Between November and March, prices in western Austria double and travelers need reservations months in advance. The situation reverses in the summer, when the eastern half of the country fills with tourists. Accommodations are cheaper and less crowded in the shoulder seasons (May-June and Sept.-Oct.). Cultural opportunities also vary with the seasons: the Vienna State Opera has no shows in July or August, and the Vienna Boys’ Choir only performs May-June and Sept.-Oct.
Embassies. Foreign embassies in Austria are in Vienna . Austrian embassies abroad include: Australia, 12 Talbot St., Forrest, Canberra, ACT, 2603 (☎02 6295 1533; www.austriaemb.org.au); Canada, 445 Wilbrod St., Ottawa, ON, K1N 6M7 (☎613-789-1444; www.austro.org); Ireland, 15 Ailesbury Ct., 93 Ailesbury Rd., Dublin, 4 (☎01 269 45 77); New Zealand, Level 2, Willbank House, 57 Willis St., Wellington, 6001 (☎04 499 63 93); UK, 18 Belgrave Mews West, London, SW1X 8HU (☎020 7344 3250; www.bmaa.gv.at/london); US, 3524 International Ct., NW, Washington, D.C., 20008 (☎202-895-6700; www.austria.org).
Visa And Entry Information. EU citizens do not need a visa. Citizens of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the US do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days, beginning upon entry into any of the countries in the EU’s freedom-of-movement zone. For more info, For stays of longer than 90 days, all non-EU citizens need visas, available at Austrian embassies. For American citizens, visas are $80 or free of charge for students studying abroad.
Tourist Offices. For general info, contact the Austrian National Tourist Office, Margaretenstr. 1, A-1040 Vienna (☎588 66 287; www.austria.info). All tourist offices are marked with a green “i”; most brochures are available in English.
Money. The euro (€) has replaced the schilling as the unit of currency in Austria. As a general rule, it’s cheaper to exchange money in Austria than at home. Railroad stations, airports, hotels, and most travel agencies offer exchange services, as do banks. If you stay in hostels and prepare most of your own food, expect to spend €30-60 per day. Accommodations start at about €12 and a basic sit-down meal usually costs around €8. Menus will say whether service is included ( Preise inklusive or Bedienung inklusiv ); if it is, a tip is not expected. If not, 10% will do. Austrian restaurants expect you to seat yourself, and servers will not bring the bill until you ask them to do so. Say “ Zahlen bitte” (TSAHL-en BIT-uh) to settle your accounts, and give tips directly to the server. Don’t expect to bargain, except at street markets.
Austria has a 20% value added tax (VAT), a sales tax applied to most purchased goods . The prices given in Let’s Go include VAT. In an airport upon exiting the EU, non-EU citizens can claim a refund on the tax paid for goods purchased at participating stores. In order to qualify for a refund in a store, you must spend at least €75; make sure to ask for a refund form when you pay. For more info on qualifying for a VAT refund,
By Plane. The only major international airport is Vienna’s Schwechat-Flughafen (VIE). Other airports are in Innsbruck, Graz, Linz, and Salzburg. From London-Stansted, Ryanair (☎3531 249 7791; www.ryanair.com) flies to the latter three. For more info on flying to Austria,
By Train. The Österreichische Bundesbahn (ÖBB; www.oebb.at), Austria’s state railroad, operates an efficient system with fast and comfortable trains. Eurail and InterRail passes are valid in Austria, but they do not guarantee a seat without a reservation. The Austria Rail pass allows three to eight days of travel within any 15-day period on all rail lines. It also entitles holders to 40% off bike rentals at train stations (2nd-class US$148 for three days).
By Bus. The Austrian bus system consists mainly of PostBuses, which cover areas inaccessible by train. Buy tickets at the station or from the driver. Call ☎43 17 11 01 from abroad or ☎0810 222 333 within Austria from 7am-8pm.
By Car. Driving is a convenient way to see the more isolated parts of Austria, but gas is costly, an international license is required, and some small towns prohibit cars. The roads are well maintained and well marked, and Austrian drivers are quite careful. Mitfahrzentralen (ride-share services) in larger cities pair drivers with riders for a small fee. Riders then negotiate fares with the drivers. Be aware that not all organizations screen their participants; ask ahead.
By Bike. Bicycles are a great way to get around Austria, as roads in the country are generally smooth and safe. Many train stations rent bikes and allow you to return them to any participating station.
Email And The Internet. It’s easy to find Internet cafes (€2-6 per hr.) in Austria, especially in larger cities. In small towns, however, cafes are less frequent and may charge more. Ask at a hostel or tourist office for suggestions.
Telephones. Wherever possible, use a calling card for international phone calls, as long-distance rates for national phone services are often exorbitant. Prepaid phone cards and major credit cards can be used for direct international calls but are still less cost-efficient. For info on mobile phones, The most popular companies are A1, One, and T-mobile. Direct-dial access numbers for calling out of Austria include: AT&T Direct (☎0800 200 288); British Telecom (☎0800 890 043); Canada Direct (☎0800 200 217); MCI WorldPhone (☎0800 999 762); Sprint (☎0800 200 236); Telecom New Zealand (☎0800 200 222).
Mail. Letters take one or two days within Austria. Airmail (€1.40) to North America takes four to seven days, and up to nine days to Australia and New Zealand. Mark all letters and packages “ mit Flugpost” (airmail). Aerogrammes are the cheapest option. To receive mail in Austria, have mail delivered Poste Restante. Mail will go to the main post office unless you specify a subsidiary by street address. Address mail to be held according to the following example: LAST NAME, First name, Postlagernde Briefe, Postal code City, AUSTRIA.
Always ask if your lodging provides a guest card (Gästekarte), which grants discounts on activities, museums, and public transportation. The Österreichischer Jugendherbergsverband-Hauptverband (ÖJH) runs the over 80 HI hostels in Austria. Because of the rigorous standards of the national organization, these are usually very clean and orderly. Most charge €18-25 per night for dorms, with a €3-5 HI discount. Independent hostels vary in quality, but often have more personality and foster a lively backpacking culture. Slightly more expensive Pensionen are similar to American and British B&Bs. In small to mid-sized towns, singles will cost about €20-30, but expect to pay twice as much in big cities. Hotels are expensive (singles over €35; doubles over €48). Cheaper options have “Gasthof,” “Gästehaus,” or “Pension-Garni” in the name. Renting a Privatzimmer (room in a family home) is an inexpensive option. Contact the tourist office about rooms (€16-30). Camping in Austria is less about getting out into nature than having a cheap place to sleep; most sites are large plots glutted with RVs and are open in summer only. Prices run €10-15 per tent site and €5-8 per extra person. In the high Alps, hikers and mountaineers can retire to the well-maintained system of Hütten (mountain huts) where traditional Austrian fare and a good night’s rest await them. Reserve ahead.
Loaded with fat, salt, and cholesterol, traditional Austrian cuisine is bad for your skin, your heart, and your figure. Wienerschnitzel is a breaded meat cutlet (usually veal or pork) fried in butter. Natives nurse their sweet tooths with Sacher Torte (a rich chocolate cake layered with marmalade) and Linzer Torte (a light yellow cake with currant jam). Austrian beers are outstanding—try Stiegl, a Salzburg brew; Zipfer, from Upper Austria; and Styrian Gösser.
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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