Time and
Traffic) and for example in Mariahilferstrasse in Vienna
Mobile broadband providers in Austria are some of the cheapest and fastest in Europe, and 3G coverage is excellent most populated
areas. Several providers offer pay- as- you- go plans that are open to non- residents, don't require registration, and can be topped up with
vouchers available in stores, at the ATM, or online.
Bob [29] offers a SIM or Micro- SIM with 1 GB of traffic on a pay- as- you- go plan. Additional traffic can be booked on a data plan
("Datenpaket" [30] at a rate of 4 per GB. Beware of higher rates for traffic (6,8ct/MB) if no data plan is booked. Available at all post
offices and some supermarkets. (Ask for "Bob Breitband Startpaket", 14,90). SIMs come with a working cell number, and are also
available bundled with a USB Modem without a contract. [updated 9/2011]
Yesss [31] (an Orange subsidiary) offers SIM or Micro- SIM- cards with 1 GB of traffic for 9,90 and a pay- as- you go plan. Additional
traffic can be bought for 20 for 2GB. Available at Hofer Supermarkets (ask for "Yesss startpaket" at the cashier). SIMs come with a
working cell number, and are also available bundled with a USB Modem without a contract.[updated 9/2011]

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