Austria Travel Tips

Social Conventions
Austrians 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 by the visitor. It is customary to dress up for the opera or the theater.

International Travel:

Getting There by Air
Austria has three national airlines, all of which are part of the Austrian Airlines Group (website: www.aua.com): Austrian Airlines (OS), Austrian Arrows (formerly Tyrolean Airways) (VO) and Lauda Air (NG). Many European airlines serve Austria, as do some budget airlines.

Departure Tax
None.

Note
Airports have fixed charges for portering.

Main Airports
Vienna (VIE) (Wien-Schwechat) (website: http://english.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 Water
DDSG-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 & Montenegro (Belgrade), Turkey (Istanbul) and Ukraine (Yalta), can be obtained from the Austrian National Tourist Office (see General Info).

Getting There by Rail
Österreichische 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).

Eurostar
Eurostar (tel: 0870 518 6186 (within the UK) or +44 (1233) 617 575 (outside the UK); website: www.eurostar.com; or Rail Europe (tel: 0870 584 8848; website: www.raileurope.co.uk) is a service provided by the railways of Belgium, the UK and France, operating direct high-speed trains from London (Waterloo International) to Paris (Gare du Nord) and to Brussels (Midi/Zuid). It takes 2 hours 40 minutes from London to Paris (via Lille) and 2 hours 20 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 Passes
Several international rail passes permitting unlimited travel in a number of European countries are valid in Austria.

InterRail: 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 (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 per cent 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 Road
There are numerous and excellent road links with all neighboring countries. For information on traffic regulations and required documentation, see Getting Around.

Coach: Coaches run regularly to a large number of European destinations. Eurolines (tel: 0870 514 3219; website: www.eurolines.com) and National Express (tel: 0870 580 8080; website: www.nationalexpress.com) run regular coach services from the UK to Austria. Passes: Travelers can either choose Mini-Pass breaks or book a 15-, 30- or 60-day pass. The six Mini-Passes give travelers the freedom to visit three cities. Travelers can stay as long as they like in each city. Some tour operators offer package holidays to Austria by coach from the UK. A full list is available from the Austrian National Tourist Office (see General Info).

The Channel Tunnel: Eurotunnel 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. Terminals and shuttles are well-equipped for disabled passengers. Passenger Terminal buildings contain a variety of shops, restaurants, bureaux de change and other amenities. 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. Motorists pass through customs and immigration before they board, with no further checks on arrival. Fares are charged according to length of stay and time of year and whether or not you have a reservation. The price applies to the car, regardless of the number of passengers or size of the car. Promotional deals are frequently available, especially outside the peak holiday seasons. Tickets may be purchased in advance from travel agents, or from Eurotunnel Customer Services in France or the UK with a credit card. For further information, brochures and reservations, contact Eurotunnel Customer Services UK (tel: 0870 535 3535; website: www.eurotunnel.com). Eurotunnel Customer Information in Coquelles (tel: +33 (3)2100 6543).

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.

Overview
The 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 per cent or 2l of fortified wine or spirits up to 22 per cent 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 or eau de toilette; medicinal products sufficient for the journey; goods up to a value of €175.

Abolition of duty-free goods within the EU
On 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 Air
Vienna is connected to Graz, Klagenfurt, Linz and Salzburg by Austrian Arrows (formerly Tyrolean Airways) (VO). Charter: There are companies offering charter services for single- and twin-engined aircraft and executive jets.

Getting Around by Water
A 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) and private companies.

Getting Around by Rail
Österreichische Bundesbahnen (ÖBB) (Austrian Federal Railways) runs an efficient internal service, with 5700km network of tracks throughout Austria. There is a frequent intercity service from Vienna to Salzburg, Innsbruck, Graz and Klagenfurt, and regular motorrail services through the Tauern Tunnel. Information and booking can be obtained from railway stations or Austrian Federal Railways (see Travel – International for contact details). For bookings from the UK, contact Deutsche Bahn (German Rail) (tel: (020) 8339 4720; website: www.deutsche-bahn.co.uk); or Rail Europe (tel: (08708) 302 008). Tickets can be obtained from any station ticket office (Reisebüro am Bahnhof) or from most Austrian travel agents. For further information, consult the Austrian National Tourist Office (see Top Things To Do). 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 per cent discount. Children aged six to 15 pay half fare.

Rail Passes
The Vorteilscard offers a 45 per cent discount on rail travel within a one-year period. This ID card can be purchased at all Austrian railway stations. Those under 26 years can purchase the Vorteilscard for approximately €19.90. Austria offers a number of discount rail passes.

InterRail’s 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 (website: www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail).

The Austrian Rail Pass is available to foreigners. Reductions are also available for groups of more than six people. For more information, contact the Austrian Railways Head Office (see Travel – International section) or enquire locally.

Getting Around by Road
Austria has an excellent network of roads. Help is readily given by the Austrian Motoring Association (ÖAMTC); there is a fee for non-members. For emergency breakdowns, dial 120 or 123. 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. The 10-day disc costs approximately €7.60 for passenger cars and €4.30 for motorcycles. The two-monthly disc costs €21.80 for cars. Heavy vehicles pay higher tariffs and motorcycles pay less. Infringements will incur fines. All vehicles under 3.5 tons maximum permitted laden weight, using the motorways/expressways, require a small device called a Go-Box to be attached to their windscreens (including private vehicles, such as caravans). Drivers of vehicles close to the limit should carry their registration documents clearly stating this. This can be purchased for €5 at approximately 220 sales centers in Austria and neighboring countries online (website: www.go-maut.at). Prohibitions may apply for vehicles over 7.5 tons laden weight, and visitors must check with their relevant Embassy. In addition to the disc to be attached to the vehicle’s window, there are other charges for the following major roads: Arlberg-tunnel, Brenner Highway, Dachstein, Telbertauern, Gerlos Alpine, Großglockner-Alpine, Maltatal-Hochalm, Nockalm, Pyhrn Highway (Gleinalm Tunnel), Timmelsjoch, Villacher Alpine, Dobratsch, Sölden-Rettenbachferner-Tiefenbachferner, Tavern Highway, Pyhrn Highway (Bosruck Tunnel) and Silnretta. There are complex driving laws in Austria, especially for caravan and motorhome owners. With effect from 15 November 2005, it is compulsory that cars are driven with lights throughout the year. This regulation applies to all roads including city/towns. Seat belts must be worn and children under the age of 12 and under 150cm 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 complying with European standard EN471 and wear them whenever outside their vehicle on an Austrian roads (besides, obviously, when parked). 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 (the speed limit in Graz is 30kph), 100kph (62mph) outside built-up areas and 130kph (81mph) on motorways. Traffic drives on the right.
Bus/coach: Services are run by federal and local authorities, as well as private companies. There are over 1800 services in operation. 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.
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. The minimum legal age for driving is 18. Car registration papers issued in the UK are also valid in Austria. A Green Card is recommended.

Getting Around Towns and Cities
Vienna 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 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 card can be purchased at hotels or at Vienna Transport’s ticket offices. Those trams marked schaffnerlos on the outside of the carriage do not have conductors, but tickets can be bought from machines on board. Tickets are available from newspaper shops or tobacconists called Trafik. It is excellent value at €16.90 and permits one child under 15 years to travel free with an adult cardholder. 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 Times
The following chart gives approximate travel 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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