Introduction
From jewel-box palaces and Mozart melodies to cosmic spas and Alpine highs. Austria flaunts its heritage in exuberant fashion. Vienna's bombastic Habsburg palaces and Salzburg's baroque splendour are great, but dig deeper and you'll unearth Stone Age settlements, Roman ruins and vibrant medieval festivals. You barely need to look for culture here - it waltzes right up to you. This land of dizzying peaks, cobalt lakes and rushing rivers creates a breathtaking backdrop for outdoor pursuits. Whether you want to climb mountains in Tyrol or carve up the slopes in the Alps, freewheel along the Danube or paddle the raging Inn River, Austria's your one-stop shop!
Geography:
Austria is a pipe-shaped, landlocked country lying in the bosom of Europe. It extends 560km (347mi) from east to west, 280km (173mi) north to south, and is surrounded by Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy Liechtenstein and Switzerland. The Alps occupy the southern and western portions of the country, and peak at the Grossglockner's 3797-metre (12455-foot) summit. The upland forests of the Bohemian Massif run north to the Czech border, while the Danube Valley and the fertile lowlands of the east provide the bulk of Austria's arable land. There are numerous lakes in Carinthia and the Salzkammergut region; Lower Austria, Burgenland and Styria are the most important plonk-growing regions.
Destination Facts
Capital: Vienna
President: Heinz Fischer
Chancellor: Werner Faymann
Government: federal republic
Time zone: GMT +1
Area: 83870
Population: 8356700
People: Austrian (91.1%), former Yugoslavs (includes Croatian, Slovenian, Serbian and Bosnian - 4%), Turkish (1.6%), German (0.9%), other (2.4%)
Languages: language spoken by an ethnic minoritylanguage spoken by an ethnic minority; official in Carinthialanguage spoken by an ethnic minority; official in Burgenlandyoung people are often fluent in Englishlanguage spoken by an ethnic minority; official in Burgenlandlanguage spoken by an ethnic minority; Roman Catholic (73.6%), Protestant (4.7%), Muslim (4.2%), other and unspecified (5.5%), none (12%)
Currency: Euro (€)
Major industries: Machinery, construction, vehicles and parts, food, communications equipment, timber and tourism
Major Trading Partners: EU (esp. Germany, Italy &-ent Hungary), US ent-amp; Switzerland
Daylight Saving: From last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October
Country Dialing Code: 43
Getting There
Visiting Austria at any time of year is a great experience, but remember that the season will influence what you can do. Summer is the obvious time for hiking, mountain biking and lake swimming, but ski conditions also make Austria a fantastic place for winter breaks. Festivals take place year-round, but the majority of music festivals are held between May and October. For warm weather, aim for the months between April and October, although these two months can be changeable. Crowds and prices peak in the July and August high season, when temperatures can also climb to uncomfortable levels and many famous institutions close down, including the opera, the Spanish Riding School and the Vienna Boys' Choir. Consequently, June and September are often the best times for city trips. You'll find cities less crowded in winter and (except in ski resorts and over Christmas and Easter) hotel prices lower, although it can get bitingly cold. Winter sports are in full swing from mid-December to late March, with the high season over Christmas and New Year and in February. Alpine resorts are very quiet or close down from late April to mid-June, and in November and early December.
Getting there and away
Vienna is the main air transport hub for Austria, but Graz, Linz, Klagenfurt, Salzburg and Innsbruck all receive international flights. Flights to these cities are often a cheaper option than those to the capital, as are flights to Airport Letisko (Bratislava Airport) which is only 60km (37mi) east of Vienna in Slovakia. With advance booking, no-frills airlines can be very cheap. Travelling by bus is a cheap but less comfortable way to cross Europe. It's easiest to book with Eurolines (www.eurolines.com), a consortium of coach companies with offices all over Europe. Getting to Austria by road is simple as there are fast and well-maintained motorways through all surrounding countries. There are numerous entry points into Austria by road from Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy and Switzerland. All main border-crossing points are open 24 hours. Proof of ownership of a private vehicle and a driver's licence should always be carried while driving. The main rail services in and out of the country from the west normally pass through Bregenz, Innsbruck, or Salzburg on their way to Vienna's Westbahnhof. Trains to Eastern Europe invariably leave from S ü dbahnhof in Vienna. Express services to Italy go via Innsbruck or Villach; trains to Slovenia are routed through Graz.
Getting around
Transport systems in Austria are highly developed and generally very efficient, and reliable information is usually available in English. Individual bus and train Fahrplan (timetables) are readily available, as are helpful annual timetables. Austria's main rail provider is the Ö sterreiche Bundesbahn (www.oebb.at), which has an extensive countrywide rail network. This is supplemented by a handful of private railways. Wherever trains don't run, a bus usually does. Timetables and prices for many train and bus connections can be found online at www.oebb.at. Austria is a pleasure to tour by bicycle - the country is criss-crossed by designated cycle paths and bikes can be transported by trains.
Visa:
Visas for stays of up to three months are not required for citizens of the EU, the European Economic Area (EEA), much of Eastern Europe, Israel, USA, Canada, the majority of Central and South American nations, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia or New Zealand. All other nationalities require a visa; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website at www.bmaa.gv.at has a list of Austrian embassies where you can apply for one. If you wish to stay longer you should simply leave the country and re-enter. For those nationalities that require a visa, extensions cannot be organised within Austria; you'll need to leave and reapply. EU nationals can stay indefinitely but are required by law to register with the local Magistratisches Bezirksamt (magistrate's office) if the stay exceeds 60 days.
Weather
Austria lies within the Central European climatic zone, though the eastern part of the country has a Continental Pannonian climate, with low rainfall, hot summers and mild winters. The Alps have high precipitation, short summers and long winters, and visitors should be prepared for all temperatures there. Seasons are distinct. Summer falls between June and August and has the highest temperatures, but also the highest levels of rainfall. Winter can bite hard, especially in December, January and February. Spring and autumn bring changeable weather, but quite often the most comfortable temperatures.
From jewel-box palaces and Mozart melodies to cosmic spas and Alpine highs. Austria flaunts its heritage in exuberant fashion. Vienna's bombastic Habsburg palaces and Salzburg's baroque splendour are great, but dig deeper and you'll unearth Stone Age settlements, Roman ruins and vibrant medieval festivals. You barely need to look for culture here - it waltzes right up to you. This land of dizzying peaks, cobalt lakes and rushing rivers creates a breathtaking backdrop for outdoor pursuits. Whether you want to climb mountains in Tyrol or carve up the slopes in the Alps, freewheel along the Danube or paddle the raging Inn River, Austria's your one-stop shop!
Geography:
Austria is a pipe-shaped, landlocked country lying in the bosom of Europe. It extends 560km (347mi) from east to west, 280km (173mi) north to south, and is surrounded by Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy Liechtenstein and Switzerland. The Alps occupy the southern and western portions of the country, and peak at the Grossglockner's 3797-metre (12455-foot) summit. The upland forests of the Bohemian Massif run north to the Czech border, while the Danube Valley and the fertile lowlands of the east provide the bulk of Austria's arable land. There are numerous lakes in Carinthia and the Salzkammergut region; Lower Austria, Burgenland and Styria are the most important plonk-growing regions.
Destination Facts
Capital: Vienna
President: Heinz Fischer
Chancellor: Werner Faymann
Government: federal republic
Time zone: GMT +1
Area: 83870
Population: 8356700
People: Austrian (91.1%), former Yugoslavs (includes Croatian, Slovenian, Serbian and Bosnian - 4%), Turkish (1.6%), German (0.9%), other (2.4%)
Languages: language spoken by an ethnic minoritylanguage spoken by an ethnic minority; official in Carinthialanguage spoken by an ethnic minority; official in Burgenlandyoung people are often fluent in Englishlanguage spoken by an ethnic minority; official in Burgenlandlanguage spoken by an ethnic minority; Roman Catholic (73.6%), Protestant (4.7%), Muslim (4.2%), other and unspecified (5.5%), none (12%)
Currency: Euro (€)
Major industries: Machinery, construction, vehicles and parts, food, communications equipment, timber and tourism
Major Trading Partners: EU (esp. Germany, Italy &-ent Hungary), US ent-amp; Switzerland
Daylight Saving: From last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October
Country Dialing Code: 43
Getting There
Visiting Austria at any time of year is a great experience, but remember that the season will influence what you can do. Summer is the obvious time for hiking, mountain biking and lake swimming, but ski conditions also make Austria a fantastic place for winter breaks. Festivals take place year-round, but the majority of music festivals are held between May and October. For warm weather, aim for the months between April and October, although these two months can be changeable. Crowds and prices peak in the July and August high season, when temperatures can also climb to uncomfortable levels and many famous institutions close down, including the opera, the Spanish Riding School and the Vienna Boys' Choir. Consequently, June and September are often the best times for city trips. You'll find cities less crowded in winter and (except in ski resorts and over Christmas and Easter) hotel prices lower, although it can get bitingly cold. Winter sports are in full swing from mid-December to late March, with the high season over Christmas and New Year and in February. Alpine resorts are very quiet or close down from late April to mid-June, and in November and early December.
Getting there and away
Vienna is the main air transport hub for Austria, but Graz, Linz, Klagenfurt, Salzburg and Innsbruck all receive international flights. Flights to these cities are often a cheaper option than those to the capital, as are flights to Airport Letisko (Bratislava Airport) which is only 60km (37mi) east of Vienna in Slovakia. With advance booking, no-frills airlines can be very cheap. Travelling by bus is a cheap but less comfortable way to cross Europe. It's easiest to book with Eurolines (www.eurolines.com), a consortium of coach companies with offices all over Europe. Getting to Austria by road is simple as there are fast and well-maintained motorways through all surrounding countries. There are numerous entry points into Austria by road from Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy and Switzerland. All main border-crossing points are open 24 hours. Proof of ownership of a private vehicle and a driver's licence should always be carried while driving. The main rail services in and out of the country from the west normally pass through Bregenz, Innsbruck, or Salzburg on their way to Vienna's Westbahnhof. Trains to Eastern Europe invariably leave from S ü dbahnhof in Vienna. Express services to Italy go via Innsbruck or Villach; trains to Slovenia are routed through Graz.
Getting around
Transport systems in Austria are highly developed and generally very efficient, and reliable information is usually available in English. Individual bus and train Fahrplan (timetables) are readily available, as are helpful annual timetables. Austria's main rail provider is the Ö sterreiche Bundesbahn (www.oebb.at), which has an extensive countrywide rail network. This is supplemented by a handful of private railways. Wherever trains don't run, a bus usually does. Timetables and prices for many train and bus connections can be found online at www.oebb.at. Austria is a pleasure to tour by bicycle - the country is criss-crossed by designated cycle paths and bikes can be transported by trains.
Visa:
Visas for stays of up to three months are not required for citizens of the EU, the European Economic Area (EEA), much of Eastern Europe, Israel, USA, Canada, the majority of Central and South American nations, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia or New Zealand. All other nationalities require a visa; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website at www.bmaa.gv.at has a list of Austrian embassies where you can apply for one. If you wish to stay longer you should simply leave the country and re-enter. For those nationalities that require a visa, extensions cannot be organised within Austria; you'll need to leave and reapply. EU nationals can stay indefinitely but are required by law to register with the local Magistratisches Bezirksamt (magistrate's office) if the stay exceeds 60 days.
Weather
Austria lies within the Central European climatic zone, though the eastern part of the country has a Continental Pannonian climate, with low rainfall, hot summers and mild winters. The Alps have high precipitation, short summers and long winters, and visitors should be prepared for all temperatures there. Seasons are distinct. Summer falls between June and August and has the highest temperatures, but also the highest levels of rainfall. Winter can bite hard, especially in December, January and February. Spring and autumn bring changeable weather, but quite often the most comfortable temperatures.
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