Social ConventionsAustrians tend to be quite formal in both their social and business dealings. They do not use first names when being introduced, but after the initial meeting first names are often used. Handshaking is normal when saying hello and goodbye. It is considered impolite to enter a restaurant or shop without saying Guten Tag or, more usually, Grüss Gott; similarly, to leave without saying Auf Wiedersehen can cause offence. Social pleasantries and some exchange of small-talk is appreciated. If invited out to dinner, flowers should be brought for the hostess. The Church
enjoys a high and respected position in Austrian society, which should be kept in mind. It is customary to dress up for the opera or the theater.
International Travel:Getting There by AirAustria has two national airlines, both part of the Austrian Airlines Group (website:
www.aua.com):
Austrian Airlines (OS) and
Austrian Arrows (VO).Departure TaxIncluded in ticket price.
Main AirportsVienna (VIE) (Wien-Schwechat) (website:
www.viennaairport.com) is 18km (11 miles) southeast of the city.
To/from the airport: Airport buses run between the airport and the South Train and West Train Station (journey time – 30 minutes). Rail service is available at frequent intervals to and from stations. Local rail (
S-Bahn) services also run to the city center (journey time – 25 minutes). The
City Airport Train travels express from the City Airport Terminal located at Vienna Mitte (journey time - 16 minutes). Taxis are available to the city and can be found north of the Arrivals Hall. A chauffeur-driven car service is also available from the Arrivals Hall.
Facilities: Duty-free shops, banks, bureaux de change, post office, restaurants, cafes, left luggage, conference facilities, medical facilities, tourist information, car hire, car park and nursery.
Innsbruck (INN) (Kranebitten) (website:
www.innsbruck-airport.com) is 5.5km (3.5 miles) west of the city.
To/from the airport: Bus services are available every 10 minutes to the city center (journey time – 15 minutes). Taxi services are also available.
Facilities: Duty-free shopping, currency exchange, restaurant, medical facilities and car hire.
Salzburg (SZG) (Maxglan) (website:
www.salzburg-airport.com) is 4km (2.5 miles) west of the city. To/from the airport: Bus line 77 connects to the
Hauptbahnhof (main railway station) in the city center (journey time – 20 minutes). It is also possible to go by train (journey time - 15 to 20 minutes). Taxis are available from the front of the main building (journey time – 15 minutes). Some hotels have courtesy coaches.
Facilities: Duty-free shopping, currency exchange, post office, restaurants and snack bars, bar, left luggage, conference rooms and car hire.
Klagenfurt (KLU) (Wörther See) (website:
www.klagenfurt-airport.at) is 4km (2.5 miles) from the city.
To/from the airport: Bus and taxi services are available.
Facilities: Bar, duty-free shop and car hire.
Linz (LNZ) (website:
www.linz-airport.at) is 10km (6 miles) from the city.
To/from the airport: Taxi and bus services are available.
Facilities: Bar, duty-free shop, bank and car hire.
Graz (GRZ) (website:
www.flughafen-graz.at) is 10km (6 miles) from the city.
To/from the airport: Taxis are available to the city. Buses operate and there are hourly train services.
Facilities: Bar, restaurant, bank and car hire.
Getting There by WaterDDSG-Blue Danube Schiffahrt (website:
www.ddsg-blue-danube.at) operates a passenger service on the Danube from Germany (Passau) to Vienna.
The German operator
Wurm und Köck (tel: (732) 783 607; website:
www.donauschiffahrt.at) offers both passenger services and cruises to Linz. Evening and music cruises are available in the summer.
DDSG-Blue Danube Schiffahrt also operates a
hydrofoil service from the Praterlande hydrofoil dock in Vienna to Hungary (Budapest; journey time – 6 hours).
Brandner (tel: (7433) 259 021; website:
www.ms-austria.at) concentrates its services between Melk and Krems. A regular hydrofoil service also runs daily during the summer months from Vienna to the Slovak Republic (Bratislava; journey time – 1 hour 30 minutes).
International rail tickets are valid on Danube river boats. More information on the above services, and connections to Serbia (Belgrade), Turkey (Istanbul) and Ukraine (Yalta), can be obtained from the Austrian National Tourist Office (see
General Info).
Getting There by RailÖsterreichische Bundesbahnen (ÖBB) (Austrian Federal Railways) (tel: (1) 930 000; website:
www.oebb.at) operates a wide network of trains throughout and beyond Austria. International connections from Vienna include trains to Germany (Berlin), to the Russian Federation (Moscow, via Warsaw/Kiev and Minsk), to Romania (Bucharest, via Budapest), to Greece (Athens) or Turkey (Istanbul, via Belgrade) and to Italy (Venice, Milan or Rome). The most common routes are from Brussels or Paris (
Eurostar connection from London) to Vienna (see below for further details).
EurostarEurostar (tel: 0870 518 6186, in the UK; website:
www.eurostar.com;
or Rail Europe (tel: 0844 848 4064, in the UK; website:
www.raileurope.co.uk) operates direct high-speed trains from London (St Pancras International) to Paris (Gare du Nord) and to Brussels (Midi/Zuid). It takes 2 hours 15 minutes from London to Paris (via Lille) and 1 hour 51 minutes to Brussels. From Brussels, there is a morning and a night train to Vienna (journey time - 13 hours); from Paris (
Gare de l’Est), there are two trains to Vienna (journey time - 14 hours 45 minutes).
Rail PassesInterRail: offers unlimited first- or second-class travel in up to 30 European countries for European residents of over six months with two pass options. The
Global Pass allows travel for 22 days, one month, five days in 10 days or 10 days in 22 days across all countries. The
One-Country Pass offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month in any of the countries except Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro. Travel is not allowed in the passenger’s country of residence. Travelers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children’s tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on
Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from
Rail Europe (tel: 0844 848 4064, in the UK; website:
www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail).
Eurailpass: offers unlimited first-class train travel in 17 European countries. Tickets are valid for 15 days, 21 days, one month, two months or three months. The
Eurailpass Saver ticket offers discounts for two or more people traveling together. The
Eurailpass Youth ticket is available to those aged under 26 and offers unlimited second-class train travel. The
Eurailpass Flexi allows either 10 or 15 travel days within a two-month period. The
Eurail Selectpass is valid in three, four or five bordering countries and allows five, six, eight or 10 travel days (or 15 for five countries) in a two-month period. The
Eurail Regional Pass allows four to 10 travel days in a two-month period in one of nine regions (usually two or more countries). Children receive a 50% reduction. The passes cannot be sold to residents of Europe, Turkey, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia or the Russian Federation. Available from
The Eurail Group (website:
www.eurail.com).
Getting There by RoadCoach: Coaches run regularly to a large number of European destinations.
Eurolines (tel: 0870 514 3219, in the UK; website:
www.eurolines.com) runs regular coach services from the UK to Austria.
Passes: Travelers can buy a 15- or 30-day pass.
The Channel Tunnel: Eurotunnel (tel: 0870 535 3535, in the UK; website:
www.eurotunnel.com) runs shuttle trains for cars, bicycles, motorcycles, coaches, minibuses, caravans, campervans and other vehicles over 1.85m (6.07ft) between Folkestone in Kent, with direct road access from the M20, and Calais, with links to the A16/A26 motorway (Exit 13). All road vehicles are carried through the tunnel in shuttle trains running between the two terminals. The journey takes about 35 minutes from platform to platform and around one hour from motorway to motorway. There are up to four passenger shuttles per hour at peak times, 24 hours per day and services run every day of the year.
Car ferry: There are regular ferry services across the English Channel. The quickest and most practical route from London to Vienna is via the Dover-Calais ferry (crossing time - 1 hour 30 minutes). The distance by road is approximately 1,600km (1,000 miles). It is one day’s drive in summer, but can take longer in winter. Munich is 4-5 hours from Vienna; Milan and Zurich are a good day’s drive.
OverviewThe following goods may be imported into Austria by persons over 17 years of age arriving from non-EU countries without incurring customs duty:
• 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco or a proportional mix of these products.
• 1l of spirits over 22% or 2l of fortified wine or spirits up to 22% or 2l of sparkling wine or liqueur and 2l of still wine.
• 500g of coffee or 200g of extracts, essences or concentrates of coffee, and 100g of tea or 40g of tea extracts.
• 50g of perfume and 0.25l of eau de toilette.
• Medicinal products sufficient for the journey.
• Goods up to a value of €175.
Abolition of duty-free goods within the EUOn 30 June 1999, the sale of duty free alcohol and tobacco at airports and at sea was abolished in all of the original 15 EU member states. Of the 10 new member states that joined the EU on 1 May 2004 and the two states that joined on 1 January 2007, these rules already apply to Cyprus and Malta. There are transitional rules in place for visitors returning to one of the original 15 EU countries from one of the other new EU countries. But for the original 15, plus Cyprus and Malta, there are no limits imposed on importing tobacco and alcohol products from one EU country to another. Travelers should note that they may be required to prove at customs that the goods purchased are for personal use
only. Member states may follow the EU’s guide levels of: 10l of spirits; 20l of fortified wine; 90l of wine; 110l of beer; 800 cigarettes; 400 cigarillos; 200 cigars and 1kg of tobacco.
Internal Travel:Getting Around By AirVienna is connected to Graz, Klagenfurt, Linz and Salzburg by
Austrian Airlines (website:
www.aua.com).
Getting Around by WaterA number of operators run cruises along the Danube, and from Switzerland (Bregenz) across Lake Constance. On some cruises, a passport is needed; they last from one to eight days depending on the itinerary. These services run between spring and autumn.
Ferries: There are regular passenger boat services from mid-May to mid-September along the Danube and on Austria’s lakes. The Danube steamer services are run by
DDSG Blue Danube Schiffahrt (tel: (1) 588 800; website:
www.ddsg-blue-danube.at) and private companies.
Getting Around by RailÖsterreichische Bundesbahnen (ÖBB) (Austrian Federal Railways) (tel: (1) 930 000; website:
www.oebb.at) runs an efficient internal service, with 5,700km (3,540 miles) of track throughout Austria. There is a frequent intercity service from Vienna to Salzburg, Innsbruck, Graz and Klagenfurt, and regular motorrail services through the Tauern Tunnel. For bookings from the UK, contact
Deutsche Bahn (German Rail) (tel: 0870 243 5363, in the UK only; website:
www.bahn.co.uk);
or Rail Europe (tel: 0844 848 4064, in the UK; website:
www.raileurope.co.uk). Tickets can be obtained from any station ticket office (
Reisebüro am Bahnhof) or from most Austrian travel agents.
Discount fares: Throughout Austria, up to two children under six years who are accompanied or require no seat travel free and a third child qualifies for a 50% discount. Children aged six to 15 pay half fare.
Rail PassesVorteilscard: offers a 45% discount on rail travel within a one-year period. This ID card can be purchased at all Austrian railway stations.
InterRail One-Country Pass: offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month within Austria. Travel is not allowed in the passenger’s country of residence. Travelers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children’s tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on
Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from
Rail Europe (tel: 0844 848 4064, in the UK; website:
www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail).
Getting Around by RoadTraffic drives on the right. Austria has an excellent network of roads.
Bus/coach: Services are run by federal and local authorities, as well as private companies. Some 70 international coach services travel to or through Austria. For further information, contact
Central Bus Information (tel: (1) 794 440; website:
www.postbus.at). Coach excursions and sightseeing tours run from most major cities.
Car hire: There are car hire firms with offices in most cities, as well as at airports and major railway stations.
Regulations: Tolls must be paid on all Austrian motorways and ’S’ roads. Tourists can purchase either 10-day, two-month or one-year discs which are available at all major border crossings, newsagents, petrol stations, automobile clubs, ÖAMTC and ARBÖ, and at post offices.
Cars must be driven with lights throughout the year. Seat belts must be worn and children under the age of 12 and under 150cm (4ft 11in) tall may not sit in the front seat unless a special child’s seat has been fitted. All cars must have a first-aid kit and a warning triangle. All motorists must also carry high-visibility waistcoats and wear them whenever outside their vehicle on an Austrian roads. Both driver and passenger on a motorcycle must wear helmets, and the vehicle must have lights on at all times. Speed limits are 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas, 100kph (62mph) outside built-up areas and 130kph (81mph) on motorways. The minimum legal age for driving is 18.
Emergency breakdown service: Tel: 120
or 123.
Documentation: National driving licenses issued by EU countries, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein are accepted, and enable holders to drive in Austria for up to one year. UK licenses without a photo must be accompanied by some form of photo ID such as a passport. Car registration papers issued in the UK are also valid in Austria. A Green Card is recommended.
Getting Around Towns and CitiesVienna has an extensive system of
metro,
bus,
light rail and
tramway services. Most routes have a flat fare, and there are pre-purchase multi-journey tickets and passes. The
Vienna Card (website:
www.wienkarte.at) entitles visitors to 72 hours of unlimited travel by underground, bus and tram within four days. It also entitles the holder to reductions at several museums and other tourist attractions in the city, as well as shops, cafes and wine taverns. The classic way to travel round the capital is by
horse-drawn carriage (
Fiaker); fares should be agreed in advance.
There are
bus systems in all the other main towns, and also
tramways in Linz, Innsbruck and Graz, and
trolleybuses in Linz, Innsbruck and Salzburg.
Journey TimesThe following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from
Vienna to other major cities/towns in Austria.
| | Air | Road | Rail |
| Salzburg | 0.45 | 3.00 | 3.18 |
| Innsbruck | 1.10 | 5.00 | 5.20 |
| Klagenfurt | 0.50 | 4.00 | 4.25 |
| Graz | 0.40 | 2.40 | 2.45 |
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