Austria Travel Tips and Information

Essential Information

German.

Austrians speak their own version of German called ‘Österreichisches Deutsch’ (Austrian German). There are many different words in Austrian German; words are pronounced differently, and there are subtle differences in grammar.  In addition, Austria has many regional dialects.

Many Austrians speak English-especially in tourist locations.

Euro (€) which is divided into 100 cents.

There are coins for 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and €1 and €2 coins.

Notes come in denominations of €5, €10, €20, €50, 100, €200 and €500.

Police:                                    133

European Emergency:  112

Medical Emergency:      141

Ambulance:                         144

Fire:                                          122

+ 43 1

are called Bankomats and are very common everywhere. There are English instructions and normally a daily withdrawal limit ~400€.

Top Tip

When an ATM or card machine asks if you’d like to accept an exchange or pay in your currency,

ALWAYS DECLINE THE CONVERSION.

Always pay in the local currency (Euros) to avoid the exchange rate offered by the machine/ATM, which is always higher than your bank’s conversion rate. 

Cash is king in Austria. Be prepared to pay with Cash at smaller cafes, bakeries restaurants, and Christmas Markets stalls, etc. This is especially true in smaller towns and villages. You may also need Euro coins to access public washrooms.

Electronic transactions have become more popular, but Credit cards are not ubiquitous (or even popular with Austrians).

You should not assume that you can pay everywhere with credit cards, especially for smaller transactions. Smaller shops, cafes, and restaurants in the countryside may not accept cards. 

Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted; however, many places do not accept cards such as Diners Club or American Express.

Ensure that your debit card is functional in Austria and check your PIN, as transactions over 50€ may require a PIN in Austria.

Many shops in Austria accept contactless payments by debit or credit card, smartphone or smartwatch. 

230 V / 50 Hz

Visitors from the UK, Australia and India (+ others) will need an adapter to use Austrian plugs.
Visitors from North America will need a combined adapter and converter since their appliances work on a different Voltage (110-120 V) and Frequency (60 Hz).

Plug Type:  C and F (similar to most of Europe)

Austrian grocery stores are not as large as those in the US, UK, Canada and Australia- but they have everything you need.

The main grocery stores are Billa, Spar, Lidl and Hofer (Aldi in Austria)

See the note on Store Hours below.

IMPORTANT: 

1.  You must purchase a reusable bag– grocery bags are not free in Austria. They cost from 0.50-2€ and are located at the check-outs.
2. Cashiers do not pack your groceries– so be prepared to pack your items quickly. 

TOP TIP: It is easier to put your items back in the shopping trolley or basket and pack them after you pay.

Austria has one of the best healthcare systems in Europe.  Healthcare is accessible to everyone within its borders.  EU visitors need to show their E-card. Non-EU Tourists can access Austrian healthcare but usually must pay the total price up-front (which will be refunded by your travel insurance).

If you are sick or injured, you can visit a hospital (Krankenhaus) or a Doctor (Arzt/Arztin).  Generally, a visit to the doctor can cost 50-100€ per consultation.  All doctors and some nursing staff can speak English. Your accommodation provider can direct you to the closest hospital or doctors office. 

If it is not an emergency, you can consult with a Pharmacist for most non-urgent care. (see below)

WIFI is called WLAN (“Veelan” in German) 

Internet and Wi-Fi are easily accessible in most urban areas and are increasingly free in many public spaces. Most hotels and numerous cafes, bars, and restaurants provide free Wi-Fi. 

Austria has a well-developed communications infrastructure. There are a number of mobile phone providers that offer national coverage. In populated urban areas, there is a good mobile signal, but  in rural areas, the signal may fluctuate.

Check data roaming charges for Austria with your service provider before leaving home as these can quickly become very expensive.

In German, are called Apoteke and are depicted by a green cross on a white background sign.

You can only buy medication (including painkillers) in Austria at Apoteken. Pharmacies are usually open from Mon to Fri from 8.00 am – 6.00 pm (sometimes closed at lunch between 12:00 and 2:00 pm) and Sat. 8.00 am – 12.00 noon.

Outside these times, a pharmacy operates at night and weekends (known as Nachtapotheke).

A list of the nearest open pharmacy is posted outside each pharmacy, or you can check on this Website

Austria’s postal system (Österreichische Post) is reliable, inexpensive and efficient. Stamps are available at Post offices and Tabaks.

Austria is predominantly a Catholic country, with a smaller percentage of Protestantism as well as Muslim populations.

Crime levels in Austria are low. However, there’s a risk of petty theft, particularly in airports, in popular tourist attractions and on public transport. Please take sensible precautions to protect your belongings, particularly your passport, money and credit cards.

The prices displayed is what you’ll pay. The prices include all taxes.  

Smoking is officially banned in public places, but attitudes toward smoking are not as negative in Austria as in countries like the US, UK, or Australia.

Shops are closed on Sundays and holidays.

• Souvenir shops may be open in tourist areas.
• Restaurants, cafes, and bakeries are allowed to open on Sundays and holidays, but everything else (including Grocery Stores) are closed.
• Grocery stores in transit (airports, train stations, and petrol stations) and tourist areas (such as ski resorts) can open reduced hours on Sundays.
• There is no such thing as 24-hour shopping in Austria. Most shops close by 18:00/19:00 (6 -7 pm).
• Some restaurants and Cafes may have a Ruhetag (Rest Day), basically a day off. Generally, Ruhetags are on Mondays or Tuesdays, so check restaurants and cafes for their opening hours.

Austria uses the 24-hour clock. This means 2 pm is 14:00 and 8 pm is 20:00.

Note: In German, saying half three (halb drei) means 2.30, not 3.30. It’s halfway to three, not half an hour past two.

The time zone in Austria is GMT+1, 1 hour ahead of London GMT.

Tipping is not as embedded in the culture in Austria as in the US. It is not mandatory to tip (trinkgeld), but most people do provide a tip for good service.

When tipping, Austrians normally add 5% to 15% to the bill, so it’s rounded up to a convenient number. For example, if the bill was 12.50€, you hand them a 20€ note and say 14€. When you pay cash and do not require the small change, you can say ‘passt schon’ (‘it’s alright’) or “Stimmt so”

Several shops in Austria offer a VAT refund when leaving the country. Please ask the salesperson whether tax-free shopping applies to the shop in question.

Metric.  Distance is in metres (m) or kilometers Km (0.62 mile).  Speed limit of 100 km/hour is ~62mph.

Weight is in grams (g)m kilograms (kg) 1 kg is ~2.2 lbs.

Austrian tap water is of excellent quality. Unless otherwise advised, you can drink the local tap water. Bottled water can be bought at supermarkets, kiosks, and many shops.
In Vienna there are water stations throughout the city where you can refill your water bottle. 

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